Earth Sciences Commons^™

Machine Learning Model Selection For Predicting Global Bathymetry, Nicholas P. Moran

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This work is concerned with the viability of Machine Learning (ML) in training models for predicting global bathymetry, and whether there is a best fit model for predicting that bathymetry. The desired result is an investigation of the ability for ML to be used in future prediction models and to experiment with multiple trained models to determine an optimum selection. Ocean features were aggregated from a set of external studies and placed into two minute spatial grids representing the earth's oceans. A set of regression models, classification models, and a novel classification model were then fit to this data and …

Seismic Loading Effects Within Orthogonally Connected Steel Lateral Force Resisting Systems, Alhussin Faraj Aliwan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Steel buildings located within seismically active regions require special design considerations to ensure public safety and prevent collapse during an extreme seismic event. Two commonly used steel systems are special moment frames (SMFs) and buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs). When two seismic systems share a common column in an orthogonal configuration (such as at a building corner), design specifications currently consider a 100+30 rule wherein the shared column is designed for 100% fuse demand in one direction, plus 30% fuse demand from the other direction. While this rule has been shown to be reasonable for elastic building response, a few studies …

Evaluating Hydration And Artificial Aging Effects On The Paleointensity In Natural Glass, Sebastian Fearn

Theses and Dissertations

Young natural volcanic glasses have been successfully used to recover Earth’s geomagnetic field intensity (paleointensity). However, the magnetic stability and reliability of volcanic glass as a paleomagnetic recorder over geologic time is unclear. Paleointensity estimates may be influenced by natural processes that alter magnetic mineralogy. Previous results from paleointensity and rock magnetic experiments suggest that post-emplacement hydrothermal alteration can alter the magnetic remanence and can possibly cause paleointensity experiments to fail. Low-temperature hydration and natural relaxation of the glass structure over time may also adversely impact paleointensity results. In this study, rhyolitic and basaltic glass specimens underwent artificial aging and …

Micro-Annulus Generation Under Downhole Conditions: Insights From Three-Dimensional Staged Finite Element Analysis Of Cement Hardening And Wellbore Operations, Weicheng Zhang, Andreas Eckert

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A micro-annulus (MA) is defined as a high permeability zone or gap initiating/occurring at the casing-cement and cement-formation interfaces during the wellbore life span. An MA can significantly compromise wellbore integrity by establishing enhanced fluid flow pathways. This study uses a staged finite element approach to simulate wellbore integrity during various loading steps of wellbore operations under downhole conditions. Particular emphasis is placed on the processes of cement poro-elastic property evolution, volume variation, and pore pressure variation as part of the cement hardening step. The resulting state of stress during the life cycle of a typical injection well (i.e. hardening, …

Paleotectonic Investigation By Successive 3d Seismic Horizon Flattening In The Pennsylvanian Interval Of Western Osage County, Oklahoma, Douglas Cooper Mccabe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

3D seismic and well log data in Western Osage County, Oklahoma, are utilized to evaluate possible intracratonic tectonic signals present in the subsurface stratigraphy of the Cherokee Platform as a result of the regional tectonic events of Pennsylvanian age. These events include: the Wichita, Ouachita, and Arbuckle orogenies, the Nemaha and Ozark Uplifts, and the Southeast Oklahoma Aulacogen. Horizon flattening within 3D seismic volumes allows for identification of paleotectonic structures and syntectonic depositional features, which may be related to the collateral effects of these orogenies on the Cherokee Platform. Identified structures were assigned geologic ages using precision synthetic seismograms tuned …

Seismic Expressions Of Paleokarst, Olanrewaju Ayodapo Aboaba

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Paleokarst are characterized by epigene and/or hypogene processes in their formation and hold significant numbers of hydrocarbons and other natural resources. This dissertation examines worldwide seismic expression of paleokarst; and specifically, the characterization of paleokarst reservoirs developed across the Cherokee Platform, and in the Arkoma Basin, Oklahoma.

Worldwide subsurface paleokarst formations are of Precambrian to Miocene age and found at depths less than 200 m to as great as 8000 m. Karst can be are expressed on seismic records as sinkholes, paleocave collapse, and tower morphologies. Seismic modeling indicates that karst can be modeled and imaged to better understand its …

Thermometry And Microstructural Analysis Imply Protracted Extensional Exhumation Of The Tso Morari Uhp Nappe, Northwestern Himalaya: Implications For Models Of Uhp Exhumation, Sean P. Long, Matthew J. Kohn, Buchanan C. Kerswell, Jesslyn K. Starnes, Kyle P. Larson, Nolan R. Blackford, Emmanuel Soignard

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Documenting the processes that facilitate exhumation of ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) rocks at convergent margins is critical for understanding orogen dynamics. Here, we present structural and temperature data from the Himalayan UHP Tso Morari nappe (TMN) and overlying nappes, which we integrate with published pressure‐temperature‐time constraints to refine interpretations for their structural evolution and exhumation history. Our data indicate that the 5.5‐km‐thick TMN is the upper portion of a penetratively deformed ductile slab, which was extruded via distributed, pure shear‐dominated, top‐down‐to‐east shearing. Strain in the TMN is recorded by high‐strength quartz fabrics (density norms between 1.74 and 2.86) and finite strain data …

Initial Measurements On The Effect Of Stress On P- And S-Wave Velocities In Olivine, Taryn Traylor

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It is well known that elasticity is a key physical property in the determination of the structure and composition of the Earth and provides critical information for the interpretation of seismic data. This study investigates the stress-induced variation in elastic wave velocities, known as the acoustoelastic effect, in San Carlos olivine. A recently developed experimental ultrasonic acoustic system, the Directly Integrated Acoustic System Combined with Pressure Experiments (DIASCoPE), was used with the D-DIA multi-anvil apparatus to transmit ultrasonic sound waves and collect the reflections. We use the DIASCoPE to obtain longitudinal (P) and shear (S) elastic wave velocities from the …

The Dynamics Of Nonlinear Atmospheric Acoustic-Gravity Waves Generated By Tsunamis Over Realistic Bathymetry, P. A. Inchin, C. J. Heale, J. B. Snively, M. D. Zettergren

Publications

The investigation of atmospheric tsunamigenic acoustic and gravity wave (TAGW) dynamics, from the ocean surface to the thermosphere, is performed through the numerical computations of the 3D compressible nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations. Tsunami propagation is first simulated using a nonlinear shallow water model, which incorporates instantaneous or temporal evolutions of initial tsunami distributions (ITD). Ocean surface dynamics are then imposed as a boundary condition to excite TAGWs into the atmosphere from the ground level. We perform a case study of a large tsunami associated with the 2011 M9.1 Tohuku-Oki earthquake and parametric studies with simplified and demonstrative bathymetry and ITD. Our …

Groundwater Withdrawal Prediction Using Integrated Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data Sets And Machine Learning, S. Majumdar, Ryan G. Smith, J. J. Butler, V. Lakshmi

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effective monitoring of groundwater withdrawals is necessary to help mitigate the negative impacts of aquifer depletion. In this study, we develop a holistic approach that combines water balance components with a machine learning model to estimate groundwater withdrawals. We use both multitemporal satellite and modeled data from sensors that measure different components of the water balance and land use at varying spatial and temporal resolutions. These remote sensing products include evapotranspiration, precipitation, and land cover. Due to the inherent complexity of integrating these data sets and subsequently relating them to groundwater withdrawals using physical models, we apply random forests -- …

Drastic Vegetation Change In The Guajira Peninsula (Colombia) During The Neogene, Carlos Jaramillo, Pierre Sepulchre, Damian Cardenas, Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dry biomes occupy ~35% of the landscape in the Neotropics, but these are heavily human-disturbed. In spite of their importance, we still do not fully understand their origins and how they are sustained. The Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia is dominated by dry biomes and has a rich Neogene fossil record. Here, we have analyzed its changes in vegetation and precipitation during the Neogene using a fossil pollen and spore dataset of 20 samples taken from a well and we also dated the stratigraphic sequence using microfossils. In addition, we analyzed the pollen and spore contents of 10 Holocene samples …

Sharp Contrasts In Observed And Modeled Crevasse Patterns At Greenland’S Marine Terminating Glaciers, Ellyn M. Enderlin, Timothy C. Bartholomaus

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Crevasses are affected by and affect both the stresses and the surface mass balance of glaciers. These effects are brought on through potentially important controls on meltwater routing, glacier viscosity, and iceberg calving, yet there are few direct observations of crevasse sizes and locations to inform our understanding of these interactions. Here we extract depth estimates for the visible portion of crevasses from high-resolution surface elevation observations for 52 644 crevasses from 19 Greenland glaciers. We then compare our observed depths with those calculated using two popular models that assume crevasse depths are functions of local stresses: the Nye and …

An Update Of Seismic Monitoring And Research In The Vicinity Of The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant: January 2018–December 2019, Zhenming Wang, N. Seth Carpenter, Edward W. Woolery

Report of Investigations--KGS

From January 2018 to December 2019, the Kentucky Geological Survey monitored earthquakes and conducted research on seismic hazards in the vicinity of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, a former uranium enrichment facility, in McCracken County, western Kentucky. Six hundred forty-four earthquakes with magnitude between 0.5 and 3.7 were recorded in the area during this period. Research focused on the influence of the thick sediments on earthquake ground motion, the so-called site response, through theoretical and data analysis of borehole seismic records. Our research has shown that the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program site classification, which is based on Vs30, and …

Changes In Crater Geometry Revealed By Inversion Of Harmonic Infrasound Observations: 24 December 2018 Eruption Of Mount Etna, Italy, Leighton M. Watson, Jeffrey B. Johnson, Mariangela Sciotto, Andrea Cannata

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

In December 2018, Mount Etna (Italy) experienced a period of increased eruptive activity that culminated in a fissure eruption on the southeast flank. After the onset of the flank eruption, the peak frequency of the summit infrasound signals decreased while resonance increased. We invert infrasound observations for crater geometry and show that crater depth and radius increased during the eruption, which suggests that the flank eruption drained magma from the summit and that eruptive activity led to erosion of the crater wall. By inverting the entire infrasound amplitude spectra rather than just the peak frequency, we are able to place …

Principles Of Organizing Earthquake Forecasting Based On Multiparameter Sensor-Web Monitoring Data, Sergey Pulinets, Dimitar Ouzounov, Dmitry Davidenko, Pavel Budnikov

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The paper describes an approach that allows, basing on the data of multiparameter monitoring of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters and using ground-based and satellite measurements, to select from the data stream a time interval indicating the beginning of the final stage of earthquake preparation, and finally using intelligent data processing to carry out a short-term forecast for a time interval of 2 weeks to 1 day before the main shock. Based on the physical model of the lithosphere-atmospheric-ionospheric coupling, the precursors are selected, the ensemble of which is observed only during the precursory periods, and their identification is based on …

A Periglacial Landsystem Analysis In The Canadian High Arctic: A Tool For Planetary Geomorphology, Chimira Nicole Andres

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Permafrost underlies 50% of Canada’s terrain and underlies 24% of the Earth’s total land area. It is a major driving force in the generation and evolution of patterned ground landforms such as polygons, stone circles, mud boils, and stripes, etc. that are seen on both the surface of the Earth and Mars, specifically in periglacial domains. The distribution of subsurface ice in these landforms (i.e. polygonal terrain) on Earth is a key constraint on past climate and process-form relationships in high arctic and periglacial regions. These landforms also have the potential of storing ice in the subsurface meaning that the …

A Framework For Pore‐Scale Simulation Of Effective Electrical Conductivity And Permittivity Of Porous Media In The Frequency Range From 1 Mhz To 1 Ghz, Qifei Niu, Chi Zhang, Manika Prasad

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Geoelectrical methods are broadly used in earth sciences for various purposes. To correctly interpret field geoelectrical data, it is essential to have a mechanistic understanding of the effective electrical conductivity and permittivity of geological materials over a broad frequency range. Recently, the pore‐scale numerical simulation, which utilizes the digital microstructural images of the material, has become a powerful tool in studying the effective electrical properties of geological media. However, it is still difficult to incorporate surface‐related electrochemical processes in a pore‐scale simulation. In this study, we develop a general framework to consider these electrochemical processes in pore‐scale simulations, which enable …

Shift In The Paradigm For Gssp Boundary Definition, V. I. Davydov

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

For over 200 years the use of biotic events as the basis for the establishment of chronostratigraphic boundaries has been the only approach successfully utilized for international and national chronostratigraphy. The traditional biostratigraphic method provides relatively high resolution, averaging 1 Ma or sometimes less. This biochronological evolutionary approach to the Global Boundary Stratotype section and Point (GSSP) utilizes biotic Primary Markers (PM), with a few exceptions, encompasses the integrated PM and other non-PM markers as the general principles for defining GSSP boundaries and is a reasonably reliable mechanism for global correlation and a relatively stable International Geologic Time Scale (IGTS). …

Constructing A Time Scale Of Biotic Recovery Across The Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary, Corral Bluffs, Denver Basin, Colorado, U.S.A., Vincent Isakson, Mark D. Schmitz

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary interval represents one of the most significant mass extinctions and ensuing biotic recoveries in Earth history. Earliest Paleocene fossil mammal faunas corresponding to the Puercan North American Land Mammal Age (NALMA) are thought to be highly endemic and potentially diachronous, necessitating precise chronostratigraphic controls at key fossil localities to constrain recovery dynamics in continental biotas following the K–Pg mass extinction. The Laramide synorgenic sedimentary deposits within the Denver Basin in east-central Colorado preserve one of the most continuous and fossiliferous records of the K–Pg boundary interval in North America. Poor exposure in much of the Denver …

Within‐Stand Boundary Effects On Snow Water Equivalent Distribution In Forested Areas, H.P. Marshall

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Forested areas exhibit high spatial variability in the distribution of snow water equivalent (SWE). Previous work has focused on forested areas with respect to snow accumulation in adjacent clearings. There is generally less snow in forested areas with greater variability relative to open areas due to the influence of tree canopies. However, the length scale of the transition from open areas to forested conditions is uncertain. Hence, the goal of this paper is to determine the length scales associated with forest boundary effects on SWE accumulation distribution patterns within forest stands. To accomplish this, we utilize a unique ground‐penetrating radar …

Earth’S Outgoing Longwave Radiation Variability Prior To M ≥6.0 Earthquakes In The Taiwan Area During 2009–2019, Ching-Chou Fu, Lou-Chang Lee, Dimitar Ouzounov, Jyh-Cherng Jan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This paper proposes an analysis method, using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite data, to trace variations in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) for finding the precursors of earthquakes. The significance of these observations is investigated using data sets of recent M ≥6.0 earthquakes around the Taiwan area from 2009 to 2019. We suggest that the precursory signal could be an E_Index anomaly (EA) in the form of substantial thermal releases distributed near the epicenter. The consecutive appearances of OLR EAs are observed as precursors 2–15 days before significant earthquakes, and we refer to this as a pre-earthquake OLR …

Evaluating Performance Of Openmp Tasks In A Seismic Stencil Application, Eric Raut, Jie Meng, Mauricio Araya-Polo, Barbara Chapman

Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Simulations based on stencil computations (widely used in geosciences) have been dominated by the MPI+OpenMP programming model paradigm. Little effort has been devoted to experimenting with task-based parallelism in this context. We address this by introducing OpenMP task parallelism into the kernel of an industrial seismic modeling code, Minimod. We observe that even for these highly regular stencil computations, taskified kernels are competitive with traditional OpenMP-augmented loops, and in some experiments tasks even outperform loop parallelism.

This promising result sets the stage for more complex computational patterns. Simulations involve more than just the stencil calculation: a collection of kernels is …

Slab Dehydration And Mantle Upwelling In The Vicinity Of The Sumatra Subduction Zone: Evidence From Receiver Function Imaging Of Mantle Transition Zone Discontinuities, Fansheng Kong, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu, Weiwei Ding, Jiabiao Li

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A total of 10,586 P-to-S radial receiver functions recorded by 64 broadband seismic stations were utilized to image the 410 and 660 km discontinuities (d410 and d660, respectively) bordering the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath the Sumatra Island, the Malay Peninsula, and the western margin of the South China Sea. The d410 and d660 were imaged by stacking receiver functions in successive circular bins with a radius of 1°, after moveout corrections based on the 1-D IASP91 Earth model. The resulting apparent depths of the discontinuities exhibit significant and spatially systematic variations. The apparent depths of the d410 and d660 …

Rainfall Triggers More Deep-Seated Landslides Than Cascadia Earthquakes In The Oregon Coast Range, Usa, Sean R. Lahusen, Alison R. Duvall, Adam M. Booth, A. Grant, Ben A. Mishkin, David R. Montgomery, Will Struble, Joshua J. Roering, J. Wartman

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The coastal Pacific Northwest USA hosts thousands of deep-seated landslides. Historic landslides have primarily been triggered by rainfall, but the region is also prone to large earthquakes on the 1100-km-long Cascadia Subduction Zone megathrust. Little is known about the number of landslides triggered by these earthquakes because the last magnitude 9 rupture occurred in 1700 CE. Here, we map 9938 deep-seated bedrock landslides in the Oregon Coast Range and use surface roughness dating to estimate that past earthquakes triggered fewer than half of the landslides in the past 1000 years. We find landslide frequency increases with mean annual precipitation but …

Assessment Of Switchgrass-Based Bioenergy Supply Using Gis-Based Fuzzy Logic And Network Optimization In Missouri (U.S.A.), Gia Nguyen, Erik Lyttek, Pankaj Lal, Taylor Wieczerak, Pralhad Burli

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Bioenergy has been globally recognized as one of the sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. An assured supply of biomass feedstocks is a crucial bottleneck for the bioenergy industry emanating from uncertainties in land-use changes and future prices. Analytical approaches deriving from geographical information systems (GIS)-based analysis, mathematical modeling, optimization analyses, and empirical techniques have been widely used to evaluate the potential for bioenergy feedstock. In this study, we propose a three-phase methodology integrating fuzzy logic, network optimization, and ecosystem services assessment to estimate potential bioenergy supply. The fuzzy logic analysis uses multiple spatial criteria to identify suitable biomass cultivating regions. …

Topography Of The 410 And 660 Km Discontinuities Beneath The Cenozoic Okavango Rift Zone And Adjacent Precambrian Provinces, Youqiang Yu, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

By taking advantage of the recent availability of a broadband seismic data set from Networks NR and BX covering the entire country of Botswana, we conduct a systematic receiver function investigation of the topography of the 410 and 660 km discontinuities beneath the incipient Okavango rift zone (ORZ) in northern Botswana and its adjacent Archean-Proterozoic tectonic provinces in southern Africa. Similar to a previous mantle transition zone (MTZ) discontinuity study using data from a 1-D profile traversing the ORZ, a normal MTZ thickness is observed in most parts of the study area. This is inconsistent with the existence of widespread …

Patagonian Aridification At The Onset Of The Mid‐Miocene Climatic Optimum, Robin B. Trayler, Matthew J. Kohn, M. Susana Bargo, José I. Cuitiño, Richard F. Kay, Caroline A. E. Strömberg, Sergio F. Vizcaíno

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fossil‐rich sediments of the Santa Cruz Formation, Patagonia, Argentina, span the initiation of the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO), the most recent period of warm and wet conditions in the Cenozoic. These conditions drove the expansion of tropical and subtropical ecosystems to much higher latitudes, with the fossiliferous Santa Cruz Formation recording one of the southernmost examples. We collected new carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of herbivore tooth enamel from fossils ~17.4 to 16.4 Ma in age to investigate ecological and climatic changes across the initiation of the MCO. Enamel δ¹³C values are consistent with a C₃‐dominated …

Volcano Video Data Characterized And Classified Using Computer Vision And Machine Learning Algorithms, Alex J. C. Witsil, Jeffrey B. Johnson

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Video cameras are common at volcano observatories, but their utility is often limited during periods of crisis due to the large data volume from continuous acquisition and time requirements for manual analysis. For cameras to serve as effective monitoring tools, video frames must be synthesized into relevant time series signals and further analyzed to classify and characterize observable activity. In this study, we use computer vision and machine learning algorithms to identify periods of volcanic activity and quantify plume rise velocities from video observations. Data were collected at Villarrica Volcano, Chile from two visible band cameras located ~17 km from …

Determination Of Structural Characteristics Of Tuzgölü Fault Zone Using Gravity And Magnetic Methods, Central Anatolia, Bahar Di̇nçer, Veysel Işik

Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration

The anomaly maps and amplitude and wavelength changes of the anomalies obtained from gravity and magnetic methods can provide to identify fault traces in the underground. The Tuzgölü Fault Zone (TFZ), the NW-SE striking active fault zone in central Anatolia, includes fault strands that cut the basement and basin deposits. Our magnetic and gravity analysis suggests that Tuzgölü Basin and its surroundings are characterized by distinct depression and ridge areas. Gravity anomaly data show the presence of faults at depths of sea level (0 m), -1000 m, -2000 m, -3000 m, and -4000 m. These faults are mostly normal and …

Forecasting The Development Of A Natural Levee Breach And Subsequent Sediment Distribution At Mardi Gras Pass, Louisiana, Joshua Hansen

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In 2012, a breach in a natural levee occurred on the Mississippi River near the Bohemian Spillway, forming a new distributary named Mardi Gras Pass. Since its genesis, scientists from local universities and NGOs have been regularly performing bathymetric and bank surveys to track the channel’s expansion, as well as discharge surveys throughout the receiving basin. This study developed and implemented a hindcast simulation based on this wealth of data utilizing the morpho- and hydrodynamic model, Delft3D. This model was then used to create a 20-year forecast and a 1-year simulation without tidal and subtidal forces. The results demonstrated that …