Digital Commons Network^™

Western Kentucky University Stormwater Utility Survey 2024, Warren Campbell

SEAS Faculty Publications

The main goal of this survey is to identify as many U.S. Stormwater Utilities (SWUs) as possible. Because many stormwater professionals do not have the time to respond to questionnaires, our primary method of identification was Internet searches. We searched key terms such as “stormwater utility,” “stormwater fee,” and “drainage fee.” We scoured online municipal codes such as Municode, AmLegal, Sterling, LexisNexis, General Code, and others. We searched through many city web websites to find utilities. We have also had many people contact me to update fees and identify new utilities. However, the data primarily comes from Internet sources and …

Remediating History: A Review Of Restoration For Creeks Polluted From Historical Mining Sites, With The Red Boy Mine As A Primary Case Study, Kara Atiyeh

University Honors Theses

I conducted a literature review to examine the key aspects of restoring watersheds affected by pollution from historical mining. This review is then applied to a case study discussion of the Red Boy Mine and Clear Creek remediation project in Granite, Oregon. The goal of this discussion is to explore how an analysis of site conditions along with current literature on management practices can help guide these projects. Thousands of abandoned hard rock mines remain throughout the country, and many pose serious environmental health effects. Heavy metals like cadmium, nickel, and copper are brought to the surface from mining activity, …

A Pilot Study On Particulate Matter Concentrations From Cooking And Its Effects On Indoor Air Pollution In A Mexican American Household In Mission, South Texas, Usa, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Carlos Garcia Patlan, Esmeralda Mendez, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This pilot study focuses on particulate matter (PM) while cooking in a South Texan household. Dishes such as Beef, Burger, Fish, Chicken, Egg Sandwich, and Hotdog were prepared. Indoor PM levels were compared with outdoor PM levels. A DustTrak DRX was used to monitor the PM released during the cooking process. PM2.5 levels were highest while cooking beef, 162.79 + 209.62 μg m−3. Hot Dog preparation resulted in the lowest PM2.5 concentration of 27.72 + 5.58 μg m−3. Indoor PM2.5 levels were observed to be greater in contrast to outdoor levels when compared to the outdoor levels (96 words).

Using Bayesian Multispecies Models To Evaluate Fish And Invertebrate Detection Probability And Distribution In The Hypersaline Bahia Grande Tidal Basin, Roy M. Ulibarri, Catherine M. Eckert, David Hicks, David Montagne, Brandon Jones, David R. Stewart

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective

In 2000, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge acquired the Bahia Grande (Texas) management unit, a space that had lain barren and arid for 70 years. A large cooperative partnership launched a restoration project to replenish the basin and recover its original tidal hydrology. In 2005, the construction of a pilot channel successfully restored water throughout the basin, and plans to eventually widen the channel were developed. Our study aims to evaluate an estuarine habitat restoration by assessing ecological drivers and the impacts on species diversity.

Methods

We evaluated species richness, detection/occupancy rates, and species–habitat relationships, and we estimated …

Amino-Modified Upcycled Biochar Achieves Selective Chromium Removal In Complex Aqueous Matrices, Kenneth Flores, Diego F. Gonzalez, Helia Magali Morales, Arnulfo Mar, Sergi Garcia-Segura, Jorge L. Gardea-Torresdey, Jason Parsons

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Chromium pollution of groundwater sources is a growing global issue, which correlates with various anthropogenic activities. Remediation of both the Cr(VI) and Cr(III), via adsorption technologies, has been championed in recent years due to ease of use, minimal energy requirements, and the potential to serve as a highly sustainable remediation technology. In the present study, a biochar sorbent sourced from pineapple skins, allowed for the upcycling of agricultural waste into water purification technology. The biochar material was chemically modified, through a green amination method, to produce an efficient and selective adsorbent for the removal of both Cr(VI) and Cr(III) from …

Lead Along Arid Route 66: Concentration, Fate, Surface Transport, And Awareness, Dominic Joel Ombati

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Fate and transport of lead (Pb) are well studied in humid, high precipitation environments. Few studies have compared or addressed fate of lead (Pb) in arid, low precipitation areas where the soil binding capacity may differ from classic studies. The goal of this study is to identify the control of fate and transport in the arid section of Route 66 by determining the concentration, chemical forms, and surface transport mechanism of lead (Pb) along the arid section of Route 66. Understanding the fate and transport of lead (Pb) in different environments is key in the environmental mitigation of lead (Pb) …

A New Design Strategy For Sizes Of Polymer Gel Treatments Derived From A Comprehensive Assessment Of Their Case Histories, Munqith Aldhaheri, Abdullah Almansour, Na Zhang, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The incentive to revive brownfield oil production extends the interest to apply polymer gel treatments in injection wells. Virtually, volumes of previous remediations implemented in similar reservoir types are used to size new jobs. Such an analogy-Based design procedure imposes a need to evaluate the most frequent designs for each reservoir type based on a comprehensive field survey. This survey provides a new treatment sizing strategy for polyacrylamide-polymer bulk gels by reviewing their field applications in 653 injection wells. the new strategy proposes using the average and most frequent gel volumes per reservoir type as an initial estimate of the …

Fluid Futures: The Revitalization Of Yangzhou Through Its Historical Waterways, Feiyang Wu

Masters Theses

In China, cities such as Yangzhou, which in pre-modern times played central roles in the political, cultural, and economic functioning of the country based on their geographic location, proximity to water-based trade routes, and connections to the imperial court, are today facing uncertain futures due to waterways no longer being critical to trade, and government-driven development being focused on first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. With this, the working-age population migrates from smaller cities toward these urban giants, leaving behind aging relatives, a less robust and diversified economic base, and few attributes other than cultural tourism that …

Environmental Fate And Transport Of Pfas In Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Discharged To Rapid Infiltration Basins, Kai M. Trobisch

Masters Theses

Fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent discharged to rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) is investigated using data from 26 WWTPs in Michigan and numerical modeling to assess the role of air-water interface (AWI) sorption in modulating mass fluxes to the saturated zone. Analysis of RIB physical properties yields a median separation distance of 6.5 meters between land surface and the water table, and a continuum of area-normalized effluent fluxes ranging from 0.01 to 0.62 meters per day. A subset of WWTPs with RIBs indicate higher PFAS concentrations in groundwater than effluent with …

What Climate Change Means For Nebraska

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Nebraska’s climate is changing. In the past century, most of the state has warmed by at least one degree (F). The soil is becoming drier, and rainstorms are becoming more intense. In the coming decades, flooding is likely to increase, yet summers are likely to become increasingly hot and dry, which would reduce yields of some crops, require farmers to use more water, and amplify some risks to human health.

Our climate is changing because the earth is warming. People have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by 40 percent since the late 1700s. Other heat-trapping greenhouse …

Enhanced Dip Angle Map Using Kuwahara And Gaussian Filters: An Example From Burdur Region, Türkiye, Özkan Kafadar, Erdi̇nç Öksüm

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Recently, many edge detection and enhancement techniques have been used to transform geophysical data into a more suitable form for interpretation. The dip angle, a surface-derived attribute that has been frequently used in the interpretation of seismic data, is one of these transforms, and recently, it has started to be utilized as an edge detector in the interpretation of potential field data. In this study, it is proposed to use the potential field data filtered using the Kuwahara and Gaussian filters to obtain clearer and more detailed edges from both the conventional dip angle and its rescaled version. Two synthetic …

Derivation Of A 1-D Seismic Velocity Model For The Lake Van Region, Mehveş Feyza Akkoyunlu, Bülent Kaypak, Bülent Oruç, Doğan Kalafat

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

We present a detailed one-dimensional (1-D) velocity model of the Lake Van Basin and its surrounding region, alongside precise hypocenter locations, utilizing seismic data from the aftershocks of the 23 October 2011 Lake Van earthquake (Mw = 7.1). The 1-D minimum velocity model is computed by the VELEST program by analyzing body wave traveltimes and station corrections. Encompassing a geographical area of 180 × 90 km² centered around Lake Van, the study incorporated seismic data from 10 newly deployed stations, complementing the existing network of the Kandilli Earthquake Research Institute. A comprehensive manual analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising …

Stochastic 1-D Reactive Transport Simulations To Assess Silica And Carbonate Phases During The Co2 Reinjection Process In Metasediments, Selçuk Erol

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

One proposed method to mitigate carbon emission is to mineralize the CO2 in deep geothermal reservoirs while mixing the coproduced CO2 with the effluent fluid for reinjection. The injection fluid temperature fluctuates due to the mixing process between CO2-charged water and the effluent fluid, and compressor interruptions change the thermodynamic conditions that influence the fluid-rock interaction in the reservoir. Mineral dissolution or precipitations are associated with changes in permeability and porosity that affect the flow and, eventually, the lifespan of the reservoir. A combined stochastic–reactive transport simulation approach is useful for inspection purposes. Moreover, the stochastic algorithm validates the deterministic …

Deposition Of Organic And Inorganic Carbons On The Turkish Continental Margins (1984–1996), Vedat Edi̇ger, Di̇lek Edi̇ger

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

This study reevaluates the published total inorganic carbon (TIC) and total organic carbon (TOC) percentages of 695 seafloor sediment samples collected from the continental margins of the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea between 1984 and 1996. An inverse relationship is observed between the average TIC and TOC percentages in the four seas surrounding Türkiye. The explanation for this phenomenon is closely connected to the terrestrial, marine, climatic, and environmental factors of the continental margins from which the samples were collected.

Estimating Increased Transient Water Storage With Increases In Beaver Dam Activity, Konrad Hafen, Joseph M. Wheaton, Brett B. Roper, Philip Bailey, William W. Macfarlane, Bethany T. Neilson, Christopher J. Tennant

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Dam building by beaver (Castor spp.) slows water movement through montane valleys, increasing transient water storage and the diversity of residence times. In some cases, water storage created by beaver dam construction is correlated to changes in streamflow magnitude and timing. However, the total amount of additional surface and groundwater storage that beaver dams may create (and, thus, their maximum potential impact on streamflow) has not been contextualized in the water balance of larger river basins. We estimate the potential transient water storage increases that could be created at 5, 25, 50, and 100% of maximum modeled beaver dam capacity …

Exploring A Fly Ash-Based Grouting Material For Toughening Through In Situ Polymerization Of Acrylamide, Zhang Yuehong, Wang Xiaodong, Wang Hai, Wu Boqiang, Ji Zhongkui, Zhu Shibin, Han Le, Feng Longfei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Efficiently controlling the water inflow (loss) of burnt rocks in the roof of coal mining faces requires grouting reinforcement materials with excellent compressive toughness. Silicate cement-based grouting materials, characterized by low costs, have been extensively applied to grouting reinforcement in coal mines. However, their hardened grout is susceptible to deformation, exhibiting poor toughness. By employing the in-situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) for toughening, this study investigated the effects of AM, cross-linking agent, initiator, and water-cement ratio on the setting time, swelling capacity, compressive strength, and toughness index of the fly ash-based grouting materials. Furthermore, the microstructures of the hardened grout …

Some Reflections On The Application Of Machine Learning To Research Into The Theoretical System Of Mine Water Prevention And Control, Yao Hui, Yin Huichao, Liang Manyu, Yin Shangxian, Hou Enke, Lian Huiqing, Xia Xiangxue, Zhang Jinfu, Wu Chuanshi

Coal Geology & Exploration

The theoretical system of mine water prevention and control encompasses three fundamental aspects: disaster-causing mechanisms, risk evaluation, and disaster prediction. This theoretical system, having undergone rapid development over the past 20 years, aims to gain insights into the behavior characteristics of mine water and predict its evolutionary trend, thus serving the prevention and control of water disasters in mining areas. Applying machine learning, a powerful tool for data analysis and mining in the era of big data, to research into the theoretical system has garnered considerable attention. This study focuses on the specific applications of machine learning to the three …

Construction And Analysis Of A Method For Grading Long-Term Vegetation Carbon Sink In Waste Dumps Of An Open-Pit Coal Mine, Yang Fei, Cui Kuankuan, Zhang Chengye, Li Jun, Wang Jinyang, Du Tianmeng, Zhang Haoran

Coal Geology & Exploration

Vegetation carbon sink serves as a crucial indicator for the ecological assessment of an open-pit coal mine. The accurate inversion and grading of vegetation carbon sink play a significant role in exploring the ecological restoration of coal mines. This study proposed a method for grading vegetation carbon sink of an open-pit coal mine based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Specifically, using a light use efficiency (LUE) model, this study first determined the spatio-temporal distributions of the 2005‒2020 vegetation carbon sink in the waste dumps of the Shengli No.1 open-pit coal mine through inversion based on Landsat images and …

Dynamic Simulations And Applicability Evaluation Of Novel Perforation Techniques, Bi Gang, Yuan Peijie, Han Fei, Fu Shuaishuai, Wu Jiemin, Ma Ying

Coal Geology & Exploration

The development and improvement of perforated completion techniques hold great practical significance and value for efficient testing and exploitation of oil and gas fields. However, conventional shaped-charge perforation for well completion of low-permeability reservoirs (e.g., low-permeability coal seams) suffered high seepage resistance and reduced productivity due to the presence of compaction damage zones. To achieve enhanced exploitation efficiency of low-permeability reservoirs, novel perforation techniques, including self-cleaning and after-effect perforation, have been proposed. However, their perforation performance and applicability remain ambiguous. Based on the explicit time integration algorithm and fluid-structure interaction mechanism of LS-DYNA, this study proposed a method for finite …

A Simulation Study Of Mechanisms Behind Water Inrush From Fault-Bearing Floors Of Ultra-Thick Coal Seams Under Loading And Unloading At Significantly Variable Amplitude, Li Hao, Zhu Kaipeng, Guo Guoqiang, Zhou Yang, Kang Zhiqin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Ultra-thick coal seams feature large stope spaces and extensive disturbance ranges. Significantly variable amplitude loading and unloading are prone to cause the fault rupture of floors of ultra-thick coal seams, inducing water disasters. Numerical simulation serves as a critical method for revealing the fault reactivation and water inrush mechanisms at the floors of ultra-thick coal seams. The key of this method is to accurately inflect the coupling characteristics of rock mass rupture and fissure water under significantly variable amplitude loading and unloading. This study determined the correlations of the damage variable with plastic strain and stress, deriving the equations for …

Geochemical Characteristics And Influencing Factors Of Deep Coalbed Methane In The Linxing-Shenfu Block, Wu Peng, Hu Weiqiang, Li Yangbing, Ma Litao, Li Yong, Zhao Fei, Niu Yanwei, Chen Jianqi, Li Panpan, Liu Zaizhen, Li Chenchen, Cao Di, Liu Cheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Identifying the origin and geochemical characteristics of deep coalbed methane (CBM) is critical for its exploration and production. This study examined the desorbed gas from deep-CBM parameter wells in the Linxing-Shenfu block on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin. It systematically tested the composition, content, and carbon isotopes of CBM in coal seams Nos. 8 and 9. In combination with the degree of thermal evolution, gas-bearing properties, coal seam burial depths, geological structures, and hydrogeologic conditions, it delved into the geochemical characteristics and influencing factors of deep CBM. The results show that the deep CBM in the study area …

Anti-Channeling Methods For Coalbed Methane Production Using L-Type Horizontal Wells, Liu Zhan, Zhang Qunxia, Geng Yuxin, Luo Dan, Wang Minggang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coalbed methane (CBM) production using L-type horizontal wells can yield stable single-well production of up to above 8 000 m³/d. However, due to the lack of sand settling pockets, L-type horizontal wells fail to achieve gas-water separation under the action of gravity. Consequently, gas channeling from tubing is prone to occur, significantly decreasing pumping efficiency and restricting further drainage and pressure reduction. By optimizing the lifting process for production in the early stage, the gas channeling from tubing has been somewhat alleviated. However, the anti-channeling effects remain unsatisfactory in low-fluid-pressure and high-yield gas wells. This study examined L-type …

Development Of Remote Control System For Automatic Drilling Rig Used In Coal Mine, Dong Hongbo, Yao Ningping, Wang Tianlong, Ma Bin, Peng Guangyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

In response to the problems of high labor intensity and great safety risk of drilling rig under the complex construction environment, a set of remote monitoring system for automatic drilling rig of coal mine was developed using the electronic circuit, measurement sensing, remote control, video monitoring and big data technologies. The system, based on ZDY4500LFK coal mine drilling rig, has implemented the three control modes: in-line-of-sight control, underground centralized control and ground remote monitoring. Besides, a cloud automatic drilling rig management and control platform was established. Specifically, the in-line-of-sight monitoring is used to realize the accurate operation of drilling rig …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

A Preliminary Study Of Coalbed Methane Adsorption At Fractal Interfaces, Jin Yi, Li Yani, Song Huibo, Zhao Mengyu, Yang Yunhang, Chen Zenan

Coal Geology & Exploration

The adsorption and desorption mechanisms of coalbed methane (CBM) are foundational for revealing CBM accumulation mechanisms and achieving efficient CBM exploitation. Studies have indicated that coal reservoirs exhibit complex pore structures with fractal features, significantly influencing CBM adsorption at pore-solid interfaces. Based on a comparative analysis of several common adsorption models for gas-solid interfaces and a summary of their characteristics and applicable conditions, this study suggests that all these adsorption models still rely on the stationary assumption of adsorption selectivity for the description and application of CBM adsorption behavior at fractal interfaces while overlooking the scale invariance of the adsorption …

Dynamic Mechanisms Of Coal And Gas Outbursts Based On A Multi-Zone Combined Coal Model, Li Feng, Wang Chenchen, Wang Bo, Jing Yadong, Yan Zhengxu, Zhang Minbo

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coal and gas outbursts (hereafter referred to as outbursts) severely affect coal mining safety. However, many scientific problems underlying the outbursts remain unsolved. To minimize the influence of anisotropy in the mechanical properties of coals on research into outbursts, this study constructed a multi-zone combined coal model. Based on the stress distribution of overlying strata and the stress wave propagation mechanisms, this study located the weak zone of coals, shrinking the research object from the outburst center to the weak zone. Given that outbursts are triggered by the disturbance of external dynamic load, this study examined the propagation patterns of …

Evolutionary Mechanisms And Models Of Strain, Porosity, And Permeability Of Compacted Broken Coals, Li Lei, Lu Shouqing, Chu Tingxiang, Zhong Xiaoxing, Liu Chongyang, Ren Ting

Coal Geology & Exploration

Residual coal areas in caving zones of goaves in coal mines serve as primary sites for low-temperature reactions between coal and oxygen. Hence, exploring the evolutionary models of the strain, porosity, and permeability of coals in these areas holds great significance for gaining a deep understanding of the spontaneous combustion process and regularity of coals. Based on the self-developed experimental device for gas seepage in compacted broken coals, this study explored the evolutionary patterns of the strain, porosity, and permeability of compacted coals with single/mixed particle sizes during gas seepage. Furthermore, this study analyzed the variations in the strain, porosity, …

Botdr-Based Horizontal Deformation Monitoring Of Section Coal Pillars, Chai Jing, Hao Hongru, Yang Jianfeng, Gao Dengyan, Gao Kuiying, Chen Jianhua, Yang Lei, Liu Zeyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

To address potential safety hazards like microcrack initiation, deformation, and failure inside coal pillars, this study monitored the horizontal deformations of coal pillars using the Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR)—a distributed optical fiber sensing technology. Firstly, this study established a method for converting the axial strain of optical fibers into horizontal deformations based on a theoretical analysis of the failure and bulking characteristics of coal pillars. Secondly, it determined the axial tensile response of metal-based cord-shaped sensing optical fibers by conducting laboratory tests. Then, it corrected the strain coefficient based on the deformation and failure patterns of coal pillars. Finally, …

Carbon Microspheres In Natural Coke: Optical Microscopic Characteristics And Their Origin And Implications, An Yanfei, Chen Kaixin, Wang Yaqiao, Cheng Shuo, Huang Jian, He Shuyang, Wang Shengjian

Coal Geology & Exploration

Carbon microspheres (CMs) in natural coke are formed when coal seams undergo magma-induced rapid thermal metamorphism. Analyzing the origin of the optical microscopic characteristics of CMs assists in gaining deep insights into the rapid thermal carbonization and metamorphism of coals. This study examined the natural coke samples rich in CMs from Shitai Coal Mine in Huaibei, Anhui Province. Using experiments like high-resolution reflected polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), this study characterized the particle sizes, distribution, optical microscopic characteristics, and ultramicrofabrics of CMs in natural coke, revealing the origin and thermal evolution implications of their optical anisotropy. The …

Technologies For Water Hazard Prevention And Control In Burnt Rock Aquifers Within Concealed Burnt Areas, Wang Hai

Coal Geology & Exploration

Burnt rocks are extensively distributed in northwestern China, featuring well-developed pores and fractures and abundant water, emerging as primary aquifers in this region. The burnt rocks in concealed burnt areas in this region show inconspicuous surface remains, complicating their identification. Penetrating burnt rock aquifers in coal mining will lead to water hazard and destroy water resources in these aquifers. To prevent and control water hazard in burnt rocks within concealed burnt areas and preserve water resources in burnt rock aquifers, this study analyzed the distributions of burnt rocks in China and the effects of water in them on coal mining. …