Digital Commons Network^™

Groundwater Rebound And Seepage Characteristics And Water Quality Evolution In A Sealed Mining Area In North China Type Coalfield, Yin Huiyong, Sun Dehui, Dong Fangying, Wang Fanhua, Zhang Lifeng, Wu Tao, Liu Chao, Zeng Yifan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The seepage field and water quality evolution associated with the groundwater rebound induced by the sealing of mining areas significantly affects the prevention and control of mine water hazards, as well as the recycling of water resources. Systematically elucidating the mechanisms underlying the seepage-hydrochemistry synergy of groundwater is recognized as a fundamental scientific issue for promoting the collaborative management and resource development of the water systems in mining areas. Methods Based on the engineering background of the sealed No.116 mining area in the Binhu Coal Mine, Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, this study investigated the groundwater rebound and seepage characteristics, along …

Conversion Relationships And Three-Dimensional Storage And Utilization Modes Of Four Water Resources In An Open-Pit Mining Area, Chen Tianci, Xu Zhimin, Sun Yajun, Fang Jie, Wang Qiangmin, Xiong Xiaofeng, Zhu Yuhao, Lu Zihan, Wan Fei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Open-pit coal mines in China are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. However, the contradiction between coal mining and groundwater resource conservation is increasingly prominent in these regions. Specifically, a substantial amount of mine water inflow produced during coal mining tends to lead to the further loss of groundwater resources within the influence range of a mining area. Concurrently, the failure of efficient mine water storage intensifies the regional water shortage.Methods This study investigated a typical open-pit coal mine in eastern Inner Mongolia. Using methods such as field survey and sampling, …

Advances In Key Technologies For The Management, Restoration, Development, And Utilization Of Coal Mining Subsidence Areas, Meng Zhuanghan, Wang Yutao, Tian Yanzhe

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Coal mining subsidence areas, formed by the exploitation of coal resources, have emerged as severe challenges to the construction of ecological civilization and the sustainable development of the social economy in China. Their management, restoration, development, and utilization play a significant role in ecological security, food security, and energy transformation. Methods This study aims to address the unresolved and emerging issues in the management of coal mining subsidence areas. Based on the core concepts of management, restoration, development, and utilization, this study developed a dual-level zoning basis system combining theories and reality. Accordingly, coal mining subsidence areas in China …

Wildfire And Water Security: Post-Fire Erosion And Sedimentation Threaten Utah's Reservoirs, Quinn Olpin, Kendall Becker, Scott Hotaling, Aish Chandrasekaran, Patrick Belmont

All Current Publications

As an arid state with limited water, Utah relies heavily on reservoir storage to maintain its water supply throughout the year. This vital water storage, however, is increasingly at risk due to contemporary wildfires. Wildfires pose a risk to water storage because after vegetation burns, erosion typically increases. Eroded soil can be carried by rivers and deposited into reservoirs where it accumulates as sediment, reduces water storage capacity, clogs dam outlets, and degrades water quality. Identifying which watersheds are most vital to maintaining Utah’s water supply, are most threatened by wildfires, and are most prone to high levels of post-fire …

Magnetic Reconnection In Space: From Two-Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic (Mhd) Simulations To Three-Dimensional Particle-In-Cell (Pic) Simulations, Shan-Chang Lin

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Magnetic reconnection is a physical process in plasmas that converts magnetic energy into plasma kinetic energy and thermal energy. It plays an important role in the generation of solar flares, interactions between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere, and magnetic confinement fusion devices. This thesis focuses on studying magnetic reconnection using computational methods, including two-dimensional (2D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations to study Petschek-type reconnection, estimating the timescale from a thin current sheet to fully developed reconnection using 2D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, and magnetic reconnection X-line spreading in the current direction using three-dimensional (3D) PIC simulations.

This thesis contributes to the understanding …

Deformation And Earthquake Potential On The North America - Caribbean - Cocos Triple Junction In Guatemala, Jeremy Maurer, Andreas Eckert, Qiaoqi Sun, Jonathan Obrist-Farner

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The triple junction between the Cocos (CO), North American (NA), and Caribbean (CA) tectonic plates in Guatemala is a region of high seismic risk and includes many large faults and historic earthquakes. Previous analyses of the tectonic system have been overly simplified, resulting in discrepancies between geologically derived and geodetic models of fault slip rate. This study leverages available geodetic, seismic, and geologic data to develop new strain rate maps and faulting models for the region. We find that locking on the regional faults matches historic reports of large earthquakes and that multiple minor fault segments are active and accommodate …

Unusually Preserved Benthic Foraminiferal Assemblages From The Lower Triassic Virgin Limestone Member, Moenkopi Formation, Nevada, U.S.A, Sara B. Pruss, Teagan E. Mcguire

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

The end-Permian mass extinction, the largest in Earth’s history, was so severe that biotic recovery was delayed for five or more million years. During the Early Triassic, ecosystems were populated by low diversity fauna, and the taphonomy of some fossil groups was reminiscent of Cambrian small shelly-style preservation. Herein we report a new assemblage of benthic foraminifera from the Lower Triassic (Olenekian, Spathian) Virgin Limestone Member, Moenkopi Formation in southern Nevada. Insoluble residues of carbonate samples produced >80 benthic foraminiferal tests, preserved as apatite- and iron oxide-internal molds. Dominant morphological groups include planispiral evolute forms, uniserial forms with round chambers, …

Edmore And Webster Coulee Hydrologic Simulation Data, Sharhad Wainty, Taufique H. Mahmood

Datasets

The authors compiled a hydrologic model for the Edmore at Edmore and Edmore at Webster Coulee Basin using Cold Region Hydrologic Platform. The datasets include observed and simulated streamflow, observed climatic data, land use maps and hydrological representative unit maps (HRU) maps. This study detected a mechanism of hydrologic change to wetting using a cold region hydrologic model during 1991-2024 period.

Study Of Anomalous Variations In Seismic And Non-Seismic Parameters Using Machine Learning Techniques To Develop The Earthquake Forecasting Model In The Himalayan Belt, Senthil Kumar M

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and forecasting earthquakes is not just about science it’s about saving lives, even as the dynamic and hidden nature of Earth's tectonic processes makes this an intricate challenge. The Himalayan belt is one of the most seismically active regions globally due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Investigating this region is essential for understanding highly complicated tectonic mechanisms and reducing substantial hazards posed to millions of people by persistent and intense seismic events. This study aims to enhance forecasting methodologies by applying machine learning techniques while dealing with the inherent challenges of geological complexity and …

Investigating The Relationships Among Suspended Sediment Concentration, And Marsh Edge Erosion In Barataria Bay, La, Lily Vowels

LSU Master's Theses

Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA exhibits a unique microtidal, wind-driven hydrodynamic climate where extensive levee infrastructure throughout Louisiana has starved Barataria Bay and similar interdistributary bays of the historic levels of terrigenous sediment import. This has contributed to extreme coastal wetland loss in Louisiana. This project seeks to understand how hydrodynamic and meteorological conditions are linked to sediments’ fate after erosion from the marsh edge. Specifically, this project seeks to differentiate the roles of wave resuspension and marsh edge erosion (MEE) in sediment dynamics in Barataria Bay. An acoustic wave and current profiler (AWAC) was used to capture hydrodynamic conditions, and …

Rishon Le-ẒIyyon, Winepress Park: Geomorphology And Sedimentology, Joel Roskin, Yotam Asscher

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

An extensive brown sandy double-unit sediment, draping large parts of the archaeological remains at the Winepress Park in Rishon Le-Ẓiyyon, is suggested to be associated with the previously reported, undated ʻEn Ha-Qore clay. Based on relative age port-OSL profiling, the depositional mechanism of this unit and the overlying sand is suggested to be related to late Holocene, dune-dammed winter ponds. These aeolian-fluvial dune-damming processes may have been partly triggered by intensive Byzantine human activity that may have led to sand mobilization.

Morphotectonic And Active Tectonic Properties Of The Yenicekent Travertines With Chibanian–Meghalayan Ages In The Denizli Graben (Türkiye), Ömer Eki̇zoğlu, B. Levent Mesci̇

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Travertine deposits that crop out in the Yenicekent travertine field within the Denizli graben in western Türkiye are described and illustrated. Three morphologies of travertine are identified in this field, comprising fissure-ridge type, range-front, and eroded-sheet type, with each type resulting from deposition by geothermal waters driven by ongoing tectonism. The fissures in the Yenicekent travertine field extend parallel to active normal faults bounding the Denizli basin from the NE-directed Tripolis and Pamukkale faults, and were formed by waters released under tensile stress in the footwall blocks of normal faults. This study aimed to link the chronological development of travertine …

U-Pb Calcite Geochronology, Epr, Geochemistry, And C-O-Sr Isotopes Of Ancient Marbles In The İznik Region (Bursa-Türkiye), Namik Aysal, Özge Karslioğlu, Emre Erdem, Marcel Guillong, Si̇nan Öngen, İbrahi̇m Tonguç Uysal, Ersi̇n Kaygisiz, İpek Deni̇z Yildirim

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The İznik city (ancient Nicaea), located east of Lake İznik (known as -“Bithynia” in ancient times), has been an important political and cultural centre of Asia Minor since the Hellenistic period. Marbles produced in the quarries in the vicinity (Ömerli and İnikli villages, Deliktaş-Sarıtaş hills) were used both in the construction of the walls and in many ancient works in the city. Approximately eighteen ancient marble quarries producing grey and white marbles were investigated in the region. Petrography, EPR, XRD, C-O-Sr isotope and whole rock geochemistry analyses were performed for characterization of the samples collected from the quarries for the …

Tectonic Setting Analysis Of The Early Tortonian Lacustrine Basins In Nw Iran Based On Sedimentological, Paleontological, And Structural Studies, Enayat Haghfarshi, Seyyed Reza Moussavi̇ Harami̇, Mohammad Faridi, Peyman Rezaee

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Lignite Beds of Tabriz are among the Neogene formations in the northwest region of Iran that were formed as individual basins in the margin of the Tabriz fault and the suburbs of Tabriz City during the Late Miocene. These beds have many similarities in terms of facies and lithology. In this study, two stratigraphic sections of the main Lignite Beds unit, with a total thickness of 203 m, were measured and sampled. Fine- and medium-grained siliciclastics, limestones, lignite, tuff, and calcrete sedimentary facies were identified. The new fossils identified in this study include gastropods (Borysthenia naticina, Hydrobia sp., Lymnaea …

Editorial Note To The Article “Tectonic Geomorphology Of The South-Eastern Section Of The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone, Western Taurides: Morphotectonic Framework Of The Eşen Basin” [Turkish Journal Of Earth Sciences 33 (5) 2024 503-529 ], Orhan Tatar

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

As part of the journal’s commitment to open scientific dialogue, we are publishing a Letter to the Editor regarding the article “Tectonic geomorphology of the south-eastern section of the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone, Western Taurides: morphotectonic framework of the Eşen Basin” along with a reply from the authors, who have provided a clarification in response to the concerns raised. We consider such exchanges to be a normal and healthy part of the scientific process, and we are presenting both perspectives to allow readers to form their own conclusions.The views expressed in the letter and the reply are those of the respective …

A Model Study On Enhancing The Horizontal Gradient Of Potential Fields With The Vertical Derivative, Luan Thanh Pham, Saulo P. Oliveira, Erdi̇nç Öksüm, Jeferson De Souza

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The total horizontal gradient (THG) and its derivatives are commonly used in interpreting potential fields. Because THG is a nonharmonic function, its vertical derivative (VD) can be consistently computed using, e.g., a finite-difference approximation. The calculation of VD in the wavenumber domain is physically meaningful for harmonic functions, but it provides a pseudovertical derivative (PVD) when applied to nonharmonic fields that can be used in some edge detectors, such as THG. Through experiments with synthetic and field datasets, we evaluated the performance of the PVD of THG in the tilt angle of THG (TAHG) and fast sigmoid-based edge detector (FSED). …

On Reference Accuracy: Clarification Of The Original Data, İrem Eli̇tez, Cenk Yaltirak

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Although it is claimed that the same data was correctly attributed to Alçiçek (2007) in Elitez and Yaltırak (2023), no age data from Alçiçek (2007) were actually used in that study. In fact, the stratigraphic interpretation proposed by Alçiçek (2007) exhibits notable discrepancies with the conclusions presented by Elitez and Yaltırak (2023). Alçiçek (2007) defines the geological units overlying the basement as the Eşen Formation (comprising the Çetilidüz, Çaykenarı, and Kocaçay members) and Quaternary units. Based on the fossil Palaeotragus rouenii, the author suggests that the Neogene succession begins with Late Miocene alluvial-fan conglomerates, sandstones, and mudstones, whereas lacustrine sedimentation …

Citing The Citer: A Way To Claim Original Data, Mehmet Ci̇hat Alçi̇çek

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

In Elitez and Yaltırak (2024, p. 3), the “Upper Miocene” age data for the Eşen Basin fill is cited from Elitez and Yaltırak (2023). However, in that work, the same data was correctly attributed to Alçiçek (2007), which is the original source. Citing a secondary source instead of the original one is avoided in scientific writing. This letter aims to correct this citation practice.

A Multi-Proxy Reconstruction Of Environmental Conditions During Termination 1 In Central New Hampshire, Anne Hannah Randall

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The collapse of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets subsequent to the Last Glacial Maximum (~26-19 ka) marked one of the largest natural climate change events in recent time. In response to global warming, the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS), the ice sheet that covered much of northern North America, receded almost completely during a time known as “Termination 1” (~19-11 ka). The climate changes during this time also caused significant changes in landscape morphology, ecology, and the lifeways of indigenous peoples. This project characterizes the timing of deglaciation and major post-glacial landscape changes across New Hampshire using lake sediment cores. I …

Life Cycle Assessment Of New Jersey Offshore Wind, Meghann Smith, Nawal Shoaib, Pankaj Lal

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

As offshore wind gains momentum within US (United States) renewable energy goals, New Jersey's ambitious targets for offshore wind development represent a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and transition towards cleaner energy sources. This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a planned offshore wind farm off of New Jersey's coast, emphasizing the implications of a domestic supply chain. Key findings suggest that the offshore wind farm is projected to produce 0.013 kg CO2 kWh−1 of electricity generated, reflecting a 98 % decrease in carbon emissions compared to natural-gas-derived electricity. Further, when compared to carbon emissions from other renewable …

Limited Soil Water Recharge In Summer Affects Seasonal Isotopic Signatures Of Tree Xylem Water, Marius G. Floriancic, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Harsh Beria, Scott T. Allen, James W. Kirchner

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Recent studies have reported that xylem waters in forest trees during the summer growing season are often isotopically similar to winter, rather than summer, precipitation. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this observation, which can be viewed as a form of ecohydrological separation, but empirical tests spanning space and time remain limited. We hypothesise that variations in the seasonal origin of precipitation found in tree xylem waters can be explained by seasonal differences in soil water recharge. We test this hypothesis by evaluating to what extent climatic aridity can explain seasonal signals in extensive surveys of the isotope ratios …

Post-Wildfire Erosion And Sedimentation: An Escalating Threat For Utah Fisheries, Colton James, Kendall Becker, Scott Hotaling, Aish Chandrasekaran, Alex Fiedler, Timothy E. Walsworth, Patrick Belmont

All Current Publications

Wildfires are a natural part of the western U.S. landscape and provide numerous benefits, including enhanced nutrient cycling and habitat rejuvenation. Utah’s fish populations evolved with wildfire as a common disturbance. However, the increasing size and severity of wildfires, combined with Utah’s heavily engineered and fragmented stream networks, pose a contemporary risk to fish populations. This fact sheet reviews wildfire impacts on erosion and Utah's watersheds and fisheries. It outlines measures we can take to prevent post-wildfire fish die-offs.

Spatiotemporal Responses To A Rural Highway By Four Mammal Species, Caitlin K. Brett, Anna Rose Mehner, John H. Young Jr., Sarah E. Lehnen, Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Roads can negatively impact the wildlife communities they transect. Road mortalities from wildlife-vehicle collisions are one direct effect, but roads may also indirectly affect wildlife behavior, movement, or local distribution. Quantifying the spatial extent of these road-effects is important for understanding how roads indirectly affect species of concern, identifying potential sources of disturbance, and for estimating the effectiveness of road mitigation structures. Farm-to-Market Road (FM)106, which transects part of the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas, has been identified as a potential source of wildlife road mortalities, particularly for one of the two remaining breeding populations of …

A Rapid Method For Identifying Plant Oxidative Stress And Implications For Riparian Vegetation Management, Mizanur Rahman, Takashi Asaeda, Kiyotaka Fukahori, Md Harun Rashid, Hideo Kawashima, Junichi Akimoto, Refah Tabassoom Anta

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Native and invasive plants of the riverain region undergo a range of environmental stresses that result in excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a relatively stable and quickly quantifiable way among different ROS. The herbaceous species including Artemisia princeps, Sicyos angulatus, and Solidago altissima were selected. The H2O2 and photosynthetic pigment of leaves were measured, soil samples were analyzed to quantify macronutrients such as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and soil moisture, and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was also recorded at different observed sites of Arakawa Tarouemon, Japan. The H2O2 concentration of S. altissima significantly …

Leveraging Weekly Snow Cover Time Series For Improved Glacier Monitoring And Modeling, Rainey Aberle, Ellyn M. Enderlin, David R. Rounce, Shad O'Neel, Brandon Tober, Alexandra Friel

Boise State University Publications and Presentations

Seasonal snow and ice melt strongly influence glacier mass balance, yet sparse sub-annual observations limit our understanding of seasonal dynamics. Here we construct and analyze weekly snow cover time series for 200 glaciers across western North America from 2013 to 2023 using an automated image processing pipeline. Snow cover varied widely across the region: snow minima timing varied with latitude — from August from 62 to 64N to October from 48 to 50N—and accumulation area ratios ranged from near-zero to 0.92 (median of 0.52). A comparison of snowlines from observations and the PyGEM glacier mass balance model revealed seasonally evolving …

Seeking Structure In Complex Systems: From Feature Analysis To Space-Time Causal Discovery With Earth Science Applications, Jeffrey J. Nichol

Computer Science ETDs

Complex systems are difficult to study because of their many interacting parts, emergent phenomena, and feedback loops. These systems underpin all life on Earth. We need improved tools for seeking an understanding of them. This body of research presents my investigations into data-driven methods for understanding complex systems, including my invention of a novel causal discovery meta-algorithm for space-time gridded data. I demonstrated machine learning feature importance and causal discovery capabilities for comparing simulated and observed climate data. I developed a new benchmark for modeling space-time dynamics of locally driven phenomena and examined a prominent causal discovery algorithm. Finding that …

One Year Of Analysis Of Pfas Contamination In Surface Waters Of The West Plains Region Of Spokane County, Jerusha R. Hampson

2025 Symposium

The West Plains has been significantly impacted by PFAS contamination due to the decades-long use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for firefighting training at both Fairchild Air Force Base (FAFB) and the Spokane International Airport (SIA). Groundwater contamination is significant, but less work had been done to understand contamination in surface waters. We now have over a year of data with most locations were sampled seasonally. Though FAFB and SIA are likely sources for some of the contamination, other, smaller sources exist. Surface waters are important to study as they form the boundaries of the West Plains and often function …

The Kentucky Microbiome Dataset, Rachel L. Washburn, Douglas C. Curl

Research Data--KGS

The Kentucky Microbiome Dataset is a continuously updated geolocated dataset which describes the distribution and diversity of microorganisms across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Each geolocated point represents a location reported in the peer-reviewed literature where microorganisms were sampled from soil, water, geologic substrates, or clinical settings. Environmental studies include only non-host-associated, non-clinical microorganisms sampled from natural environments. Clinical studies are mapped separately to highlight locations where investigations into host-associated or human health-related microbes have occurred.

For each location, associated metadata include study information, taxonomic classifications, sample type, sampling method, latitude and longitude, sampling date, publication reference, and a direct link …

Framework For Mapping Sublimation Features On Mars’ South Polar Cap Using Object-Based Image Analysis, Racine D. Cleveland, Vincent F. Chevrier, Jason A. Tullis

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mars’ south polar cap hosts dynamic landforms known as Swiss cheese features (SCFs), which form through the sublimation of carbon dioxide (CO2) ice driven by the planet’s extreme seasonal and diurnal solar insolation cycles. These shallow, rounded depressions—first identified by Mars Global Surveyor in 1999 and later monitored by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)—have been observed to increase in size over time. However, large-scale analysis of SCF formation and growth has been limited by the slow and labor-intensive nature of manual mapping techniques. This study applies object-based image analysis (OBIA) to automate the detection and measurement of SCFs using High-Resolution …

Mitigation Behaviors Of Homeowners And Renters In The Wildland Urban Interface, Aishwarya Borate, Omar Pérez Figueroa, Douglas Houston, Christopher Ihinegbu, Ariane Jong-Levinger, Jochen E. Schubert, Brett F. Sanders

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Residential development within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) has greatly expanded in the United States since the 1990s, amplifying wildfire risk by placing people and structures in greater proximity to flammable vegetation. Household wildfire mitigation actions can vary substantially by cost, knowledge required, and perceived effectiveness, but few studies have examined them separately and how their adoption varies by housing tenure in the context of wildfires. To address this gap, we surveyed residents living in WUI areas within Southern California near recent burn scars in the Santa Ana and San Bernardino Mountain ranges. Drawing on the Protection Motivation Theory and the …