Larry K. Benninger

Professor

Education

Ph.D., Yale University, 1976
B.A. Chemistry Michigan State University, 1969

Research Interests

Most of my research has focused on the environmental behavior of natural and artificial radionuclides, especially as the radionuclides elucidate biogeochemical processes occurring naturally. Important processes include: transport of the radionuclides in air or water, or on sedimentary particles; extraction of the radionuclides from air or water into solids; chemical changes that occur during transport or within solids; accumulation of radionuclides in sedimentary reservoirs. Major-, minor-, and trace-element chemistry are used to better understand the processes under consideration.

Research and Activities

In phased retirement I am working to finish lab projects I initiated during the earlier stages of my career. At present these projects include study of sediments from the continental margin south of Chesapeake Bay and sediments from the Guaymas Basin of the Gulf of California.

Selected Publications

Muñoz, P., Lange, C.B., Gutiérrez, D., Hebbeln, D., Salamanca, M.A., Dezileau, L., Reyss, J.L., and Benninger, L.K. 2004. Recent sedimentation and mass accumulation rates based on 210Pb along the Peru-Chile continental margin. Deep-Sea Research II 51, 2523-2541. Benninger, L.K. and C.S. Martens. 2002. Modern organic carbon burial fluxes, recent sedimentation rates, and particle mixing rates from the upper continental slope near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (USA). Deep -Sea Research II 49, 4645-4665. Mayer, L., Benninger, L.K., Bock M., DeMaster, D., Roberts, Q. and C. Martens. 2002. Mineral associations and nutritional quality of organic matter in shelf and upper slope sediments off Cape Hatteras, U.S.A.: A case of unusually high loadings. Deep-Sea Research II 49, 4587-4597. Nie, Y., Suayah, I.B., Benninger, L.K. and M.J. Alperin. 2001. Detailed sediment chronology in Chesapeake Bay from high-resolution profiles of 210Pb and fallout nuclides. Limnology and Oceanography 46, 1425-1437. Alperin, M.J., Suayah, I.B., Benninger, L.K., Alperin, M.J., Wells, J.T., Muñoz, P., Nie, Y., Mislowack, B., and Lafond, S. In review. Impact of Hurricane Floyd on sediment deposition, erosion, and benthic nutrient fluxes in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. Report to UNC Water Resources Research Institute, 50 ms pages Benninger, L.K.,Suayah, I.B., and Stanley, D.J., 1998, Manzala lagoon, Nile delta, Egypt: Modern sediment accumulation based on radioactive tracers: Environmental Geology, v. 34, p. 183-193. Meece, D.E. and Benninger, L.K., 1993, The coprecipitation of Pu and other radionuclides with CaCO3; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 57, p. 1447-1458. Benninger, L.K., and Wells, J.T., 1993, Sources of sediment to the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina: Marine Chemistry, v. 43, p. 137-156. Canuel, E.A., Martens, C.S., and Benninger,L.K., 1990, Seasonal variations in 7Be activity in the sediments of Cape Lookout Bight, North Carolina: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v.54, p. 237-245. Benninger, L.K.,and Dodge, R.E., 1986, Fallout plutonium and natural radionuclides in annual bands of the coral Montastrea annularis, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 50, p. 2785-2797. Benninger, L.K., and Krishnaswami, S., 1980, Sedimentary processes in the inner New York Bight: Evidence from excess Pb-210 and Pu-239, 240: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 53, p. 158-174. Benninger, L.K., Aller, R.C., Cochran, J.K., and Turekian, K.K., 1979, Effects of biological sediment mixing on the Pb-210 chronology and trace metal distribution in a Long Island Sound sediment core: Earth and Planetary Science Letters,v. 43, p. 241-259.