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Full-Text Articles in Environmental Chemistry

Visualizing Ozone Pollution In The Denver Metro Area Using A Bioindicator Garden, Ella K. Mathews, Hillary Hamann, Julie Morris, Erica L. Larson May 2026

Visualizing Ozone Pollution In The Denver Metro Area Using A Bioindicator Garden, Ella K. Mathews, Hillary Hamann, Julie Morris, Erica L. Larson

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Since the industrial revolution, widespread fossil fuel combustion has significantly increased atmospheric pollution. The combustion of fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which form tropospheric (ground-level) ozone when exposed to sunlight. Ozone directly harms plants by disrupting their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and carry out photosynthesis. Bioindicator species are plants that have visible responses to environmental conditions, such as ozone, and can act as “canaries in the coal mine,” indicating the health of their environment. In this study, we used a garden of ozone bioindicator species (ozone garden) as a cost-effective tool …


Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, Sophia Wismar, Henry Staats, Allison Metzler, Chloe Puckett, Rachel Levine, Christa Kilpatrick, Scott Wolf, Joe Walsh, Grace Doolittle, John Engebreston, Zoe Lopez, Christopher Aaby, Audrey Duff, Timothy Sisk, Katelyn Lamberton, Angela Narayan, Gilkah Argueta, Habiba Samir, Girena Tesfazghi, Genet Kenore, Sinit Tesfamariam, Effley Brooks, Abi Newell, Megan Doherty, Natalie Baer, Lexi Blood, Talya Riciputi, Jessica Jimenez, Devin Hernandez, Lynn Clark, Taj Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Allen Rutman, Mira Pronobis, Tess Carson, Anna Sher, Frankie Stroud, Tamra Pearson D'Estree, Alyssa Wilson, Emily Melnick, Jenalee Doom, Yihang Gao, Gwendolyn Geiger, Noah Gettle, Scott Nichols, Clare Ayoub, Cara Dienno, Sunny Walker, Zoe Hansen, Maya Wheeler, Addison Rice, Patrick Martin, Sanjana Acharya, Daniel Mcintosh, Amanda Mckellips, Calli Cain, Justin Blake, Peter Sokol-Hessner, Natalie Miller, Max Weisbuch, Sophia Dellota, John Macikas, Charlotte Snow, Mark Siemens, Zoe Lynch, Alex Huffman, Prachi Shah, Jason Roney, Halcyon Levi, Nicole Herzog, Andrea Koly, Daniel Linseman, Annie London, Xi Yang, Avery Zwisler, Jane Smith, Chaz Contag, Michael Kerwin, Lucy Rand, Grace Schroeder, Michelle Rozenman, Nissa Tapper, Guiming Zhang, Mateo Mazariego-Halpern, Keith Meyer, Julie Do, Dakota Park-Ozee, Travis Herink, Kara Neu, Jonathan Plomin, Eve-Odine Duchaufour, Debbie Gale Mitchell, Tennyson Anderson-Stricklin, Lily Treitz, Samantha Rosenberger, Sierra Griffith, Finley Joseph, Daniel Sampson, Emmy Davis, Skyler Kasnoff, Evon Lopez, Vivian Nguyen, Cassy Young, Franklin Sellner, Martin Tobon, Ila Graham, Zach Billings, Holden Hedit, Decatur Boland, Paul Kosempel, Cory Chandler, Jay Mahoney, Sam Dragan, Susan Dagget, Yarrow Ator, Heidi Vuletich, Owen Weber, Andrew Kloeppel, Petersen Gray, Mandi Schaeffer-Fry, Razleen Bassra, Bryanna Rodriguez, Christina Blue, Taubie Sanders, Rachel Epstein, Luke Milburn, Camryn Evans, Ezra Martinez, Mary Westwood, Gabri Notov, Robin Tinghitella, Lilou Cabrol, Eli Barbour, Juliet Mendik, Selma Myers, Zac Wise, Noah Fahlin, Michelle Knowles, Abigail Hopper, Michael Greenberger, Romi Laclair, Sarah Watamura, Sabrina Efroymson, Casey Barker, Sydney Seltzer, Bryn Yehle, Jennifer Hoffman, Sara Garcia, Ryuka Nagamine, Trevor Briggs, Remy Le Boeuf, Elena Krone, Eileen Farrell, Regan O'Rourke, Elena Roel, Greg Mortimer, Ali Ayoub, Stefani Langehennig, Caitlin Turk, Logan Scmid, Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, Karen Kim, Tatiana Peccedi, Courtney Cassidy, John Sebesta, Rhianna Lewis, Janice Bening-Lacek, Vivian Lawless, Mckenna Hanson, Jeffrey Amidon, Riya Joshi, Ram Ambre, Brady Worrell, Perrin Schneider, Ali Azadani, Brooke Agulnek, Lyndsie Salvagio, Elise Siemanowki, Yan Qin, Andre Allen, Melodie Nguyen, Megan Livengood, Abby Reams, Saffron Hartreeve, Bri Wylie, Sarah Brookman, Mariah Loiacono, Green Russo, Abhia Lodhi, Gabrielle Welsh, Nika Spehar, Shahked Levin, Evrim Baykal, Kimberly Chiew, Jocelyn Torres, Kailey Hicks, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Audrey Bellows, Akam Chahal, Madeline Tepper, Shannon Murphy, Alexa Fonseca, Deborah Han, Cassandra Perez, Oluwatoyin Alaba, Julia Roncoroni, Vy Nguyen, Nana Burn, Sarah Sasse, Rubin Tuder, Anthony Gerber, Nancy Lorenzon, Christine Vohwinkel, Camryn Gunter, Tristan Weber, Sam Rommel, Brian Michel, Muskan Fatima, Alannah Oleson, Kira Frey, Edward Garrido, Beckett Morris, Kerstin Haring, Drew Middleton, Abigail Walpert, Liam Dee, Gabby Ishaw, Cole Carnes, Maddie Weiser, Claire Fox, Valeriia Vlasenko, Kateri Mcrae, Riley Smith, Abigail Templin, Kushani Rajapaksha May 2026

Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, Sophia Wismar, Henry Staats, Allison Metzler, Chloe Puckett, Rachel Levine, Christa Kilpatrick, Scott Wolf, Joe Walsh, Grace Doolittle, John Engebreston, Zoe Lopez, Christopher Aaby, Audrey Duff, Timothy Sisk, Katelyn Lamberton, Angela Narayan, Gilkah Argueta, Habiba Samir, Girena Tesfazghi, Genet Kenore, Sinit Tesfamariam, Effley Brooks, Abi Newell, Megan Doherty, Natalie Baer, Lexi Blood, Talya Riciputi, Jessica Jimenez, Devin Hernandez, Lynn Clark, Taj Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Allen Rutman, Mira Pronobis, Tess Carson, Anna Sher, Frankie Stroud, Tamra Pearson D'Estree, Alyssa Wilson, Emily Melnick, Jenalee Doom, Yihang Gao, Gwendolyn Geiger, Noah Gettle, Scott Nichols, Clare Ayoub, Cara Dienno, Sunny Walker, Zoe Hansen, Maya Wheeler, Addison Rice, Patrick Martin, Sanjana Acharya, Daniel Mcintosh, Amanda Mckellips, Calli Cain, Justin Blake, Peter Sokol-Hessner, Natalie Miller, Max Weisbuch, Sophia Dellota, John Macikas, Charlotte Snow, Mark Siemens, Zoe Lynch, Alex Huffman, Prachi Shah, Jason Roney, Halcyon Levi, Nicole Herzog, Andrea Koly, Daniel Linseman, Annie London, Xi Yang, Avery Zwisler, Jane Smith, Chaz Contag, Michael Kerwin, Lucy Rand, Grace Schroeder, Michelle Rozenman, Nissa Tapper, Guiming Zhang, Mateo Mazariego-Halpern, Keith Meyer, Julie Do, Dakota Park-Ozee, Travis Herink, Kara Neu, Jonathan Plomin, Eve-Odine Duchaufour, Debbie Gale Mitchell, Tennyson Anderson-Stricklin, Lily Treitz, Samantha Rosenberger, Sierra Griffith, Finley Joseph, Daniel Sampson, Emmy Davis, Skyler Kasnoff, Evon Lopez, Vivian Nguyen, Cassy Young, Franklin Sellner, Martin Tobon, Ila Graham, Zach Billings, Holden Hedit, Decatur Boland, Paul Kosempel, Cory Chandler, Jay Mahoney, Sam Dragan, Susan Dagget, Yarrow Ator, Heidi Vuletich, Owen Weber, Andrew Kloeppel, Petersen Gray, Mandi Schaeffer-Fry, Razleen Bassra, Bryanna Rodriguez, Christina Blue, Taubie Sanders, Rachel Epstein, Luke Milburn, Camryn Evans, Ezra Martinez, Mary Westwood, Gabri Notov, Robin Tinghitella, Lilou Cabrol, Eli Barbour, Juliet Mendik, Selma Myers, Zac Wise, Noah Fahlin, Michelle Knowles, Abigail Hopper, Michael Greenberger, Romi Laclair, Sarah Watamura, Sabrina Efroymson, Casey Barker, Sydney Seltzer, Bryn Yehle, Jennifer Hoffman, Sara Garcia, Ryuka Nagamine, Trevor Briggs, Remy Le Boeuf, Elena Krone, Eileen Farrell, Regan O'Rourke, Elena Roel, Greg Mortimer, Ali Ayoub, Stefani Langehennig, Caitlin Turk, Logan Scmid, Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, Karen Kim, Tatiana Peccedi, Courtney Cassidy, John Sebesta, Rhianna Lewis, Janice Bening-Lacek, Vivian Lawless, Mckenna Hanson, Jeffrey Amidon, Riya Joshi, Ram Ambre, Brady Worrell, Perrin Schneider, Ali Azadani, Brooke Agulnek, Lyndsie Salvagio, Elise Siemanowki, Yan Qin, Andre Allen, Melodie Nguyen, Megan Livengood, Abby Reams, Saffron Hartreeve, Bri Wylie, Sarah Brookman, Mariah Loiacono, Green Russo, Abhia Lodhi, Gabrielle Welsh, Nika Spehar, Shahked Levin, Evrim Baykal, Kimberly Chiew, Jocelyn Torres, Kailey Hicks, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Audrey Bellows, Akam Chahal, Madeline Tepper, Shannon Murphy, Alexa Fonseca, Deborah Han, Cassandra Perez, Oluwatoyin Alaba, Julia Roncoroni, Vy Nguyen, Nana Burn, Sarah Sasse, Rubin Tuder, Anthony Gerber, Nancy Lorenzon, Christine Vohwinkel, Camryn Gunter, Tristan Weber, Sam Rommel, Brian Michel, Muskan Fatima, Alannah Oleson, Kira Frey, Edward Garrido, Beckett Morris, Kerstin Haring, Drew Middleton, Abigail Walpert, Liam Dee, Gabby Ishaw, Cole Carnes, Maddie Weiser, Claire Fox, Valeriia Vlasenko, Kateri Mcrae, Riley Smith, Abigail Templin, Kushani Rajapaksha

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Research Showcase.


Lowland Tropical Forests Remain A Methane Sink Under Warming And Long-Term Hurricane Disturbance Recovery, Gabriele Larocca Conte, Lucia Zuvela, Rachel Cruz-Pérez, Tatiana Barreto-Vélez, Nibia Becerra-Santillan, Sophia F. Campbell, Hieu P. Chu, Trung Dam, Iana F. Grullón-Penkova, Miriam Kleit, Deyaneira A. Ortiz-Iglesias, Laura C. Rubio-Lebrón, Molly A. Cavaleri, Sasha C. Reed, Debjani Sihi, Tana E. Wood, Christine S. O'Connell May 2026

Lowland Tropical Forests Remain A Methane Sink Under Warming And Long-Term Hurricane Disturbance Recovery, Gabriele Larocca Conte, Lucia Zuvela, Rachel Cruz-Pérez, Tatiana Barreto-Vélez, Nibia Becerra-Santillan, Sophia F. Campbell, Hieu P. Chu, Trung Dam, Iana F. Grullón-Penkova, Miriam Kleit, Deyaneira A. Ortiz-Iglesias, Laura C. Rubio-Lebrón, Molly A. Cavaleri, Sasha C. Reed, Debjani Sihi, Tana E. Wood, Christine S. O'Connell

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas, and tropical forests account for roughly one–third of global atmospheric CH4 uptake by soils. Projected warming and more frequent hurricanes in these ecosystems may alter soil CH4 sink strength, as warmer and wetter soils enhance methanogenesis activity. We measured soil CH4 and CO2 efflux during the calendar summer months of 2023 and 2024 alongside continuous records of soil moisture, soil and air temperature, and precipitation in an in–situ warming experiment (TRACE) located in a lowland tropical forest in Puerto Rico, six to seven years after Hurricanes Irma …


Tissue-Specific Heavy Metal Accumulation And Sediment–Mangrove Dynamics In Port Everglades, Florida, Dimitrios Giarikos, Amy Hirons, Jason Gershman, Sophie Welch May 2026

Tissue-Specific Heavy Metal Accumulation And Sediment–Mangrove Dynamics In Port Everglades, Florida, Dimitrios Giarikos, Amy Hirons, Jason Gershman, Sophie Welch

SECLER Data

Coastal wetlands near industrialized waterways face increasing heavy metal contamination, yet the role of mangroves as biogeochemical buffers remains poorly understood. This study quantified 16 heavy metals in sediments and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) tissues (roots, branches, and leaves) across four sites near Port Everglades, Florida, examining tissue-specific partitioning, contamination patterns, and sediment-to-plant transfer. The South Turning Basin (STB) was the principal contamination hotspot, with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of arsenic (As; 27.8 µg/g) and zinc (Zn; 203 µg/g) exceeding threshold effect levels, while Cu exceeded its probable effect level (PEL; 193 µg/g). Mercury (Hg) exceeded its PEL …


Long-Term Variability Of Air Quality And Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Rice Crop Burning In Punjab During 2012–2020, Harsimranjit Kaur Romana, Dericks Praise Shukla, Ramesh P. Singh Mar 2026

Long-Term Variability Of Air Quality And Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Rice Crop Burning In Punjab During 2012–2020, Harsimranjit Kaur Romana, Dericks Praise Shukla, Ramesh P. Singh

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Punjab, India's primary rice and wheat production hub, has witnessed rapid expansion of paddy cultivation over the past two decades, driven by minimum support price incentives, changes in government policies, alignment of sowing with the monsoon season and the adoption of high-yielding varieties. This transition has intensified groundwater extraction and shortened the fallow period between rabi and kharif crop seasons, reducing the window between rice harvesting and wheat sowing, leading to widespread open-field burning of rice residue and recurrent post-monsoon air-quality deterioration across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Despite numerous short-term or single-pollutant assessments, a spatially resolved, multi-pollutant and multi-decadal evaluation linking …


Development Trends And Implications Of Muti-Objective Marine Environmental Forecasting Technology, Yineng Li, Yuhang Zhu, Shiqiu Peng, Zhiwu Chen, Xing Wei, Junmin Li, Shaodian Li, Peiwei Xie, Jiawen Liao, Yankun Gong, Shilin Tang, Shuqun Cai Jan 2026

Development Trends And Implications Of Muti-Objective Marine Environmental Forecasting Technology, Yineng Li, Yuhang Zhu, Shiqiu Peng, Zhiwu Chen, Xing Wei, Junmin Li, Shaodian Li, Peiwei Xie, Jiawen Liao, Yankun Gong, Shilin Tang, Shuqun Cai

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

With the continuous expansion of global maritime activities and the steady advancement of the “maritime power” strategy, marine environmental security has become a top priority for China. In deep-sea areas, various environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, sound velocity, wave dynamics, internal solitary waves, and nearshore rip currents play a crucial role in navigation safety and underwater equipment operations. Nevertheless, traditional single-parameter forecasting models are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of multi-objective environmental protection. As a result, there is a growing need for a high-resolution, multi-objective forecasting system that integrates basic oceanographic element predictions (such as temperature, salinity, …


Current Status And Prospects Of Ocean Data Reanalysis, Chuanyu Liu, Fan Wang Jan 2026

Current Status And Prospects Of Ocean Data Reanalysis, Chuanyu Liu, Fan Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Ocean data reanalysis (ODR) is a technique that combines ocean observational data with ocean circulation models to produce gridded data with higher accuracy and greater spatiotemporal coverage. The generated reanalysis data serve as a foundational dataset for conducting oceanographic research and developing artificial intelligence-based large ocean models. This study reviews the technical approaches of ODR, the current status of global and regional ocean data reanalysis systems developed in the world, and puts forward recommendations for the development of China's ocean reanalysis system.


Frontiers In Ocean Non-Equilibrium Dynamics And Challenges In Operational Oceanography Application, Yuhong Zhang, Yan Du, Tianyu Wang, Minyang Wang, Qin Duan, Xinlong Li, Yuhang Zheng, Yifan Xia, Shilin Tang, Yineng Li, Jianping Yin Jan 2026

Frontiers In Ocean Non-Equilibrium Dynamics And Challenges In Operational Oceanography Application, Yuhong Zhang, Yan Du, Tianyu Wang, Minyang Wang, Qin Duan, Xinlong Li, Yuhang Zheng, Yifan Xia, Shilin Tang, Yineng Li, Jianping Yin

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Ocean circulation exhibits complex multiscale dynamics, among which non-equilibrium processes, marked by transient behavior, strong perturbations, and pronounced nonlinearity, are of particular importance for maritime environmental support. However, limited observational capability has long constrained the study of subsurface non-equilibrium dynamics, leaving numerical models insufficiently validated and positioning this issue at the forefront of modern physical oceanography. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a promising pathway to overcome this bottleneck. Built on this concept, the “iEddy” AI large ocean model can efficiently reconstruct high-resolution, high-accuracy three-dimensional temperature, salinity, and velocity from sea-surface remote sensing data, demonstrating strong capability in capturing non-equilibrium ocean currents …


Satellite-Derived Bathymetry In Island Coastal Zones: Technology, Shilin Tang, Yuye Huang, Yongming Liu, Jianping Yin, Deke Chen, Ronggang Huang, Shuang Li Jan 2026

Satellite-Derived Bathymetry In Island Coastal Zones: Technology, Shilin Tang, Yuye Huang, Yongming Liu, Jianping Yin, Deke Chen, Ronggang Huang, Shuang Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Shallow bathymetry data constitute the core foundational information underpinning the ecological, resource, and strategic values of island and coastal zones. Satellite-derived bathymetry has evolved into a key technical means for large-scale acquisition of shallow bathymetry information. Focusing on satellite-based lidar bathymetry, optical imaging bathymetry, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) bathymetry, this study systematically summarizes the core principles, applicable scenarios, technical strengths, and inherent limitations of each technology. It is shown that satellite-derived bathymetry has undergone an evolutionary shift from theoretical construction to practical application, and from single-method, single-data-source approaches to multi-technology, multi-source data fusion frameworks. In the future, to meet …


Innovative Applications And Development Paths Of Digital Earth Technology In Marine Environmental Support, Junyi Liu, Xiongfei Liu, Zongji Wang, Zhihong Zeng, Huiping Xie, Siye Liu Jan 2026

Innovative Applications And Development Paths Of Digital Earth Technology In Marine Environmental Support, Junyi Liu, Xiongfei Liu, Zongji Wang, Zhihong Zeng, Huiping Xie, Siye Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The convergence of Digital Earth technologies and the field of marine environmental support represent a significant trend in global scientific and technological advancement. In response to the characteristics of marine environmental data such as sparsity, dynamic complexity, and multi-scale interdependence, and by integrating the evolution of international Digital Earth technology with China’s independent innovation practices, this study constructs three core methodological paradigms. The first is the element-integrated ontology, which proposes a hybrid representation paradigm of “spatiotemporal embedded field + ontology” to achieve integrated and dynamically evolving modeling of marine physical environments alongside geological, biological, chemical, and other multidimensional elements. The …


Transparent West-Pacific: Frontier Advances In Earth System Science, Lixin Wu, Jiwei Tian, Weidong Sun, Hailong Liu, Tianyu Chen, Zhimian Cao, Zhao Jing Jan 2026

Transparent West-Pacific: Frontier Advances In Earth System Science, Lixin Wu, Jiwei Tian, Weidong Sun, Hailong Liu, Tianyu Chen, Zhimian Cao, Zhao Jing

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The West-Pacific hosts a well-developed trench-arc-basin system characterized by intense fluid–solid interactions, making it an ideal region for studying multi-sphere interactions within the Earth system. Research on cross-sphere dynamic processes and material-energy cycles in the West-Pacific not only represents a core frontier in Earth System Science, but also crucial to addressing major strategic needs, such as global climate change response, sustainable use of marine resources, and protection of the deep-sea environment. This article highlights key advances achieved under the Major Program on West-Pacific Earth System Multispheric Interactions (WESPMI), in areas including multi-scale oceanic interactions, cross-sphere material exchange, plate subduction and …


Pipeline Corrosion And Relevant Microbial Influence, Renee E. Bamberger Jan 2026

Pipeline Corrosion And Relevant Microbial Influence, Renee E. Bamberger

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study investigated the role of microbial activity and oxygen availability in the corrosion of carbon steel pipelines with a focus on microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). Sediment collected from Old Woman Creek, Ohio, was used to simulate natural soil conditions, and carbon steel coupons were incubated under four treatments: nonsterile oxic, nonsterile anoxic, autoclaved oxic, and autoclaved anoxic over 85 days. Corrosion was assessed through mass loss measurements and the analysis of pH, sulfate, chloride, and dissolved iron concentrations. The greatest mass loss was observed in autoclaved oxic conditions, contrary to the initial hypothesis that microbial activity would greatly enhance …


The Chemistry Of Red Lipstick: The Impact Red Lipstick Has On Society, Lilliana Weldeslassie Jan 2026

The Chemistry Of Red Lipstick: The Impact Red Lipstick Has On Society, Lilliana Weldeslassie

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Cosmetic chemistry is deeply embedded in everyday life, shaping the products people use from morning to night. Among these, red lipstick stands out as a formulation that blends complex chemistry with a cultural meaning. This thesis examines the scientific foundations of red lipstick through its chemical composition, pigment structure, toxicological history, analytical methods, and evolving sustainability practices. Historically, red lipsticks relied on high-risk ingredients such as lead, mercury, and other toxic metals, reflecting an era before chemical safety and regulatory oversight were incorporated.21 Modern formulations have established safer synthetic dyes, natural waxes, plant-based oils, and stabilizers created to optimize …


Climate And Environmental Controls On Forest Soil Organic Matter Cycling, Genevieve Goebel Jan 2026

Climate And Environmental Controls On Forest Soil Organic Matter Cycling, Genevieve Goebel

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Climate change factors act on the soil environment in complex ways, known to disturb soil organic carbon (C). Rising global temperatures and alterations to regional precipitation and nitrogen deposition regimes may contribute to the intensification of global change by accelerating the rate of biological decomposition and CO2 efflux to the atmosphere. The magnitude and endurance of the disturbance to soil organic C across landscapes and throughout time that climate change factors may pose to soil C cycling are not comprehensively understood. These knowledge gaps in our field make it challenging to anticipate how soil environments and the vast ecosystems that …


Dramatic Biases In Terrestrial Nitrogen Fixation In Earth System Models Revealed By Natural Isotope Signatures, Maoyuan Fang, Shushi Peng, Philippe Ciais, Daniel S. Goll, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Ying-Ping Wang, Yilong Wang, Pan Liu, Joshua B. Fisher, Pierre Regnier Oct 2025

Dramatic Biases In Terrestrial Nitrogen Fixation In Earth System Models Revealed By Natural Isotope Signatures, Maoyuan Fang, Shushi Peng, Philippe Ciais, Daniel S. Goll, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Ying-Ping Wang, Yilong Wang, Pan Liu, Joshua B. Fisher, Pierre Regnier

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the primary input of new reactive nitrogen to natural terrestrial ecosystems. However, this flux is poorly constrained due to its unclear drivers and associated control mechanisms. Here, we extend the existing theory of nitrogen (N) isotope mass balance to estimate BNF rates and then use a Bayesian approach to constrain the BNF rates in natural terrestrial ecosystems by using measurements of natural N-isotope ratios (δ15N) in plants (δP) and soil (δS). Together with pairwise δP and δS measurements from 18 forest sites covering diverse climates and thousands …


Day-Night Shifts In Water-Soluble Ions Of Size-Resolved Aerosols Before And After The Covid-19 Lockdown In A Coastal Megacity: Metro Manila, Philippines, Grace Betito, Paola Angela Bañaga, Rachel A. Braun, Maria Obiminda Cambaliza, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Alexander B. Macdonald, James Bernard Simpas, Connor Stahl, Armin Sooroshian Oct 2025

Day-Night Shifts In Water-Soluble Ions Of Size-Resolved Aerosols Before And After The Covid-19 Lockdown In A Coastal Megacity: Metro Manila, Philippines, Grace Betito, Paola Angela Bañaga, Rachel A. Braun, Maria Obiminda Cambaliza, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Alexander B. Macdonald, James Bernard Simpas, Connor Stahl, Armin Sooroshian

SOSE Affiliate: Manila Observatory

The COVID-19 pandemic-driven lockdowns offer a unique opportunity to examine how reductions in anthropogenic emissions impacted atmospheric aerosol composition in urban environments. This study investigates the day-night variability of size-resolved water-soluble ions in ambient particulate matter (PM) collected in Metro Manila before (November 2019–February 2020) and after (November 2020–February 2021) lockdown implementation. Using tandem Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors (MOUDIs), aerosol samples were collected during daytime (06:00–18:00) and nighttime (18:00–06:00) periods and analyzed for key ionic species (sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, oxalate, sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium) via ion chromatography. Submicrometer water-soluble mass declined post-lockdown, particularly during daytime, reflecting suppressed secondary formation …


Unraveling Crop Nitrogen-Water Dynamics With Hyperspectral-Thermal Sensing In Northern Central Valley, California, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Joshua B. Fisher, Rejoice Thomas, Fernando Romero Galvan, Gabriela Shirkey, Hesham El-Askary Sep 2025

Unraveling Crop Nitrogen-Water Dynamics With Hyperspectral-Thermal Sensing In Northern Central Valley, California, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Joshua B. Fisher, Rejoice Thomas, Fernando Romero Galvan, Gabriela Shirkey, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ensuring global food security in the face of climate change requires optimizing crop water use and nutrient management. This study investigates the relationship between canopy nitrogen (N) and evapotranspiration (ET) across sunflower, rice, walnut, alfalfa, and plum crops using advanced remote sensing technologies. High-resolution hyperspectral data from NASAs Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and thermal multispectral data from the Landsat-based OpenET system were analyzed over 1,135 km2 in California. Regression analysis revealed strong spatial association between canopy N and ET for sunflower (R2 = 0.82), rice (R2 = 0.71), and walnut (R2 = 0.68), …


Mixture Effects On Metal Accumulation In The Asian Clam, Corbicula Fluminea, Mark A. Huff Aug 2025

Mixture Effects On Metal Accumulation In The Asian Clam, Corbicula Fluminea, Mark A. Huff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Field collected Corbicula fluminea were exposed to trace level copper, lead, and zinc with the aim of examining the preferential accumulation between the soft tissue and shell. Metal levels were based on those in a permitted industrial effluent. At 1X effluent and 2X effluent exposure levels, copper was found to preferentially accumulate in the clam soft tissue, lead was found to preferentially accumulate in the clam shell, and zinc was found to excrete back into the diluent after preferentially accumulating in the clam soft tissue. When exposed as a mixture at 1X effluent levels, copper and lead were found to …


Why Real Impact Stories Of Forest-Dependent Communities Are Essential In Carbon Marketing, Andrew Mwape Jun 2025

Why Real Impact Stories Of Forest-Dependent Communities Are Essential In Carbon Marketing, Andrew Mwape

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

As the global carbon market matures, the pressure on companies and project developers to prove the integrity and social value of their carbon offset initiatives has never been greater. At the heart of this growing scrutiny lies a key opportunity: to move beyond metrics and tell authentic, human-centered stories that reflect the real impact of carbon projects; especially those rooted in forest landscapes.


Photochemistry Of Quinones And Combustion-Derived Particles, Desiree J. Sarmiento Jun 2025

Photochemistry Of Quinones And Combustion-Derived Particles, Desiree J. Sarmiento

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quinones are ubiquitous species that can be produced from the photochemical aging of combustion-derived particles (CDPs). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major component of CDPs and are precursors to quinones and other oxidized products (OPAHs). My work first expanded on the PAH and OPAH photochemistry research of Dr. John Haynes, who showed that anthracene (ANT) oxidizes into 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NAPQ), 1,4-anthraquinone (1,4-ANTQ), and 9,10-anthraquinone (9,10-ANTQ), and of Dr. Heather Runberg, who demonstrated the ability of ANT and these quinones to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Then at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), I was given the opportunity to investigate …


Trade-Off Between Limonene & Geraniol-Based Reprocessable And Non-Reprocessable Epoxy Thermosets: Role Of Aliphatic Diamines In Polymer Networks Design, Priyankkumar Kanubhai Patel May 2025

Trade-Off Between Limonene & Geraniol-Based Reprocessable And Non-Reprocessable Epoxy Thermosets: Role Of Aliphatic Diamines In Polymer Networks Design, Priyankkumar Kanubhai Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The growing demand for sustainable materials, driven by environmental concerns and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, has garnered significant attention in the fabrication of bio-based epoxy thermosets as renewable alternatives to petroleum-derived thermosetting polymers. The present study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of epoxy prepolymer resins derived from limonene and geraniol via a two-step process, followed by the fabrication of thermally cross-linked flexible epoxy thermoset films using various traditional aliphatic diamine curing agents, namely 1,2-ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,4-butylenediamine (BDA), and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HDA). Additionally, the incorporation of cystamine, a disulfide-containing diamine, enabled the formation of a covalent adaptable network through …


Impact Of Unconventional Gas Extraction On Tributaries Of Tenmile Creek, Greene County, Pennsylvania: A 12-Year Perspective, Christian L. Beall May 2025

Impact Of Unconventional Gas Extraction On Tributaries Of Tenmile Creek, Greene County, Pennsylvania: A 12-Year Perspective, Christian L. Beall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of southwestern Pennsylvania has been central to a rapid increase in development for unconventional natural gas extraction in the past two decades. The continued monitoring of streams over their lifetime as extraction sites is pivotal to understanding the effects of fracking on local waterways and their ability to provide for wildlife and human use. Here, using multiple indices of biotic integrity (IBI), I perform analyses of fish and macroinvertebrate communities as well as water chemistry on two streams, Bates Fork (with shale wells) and Fonner Run (without), as part of a follow-up to work performed there from 2010-2012. Fish …


Bioavailability Of Lead In Terre Haute Soils, Terre Haute, Indiana, Zach Kemp May 2025

Bioavailability Of Lead In Terre Haute Soils, Terre Haute, Indiana, Zach Kemp

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contamination of soils from heavy metal pollution has been a global concern for decades. Heavy metals are released into the soil from natural and anthropogenic releases. The largest producers of heavy metal pollution include mining, industrial production, and the combustion of fossil fuels. Vigo County formed in 1818, and Terre Haute was established in 1832. After the discovery of coal in Clay County in 1867, Terre Haute became the third largest coal producer and fifth largest iron manufacturer in the state during that time. Lead, in particular, is a heavy metal of concern because of the harmful effects to humans …


Toxicity And Biodegradability Of Novel Boronium Vs Conventional Ammonium-Based Antimicrobial Compounds In Wastewater Treatment Systems, Noor Shalan May 2025

Toxicity And Biodegradability Of Novel Boronium Vs Conventional Ammonium-Based Antimicrobial Compounds In Wastewater Treatment Systems, Noor Shalan

Honors Theses

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are highly effective as disinfectants, herbicides, and pesticides; thus, overuse causes elevated levels of residual toxicity in domestic and industrial wastewater. QACs can be toxic to essential bacteria breaking down pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can remain untreated in effluent, harming the environment, and contributing to antibiotic resistance, posing risks to human health. Novel boronium-based antimicrobial compounds have demonstrated efficacy in eliminating bacteria, fungi, and viruses. If the boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity, they could offer a promising alternative to QACs. Because these compounds are still in development, their potential toxicity to the …


Salmon As An Ecological Pathway Of Contaminants Into Alaskan Food Webs, Miranda Brohman, Gretchen Roffler, Dimitri G. Giarikos, David Kerstetter, Amy C. Hirons Mar 2025

Salmon As An Ecological Pathway Of Contaminants Into Alaskan Food Webs, Miranda Brohman, Gretchen Roffler, Dimitri G. Giarikos, David Kerstetter, Amy C. Hirons

SECLER Data

Salmon are important fish taxa for humans and animals in hemiboreal and subarctic ecosystems. Trace elements and their marine food web bioaccumulation raises biomagnification and potential human health risk concerns. Sixteen trace element concentrations and their health risk assessments were determined in seven different tissues of two Southeast Alaska salmon species (chum, Oncorhynchus keta and pink, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Chum tissues had overall higher trace element concentrations compared to pink, which may be attributed to a difference of diets, generally longer-lived and spending more time in the open ocean. All kidney and liver samples exceeded the tolerable daily intake for …


Tracing The Sources Of Nitrogen In Submarine Groundwater Discharge And Primary Producers In The Great South Bay Estuary, Nia H. Rene Feb 2025

Tracing The Sources Of Nitrogen In Submarine Groundwater Discharge And Primary Producers In The Great South Bay Estuary, Nia H. Rene

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The primary aim of this research was to elucidate the impact of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and septic effluent on coastal primary producers in the Great South Bay (GSB). The study focused on three main objectives: assessing the impact of precipitation patterns on SGD, tracing nitrogen sources into the GSB, and determining the impact of these nitrogen sources on coastal primary producers. The research revealed that current precipitation patterns significantly influence SGD across different seasons, highlighting the seasonal variability in groundwater discharge and its implications for nutrient loading in coastal waters. A suite of tracers was employed to identify and …


Verification Of Real-Time Smoke Simulations: A Case Study On Early Summer North American Wildfire Events, Daniel Bonilla Jan 2025

Verification Of Real-Time Smoke Simulations: A Case Study On Early Summer North American Wildfire Events, Daniel Bonilla

Pitzer Senior Theses

As wildfire intensity and frequency escalate in times of unprecedented climate change and severe droughts, it is important to enhance forecasting models that accurately and efficiently predict wildfire smoke movement. NOAA’s experimental Rapid-Refresh Forecasting System with Smoke and Dust (RRFS-SD) aims to improve upon the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh- Smoke (HRRR-Smoke), by extending the domain to include all of North America and incorporating new developments in physics and wildfire parameterizations. Our work explores the process of adding satellite Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data, through AERONET, as an additional method of verification of the RRFS-SD experimental model. Using a case study on …


Zinc Or Swim: Investigating Zinc Pollution From Restoration Materials, Megan R. Jensik Jan 2025

Zinc Or Swim: Investigating Zinc Pollution From Restoration Materials, Megan R. Jensik

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Zinc is an essential nutrient, but can be toxic at high concentrations, negatively affecting various biological functions. Gabions are galvanized metals coated in zinc that are used for many human purposes, including coastal restoration efforts attempting to avoid using plastic materials. However, gabions can degrade in marine environments, potentially leaching metal into the water and soil. There is a knowledge gap regarding the occurrence and impacts of zinc pollution in the areas where these gabions are deployed, including the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). To address this, sediment samples were collected from the IRL and analyzed for their physical and chemical …


Generational Exposures To Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles And Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Affect The Performance Of Daughter Plants, Preston Clubb Jan 2025

Generational Exposures To Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles And Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Affect The Performance Of Daughter Plants, Preston Clubb

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The effects of parental stress on the performance of next generation exposed to another contaminant were investigated. Wheat was exposed to cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) in first and second generations and exposed to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in the third generation. Phenotypic or metabolic responses were assessed at 21-day (short-term exposure) or 90-day (long-term exposure) exposure periods. Biomass production, chlorophyll content, enzyme activity, and membrane damage were measured at short-term exposure, while elemental and PFOS concentrations, and grain metabolites were analyzed in long-term exposure. Results showed that continued exposures to CeO2-NPs and PFOS enhanced chlorophyll content but reduced concentrations of important …


Extended Inter-Laboratory Characterization Of The New Coastal Seawater Dissolved Organic Matter Reference Material Trm-0522, Alexander J. Craig, Lydia Babcock-Adams, Maxime C. Bridoux, Charlotte Brun, Juliana D'Andrilli, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Patrick G. Hatcher, Oliver Lechtenfeld, Hang Li, Rebecca Matos, Garrett Mckay, Amy M. Mckenna, Madelyn Miller, Sasha Wagner, Margot E. White, Alexander Zherebker, Jeffrey A. Hawkes Jan 2025

Extended Inter-Laboratory Characterization Of The New Coastal Seawater Dissolved Organic Matter Reference Material Trm-0522, Alexander J. Craig, Lydia Babcock-Adams, Maxime C. Bridoux, Charlotte Brun, Juliana D'Andrilli, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Patrick G. Hatcher, Oliver Lechtenfeld, Hang Li, Rebecca Matos, Garrett Mckay, Amy M. Mckenna, Madelyn Miller, Sasha Wagner, Margot E. White, Alexander Zherebker, Jeffrey A. Hawkes

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) reference materials are critical to ensuring reliable comparability of measurements across experiments and between labs. TRM-0522, isolated in 2022 from 45 m deep seawater off of Sweden’s west coast, fills the niche of a previously unavailable coastal marine DOM reference material. After its isolation, we detailed a limited number of metrics for TRM-0522, initially disclosing Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, carbon proportion, absorbance, and fluorescence data. With TRM-0522 becoming more widely used, a variety of labs have generated different metrics that help to characterize and define the chemical properties of this coastal reference material. …