Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Alternative Forage-Production Patterns For Dairy Cattle Under Conditions Of Limited Water Supply In Northern Mexico, R A. Martinez, M Quiroga, N Thomas, K F. Byerly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the desert climate of northern Mexico ground-water resources are being exploited in forage production for the dairy in• dustry. As rest-water levels are currently falling by 1. 75 m annually, there is urgent need to examine the water-management effi­ciency index (WEI) of present forage cropping patterns and to replace the less efficiently managed species without decreasing the overall regional mean milk production of 141/cow/day. The present study describes the approach taken to achieve this goal and the implications of the approach for increased water-management efficiency in this region. Data are drawn from (1) on-farm surveys of 68 forage and …

Real-Time Simulation Of Bio-Luminescent Light Propagation Using Compute Shaders Within Unreal Engine, Jaden D. Halevi

Computer Science Senior Theses

Presented in this paper is a GPU-native approach to interactive fluid simulation within Unreal Engine 5. The system, BioFluidSim, implements an incompressible Navier-Stokes solver using Unreal’s Niagara Grid2D compute shader pipeline, with a modular biological emission output stage parameterized from experimentally measured Lingulodinium polyedrum bioluminescence behavior. The system is evaluated against FluidNinja Live, a commercially available fragment shader fluid implementation, as a performance baseline. Beyond performance, BioFluidSim offers greater physical fidelity than the fragment shader baseline. Helmholtz–Hodge pressure projection enforces a divergence-free velocity field at runtime, a physical constraint approximated but not enforced by fragment shader approaches. The biological emission …

Phytotoxic Response Of Five Range-Grass Species To Six In-Situ Fossil-Fuel Retort Waters, O D. Skinner, J C. Sexton, T S. Moore, D S. Farrier

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Oil shale, tar sands, and undergrowid coal gasification represent viable sources of fossil fuel to assist in meeting U.S. energy needs. Development of fossil-fuel-processing technologies has progressed to a point where commercialization may soon become a reality. Concurrent with this development must be the assessment and solution of environmental problems. A particular and significant problem resides in the handling, containment, treatment, disposal, use, and eventual fate of waters recovered with the oil, gas, and subsurface waters associated with synfuel-processing techniques. The magnitude of plant responses and poten­tial phytotoxic effects resulting from exposure to these produced waters have not been evaluated, …

Resource Allocation For Animal-Grassland Systems, G W. Thomas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The production of animal products from grasslands is dependent upon an adequate resource base-particularly the availabil­ity ofland, water, and energy. In addition, range and pasture production systems must be designed to adjust to climatic varia­tions and to minimize adverse environmental impacts. Several new developments will have a significant impact on the future allocation of resources for animal agriculture: (1) in­creased competition for land and water, which is leading to transfers from agricultural to nonagricultural uses; (2) increasing costs and decreasing availability of "cultural energy" (particularly fossil fuels); (3) more pressure to divert grains and feed con­centrates from animals to direct …

Microplastic Composition And Exposure Pathways In Freshwater Systems: A Multi-Matrix Comparison Between Streams And Retention Ponds In Hamilton County, In, Mya Whaley

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the early 1900s, the use of plastics has increased exponentially. The breakdown of plastic materials has exposed all ecosystems to microplastics (small particles of plastic < 5 mm), which are now ubiquitous in natural settings. Microplastics have a relatively large surface area, and many chemicals adsorb to these small particles, impacting their fate and transport of pollution. While microplastics have been found in virtually every setting on Earth, research is necessary to understand their impact on freshwater ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. The focus of this research was to investigate microplastic compositions in crayfish, sediments, and water samples collected in streams and retention ponds. We analyzed trends in microplastic counts across different land-cover classes, waterbody types, and species, and compared concentrations among matrices to improve our understanding of microplastic exposure pathways in freshwater ecosystems. As a secondary objective, lead and arsenic concentrations were analyzed from sediment samples to investigate metal burdens and compare them to microplastic concentrations. Our findings revealed that, in general, urban streams had the highest microplastic concentrations within land cover categories, and retention ponds had higher microplastic counts than streams. Crayfish, such as F. rusticus had higher microplastic concentrations than F. virilis and F. propinquus, although these results may be influenced by study design. The most common microplastic type was fibers, and most common color was transparent. There was no significant correlation between microplastic and metal concentrations in sediments. We found crayfish to be adequate bioindicators of microplastic pollution, because they were less impacted by environmental variability than sediment and water samples. This research presents the first evidence of microplastics in our study species, F. propinquus, F. rusticus, and F. virlis. This work presents new evidence of microplastic accumulation in crayfish, sediments, and water from freshwater systems in the Midwestern United States. Microplastics were found in every sample type—crayfish, water, and sediment—across urban, rural, and forested landscapes, highlighting their pervasive distribution. The findings provide foundational data for assessing emerging ecological and human-health risks and emphasize the importance of sustained monitoring and research on MP contamination in freshwater environments.

Comparing Strategies For Wetland Revegetation In An Uncertain Water Future, Hailey M. Machnikowski

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wetlands worldwide are expected to experience more frequent and intense droughts and floods due to climate change. These shifting water conditions introduce challenges to restoring wetland plants, especially using direct seeding. Seeding is cost and labor-efficient compared to planting, but seeds and seedlings are highly vulnerable to water stress, so restoration efforts often fail when conditions are too wet or dry. Understanding how to improve seed-based revegetation under these conditions is increasingly important. Therefore, we sought to understand the response, measured by percent canopy cover or dry biomass weights, of native plants to different durations of drought in greenhouse experiments, …

Water-Driven Solid Electrolyte Interphase Governs Continuous-Flow Ammonia Electrosynthesis, Peng-Bo Liu, Sheng-Liang Zhai, Ji Huang, Zhong-Shuo Zhang, Jie Zeng, Shao-Feng Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Flow-cell architectures have emerged as a powerful platform for continuous and stable lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction (Li-NRR), enabling ambient-condition electrochemical ammonia synthesis and offering a promising alternative to Haber-Bosch processes. However, Li-NRR is exceptionally sensitive to trace water, and even minor variations in water content can profoundly alter interfacial chemistry. Here, we systematically investigate how initial water concentration affects Li-NRR performance in a continuous-flow cell. Excess water drives the formation of a thick solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, which may impede nitrogen access to metallic lithium and hinder lithium-ion transport. As a result, the ammonia Faradaic efficiency collapses from ~61% to …

Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2025, Aaron R. Young, Mark E. Burbach, Sue Olafsen Lackey, Robert Matthew Joeckel, Jeffrey Westrop

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessing Water Storage In Northern California Forests, Christopher Gerard Gressierer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The climate is changing, with rising temperatures projected to increase vegetation stress and mortality. Precipitation is also expected to become more extreme, with longer dry seasons intensifying droughts, and wetter wet seasons increasing the risk of landslides or floods. Summer baseflows in northern California are declining, and a shift in water availability may alter vegetation communities, resulting in mortality and species composition changes. These trends highlight the need for increased attention and management to be focused on evaluating and maintaining watershed water storage to maintain ecosystem health.

This study estimates water storage capacity using a water balance approach, drawing in …

Aquatic Macrophytes As Nature-Based Solutions: Challenges And Opportunities Across Inland And Coastal Waters, Morgan Botrel, Roxane Maranger, Lindsay L. Trottier, Mathieu Cusson, Lars L. Iverson, Fanny Noisette, Christian Nozais, Katrine Turgeon, Andrea Bertolo, Thibaud André-Alphonse, Simon Bélanger, Arthur De Grandpré, Jean-Olivier Goyette, Sabine Hilt, Ladd Johnson, Valérie Langlois, Martin Laporte, Félix Lauzon, Brigitte Légaré, Anne Ola, Marie-Pomme Presne-Poissant, Matthieu Prugne, Caroline Susini, Richard Zimmerman

OES Faculty Publications

Macrophytes are foundation species whose use as nature-based solution (NbS) in aquatic ecosystems can help reduce climate change impacts while mitigating biodiversity loss. The discrepancy in research and application of macrophytes as NbS across inland and marine coastal ecosystems is an opportunity to expand the concept and learn from different approaches. We report on an initiative uniting marine and freshwater scientists that compared knowledge on macrophytes as NbS across realms, identified advances and gaps in their use, and synthesized challenges and opportunities for application. We conducted a bibliometric analysis and an expert participatory exercise around recent review papers. We reveal …

U.S. Water Infrastructure: Diving Into Needs And Recent Policy Developments, Joseph Kane

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled, "U.S. Water Infrastructure: Diving Into Needs and Recent Policy Developments" by Brookings fellow in Brookings Metro, Joseph Kane. Whether providing drinking water, treating wastewater, or managing stormwater, water infrastructure in the United States spans a wide range of human-made and natural systems. In turn, the enormous scale and variety of these systems is leading to an array of challenges: aging and vulnerable infrastructure; fragmented governance and siloed planning across different geographies; a lack of financial, technical, and managerial capacity; difficulties adapting to new industrial and …

Pathlength, Altitude And Angle Of Incidence Dependence Of Remote Water Raman Scattering, Whitney E. Schuler, Paige K. Williams, Zechariah B. Kitzhaber, Caitlyn M. English, Tammi L. Richardson, Nikos Vitzilaios, Michael L. Myrick

Faculty Publications

A small remote Raman sensor was used to measure the Raman scattering signal from clear, still water as a function of water depth (12 cm and 396 cm depth), sensor distance above the water surface (20–300 cm), and angle of incidence (0–80°) to the normal of the water surface. Under thick- and thin-sample conditions, the signal depends on either the inverse, or the inverse square, of sensor distance from the water surface, respectively. A model is derived that fits data for different sensor distances, water depths, and angles of incidence. Fits to the measured data are consistent with the known …

Understanding And Assessing Climate Change: Preparing For Nebraska’S Future, 2024 Climate Change Impact Assessment Report, Deborah J. Bathke, Eric Hunt, Heather Akin, Andrea D. Basche, Jesse E. Bell, Daniel R. Dileo, Ross Dixon, Martha Durr, Tonya Haigh, Francis John Hay, Kristina W. Kintziger, Nicholas A. Mcmillan, Hank Miller, Jerome Okojokwu-Idu, Crystal Powers, Tirthankar Roy, Zhenghong Tang, W. Ryan Wishart, Aaron R. Young, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Jonathan J. Spurgeon

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Contents

Report Team

Acknowledgments

Executive Summary

Introduction

Climate Change Contexts: Global, National, and State

Observed Changes in Nebraska's Climate

Projections of Nebraska's Future Climate

Water Systems

Energy

Ecosystems

Agriculture

Human Health

Communities and the Built Environment

Indigenous Peoples

Climate Justice and Equity

The Response of Faith Communities

Nebraskans' Perceptions of Climate Change

Next Steps and Future Work

Supplemental Report: Adaptation, Risks, and Impacts

About the Authors

Faith-based Communities Survey

Evaluated Plans and Assessments

References

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Diversity And Water Quality As Indicators Of Wetland Health In Natural And Constructed Wetlands Of Northeast Arkansas, Helena Grace Wheeler

Student Theses and Dissertations

Exposure to different abiotic factors drives a shift in macroinvertebrate communities. In wetland systems, soil is the primary driver of the aquatic system. Analyzing community dynamics in association with soil composition, water physiochemical properties, wetland size and age is valuable in determining wetland health. Little research has been done to examine the direct relationship between wetland soil parameters and macroinvertebrate communities. Macroinvertebrate diversity, community composition, and soil and water composition data were analyzed from natural wetlands, Agricultural Conservation Easement - Wetland Reserve Easement Program (ACEP-WRE) wetlands, and agricultural wetlands within the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Sample collection occurred from February to …

Harnessing Emergent Multiple Scattering Resonances In A Photonic Glass Structure For Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion, Ashlyn G. Descarpentrie, Robert H. Coridan

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Light trapping nanostructures are often necessary to improve carrier collection yields in semiconductor photoelectrodes with intrinsically poor electron transport. Photonic crystal templates can generate tailorable light trapping via periodic and precise nanostructure, though this is not a scalable strategy for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. It is therefore critical to identify alternative mechanisms for light trapping that tolerate disorder. Light trapping in disordered media is generated by the diffusive transport caused by multiple scattering. In some cases, multiple scattering can generate resonances that resemble those observed in photonic crystals. While resonant multiple scattering is a disorder tolerant light trapping mechanism, it is …

Barrier Removal Is A Strategy For Climate Resilience, Sarah E. Null, William Bosen, Gregory Goodrum

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Millions of dams and in-stream barriers have been built worldwide to manage water supply, reduce flood risk, generate hydropower, and support recreation, navigation, and road infrastructure. The National Aquatic Barrier Inventory estimates over 550,000 dams and over 298,000 road-related barriers that fragment streams in the United States¹. As dams age and as droughts and floods become more intense, some dams and barriers have become problems, for example, by outliving their useful life, presenting safety concerns to communities, and impacting ecosystems, especially in a changing climate. These dams – the ones that present safety concerns due to their age …

The Agrivoltaics Opportunity In California: Dual Use Of Agricultural Land To Support Energy Transition And Bolster Climate Resilience, Joy Michelle Cox

Master's Projects and Capstones

Agrivoltaics, which facilitates energy and food production on the same land, is an emerging technological approach that supports agricultural productivity while growing farm revenues through solar electricity sales. Agrivoltaics use in the United States is nascent, with only 2% of utility-scale solar projects integrating agricultural production. Based on estimated high- and low-end ranges in the scientific literature, I have calculated that California can use agrivoltaics to produce 20% of the additional 70 gigawatts of utility-scale solar required to meet the state’s 2045 zero-carbon electricity goal. This 20% target is ambitious and achievable, and the impacts across land use, greenhouse gas …

The Effects Of Coconut Palms On Pasture Understory, R W. Snaydon, D.N S. Fernando, R Sangakkara

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pastures are extensively grown under coconut palms, and mainly grazed by cattle (Plucknett, 1979). The main advantages of this form of mixed cropping are : (a) diversification of products, (b) additional income, (c) feed for draft animals, (d) weed control, and (e) more rapid nutrient cycling. Surprisingly little information is available on the effects of pastures and coconut palms on each other (Plucknett, 1979) ; even less is known about the mechanisms of competition between them. This study was designed to study the effects of coconut palms on pasture. A trenching technique was used to investigate the effects of below-ground …

Springscape: The Nature Coast And The Making Of Modern Florida, 1820s-Present, Douglas E. Ponticos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to an oft-repeated tale, the Florida we know today emerged as a dreamscape of tourism, retirement, and suburbanization during the second half of the twentieth century. Growth victimized nature. This dissertation deeply unsettles that story. The history of the Nature Coast exposes not just nature’s agency but its primacy in the development of modern Florida.

Using surveys, maps, census data, personal correspondence, government documents, business records, timber reports, advertising materials, and hydrological research, this dissertation follows time and water across landscapes, into the Upper Floridan Aquifer, and back out again. Each chapter explores a single landscape within the Nature …

Workshop On The Epr Of Aqueous Samples, Gareth R. Eaton

TeachEPR Submissions

The problem with water and other materials that absorb microwave energy are described. Dielectric properties are described as a function of frequency.

Workshop presented at the 25th International EPR Symposium on July 28, 2002.

Common Era Time-Transgressive Forcing Of Caribbean Water Balance, Peter J. Van Hengstum, Shawna N. Little, Richard M. Sullivan, Jeffrey P. Donnelly, Tyler S. Winkler, Anne E. Tamalavage, Patricia A. Beddows, Patricia L. Fall, Jiabi Du, Kaustubh Thirumalai, Nancy A. Albury, Sloan Coats

OES Faculty Publications

Tropical North Atlantic sea surface temperatures and low-latitude rainfall covary, but prehistoric subtropical rainfall records are often misaligned. Here, a submarine groundwater discharge record from the northern Bahamas archives regional water balance in the northeastern Atlantic Warm Pool. We compare the reconstruction to the tropical North Atlantic seasonal temperature gradient, which can help inform how northeastern Caribbean rainy seasons are influenced by the Atlantic Warm Pool. A positive water balance in the northern Bahamas aligned with a ~0.9 °C seasonal temperature gradient from 0 to 950 CE, with both covarying on multi-decadal timescales. Aridity began at ~950 CE when a …

Swimming In Sh*T: Quantifying Lagoon Flushing Impacts On Fecal Indicator Bacteria In Surf Zones Of Three Beaches On The East End Of Long Island, Ny, Brody C. Eggert

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis investigates how lagoon flushing influences fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations—specifically enterococcus bacteria—in the surf zones of East Hampton and Southampton, New York. Focusing on the coastal lagoons of Georgica Pond, Sagg Pond, and Mecox Bay, the study analyzes how episodic inlet openings and environmental conditions affect enterococcus levels at adjacent recreational beaches. Using over 700 observations from the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) database, I construct a series of statistical models ranging from ordinary least squares to mixed effects frameworks; this thesis shows my process in developing this model. My analysis reveals that open inlets between …

Improving The Accuracy Of Neighborhood Median Pixel Method (Nmpm) In Classifying Landsat-8 Oli Images By Optimizing The Scoring System’S Point Values, Abraham T. Magpantay, Proceso L. Fernandez Jr

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

The Neighborhood Median Pixel Method has previously been introduced as an image processing technique in remote sensing, developed to classify Landsat-8 OLI satellite image pixels into categories of vegetation, water, and built-up areas. This method relies on a lookup table based on the median pixel values within a pixel’s neighborhood and a scoring system that assigns point values for classification. While a 9x9 neighborhood size was originally proposed, a succeeding study suggested a 13x13 neighborhood for better classification accuracy. This study focuses on refining the scoring system used in the Neighborhood Median Pixel Method, particularly the original set of arbitrary …

Impact Of Water Ionic Chemistry On Kombucha Fermentation, Katherine A. Thompson-Witrick, Olivia Sundman, Sadie Disselkoen, Nicholas Hanson, Cheyenne Butler, Victoria Jordan, Ian Galbraith, Jada Spake, Seiler Pollock, Drew M. Budner

Chemistry

Kombucha is made by using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) to ferment sweetened tea. This fermentation produces a beverage with a unique aroma and acidic flavor. Kombucha has recently gained popularity in the United States and has been reported to have numerous health benefits. While there is a wide variation in kombucha composition, little is known about the impact water’s chemistry has on the fermentation and the resulting kombucha. Brewing water for kombucha was altered using the following ions: bicarbonate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and sulfate at different concentrations. Pre-(tea) and post-(kombucha) fermentation (kombucha) products were analyzed for …

Managing Subsurface Water In Wa, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends that subsurface water management is part of an integrated water and salinity program. An integrated program can help to lower water tables and alleviate problems with waterlogging, rising salinity, and infrastructure damage.

The Water That Will Be: A Qualitative Look Into The Effects Of Visual Imagery On Participation In Water Conservation Initiatives, Shane Martin White

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the role of visual imagery in water conservation initiatives, focusing on its impact on public understanding, emotional connection, and willingness to participate. Drawing from the Theory of Planned Behavior and Affective Disposition Theory, the study investigated how art interventions can enhance comprehension and engagement with water conservation easements. Utilizing qualitative methods, including interviews, focus groups and PhotoVoice, data was collected from stakeholders in the Illinois River Watershed region. The research examined current levels of understanding regarding conservation easements, evaluated the effectiveness of visual imagery interventions in enhancing public awareness, and identified the potential for collaborative approaches between …

Examining The Relationship Between Manning's Roughness Coefficient And Stage, Henry Holtkamp

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper uses LOESS regression to predict Manning's roughness coefficient to calculate flows in natural stream channels. Manning's roughness coefficient can introduce variability into Manning's equation, potentially destabilizing results. Utilizing LOESS to find n based on backcalculated n from collected discharge vs. stage information is the best way to acquire accurate Manning's roughness coefficient values at a variety of flows. Book values tend to drastically overestimate which can have wide-ranging implications for water allocation, flood management, maintaining environmental flows, and maintaining water quality.

Arsenic Contamination Needs Serious Attention: An Opinion And Global Scenario, Abhijnan Bhat School Of Food Science And Environmental Health, Kamna Ravi Health, Engineering & Materials Sciences (Hems) Hub, Furong Tian Nanolab Research Centre, Baljit Singh Micra Biodiagnostics Technology Gateway

Articles

Arsenic (As) contamination is a serious global concern, polluting our natural resources, including water and soil, and posing a danger to the environment and public health. Arsenic is present in the groundwater of several countries and this contaminated water is used for irrigation, drinking, and food preparation, which poses the greatest threat to public health. Nearly 106 countries are affected by groundwater arsenic contamination and an estimated 230 million individuals worldwide are exposed to its adverse health effects, including increased cancer risks, associated cardiovascular disease and diabetes, skin lesions, neurological effects, kidney damage, and foetal or cognitive development-related complications. Arsenic …

Chromium Speciation In Water Using Magnetic Polyaniline Nanoparticles Coupled With Microsampling Injection-Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Osman Çaylak

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The chromium speciation procedure was optimized using magnetic polyaniline nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PANI NPs) solid-phase extraction coupled with microsampling injection-flame atomic absorption spectrometry (MIS-FAAS). Chromium speciation was successfully achieved by Fe3O4@PANI NPs at pH 8.0. The recoveries obtained for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were above 95% and under 5%, respectively. Recoveries of over 95% for Cr(III) from 40.0 mL of the sample were obtained using 25 mg Fe3O4@PANI NPs and 500 µL of 0.2% (w/v) thiourea (TU) solution prepared in 2 mol L–1 HCl as eluent. Total chromium as Cr(III) was extracted quantitatively after reducing the Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The linear range, detection …

There Is Life On Mars, Colin M. Johnston, Olivier B. Cohen

CAFE Symposium 2024

An extensive research project that involved the research of multiple major experiments and discoveries about possible life on the planet Mars. Facts, Data, conspiracies and theories have all been taken into account and provided in this project.