Prof. David Boutt

Graph of lake levels on Lake Erie. Blue is the levels in Buffalo and orange is the level in Toledo.

The recent seiche on Lake Erie, driven by strong NE winds, resulted in a remarkable tilting of lake levels. This particular seiche resulted in a lake-level difference of about 8-10 ft. Here is a plot of lake levels in Buffalo and Toledo (at either end of Lake Erie).

#LakeErie #seiche

The storage anomaly is not being realized in deep storage and it appears that the shallow subsurface and surface transient storage is the main culprit for holding over an almost 1 cm depth of additional water across the region! Significant impacts for hydrological processes

We document increasing terrestrial water storage with GRACE and show a unique response to increased rainfall as the annual water budget does not close and we are holding over more water from year to year during wet summers. The timing offset between shallow and deep storage is bias towards spring

Check out new work published recently documenting intensification of the hydrologic cycle across S. New England. Wet periods are becoming more intense, and so have droughts ... but wet periods are winning out!
www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/17...
@umasscns.bsky.social
@umasshydro.bsky.social

This is an awesome paper!

Water's density is key to sustainable lithium mining, study reveals One of the biggest obstacles on the road to a low-carbon energy future is caused by the rare-earth element lithium, a critical component for the batteries that can store the abundant and sustainable energy from renewable sources.

Water density and the location of extraction play a crucial role in minimizing environmental impacts from lithium mining in sensitive salt flat ecosystems. Sustainable practices depend on prioritizing brine over freshwater use. doi.org/g93x7h

Explore our new manuscript on the response of salar aquifer systems to fresh and brine water abstraction. Density dependent behavior controls magnitude and location of system hydraulics agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/... #lithium #water @umasscns.bsky.social @umasshydro.bsky.social

Cape Cod is composed of thick glacial outwash sediments with few streams (although abundant ponds), deeper water tables that respond more slowly to interannual variations in precipitation. These responses control how quickly each system will recover as the drought subsides.

While differences in precipitation deficits exist, the water storage response is controlled by the hydrogeology of the region. CT river valley is characterized by abundant surface streams with shallow water tables and relatively thin sediments and soils that respond quickly to seasonal water balance

As the 2025 drought continues here in the Northeast (not to be confused with the 2016, 2020, 2022, or 2024) terrestrial water storage anomalies respond in different environments in distinct ways. Take for example storage anomalies in the CT river valley of Western Mass compared to those on Cape Cod

Once again a significant drought beginning to develop here in S. NE. Our new groundwater storage deficit analysis shows that 5 out of the last 9 yrs in a drought state. Interestingly switching from record wet to very dry (see 18, 21, 23) and to some extent last spring. @climatechris.bsky.social

Actually dry enough to qualify as one of the driest summers on record for portions of New England. We'll see if tomorrow's rain chance alters any of these rankings

Likely going to see early leaf drop/more browning of leaves than usual

We are actively monitoring the developing drought on Cape Cod using USGS and @massdcr.bsky.social supported observation well data. Custom built codes and scripting by @umassamherst.bsky.social undergraduate Gabriel Olland to track trajectory of water storage. @umasshydro.bsky.social

Thanks!

Mass. Precip pretty please ;)

Can you link the Webmap or GIS map again here? Thanks for doing this work and excited to read it in detail and share with students!

Same here in Mass.

Congress has just released a list of federal DOI offices to be closed under the ongoing massacre of our natural resource agencies -- it's extensive and includes many important NPS, BLM, USGS and USFWS facilities across the country. Truly horrific. democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/do...

National Science Foundation fires roughly 10% of its workforce NSF fired 168 employees, leaving the agency less equipped to fund a wide range of scientific research.

Yesterday was the darkest day of my professional life so far. Many of NSF’s best and brightest people fired indiscriminately. The terms of their firing cruel. My colleagues matter, they are valued and they make a difference. I have no words. www.npr.org/2025/02/18/n...

AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. | Drones, Sensors and Software AgEagle is a global UAV industry pioneer engaged in delivering a unified line of high performance flight hardware, sensors and software that have earned the longstanding trust and fidelity of customer...

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I can only HIGHLY recommend this book by my good friend James McNamara (professor of hydrology) In The Wake: An 80 Day Canoe Odyssey into Canada's Northern Wilderness. In 1991 they loaded a canoe with food for 3 months and paddled into the canoe county of northern Canada. You can order via amazon.

Definitely a paper in my queue!

I did a quick analysis of groundwater levels - which track terrestrial water storage anomalies quite well- and were about 50% recovered already. Should be on track for headwater baseflows to be in the normal range for spring.

Make sure to check out the water and natural resources recordings! @hydromoranimal.bsky.social and @leeannmunk.bsky.social featured. #lithium #water #brines

Argentina o Chile?

Really cool work from my colleagues @umassamherst.bsky.social

Put me on the mailing list! Immediately to miss this

Thank u Julie! I’m en route to meeting or I would have been there

I wish these products acknowledged uncertainty and errors

Hi Laura - will you be around later in the week Thurs or Fri?