Earth Sciences Commons^™

Cosmogenic Ages Indicate No Mis 2 Refugia In The Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, Caleb K. Walcott, Jason P. Briner, James F. Baichtal, Alia J. Lesnek, Joseph M. Licciardi

Publications and Research

The late-Pleistocene history of the coastal Cordilleran Ice Sheet remains relatively unstudied compared to chronologies of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Yet accurate reconstructions of Cordilleran Ice Sheet extent and the timing of ice retreat along the Pacific Coast are essential for paleoclimate modeling, assessing meltwater contribution to the North Pacific, and determining the availability of ice-free land along the coastal Cordilleran Ice Sheet margin for human migration from Beringia into the rest of the Americas. To improve the chronology of Cordilleran Ice Sheet history in the Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, we applied 10Be and 36Cl dating to boulders and glacially sculpted …

Development And Assessment Of An Environmental Dna (Edna) Assay For A Cryptic Siren (Amphibia: Sirenidae), Krista M. Ruppert, Drew R. Davis, Md Saydur Rahman, Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Environmental DNA (eDNA) assays have become a major aspect of surveys for aquatic organisms in the past decade. These methods are highly sensitive, making them well-suited for monitoring rare and cryptic species. Current efforts to study the Rio Grande Siren in southern Texas have been hampered due to the cryptic nature of these aquatic salamanders. Arid conditions further add to the difficulty in studying this species, as many water bodies they inhabit are ephemeral, sometimes constraining sampling efforts to a short window after heavy rain. Additionally, sirens are known to cease activity and reside underground when ponds begin to dry …

Gps-Derived Interseismic Fault Locking Along The Jalisco–Colima Segment Of The Mexico Subduction Zone, Beatriz Cosenza-Muralles, Charles Demets, B. Márquez-Azúa, O. Sánchez, J. Stock, Enrique Cabral-Cano, Robert Mccaffrey

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Northeastward subduction of the oceanic Rivera and Cocos plates in western Mexico poses a poorly understood seismic hazard to the overlying areas of the North America plate. We estimate the magnitude and distribution of interseismic locking along the northern ∼500 km of the Mexico subduction zone, with a series of elastic half-space inversions that optimize the fits to the velocities of 57 GPS stations in western Mexico. All velocities were corrected for the co-seismic, afterslip and viscoelastic rebound effects of the 1995 Colima–Jalisco and 2003 Tecomán earthquakes. We explore the robustness of interseismic locking estimates to a variety of mantle …

Are Soybean Models Ready For Climate Change Food Impact Assessments?, Kritika Kothari, Rafael Battisti, Kenneth J. Boote, Sotirios V. Archontoulis, Adriana Confalone, Julie Constantin, Santiago V. Cuadra, Philippe Debaeke, Babacar Faye, Brian Grant, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Qi Jing, Michael Van Der Laan, Fernando Antônio Macena Da Silva, Fabio R. Marin, Alireza Nehbandani, Claas Nendel, Larry C. Purcell, Budong Qian, Alex C. Ruane, Céline Schoving, Evandro H. F. M. Silva, Ward Smith, Afshin Soltani, Amit Srivastava, Nilson A. Vieira Jr., Stacey Slone, Montserrat Salmerón

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

An accurate estimation of crop yield under climate change scenarios is essential to quantify our ability to feed a growing population and develop agronomic adaptations to meet future food demand. A coordinated evaluation of yield simulations from process-based eco-physiological models for climate change impact assessment is still missing for soybean, the most widely grown grain legume and the main source of protein in our food chain. In this first soybean multi-model study, we used ten prominent models capable of simulating soybean yield under varying temperature and atmospheric CO₂ concentration [CO₂] to quantify the uncertainty in soybean yield …

Saving The Sea Turtles Of Anguilla: Combining Scientific Data With Community Perspectives To Inform Policy Decisions, L. M. Soanes, J. Johnson, K. Eckert, K. Gumbs, L. G. Halsey, G. Hughes, K. Levasseur, Joe Quattro, R. Richardson, J. P. Skinner, S. Wynee, F. Mukhida

Faculty Publications

Historic over-exploitation and the more recent threats caused by fisheries by-catch, disease and climate change have left sea turtle populations in the Wider Caribbean at risk of extinction. In 1995, following regional declines in nesting and foraging populations, the island of Anguilla implemented a moratorium on the hunting of turtles. At the request of the Government of Anguilla for scientific data to either support or remove the moratorium, comprehensive population estimates were obtained, and foraging, nesting and migratory movements were examined. In addition, community perspectives on turtles and their protection were assessed. Between 2015 and 18 surveys of 30 nesting …

Characterization Of Particulate Matter Species In An Area Impacted By Aggregate And Limestone Mining North Of San Antonio, Tx, Usa, Amit U. Raysoni, Esmeralda Mendez, August Luna, Joe Collins

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Aggregate and limestone mining in San Antonio's Bexar and Comal counties in Texas, USA, has caused considerable health concerns as of late. Aggregate mining actions can result in localized air quality issues in any neighborhood. Furthermore, heavy truck traffic, hauling, and transportation of the mined material contribute to pollution. In this research, PM species were sampled at four locations north of the San Antonio city limits. The data were collected using a TSI Air Quality Sampler that sampled PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and relative humidity. Continuous data with 1 min averages were recorded during the …

Mms Observations Of The Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability And Associated Ion Scale Waves, Rachel C. Rice

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The detailed mechanisms coupling the solar wind to Earth's magnetosphere are not yet fully understood. Solar wind plasma is heated non-adiabatically as it penetrates the magnetosphere, and this process must span scale sizes. Reconnection alone is not able to account for the observed heating; other mechanisms must be at work. One potential process is the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). The KHI is a convective instability which operates at the fluid scale in plasmas, but is capable of driving secondary process at smaller scales. Previous work has shown evidence of magnetic reconnection, various ion scale wave modes, mode conversion, and turbulence associated …

The Territory, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Territory (2022), directed by Alex Pritz.

The Oldest Mineralized Bryozoan? A Possible Palaeostomate In The Lower Cambrian Of Nevada, Usa, Sara B. Pruss, Lexie Leeser, Emily F. Smith, Andrey Yu Zhuravlev, Paul D. Taylor

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

All skeletal marine invertebrate phyla appeared during the Cambrian explosion, except for Bryozoa with mineralized skeletons, which first appear in the Early Ordovician. However, the skeletal diversity of Early Ordovician bryozoans suggests a preceding interval of diversification. We report a possible earliest occurrence of palaeostomate bryozoans in limestones of the Cambrian Age 4 Harkless Formation, western United States. Following recent interpretations of the early Cambrian Protomelission as a soft-bodied bryozoan, our findings add to the evidence of early Cambrian roots for the Bryozoa. The Harkless fossils resemble some esthonioporate and cystoporate bryozoans, showing a radiating pattern of densely packed tubes …

Cover Crops May Exacerbate Moisture Limitations On South Texas Dryland Farms, Stephanie Kasper, Faeqa Mohsin, Lindsey Richards, Alexis Racelis

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Cover crops are a sustainable management tool for mediating weed pressure, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) levels. Yet, adoption rates across water-limited farms in Texas remain low, especially among producers without irrigation access, due to concerns that cover crop use of soil moisture will negatively impact subsequent cash crop yields. This three-year cover crop trial in a rain-fed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) farm in Lyford, Texas, trialed different cover crop mixes and seeding rates and confirmed that cover cropping leads to significant soil moisture deficits and cash crop failure when rainfall is low …

Observations On The Stress Related Variations Of Soil Radon Concentration In The Gulf Of Corinth, Greece, Vassilios K. Karastathis, George Eleftheriou, Menas Kafatos, Kanaris Tsinganos, G-Akis Tselentis, Evangelos Mouzakiotis, Dimitar Ouzounov

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Our observations indicate a characteristic pattern in the long-term variation of soil radon concentrations, which seems to be consistent with the expected variation of regional stress in relation to seismicity. However, it seems that the major changes in radon level begin before the rock rapture, i.e. before the earthquake occurs. These conclusions have emerged after long-term observations with continuous and thorough real-time gamma-radiation monitoring in the seismically active area of the Gulf of Corinth, Greece. The recordings acquired close to a hot spring were of very high quality, implying that the deep hydraulic flow can possibly play a key role …

Assessment Of The Impact Of Climate Change On Stream Flow: The Case Of Little Ruaha Catchment, Rufiji Basin, Tanzania, Joel Nobert

Tanzania Journal of Science

Little Ruaha catchment has been recognized for its potential to support multi-projects including irrigated schemes, urban water supply and providing significant inflow to Mtera reservoir for hydropower generation and ultimately Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP).  Despite the potential, the catchment has experienced declining flows in the recent years. This study assessed the likely changes in streamflow due to future climate change in the Little Ruaha catchment for the period 2025-2060. General Circulation Model (GCM) datasets from ACCESS1.0, CNRM-CM5 and BCC-CSM1 models and RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 greenhouse gas concentration scenarios were selected as the representative scenarios. Impact of climate change on …

Suitability Of Flood Hazard Assessment Methods For Tanzania: A Case Of Little Ruaha And Upper Ngerengere Catchment, Kashimbi J. Kihara, Patrick Valimba, Joel Nobert

Tanzania Journal of Science

Understanding the applicability of flood quantile estimation methods in flood hazard assessment is fundamental for planning, prevention, and management of flood risks. Therefore, this study evaluates and compares three hydrological methods, namely Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV), Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN), and regional regression equation (RRE), to estimate flood quantiles embedded in the existing flood damage assessment framework by applying them to two different river catchments, Little Ruaha (LR) and Upper Ngerengere (UN), Tanzania. The evaluation of method performance was carried out using three standard statistical measures for data from 1954 to 2010 and the 1971–1988 period in LR and …

Geology Online Lab Activities An Open Educational Resource For Community College Students And Instructors, Rondi Davies

Open Educational Resources

The online geology lab for community college students was developed by Dr. Rondi Davies, a faculty member at Queensborough Community College, City University New York, during two years of forced online synchronous learning brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This open educational resource collects many of Dr. Davies’ favorite open-access materials and supplements them with her own work within a single, cohesive laboratory manual intended for two-year, non-major college students from the New York area.

Dr. Davies wanted to develop labs that were fun, engaging, and that excited students about the subject, were relevant to their lives, helped them to …

Assessment Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons And Heavy Metal Pollutants In Soil Around Semi Urban Petrol Stations And Automobile Mechanic Workshops, Gregory Udie Sikakwe, Andrew Aondoaver Tyopine, God'swill Abam Eyong

Makara Journal of Science

This study assessed the heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollutant in soil around petrol filling stations and automobile mechanic workshops. Samples of soil were acquired from the depth range of 0–15 cm. Toxic heavy metals were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The PAHs were analyzed using phytochemical chromatographic analysis by the Soxhlet extraction method. The soil tested was weakly acidic (6.12–6.81). The trend of the heavy metals’ mean levels in soil followed the order: lead (Pb) > nickel (Ni) > vanadium (V) > cadmium (Cd). The mean levels of PAHs were in the order: 1,2-benzanthracene pyrene > anthracene > fluorene > benzo(b)fluoranthene > 1,1,2-benzopyrelene (BghiP) …

Application Of A Photoacoustic Tomography System: A Case Study On The Monitoring Of Pig Tissue Decomposition, Lusiana Sandra Oey, Mitrayana Mitrayana, Moh. Ali Joko Wasono

Makara Journal of Science

Pig carcasses have been used in forensic research because they share several similarities to human cadaver, including decomposition. In several studies, the decomposition of pig’s cadaver for a certain time can be used as a model to determine the time of death of a human. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the days of spoilage of pig tissue and the level of average sound intensity produced by the sample. Then, in this study, pig skeletal muscles were allowed to decay with a variation of 1–5 days. Afterward, these muscles were imaged using diode laser-based photoacoustic tomography. Results …

Informing Management Of Henrys Lake, Idaho, Using An Integrated Catch-At-Age Model, Joshua L. Mccormick, Jennifer Vincent, Brett High, Darcy K. Mccarrick, Michael C. Quist

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Henrys Lake, Idaho, supports a popular fishery for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout × Rainbow Trout O. mykiss hybrids. A majority of the adult population of fish in Henrys Lake are of hatchery origin that were stocked as fingerlings. The fishery is closed to angling during the late winter and spring months, but fisheries managers are considering opening the fishery year-round with catch-and-release- only regulations or with a two-fish bag limit during the extended season. However, there is concern that the proposed management actions may negatively affect the current fishery. Therefore, we developed an integrated …

Influence Of Soil And Foliar Application Of Fulvic Acid On Yield Parameters Of Organically Grown Bell Peppers (Capsicum Annuum L.) Under Open-Field Conditions In Tennessee, Pinkky Kanabar, Dilip Nandwani

Student Research

Due to increased demand for healthier fresh produce by consumers, growers are seeking for environmental friendlier techniques to improve sustainability and profitability in organic vegetable production. The use of fulvic acid biostimulant coupled with different mode of application can contribute to enhanced plant growth and high-quality yield. A field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the organic farm of Tennessee State University in summer 2021. The influence of foliar and soil application of fulvic acid biostimulant on yield of organically grown bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) was investigated. Transplants were raised from organic …

Centering Community Voices In Mining Governance, Anna Erwin, Zhao Ma, Emma Patricia Salas O'Brien, Jonathan Bauchet, Nelly Ramirez Calderon, Eliseo Zeballos Zeballos, Glenn Roberto Arce Larrea, Ruxandra Popovici, Laura Zanotti, Chelsea A. Silva

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Peru has shifted away from centralized mining management to governance among government, companies, and communities. Various mechanisms facilitate community participation, including the mining canon, dialogues, and corporate social responsibility programs. Even with these laws and mechanisms, mining pollution and conflicts continue. In this study, we ask: how do communities perceive and participate in mining governance? And what are some alternative ways, driven by community priorities, to address governance in mining contexts? We collected 53 semi-structured with agricultural actors in two Peruvian districts with mining activity and analyzed those perspectives through the lens of community-centered governance. Our analyses revealed how centering …

Rose Valley Rocks!: From Plate Tectonics To Architecture Of Place, Walter Cressler

University Libraries Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Development Status And Thoughts On Coalbed Methane Industry In Xinjiang, Li Ruiming, Zhou Zixin

Coal Geology & Exploration

After nearly 10 years of rapid development, great breakthroughs have been made in the exploration and development of coalbed methane(CBM) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The theory and drilling pressure drainage technology system of CBM exploration and development applicable to the geological characteristics of Xinjiang have been further clarified and improved, and a number of pilot test projects for ground CBM development have been built, realizing small-scale commercial development and utilization. On the basis of the analysis of resource potential, gas production effect and market demand, the development and utilization of CBM in Xinjiang has the following advantages. First, …

Molecular Simulation Of The Effect Of Co2/N2 Binary Gas On Methane Adsorption In Coal, Sun Zhixue, Min Cheng, Zhang Wanlu, Jiang Yongping, Yu Xuefeng, Cui Bin

Coal Geology & Exploration

The binary gas flooding technology (CO₂/N₂-ECBM) has become an important means of increasing the production of coalbed methane(CBM). It is of great significance to clarify the CO₂/N₂ competitive adsorption law in coal seams and its influence on the physical properties of coal seams. The molecular simulation software Materials Studio was used to establish a coal molecular model according to the actual temperature and pressure of the CBM block in Yanchuannan. On the basis of the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo(GCMC) method, the influence of each injection stage in the technology of CO₂/N …

Characteristics And Significance Of Proppant In Hydraulic Fractures In Coal Reservoirs, Wang Shengwei, Xiong Zhangkai, Lyu Shuaifeng, Gao Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

The distribution form and internal characteristics of proppant after coal seam hydraulic fracturing determine the fracturing effect to a great extent. The proppant in the hydraulic fracture exposed in the underground roadways of the coal mine is taken as the research object. The morphology and accumulation characteristics of the proppant were observed, and the relationship between the morphology and accumulation characteristics of the proppant and its stacking process was analyzed. Then, the morphology and accumulation characteristics of the proppant obtained at the typical part of the hydraulic fracture are described, which provides a basis that restores the stacking process of …

Influencing Factors On Gas Production Effect Of Acid Fractured Cbm Wells In Deep Coal Seam Of Daning-Jixian Block, Li Shuguang, Wang Hongna, Xu Borui, Zhen Huaibin, Wang Chengwang, Yuan Pu

Coal Geology & Exploration

The No.8 deep coal seam in Daning-Jixian Block is large, thick, widely distributed, and rich in coalbed methane(CBM) resources. After volume acid fracturing, a breakthrough has been achieved in the producing test. However, the productivity of the testing wells varies greatly, and the major controlling factors of productivity are not clear, severely restricting the CBM development. In this paper, the testing wells in the No.8 coal seam with a buried depth of more than 2 000 m of the Upper Carboniferous Benxi Formation in Daning-Jixian Block were taken as the research object, and 28 typical evaluation indicators were selected from …

Influence Of Coal Lithotypes On Adsorption/Desorption Characteristics In Coal Reservoirs And Its Practical Significance: A Case Study In Baode Block, Hou Wei, Xu Fengyin, Zhang Lei, Zhang Wei, Meng Yanjun, Liu Qihu, Li Yongchen, Fan Hongbo, Wang Hongya, Zhang Shuangyuan, Zhang Wen

Coal Geology & Exploration

The difference of coal lithotypes is an important factor affecting the adsorption/desorption characteristics of coalbed methane (CBM) and the productivity of CBM wells. According to four coal samples of different lithotypes from No. 8+9 Coal Seam in Well BX-2, proximate analysis, maceral, wettability and isothermal adsorption/desorption experiments are carried out, and the influence of coal lithotypes on CBM adsorption/desorption characteristics and its mechanism is discussed. The results show that vitrinite content in dull, semi-dark, semi-bright and bright coal samples increases gradually, water and ash content decreases gradually, hydrophilicity decreases gradually, and the Langmuir volume increases gradually. Bright and semi-bright coal …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Progress Of Coalbed Methane Exploration And Development In China During The 13th Five-Year Plan Period And The Next Exploration Direction, Ye Jianping, Hou Songyi, Zhang Shouren

Coal Geology & Exploration

Based on survey data of coalbed methane exploration and development projects in China, the production status of coalbed methane fields and scientific & technological achievements, this paper analyzes the comprehensive control technical measures for stable and increasing production of coalbed methane fields, and the geological conditions and potential of deep coalbed methane exploration breakthrough. The coalbed methane horizontal well technology and the matching well pattern optimization and drainage technology are also summarized. The results show that the most effective technical measures for the comprehensive control of stable production of coalbed methane fields and low production wells in China are four …

Research Progress And Development Direction Of Key Technologies For Efficient Coalbed Methane Development In China, Xu Fengyin, Yan Xia, Lin Zhenpan, Li Shuguang, Xiong Xianyue, Yan Detian, Wang Hongya, Zhang Shuangyuan, Xu Borui, Ma Xinyuan, Bai Nan, Mei Yonggui

Coal Geology & Exploration

During the 13th Five Year Plan period, the major problem of the low output of a single well of coalbed methane (CBM) has restricted the efficient development of CBM in China. Through Major National Science and Technology Projects and other technical researches, significant progress has been made in the theoretical understanding and engineering technology of CBM exploration and development. It is manifested in four aspects as follows. Firstly, the exploration concept has changed from looking for rich dessert areas to high-yield dessert areas, and the extensive development deployment has become finer. Secondly, in terms of efficient stimulation technology, with the …

Exploration And Development Process Of Coalbed Methane In Eastern Margin Of Ordos Basin And Its Enlightenment, Yang Xiuchun, Xu Fengyin, Wang Hongya, Li Shuguang, Lin Wenji, Wang Wei, Hao Shuai

Coal Geology & Exploration

The buried depth of coal seam in the eastern margin of Ordos Basin changes greatly, and the characteristics of coalbed methane reservoir formation and reservoir reconstruction methods vary greatly with different buried depths. At present, coalbed methane exploration gradually extends from a shallow area of 1 000 m to a deeper area of 2 000 m. To study the theory and technology of efficient exploration and development of coalbed methane resources under different burial depths, this paper reviews the exploration and development practices in the eastern margin of Ordos Basin in the past 30 years. According to the changes of …

Review Of The Progress Of Geological Research On Coalbed Methane Co-Production, Guo Chen, Qin Yong, Yi Tongsheng, Ma Dongmin, Wang Shengquan, Shi Qingmin, Bao Yuan, Chen Yue, Qiao Junwei, Lu Lingling

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coalbed methane (CBM) co-production is an important way to improve the efficiency of CBM development in multi-seam areas, but the special nature of reservoir formation makes the co-mining method and production effect complex and variable, which presents challenges for efficient development. Experts in the field of CBM from China have carried out a lot of basic research and engineering practice on CBM reservoir formation and the feasibility of co-production in multiple seams, which have gained fruitful results, providing strong support for deepening the CBM geological theory and promoting industrial development. To provide reference for subsequent research, engineering implementation and industrial …