Geophysics and Seismology Commons^™

Holocene Fire Occurrence And Alluvial Responses At The Leading Edge Of Pinyon–Juniper Migration In The Northern Great Basin, Usa, Kerrie N. Weppner, Jennifer L. Pierce, Julio L. Betancourt

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fire and vegetation records at the City of Rocks National Reserve (CIRO), south-central Idaho, display the interaction of changing climate, fire and vegetation along the migrating front of single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma). Radiocarbon dating of alluvial charcoal reconstructed local fire occurrence and geomorphic response, and fossil woodrat (Neotoma) middens revealed pinyon and juniper arrivals. Fire peaks occurred ~10,700–9500, 7200–6700, 2400–2000, 850–700, and 550–400 cal yr BP, whereas ~9500–7200, 6700–4700 and ~1500–1000 cal yr BP are fire-free. Wetter climates and denser vegetation fueled episodic fires and debris flows during the …

Using Svd For Improved Interferometric Green's Function Retrieval, Gabriela Melo, Alison Malcolm, Dylan Mikesell, Kasper Van Wijk

CGISS Publications and Presentations

Seismic interferometry (SI) is a technique used to estimate the Green’s function (GF) between two receiver locations, as if there were a source at one of the receiver locations. However, in many applications, the requirements to recover the exact GF are not satisfied and SI yields a poor estimate of the GF. For these non-ideal cases, we improve the interferometric GFs, by applying singular value decomposition (SVD) to the cross-correlations before stacking. The SVD approach preserves energy that is stationary in the cross-correlations, which is the energy that contributes most to the GF recovery, and attenuates non-stationary energy, which leads …

Aquifer Heterogeneity Characterization With Oscillatory Pumping: Sensitivity Analysis And Imaging Potential, M. Cardiff, T. Bakhos, P. K. Kitanidis, W. Barrash

CGISS Publications and Presentations

[1] Periodic pumping tests, in which a fluid is extracted during half a period, then reinjected, have been used historically to estimate effective aquifer properties. In this work, we suggest a modified approach to periodic pumping test analysis in which one uses several periodic pumping signals of different frequencies as stimulation, and responses are analyzed through inverse modeling using a “steady-periodic” model formulation. We refer to this strategy as multifrequency oscillatory hydraulic imaging. Oscillating pumping tests have several advantages that have been noted, including no net water extraction during testing and robust signal measurement through signal processing. Through numerical experiments, …

Integrated Geophysical Investigation Of The St. James Fault Complex: A Case Study, Robert W. Jacob, Jeremy B. Byler, Mary Beth Gray

Faculty Journal Articles

We noninvasively detected the characteristics and location of a regional fault in an area of poor bedrock exposure complicated by karst weathering features in the subsurface. Because this regional fault is associated with sinkhole formation, its location is important for hazard avoidance. The bedrock lithologies on either side of the fault trace are similar; hence, we chose an approach that capitalized on the complementary strengths of very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic, resistivity, and gravity methods. VLF proved most useful as a first-order reconnaissance tool, allowing us to define a narrow target area for further geophysical exploration. Fault-related epikarst was delineated …

Faulty Measurements And Shaky Tools: An Exploration Into Hazus And The Seismic Vulnerabilities Of Portland, Or, Brittany Ann Brannon

Dissertations and Theses

Events or forces of nature with catastrophic consequences, or "natural disasters," have increased in both frequency and force due to climate change and increased urbanization in climate-sensitive areas. To create capacity to face these dangers, an entity must first quantify the threat and translate scientific knowledge on nature into comprehensible estimates of cost and loss. These estimates equip those at risk with knowledge to enact policy, formulate mitigation plans, raise awareness, and promote preparedness in light of potential destruction. Hazards-United States, or Hazus, is one such tool created by the federal government to estimate loss from a variety of threats, …

Depth To Bedrock Estimations Using The H/V Spectral Ratio In The San Joaquin Valley, Tyler A. Morelli

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Basin depth is a fundamental parameter in many types of geologic studies such as resource exploration and regional tectonic mapping. The Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (“H/V”) method has been successfully applied to estimating of basin depths up to several hundred meters. In this study the H/V method is applied to the deep basins on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley to determine the thickness of the sedimentary layers and depth to bedrock. Microtremor data from Earthscope Seismic Array stations are ideal to test the accuracy of the H/V method on deeper basins because the data is of high-quality and …

High-Resolution Δ13CCarb Chemostratigraphy From Latest Guadalupian Through Earliest Triassic In South China And Iran, Vladimir Davydov

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Large carbon cycle perturbations are associated with the end-Permian mass extinction and subsequent recovery, but Late Permian (Lopingian) carbon cycle dynamics prior to the mass extinction event remain poorly documented. Here we present a high-resolution δ¹³C_carb chemostratigraphic framework from latest Guadalupian to earliest Triassic time, calibrated with high-resolution conodont biostratigraphy and high-precision geochronology. We observe two large negative excursions in δ¹³C_carb, the first in uppermost Guadalupian strata and the second at the end of the Changhsingian stage, and between these events distinctive excursions from the middle Wuchiapingian to the early Changhsingian. The end-Changhsingian …

Changes In Elastic Wave Velocity And Rock Microstructure Due To Basalt-Co2-Water Reactions, Ludmila Adam, Kasper Van Wijk, Thomas Otheim, Michael Batzle

CGISS Publications and Presentations

The chemical interaction between carbon dioxide, water, and basalt is a common process in the earth, which results in the dissolution of primary minerals that later precipitate as alteration minerals. This occurs naturally in volcanic settings, but more recently basalts have been suggested as reservoirs for sequestration of anthropogenic CO₂. In both the natural and man-made cases, rock-fluid reactions lead to the precipitation of carbonates. Here, we quantify changes in ultrasonic wave speeds, associated with changes in the frame of whole-rock basalts, as CO₂ and basalt react. After 30weeks of reactions and carbonate precipitation, the ultrasonic wave …

Anticipating Stream Ecosystem Responses To Climate Change: Toward Predictions That Incorporate Effects Via Land–Water Linkages, J. M. Davis, C. V. Baxter, E. J. Rosi-Marshall, J. L. Pierce, B. T. Crosby

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Climate change (CC) is projected to increase the frequency and severity of natural disturbances (wildfires, insect outbreaks, and debris flows) and shift distributions of terrestrial ecosystems on a global basis. Although such terrestrial changes may affect stream ecosystems, they have not been incorporated into predictions of stream responses to CC. Here, we introduce a conceptual framework to evaluate to what extent responses of streams to CC will be driven by not only changes in thermal and hydrologic regimes, but also alterations of terrestrial processes. We focused on forested water-sheds of western North America because this region is projected to experience …

A Solution To The Problem Of Interpreting Very Long Time Series Of Ambient Noise As Measured At Very Sparse Networks, Kathryn Teresa Decker

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Breaking Peroxy Bonds In H20 Ice Doped With H202 To Create Positive Hole Charge Carriers., Corey C. Stockburger

STAR Program Research Presentations

Using stress-activated electric conductivity in water ice doped with hydrogen peroxide as a model for stress-activated electric conductivity of igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks due to the presence of peroxy defects, which when broken, createpositive-hole charge carriers. Blocks of pure H2O ice and H2O2–doped H2O ices, frozen at –20°C, will be stressed with piezo electric transducers(pzt) at one end to generate stress-activated electric currents flowing down the stress gradient. Pure H2O ice should produce no current or a small insignificant amount during rapid deformation or fracture. Stressing H2O2-doped H2O ices, however, should lead to 100-1000 times higher currents. These stress-activated …

A Geomechanical Study Of The Mississippian Boone Formation, Karen Nicole Mason Buckland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Boone Formation in northwest Arkansas is a chert-limestone sequence analogous to the subsurface Mississippi Lime reservoir in parts of Oklahoma and Kansas. It has low permeability and produces via horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The response to stimulation by fracturing is dependent on the quantity of chert in the area. Chert nodules and laterally extensive chert layers in the sequence are variable. Locally, cm- to dm-scale chert bedding is continuous and comprises up to 50% of the outcrop. Elsewhere, the chert is nodular and intermittent.

Samples collected from representative outcrops spanning the thickness and aerial extent of the formation …

Plains Co2 Reduction (Pcor) Partnership Atlas, Wesley D. Peck, Tera D. Buckley, Earl P. Battle, Megan M. Grove, Joyce M. Riske, Charles D. Gorecki, Edward N. Steadman, John A. Harju

EERC Maps and Infographics

The Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership Atlas provides a regional profile of CO₂ sources and potential CO₂ storage locations across the PCOR Partnership region. The revised fourth edition provides an update-to-date look at PCOR Partnership activities, including regional characterization and full-scale demonstration activities. Additional background information on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is included to give a better understanding of how CCUS addresses concerns about climate change while allowing future energy needs to be met.

The Need To Adapt The Exploration Model From The Oil Patch To Contaminated-Site Characterization: A Case From Hill Afb, Utah, Usa, John H. Bradford, Esther Babcock

CGISS Publications and Presentations

For decades, the oil industry has employed a working model for hydrocarbon exploration in which large-scale geophysical surveys are undertaken prior to a second phase of intensive, targeted drilling. This latter phase may be conducted in conjunction with further focused geophysical studies. The geophysical surveys provide lateral coverage and continuity that are used to drive placement of drilling locations. The reason for this approach is simple: wells are expensive relative to geophysical surveys. Also, practical limits on lateral coverage preclude optimization of exploration targets based on well information alone.

Guidance Statement On Undertaking Seismic Surveys In Western Australian Waters, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Microbially Mediated Carbonate Precipitation Within Microbial Mat In Hyper-Saline Lakes Of The Bahamas, Shane Cone

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Noncontacting Benchtop Measurements Of The Elastic Properties Of Shales, Thomas E. Blum, Ludmila Adam, Kasper Van Wijk

CGISS Publications and Presentations

We evaluated a laser-based noncontacting method to measure the elastic anisotropy of horizontal shale cores. Whereas conventional transducer data contained an ambiguity between phase and group velocity measurements, small laser source and receiver footprints on typical core samples ensured group velocity information in our laboratory measurements. With a single dense acquisition of group velocity versus group angle on a horizontal core, we estimated the elastic constants C₁₁, C₃₃, and C₅₅ directly from ultrasonic waveforms, and C₁₃ from a least-squares fit of modeled to measured group velocities. The observed significant P-wave velocity and attenuation anisotropy …

Characterization Of Heterogeneous Media With Multicomponent Laser Ultrasonics, Thomas E. Blum

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Wave propagation in scattering media is a complicated topic, but scattered elastic waves carry important information about the internal structure of the medium. It is a current topic of research and for the foreseeable future. Advances in theory and applications described in this manuscript benefit from new ways to collect more densely sampled, multicomponent, true-amplitude data.

Thus far, most fracture characterization experiments in the laboratory involve contacting transducers as elastic wave sources and receivers. Similarly, rock properties such as anisotropy and attenuation are also measured with contacting techniques. These type of measurements are well-suited for time-of-flight measurements, but for scattering …

Pattern Recognition In Earthquake Swarms From The 2009 Eruption Of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska, Catherine Jeanne Carlisle

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Earthquake swarms at volcanoes are common indicators of unrest and can be used to predict eruptions. However, not all earthquake swarms lead to an eruption but may die off instead. Variabilities in characteristics of swarms can lead to false predictions of an eruption. During the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano in Alaska, there were five earthquake swarms, three of which preceded explosive eruptions and two that did not. These data were used to explore the variable characteristics that may be diagnostic of whether or not an eruption is imminent.

Data were recorded by the Alaska Volcano Observatory throughout the eruption. …

Geophysical Surveys And Archaeological Insights At Fort Pierre Chouteau A Frontier Trading Post On The Middle Missouri, Margaret Maurine Patton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fort Pierre Chouteau in present day South Dakota was the most important fur trading post of the American Fur Company in the 1830s, serving as a regional hub for the fur trade. The Fort was sold to the U.S. Military in 1855 for use as a base in the Sioux Wars but was abandoned in 1856. Geophysical surveys and previous excavations indicate evidence of both occupations. Geophysics is an important tool for determining the extent of archaeological sites, yet the relationships between geophysical anomalies and excavation features may not be readily evident. Initial geophysical surveys (Kvamme 2007) were completed to …