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Reposted by Prof. David Boutt

Science X / Phys.org @sciencex.bsky.social · 28d

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

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.

phys.org

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · 23d

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

Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · 28d

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.

Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · 28d

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

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · 28d

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

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Sep 2

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

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Reposted by Prof. David Boutt

Eric Fisher @efisherwx.bsky.social · Aug 28

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

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Aug 8

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

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Jun 21

Thanks!

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Jun 21

Mass. Precip pretty please ;)

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Apr 6

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!

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Mar 2

Same here in Mass.

Sarah H. Ledford @sledford.bsky.social · Mar 1

The USGS office that monitors all metro Atlanta rivers (and much more) is set to close at the end of August.

Evan Frost @wildwoods.bsky.social · Mar 1

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...

Reposted by Prof. David Boutt

Evan Frost @wildwoods.bsky.social · Mar 1

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...

democrats-naturalresources.house.gov

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Reposted by Prof. David Boutt

Laura Lautz @llautz.bsky.social · Feb 19

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...

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.

www.npr.org

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Feb 12

ageagle.com

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...

ageagle.com

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Reposted by Prof. David Boutt

Doerthe Tetzlaff @tetzlaffecohyd.bsky.social · Feb 7

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.

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Reposted by Prof. David Boutt

Heather Golden @goldenwater.bsky.social · Jan 2

Definitely a paper in my queue!

Christa Kelleher @hydrochrista.bsky.social · Jan 2

A little bit delayed, but I hear it's picking up over here so sending this out into the world: our Lafayette team including Rachel Hurley (now grad student at WPI), Dave Brandes, and me put out this piece on flashiness across the Mid-Atlantic: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Drivers and Buffers of Stream Flashiness in the Mid‐Atlantic United States

In this study, we investigated flashiness across 195 Mid-Atlantic sites, each within one of seven different physiographic regions. Our findings identified several drivers and buffers of flashiness, e...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 29

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.

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 23

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

Mike Dettinger @mdettinger.bsky.social · Dec 23

US National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine have Ben hard at work producing 70+ reports, interactive resources, recorded workshops & webinars addressing critical aspects of climate change & justice in 2024. Explore them at

mailchi.mp/nationalacad...

A Year in Review

mailchi.mp

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 15

Argentina o Chile?

Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 14

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

Mike Dettinger @mdettinger.bsky.social · Dec 13

Did NOT see this coming!!

Analysis of 2.9M rivers globally finds that, on avg 1984-2018, streamflow increased in headwaters & declined in downstream sections (1.7 times more upstream increases found than declines; ~4 times more downstream declines than increases).

www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1...

More flow upstream and less flow downstream: The changing form and function of global rivers

We mapped daily streamflow from 1984 to 2018 in approximately 2.9 million rivers to assess recent changes to global river systems. We found that river outlets were dominated by significant decreases i...

www.science.org

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 13

Put me on the mailing list! Immediately to miss this

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 11

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

Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 11

I wish these products acknowledged uncertainty and errors

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Prof. David Boutt @davidboutt.bsky.social · Dec 11

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

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