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Machine Learning Based Models For Simulation And Analysis Of Bulk Earth Melt System, Abin Shakya

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the segregation of bulk Earth melt systems into metallic (core) and silicate (mantle) phases under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions is central to modeling Earth’s interior, yet relevant experimental and computational studies remain limited. This work develops a machine learning–based simulation pipeline that iteratively couples first-principles (quantum mechanical) calculations with neural network training to generate high-fidelity force fields. Using major-element Fe–Mg–Si–O melt systems, with and without H and N, as testbeds, we demonstrate that this framework enables large-scale molecular dynamics simulations at near first-principles accuracy. We further introduce a sequence of phase identification methods, progressing from statistical binning of elemental …

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Applications Of Machine Learning In Enhancing Evaporation Estimation For Small Reservoirs: A Case Study In Semi-Arid South Texas, Syed Muhammad F Abdullah, Chu-Lin Cheng, Jude A. Benavides, Jungseok Ho, Rafael M. Almeida

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Small reservoirs in semi-arid regions experience substantial evaporative losses but are rarely monitored at daily scales. A multi-reservoir machine learning (ML) framework was developed to estimate daily open-water evaporation. Empirical models (Penman, Penman-Monteith, Priestley-Taylor, Bowen Ratio Energy Budget) andabenchmark combination method (Daily Lake Evaporation Model-DLEM) were compared against ML models. Predictors combined gridded meteorology (gridMET) with reservoir attributes (surface area, average depth, maximum depth, and fetch). ML models (Random Forest-RF, Decision Tree-DT, K-Nearest Neighbor-KNN, and Support Vector Regression-SVR) were trained on four reservoirs using data from 2018 to 2025. Results from ML models were further validated using both DLEM and …

Long-Term Assessment Of Cattail (Typha Spp.) Dynamics And Wetland Restoration In The Everglades Using Object-Based Landsat Time Series And Markov Modeling, Gideon Tandoh, Stephen Yankyera, Michael Sean Chenoweth

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Assessing long-term vegetation response to restoration requires spatially consistent monitoring approaches that capture both observed change and likely future trajectories. In the Florida Everglades, nutrient enrichment contributed to the expansion of cattail (Typha spp.) within Water Conservation Area 3A (WCA-3A), raising concerns about restoration effectiveness. This study integrates a multi-temporal Landsat time series (2004–2024), object-based image analysis (OBIA), support vector machine (SVM) classification, and Markov transition modeling to quantify and project vegetation change in WCA-3A. Object-based segmentation reduced classification fragmentation in heterogeneous marsh landscapes, while SVM improved separation among spectrally similar vegetation classes. Classification accuracies remained consistently high across sensors …

What It Takes To Solve The Origin Of Life: An Integrated Review. Part 1–Experimental Methods And Data Repositories, Silke Asche, Carla Bautista, Celia Blanco, David Boulesteix, Alexandre Champagne-Ruel, Cole Mathis, Omer Markovitch, Zhen Peng, Avinash Vicholous Dass, Eloi Camprubi

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The origin(s) of life (OoL), which has puzzled scientists for centuries, remains a major scientific challenge in the 21st century. Research on OoL spans many disciplines, including chemistry, physics, biology, planetary sciences, computer science, and mathematics. The sheer number of different scientific perspectives relevant to the problem has resulted in the coexistence of diverse tools, techniques, data, and software in OoL studies. This has made communication between the disciplines relevant to the OoL extremely difficult because the interpretation of data, analyses, or standards of evidence varies dramatically. Here, we hope to bridge this wide field of study by providing common …

Regional Drought Modulation By Enso And Iod As Indicated By The Standardized Precipitation Index, Arpit Tiwari, Preethi Nanjundan, Tanu Sharma, Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Satyaban Bishoyi Ratna

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Understanding the modulation of drought by large-scale ocean–atmosphere teleconnections is crucial for strengthening drought prediction and resilience in India. This study investigates the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on meteorological drought characteristics across India from 1950 to 2024 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at a 12-month timescale. Drought events were quantified in terms of frequency, duration, severity, and intensity and linked to ENSO–IOD variability through composite, correlation, and mediation analyses. Results reveal that El Niño events consistently correspond to widespread and severe droughts, particularly over central and southern India, with drought …

Towards Physics-Informed Neural Networks For Simulating Multiphase Geothermal Convection​*, Daniel C. Patton, Andrew Harrison Eno

Campus Research Month

Water and steam flow through porous rock, transferring heat via conduction and buoyancy-driven convection caused by density differences. Traditional numerical methods (finite-volume/finite-element) model this well but can become memory-intensive and unstable for long, high-detail simulations. This work demonstrates a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) using a finite-difference approach within the NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo framework to simulate magma chambers in 2D. Tested on the Rio Pisco pluton in Peru, results are compared with the USGS HYDROTHERM model. PINNs learn from physical laws, offering accurate, flexible solutions with less data and development effort.

Monitoring Koyna Dam Displacements Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, Sara Zouriq, Gehan Hamdy, Amr Fawzy, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary, Eehab Khalil, Mohamed Elsayad, Tarik El-Salawaky

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Monitoring dam stability is critical to ensure structural safety and operational reliability. This study integrates Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) based on Sentinel-1 SAR imagery (2020–2023) with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations to assess the behavior of the Koyna Dam in India. PSI detected crest displacements between −1.0 and −1.8 mm yr−1, while FEM simulations predicted a maximum vertical displacement of approximately −3.2 mm at the crest. Although these results represent different quantities (time-averaged displacement rates versus peak static displacement), both approaches indicate millimeter-scale deformation and a consistent pattern of settlement at the dam crest, supporting the interpretation of hydrologically driven …

Una To Put Names On 2 Buildings, Jennifer Edwards

Documents

the naming of the Academic Commons Building and the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

The Science And Technology Building University Of North Alabama, Barbie Hampel-University Advancement

Documents

Brochure and floor plans for the New Science and Technology Building at UNA

University Of North Alabama Science And Technology Building Grand Opening And Ribbon Cutting, University Of North Alabama

Documents

Invitation to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

Climate Rhythms And U.S Extremes, Brendan P. Horn

Scholars Week

There is no question that the United States has been hit hard by weather extremes — massive storms, long droughts, and everything in between. We’re often led to believe that our carbon footprint alone drives these events, but the reality is far more complex. While trapped warm water in the Gulf of Mexico can create significant problems, it is far more certain that global climate change follows natural cycles that many are unwilling to acknowledge.

This poster offers a small but clear picture of what truly drives extreme weather in the United States and what we can actually do about …

Morphology, Phylogeny And Distribution Of Scaeurgus (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) In Southeast Pacific Seamounts, Sergio A. Carrasco, Christian M. Ibáñez, Andrea I. Varela, Jan M. Tapia-Guerra, Erin E. Easton, Javier Sellanes

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Octopuses of the genus Scaeurgus inhabit upper bathyal benthic habitats and are composed of five recognized species. In this study, we conducted morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of two individuals of Scaeurgus and provided additional field observations of the genus in seamounts of the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges (southeast Pacific Ocean) over the last six years. Specifically, two specimens of Scaeurgus were collected at 234 m depth in 2019 during the EPIC oceanographic cruise onboard the R/V Mirai (JAMSTEC, Japan), and five other specimens were video recorded at depths between 210 and 340 m during three oceanographic expeditions …

Assessing Environmental Changes Before And After The 2018 Kilauea Eruption In Leilani Estates, Hawaii, Rokeya Akter Liza

Scholars Week

The 2018 Kilauea eruption in Hawaii significantly impacted the natural landscape, especially in the Leilani Estates region. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the environmental conditions of before and after eruption by applying remote sensing techniques. Landsat 8 satellite imagery was used for two different time periods as before the eruption (February 2018) and after the eruption (March 2019). ERDAS Imagine was used to process these images to evaluate the changes in vegetation and land cover. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated for both pre- and post-eruption images to evaluate vegetation changes. Higher NDVI …

Controlled Gelation Of Co₂-Resistant Polymer Systems For Improved Conformance In Co₂-Eor, Maryam Sharifi Paroushi

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This presentation introduces a CO₂-resistant hydrogel developed to control fluid movement and improve CO₂ injection performance in subsurface reservoirs for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Conventional polymer gels often lose strength in CO₂-rich environments, resulting in weak plugging, early breakdown, and ineffective flow control. To address this limitation, a sulfonated HPAM-based gel system crosslinked with chromium was developed. The effects of polymer concentration, molecular weight, crosslinker ratio, ionic strength, and pH were investigated to better understand gelation behavior and performance. The formulation exhibited controlled gelation, strong resistance to temperature and CO₂, and minimal shrinkage over …

Ecovoltaic Solar Energy Development Creates Novel Microclimate, Temperature, And Soil Moisture Patterns Under Solar Panels In A Warm Desert, Juan Pinos, Seth M. Munson, Claire C. Karban, Matthew D. Petrie

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Background As solar energy development expands in desert regions, new installation practices and solar technologies seek to balance ecosystem conservation and energy generation (ecovoltaics). The Gemini Solar Project, a large ecovoltaic facility located in the northeastern Mojave Desert, employed low impact installation methods to reduce disturbance of the desert ecosystem within arrays of bifacial panels mounted on solar tracking systems. We evaluated microclimate and environmental conditions across five locations: four within-facility microsites (underneath solar panels, east and west panel driplines, and interspaces between panel rows) and one in the undisturbed desert outside the facility. Results Under panel microsites experienced lower …

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan For Landslides For The Kentucky River Area Development District, Kentucky, Hudson J. Koch, Matt M. Crawford, Jason M. Dortch

Contract Reports--KGS

Landslides are a widespread and complex geologic hazard that affects people and infrastructure. The Kentucky River Area Development District, Kentucky, sustains relatively high landslide activity that impacts several municipalities in eastern Kentucky. This hazard mitigation planning project outlines landslide hazard and risk assessments for the Kentucky River Area Development District, with information needed for each community in the region to develop mitigation strategies that will support infrastructure and development needs, land-use planning, situational awareness, and response and recovery actions for the communities.

Trade Liberalization Under Safta And Bimstec: Evidence From A Cge-Gtap Case Study Of A Small Open Economy, Gita Bhushal, Pankaj Lal

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Regional trade liberalization via preferential agreements increasingly shapes economic outcomes in small open economies embedded in overlapping regional frameworks. This study evaluates the short-run economy-wide effects of tariff and non-tariff measure (NTM) reforms under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) using a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model calibrated to the GTAP 10 database. Gravity-based estimates of ad valorem equivalents (AVEs) of NTMs are integrated into the CGE framework, enabling explicit modeling of regulatory barriers alongside tariff reductions. Policy simulations examine scenarios involving a 90 percent tariff …

Joint Map Of Warren County, Kentucky, Steven L. Martin, Emily R. Morris

Map and Chart--KGS

This fracture map is a compilation of joint locations and faults mapped in Warren County, Kentucky, and provides orientations of fractures (joints and faults) for hydrological, geotechnical, slope stability, and rockfall mitigation analysis. The joint data include orientations collected from 2023 to 2024, and those collected during the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologic mapping of the Woodburn 7.5 -minute quadrangle (Shawe, 1963c). New joint orientations were measured to fill gaps in the published geologic map data. Joints are fractures with no appreciable movement parallel to the fracture plane and only slight movement normal to the fracture plane, whereas faults exhibit …

Taphonomy And Fossil Record Of Eufistulana Mumia In The Owl Creek Formation Of The Mississippi Embayment, Riley Rilette

Honors Theses

This study examines the taphonomy and preservation of Eufistulana mumia, a boring bivalve, within the Owl Creek Formation of northeastern Mississippi. The formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment of Maastrichtian age within the Mississippi Embayment. A total of 66 specimens were collected from exposures within the formation and analyzed to evaluate morphometric variation and orientation patterns. Field measurements of trend and plunge of each specimen were recorded in situ using a geological compass, and specimens were later prepared and measured in the laboratory with digital calipers. Morphometric results show consistent tube morphology, with basal widths larger than distal …

Enhancing Urban Garden Capacity By Linking Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function, Mary T. Nguyen, Carleen Rauh, Shelby Gresch, Charlotte Correiro, Heidi Elmendorf, Adriane Fugh-Berman, Gina Wimp, Alexandra L. Decandia

Virginia Journal of Science

Urban agriculture broadly describes food and plant cultivation in metropolitan areas. While biodiversity is thought to support ecosystem health and resilience, the relationship between above-ground and below-ground diversity has been understudied in urban green spaces. This study examines plant, animal, bacterial, and fungal diversity across three distinct urban habitats: a turf lawn, a forb garden, and a farming space. Using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 sequencing, soil nutrient analyses, and surveys of vegetation and wildlife, we connect diverse philosophies in urban agriculture to their role in advancing community diversity and ecosystem function. We found that different urban gardens support …

Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data, Serge Tuyambaze

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Accurate estimation of terrestrial Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is critical for quantifying global carbon sequestration and understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle. While eddy covariance (EC) towers provide standard flux measurements, upscaling these measurements to continuous global coverage remains challenging due to the sparse distribution of flux towers and their small footprints. Remote sensing (RS), especially coupled with eddy covariance data, has been used to estimate GPP at the global scale. Different RS derived productivity models have been developed, including vegetation indices, light use efficiency (LUE) models, solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), dynamic global vegetation models (DGVM), and machine learning. One widely adapted …

Machine Learning And Multisensor Data Fusion For Forest Above Ground Biomass Estimation In Arkansas, Abdullah Al Saim, Mohamed Aly

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Forests are essential for biodiversity conservation, climate change, natural education, scientific research, and carbon sequestration. This study uses machine learning-based Random Forest (RF) regression to estimate the Above Ground Biomass (AGB) of the Ozark and Ouachita forests at a 10-meter resolution by combining data from Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1, and GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation) on Google Earth Engine. The RF model included 34 out of 154 variables representing topographical, spectral, and textural factors demonstrating strong correlations with measured biomass. The RF model showed strong performance with R-squared and RMSE values of 0.95 and 18.46 for the training dataset and 0.75 and …

Fluid-Mediated Particle Transport: Revisiting Snowstorm Simulations In 2d With An Updated Pressure Calculation Algorithm, E. Maldonado, Michael W. Roth

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

We develop and present computer simulations of snowfall and snowfall management near buildings using deflection fins. Our approach first entails a numerical solution to the Navier – Stokes fluid dynamics equations in order to determine wind velocity profiles with and without deflection fins. Subsequent to finding the velocity field, snow particles are introduced and are subject to Newton’s Laws in order to allow transport, sticking to surfaces, landing and ultimately accumulation. We revisit previous work, presenting and discussing program construction and validation, along with cursory systematic studies of varying geometrical parameters in the simulation. The utility of the simulations is …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2025, San Antonio, Texas, Usa, Scott R. Beason, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) sponsors a poster session at every annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 37th SGE undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2025 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (GSA Connects) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, on Monday, October 20, 2025. Fifty-seven (57) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall 1 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session, with authors present between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are …

"Leaf It To The Trees": Assessing The Cooling Effects Of Tree Canopy On Campus Microclimates, Andrea Sophia Realyvasquez

Posters - 2026

Urban heat island (UHI) effects are becoming increasingly common worldwide, with lived experiences and media coverage highlighting the negative consequences of urban development for humans and the environment. Urbanization, like many other aspects of society, should not remain stagnant and outside the scope of innovation. Understanding the interplay between urban morphology and temperature distributions is crucial in informing effective policy development (AbbegCoproski et al. 2024). tion to a political approach to reducing surface temperatures, there is the social aspect of difficulty in evading UHI in microclimates. University campuses are among the many areas that struggle to overcome old infrastructure and …

Advancing Paleontologic Mapping: A Gis And Drone Photogrammetry Approach To The Lance Formation Beds Of Glenrock, Wyoming, William H. Steelman, Monika Angner, Norman S. Levine, W S. Persons

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Small museums and volunteer-driven field programs often lack the resources required for detailed geological mapping, limiting the stratigraphic data associated with their fossil collections. To address this challenge, an affordable and replicable mapping workflow was developed that combined drone-based photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and targeted structural measurements using the Glenrock Exposure of the Lance Formation as a study site. The resulting 3D outcrop models, bedding-plane reconstructions, and 750-m-thick stratigraphic column provide the first comprehensive spatial framework for 35 fossil quarries curated by the Glenrock Paleon Museum. The results reveal tightly clustered fossil-bearing horizons, a long interval lacking preservation, and a notable …

The Compass - Volume 95 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

The Eye: A Science-Fiction Screenplay Examining Space-Time, Meteorology, And Human Connection, Ella K. Lukowiak

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the nature of time, meteorology, and human interconnection to the universe through the lens of a science-fiction screenplay. The creative project spans a three-act, detailed outline, and a screenplay draft of Act I. It is based upon extensive scientific research regarding hurricane development, the inner workings of organizations such as the National Weather Service, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, and the space-time continuum. I will delve into the various factors that shaped my science-fiction premise, including pivotal films such as Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR (2014) and Denis Villeneuve’s ARRIVAL (2016). Both of these filmmakers integrated complex science-fiction concepts into …