Earth Sciences Commons^™

Regional Drought Modulation By Enso And Iod As Indicated By The Standardized Precipitation Index, Arpit Tiwari, Preethi Nanjundan, Tanu Sharma, Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Satyaban Bishoyi Ratna

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Understanding the modulation of drought by large-scale ocean–atmosphere teleconnections is crucial for strengthening drought prediction and resilience in India. This study investigates the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on meteorological drought characteristics across India from 1950 to 2024 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at a 12-month timescale. Drought events were quantified in terms of frequency, duration, severity, and intensity and linked to ENSO–IOD variability through composite, correlation, and mediation analyses. Results reveal that El Niño events consistently correspond to widespread and severe droughts, particularly over central and southern India, with drought …

Towards Physics-Informed Neural Networks For Simulating Multiphase Geothermal Convection​*, Daniel C. Patton, Andrew Harrison Eno

Campus Research Month

Water and steam flow through porous rock, transferring heat via conduction and buoyancy-driven convection caused by density differences. Traditional numerical methods (finite-volume/finite-element) model this well but can become memory-intensive and unstable for long, high-detail simulations. This work demonstrates a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) using a finite-difference approach within the NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo framework to simulate magma chambers in 2D. Tested on the Rio Pisco pluton in Peru, results are compared with the USGS HYDROTHERM model. PINNs learn from physical laws, offering accurate, flexible solutions with less data and development effort.

Una To Put Names On 2 Buildings, Jennifer Edwards

Documents

the naming of the Academic Commons Building and the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

The Science And Technology Building University Of North Alabama, Barbie Hampel-University Advancement

Documents

Brochure and floor plans for the New Science and Technology Building at UNA

University Of North Alabama Science And Technology Building Grand Opening And Ribbon Cutting, University Of North Alabama

Documents

Invitation to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

Monitoring Koyna Dam Displacements Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, Sara Zouriq, Gehan Hamdy, Amr Fawzy, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary, Eehab Khalil, Mohamed Elsayad, Tarik El-Salawaky

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Monitoring dam stability is critical to ensure structural safety and operational reliability. This study integrates Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) based on Sentinel-1 SAR imagery (2020–2023) with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations to assess the behavior of the Koyna Dam in India. PSI detected crest displacements between −1.0 and −1.8 mm yr−1, while FEM simulations predicted a maximum vertical displacement of approximately −3.2 mm at the crest. Although these results represent different quantities (time-averaged displacement rates versus peak static displacement), both approaches indicate millimeter-scale deformation and a consistent pattern of settlement at the dam crest, supporting the interpretation of hydrologically driven …

Climate Rhythms And U.S Extremes, Brendan P. Horn

Scholars Week

There is no question that the United States has been hit hard by weather extremes — massive storms, long droughts, and everything in between. We’re often led to believe that our carbon footprint alone drives these events, but the reality is far more complex. While trapped warm water in the Gulf of Mexico can create significant problems, it is far more certain that global climate change follows natural cycles that many are unwilling to acknowledge.

This poster offers a small but clear picture of what truly drives extreme weather in the United States and what we can actually do about …

Morphology, Phylogeny And Distribution Of Scaeurgus (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) In Southeast Pacific Seamounts, Sergio A. Carrasco, Christian M. Ibáñez, Andrea I. Varela, Jan M. Tapia-Guerra, Erin E. Easton, Javier Sellanes

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Octopuses of the genus Scaeurgus inhabit upper bathyal benthic habitats and are composed of five recognized species. In this study, we conducted morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of two individuals of Scaeurgus and provided additional field observations of the genus in seamounts of the Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridges (southeast Pacific Ocean) over the last six years. Specifically, two specimens of Scaeurgus were collected at 234 m depth in 2019 during the EPIC oceanographic cruise onboard the R/V Mirai (JAMSTEC, Japan), and five other specimens were video recorded at depths between 210 and 340 m during three oceanographic expeditions …

Assessing Environmental Changes Before And After The 2018 Kilauea Eruption In Leilani Estates, Hawaii, Rokeya Akter Liza

Scholars Week

The 2018 Kilauea eruption in Hawaii significantly impacted the natural landscape, especially in the Leilani Estates region. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the environmental conditions of before and after eruption by applying remote sensing techniques. Landsat 8 satellite imagery was used for two different time periods as before the eruption (February 2018) and after the eruption (March 2019). ERDAS Imagine was used to process these images to evaluate the changes in vegetation and land cover. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated for both pre- and post-eruption images to evaluate vegetation changes. Higher NDVI …

Controlled Gelation Of Co₂-Resistant Polymer Systems For Improved Conformance In Co₂-Eor, Maryam Sharifi Paroushi

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This presentation introduces a CO₂-resistant hydrogel developed to control fluid movement and improve CO₂ injection performance in subsurface reservoirs for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Conventional polymer gels often lose strength in CO₂-rich environments, resulting in weak plugging, early breakdown, and ineffective flow control. To address this limitation, a sulfonated HPAM-based gel system crosslinked with chromium was developed. The effects of polymer concentration, molecular weight, crosslinker ratio, ionic strength, and pH were investigated to better understand gelation behavior and performance. The formulation exhibited controlled gelation, strong resistance to temperature and CO₂, and minimal shrinkage over …

Theory And Applications Of Natural And Nature-Based Solutions In Estuarine Environments, Elizabeth L. Royer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the theory and application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), through three unique case studies. This study explores how the broad and interdisciplinary NbS framework can be applied to mitigate common coastal hazards. This framework considers the environment, economics, and social wellbeing, equally in the design and implementation of a solution. The current paradigm, working against nature, which is commonly seen in more passive approaches to hazard mitigation, like grey infrastructure (e.g. a seawall to protect a shoreline against wave action) does not accommodate the extremely dynamic environment. As perspectives shift to “working with nature” NbS can be …

Ecovoltaic Solar Energy Development Creates Novel Microclimate, Temperature, And Soil Moisture Patterns Under Solar Panels In A Warm Desert, Juan Pinos, Seth M. Munson, Claire C. Karban, Matthew D. Petrie

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Background As solar energy development expands in desert regions, new installation practices and solar technologies seek to balance ecosystem conservation and energy generation (ecovoltaics). The Gemini Solar Project, a large ecovoltaic facility located in the northeastern Mojave Desert, employed low impact installation methods to reduce disturbance of the desert ecosystem within arrays of bifacial panels mounted on solar tracking systems. We evaluated microclimate and environmental conditions across five locations: four within-facility microsites (underneath solar panels, east and west panel driplines, and interspaces between panel rows) and one in the undisturbed desert outside the facility. Results Under panel microsites experienced lower …

Taphonomy And Fossil Record Of Eufistulana Mumia In The Owl Creek Formation Of The Mississippi Embayment, Riley Rilette

Honors Theses

This study examines the taphonomy and preservation of Eufistulana mumia, a boring bivalve, within the Owl Creek Formation of northeastern Mississippi. The formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment of Maastrichtian age within the Mississippi Embayment. A total of 66 specimens were collected from exposures within the formation and analyzed to evaluate morphometric variation and orientation patterns. Field measurements of trend and plunge of each specimen were recorded in situ using a geological compass, and specimens were later prepared and measured in the laboratory with digital calipers. Morphometric results show consistent tube morphology, with basal widths larger than distal …

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan For Landslides For The Kentucky River Area Development District, Kentucky, Hudson J. Koch, Matt M. Crawford, Jason M. Dortch

Contract Reports--KGS

Landslides are a widespread and complex geologic hazard that affects people and infrastructure. The Kentucky River Area Development District, Kentucky, sustains relatively high landslide activity that impacts several municipalities in eastern Kentucky. This hazard mitigation planning project outlines landslide hazard and risk assessments for the Kentucky River Area Development District, with information needed for each community in the region to develop mitigation strategies that will support infrastructure and development needs, land-use planning, situational awareness, and response and recovery actions for the communities.

Fluid-Mediated Particle Transport: Revisiting Snowstorm Simulations In 2d With An Updated Pressure Calculation Algorithm, E. Maldonado, Michael W. Roth

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

We develop and present computer simulations of snowfall and snowfall management near buildings using deflection fins. Our approach first entails a numerical solution to the Navier – Stokes fluid dynamics equations in order to determine wind velocity profiles with and without deflection fins. Subsequent to finding the velocity field, snow particles are introduced and are subject to Newton’s Laws in order to allow transport, sticking to surfaces, landing and ultimately accumulation. We revisit previous work, presenting and discussing program construction and validation, along with cursory systematic studies of varying geometrical parameters in the simulation. The utility of the simulations is …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2025, San Antonio, Texas, Usa, Scott R. Beason, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) sponsors a poster session at every annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 37th SGE undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2025 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (GSA Connects) in San Antonio, Texas, USA, on Monday, October 20, 2025. Fifty-seven (57) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall 1 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session, with authors present between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are …

"Leaf It To The Trees": Assessing The Cooling Effects Of Tree Canopy On Campus Microclimates, Andrea Sophia Realyvasquez

Posters - 2026

Urban heat island (UHI) effects are becoming increasingly common worldwide, with lived experiences and media coverage highlighting the negative consequences of urban development for humans and the environment. Urbanization, like many other aspects of society, should not remain stagnant and outside the scope of innovation. Understanding the interplay between urban morphology and temperature distributions is crucial in informing effective policy development (AbbegCoproski et al. 2024). tion to a political approach to reducing surface temperatures, there is the social aspect of difficulty in evading UHI in microclimates. University campuses are among the many areas that struggle to overcome old infrastructure and …

Joint Map Of Warren County, Kentucky, Steven L. Martin, Emily R. Morris

Map and Chart--KGS

This fracture map is a compilation of joint locations and faults mapped in Warren County, Kentucky, and provides orientations of fractures (joints and faults) for hydrological, geotechnical, slope stability, and rockfall mitigation analysis. The joint data include orientations collected from 2023 to 2024, and those collected during the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologic mapping of the Woodburn 7.5 -minute quadrangle (Shawe, 1963c). New joint orientations were measured to fill gaps in the published geologic map data. Joints are fractures with no appreciable movement parallel to the fracture plane and only slight movement normal to the fracture plane, whereas faults exhibit …

Effects Of Prescribed Burning On Forest Soil Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids, Ariana Guiscelle Rivera-Anazco

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) play important roles in nutrient mobilization, microbial activity, and carbon cycling in forest soils, yet their response to prescribed fire and thinning remains poorly understood. This thesis examined whether thinning and prescribed burning altered extractable LMWOA in O-horizon soils from the Lubrecht Experimental Forest. The study focused on lactic, propionic, glycolic, acetic, and formic acids measured in soils collected immediately before and approximately two weeks after the 2024 prescribed burn across four treatment categories: control, burn, thin, and thin+burn. The managed plots belong to a long-term experiment first treated in 2001-2002, whereas the control remained unmanaged …

Enhancing Urban Garden Capacity By Linking Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function, Mary T. Nguyen, Carleen Rauh, Shelby Gresch, Charlotte Correiro, Heidi Elmendorf, Adriane Fugh-Berman, Gina Wimp, Alexandra L. Decandia

Virginia Journal of Science

Urban agriculture broadly describes food and plant cultivation in metropolitan areas. While biodiversity is thought to support ecosystem health and resilience, the relationship between above-ground and below-ground diversity has been understudied in urban green spaces. This study examines plant, animal, bacterial, and fungal diversity across three distinct urban habitats: a turf lawn, a forb garden, and a farming space. Using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 sequencing, soil nutrient analyses, and surveys of vegetation and wildlife, we connect diverse philosophies in urban agriculture to their role in advancing community diversity and ecosystem function. We found that different urban gardens support …

Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data, Serge Tuyambaze

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

Accurate estimation of terrestrial Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is critical for quantifying global carbon sequestration and understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle. While eddy covariance (EC) towers provide standard flux measurements, upscaling these measurements to continuous global coverage remains challenging due to the sparse distribution of flux towers and their small footprints. Remote sensing (RS), especially coupled with eddy covariance data, has been used to estimate GPP at the global scale. Different RS derived productivity models have been developed, including vegetation indices, light use efficiency (LUE) models, solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), dynamic global vegetation models (DGVM), and machine learning. One widely adapted …

The Eye: A Science-Fiction Screenplay Examining Space-Time, Meteorology, And Human Connection, Ella K. Lukowiak

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the nature of time, meteorology, and human interconnection to the universe through the lens of a science-fiction screenplay. The creative project spans a three-act, detailed outline, and a screenplay draft of Act I. It is based upon extensive scientific research regarding hurricane development, the inner workings of organizations such as the National Weather Service, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, and the space-time continuum. I will delve into the various factors that shaped my science-fiction premise, including pivotal films such as Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR (2014) and Denis Villeneuve’s ARRIVAL (2016). Both of these filmmakers integrated complex science-fiction concepts into …

Machine Learning And Multisensor Data Fusion For Forest Above Ground Biomass Estimation In Arkansas, Abdullah Al Saim, Mohamed Aly

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Forests are essential for biodiversity conservation, climate change, natural education, scientific research, and carbon sequestration. This study uses machine learning-based Random Forest (RF) regression to estimate the Above Ground Biomass (AGB) of the Ozark and Ouachita forests at a 10-meter resolution by combining data from Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1, and GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation) on Google Earth Engine. The RF model included 34 out of 154 variables representing topographical, spectral, and textural factors demonstrating strong correlations with measured biomass. The RF model showed strong performance with R-squared and RMSE values of 0.95 and 18.46 for the training dataset and 0.75 and …

Surface Salinity Variability And Loop Current Frontal Eddy Activity In The Gulf Of Mexico, Pamela Jo Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is a dynamic semi-enclosed basin where mesoscale and submesoscale circulation regulate the distribution of freshwater, nutrients, and biological productivity. The Loop Current System (LCS), which includes the Loop Current (LC), Loop Current Eddies (LCEs), and Loop Current Frontal Eddies (LCFEs), exerts the dominant control on basin-wide circulation. These features interact with freshwater input from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River System (MARS) and with saline inflow from the Caribbean, resulting in variability in sea surface salinity (SSS) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) across a range of spatial and temporal scales. A primary focus of this work is understanding how the …

A Combined Observational And Reanalysis Approach To Beaufort Gyre Freshening, Christina Mccarty Gregory

Theses and Dissertations

The freshwater (FW) content in the Arctic plays a critical role in the global climate by influencing the regional physical and biological processes, large-scale ocean circulation in the North Atlantic, sea-ice albedo, and other crucial climate parameters. Located in the Canadian Basin, the Beaufort Gyre (BG) is the largest retainer of FW in the Arctic. Here we examine the dynamics of the BG between 2016-2018 using satellite-derived products and ocean reanalysis parameters. Our results demonstrate that the characteristics of BG during the years of this study are a complex combination of various processes. The Ekman-induced FW fluxes were separated into …

Continuous Imaging Of The Shallow Subsurface Of Horry County Using Gpr And Auger Data, Chase William Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Welded barrier systems are common along passive margins globally and make up approximately 15% of the coastlines around the world. The subsurface facies assemblages of welded barrier systems record depositional histories and past sea-level dynamics, but their complicated depositional architecture can be problematic for understanding aspects like groundwater flow and freshwater-saltwater exchange. Most studies of modern welded barrier sedimentary systems using ground penetrating radar (GPR) rely on a few 100 meters of subsurface data supplemented with a few drill cores. In this study, we used over 75 km of 100MHz and 25MHz GPR data and 195 auger drill logs collected …

Quantifying And Characterizing Microplastics In North Inlet And Winyah Bay Estuaries, Sc, Emily Grace Contract

Theses and Dissertations

Microplastics (1 μm to 5 mm) accumulate in the bodies of marine organisms and negatively impact their health. Microplastics have also been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption, and cancer in humans. This study quantified, characterized, and compared microplastics in a protected estuary (North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina) and an estuary impacted by anthropogenic activities (Winyah Bay, South Carolina). Water samples were taken from three sites in each estuary from February 2025 to December 2025. The samples were digested, filtered, then examined visually for microplastics. Plastic particles were extracted and analyzed by Raman microscopy to obtain polymer content. Results indicate …

Coastal Development Effects On Estuarine Benthic Microalgal Communities, Henry Christopher Guy

Theses and Dissertations

As key drivers of neritic primary productivity, benthic microalgae (BMA) play essential roles in biogeochemical cycling and estuarine food webs. When considered alongside their shallow, restricted habitats, BMA contribute disproportionately to global carbon fixation. However, the extent of human impact on BMA communities is largely unknown. This study aimed to quantify anthropogenic forcing through specific abiotic drivers of benthic microalgal success. BMA biomass, community composition, porewater nutrients, and sediment composition were measured within two South Carolina Estuaries. North Inlet and Murrells Inlet share similar geographic and morphological characteristics but differ significantly in terms of watershed population. Dissolved phosphate, nitrate, and …

Advancing Paleontologic Mapping: A Gis And Drone Photogrammetry Approach To The Lance Formation Beds Of Glenrock, Wyoming, William H. Steelman, Monika Angner, Norman S. Levine, W S. Persons

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Small museums and volunteer-driven field programs often lack the resources required for detailed geological mapping, limiting the stratigraphic data associated with their fossil collections. To address this challenge, an affordable and replicable mapping workflow was developed that combined drone-based photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and targeted structural measurements using the Glenrock Exposure of the Lance Formation as a study site. The resulting 3D outcrop models, bedding-plane reconstructions, and 750-m-thick stratigraphic column provide the first comprehensive spatial framework for 35 fossil quarries curated by the Glenrock Paleon Museum. The results reveal tightly clustered fossil-bearing horizons, a long interval lacking preservation, and a notable …

The Compass - Volume 95 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.