Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Geophone Array Method In Low Snr Complex Area Of Ordos Basin, Wang Zhengliang, Xiao Guoqiang, Fu Qunli, Lyu Zhenchuan, Yao Zonghui, Shi Qingyang, Gao Bin, Yi Hongbin, Gao Qiang, Zhang Peng, Hou Jie, Shi Bingcheng, Wang Yanduo, Jiao Guixing

Coal Geology & Exploration

In the northwest of Ordos Basin, there is serious random interference in the complex area, which leads to the low signal-to-noise ratio of seismic data in this area. In order to solve the problem of low signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) of seismic data in this area, a method study of suppressing random interference by geophone array is carried. The influence of random interference on the accurate calculation of NMO correction and static correction, the suppression of interference wave by geophone array, the influence of intra group height difference and array base distance on high frequency of seismic acquisition data are studied, and …

Lesson Plan - Mystery Of The Dancing Cat, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 04: Hazardous Waste

This lesson continues on the topic of ecological impacts of hazardous waste and focuses specifically on the process of biomagnification. Students will read a case study about mercury poisoning in Minimata, Japan. Students will construct a food web diagram of a Minimata Bay ecosystem and then they will create a graph of mercury concentrations versus food chain position. This lesson also incorporates the idea of environmental justice.

Lesson Plan - Cities As Systems, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 01: Introduction to Urban Ecology

This lesson is designed to elicit student preconceptions about cities, introduce the idea of cities as systems, and introduce the driving question for the entire year. The lesson begins with a brainstorm where the teacher leads a “word splash” about the word city. Then in order to encourage students to start thinking of cities as systems, student groups draw up plans (or construct models) of city neighborhoods and work to fit these neighborhoods into a city. To understand the time aspect of systems (and cities), these student groups are provided with imaginary (but possible) events that happen to their constructed …

Lesson Plan - Ecosystem Structure, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 01: Introduction to Urban Ecology

This lesson was designed to complement instruction about the different categories of elements that make up an ecosystem: biotic, abiotic and man-made. Students will first categorize the things they pass on their way to and from school. Next, students will visit the field study site for the first time to familiarize themselves with the site, to understand that “nature” exists everywhere, and to experience the idea that humans—and their activities—are embedded in the environment and ecosystems.

Student Pages - Is The Earth’S Climate Changing?, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Student Pages - Answer Key, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Student Pages - Answer Key, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan - Climate Change And The Ecosystem Services Model, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 03: Energy & Climate Change

Students will learn about the process and importance of carbon sequestration by trees. In this process, excess carbon is removed from the carbon cycle by trees. Next, students engage in a series of review activities in which they recall the major concepts that were covered throughout the climate change module and connect them in groups to the lenses/aspects/parts of the Ecosystems Services Model as described in Lesson 6 of Module 1. Students will also participate in a round robin to discuss and explain the reasoning behind why they categorized these concepts the way they did to other groups.

Temperature Scale Influence On Perceptions Of Climate Risk, Chelsea Spaman

Honors Theses

This study explored how the use of the temperature scales Fahrenheit and Celsius in climate science communication affects climate change concern. The study specifically targeted Americans due to their familiarity with the Fahrenheit scale, which is not the primary temperature scale used in scientific communication. The study employed a survey, in which the anonymous participants read a short introduction about climate change and temperature rise and then answered a series of questions regarding levels of climate change concern. These questions covered concerns about climate change in general and its potential to harm individual survey participants, flora and fauna, future generations, …

Distribution And Conservation Status Of Camellia Longzhouensis (Theaceae), A Critically Endangered Plant Species Endemic To Southern China, Zhanhui Xu, Hai Ren, Xiao Wei, Kangting Ouyang, Dongxing Li, Yili Guo, Shujun Wen, Jifeng Long, Jun Wang, Dafeng Hui

Biology Faculty Research

Camellia longzhouensis (Theaceae) is an endemic evergreen shrub or small tree with a distribution restricted to South China. It is listed as Grade-II in the National Key Protected Wild Plants List. In this study, we surveyed its distribution, examined its population structure, identified factors affecting its survival, and reassessed its extinction risk. We found that C. longzhouensis was only distributed in the Nonggang National Nature Reserve and the surrounding area. Its individuals only grew under the secondary forest canopy in the karst mountain. A total of 58 individuals of C. longzhouensis in three sub-populations were found. Soil fertility and understory …

Socastee Interview, Participant #12, April 15, 2021, Jennifer Mokos, Jaime Mccauley

Flood Survivor Interviews

A community member of the Rosewood neighborhood in Socastee is interviewed by a CCU student.

Ancient Great Wall Building Materials Reveal Paleoenvironmental Changes In Northwestern China, Robert Patalano, Jing Hu, Qin Leng, Weiguo Liu, Huanye Wang, Patrick Roberts, Michael Storozum, Lin Yang, Hong Yang

Science and Technology Department Faculty Journal Articles

Plant material used in the construction of segments and beacon towers of the ancient Great Wall in northwestern China contain untapped potential for revealing paleoenvironmental conditions. Here, we characterize the molecular preservation and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of common reeds (Phragmites) collected from Great Wall fascines dated to the Han Dynasty in today’s Gansu and Xinjiang provinces using a combination of chromatographic techniques and isotope analyses. Our data demonstrates that ancient reeds were harvested from local habitats that were more diverse than exist today. The isotope data also capture differential rates of environmental deterioration along the eastern margin …

Do Tropical Storms Have An Effect On Water Quality In Nacogdoches?, Emmie Schubert, Breanna Duran, Jaqui Murguia, Amy Rambo, Paige Graham

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects tropical storms had on the water quality of water in Nacogdoches. This research investigated if rainwater distributed during the storms affected the levels of pH, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorous, alkalinity, turbidity, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Sampling was conducted on three water bodies before and after the storms. Measurements were taken with LaMotte kit to measure alkalinity, turbidity tube to measure turbidity, Colorimeter to test the nutrient levels, and Multi-Parameter Tester to measure TDS and pH. The results showed that Laura had a greater impact than Beta. Tropical storms are unforeseeable, …

Drought-Induced Biomass Burning As A Source Of Black Carbon To The Central Himalaya Since 1781 Ce As Reconstructed From The Dasuopu Ice Core, Joel D. Barker, Susan Kaspari, Paulo Gabrielli, Anna Wegner, Emilie Beaudon, M. Roxana Sierra-Hernández, Lonnie Thompson

Geological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Himalayan glaciers are melting due to atmospheric warming, with the potential to limit access to water for more than 25 % of the global population that resides in these glacier meltwater catchments. Black carbon has been implicated as a factor that is contributing to Himalayan glacier melt, but its sources and mechanisms of delivery to the Himalayas remain controversial. Here, we provide a 211-year ice core record spanning 1781–1992 CE for refractory black carbon (rBC) deposition from the Dasuopu glacier ice core that has to date provided the highest-elevation ice core record (7200 m). We report an average rBC concentration …

Physics-Guided Neural Network For Predicting Chemical Signatures, Cara Murphy, John Kerekes

Articles

Achieving high classification accuracy on trace chemical residues in active spectroscopic sensing is challenging due to the limited amount of training data available to the classifier. Such classifiers often rely on physics-based models for generating training data though these models are not always accurate when compared to measured data. To overcome this challenge, we developed a physics-guided neural network (PGNN) for predicting chemical reflectance for a set of parameterized inputs that is more accurate than the state-of-the-art physics-based signature model for chemical residues. After training the PGNN, we use it to generate a library of predicted spectra for training a …

Socastee Interview, Participant #02, April 2, 2021, Jennifer Mokos, Jaime Mccauley

Flood Survivor Interviews

A community member of the Rosewood neighborhood in Socastee is interviewed by a CCU student.

South Carolina Biomass Council Project, Samantha Balough, Taryn Long

Goal 1: No Poverty

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Leadership Within Nonprofits, Kendel Paulen

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

No abstract provided.

Quantifying Eco-Friendliness Of Plastic, Paper, And Reusable Bags, Leah Ryan

Honors Projects in Science and Technology

The plight of the consumer in regards to making eco-conscious decisions is growing as concerns regarding the environment increase. This study was conducted in an effort to give consumers a tool to combat some of this issue and compare the types of shopping bags they use in terms of eco-friendliness. Research conducted in this avenue thus far contains convoluted conclusions, all made with consideration of some variables, but not all. This purpose of this study therefore lay in trying to give consumers a standardized tool to compare bag types that considered variables across all stages of a bags’ life (pre-use, …

Water News, Spring 2021, Department Of Agriculture And Biosystems Engineering

SDWRI Water News

Contents:
North Central Region tackle harmful algal blooms
Algae pull nutrients from swine facility manure, air
Study examines woodchip quality in bioreactors
Nonprofit joins battle to mitigate Lake Mitchell algal blooms

A Foray Into Laboratory Scale Soil Incubations With Corn Stover And High Lignin Fermentation Byproduct, Michelle Wang

ENGS 88 Honors Thesis (AB Students)

As the production of biofuels increases to meet the demands of a growing low carbon economy, questions of sustainability surrounding its feedstock and waste streams have become increasingly relevant. In the biofuel production process, crop residues like corn stover are harvested from the field and converted to biofuels leaving generating a residue called high lignin fermentation byproduct (HLFB). From extensive process modelling in the literature, it is suggested that HLFB should be either combusted to fuel auxiliary conversion processes or returned to the soil in place of the crop residues that were harvested. Currently, there is little literature testing the …

Activating Vacant Spaces: An Art And Environmental Justice Project - Assessment In Cleveland, Ohio’S Slavic Village Neighborhood, Patrick Connolly

Community Engagement Student Work

The overdevelopment of cities has caused residents to suffer from environmental and economic harm. Situated near a steel mill and a highway, and with less than 20% tree canopy, the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio is a community that may be in need of environmental justice. The movement to introduce green elements to urban environments is growing, and there are clear economic benefits to greening urban areas. Using art as a tool for education, this project proposes a series of six sustainable art installations that attempt to teach the community about environmental issues. Using this art project as a …

State Of Sustainability And Resilience In Georgetown A Small Business Perspective, Hannah Garthwaite

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

No abstract provided.

Georgetown County Environmental Services Office, Shane Doone, Dean Wrobel

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

No abstract provided.

Celebrate 10 Years With Platte Basin Timelapse, Madison Husmann, Madison Smart, Justine Cherovsky

Environmental Engagement in the Community (ENVR 319): Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, spring 2021

Poster titled Celebrate 10 Years with Platte River Basin with client Brooke Talbott.

Synchronous Marine And Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Perturbation In The High Arctic During The Petm, Ying Cui, Aaron F. Diefendorf, Lee R. Kump, Shijun Jiang, Katherine H. Freeman

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; 56 Ma) is considered to be one of the best analogs for future climate change. The carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) of n-alkanes derived from leaf waxes of terrestrial plants and marine algae can provide important insights into the carbon cycle perturbation during the PETM. Here, we present new organic geochemical data and compound-specific δ¹³C data from sediments recovered from an early Cenozoic basin-margin succession from Spitsbergen. These samples represent one of the most expanded PETM sites and provide new insights into the high Arctic response to the PETM. Our results reveal …

Assessing And Mapping The Spatial-Temporal Change In Forest Phenology Of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Using Moderate Resolution Satellite, Bailey Ytterdahl

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study focuses on coastal forests in Kenya that have some of the highest variety of flora and fauna, specifically Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Arabuko Sokoke Forest is located 110 miles north of Mombasa and 18 kilometers south of Malindi. This forest is known to be a worldwide biodiversity hotspot that is home to endemic and rare plants and animals. Within the Arabuko Sokoke Forest ecosystem, there are two main issues that challenge the conservation of the area. First, there has been more competition for land, primarily for agriculture and development. Second, there is an increase demand for forest resources due …

Mitochondrial Dna Genetic Variation And Structure In Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis Pectinata), Keyla N. Pruett

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Parasite Prevalence In Marsh Rice Rats (Oryzomys Palustris) On Sites Affected By The 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Layni Leblanc

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Late Eocene Record Of Hydrology And Temperature From Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, Emily J. Tibbett, Howie D. Scher, Sophie Warny, Jessica E. Tierney, Sandra Passchier, Sarah J. Feakins

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT) marks the onset of Antarctic glaciation at 33.7 Ma. Although the benthic oxygen isotope record defines the major continental ice sheet expansion, recent sedimentary and geochemical evidence suggests the presence of earlier ephemeral ice sheets. Sediment cores from Ocean Drilling Program Legs 119 and 188 in Prydz Bay provide an archive of conditions in a major drainage system of East Antarctica. We study biomarker and microfossil evidence to discern how the vegetation and climate shifted between 36 and 33 Ma. Pollen was dominated by reworked Permian Glossopterid gymnosperms; however, penecontemporaneous Eocene pollen assemblages indicate that some …