Earth Sciences Commons^™

A Day In The Badlands: A 52 Million-Year-Old Safari Adventure, Devra Hock-Reid, Judy Diamond, Jenn Paul

Zea E-Books Collection

with Amy Chew, Christopher Gilbert, Ross Secord, and Stephen Chester

Illustrations by Jenn Paul • Book design by Aaron Sutherlen

About the Badlands Fossils -- This story tells about the fossils of ancient animals found in the Wind River and Bighorn basins of Wyoming. Wyoming’s rich fossil record tell us about amazing animals from millions of years ago. About 66 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into the Earth, causing devastating changes that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. As the planet began to recover, it was much warmer than today, allowing palm trees and other tropical plants to grow …

Testing For Patterns Of Deformation From The Yellowstone Hotspot Along The Gallatin River, Sw Montana, Jack Willard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Yellowstone has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Geologists have addressed many of the region’s mysteries, including the underlying mantle hotspot, the chain of calderas tracking the motion of the North American Plate over this hotspot, and the risks posed by the super volcano. However, the way that the hotspot impacts regional tectonics and topography remains under-studied. Influential previous work recognized the Yellowstone Crescent of High Terrain (YCHT), an arc of high topography around the Yellowstone Plateau with limbs extending to the west and south into central Idaho and northern Utah. The YCHT is also hypothesized to be the pattern …

Multiple Cut Systems Of Cannabis Sativa L. For Micropropagation Without The Use Of Cytokinins, Molly Mckay

All Theses

Micropropagation is a technique used to propagate clean, high-quality clonal stock plants using plant growth regulators (PGR) in a single harvest batch system. This two-part study uses an in vitro multiple harvest system “hedging” combined with the fed- batch media process, to observe (1) the effects of modified physical state and (2) LED light quality to improve shoot production and quality. In Experiment 1, four genotypes of Cannabis sativa (‘Cherry 1’,‘BaOx’,‘T1’,‘Peach’) were observed in three different physical states: stationary agar (A), stationary Oasis® infused with liquid (OIL_s) and agitated Oasis® infused with liquid (OIL_a). Fifteen …

Evaluation Of Industrial Hemp Cultivar And Biochar Rate To Remediate Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil From The Tar Creek Superfund Site, Usa, Dietrich V. Thurston, Kristofor R. Brye, David M. Miller, Philip A. Moore Jr., Donald M. Johnson, Mike Richardson

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) at the Tar Creek superfund site in northeast Oklahoma, United States, remains a threat to the environment and local ecosystem. Phytoremediation with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and the use of biochar (BC) have been independently shown to be effective methods to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the effects of industrial hemp cultivar (‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’), biochar rate (0, 2, 5, and 10% by volume), soil contamination level (low, medium, and high), and their interactions on above- (AG) and belowground dry matter …

Rice Response To Struvite And Other Phosphorus Fertilizers In A Phosphorus-Deficient Soil Under Simulated Furrow-Irrigation, Jonathan B. Brye, Diego Della Lunga, Kristofor R. Brye

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wastewater-recovered phosphorus (P), in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH₄PO₄⋅6H₂O), may provide a sustainable alternative to decreasing rock-phosphate reserves. Struvite can be generated via precipitation methods, potentially reducing the amount of P runoff to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this greenhouse tub study was to evaluate the effects of chemically- and electrochemically precipitated struvite (CPST and ECST, respectively) on above- and belowground plant response in a hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar grown using furrow-irrigation compared to other common fertilizer-P sources [i.e., triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)]. Rice was …

Evaluation Of 3d Beach Profiles: A New Method For Monitoring Changes In Beach Morphology And Grain Size, Kalinda Ellen Roberts

Graduate Masters Theses

Beach profiles are a simple and affordable approach to monitoring changes in beach morphology. However, traditional methods offer limited resolution and dimension. Recent advancements in technologies, particularly structure-from-motion (SfM) and grain size detection models (GSDMs), can be integrated into conventional beach profiling techniques, enabling more detailed spatial and temporal analysis of slope and grain sizes. This research introduces a new technique for coastal monitoring, termed “3D Beach Profiles,” which integrates SfM technology to create high-resolution three-dimensional digital surface models (DSMs) and orthomosaics of beach surfaces. These digital surfaces enable the extraction of beach slopes with orders of magnitude more data …

Performance Of Acoustic Telemetry And Space Use Of Pallid Sturgeon In The Lower Platte River, Nebraska, Christopher F. Pullano

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

Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) are centenarian, potamodromous, rheophiles that historically occupied the Missouri River and Mississippi River basins. Listed on the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1990, population declines are attributed to habitat fragmentation and degradation, as well as overharvest, and hybridization. A knowledge gap exists regarding the extent to which tributaries facilitate key life stages for Pallid Sturgeon. This study evaluated the capacity of acoustic telemetry to monitor the movements of Pallid Sturgeon in a shallow, braided tributary to the Missouri River. The specific objectives were to (1) evaluate the environmental variables influencing the performance of acoustic …

Occupancy Of Fish Species Of Greatest Conservation Need And Temporal Patterns Of Assemblage Occurrence In Sandhills Ecoregion, Nebraska Streams, Braxton M. Newkirk

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

Fish species’ occurrence is influenced by environmental conditions across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Alteration to stream systems has the potential to affect occurrence patterns of fish species. Stream systems of the North American Great Plains face threats originating from climate change and anthropogenic activities resulting in negative implications for many fish species. The Sandhills Ecoregion, Nebraska is considered one of the largest intact grasslands in North America, and thus may experience fewer threats than surrounding areas. Stream systems of the Sandhills Ecoregion are home to 12 fish species of greatest conservation need (SGCN). Little context exists regarding the environmental …

A Review Of The Philosophy Of Flood Risk Communication And Education: New Insights Informed By Critical Complexity, Timothy Lutz

Earth & Space Sciences Faculty Publications

The approach to flooding in the U.S. is strongly influenced by research and practices that place the responsibility for managing risk on scientific and technical experts. But there is a recognition that the public generally needs to be more engaged and responsible. There is currently a disconnect between the objective knowledge of experts and the more subjective ways in which people experience floods and flood risk. To bridge this gap, I start with a review of the philosophy that informs government policies and the societal worldview. While societal leaders have maintained a mechanistic vision of a world that is ultimately …

Where And How Are Undergraduate Students Developing Dispositions Needed For The Geoscience Workforce?, Kaelyn Lagerwall

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Dispositions, such as the desire to learn, work ethic, initiative, and organization, are defined as internal attributes, attitudes, or values that stimulate action. Rather than being intrinsic traits, dispositions can be learned and are considered a dynamic and evolving arrangement of interconnected components. Dispositions are highly desired and valuable to the workforce, playing a critical role in gaining and maintaining employment; they are frequently mentioned in job advertisements for bachelor-level geoscientists. Therefore, it is important to understand where and how geoscience students are developing these dispositions as part of their degree programs. We surveyed faculty in geoscience departments at two …

From Classroom To Career: Preparing Future Geoscientists For Workforce Success, Gregory Shafer

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The wide range of career opportunities for geoscience students, combined with a changing workforce, makes it more challenging for undergraduate programs to adequately prepare students for their careers. Therefore, it is important for geoscience programs to have a comprehensive view of the workforce needs and what barriers students may encounter when transitioning to the workforce. This dissertation identifies key skills and competencies essential for bachelor-level geoscientists, as well as potential barriers for recent graduates entering the workforce. The study analyzed entry-level geoscience job advertisements using a case-insensitive code matching function in MATLAB and conducted interviews with geoscience employers to identify …

Glacial Erosion Rates From The Last Glacial Maximum To Present In Southern Patagonia (50°S), Anastasia Fedotova

Earth Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, the notion of exogenic processes (e.g. weathering, erosion) contributing to mountain building rather than destruction has become increasingly supported through both direct observations and modeling. As a result, the details of the link between erosion, and therefore climate, and the tectonic evolution of mountain ranges, have progressively become established. One of the key observations emerging from the climate-tectonic debate has been the role of glaciers as powerful landscape sculptors, sensitive to climate signals. The reconstruction of glacial environments evolution and the recovery of patterns of glacial erosion over time have proven key to understanding feedbacks …

Sedimentary Characteristics Of Flood Deposits In Coastal And Fluvial Environments: Examples From Washover Fans (North Carolina, Usa) And Floodplain Deposits (Mississippi, Usa), Shara Gremillion

Dissertations

Extreme flooding from severe and prolonged meteorological events and / or overbanking rivers are some of the most deadly and expensive disasters globally, impacting millions of lives, the environment, and property. People living in vulnerable areas, such as near coasts and rivers, are the first to be impacted with effects of these flood hazards. Scientific studies and their results can aid communities and officials in planning and preparing for those flood impacts. In this three-part study, flood impacts from coastal storms in North Carolina, and flooding along the Mississippi River (MSR) in the state of Mississippi, USA are assessed from …

Thermal Modeling Of Cooling Time Of Submarine Dacite Lapilli Tuff: Brothers Volcano, Kermadec Arc, Kyler Byrd

Master's Theses

Little is known about submarine volcanoes' eruptive histories and styles, even though they are essential to developing island arc systems and represent the second largest volcanic systems on Earth. Scientific drilling allows for the opportunity to study these systems. This study focused on two drill sites on Brothers volcano from IODP Expedition 376: Site U1528, located on the resurgent cone, and Site U1530, located on the caldera rim. Expedition researchers analyzed samples for clast radius, density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat. This data was then entered into the heat transfer equation of a sphere to create a cooling curve model …

Nature-Based Solutions For Flood Risk Mitigation: Mapping And Hydrological Modeling In An Under-Resourced Urban Area On The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Jennifer Makenzie Holifield

Master's Theses

Flooding is the most frequent and costly disaster in the United States, affecting people disproportionately based on environmental, societal, and economic limitations. Through stakeholder engagement, open-access research, and nature-based solutions (NBS), ecology and hydrology can be bridged with local-scale politics to raise awareness of local issues and form strong interdisciplinary bonds. I approached nature-based equity from a ground front, in which I engaged with local stakeholders and city officials to gain insight and calibration on flooding experiences and flooding presence within Moss Point, MS. This engagement helped calibrate GIS models, from which, I found that the flooding hazards of Moss …

Spatial-Textural Study Of Siliciclastics In A Navajo Sandstone Carbonate Lens, Christopher L. Rupe

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Flat-lying carbonate deposits in the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone have long been interpreted as interdune lacustrine deposits. This dissertation critically assesses such inference through the study of an exceptionally well-preserved carbonate deposit in the Trough Canyon area, northwest of Moab, Utah. Thickness measurements along multiple cross-sectional exposures were used to construct an isopach map, approximating the original size and lenticular geometry of the deposit. Dip directions were recorded from foreset strata in cross-bed sets stratigraphically overlying the deposit to infer the approximately coeval direction of siliciclastic transport across the carbonate basin. These data sets yielded a contextual framework for studying …

Landscaping Impacts On Urban Soil Development, Fry Lundgren

University Honors Theses

Urban soils can play a key role in flood mitigation, water filtration, and supporting urban plant communities, however many are highly disturbed due to development and management practices. Although full recovery will take time (centuries), in the short term managing soils in ways that conserve organic matter inputs and promote nutrient cycling can support important soil functions and likely promote long term development. To understand how landscaping impact soil development on PSU campus, organic matter content, moisture content, and respiration rates were measured in soils from four area types with different long term weed management strategies (mulch- M; sustained plant …

Geochemical Evidence Of Drying During The 4.2 Ka Event In Sediment Cores From The Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Derek K. Gibson, Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Alex Correa-Metrio, Alejandra Rodriguez-Abaunza, Carlos Castañeda-Posadas

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Tropical hydroclimate variability during the Middle and Late Holocene was investigated using geochemical indicators of local-scale precipitation and evaporation preserved in sediment cores from two sites in the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula. Scanning X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy data show generally decreasing precipitation trends during the Early and Middle Holocene. During the transition between the Middle and Late Holocene, geochemical evidence of reduced watershed erosion and increased evaporation indicate that a centennial-scale drying event impacted the region between 4.3 and 4.0 ka (kilo-anum; thousand years before present). These findings suggest that the 4.2 ka drying event, which has been previously recorded in Europe, …

Implementing Organic Fertilization Practices To Improve Aloe Vera Growth And Soil Health In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Isaiah Edward Jaramillo

Theses and Dissertations

Aloe vera (L.) (Aloe) Burm. f., is valued for its applications across the cosmetic, medicinal, and food industries due to its leaf gel. In the aloe industry, the extraction of gel from leaves generates significant quantities of organic waste, which presents an opportunity to repurpose this material as an amendment in aloe cultivation. While Aloe is renowned for its resilience, understanding the feasibility of using these organic shavings as a soil fertility amendment in aloe production is critical. This research aims to identify sustainable fertilization methods for Aloe that can maintain and/or improve crop yield while enhancing soil health. This …

A Nursery Study Of The Interplay Between Soil Texture, Rooting Space, And Nurse Plants On Seedling Growth And Root Development In Woody Species Of Tamaulipan Thornscrub, Lance I. Santos

Theses and Dissertations

Reforestation attempts in semi-arid regions are plagued with seedling mortality. Blanket greenhouse practices may not be optimal, in addition, commensalism interactions between nurse plants are considered. To better understand the effects of soil texture and nurse plant interactions on growth and drought tolerance, two experiments were developed. For soil texture, Border palo verde seedlings were grown in different-sized plant bands with three soil types. To observe the effects of nurse plants, an experiment using guayacan, was developed using Texas Ebony, as a leguminous nurse plant. Plants were also exposed to a drought experiment. The results suggest that some soil textures …

Mapping Amis Mill In Rogersville, Tennessee In The 1780s Using Geophysical Methods And Remote Sensing, Amy Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geophysics and remote sensing were used at the Amis Mill and Homesite to determine the location of structures during the 1780s. Areas of interest were surveyed using shallow geophysical and remote sensing techniques including the orchard, horse pasture, original kitchen on the east side of the house, the west side of the house, plowed field, store site, and cemetery. After analyzing the results of the geophysical surveys and remote sensing, 22 sites were chosen to test inside and outside potential features. A large rectangular feature, possibly a tavern with a cellar, was discovered. Four other features were identified, three of …

Personal Exposure To Black Carbon: Impact Of Time-Activity Patterns And Environmental Factors On Exposure Levels, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Johnathan R. Gonzalez, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Black carbon (BC) is a critical environmental pollutant with significant implications for human health. This study aims to quantify personal exposure to BC by focusing on the influence of microenvironments and time-activity patterns in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas, USA. Over eight days in March and April 2023, a portable aethalometer and GPS tracking instruments were used to measure BC exposure among a study participant, alongside recording the time spent in various microenvironments. The BC measurements were correlated to the time activity patterns to calculate BC inhaled dosage values thereby elucidating its impact on human health. …

Experimental Evaluation Of A Recrosslinkable Co2-Resistant Micro-Sized Preformed Particle Gel For Co2 Sweep Efficiency Improvement In Reservoirs With Super-K Channels, Adel Alotibi, Tao Song, Ali Al Brahim, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A recross linkable CO₂-resistant branched preformed particle gel (CO₂-BRPPG) was developed for controlling CO₂ injection conformance, particularly in reservoirs with super-permeable channels. Previous work focused on a millimeter-sized CO₂-BRPPG in open fractures, but its performance in high-permeability channels with pore throat networks remained unexplored. This study used a sand pack model to evaluate a micro-sized CO₂-BRPPG under varying conditions of salinity, gel concentration, and pH. at ambient conditions, the equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) of the gel reached 76 times its original size. This ratio decreased with increasing salinity but remained stable …

Assessing Sedimentation Impact Through Dem, Point Cloud, And Discharge Analysis, Shandell Thomas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study focused on five arroyos flowing into the Rio Grande, in the stretch between Caballo Dam and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Drone imagery was acquired from study areas in each arroyo. Photogrammetry was used to create high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), point clouds, drone imagery and potential discharges were acquired for each arroyo. Investigation of seven different methods resulted in the selection of the Terrain Ruggedness Map (TRM) as a predictor of surface roughness, along with high-resolution DEMâ??s to illustrate small and low-relief channel features. The five arroyos with varying sediment sizes and characteristics were studied to understand how …

Rockets, Rovers, And Rocks, Oh My!, Tara Lynn Sweeney

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This body of work undertakes three distinct projects, all with the ultimate goal of improving the future efforts of human space exploration.Chapter 2 is a seismic analysis of rocket launch and landing operations. Being able to identify and understand anthropogenically induced seismic signals in comparison to naturally occurring seismic signals is an important step in characterizing and monitoring both types of signals on the Moon. Relatively few terrestrial studies have been performed to explore this, but there is a growing opportunity to record, discern, and understand the differences between anthropogenic and naturally occurring seismic signals due to the increasing pace …

Heavy Metals In Rural Soils: A Case Study In Jennings County, Indiana, Madeline Hill

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, can be toxic if exposure levels are too high. People are often concerned about lead exposure from water or paint, but soil is another potential exposure avenue for many metals. While some heavy metals, including mercury and lead, are found in emissions from coal-burning power plants and from incinerators, many metals accumulate in soils from past uses (ex. lead paint, leaded gasoline, chemical spills, industrial emissions, and natural occurrences). It is important to have soil tested to check metal concentrations because consumption or inhalation of these metals can lead to permanent damage and …

Traittrainr: Accelerating Large-Scale Simulation Under Models Of Continuous Trait Evolution, Jenniffer Roa Lozano, Mataya Duncan, Duane D. Mckenna, Todd A. Castoe, Michael Degiorgio, Richard Adams

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract

The scale and scope of comparative trait data are expanding at unprecedented rates, and recent advances in evolutionary modeling and simulation sometimes struggle to match this pace. Well-organized and flexible applications for conducting large-scale simulations of evolution hold promise in this context for understanding models and more so our ability to confidently estimate them with real trait data sampled from nature. Results

We introduce TraitTrainR, an R package designed to facilitate efficient, large-scale simulations under complex models of continuous trait evolution. TraitTrainR employs several output formats, supports popular trait data transformations, accommodates multi-trait evolution, and exhibits flexibility …

The Palaeoclimate Potential Of Continental Scientific Drilling, Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Lesleigh Anderson, Paul Baker, Melissa A. Berke, Emily J. Beverly, Julie Brigham-Grette, Erik Brown, Isla S. Castañeda, Alan L. Deino, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Steven L. Goldstein, Natalie M. Kehrwald, Matthew Kirby, Kenneth G. Miller

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

New Constraints On The Stratigraphic Architecture And Evolution Of Mississippi River Delta Lobe Activity: Barataria Basin, Southeastern La, Wilke Coleman

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Barataria Basin is a shallow water, interdistributary estuary that has evolved in response to dynamic depositional regimes governed by distributary avulsion and reworking of sediments by coastal processes. In the Mississippi River delta plain, the migratory nature of the River has produced an evolving landscape constructed through episodes of regressive and transgressive sedimentation. These processes produce unique depositional signatures in the stratigraphic record, however the transgressive component of the delta cycle often results in obliteration of the regressive phase. This study uses a modern suite of geophysical and sediment core data to construct a revised geologic framework in Barataria Basin, …

Α-Quartz Plastic Strength Investigation Via Diffraction Experiments On Novaculite Using A D-Dia And Elastic Plastic Self-Consistent Interpretation, Denali Jivanjee Medina

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The plastic response of experimentally deformed quartz provides insight into the strength of ductile shear zones that has implications for tectonic, lithospheric, and ore deposit models. We present a suite of 15 uniaxial deformation experiments on Arkansas novaculite conducted in a DDIA apparatus with in-situ synchrotron x-rays. Experimental temperatures range from 25 C to 1334 C with pressures between 1.39 GPa and 3.1 GPa, and strain rates between 1x10-5 s-1 and 9x10-6 s-1. Macroscopic sample strain ranges from 3% to 24%. d-spacings from the (101), (110), (200), (201), and (112) lattice planes were measured, producing lattice strain up to ~5%. …