Digital Commons Network^™

Sand, Ice, And X-Rays: Developing Xct Methods For Frozen Samples And Refining Siliciclastic Facies Models For Perennially Ice-Covered Lakes, Utilizing Cores From Lake Fryxell, Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, Holly M. Levett

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Sedimentation in perennially ice-covered lakes (PICLs) is proposed to be bi-modal, with mud deposited by stream inflow and sand deposited on the ice cover by aeolian processes and then melting through by absorption of solar radiation. Here, we consider Lake Fryxell, a PICL in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, and several lake bed cores about 30 cm in length, to better understand PICL facies through time, using micro X-ray CT (XCT). Using XCT images along with sieve and laser granulometry data, we constrained the grain-size of PICL deposits to dominantly medium / fine sand with a coarse component. The presence of …

Geotechnical Analysis Of Soil Sample Pp-7 From The Ewu Palouse Prairie Restoration Site, Cheney, Wa, Jessica M. Lawrence, Sydney Fergen, Kai L. Valentine, Annika Smith

2024 Symposium

The Eastern Washington University Palouse Prairie Restoration Project is a program set to restore 120 acres of Palouse prairie back to its native habitat. The land is currently leased as a no till annual wheat field. The soil lies atop Pleistocene loess from the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and glaciofluvial deposits from the Great Missoula Floods. There were 9 different soil samples collected from the Palouse prairie restoration project area. Group 7 analyzed soil sample PP-7 collected at 47.492747°N, -117.593442°W, on September 21st, 2023, and over 10 weeks, tested the specific gravity (ASTM D854), particle size distribution (ASTM D422, D7928), soil …

Valorization Of Seafood Waste For Food Packaging Development, Zhijing Zhan, Yiming Feng, Jikai Zhao, Mingyu Qiao, Qing Jin

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Packaging plays a crucial role in protecting food by providing excellent mechanical properties as well as effectively blocking water vapor, oxygen, oil, and other contaminants. The low degradation of widely used petroleum-based plastics leads to environmental pollution and poses health risks. This has drawn interest in renewable biopolymers as sustainable alternatives. The seafood industry generates significant waste that is rich in bioactive substances like chitin, chitosan, gelatins, and alginate, which can replace synthetic polymers in food packaging. Although biopolymers offer biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, their films often lack mechanical and barrier properties compared with synthetic polymer films. This comprehensive review …

Mapping Recent Timber Harvest Activity In A Temperate Forest Using Single Date Airborne Lidar Surveys And Machine Learning: Lessons For Conservation Planning, G. Bursh Fisher, Andrew J. Elmore, Matthew C. Fitzpatrick, Darin J. Mcneil, Jeff W. Atkins, Jeffery L. Larkin

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Effective planning for natural resource management and wildlife conservation requires detailed information on vegetation structure at landscape scales and how structure is influenced by land- use practices. In many forested landscapes, the largest impacts of land use on forest structure are driven by forest management activities, which can include invasive species control, prescribed fire, partial harvests (e.g. shelterwood harvests) or overstory removals and clearcuts. Active timber management is often used to achieve forest conservation objectives, but to be used effectively, managers require knowledge of harvest frequency and extent in adjacent forests and at landscape scales. In this paper, we develop …

Drone-Based Airborne Vlf-Em In Detecting Groundwater Contamination Due To Landfill Leachate, Chanho Park, Mine Dogan

Waldo Library Student Exhibits

Modern landfills follow a strict state and federal regulation on their location, design, operation and monitoring practices. One of the key focus in the regulations is in terms of leachate. While the exact composition of the leachates depends on various factors such as waste composition and degradation processes, in general they contain groups of dissolved organic matter, inorganic cations and heavy metals.

Very Low Frequency-Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) has been widely used for delineating leachate plume direction and boundaries. Previous studies using VLF-EM were carried out as on-ground measurements due to limitations in technologies. With the advancements in Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS), …

46th Biennial Convention Of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, University Of Tennessee At Martin, September 16-18, 2022, Richard L. Ford, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE), the national honorary society for the Earth sciences, held its 46th biennial convention (September 16-18, 2022) at satellite facilities of University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) located in Selmer, Tennessee. The convention was hosted by SGE’s Eta Alpha Chapter and the Department of Agriculture, Geoscience, and Natural Resources at UT Martin. Ten (10) of SGE’s approximately 60 active chapters sent delegates to the convention. The traditional convention field trip, an outing to UT Martin’s Coon Creek Science Center, focused on collecting and preparing marine fossils from the Upper Cretaceous Coon Creek Formation. …

Fluvial Channel Path Evolution – Documenting Decades Of Change Along The Little Wabash River, East Central Illinois, Usa, Diane M. Burns, David Viertel, Kwang Il Yoo

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

As highly dynamic landforms, rivers etch their channels into the surrounding and underlying strata over time, continuously reshaping the landscapes they traverse. This study examines geomorphological changes of the Little Wabash River in East Central Illinois between 1938 and 2011. The Little Wabash River is a meandering river sourced in southwestern Coles County, Illinois, and flows southward approximately 390 km to its confluence with the Wabash River. The historical location of the Little Wabash River was delineated to establish a baseline survey using archival aerial photography acquired in 1938. To understand how the channel evolved, investigations were conducted in each …

The Compass - Volume 93 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2022, Denver, Colorado, Usa, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors an annual poster session at every Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 2022 Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2022 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA, on Monday, October 10, 2022. Ten (10) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall F at the Colorado Convention Center between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report.

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2023, Jason Kelley, Travis Faske

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2023 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, and insect management; economics; irrigation; agronomics; soil fertility; mycotoxins; cover crop management; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results.

Assessing Soil Properties For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib Hamid, Derek M. Heeren, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Saleh Taghvaeian, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Sustainable irrigation methods maximize agricultural productivity in Northern African countries like Sudan. This project evaluates soil properties to develop optimized irrigation strategies for Sudan's arid and semi-arid climate. Assessing soil characteristics such as texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content informs the selection of modern irrigation systems. Data from 3,192 locations, collected using GPS and ring infiltrometers for infiltration rates, alongside laboratory analyses for soil properties, were employed. A ranking system determined suitable irrigation systems for specific soil classes, considering factors like slope, wind, crop tolerance, available water capacity (AWC), drainage, germination, capital cost, labor cost, maintenance, and evapotranspiration (ET). The …

Urban Soil Compaction Remediation By Shallow Tillage And Compost In Hydroseeded Lawn, James Jihoon Kang, Adam Flores, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira, Jungseok Ho

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Construction activities often involve removal of topsoil and compaction of the exposed soil by heavy equipments. Such compacted soils with low organic matter can lead to low infiltration and poor vegetation establishment. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of tillage (shallow till) and compost on soil physical and biological properties in a hydroseeded lawn as a post-construction best management practice for soil compaction remediation. The experimental site received a total of four land treatments in five replicated trials and it was hydroseeded with common Bermuda grass: 1) No Tillage + Compost (NT-C), 2) No Tillage + …

Theoretical Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Methodology For Tunnel Design And Construction Processes, Ozgur Satici, Esra Satici

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

All engineering projects involve risk management applications. Sometimes, risks cannot be effectively managed, leading to catastrophic consequences. Engineers must consciously or unconsciously manage these risks. Regardless of how risks are handled, project risks need to be systematically evaluated. Therefore, risk management procedures must be implemented in every project, particularly in geo-engineering projects, to mitigate undesirable consequences and achieve project objectives. However, the use of risk management procedures in underground excavation projects is not common. Numerous commonly employed underground excavation techniques lack assessment of risks, notably geotechnical risks. Most of them only evaluate rock structures and excavation stability in accordance with …

Overview Of The Geology, Paleontology, And Geoscience Education Opportunities Of The University Of Tennessee At Martin Coon Creek Science Center For Visitors, Researchers, And Docents, Michael A. Gibson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Coon Creek Formation is an internationally recognized Upper Cretaceous (Campanian, 76 million-years-old) marine clastic lagerstätten deposit with over 500 identified species of nearly perfectly preserved invertebrates, vertebrates, plants, and trace fossils with original shell geochemistry and paleoecological fidelity preserved. The type-locality and type-section, located in rural McNairy County, Tennessee, was preserved for research and education in 1988 when the Memphis Pink Palace Museum constructed a 232-acre geoscience education facility on the site, now run as the University of Tennessee at Martin Coon Creek Science Center. Visitors to the site participate in a wide variety of geoscience education programming and …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Chapter And Student Awards For Academic Year 2022-2023, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) encourages efforts to broaden the education and impact of its members through community outreach. In academic year 2022-2023, four awards were given at the chapter level: The Chapter Service Award to the Gamma Chi Chapter; and the James C. Walters Quality Chapter Award to the Gamma Sigma, Gamma Chi, and Epsilon Omega Chapters. Individual merit was recognized through the W. A. Tarr awards given to twenty-two members by their respective chapters. Two awards, the Austin A. Sartin and Charles J. Mankin Outstanding Poster Awards, were given to four students for merit in scientific …

The Use Of Grasslands To Improve Water Quality In The New York City Watershed, D J. Flaherty, J Drelich Jr

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how grasslands are used in the New York City (NYC) Watershed to improve water quality. A Watershed Agricultural Program was established to voluntarily implement Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices on watershed farms. Grasslands have been used in Whole Farm Plans to reduce nutrients, sediments and other toxic materials reaching New York City’s water supply. Rotational grazing has been used to limit access to streams and stream banks and improve nutrient distribution on pastures. Improved grassland management also helps correct the nutrient balance on the farm and facilitates better nutrient management. Brush removal …

Vertical Distribution In Grass Swards: Interactions Between Dry Matter And Nutritional Quality, D R. Buckmaster, R H. Mohtar, S L. Fales

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A field experiment was conducted to study the distribution of mass and quality over plant height throughout the growing season in a pure stand of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). When plant density (expressed as kg DM/ha per cm height) is plotted against a height of strata, all treatments show a similar linear shape distribution. ADF and NDF concentrations declined with sward height. Fall treatments had lower ADF and NDF concentrations than summer treatments. Conversely, CP concentrations showed an increase with plant height. Fall treatments showed higher CP than spring and summer treatments. Defoliation management did not affect orchardgrass quality. …

Manitoba Green Gold- An Extension Project Linking High Quality Hay With High Profits, Dennis Joosse

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Improving the quality of harvested forage is seen as an important step in improving the productivity of Manitoba’s beef, dairy and cash hay operations. One of the most important determinants of forage quality is stage of maturity when harvested. Timely cutting is particularly important during first cut because it represents a major portion of the total harvest, and forage quality drops rapidly during this period.

A New Degree For Land Based Industries At Massey University, New Zealand, J Hodgson, R D. Anderson, J H. Kirkman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A brief description is given of the background, structure and management of a new Bachelor of Applied Science degree introduced at Massey University in 1994 to meet the changing needs of the primary sector industries. Examples are given of the flexibility of choice offered to students enrolling in the programme, with particular reference to opportunities in plant and pastoral science. Enrollment statistics for the first two years of the programme are discussed.

The Evolving International Grassland Congress, L R. Humphreys

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The locations of the International Grassland Congresses are listed. Analysis of the disciplinary themes of papers presented at five Congresses from 1937 to 1993 indicated a considerable homeostasis of content. The plant genetic base for grassland improvement received most attention, and this, together with plant physiology, plant ecology and soil science contributed 52 to 57 per cent of the subject matter at all five Congresses. Emergent topics are mentioned.

Development And Fate Of Seedlings Of Three Temperate Legumes Following Oversowing, M H. Awan, P D. Kemp, D J. Barker, M A. Choudhary

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Oversown seeds of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), strawberry clover (T. fragiferum L.) and caucasian clover (T. ambiguum Bieb.) were monitored for 40 days to identify the stage of development at which the seed of these temperate pasture legumes failed at varying moisture levels. Intact sods of glyphosate-sprayed pasture were taken to a glasshouse, subjected to factorial combination of three soil surface moisture levels (low, medium, high) and three legume species. Overall, 70, 52 and 31% of seed of subterranean, strawberry and caucasian clovers,respectively, produced a visible radicle or seedling. The greatest loss of potential seedlings occured following …

Characterizing Effective Fiber With Particle Size And Fiber Concentration Interactions, D R. Buckmaster, A J. Heinrichs, R A. Ward, B P. Lammers

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Both physical form and chemical nature of fiber is important to ruminant animals. A recently developed method for determining particle size distribution was used to characterize typical distributions for forages and total mixed rations (TMR) from the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. An effective fiber index (EFI) and modified effective fiber index (MEFI) are proposed which link physical and chemical characteristics. The EFI and MEFI are computed by weighting NDF concentrations by particle size distribution and effectiveness for contribution towards a rumen mat and rumination.

The Energetic Utilization Of Forages In Fresh And Dried Condition By Ruminants, W Jentsch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The influence of dehydration of forages on digestibility and energy utilization was measured by indirect calorimetry in respiration chambers with adult wether sheep as a model for ruminants. Comparisons were carried out between fresh and carefully dried forages (experiment 1) and between fresh and not only carefully but also severely dried forages (experiment 2). Careful drying caused no change, but severe drying decreased energy and especially crude protein digestibility. There were no differences in utilization of metabolizable energy between fresh and carefully or severely dried forages.

Development Of Decision-Support Tools For Water Resources Management In Coupled Human-Natural Systems, Edgar J. Guerrón Orejuela

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water is an indispensable resource for all forms of life. Water is a cornerstone for economic development, public health, and social well-being. However, increasing water demand and challenges posed by climate change, pollution, population growth, and land use change underscore the urgent need for effective water management strategies. To address these complexities and ensure the sustainable use of water resources, it is imperative to adopt science-based decision-support tools. These tools leverage data, models, and analytical techniques to provide valuable insights and recommendations that guide decision-makers in formulating evidence-based policies and practices.

Effective water management requires a comprehensive understanding of the …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing The Productivity And Technology Optimization Of Horizontal Wells For Moderately Deep Coalbed Methane In The Northern Zhengzhuang Block, Zhang Cong, Li Kexin, Jia Huimin, Zhang Wuchang, Yang Ruiqiang, Li Jun, Wang Qi, Hou Weiming

Coal Geology & Exploration

[Objective] Hydraulic fracturing of vertical wells was adopted during the early production of moderately deep coalbed methane (CBM) of the northern Zhengzhuang block in the Qinshui Basin, generally yielding low productivity and inefficiency. In contrast, single-casing fracturing of horizontal wells has increased the single-well production to 10‒50 times that of vertical wells, establishing horizontal wells as the dominant development well type. However, the horizontal wells differ greatly in CBM production. This study aims to determine the factors influencing the productivity of horizontal wells using staged fracturing for moderately deep CBM in the northern Zhengzhuang block and improve the production performance. …

Characteristics Of The Pore And Seepage System Of Deep Coalbed Methane In The Baijiahai Uplift, Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, Chen Heqing, Yang Zhaobiao, Li Daoqing, Xu Miaomiao, Liang Yuhui, Liu Changqing, Wang Yuqiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

[Objective] Xinjiang boasts abundant deep coalbed methane (CBM) resources, with Jurassic coal seams in the Baijiahai uplift of the Junggar Basin identified as a favorable target area for deep CBM exploration and exploitation. The pore and seepage system of deep CBM directly determines its recoverability. [Methods] Based on appraisal well Caimei 2-004H drilled the most recently in the Xinjiang oilfield in 2023, this study investigated in detail the pore and seepage system of coals in the Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in the Baijiahai uplift using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption, and carbon …

Impacts Of Observation Line Layout Morphology And Survey Point Missing On The Inversion Of Predicted Parameters Of Mining Subsidence, Guo Qingbiao, Yu Qing, Zheng Meinan, Luo Jin

Coal Geology & Exploration

[Objective] Accurate prediction parameters for mining subsidence are important basis for full cycle green coal mining, while inversion based on the subsidence data of observation lines serves as the main method to obtain these parameters. [Methods] To quantitatively analyze the impacts of the observation line layout morphology and survey point missing on the inversion of prediction parameters for mining subsidence, this study developed a probability integral model-based inversion method for these parameters using the chimpanzee optimization algorithm (ChOA). Using this method combined with digital simulation experiments, this study predicted subsidence parameters under six observation line morphologies and survey point missing …

Fracturing Evolutionary Law And Energy Utilization Efficiency Of Green Sandstones Under Different Loading Rates, Zhao Huanshuai, Pan Yongtai, Qiao Xin, Wang Xingyu, Yu Chao, Huang Jiacheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

[Objective] This study aims to explore the fracturing evolutionary laws and energy utilization efficiency of rocks under different loading rates is a pressing issue in the field of rock fragmentation and processing. [Methods] To this end, the microscopic parameters of green sandstones were calibrated based on laboratory tests, followed by the identification of relationships between the macro- and microscopic mechanical responses of the sandstones. Using Particle Flow Code (PFC), this study investigated the stress-strain curves and stress chain distribution of green sandstones under different loading rates. Then, based on the fracturing and crack characteristics, this study analyzed the fracturing evolutionary …

Hydrochemical Characteristics And Genetic Mechanism Of Geothermal Water In The Wandong Geothermal Area Along The Moxi Fault In Western Sichuan, Huang Xun, Zhang Yunhui, Li Xiao, Lyu Guosen, Guo Hongyang

Coal Geology & Exploration

[Objective] Geothermal energy exploitation is identified as a vital way to achieve the goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. The Moxi fault, located in the southern segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone in western Sichuan, boasts abundant geothermal resources, serving as a significant area for subsequent geothermal energy exploitation. [Methods] This study investigated the hydrogeochemistry of the Wandong geothermal area along the Moxi fault, analyzed the water-rock interaction process in the area based on the hydrochemical correlation, and calculated the reservoir temperatures and the mixing ratios of cold and hot water using geothermometers and the silica-enthalpy mixing …