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Articles 2041 - 2070 of 59502

Full-Text Articles in Earth Sciences

Numerical Simulation Of Co2 Sequestration Combined With Enhanced Geothermal Energy Extraction In Deep Saline Aquifers, Xie Zehao, Zhang Liehui, Zhao Yulong, Cao Cheng, Kou Zuhao, Zhang Deping, Li Jinlong Jan 2026

Numerical Simulation Of Co2 Sequestration Combined With Enhanced Geothermal Energy Extraction In Deep Saline Aquifers, Xie Zehao, Zhang Liehui, Zhao Yulong, Cao Cheng, Kou Zuhao, Zhang Deping, Li Jinlong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objectives and Methods Deep saline aquifers represent ideal spaces for geologic CO2 sequestration while also featuring high geothermal gradients and abundant geothermal resources. The combination of CO2 sequestration and geothermal energy extraction holds great significance for enhancing the CO2 sequestration effect and achieving integrated resource development of deep saline aquifers. Therefore, this study proposed a development approach that combined CO2 sequestration with geothermal energy extraction in deep saline aquifers and established a thermo-hydro-chemical coupling numerical simulation model of the gas-water two-phase flow. Accordingly, it explored the optimal injection mode, production and injection well patterns, and injection …


Numerical Simulations Of The Impacts Of Co2-Induced Calcite Dissolution On The Permeability And Elastic Parameters Of Rocks, Yang Bo, Xu Tianfu, Feng Guanhong, Zhu Huixing Jan 2026

Numerical Simulations Of The Impacts Of Co2-Induced Calcite Dissolution On The Permeability And Elastic Parameters Of Rocks, Yang Bo, Xu Tianfu, Feng Guanhong, Zhu Huixing

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective CO2 dissolution in water tends to induce mineral reactions, thus significantly changing the pore structure of rocks and further affecting their seepage and mechanical properties. This phenomenon poses a major impact on the suitability and long-term safety of geologic CO2 sequestration engineering. Methods Using a simulation technology that combines the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and the finite element method (FEM), this study systematically investigated the calcite dissolution characteristics of calcite-bearing rock samples under varying injection rates of a saturated solution of CO2. Furthermore, the dynamic evolution patterns of the permeability and elastic parameters (bulk and …


Advances And Prospects Of Research On In Situ Co2 Mineralization Storage In Basalts, Wang Xiao, Wu Bin, Shi Xiangchao, Ye Zhongbin, Wei Bing, Wang Guanhua, Alvarado Vladimir, Huang Kailin, Yang Zeyong Jan 2026

Advances And Prospects Of Research On In Situ Co2 Mineralization Storage In Basalts, Wang Xiao, Wu Bin, Shi Xiangchao, Ye Zhongbin, Wei Bing, Wang Guanhua, Alvarado Vladimir, Huang Kailin, Yang Zeyong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background CO2 storage in basalts, enjoying distinct advantages of rapid mineralization and high safety, has gradually emerged as a hot research topic both in China and abroad. This study presents a systematic review of the current status of research on the mechanisms of in situ CO2 mineralization storage, the evolutionary characteristics of the physical properties of strata under the condition of mineralization reactions, and representative demonstration projects. On this basis, the future research directions are proposed. Advances The in situ CO2 mineralization storage in basalts is essentially a process of CO2-water-rock reactions, achieved primarily through …


Advances In Research On The In Situ Co2 Mineral Trapping In Buried Volcanoes, He Yanxin, Tian Wei, Xian Benzhong, Liu Pingping, Wei Mingcong, Wei Qiwen, Deng Xuanyu, Liu Jianping, Gu Jiapeng Jan 2026

Advances In Research On The In Situ Co2 Mineral Trapping In Buried Volcanoes, He Yanxin, Tian Wei, Xian Benzhong, Liu Pingping, Wei Mingcong, Wei Qiwen, Deng Xuanyu, Liu Jianping, Gu Jiapeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods Driven by the goal of carbon neutrality, geologic CO2 storage has become a critical national priority in China. Compared to conventional reservoirs in sedimentary basins, such as saline aquifers, depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, and unmineable coal seams, basaltic formations offer more significant advantages in geologic CO2 storage. Specifically, basaltic formations can form stable carbonates through reactions between CO2 and rock minerals while also exhibiting extensive distribution, considerable potential for CO2 storage, and low risk of CO2 leakage. The engineering feasibility of geologic CO2 storage in basaltic formations has been validated by the …


Advances In Research On Geochemistry Of Co2 Storage In Basalts: Microscopic Mechanisms And Reaction Pathways, Ma Shijia, Xia Changyou, Gao Zhihao, Rui Zhenhua, Liang Xi Jan 2026

Advances In Research On Geochemistry Of Co2 Storage In Basalts: Microscopic Mechanisms And Reaction Pathways, Ma Shijia, Xia Changyou, Gao Zhihao, Rui Zhenhua, Liang Xi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method The urgent need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions has driven the development of CO2 mineral trapping in basalts. To gain further insights into the microscopic mechanisms and reaction pathways of the mineral trapping, this study systematically reviews the geochemical reaction mechanisms involved, with a particular focus on the differences in reaction pathways between supercritical and dissolved CO2 injection, the coupling between mineral dissolution and carbonate precipitation, and the key factors influencing these reactions. Advances In the case of supercritical CO2 injection, CO2 mineral trapping is achieved through multi-step coupling reactions in nanoscale …


Geochemical And Isotopic Signatures Of Ultramafic-Hosted Magnesite Deposit: A Case Study Of The Edige Region (Ankara-Central Anatolia), Betül Koca, Eli̇f Akiska, Zehra Karakaş, Si̇nan Akiska Jan 2026

Geochemical And Isotopic Signatures Of Ultramafic-Hosted Magnesite Deposit: A Case Study Of The Edige Region (Ankara-Central Anatolia), Betül Koca, Eli̇f Akiska, Zehra Karakaş, Si̇nan Akiska

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The magnesite deposit of the Edige region in Ankara-Elmadağ District of Türkiye is hosted in serpentinite/serpentinized ultramafic rocks, which are mainly harzburgite and dunite. Mineralogical and petrographic studies have shown that ultramafic rocks are composed of serpentine, olivine, and pyroxene with serpentinization preceding magnesite formation. The X-ray diffraction results reveal that dolomite, quartz, calcite, and clay minerals are the main minerals in magnesite samples from serpentinite/serpentinized ultramafic units. Olivine, pyroxene, serpentine, chromite, and iron oxide minerals are also present. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry results show that magnesite in rhombohedral and cryptocrystalline forms is the dominant mineral accompanied …


Bioerosion And Encrustation As Paleoenvironmental Indicators In Upper Cretaceous Corals, Aruma Formation, Saudi Arabia, Abdelbaset S. El-Sorogy, Huriye Demi̇rcan, Khaled Al-Kahtany, Taisser Zumlot, Talal Alharbi, Mohamed Tawfik Jan 2026

Bioerosion And Encrustation As Paleoenvironmental Indicators In Upper Cretaceous Corals, Aruma Formation, Saudi Arabia, Abdelbaset S. El-Sorogy, Huriye Demi̇rcan, Khaled Al-Kahtany, Taisser Zumlot, Talal Alharbi, Mohamed Tawfik

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

This study documents and interprets bioerosion and encrustation traces on Upper Cretaceous scleractinian corals from the Hajajah Member of the Aruma Formation in northern Khashm Buwaibiyat, central Saudi Arabia. Fieldwork in 2023 and 2024 involved detailed bed-by-bed stratigraphic logging, ichnological assessment, and fossil collection across marl and limestone units. A total of 213 coral specimens with bioerosional features were analyzed, leading to the identification of 10 ichnospecies across 5 ichnogenera, including Gastrochaenolites, Entobia, Caulostrepsis, Rogerella, and Labyrintichnus. These traces reflect a range of ethological categories, primarily domichnia, indicating permanent dwelling structures by polychaetes, sponges, bivalves, barnacles, and crustaceans. The Hajajah …


Identification Of A Previously Unrecognized Listric Fault Beneath The Acıpayam Graben: Insights From Integrated Dinsar And Field Observations, Semi̇h Eski̇ Jan 2026

Identification Of A Previously Unrecognized Listric Fault Beneath The Acıpayam Graben: Insights From Integrated Dinsar And Field Observations, Semi̇h Eski̇

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The 20 March 2019 Acıpayam earthquake (Mw 5.7) offers a valuable opportunity to examine the complex seismotectonic behavior of the Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone (FBFZ), a transtensional structure in southwestern Türkiye. This study integrates field observations and focal mechanism data with differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) analysis to reassess the geometry of the causative fault. In contrast to previously proposed northeast-dipping blind fault models, the data obtained in this study indicate a southwest-dipping listric normal-fault system centered on the Yeniköy Fault, projecting beneath alluvial cover. Vertical displacement maps from Sentinel-1 show coseismic subsidence up to 5.8 cm and broader postseismic …


Geochemical Characteristics And Ree Potential Of Red Soils In The Seydişehir–Akseki Region (Türkiye), Muazzez Çeli̇k Karakaya, Necati̇ Karakaya, Aydin Rüşen, Cem Saraç Jan 2026

Geochemical Characteristics And Ree Potential Of Red Soils In The Seydişehir–Akseki Region (Türkiye), Muazzez Çeli̇k Karakaya, Necati̇ Karakaya, Aydin Rüşen, Cem Saraç

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The karst-type bauxite deposits located in southwestern Türkiye represent the most significant bauxite resources in the country. Surrounding these bauxite deposits are widespread red soil deposits of varying sizes, developed over lithologically diverse rocks. This study aims to investigate the origin of these red soils, which were examined in two distinct groups based on their spatial relationship to the underlying geology. The first group of red soils is found on or within the fractures of karstic limestones, while the second group is primarily located in proximity to ophiolitic rocks. The investigation focused on the physical properties, as well as the …


Abic-Based Surficial Density Model Of Türkiye And Tectonic Implications, İlki̇n Özsöz Jan 2026

Abic-Based Surficial Density Model Of Türkiye And Tectonic Implications, İlki̇n Özsöz

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

This study presents a surficial density model of Türkiye derived from the Akaike Bayesian Information Criterion (ABIC) inversion of terrestrial gravity data. By regularizing the gravity field through spatial smoothness constraints, the ABIC method yields optimal Bouguer reduction densities that reflect lateral variations in tectonic architecture, lithological heterogeneity, and upper crustal structure. Over 52,000 georeferenced observations reveal surficial densities ranging from 2.20 to 4.00 g/cm³, with a statistically robust mean of 2.669 ± 0.002 g/cm³ (95% confidence interval), suitable for precision gravity reduction and geodynamic applications. The derived density field delineates key tectonic domains across the Anatolian lithosphere, including extensional …


Ureilite Meteorite Petrofabrics: Evolution And Formation Deformational Conditions, Benjamin Botwe Agyemang Jan 2026

Ureilite Meteorite Petrofabrics: Evolution And Formation Deformational Conditions, Benjamin Botwe Agyemang

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the origin and development of crystallographic fabrics in ureilites, which are primitive achondritic meteorites interpreted as residues of partial melting from a differentiated parent body. In this study, we evaluate three fabric-forming mechanisms: gravitational cumulate crystallization, shock-induced deformation, and flow alignment associated with melt extraction and convective stirring. A quantitative Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis was conducted on six ureilitic meteorites to assess olivine Lattice Preferred Orientation (LPO), Shape Preferred Orientation (SPO), the connection between SPO and LPO, and other deformation metrics, including Grain Orientation Spread (GOS), and Crystal Rotation Axis (CRA). Our results suggest that most …


Long-Term Changes In Relative Humidity And Soil Wetness: Implications On Agriculture And Environmental Sustainability In Western Himalaya, Ashwani Ashwani, Pankaj Kumar Jan 2026

Long-Term Changes In Relative Humidity And Soil Wetness: Implications On Agriculture And Environmental Sustainability In Western Himalaya, Ashwani Ashwani, Pankaj Kumar

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Long-term climate changes in humidity and soil wetness in the cold deserts of the Western Himalaya are still not well researched. Understanding the long-term trends of relative humidity (RH) and soil moisture is crucial in high-altitude, cold desert regions for effective agricultural management and environmental sustainability. The study was conducted in a part of the western Himalaya, which is an ecologically fragile zone with a highly sensitive agricultural region that is vulnerable to climatic variations. A comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of RH and soil wetness by means four techniques: Mann-Kendall, Modified Mann-Kendall, Sen’s slope estimator, …


The Age And Composition Of The Voyager Seamounts: Evidence For A Long-Lived Marquesas Mantle Source, Andrea Balbas, Hannah Paradis, Kevin Konrad, Valerie A. Finlayson, Michael Bizimis, Stephanie Anderson, Christopher Kelley, Nicole A. Raineault, Beth N. Orcutt Jan 2026

The Age And Composition Of The Voyager Seamounts: Evidence For A Long-Lived Marquesas Mantle Source, Andrea Balbas, Hannah Paradis, Kevin Konrad, Valerie A. Finlayson, Michael Bizimis, Stephanie Anderson, Christopher Kelley, Nicole A. Raineault, Beth N. Orcutt

Faculty Publications

We present new observations on the dynamics and locations of deep mantle reservoirs derived from the ages and compositions of Voyager Seamount Chain lava flows. The previously unexplored Voyager Seamount Chain trends NW–SE between the Mid-Pacific Mountains and the Northwestern Hawaiian Ridge. Volcanic samples were recovered from the chain during the Ocean Exploration Trust expedition NA134. The lava flows are alkalic to highly alkalic in composition. Ages ranged from 81 to 86 Ma (n = 8), with the oldest ages in the NW and an age-progression toward the SE. The Voyager age-progression continues southward through the Northern Line Islands …


Microbial Communities And Biogeochemistry Of A Melting Rocky Mountain Glacier, Pacifica Sommers, Elizabeth Traver, Alison Orthel, Andrew G. Fountain, Jacki Klancher, Steven K. Schmidt Jan 2026

Microbial Communities And Biogeochemistry Of A Melting Rocky Mountain Glacier, Pacifica Sommers, Elizabeth Traver, Alison Orthel, Andrew G. Fountain, Jacki Klancher, Steven K. Schmidt

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mountain glaciers are disappearing rapidly, and with their disappearance, we may be losing unstudied biodiversity and genetic resources. A variety of habitats for microorganisms exist on glaciers, especially within pockets of supraglacial sediments (cryoconite) that support high levels of biological activity and diversity. We used biogeochemical approaches, high-throughput DNA sequencing, and microscopy to describe the biogeochemistry and microbial communities of supraglacial sediments on the Dinwoody Glacier in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations were high, and C:N ratios were close to the Redfield ratio indicating active nutrient cycling. We found unique microbial communities in sediments …


Forest Aboveground Biomass In The Southwestern U.S. From Misr And Gedi: Assessment With Nasa Carbon Monitoring System Data, Mark J. Chopping, Zhousen Wang, Crystal B. Schaaf, Michael Bull Jan 2026

Forest Aboveground Biomass In The Southwestern U.S. From Misr And Gedi: Assessment With Nasa Carbon Monitoring System Data, Mark J. Chopping, Zhousen Wang, Crystal B. Schaaf, Michael Bull

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Forest aboveground biomass (AGB) density mapping initiatives generally use one of three remote sensing approaches: lidar, radar, or near-nadir multispectral imaging leveraging machine learning methods, or a combination thereof. However, the active instrument record is limited and near-nadir multispectral imaging data are relatively insensitive to canopy physical structure. Multiangle imaging enables annual wall-to-wall mapping with a global record that extends back to 2000 as these data are highly sensitive to forest AGB. This paper describes work to validate estimates in a published annual, wall-to-wall record of forest AGB on a 250 m grid, derived using 672 nm imagery from the …


Stylespade: Realistic Image Augmentation For Robust Infrastructure Crack Segmentation Via Ensemble Learning, Jaeung Sim, Menas Kafatos, Seung Hee Kim, Yangwon Lee Jan 2026

Stylespade: Realistic Image Augmentation For Robust Infrastructure Crack Segmentation Via Ensemble Learning, Jaeung Sim, Menas Kafatos, Seung Hee Kim, Yangwon Lee

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

The rapid deterioration of global infrastructure necessitates precise and automated crack detection technologies for proactive maintenance. However, deep learning-based segmentation models often suffer from a scarcity of diverse, high-quality labeled datasets. This study proposes StyleSPADE, a novel conditional image generation model that integrates semantic masks and style images to synthesize realistic crack data with diverse background textures while preserving precise geometric morphology. To validate the effectiveness of the generated data, we conducted extensive semantic segmentation tasks using Transformer-based (Mask2Former, Swin-UPerNet) and CNN-based (K-Net) models. Experimental results demonstrate that StyleSPADE-based augmentation significantly outperforms baseline models, achieving a Crack IoU of 0.6376 …


Assessing The Impact Of Visitors On Airborne Particle Deposition In The Giant Gypsum Geode Of Pulpí (Se Spain), Ana Camila Mendoza, Ángel Fernández-Cortés, Fernando Gázquez, Jesús Morilla, Milagros Carretero, Jose Maria Calaforra, David Benavente Jan 2026

Assessing The Impact Of Visitors On Airborne Particle Deposition In The Giant Gypsum Geode Of Pulpí (Se Spain), Ana Camila Mendoza, Ángel Fernández-Cortés, Fernando Gázquez, Jesús Morilla, Milagros Carretero, Jose Maria Calaforra, David Benavente

International Journal of Speleology

The Giant Geode of Pulpí is a unique mineralogical phenomenon worldwide, remarkable for its large selenite gypsum crystals. Its recent development as a tourist site and inclusion on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List, highlight the need to assess the impact of visits on its conservation. This study investigates airborne particle dynamics inside the Geode, focusing on tourist activity and natural ventilation. We measured deposition rates and composition of airborne particles using passive traps and a continuous laser-optical particle counter. Microenvironmental variables linked to ventilation, such as temperature and radon gas concentration (²²²Rn), were simultaneously monitored. Results show a predominance of …


Interactive Effects Of Hyposalinity And Nitrate Loading On Growth, Physiology, And Nitrogen Status Of The Seagrass, Halodule Wrightii, Joseph L. Kowalski, Hudson R. Deyoe, Kirk Cammarata, Kristina P. Vatcheva Jan 2026

Interactive Effects Of Hyposalinity And Nitrate Loading On Growth, Physiology, And Nitrogen Status Of The Seagrass, Halodule Wrightii, Joseph L. Kowalski, Hudson R. Deyoe, Kirk Cammarata, Kristina P. Vatcheva

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The study goal was to examine the interactive physiological effects of two freshwater inflow stressors, nitrate pulses coupled with salinity decrease, on the seagrass Halodule wrightii. A microcosm experiment was designed to approximate an observed freshwater inflow event. Over a 13-day period plants were subjected to three sequential salinity drops (S35→ S23→ S15→ S5) with nitrate-nitrogen added simultaneously at 0, 30 or 60 µM. For comparisons, the Control was no salinity change and no nitrate added denoted by S35/No N. Measurements of H. wrightii shoot production, photosynthesis, respiration, quantum efficiency, %N, C:N ratios and δ15N …


Water Budget For Monitored Watersheds At The Edwards Aquifer Authority Field Research Park: Report For The Edwards Aquifer Authority, Keagan Farrell, Tatiana Flores, Isabella Lopez, Kemerling Obregon Lucio, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, Andrea Realyvasquez, Magali Rodriguez, Kelly Swyers, Adan Vasquez Jan 2026

Water Budget For Monitored Watersheds At The Edwards Aquifer Authority Field Research Park: Report For The Edwards Aquifer Authority, Keagan Farrell, Tatiana Flores, Isabella Lopez, Kemerling Obregon Lucio, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, Andrea Realyvasquez, Magali Rodriguez, Kelly Swyers, Adan Vasquez

Hydrogeology

The purpose of the study was to determine the change in storage of two water sheds after the impact of two rain events, considering factors such as rainfall, discharge and infiltration, and evapotranspiration. The two sub-watersheds, located on the Edward’s Aquifer Authority Field Research Park, each had a weir. The larger of the two watersheds was named Watershed 1, while the smaller one was named Watershed 2. Watershed 1 was where the weir named Arnold was located, while watershed 2 was where the weir named Danny was located. Inflow and outflow were calculated by analyzing precipitation data and water flow …


Tectonic Implications Of Transitional Melting Regimes From Petrological, Geochronological, And Compositional Characterization Of The Ophiolitic Seventymile Terrane, Alaska, Usa, Erin Todd, Johnathan Saul Caine, Michael Bizimis, Andrew R.C. Kylander-Clark, Robert Reece Hammond, Alicja Wypych Jan 2026

Tectonic Implications Of Transitional Melting Regimes From Petrological, Geochronological, And Compositional Characterization Of The Ophiolitic Seventymile Terrane, Alaska, Usa, Erin Todd, Johnathan Saul Caine, Michael Bizimis, Andrew R.C. Kylander-Clark, Robert Reece Hammond, Alicja Wypych

Faculty Publications

New geochemical, U-Pb geochronology, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data provide evidence for the tectonic evolution of the Seventymile terrane in interior Alaska, USA. Ultramafic and mafic rocks of the Seventymile terrane are thought to represent components of a dismembered ophiolite and provide unique constraints on regional terrane evolution and accretion. The Seventymile ophiolite represents fragments of the Devonian to Permian Slide Mountain Ocean (SMO) that separated allochthonous and parautochthonous continental fragments of western North America. It now occurs as multiple thrust sheets containing Permian mafic and ultramafic rocks overlying and/or possibly imbricated with amphibolite-facies supracrustal rocks of allochthonous Yukon-Tanana terrane and …


Synthesis Study Of Evapotranspiration Evolution In The Mekong Delta Induced By Land Use And Land Cover Changes In The Decades Of 1990–2020, Emiliana Valentini, Serena Sapio, Son V. Nghiem, Seung Hee Kim, Sara Liburdi, Andrea Taramelli Jan 2026

Synthesis Study Of Evapotranspiration Evolution In The Mekong Delta Induced By Land Use And Land Cover Changes In The Decades Of 1990–2020, Emiliana Valentini, Serena Sapio, Son V. Nghiem, Seung Hee Kim, Sara Liburdi, Andrea Taramelli

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a key role in the water cycle and balance, and its estimation is of paramount importance in hydrological studies. This variable is also strongly influenced by the land use and land cover (LULC). This study use a synthesis approach to analyse the relationship between ET variation and LULC transformation in the period 1990–2020. The study area represents a major agricultural region in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam between the Mekong and Bassac rivers. The multivariate dataset was ingested into the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool to examine the multidecadal ET evolution across the study region. …


Deep Learning-Based Quantification Of Tall Fescue Abundance In Pastures, Rose E. Binkley, Samuel R. Revolinski, Echo Elizabeth Gotsick, Ray Smith, Zeya Wang, Katsutoshi Mizuta Jan 2026

Deep Learning-Based Quantification Of Tall Fescue Abundance In Pastures, Rose E. Binkley, Samuel R. Revolinski, Echo Elizabeth Gotsick, Ray Smith, Zeya Wang, Katsutoshi Mizuta

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Accurate and rapid measurement of tall fescue abundance is essential for efficient forage management and mitigating livestock exposure to potential endophyte-related toxicity. Traditional visual estimation methods are labor-intensive and are subject to change depending on the observer doing the calculations, which limits their scalability and consistency. This study explores the application of deep learning techniques to automate and improve the classification of tall fescue abundance across pasture systems in Kentucky. Ground-truth abundance classes were evaluated using one of the traditional methods with occupancy grid and compared against estimates derived from red-green-blue images. Two convolutional neural network architectures, YouOnlyLookOnce (YOLO) and …


Exploring Mesoproterozoic Marine Redox States In A Young Banded Iron Formation From The Needle Mountains, Jaya Sharma, Brenhin Keller Jan 2026

Exploring Mesoproterozoic Marine Redox States In A Young Banded Iron Formation From The Needle Mountains, Jaya Sharma, Brenhin Keller

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

Banded iron formations (BIF), as redox-dependent chemical sedimentary rocks, have served as proxies for marine and atmospheric oxygen and iron conditions throughout Earth history. While abundant in the Archean and early Proterozoic, the widespread deposition of BIFs declined following the Great Oxidation Event, as oxygenated surface waters prevented the accumulation of ferrous iron. However, the Needle Mountains, located in southwestern Colorado, houses an anomalously young BIFs deposited between 1.786±10 - 1.801±6 Ga given existing geochronology. Here, we use rare earth element (REE) systematics, bulk chemistry, and petrographic analysis to determine the depositional conditions under which this BIF was formed. We …


Carbon Storage In Headwaters Can Respond Rapidly To Climate Change, Maddie Benello, Carl Renshaw, Joshua Landis Jan 2026

Carbon Storage In Headwaters Can Respond Rapidly To Climate Change, Maddie Benello, Carl Renshaw, Joshua Landis

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

Headwater streams play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, serving as significant sites of carbon storage. While there have been recent efforts to quantify carbon storage in headwater streams in the western United States, there remains limited understanding of both the volume and timescale of carbon storage in northeastern forests which often have extensive logging and agricultural histories. Here, we quantify the carbon stock, residence time, and flux of a zero-to-first order headwater stream in Charles Downer State Forest (DF), VT using novel fallout radionuclide (FRN) chronometry. We find DF headwaters have a carbon stock of 66.2 Mg …


Timing, Orbital Pacing, And Provenance Of Late Paleogene Loess In The Western United States, Xiangwei Guo Jan 2026

Timing, Orbital Pacing, And Provenance Of Late Paleogene Loess In The Western United States, Xiangwei Guo

Earth & Environmental Sciences Dissertations - Archive

This project examines the timing of loess emergence, the nature of the fluvial–eolian transition, orbital forcing on dust accumulation, and sediment recycling in the late Paleogene White River Formation (Group) of Wyoming and Nebraska, western United States. By integrating traditional sedimentology with machine learning–enhanced grain-size analysis, this research shows that loess accumulation at Flagstaff Rim in central Wyoming began during active fluvial deposition at approximately 35.8 Ma, indicating a gradual transition from fluvial to eolian conditions. Machine learning complements field sedimentology and granulometric interpretation while enabling the development of new, testable hypotheses. Extending this framework eastward to Toadstool Geologic Park …


Understanding How Erosion And Unit Thickness Alter The Deformation Of Fold-Thrust Belts, Kaitlyn E. Gallis, Caroline M. Burberry Jan 2026

Understanding How Erosion And Unit Thickness Alter The Deformation Of Fold-Thrust Belts, Kaitlyn E. Gallis, Caroline M. Burberry

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

When a collision of two tectonic plates occurs, fold thrust belts develop, which are widely recognized as the most common mode in which the crust accommodates shortening. Most analog models do not consider erosion when documenting fold thrust belt formation. The lack of experiments on this topic means there are limited consistent studies on the relationship between erosion and deformation. Preliminary experiments suggest that the typical forward breaking thrust sequence is altered by eroding the hinterland, something this experiment series aims to prove or disprove. The new contribution of this work is a systematic evaluation of the variation in initial …


Remediation Impacts Metal Concentrations And Metal Tolerant Bacteria In Soils Of The Missouri Tri-State Mining District, Ophelia R. Pettington Jan 2026

Remediation Impacts Metal Concentrations And Metal Tolerant Bacteria In Soils Of The Missouri Tri-State Mining District, Ophelia R. Pettington

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

After over 100 years of Zn and Pb mining in the Tri-State mining district (TSMD), former mines continue to be sources of metals. Metal contaminated soils can be remediated using plant-microbe interactions. Plants manipulate their microbiome and recruit microbes to increase metal tolerance. Remediating bacteria are site-specific and identifying native microbes can accelerate remediation efforts. Studies relating microbes and metal concentrations in remediated areas in the TSMD are scarce. I collected root and bulk zone soils associated with Andropogon virginicus from remediated and non-remediated sites in Webb City, MO. I used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the bacterial …


Flood-Regime Shifts Across The Lower Midwest, Usa: Identifying Patterns Through Flood Magnitude–Frequency Analysis And Clustering, Kaiser Mostafiz Jan 2026

Flood-Regime Shifts Across The Lower Midwest, Usa: Identifying Patterns Through Flood Magnitude–Frequency Analysis And Clustering, Kaiser Mostafiz

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Flood regimes describe how flood behavior changes in magnitude, recurrence, and occurrence through time. Changes in these flood characteristics can affect flood hazards, river systems, infrastructure, and floodplain management. This thesis examines flood-regime change across the Lower Midwest, focusing on Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri from 1961 to 2020. Records from 1,452 U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations were initially compiled, and 208 stations were retained after screening for record availability and analytical consistency. Flood-regime change was evaluated between two 30-year study periods: Period 1 (1961–1990) and Period 2 (1991–2020). The analysis combined Log-Pearson Type III flood-frequency analysis using L-moments in …


A Geospatial Assessment Of Groundwater Salinization In A Multi-Aquifer System: Durango, Mexico, Juan Lopez-Sierra Jan 2026

A Geospatial Assessment Of Groundwater Salinization In A Multi-Aquifer System: Durango, Mexico, Juan Lopez-Sierra

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Groundwater salinization poses a critical environmental concern for water resource sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluates spatial and temporal patterns of groundwater salinity across the state of Durango, Mexico, using total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), as salinity indicators and nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃–N) as an anthropogenic indicator. Groundwater quality data were obtained from (CONAGUA), a Mexican water agency. To assess salinity variations with respect to time, while minimizing interannual sampling bias, two multi-year sampling periods were selected: 2012-2013, and 2020-2021. Final datasets consisted of 122 wells for 2012–2013 and 131 wells for 2020–2021. The wells were …


Considerations For Assigned Water After Expiration Of The 2007 Guidelines, Kathryn Sorensen, Sarah Porter, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Eric Kuhn, Jack Schmidt, Katherine Tara Jan 2026

Considerations For Assigned Water After Expiration Of The 2007 Guidelines, Kathryn Sorensen, Sarah Porter, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Eric Kuhn, Jack Schmidt, Katherine Tara

The Traveling Wilburys of the Colorado River

As Colorado River supplies and demands reach razor-thin margins, new tools to provide adaptive capacity will play a critical role in sustaining communities across the West. We must reduce our consumption of water, while finding ways to cushion the impact. One of the most innovative tools for doing this, developed over the last two decades, is “Assigned Water” - giving users the ability to store conserved water earmarked for their own future use. Originally developed as “Intentionally Created Surplus” in the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines, Assigned Water has been revised and expanded through U.S. Mexico Treaty Minutes and as …