Saugata Datta, Ph.D.

/ / Published in
Professor
(210)458-4752
saugata.datta@utsa.edu
Dr. Weldon W. Hammond, Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Hydrogeology
http://www.utsa.edu/geosci/faculty/DattaLab/
 

Dr. Weldon W. Hammond, Jr. Distinguished Professorship in Hydrogeology
Co-Appointment with Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Geological Sciences Department Website

Educational Background

Ph.D., University of Western Ontario (Western University), Earth Sciences, 2001
M.S. in Geology, University of Calcutta, India
B.S. in Geology, Presidency College, University of Calcutta, India

Areas of Research Interest

  • Chemical and Physical Hydrology
  • Aqueous Geochemistry
  • Contaminant Hydrology
  • Biogeochemical and Hydrological Modeling of Surface water-Groundwater Interactions in Hyporheic Zones

Current Research Topics

  • Low-temperature aqueous geochemistry and hydrogeology, emphasizing trace element speciation, organic geochemistry, and biogeochemical cycling of trace elements (e.g., arsenic, tungsten, manganese, selenium), nitrates and fluorides in the environment.
  • Synchrotron spectroscopy in delineating speciation hence bioavailability of essential and toxic trace elements in natural substrates as in sediments and food (such as rice).
  • Reaction kinetics and rates of mineralization in rock-brine and supercritical CO2 reactions in a CO2 injection scenario within saline aquifers; and monitoring water quality in subsurface aquifers via studying geochemical parameters for formation waters including REEs.
  • Aqueous geochemistry of formation waters within basaltic lava-tube caves and studying microbiological processes information of minerals under low light environments within caves.

Selected Publications

  • Numa N. Sosa, Harshad V. Kulkarni, Saugata Datta*, Elisa Beilinson, Carlo Porfido, Matteo Spagnuolo, Marcelo A. Zárate, James Surber (2019). Occurrence and distribution of high arsenic in sediments and groundwater of the Claromecó fluvial basin, southern Pampean plain (Argentina). Science of the Total Environment 695 (2019) 133673. (*corresponding author) doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133673
  • Kulkarni, H., Mladenov, N., Datta, S., Chatterjee D. (2018). Influence of monsoonal recharge on arsenic and dissolved organic matter in the Holocene and Pleistocene aquifers of the Bengal Basin. Science of the Total Environment Volumes 637–638, 1 October 2018, Pages 588-599. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.009
  • Vega M., Kulkarni H.V., Mladenov N., Johannesson K.H., Hettiarchchi G.M., Bhattacharya P., Kumar N., Weeks, J., Galkaduwa, M. and, Datta, S. (2017). Biogeochemical controls on the release and accumulation of Mn and As in shallow aquifers, West Bengal, India. Front. Environ. Sci., 23 June 2017. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2017.00029.
  • Datta, S, Vero, S., Johannesson, K.H., Hettiarachchi, G. (2017). Tungsten Contamination of Soils and Sediments: Current State of Science. Current Pollution Reports, 3: 55. (invited) doi:10.1007/s40726-016-0046-0
  • Saugata Datta (2015). Hydrological Aspects of Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Eastern India. Advances in Agronomy, 132, 75-137. doi:10.1016/bs.agron.2015.02.001
  • M.S. Sankar, M.A. Vega, P.P. Defoe, M.G. Kibria, S. Ford, K. Telfeyan, A. Neal, T.J. Mohajerin, G.M. Hettiarachchi, S. Barua, C. Hobson, K. Johannesson, S. Datta (2014). Elevated Arsenic and Manganese in Groundwaters of Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. Science of the Total Environment, 488-489; pp. 570-579. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.077
  • Datta S., Rule A.M., Mihalic J.N., Chillrud S.N., Ramos-Bonilla J.P., Han I., Polyak L.M., Breysse P.N., Geyh A.S. (2012). Use of X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy To Speciate Manganese in Airborne Particulate Matter from Five Counties Across the United States. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2012, 46, 6, 3101-3109. doi:10.1021/es203435n
  • Datta S., Neal A.W., Mohajerin T.J., Ocheltree T., Rosenheim B.E., White C.D., Johannesson K.H. (2011). Perennial ponds are not an important source of water or dissolved organic matter to groundwaters with high arsenic concentrations in West Bengal, India. Geophysical Research Letters, 38, L20404. doi:10.1029/2011GL049301
  • Datta S., Mailloux, B., Hoque, M.A., Jung, H.B., Stute, M., Ahmed, K.M., Zheng, Y. (2009). Redox trapping of arsenic during groundwater discharge in sediments from the Meghna riverbank in Bangladesh. PNAS, October 6, 2009 106 (40) 16930-16935. doi:10.1073/pnas.0908168106