Earth Sciences Commons^™

Accounting For Spatial Autocorrelation In Modeling The Distribution Of Water Quality Variables, Lorrayne Miralha

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

Several studies in hydrology have reported differences in outcomes between models in which spatial autocorrelation (SAC) is accounted for and those in which SAC is not. However, the capacity to predict the magnitude of such differences is still ambiguous. In this thesis, I hypothesized that SAC, inherently possessed by a response variable, influences spatial modeling outcomes. I selected ten watersheds in the USA and analyzed them to determine whether water quality variables with higher Moran’s I values undergo greater increases in the coefficient of determination (R²) and greater decreases in residual SAC (rSAC) after spatial modeling. I compared non-spatial ordinary …

Palynological And Petroleum Geochemical Assessment Of The Lower Oligocene Mezardere Formation, Thrace Basin, Nw Turkey, Kadi̇r Gürgey, Zühtü Bati

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Oligocene clastic sequence of the Mezardere Formation (MF) with laterally variable organic richness has long been known as a proven source of gas with minor oil accumulations across the Thrace Basin of northwest Turkey. However, based on well data for the thick MF, neither detailed work in relation to age dating and stratigraphy nor a close linkage between the depositional facies/ environments, organic richness/organic proxies, and cyclicity has been established yet. In the present study, the MF was informally subdivided into Lower MF (LMF) and Upper MF (UMF) based on the distinct differences in palynological and geochemical data. Based …

A New Chronostratigraphy ( 40ar- -39ar And U-Pb Dating) For The Middle Section Of The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone, Sw Turkey (Eastern Mediterranean), İrem Eli̇tez, Cenk Yaltirak, Gürsel Sunal

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Southwestern Turkey is a tectonically active region where extensional, strike-slip, and compressional tectonics cooccur. The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone is located in the middle of this complex area. Understanding the tectonic evolution of this region is crucial, but the controversial Neogene chronostratigraphy does not allow robust synthesis because of poor age control. The middle section of the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone includes three basins: the Acıpayam, Çameli, and Gölhisar basins. All these basins represent restricted portions of ancient larger carbonate lakes. The lacustrine sediments are locally covered or cut by lamproites with sparse intercalations of tuff levels. New 40Ar- 39Ar biotite and …

Provenance Investigation From Sedimentary Petrography Of The Upper Cretaceous Deepmarine Low Density Turbidites Of The Tanjero Formationaround Arbat, Northeastern Iraq, Hasan Çeli̇k, Tavan Muhammad Hama Sali̇h

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Deep marine low density turbidites of the Upper Cretaceous Tanjero Formation were studied in terms of their petrographic composition to deduce the provenance of the unit around Arbat, northeastern Iraq. Petrographic works based on modal analysis of the clastic rock fragments and released single minerals in silt, fine to coarse grained sandstone, and, in very small quantities, pebbly sandstone show that these turbidites are mainly composed of sedimentary rock fragments such as carbonate, microcrystalline and cryptocrystalline quartz bearing siliceous sedimentary cherts, Radiolaria bearing cherts, and released Radiolaria fossils from the cherts during a short distance transportation. Quartz and feldspar ratios …

Resistivity Inversion Of Transversely Isotropic Media, Ertan Pekşen, Türker Yas

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

In this paper, we have suggested a finite difference algorithm for resistivity forward and inverse modeling with electrically anisotropic media in applied geophysics. Electrical anisotropy affects the surface measurement in a fashion that may make interpretation erroneous. This means that the resistivity section obtained by an inversion method that does not incorporate electrical anisotropy gives the wrong subsurface structure. We used a classical multielectrode dataset of a profile for estimating not only horizontal but vertical resistivity as well. Thus, the electrical anisotropy can be calculated. Finally, the finite difference mesh can be corrected by using the estimated anisotropic coefficient. The …

Heavy Minerals And Exotic Pebbles From The Eocene Flysch Deposits Of The Magura Nappe (Outer Western Carpathians, Eastern Slovakia): Their Composition And Implications On The Provenance, Katarína Bónová, Ján Bóna, Martin Kovácik, Tomás Mikus

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The study aims to reconstruct the crystalline parent rock assemblages of the Eocene Strihovce Formation (Krynica Unit) and Mrazovce Member (Raca Unit) deposits, based on the heavy mineral suites, their corrosive features, geochemistry of garnet and tourmaline, zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) images, and exotic pebble composition. Both units are an integral part of the Magura Nappe belonging to the Flysch Belt (Outer Western Carpathians). Corrosion signs observable on heavy minerals point to different burial conditions and/or diverse sources. The compositions of the detrital garnets and tourmalines as well as the CL study of zircons indicate their origin in gneisses, mica schists, …

Petrology And Geochronology Of Metamorphic Zircon, Matthew J. Kohn, Nigel M. Kelly

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Zircon is unusually well suited for investigating metamorphic processes because it is readily analyzed for U‐Pb ages, it harbors diverse mineral inclusions, and its chemistry can be linked to metamorphic parageneses and P‐T paths. Metamorphic zircon chemistry and ages are relevant only at the sub‐grain micron scale, and consequently many analytical methods, such as depth profiling, have been developed to exploit such spatially resolute infor­mation. Here we review how metamorphic zircon grows, and how its chemistry and inclusion assemblages may be used to link the age of a zircon domain to its metamorphic P‐T condition. Domain‐specific ages and inclusion assemblages …

A Geophysical Characterization Of The Structural Framework Of The Camas Prairie Geothermal System, Southcentral Idaho, Lee Liberty

CGISS Publications and Presentations

Play Fairway Analysis methods, utilizing existing geologic, thermal, geochemical, and geophysical data were employed in an initial assessment of geothermal resources in the Snake River Plain. These efforts identified the Camas Prairie in southcentral Idaho as a region with elevated resource potential. Subsequent efforts included structural and geophysical data collection to identify the most favorable structural settings for exploiting resources in the valley. The present work involved high-resolution gravity, magnetic, magnetotellurics (MT), field mapping, and seismic surveys to further characterize the system and target sites for exploration drilling around Barron’s Hot Springs (BHS) in the southwest part of the valley. …

Groundwater Withdrawals Under Drought: Reconciling Grace And Land Surface Models In The United States High Plains Aquifer, Wanshu Nie, Benjamin Zaitchik, Matthew Rodell, Sujay V. Kumar, Martha C. Anderson, Christopher Hain

United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Publications

Advanced Land Surface Models (LSM) offer a powerful tool for studying hydrological variability. Highly managed systems, however, present a challenge for these models, which typically have simplified or incomplete representations of human water use. Here we examine recent groundwater declines in the US High Plains Aquifer (HPA), a region that is heavily utilized for irrigation and that is also affected by episodic drought. To understand observed decline in groundwater and terrestrial water storage during a recent multiyear drought, we modify the Noah-MP LSM to include a groundwater irrigation scheme. To account for seasonal and interannual variability in active irrigated area, …

Assessing The Impact Of The Conservation Reserve Program On Honey Bee Health, Otto, C.R.V., O'Dell, S., Bryant, R.B., Euliss, N.H., Bush

United States Geological Survey: Publications

Insect pollinators are critically important for maintaining U.S. food production and ecosystem health. The upper Midwest is home to more than 40 percent of all U.S. honey bee colonies and is considered by many beekeepers to be America’s last beekeeping refuge. Beekeepers come to this region because their honey bees require high-quality grassland and bee-friendly agricultural crops to make honey and to improve bee health. Agricultural grassland, such as those enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), support flowers that provide bees with the pollen and nectar they need. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. …

Adaptive Management In Native Grasslands Managed By The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service—Implications For Grassland Birds, Lawrence D. Igl, Welsey E. Newton, Todd A. Grant, Cami S. Dixon

United States Geological Survey: Publications

Burning and grazing are natural processes in native prairies that also serve as important tools in grassland management to conserve plant diversity, to limit encroachment of woody and invasive plants, and to maintain or improve prairies. Native prairies managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains have been extensively invaded by nonnative, cool-season species of grasses. These invasions were believed to reflect a common management history of long-term rest and little or no defoliation by natural processes (burning and grazing). To address the challenges associated with these invasive species, …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Soil Infiltration Trenches For Highway Runoff Control On The Island Of Oahu, Hawaii, Martina Sobotkova, Jaromir Dusek, Ghasem Alavi, Laxman Sharma, Chittaranjan Ray

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

The coastal waters of Hawaii are extremely important for recreation as well as for the health of the marine environment. Non-point source pollution from storm runoff poses a great threat to surface water quality in Hawaii. The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) includes infiltration trenches as a best management practice (BMP) option to reduce pollution caused by stormwater runoff. HDOT guidelines state that the implementation of BMPs is needed to reduce sediment and pollutant loads to streams and the ocean. In this study, the suitability of soils adjacent to highways on Oahu for the siting of infiltration trenches …

Quantifying The Short-Term Impacts Of Cover Crops And Grazing On Soil Health Under An Integrated Crop-Livestock System In South Dakota, Vishal Seth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops and grazing under Integrated Crop-Livestock System (ICLS) can impact the rhizosphere nutrient cycling and may have potential to increase the long-term sustainability and economic profitability of agricultural production system. In South Dakota, crop production practices and livestock husbandry are both common which provide the opportunity for ICLS to be successful in this region. However, little is known about the impacts of the cover crops and grazing under ICLS on soil properties in this region. The present study was conducted at South Dakota State University Research Farm (44°20'34.8"N, 96°48'14.8"W), Brookings, SD, to quantify the impacts of cover crops and …

Land Use Change Sustainability And Carbon Turnover Rate In The Northern Great Plains Soil, Deepak Raj Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sustainable land management involves the management of land, water, biodiversity and other resources that meet human requirements while maintaining ecosystem services. In the northern Great Plains (NGP), the combined impacts of landuse and climate variability have placed many soils at the tipping point of sustainability. The objectives of this study were to: 1) calculate land-use changes from 2006 to 2012 and from 2012 to 2014 in South Dakota and Nebraska; 2) assess if land use changes had impacted on soil sustainability; 3) calculate variation in total carbon budget and turnover due to seasonal climate variability, biomass quality and soil properties; …

Reviews And Syntheses: 210pb-Derived Sediment And Carbon Accumulation Rates In Vegetated Coastal Ecosystems – Setting The Record Straight, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Pere Masque´, Jordi Garcia-Orellana, Oscar Serrano, Ines Mazarrasa, Nuria Marba, Catherine E. Lovelock, Paul S. Lavery, Carlos M. Duarte

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vegetated coastal ecosystems, including tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrass meadows, are being increasingly assessed in terms of their potential for carbon dioxide sequestration worldwide. However, there is a paucity of studies that have effectively estimated the accumulation rates of sediment organic carbon (C_org), also termed blue carbon, beyond the mere quantification of C_org stocks. Here, we discuss the use of the ²¹⁰Pb dating technique to determine the rate of C_org accumulation in these habitats. We review the most widely used ²¹⁰Pb dating models to assess their limitations in these ecosystems, often composed of …

Environmental Monitoring And Peat Assessment Using Multivariate Analysis Of Regional-Scale Geochemical Data, Jennifer M. Mckinley, Eric Grunsky, Ute Mueller

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A compositional multivariate approach was used to analyse regional-scale soil geochemical data obtained as part of the Tellus Project generated by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. The multi-element total concentration data presented comprise X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses of 6862 rural soil samples collected at 20-cm depth on a non-aligned grid at one site per 2km2" role="presentation">2km2. Censored data were imputed using published detection limits. Each soil sample site was assigned to the regional geology map, resulting in spatial data for one categorical variable and 35 continuous variables comprised of individual and amalgamated elements. This paper examines the extent …

Preferential Production And Transport Of Grass-Derived Pyrogenic Carbon In Ne-Australian Savanna Ecosystems, Gustavo Saiz, Iain Goodrick, Christopher Wurster, Paul N. Nelson, Jonathan G. Wynn, Michael Bird

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Understanding the main factors driving fire regimes in grasslands and savannas is critical to better manage their biodiversity and functions. Moreover, improving our knowledge on pyrogenic carbon (PyC) dynamics, including formation, transport and deposition, is fundamental to better understand a significant slow-cycling component of the global carbon cycle, particularly as these ecosystems account for a substantial proportion of the area globally burnt. However, a thorough assessment of past fire regimes in grass-dominated ecosystems is problematic due to challenges in interpreting the charcoal record of sediments. It is therefore critical to adopt appropriate sampling and analytical methods to allow the acquisition …

Land Use, Microclimate, And Surface Runoff Linkages: Space-Time Modeling From Rockel-Seli River Basin, Sierra Leone, C. Wilson, B. Liang, S. Wilson, Fenda A. Akiwumi

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

This study mainly utilized the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) together with SWAT-CUP, both free and open source software (FOSS), to construct a distributed hydrologic flow model for the Rokel-Seli River basin, Sierra Leone, in a bid to spatiotemporally evaluate the role of changes in land use/land cover (LULC) and microclimate on streamflow regimes. The model was informed by LULC data derived from three Landsat satellite images collected in 2002, 2010, and 2016. The LULC data was generated with the aid of several python libraries accessed through the FOSS Anaconda Navigator. LULC change analysis demonstrated that between 2002 and …

Volcanic Unrest And Hazard Communication In Long Valley Volcanic Region, California, David P. Hill, Margaret T. Mangan, Stephen R. Mcnutt

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The onset of volcanic unrest in Long Valley Caldera, California, in 1980 and the subsequent fluctuations in unrest levels through May 2016 illustrate: (1) the evolving relations between scientists monitoring the unrest and studying the underlying tectonic/magmatic processes and their implications for geologic hazards, and (2) the challenges in communicating the significance of the hazards to the public and civil authorities in a mountain resort setting. Circumstances special to this case include (1) the sensitivity of an isolated resort area to media hype of potential high-impact volcanic and earthquake hazards and its impact on potential recreational visitors and the local …

Assessing Effects Of Horizontal And Vertical Urban Vegetation Structures On Land Surface Temperature Using Multisensor Remote Sensing Data, Qiuyan Yu, Shawn M. Landry

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

A New Approach To Probabilistic Lava Flow Hazard Assessments, Applied To The Idaho National Laboratory, Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, Usa, Elisabeth Gallant, Jacob Richardson, Charles Connor, Paul Wetmore, Laura Connor

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

We present a new probabilistic lava flow hazard assessment for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) nuclear facility that (1) explores the way eruptions are defined and modeled, (2) stochastically samples lava flow parameters from observed values for use in MOLASSES, a lava flow simulator, (3) calculates the likelihood of a new vent opening within the boundaries of INL, (4) determines probabilities of lava flow inundation for INL through Monte Carlo simulation, and (5) couples inundation probabilities with recurrence rates to determine the annual likelihood of lava flow inundation for INL. Results show a 30% probability of …

Climate-Change-Driven Accelerated Sea-Level Rise Detected In The Altimeter Era, R. S. Nerem, B. D. Beckley, J. T. Fasullo, B. D. Hamlington, D. Masters, G. T. Mitchum

CCPO Publications

Using a 25-y time series of precision satellite altimeter data from TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, and Jason-3, we estimate the climate-change-driven acceleration of global mean sea level over the last 25 y to be 0.084 ± 0.025 mm/y². Coupled with the average climate-change-driven rate of sea level rise over these same 25 y of 2.9 mm/y, simple extrapolation of the quadratic implies global mean sea level could rise 65 ± 12 cm by 2100 compared with 2005, roughly in agreement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report (AR5) model projections.

Improving In-Stream Nutrient Routines In Water Quality Models Using Stable Isotope Tracers: A Review And Synthesis, Alexandria K. Jensen, William I. Ford, James F. Fox, Admin Husic

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Water quality models serve as an economically feasible alternative to quantify fluxes of nutrient pollution and to simulate effective mitigation strategies; however, their applicability is often questioned due to broad uncertainties in model structure and parameterization, leading to uncertain outputs. We argue that reduction of uncertainty is partially achieved by integrating stable isotope data streams within the water quality model architecture. This article outlines the use of stable isotopes as a response variable within water quality models to improve the model boundary conditions associated with nutrient source provenance, constrain model parameterization, and elucidate shortcomings in the model structure. To assist …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Nemaha Uplift And The Mid-Continent Rift Using 3d Mapping Visual Analysis, Faris Abanumay

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The present study presents and explains the relationship between Nemaha uplift and Mid-continent rift (MCR), where the understanding of the faulting systems around the study region were extremely important with regard to finding the relationship. The Nemaha is located in Kansas State in the Central United States with a total area of about 719 square miles. It was formed around the pre- Mississippian era. The compression and rifting processes that led to formation of faults, volcanoes, ridges and oceanic plates controls the faulting in the Nemaha region. The MCR system is a major tectonic feature in North America that is …

Interpretation Of A Seismic Reflection Survey And Geophysical Well Logs In Jay County, Indiana: Orientation And Composition Of A Carbonate Layer Below The Mount Simon Sandstone, Md Saiful Alam

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In August 2017, a dynamite-sourced 2D seismic reflection survey was conducted along a gravel road northwest of Portland, Indiana. The main focus of the survey was to determine the orientation of a lithologic unit previously identified by Welder (2014) on a similar 2D seismic reflection survey in the same area. Drillers logs of two wells within this area identified a limestone layer below the Mt. Simon Sandstone, and a similar limestone layer was identified in a well drilled in Clark County, Ohio. As the focus of this study, this limestone layer will be informally named the `Votaw limestone'. The seismic …

Surface Oxygenation Of Biochar Through Ozonization For Dramatically Enhancing Cation Exchange Capacity, Matthew D. Huff, Sarah Marshall, Haitham A. Saeed, James Weifu Lee

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background

Biochar cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a key property that is central to biochar environmental applications including the retention of soil nutrients in soil amendment and removal of certain pollutants in water-filtration applications.

Results

This study reports an innovative biochar-ozonization process that dramatically increases the CEC value of biochars by a factor of 2. The ozonized biochars also show great improvement on adsorption of methylene blue by as much as a factor of about 5. In this study, biochar samples treated with and without ozone were analyzed by means of pH and CEC assays, water field capacity measurement, elemental …

Motivations, Specializations, Identities, And Constraints Associated With Hunting In Nebraska, Alisha Grams

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

No abstract provided.

Quantifying The Offset Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions At The University Of North Alabama, Paul Dunn Graham

Theses

No abstract provided.

Hillslope Coupled Stream Morphology, Flow Conditions, And Their Effects On Detrital Sedimentology In Garnet Canyon, Teton Range, Wyoming, Lisa M. Tranel

Faculty Publications - Geography, Geology, and the Environment

Characterizing stream erosion in any steep mountain landscape is arduous, but the challenge level increases when the stream flows through a glaciated catchment frequently modified by hillslope debris. Glacial landforms and stochastic mass wasting in alpine systems may interfere with sediment delivery to downstream sites where detrital sediments are often collected to represent upstream bedrock sources. To use detrital sediments as indicators of erosion, we need to understand potential sediment accumulation in flat glaciated reaches or behind rockfall barriers. This study investigates the stream channel in Garnet Canyon, a glaciated catchment located in the central Teton Range, to describe hillslope …

Performance Of The Grout Curtain At The Kentucky River Lock And Dam No. 8, Robert C. Hatton

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Karst bedrock conditions and deterioration of the lock and dam structures have resulted in significant leakage through, underneath, and around Lock and Dam No. 8 on the Kentucky River. During severe droughts, the water surface in Pool No. 8 has been observed to drop below the crest of the dam, resulting in water supply shortages and water quality issues for surrounding communities reliant on the pool. Presently, the primary purpose of Lock and Dam No. 8 is water supply. Pool No. 8 is currently where the cities of Nicholasville (Jessamine County, KY) and Lancaster (Garrard County, KY) draw their water. …