Earth Sciences Commons^™

The Affordable Diy Mandeye Lidar System For Surveying Caves, And How To Convert 3d Clouds Into Traditional Cave Ground Plans And Extended Profiles, Loris Redovniković, Antun Jakopec, Janusz Będkowski, Jurica Jagetić

International Journal of Speleology

The paper examines the potential use of low-cost LiDAR for cave surveying. Mobile mapping using LiDAR complements traditional speleological surveying using a polygonal traverse. These methods assist each other, with one serving as an independent control measurement for the other, ultimately resulting in a more accurate 3D model. The testing results show that achieving high accuracy and detailed cave representation is possible using open hardware and open-source software. Both spacious and well-indented cave sections and narrow passages barely passable by humans were successfully mapped. The surveying process is significantly faster than traditional cave mapping, as drawing cave sketches by hand …

Temporal Scales Of Sediment Accumulation, Mass Wasting, And Stratigraphy Across The Mississippi River Delta Front, Jeffrey E. Duxbury

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Mississippi River Delta Front (MRDF) is a subaqueous apron of rapidly deposited, weakly

consolidated sediment extending from the subaerial portions of the Mississippi River’s Birdsfoot Delta, historically known for sediment transport via mass wasting. To better understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of processes influencing the MRDF, 29 cores ranging from 5.8 to 8.71 meters in length were collected from the South Pass (SP) and Southwest Passes (SWP). These cores targeted specific depositional environments, including the undisturbed topset apron, medial mudflow gully, mudflow lobe, and prodelta. The cores were analyzed along their full lengths for gamma density, grain size, …

Glacial Lakes Outburst Susceptibility And Risk In The Eastern Himalayas Using Analytical Hierarchy Process And Backpropagation Neural Network Models, Sandeep Kumar Mondal, Jyotindra Narayan, Chitesh Sharma, Rishikesh Bharti, Santosha Kumar Dwivedy, Pinaki Roy Chowdhury

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The Himalayan cryosphere is dynamic, and changing climate conditions threaten breach of glacial lakes. A number of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) occurred in the Himalayas in the recent past, affecting people and infrastructures. Assessment of high-altitude glacial lakes is required to avoid associated hazards and mitigate the impacts. In this study, we have made an inventory of naturally formed lakes within the Sikkim Himalayas, including Nepal, Bhutan, and China, and discussed the GLOF susceptibility. A total of 399 lakes have been identified, out of which 281 lakes have an areal coverage greater than 0.01 Km2. Monitoring temporal changes shows …

Global Estimates Of The Storage And Transit Time Of Water Through Vegetation, Andrew Felton, Joshua B. Fisher, Koen Hufkens, Adam J. Purdy, Seth A. Spawn-Lee, Lou F. Duloisy, Gregory R. Goldsmith

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The time it takes for water to transit from the ground back to the atmosphere affects weather, climate, biogeochemistry and ecosystem function. The transit time of water through vegetation, defined as the age of water transpiring from vegetation since time of entry, is a particularly understudied aspect of the terrestrial hydrologic cycle. Here we use a synergy of satellite remote sensing measurements over a five-year period to estimate global aboveground vegetation water storage to be on average 484 km³, roughly half of which is stored in Earth’s water-limited savannah, grassland and shrubland ecosystems. We then combine these storage …

Analysis And Description Of The Iridescent Film On Calcites In Eastern Iowa, Cavit Schempp, John Oostenryk

Geology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

During the Devonian Period, eastern to central Iowa experienced multiple transgressive and regressive intervals. This study focuses on the Cou Falls and Gizzard Creek Members of the Coralville Formation, deposited during the Eifelian Stage. Sometime after the formation of the limestone, the interiors of various brachiopods, gastropods, and other fauna began to weather out, creating vugs within the limestone, which gave rise to the first of three growth phases of calcite in the form of rhombohedrons and scalenohedrons. After these primary calcites were formed, new fluids flowed through these vugs, depositing a previously misidentified iridescent film on the calcite crystals, …

Can Trichoderma Spp. Contribute To The Bioremediation And Biostimulation Of Plants In Soil Contaminated With Herbicides?, Elaine Damiani Conte, Elton José Da Rosa, Gabriel Rieth Silvestrini, Daiane Da Silva Motta, Christiane Fernandes De Oliveira, Carine Cocco, Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti, Taísa Dal Magro, Joséli Schwambach

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma spp. in the bioremediation of herbicides and biostimulation of plants in herbicide-contaminated soils. In the first phase, the experiment followed a completely randomized design in a 4 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme with five replications, four strains of Trichoderma spp., three herbicides, and four herbicide doses. The mycelial growth speed index (MGSI) of Trichoderma spp. was obtained by growing it in a Petri dish with PDA associated with different doses of herbicides and evaluated every 24 h for 10 days. Results indicated the selection ofTrichoderma harzianumT1A to continue …

In Memoriam: Dr. Rodney M. “Rod” Feldmann (1939–2024), Sigma Gamma Epsilon’S Longest-Serving Chapter Advisor, Joseph D. Ortiz, Richard L. Ford

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE), Kent State University (KSU), and the geoscience community lost a loyal supporter, remarkable student mentor, and world-renowned paleontologist when Dr. Rodney M. “Rod” Feldmann died peacefully at home on May 1, 2024, at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife Dr. Carrie Schweitzer (Kent, OH), his daughter Aissa Feldmann (Durham, NC), and his brothers, Frank George (Helen) DuPree (Billings, MT) and Don Keck (Mary Grace) DuPree (Atlanta, GA).

Geospatial Machine Learning Approaches For Studying Urbanization Impact, Surface Reflectance Patterns, And Groundwater Health Risks, Bibhash Nath

Theses and Dissertations

Geospatial machine learning techniques have been used to study: the impact of urbanization on land use and land cover change, surface reflectance patterns in boreal regions, and groundwater health risks from arsenic in India. These studies combined spatial data, remote sensing, and predictive models to gain valuable insights for sustainable living and protecting human health.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Connects 2024, Anaheim, California, Usa, Scott R. Beason, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors a poster session at every annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 36th Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2024 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (GSA Connects) in Anaheim, California, USA, on Monday, September 23, 2024. Twenty-eight (28) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall D at the Anaheim Convention Center between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report. Additionally, winners of the Austin A. Sartin …

Spring 2025 Letter From The President Of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Steve W. Bennett

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Spring 2025 Letter From The National Secretary-Treasurer Of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Richard L. Ford

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

The Compass - Volume 94 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Investigating Drivers In Phytoplankton Between Lentic And Lotic Ecosystems Within Twelvepole Creek Watershed, Devin Lee Farmer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) threaten aquatic ecosystems, local economies, and water quality. While extensively studied in lakes (lentic systems), their impact on flowing waters (lotic systems) remains underexplored. This study examined algal drivers in both ecosystems within the same watershed, focusing on Beech Fork Lake (lentic) and Twelve Pole Creek (lotic). Key environmental factors, including pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels, were measured using in situ sensors and laboratory analysis. Water samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and algal biomass for comparison to environmental conditions. Phytoplankton was preserved for identification in future research. By comparing these environments, this study …

Influence Of Biochar On Rooting And Establishment Of Chamaecyparis And Thuga Species, Megan Mudd

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study investigated the effects of biochar amendment on the rooting and establishment of evergreen propagules, thus addressing the critical need for improved nutrient use efficiency and water retention in containerized substrates within the horticulture and floriculture industry. Biochar, a product of biomass pyrolysis, offers promising potential due to its high porosity and surface area, which contribute to enhanced soil fertility and water retention. Two experiments were conducted, one in a greenhouse and the other in a cold frame, using cuttings from Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Vintage Gold’, and Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’. Treatments included varying percentages of biochar …

Rain-On-Snow Event Climatology And Hydrological Impacts In The Connecticut River Watershed, Samuel Davidson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Rain-on-snow events, characterized by rain falling on existing snowpack, have the potential to bring about significant hydrological and environmental impacts including snowmelt, flooding, landslides, and other natural hazards. Despite prior evidence suggesting the Connecticut River Watershed has endured socioeconomic and environmental setbacks due to rain-on-snow events in the past, limited prior research has been performed on the role of rain-onsnow events within the region’s hydroclimatology. Gaining a deeper understanding of the occurrence and impacts of such events would provide valuable insights for risk and water resource managers. The purpose of this research was to create a climatology of rain-on-snow events …

Provenance Of Clastic Rocks In The Inner Hornsund Trough, Svalbard, Noah Riccardi

Geology Honors Projects

Late Paleozoic clastic sedimentary rocks in the Inner Hornsund Trough (IHT) in southern Svalbard represent an archive of regional tectonic events and are key to accurate paleogeographic reconstructions of the Arctic. To tap this archive, ~1800 detrital zircon grains were separated and analyzed from six total samples of sedimentary rock, including samples from both sides of the Hornsund fjord. Two samples came from the Marietoppen formation (Late Devonian), and four from the Adriabukta formation (Late Devonian and/or earliest Carboniferous). Detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra from both units are similar, with the majority of analyzed grains falling in the 1.0-2.0 Ga …

Caves, Calculus, And Climate Change: Measuring And Modeling The Discharge Of Biz Falls In Mammoth Cave National Park, Ava Lich

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Climate change poses a significant global challenge, with increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide as a primary driver of rising temperatures and environmental disruptions. Karst systems, such as those in South-Central Kentucky, play a role in sequestering atmospheric CO₂ through the dissolution of limestone, a process that forms unique landscapes while mitigating climate impacts. This study investigates the discharge dynamics of Cascade River in Great Onyx Cave to enhance understanding of the relationship between hydrology and carbon sequestration in karst environments. A barrel weir equipped with pressure transducers was employed to collect and measure water flow, and Torricelli’s law was …

Empirical Vulnerability Function Development Based On The Damage Caused By The 2014 Chiang Rai Earthquake, Thailand, Patcharavadee Hong, Masashi Matsuoka

Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Publications

Seismic hazards in Thailand are frequently overlooked in disaster management planning, leading to insufficient research and significant economic losses during earthquake events. The 2014 Chiang Rai earthquake exposed critical vulnerabilities in Thailand's building practices due to widespread non-compliance with building codes and limited preparedness. This exposure prompted the development of empirical vulnerability functions using loss data from 15,031 damaged residences. The study analyzed government compensation records, which were standardized using replacement cost metrics. Three distinct models were developed through probabilistic and possibilistic modeling approaches. Residual analysis demonstrated the superior performance of the possibilistic approach, with the Possibilistic-based Vulnerability Function achieving …

Landslide At River's Edge: Alum Bluff, Apalachicola River, Florida, Joann Mossa, Yin-Hsuen Chen

Center for Geospatial Science, Education & Analytics Faculty Publications

When rivers impinge on the steep bluffs of valley walls, dynamic changes stem from a combination of fluvial and mass wasting processes. This study identifies the geomorphic changes, drivers, and timing of a landslide adjacent to the Apalachicola River at Alum Bluff, the tallest natural geological exposure in Florida at similar to 40 m, comprising horizontal sediments of mixed lithology. We used hydrographic surveys from 1960 and 2010, two sets of LiDAR from 2007 and 2018, historical aerial, drone, and ground photography, and satellite imagery to interpret changes at this bluff and river bottom. Evidence of slope failure includes a …

Data For Research Collaboration And Co-Authorship In The Gulf Of Mexico, 2000–2018, Owen Temby, Dongkyu Kim, Juliet Vallejo

Datasets

This dataset documents research collaboration and co-authorship among organizations engaged in environmental science in the Gulf of Mexico from 2000 to 2018. The data were compiled through bibliometric analysis of scientific articles, with each record containing publication-level and author affiliation information, as well as institutional and country codes. The dataset provides the basis for network analysis of collaborative patterns among institutions in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Variable definitions and data structure are described in the accompanying README file.

Numerical Modeling Study Of Coastal Impacts From Extreme Storms And Sea Level Rise In Southern New England, Deborah Crowley

Open Access Dissertations

Coastal areas in southern New England are vulnerable to a range of impacts from extreme storms and sea level rise. The most frequent extreme storms are extratropical storms, commonly referred to as nor’easters, named for the direction of the strongest winds, though these storms also have strong winds from other directions.

Storm winds generate large waves and push water up along the coast in the form of storm surge. The combined impacts of increased water levels and waves include flooding and morphological change. Sea level rise (SLR) will exacerbate these processes, amplifying the associated impacts, which may pose increasing threats …

The Influence Of Glacial Topography On Fluvial Efficiency In The Teton Range, Wyoming (Usa), Sarah E. Johnson, Meredith Swallom, J. Ryan Thigpen, Michael M. Mcglue, Jason M. Dortch, Sean Gallen, Edward W. Woolery, Kevin M. Yeager

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examines the role of topography as a dynamic boundary condition that limits the efficiency of fluvial erosion in the post-glacial Teton Range landscape. The volume of sediment currently stored in two major catchments was estimated using high-resolution LiDAR and geometric reconstructions of depth to bedrock. Seismic reflection data in Moran Bay reveals post-glacial sediment preserved behind a submerged moraine, which isolates the bay from the larger Jackson Lake depocenter. The volume of post-glacial sediment stored in the canyons and bay totals 173.82 ± 19.5336.0 (×10−3 km3), which translates to a catchment-wide sediment production rate of 0.17 ± 0.02 …

Geological And Environmental Sciences - 2025, Dept. Of Geological And Environmental Sciences

Geological and Environmental Sciences News

• Greetings from the Department Chair
• Faculty Updates
• 2025 Geological and Environmental Sciences Department Alumni Achievement Awardee Mr. Thomas Hanna
• 60 Years - Telling Our Story
• Empowering the next generation of geoscientists

Dataset Supporting The Manuscript Fire Spread, Intensity, And Emissions Observations By Multiple Satellites: The Southern California Wildfires Of January 2025, Fangjun Li, Xiaoyang Zhang, Mark Cochrane, Shobha Kondragunta, Shuai An

Global Land Surface Season Data Sets

The data is for the paper "Fire Spread, Intensity, and Emissions Observations by Multiple Satellites: the Southern California Wildfires of January 2025" which has been submitted to the journal AGU Advances.

The downloadable file contains:

• README file that provides an overview of all all supporting files and scripts.
• 12 files folders containing the data and scripts

File type : zip/application
File size :  1.2GB

Inter-Hemispheric Asymmetry In The High-Latitude Electrodynamics And Their Impacts On The Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System, Yu Hong

Physics Dissertations - Archive

In this dissertation, the inter-hemispheric asymmetries (IHAs) in the ionosphere–thermosphere (I-T) system and their impacts on the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere–thermosphere (M-I-T) were examined using multi-instrument observations and advanced global numerical modeling frameworks. First, the drivers and consequences of IHAs in the I-T were systematically investigated and quantified, revealing that seasonal solar irradiance differences, geomagnetic field offsets, and asymmetric high-latitude electrodynamic forcing each produce significant asymmetries in electron density, neutral density, velocity, and Joule heating, with seasonal effects dominating under relative quiet conditions. During geomagnetic storms, IHAs were found to depend more strongly on asymmetric field-aligned currents (FACs) and particle precipitation (PP), …

Assessing The Dallas-Fort Worth Urban Microclimate And Surface Ozone Variability Under Differing Drought Conditions, Patrick Sumner

Earth & Environmental Sciences Theses - Archive

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in North Central Texas is the 4^th largest and fastest growing region in the United States. In this study, the response of the urban microclimate and ozone levels to drought conditions will be assessed. The urban heat island (UHI), defined as the temperature difference between an urban and rural weather station, was filtered for low wind speeds (≤ 3 m s^-1). An in-depth analysis of the UHI at 1200 CST was done from 2008-2023 to identify trends. A significant correlation exists between the Palmer drought severity index and the UHI at 1200 CST, …

Impact Of Climate Change On North Central Texas, Diana K. T. Hansen

Earth & Environmental Sciences Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

Diana Kay Thomas Hansen, Ph.D.

The University of Texas at Arlington, 2025

Supervising Professor: Arne M.E. Winguth

The North Central Texas region is a rapidly expanding metropolitan area. One of the largest climate hazards that will affect human health in this region are extended heat waves and heavy precipitation. This study will examine how these hazards will change in response to climate change and the impact to human health due to weather extremes in a changing climate.

Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (Phase 6) simulations were used to evaluate future projected temperature …

Investigating Woody Vegetation Recruitment Post Riparian Enhancement Extraction Along The Baduwa't, Rize Martins De Oliveira, Wiley Hughes, Owen Lenox

Forestry, Fire, & Rangeland Management Senior Capstones

The Baduwa’t River in Humboldt County, California, faces a legacy of channelization, poor land management, and severe flooding that has left high, dry floodplain terraces disconnected from the river and dominated by invasive vegetation. In response to sediment deficits during drought years, Riparian Enhancement Extractions (REEs) were introduced as an alternative gravel mining method that simultaneously presented opportunities for habitat restoration. This study evaluates five REEs along the Baduwa’t to identify the construction features and site conditions that promote successful riparian vegetation establishment. Findings show that REEs can create seasonal wetlands conducive to native riparian habitat reestablishment, when excavation is …

Sedimentary Archives Of Late Quaternary Limnological, Ecological, And Environmental Change In The Eastern Sierra Nevada (California, Usa), Bailee Hodelka

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Sierra Nevada essentially serve as the headwaters of California, providing crucial freshwater to the state through seasonal snowmelt. This water supply is threatened by climate change in complex ways that are not fully understood. Geological records provide a valuable source of information on how the hydrology, limnology, and ecology of the Sierra Nevada region has responded to climate changes of the past. This dissertation presents new sedimentary and paleoecological research from Mono Lake and Convict Lake (Mono County, California) and aims to shed light on environmental changes in the eastern Sierra Nevada from ~16 ka to present.

At Mono …

Fault Box Modeling Of Dip Slip Faults: A Framework For Fault Box Design And Future Studies, Hailey Pressnell

Master's Theses

The behavior of soils during surface fault rupture is a serious concern in the planning and design of infrastructure that may be located within or near a fault zone. Challenges associated with developing mitigation measures for surface fault rupture include the uncertainty of fault rupture and the variability of fault behavior. Current analytical procedures define surface fault rupture according to the type of fault movement (strike slip, normal or reverse), the amount of displacement on the fault, and the mechanics of the material overlying the fault. The purpose of this thesis is to reconfirm analytical solutions and gain a better …