Digital Commons Network^™

Estimation Of Groundwater Velocities From Yucca Flat To The Amargosa Desert Using Geochemistry And Environmental Isotopes, Ronald L. Hershey, Steve Y. Acheampong

Publications (WR)

Geochemical modeling techniques were applied to groundwater flowpaths from Yucca Flat on the Nevada Test Site (NTS) to the Amargosa Desert, south of the NTS to estimate groundwater flow velocities for independent comparison to velocities calculated by other methods. The groundwater flowpaths examined considered flow in the carbonate aquifer beneath Yucca and Frenchman flats mixing with flow from carbonate aquifers east and southeast of the NTS and discharging at wells south of the NTS border. The approach used the computer codes WATEQ4F and NETPATH to calculate chemical speciation, determine the saturation state of mineral phases, and simulate mixing and the …

Review Of The United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Technical Assistance Grant Program, Robert Leslie Annear, Scott A. Wells, Shuguang Li, Marvin Beeson, Michael L. Cummings, Richard Pratt

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The EPA Technical Assistance Grant Program has been around for several years, but there are not many examples of its use in the Pacific Northwest from which citizens can learn from when considering applying for a Technical Assistance Grant. The EPA program is designed to provide citizens with technical assistance in understanding the issues related to a Superfund site (or proposed Superfund site) in their community. This report provides an overview of the Technical Assistance Grant Program with information on applying for the grant, selecting a Technical Advisor and managing the grant. Additionally two case studies are reviewed in order …

Numerical Simulations Of Gravity Waves Imaged Over Arecibo During The 10-Day January 1993 Campaign, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., R. L. Walterscheid, Michael J. Taylor, William Ward, G. Schubert, Qihou Zhou, Francisco Garcia, Michael C. Kelly, G. G. Shepherd

Publications

Recently, measurements were made of mesospheric gravity waves in the OI (5577 Å) nightglow observed from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, during January 1993 as part of a special 10-day campaign. Clear, monochromatic gravity waves were observed on several nights. By using a full-wave model that realistically includes the major physical processes in this region, we have simulated the propagation of two waves through the mesopause region and calculated the O(¹S) nightglow response to the waves. Mean winds derived from both UARS wind imaging interferometer (WINDII) and Arecibo incoherent scatter radar observations were employed in the computations as were the …

Port Everglades Macroinvertebrate Monitoring: Monitoring Of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages At The Southport Turning Basin And Adjacent Areas Of John U. Lloyd State Recreation Area: August 1996 (Including A Summary Of Previous Survey Results, 1991-1996), Charles G. Messing, Richard E. Dodge

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

This report documents the August 1996 monitoring of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Port Everglades Southport turning basin vicinity and adjacent areas of John U. Lloyd State Recreation Area. This is the eleventh monitoring effort of the series carried out by Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center. Samples were taken chiefly during the first two weeks of August although some sampling of crab stations was delayed until late September/early October.

Coastal Circulations Driven By River Outflow, Shuliang Zhang

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Variable-density, 1^1/2- and 2^1/2- layer models are used to examine the behavior of plumes resulting from a fresher outflow of transport M_r and salinity S_r into a pre-existing oceanic layer of initial thickness H₁ and salinity S₁. It is found that the plumes exhibit a variety of features depending on conditions of the outflow, the situation of the ambient ocean, and external forcing. Perhaps the most interesting feature is that the plume can flow along the upstream (to the left of the river mouth, looking seaward in the northern hemisphere) coast …

234Th And 210Pb Evidence For Rapid Ingestion Of Settling Particles By Mobile Epibenthic Megafauna In The Abyssal Ne Pacific, L. M. L. Lauerman, J. M. Smoak, Timothy J. Shaw, W. S. Moore, K. L. Smith Jr.

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Developmental Taxonomy And Distribution Of Paralarval Squid From The Florida Current, Carrie Leeonne Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Distribution patterns of paralarval squid across the continental shelf of Florida were examined based on five years of collections. Squid occurrence patterns were described in relation to coastal, intermediate, and Florida Current (Gulf Stream) water masses by comparing horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of squid species to physical-chemical distribution patterns Twenty-six squid taxa were collected in this study. Representative taxonomic descriptions and illustrations of all taxa were produced to serve as an identification aid for the paralarval squid from the Florida shelf. Patterns of species composition among stations were analyzed with cluster analysis based on four sampling approaches. Species distribution …

Las Vegas Wash Water Quality Monitoring Program: 1996 Report Of Findings, Richard A. Roline, James J. Sartoris, U.S. Bureau Of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey

Publications (WR)

Las Vegas Wash, a natural wash east of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, carries stormwater, groundwater drainage, and sewage effluent from three sewage treatment plants to Lake Mead. The Wash provides nearly the only surface water outlet for the entire 2,193 mi² of Las Vegas Valley. A drainage area of 1,586 mi² contributes directly to the Wash through surface flow which is channeled to Las Vegas Bay of Lake Mead, while drainage of the remaining 607 mi² is presumably subsurface and may drain toward Las Vegas Wash.

In the 1930's and 1940's, sewage treatment plants were …

Wind Climatology At 87 Km Above The Rocky Mountains At Bear Lake Observatory--Fabry-Perot Observations Of Oh, V. B. Wickwar, I K. Monson, C M. Vadnais, D Rees

Reports

This paper presents the neutral -wind climatology at approximately 87-km 53 altitude from Utah State University's Bear Lake Observatory (BLO). a mid-latitude site 54 situated in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The winds were determined using a very 55 sensitive Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) observing the OH Me inel (6-2) PI (3) line al 56 843 nm. The climatology. determined from monthly averages of the nightly evolution of 57 the geographic meridional and zonal wind components over forty· five months, has three 58 distinct seasonal patterns: winter (November- February), summer (May-Jul y), and late 59 Slimmer (August and September). The …

Isotope Ratio Studies Of Marine Mammals In Prince William Sound, Donald M. Schell, Amy Hirons

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

This project consists of two components: (1) provision of analytical services for the stable isotope ratio investigations associated with Exxon Valdez oil spill projects, and (2) an investigation of food web relationships and trophic interactions of harbor seals and other top consumers of Prince William Sound (PWS). Through the use of harbor seal tissues collected from native harvested animals and tagging programs, seasonal and migrational information has been obtained with regard to prey utilization and trophic status at differing locations within the sound and the adjacent Gulf of Alaska. Preliminary results indicate that within PWS, harbor seals fall at the …

Microzooplankton Dynamics In Lower Chesapeake Bay And Its Major Tributaries, Gyung Soo Park

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This study identified the temporal and spatial variability of microzooplankton density and biomass at 14 stations located within Chesapeake Bay and four rivers. Microzooplankton are defined as those heterotrophic organisms which range from 20 to 200 $\mu$m in size, and in this study were mainly composed of copepod nauplii, rotifers, and ciliates. Ciliates were the most abundant microzooplankton, comprising more than 90% of the total density, with copepod nauplii representing approximately 50% of the total microzooplankton biomass (carbon content). Rotifers contributed less than 5% for both density and biomass of the total microzooplankton.

Maximum ciliate abundance occurred from spring to …

Influence Of Physics On The Distribution Of Ichthyoplankton Across The Chesapeake Bay Plume, Christian S. Reiss

OES Theses and Dissertations

Most marine fish have retained pelagic larval stages that are spawned away from juvenile habitats. Physical and biological processes on a number of scales may affect larval survival. Mesoscale features like estuarine or riverine plumes and fronts are thought to affect larval survival by transporting larvae to juvenile habitats or by retaining larvae in favorable developmental habitats. It is likely that these features are major contributors in the regulation of shelf-spawned estuarine-dependent taxa.

This study examined how physical oceanographic features affected the spatial distribution of ichthyoplankton across the Chesapeake Bay Plume. Larval surveys were conducted across the shelf and within …

Circulation, Vol. 4, No. 3, Center For Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University

CCPO Circulation

Spring 1997 issue of CCPO Circulation featuring article "Fostering Oceanographic Collaboration in Cameroon"

Ecology Of The Early Life History Of The Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Argus: Recruitment, Predation, And Habitat Requirements, Charles A. Acosta

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Recruitment variability of the early life history stages of marine benthic organisms can have profound consequences on population dynamics. I studied factors affecting recruitment success of postlarvae and early juveniles of the Caribbean spiny lobster. I examined patterns in postlarval supply, investigated wind forcing as a potential transport mechanism for recruiting postlarvae, and quantified predation on postlarvae in south Florida, USA. In an eight-year time series, spiny lobster postlarval supply occurred year-round between the new and first quarter lunar phases. The major annual peak occurred around March corresponding to spawning activity ten months earlier, and a smaller non-seasonal peak occurred …

Beaver Lake Water Quality Enhancement Project Data Analysis, Thomas Soerens, Brian E. Haggard, David G. Parker

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Ghost Crab (Ocypode Quadrata) Invasion On Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta) Nests At Hillsboro Beach, Florida, Terri S. Schmidt, Curtis M. Burney

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

No abstract provided.

Wetland Loss In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: Multiple Working Hypotheses, R. Eugene Turner

Faculty Publications

I examined four hypotheses about causes for the dramatically high coastal wetland losses (0.86% yr−1) in the northern Gulf of Mexico: an extensive dredged canal and spoil bank network, a decline in sediments in the Mississippi River during the 1950s, Mississippi River navigation and flood protection levees, and salinity changes. Natural factors contributing to these habitat changes include eustatic sea-level rise and geological compaction, which appear to have remained relatively constant this century, although variation does occur. These four hypotheses were tested using data on land-to-water changes in 15-min quadrangle maps inventoried for four intervals between the 1930s and 1990. …

An Examination Of The Hanson Contrail Forecast Algorithm Under Low Relative Humidity Conditions, Robert P. Asbury Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Accurate forecasts of contrail occurrence are essential to military aircrews. Although classical forecast methods have been reasonably successful predicting contrails, there is need for improvement at low ambient relative humidity. This thesis examines the performance of the Hanson method, which was developed to provide better contrail forecasts under drier atmospheric conditions. As a secondary objective, the forecast methods of Schumann and Hanson are compared to the algorithm currently in use by the Air Force Global Weather Central. Data used to validate the algorithms were collected at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH and Edwards AFB, CA. Theoretical contrail forecasts were made for each …

A Validation Study Of The Ssm/I Temperature Algorithm And Comparison With The Cal/Val Land Surface Temperatures, Ronald L. Comoglio

Theses and Dissertations

The USAF operational cloud model, the Real-Time Nephanalysis (RTNEPH), requires infrared and visual scene scans as well as input from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), featured on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) polar orbiters. Additionally, SSM/I provides input to the Air Force Global Weather Center (AFGWC) surface temperature model (SFCTMP). The global surface temperatures are required for identifying which pixel of a scene is cloud and which is ground and as a first guess input to initialize NWP models. The SSM/I provides brightness temperatures sampled at four discrete: frequencies and dual polarizations to produce surface temperatures. Two algorithms …

Development And Implementation Of An Isentropic Potential Vorticity Algorithm For Use At Air Force Global Weather Center, Jay B. Desjardins Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents and validates methods for calculating isentropic potential vorticity (IPV) and applies these methods in software programs planned for implementation at the Air Force Global Weather Center (AFGWC). The IPV programs will provide Air Force Weather forecasters additional tools to diagnose atmospheric kinematics and understand atmospheric dynamics. A FORTRAN program is recommended using mandatory-level isobaric data projected to be available on AFGWC computer systems, specifically, from the Navy Operational Global Atmosphere Prediction System and Medium Range Forecast models. Program development and analysis consists of three main steps: (1) data retrieval; (2) IPV calculations; and, (3) interpolation to an …

An Atmospheric Sensitivity And Validation Study Of The Variable Terrain Radio Parabolic Equation Model (Vtrpe), Matthew K. Doggett

Theses and Dissertations

The Variable Terrain Radio Parabolic Equation (VTRPE) computer model is a powerful and flexible program that provides calculations of the radar propagation conditions of the atmosphere. It is limited however, by the accuracy and resolution of the input data. This study quantifies the sensitivity of the VTRPE model to the accuracy and resolution of the atmospheric parameters that go into it. Also, two case studies are examined to test the utility of VTRPE in operational use. The sensitivity to measurements of pressure, temperature, and humidity was found to be dependent on the meteorological environment. In standard and subrefractive environments, average …

Optimization Of The Velocity Azimuth Display (Vad) Algorithm's Adaptable Parameters In The Wsr-88d System, Donald R. Farris

Theses and Dissertations

Meteorologists have encountered problems with the Velocity Azimuth Display (VAD) algorithm in the Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) System. Under certain meteorological conditions, forecasters have observed differences between the radar's wind profiles and wind profiles from rawinsonde upper-air soundings, or wind profilers. One of the main causes of this problem is inversions in the atmosphere which cause the radar beam to subrefract or superefract, causing the VAD winds to be inaccurately reported at a particular height. This thesis used the WSR-88D Algorithm Testing and Display System (WATADS) to compare VAD winds from recorded Level 2 NEXRAD data at …

Adaption Of The Air Weather Service Fog Model To Forecast Radiation Fog Events In The Southeast United States, Andrew C. Goodnite

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the performance of the Air Weather Service (AWS) Fog Model and the potential for using it in the Southeast United States for predicting fog. This task was accomplished in four separate steps. First, a correlation study was performed by comparing different weather elements in observations that met radiational cooling conditions to the observed visibility. This correlation study showed that the 22 UTC dewpoint depression was correlated (0.60) with early morning fog and no other weather elements that are commonly observed had significant correlation with early morning fog. Second, a verification study was conducted on the Saint Louis …

Validation Of The Air Force Global Weather Center Relocatable Window Model Total Cloud Forecast, Edward C. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force Global Weather Center's (AFGWC) Relocatable Window Model (RWM) total cloud forecasts were validated using data for selected days in May, June, and July, 1996. Forecasts were generated twice daily (00 UTC and 12 UTC) to determine the RWM's ability to accurately forecast total cloud cover during the late spring and early summer. The RWM forecasts were post-processed using the Slingo cloud forecast algorithm and compared against AFGWC's operational real time nephanalysis (RTNEPH) cloud analysis model. As a minimal-skill baseline comparison to the RWM's total cloud forecast, the RTNEPH initial analysis hour was persisted and evaluated against the same …

Moisture Sensitivity Of Contrail Forecast Algorithms, Allen C. Rabayda

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis looked at using new relative humidity (RH) climatologies to improve the Air Force Global Weather Center's (AFGWC) contrail forecasts. To study the effect of the new RH climatolgies, the currently used empirical relative humidity (RH) profile is replaced with a more accurate climatological one, the Stratospheric And Gaseous Experiment II (SAGE II). The study begins by examining accuracy and bias of forecast contrail bases generated by the empirical and SAGE II RH profiles on 42 days. Both sets of forecast bases are shown to be statistically similar with a series of hypothesis tests. Additional RH profiles, from 0% …

Quantification Of Weather Effects On Imaging Laser Radar, Clifton D. Stargardt

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force is investigating the use of imaging laser radar systems as autonomous guidance systems on future precision guided munitions. The Air Force's Wright Laboratory is currently testing a 1.06 micron wavelength laser radar (ladar) at Eglin Air Force Base. Since laser radiation can be susceptible to propagation problems through weather, quantitative understanding of these effects is important to the development of this weapon system. Ladar image degradation, in the form of target dropouts and false returns, was evaluated in various weather conditions. Statistical analysis of the images presented expected degrees of degradation according to visibility and rain fall …

The Columbia Slough, Scott A. Wells

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report was written in an attempt to provide the public and Bureau of Environmental Services Staff with a summary of work accomplished on the Columbia Slough system by Portland State University and other consultants working on the Slough over the last 6 years. An attempt was made to create an easy-to-read report with important overviews of the "big picture", glossary of definitions, index, and further details to assist in technology transfer.

Bulletin 4333 - Furrow Sowing On Water Repellent Soils, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses the benefits that furrow sowing brings to crop growth and production on water repellent sand, based on research and farm observations in Western Australian. By understanding the benefits and risks of several key processes, producers can better evaluate the potential role of furrow sowing in combating water repellency. This is true whether one is using direct drilling, no-till (narrow points or discs) or zero till (single, double or triple disc openers) methods.

Automatic Digital Processing For Calibration Data Of Open Skies Treaty Sensors, Donna D. Keating

Theses and Dissertations

The Open Skies Treaty provides guidelines allowing participants to fly in air space over other participants' countries to monitor strategic military placement and development. The treaty restricts the ground size of the smallest detail recorded by these aerial imaging systems to any size larger than 30 cm. This restriction is enforced by placing a lower limit on the altitude at which a participating aircraft can fly and it is computed as the value of Hmin. Current techniques rely on human photographic interpreters to select the value of Hmin for every calibration pass and is very resource intensive. The Open Skies …

A 200-Year 210pb Record From Greenland, Jack E. Dibb, Henrick B. Clausen

Earth Sciences

A continuous profile of ²¹⁰Pb activity extending back to 1766 has been developed for a firn/ice core collected at Site D in central Greenland in 1984. Unexpectedly high activities of ²¹⁰Pb were found at the base of this core (0.032 pCi kg⁻¹ in samples more than 200 years old), calling into question the common assumption that supported ²¹⁰Pb can be neglected when constructing chronologies in glacial snow and ice. It is problematic to assert that all of the ²¹⁰Pb measured at depth should be attributed to the supported fraction, given previous estimates of dust loading …