Earth Sciences Commons^™

Light Environment And Seasonal Dynamics Of Microalgae In The Annual Sea Ice At Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica, L. Lazzara, I. Nardello, C. Ermanni, O. Mangoni, V. Saggiomo

OES Faculty Publications

We investigated the physical conditions of the Spring pack ice environment at Terra Nova Bay to understand their influence on the structure and physiology of sympagic microalgae. Bio-optical methods were used to study the availability and spectral quality of solar radiation, both inside and underneath the ice cover. Pack ice thickness was around 2.5 m, with a temperature between -2 and -7°C. On average, only 1.4% of surface PAR penetrated to the bottom ice and less than 0.6% below platelet ice level. Surface UV-B radiation under the bottom ice was 0.2-0.4%. Biomass concentrations up to 2400 mg Chl a m- …

An Investigation Of Lead And Other Metal Contaminants In The Sediments Of Clearwater Lake, Missouri, Gary W. Krizanich

Doctoral Dissertations

"The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution and concentration of trace metals in sediments of Clearwater Lake. Understanding how trace metals are released to and transported in aquatic environments is important to the overall understanding of the impacts of mining on the natural environment. The main focus of this research will be on historic sedimentation within Clearwater Lake, which may act as a sink where mining related trace metals are stored. Because of their high preservation rates in basins, sediments can provide detailed chronostratigraphic histories of trace metal inputs in lakes. Sediment records can …

Incipient Continental Rifting: Insights From The Okavango Rift Zone, Northwestern Botswana, Baraka D. Kinabo

Doctoral Dissertations

"In this dissertation aeromagnetic, gravity, and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM) data from the Okavango Rift Zone in northwest Botswana are used to map the distribution of rift and basement structures. The distribution of these structures provide useful insights into the early stages of continental rifting. The objectives of this study are (1) assessing the role of pre-existing structures on rift basin development, (2) characterizing the geometry of the nascent rift basins, (3) documenting fault growth and propagation patterns, and (4) investigating the border fault development"--Abstract, page iv.

Impacts Of Acid Mine Drainage On Carbon Cycling In Receiving Streams, Ernest W. Fonyuy

Doctoral Dissertations

"Field and laboratory investigations of acid mine drainage (AMD) contaminated and uncontaminated waters were conducted in order to determine and model processes and reaction mechanisms that control dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) transformation and shifts in isotope ratio of DIC (Δ¹³C_DIC). The results show that AMD caused variable pH changes, overall decreases in Fe²⁺, alkalinity, and DIC, and increases in (Δ¹³C_DIC) in receiving streams. AMD caused more than 50 to > 98% seasonal DIC loss in stream water through CO₂ degassing. High DIC losses corresponded to high Fe²⁺ and lower or no HCO₃⁻ in the water samples, because …

Assessment Of The Source And Transformation Of Nitrate In The Cedar River Watershed By Using Stable Isotopes Of Nitrogen, Sushil Gautam

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stable isotopes of nitrogen were used to assess the source and fate of nitrate in the Cedar River Watershed, Iowa. Ground water samples from 20 private wells and surface water samples from 10 sites in the Cedar River and its tributaries were collected. A total of 90 samples were collected during the growing season from May through September 2006. In 35% of the wells, nitrate concentration exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 45 mg/1 (as NO3-) for drinking purposes. Eight (8) out of 10 samples exceeded MCL for nitrate in the first set of …

Trampling, Peeling And Nibbling Mussels: An Experimental Assessment Of Mechanical And Predatory Damage To Shells Of Mytilus Trossulus (Mollusca: Mytilidae), Carlos E. Cintra-Buenrostro

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Shell damage, if properly recognized, can provide information about biotic interactions between molluscs and their predators. However, it can be difficult to distinguish predatory damage from mechanical breakage, thus making interpretation of damaged modern and fossil shells problematic. To establish a clear-cut distinction between antemortem predatory crab damage and ante- and postmortem mechanical damage in Mytilus trossulus shells, a combined field and experimental approach was used. Mussels were exposed to predation by crabs, tumbled-live, tumbled-dead, and trampled. After 100 h of tumbling, live-collected mussel shells were abraded and disarticulated but not otherwise damaged. Eight percent of the dead-collected shells were …

Methane Potential Of Upper Fort Union Formation Sandstones, Campbell County, Wyoming, Michael J. Blackstone

Theses and Dissertations

Coalbed methane has been produced from the coalbeds of the Upper Fort Union Formation in the Powder River Basin for many years. The sandstones associated with these coals have also proven to be gas-charged, but industry has done little with the sandstones thus far. The purpose of this study is to determine the paleoenvironrnent responsible for the deposition of the coal and sandstone bodies in an attempt to locate gas-charged sandstone bodies in the Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation.

The 30-mile by 90-mile study area was chosen because of the presence of a decrease in thick coalbed …

Shelf-Margin Delta Morphology As A Paleo Sea Level Indicator: Implications On Late Quaternary Relative Sea-Level Changes In The Northeast Gulf Of Mexico, Swati Ghoshal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A new technique to determine relative sea level history at siliciclastic settings is proposed in this dissertation. The clinoform break (defined as the topset-foreset transition point) of the modern Mississippi River Delta shows a direct relationship with sea level elevation. The analysis of Holocene lobes 8 and 9 belonging to the St. Bernard delta complex of the Mississippi Delta suggests that delta clinoforms can be significantly modified by post-abandonment processes, and hence a detailed stratigraphic evaluation is necessary to determine whether the clinoform geometry is a result of wave erosion or any other post-abandonment processes. The strategy was tested on …

Acadian Biospeleology: Composition And Ecology Of Cave Fauna Of Nova Scotia And Southern New Brunswick, Canada, Max Moseley

International Journal of Speleology

The vertebrate and invertebrate fauna, environment and habitats of caves and disused mines in Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick are provisionally catalogued and described, based on field collections made over many years. The area was glaciated and the subterranean fauna consists of non-troglobites all of which have arrived and colonised the caves during or following final recession of the Pleistocene glaciers. The statistical composition of the fauna at the higher taxonomic level is similar to that in Ontario, but is less species rich and there are some notable ecological and other differences. Porcupine dung accumulations are an important habitat …

Bomb-Spike Dating Of A Mummified Baboon In Ludwig Cave, Namibia, Greg Hodgins, George A. Brook, Eugene Marais

International Journal of Speleology

In 1982 a mummified adult female baboon was discovered on a ledge in Ludwig Cave in Namibia. A toe bone was removed for dating in July 1995. AMS radiocarbon dating of bone collagen, tendon, and skin indicates a post-modern age. Application of the atomic bomb-spike calibration curve suggests death in late 1977 and an age at death of around 19 years. Baboons roost in the cave and the mummified female, along with a mummified juvenile male discovered in 2002 and three rotting corpses discovered in 1995, were probably chased by other baboons or by leopards down a ca. 6 m …

Eogenetic Karst, Glacioeustatic Cave Pools And Anchialine Environments On Mallorca Island: A Discussion Of Coastal Speleogenesis, Angel Ginés, Joaquín Ginés

International Journal of Speleology

Coastal karst is characterized by special geomorphologic and hydrodynamic conditions as well as by peculiar sedimentary, geochemical, and biospeleological environments. Generally, the more distinctive karstic features produced near the coastline are strongly influenced by sea-level changes, which generate a broad set of interactions between littoral processes and karst development. The glacioeustatic rises and falls of sea level affected the littoral karst in different ways, namely: vertical and horizontal shifts in the shoreline position, changes in elevation of the local water table, and vertical displacements of the halocline. Most eogenetic karsts have been subjected over long time spans to repeated changes …

The Polygenetic Caves Of Cuatro Ciénegas (Coahuila, Mexico): Morphology And Speleogenesis, Leonardo Piccini, Paolo Forti, Italo Giulivo, Marco Mecchia

International Journal of Speleology

The Cuatro Ciénegas area is renown worldwide for its thermal springs, which feed a unique ecosystem consisting of many pools, lakes and marshes. The pools also represent a very important water resource in a region characterized by scarce rainfalls. Field investigation has emphasized the role of karst in the hydrogeology of the area. Only few and restricted forms of surface karst are represented; caves are mainly relics of old speleogenetic phases of thermal and bathyphreatic water flow.

Investigation Of A Possible Lead-Lag Relationship Between The Innuitian And Laurentide Ice Sheets, Arctic Canada, Paula Zimmerman

OES Theses and Dissertations

Peaks of iron-rich grains in Arctic Ocean sediment cores matched to the Laurentide and Innuitian Ice Sheets appear to show a lead-lag relationship during the Late Pleistocene when grain abundances are plotted against time and depth below sea floor. Cores from across the Arctic have been analyzed to determine if this is the case. Of the six IRD events identified, the Innuitian leads 68% of the time with 26% of events in all cores occurring simultaneously. The Innuitian seems to lead 33.3% of the time when peaks from the Innuitian and Laurentide occur within close proximity (less than 1 cm), …

Carbon Dioxide In The Atmosphere, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives: Students learn the importance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

National Science Education Standards: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry and understandings about scientific inquiry. As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of matter, energy, and organization in living systems. As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of energy in the earth system and geochemical cycles.

Understanding Dispersion Models Using Computer Technology, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

• Analyze dispersion models
• Use computer models to predict outcomes of various scenarios

9-12 NSES Standards:

• Standard A: Inquiry - Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry and Understanding about scientific inquiry
• Standard E: Science and Technology - Abilities of technological design and Understanding about science and technology
• Standard F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives - Personal and community health, Population growth, Natural resources, Environmental quality, Natural and human-induced hazards, Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Oxygen Give And Take, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Summary: This is a series of three activities followed by a worksheet. The concepts taught include gas production (O2 and CO2), chemical reactions, catalysts, and pollution caused by combustion. Correlation to National Science Education Standards

• Content Standard 9-12 Physical Science B Chemical Reactions

• Content Standard 9-12 Earth and Space Science D Geochemical Cycles

There's A Hole In My Umbrella: A Mini-Unit On Acid Deposition, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objective: Students will gain an understanding of acid deposit ion and the environmental impact it has both nationally and globally. National Science Standards: As a result of these activities, students in grades 9-12, will

• develop skills in scientific inquiry (standard A).
• observe changes in properties of matter (standard B).
• gain an understanding of environmental quality related to both natural and human-induced hazards (standard F).
• understand that science is a global challenge (standard F).
• evaluate results of scientific experiments and observations (standard F).

Indoor Air Pollution, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives: Students will learn about indoor air pollutants the types and legal concentrations and affects on human health. The students will also determine the pathway for the formation of radon.

National Science Education Standards: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop an understanding of the structure of the atoms; environmental quality; and natural and human-induced hazards.

As a result of their activity the students will have a better understanding of the atom’s parts and how the atom disintegrates and interacts with the environment. The students should have a better understanding of the …

There's A Whole Lotta Spillin' Goin' On!, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Unit Learning Objectives: The learner should be able to:

1. Compare and contrast hazardous chemical spills 2. Comprehend how hazardous chemicals affect the environment.
3. Explain the difficulty involved in cleaning up a hazardous spill.
4. Explain how the chemical travels once it is released.
5. Assess how hazardous chemicals affect the human body and animal life.
6. Analyze a chemical spill and its affects on its surroundings.
7. Create an emergency management system based on a real life situation

Evidence of Understanding: By the end of this unit, students should be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of hazardous …

Is Air Quality In The Index?, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

• Make predictions and explanations based from evidence.
• Identify sources of air pollution that affect air quality.
• Interpret and apply the Air Quality Index.
• Have the desire to share Air Quality information with others.

5-8 NSES Standards:

• Standard A: Inquiry •Standard D: Structure of Earth Systems
•Standard E: Science and Technology
•Standard F: Personal Health, Population, Resources, Environmental and Natural Hazards, Risks and Benefits, Science and Technology in Society

9-12 NSES Standards:

• Standard A: Inquiry
• Standard D: Geochemical Cycles, Origin and Evoluti
on of the Earth System
• Standard E: Science and Technology …

Trouble Breathing?, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objective:

Students will make connections from everyday situations to air quality. Students will know the 7 criteria pollutants established by the EPA and monitored by each state.

National Science Education Standard:

As a result of activities in grades 5-8, students w ill learn that natural environments may contain substances that are harmful to human beings. Maintaining environmental health involves establishing or monitoring quality standards related to use of soil, water, and air.

It’S Time For A Change, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Learning Objective: (adapted from the Secondary National Science Content Standards)

1 .Chemical reactions may release or consume energy. Some reactions, such as burning fossil fuels, release large amounts of energy by losing heat and emitting light.

2. Light can initiate many chemical reactions such as the evolution of urban smog.

3. The total energy of the universe is constant. Energy can be transferred by collisions in chemical reactions. However, it can never be destroyed.

4. Everything becomes less orderly over time. In energy transfer the overall effect of the energy spreads out uniformly like the warming of our surroundings as …

You're One In A Million: An Activity In Comparing Of Concentrations, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

Prior to the introduction of criteria pollutants and NAAQS values, it may be helpful to familiarize students with the scale at which criteria pollutants have been deemed harmful. Often numbers as small as these can seem almost abstract, but the following activities will help to make them accessible and concrete to the students,making the discussions of NAAQS values more meaningful.

To Burn Or Not To Burn, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objective : Students learn how a locally proposed power plant may impact the environment of their community.

National Science Education Standards:
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, students
should develop

• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Understandings about science and technology

As a result of activities in grades 9-12, students
should develop understanding of

• Personal and community health
• Environmental quality
• Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Factories - Friends Or Foes?, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objective: Students will be able to role play various points of view considering placement of a factory and its effects on air quality.

National Science Education Standards:

Standard E - Understandings about science and technology

Standard F -

• Personal health
• Populations, resources, and environments
• Natural hazards
• Risks and benefits
• Science and technology in society

Standard G - Science as a human endeavor

Finding The Planetary Boundary Layer, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objective: Students will learn about the presence of the planetary boundary layer within the troposphere. Then using real life data, observe the changing levels of the boundary layer.

National Science Education Standards:

• Standard A: Science as Inquiry
• Standard B: Teacher will guide and facilitate a learning environment
• Standard D: Students will be provided with time, space and resources to conduct their research.
• Standard E: Science and Technology

Be Particular About Our Matter!, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

--Demonstrate that particulate air pollution can be invisible to the eye.
--Students will collect and observe particulate matter.
--Students will identify pollen grains and make their own pollen map for Davenport.
-- Students will collect and interpret local environmental maps.
--Students will investigate health risks involved in polluted air.

National Science Education Standards:

• Standard A: Students will conduct scientific inquiry
• Standard B: Teacher will guide and facilitate a learning environment.
• Standard D: Students will be provided with time, space and resources toconduct their research.
• Standard F: Risks and benefits; Science and technology in society

Concentration Is Essential For This Task!: An Activity In Comparing Of Concentrations, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

Students will be able to explain and give examples of both parts per million and parts per billion. In the next activity students will use these values in the analysis of air quality data.

National Science Education Standards:

Earth materials are solid rocks and soils, water, and the gases of the atmosphere. The varied materials have different physical and chemical properties, which make them useful in different ways, for example, as building materials, as sources of fuel, or for growing the plants we use as food. Earth materials provide many of the resources that humans use.

Scientific investigations involve …

Patterns Of Temperature, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

1. Students will analyze temperature distributions on a map.
2. Students will compare and contrast temperature variations on a weather map.

National Science Standards: All students should develop an understanding of: structure of earth system, science and technology, risks and benefits, and science and technology in society.

Clouds Over Your Head, Storm Project

Open Educational Resources

Objectives:

• Students will become familiar with the four main types of clouds: stratus, cirrus, cumulus, and cumulonimbus and their characteristics
• Students will learn the weather map symbols for cloudy, clear or no clouds, and partly cloudy.

National Science Standards: All students should develop an understanding of: properties of earth materials, and changes in earth and sky.