Large source of nitrate, a potential water contaminant, found in near-surface desert soils

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Desert pavement overlying soil. Credit: Graham lab UC Riverside
Desert pavement overlying soil. Credit: Graham lab, UC Riverside

A UC Riverside-led study in the Mojave Desert, Calif., has found that soils under “desert pavement” have an unusually high concentration of nitrate, a type of salt, close to the surface. Vulnerable to erosion by rain and wind if the desert pavement is disrupted, this vast source of nitrate could contaminate surface and groundwaters, posing an environmental risk. Study results appear in the March issue of Geology.


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All News summaries for February 29, 2008

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