Floating brine crusts, reduction of evaporation and possible replacement of fresh water to control dust from Owens Lake bed, California

• Published in: Journal of hydrology (Amsterdam) Vol. 392; no. 3; pp. 211 - 218
• Main Authors: Groeneveld, D.P., Huntington, J.L., Barz, D.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.10.2010; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: arid zones; atmospheric precipitation; Basins; Brine; California; Crusts; Deposits; Dust control; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; emissions; Evaporation; Exact sciences and technology; Floating structures; Fresh water; freshwater; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Lakes; Saline playa; Saltcrust; Sodium chloride; sodium sulfate; Static chamber; United States; California; Static chamber; Saline playa; Evaporation; Saltcrust; Brine; salt; climate; sulfates; North America; chemically precipitated rocks; evaporites; surface water; sedimentary rocks; precipitation; brines; playas; encrustations; lakes; sodium carbonate; evaporite deposits; fresh water; evaporation; dust; sodium chloride

Owens Lake, California, a saline terminal lake desiccated after diversion of its water source, was formerly the single largest anthropogenic source of fugitive dust in North America. Over 100 billion m −3 yr −1 of fresh water are projected to be used for mandated dust control in over 100 km 2 of con...