Hydrology Commons^™

Revealing Rainfall Partitioning Characteristics Of Shrubs In Semi-Arid Sandy Land: Based On In-Situ Measurement Data, Hu Liu, Limin Duan, Yongzhi Bao, Xin Tong, Huimin Lei, Zhiming Han, Wenrui Zhang, Xixi Wang, V. P. Singh, Tingxi Liu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Rainfall is partitioned by the vegetation canopy into three components: throughfall, stemflow, and canopy interception, which profoundly influence key hydrological processes, including vegetation growth, groundwater recharge, water cycling, and regional water balance. However, research comparing the applicability of throughfall measurement methods in semi-arid shrub communities remains scarce, and quantitative analyses of rainfall partitioning processes based on in-situ observations are still inadequate. This study focuses on the sand-fixing pioneer vegetation of semi-arid sandy land, Caragana microphylla, and conducts simultaneous throughfall measurements using the rain gauge method and the trough method to compare the differences between the two approaches. Based on …

Controls On Longitudinal Stream Profile Evolution In Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Samuel Schoenmann, Lisa Tranel, Eric W. Peterson, Jonathan Boyd Thayn

Faculty Publications - Geography, Geology, and the Environment

Canyons in Guadalupe Mountains National Park are excellent locations to study the discrete boundary conditions that influence longitudinal channel profile evolution including climate, tectonics, hydrology, and lithology. The Guadalupe Mountain landscape records deep earth mantle processes in combination with surficial channel erosion and incision. Knickpoints and convex segments in longitudinal river profiles document impacts of climate change, tectonics, or surface processes. This study combines field observations with an analysis of longitudinal profile slopes and residual errors to evaluate how bedrock strength can be distinguished from features created by climate change, faulting, or subsidence in Pine Springs and McKittrick Canyons within …

Growth, Survival, And Herbivore Browsing Preferences Of Seedlings Planted In Black Ash Stands Of Northern Michigan And Wisconsin, Seth W. Davenport

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To mitigate the cascading ecosystem impacts of widespread black ash (Fraxinus nigra) mortality due to the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), forested wetlands can be underplanted with seedlings of alternative species that later repopulate the vacated canopy. This study examined the survival and growth, factors influencing performance, and herbivore browsing preferences of seven non-ash species planted in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. The best performing species were river birch (Betula nigra), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor). The worst performing species was black spruce (Picea …

Sulfate Sources In Groundwater From An Agricultural Area Central Illinois, Christabel I. Obi

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing sulfate (SO₄^2-) concentrations in the water environment, corresponding with increases in urbanization and industrialization, are a rising global concern. Over 250 mg/L, sulfate threatens human health and ecosystems. Elevated concentrations influence carbonate rock weathering, contributing to the evolution of the global carbon cycle. Knowledge of sulfate sources, whether natural or anthropogenic, is essential for understanding sulfate transport and fate in groundwater. This study investigates SO₄^2- origin and transport in groundwater in an area dominated by agricultural land use in Mclean County, Illinois. Specifically, we explored these questions: 1) Do sulfate concentrations change with groundwater …

Exploring Nitrate Reduction In A Saturated Riparian Buffer Through A Three-Dimensional Reactive Contaminant Transport Model In An Agricultural Area, Mcclean County Central Illinois, Franklin O. Ijigade

Theses and Dissertations

Saturated Riparian Buffers (SRBs) are engineered systems designed to remove nitrate and other pollutants from subsurface agricultural drainage water before it reaches a stream. This study utilizes a high-resolution coupled flow and reactive transport model to explore nitrate reduction and transformation in an SRB in glacial sediment. The influence of material heterogeneity on nitrate reduction and the effectiveness of the SRB was investigated. The study was conducted in an SRB located next to and receiving tile drainage water that ultimately drains into a 3^rd order stream (T3 stream) in central Illinois, USA. A three-dimensional steady groundwater flow model was …

Application Of Floating Wetlands To Improve Urban Stream Quality, Daniel Chukwunonso Chukwudi

Theses and Dissertations

Urban streams, impacted by urbanization, often exhibit degraded water quality due to elevated nutrient levels, a phenomenon known as urban stream syndrome. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a floating wetland (FW) system in reducing nitrate as nitrogen (NO₃-N) and phosphate (PO₄³⁻) concentrations in a side canal of the Chicago River’s North Branch, adjacent to Goose Island, Chicago, IL, from 2018 to 2023. Using a five-year dataset, including new sampling from May to December 2023, the research addresses two questions: (1) Do FWs lower NO₃-N and PO₄³⁻ concentrations in urban streams? and (2) Do FWs exhibit seasonal differences in nutrient …

Investigating Heterogeneity Of Hydraulic Conductivity And Its Influence On Groundwater Flow Dynamics Within A Saturated Riparian Buffer In Central Illinois, Joseph L. Awuku

Theses and Dissertations

The use of Saturated Riparian Buffers (SRBs) in agricultural settings as a means of reducing contamination of surface water and groundwater resources has gained popularity due to their trapping ability and solute removal (nutrient recycling) capacity. In light of SRB’s nutrient-trapping and removal ability, numerous studies have been conducted to characterize the effectiveness of SRBs. However, most studies on SRBs have paid minimal attention to heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity (K) and groundwater flow dynamics within SRBs. This study investigated the heterogeneity in horizontal K and estimated the vertical groundwater-specific discharge (q_v) between the upper weathered and its …

Conservation And Survey Division 2024 Annual Report, R.M. Joeckel, Michele Waszgis

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

The Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln is the agency designated by statute to investigate and interpret the geologically related natural resources of the State, to make available to the public the results of these investigations, and to assist in the development and conservation of these resources. It consists of program areas in geology, water, soils and remote sensing-geographic information systems.

Investigating The Thermal Stratification Patterns Of A Shallow Polymictic Boreal Shield Lake And The Effectiveness Of Models In Predicting Shallow Lake Thermal Profiles, Matthew Roberts

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Thermal stratification is a core process of lakes which plays a critical role in shaping the ecological dynamics of lakes, influencing major processes like nutrient cycling and oxygen availability. For shallow polymictic lakes, thermal stratification patterns present some unique differences due to the complex and variable nature of these lakes. In this thesis, I examined thermal stratification in a shallow polymictic lake in northwestern Ontario during the ice-free season of 2019 to investigate the frequency, duration, and driving factors of thermal stratification. The lake underwent 146 separate stratification events, with a median duration of 2 hours per event, with a …

Controls Of Wetland Hydrology In The Zone Of Discontinuous Permafrost, Northwest Territories, Canada, Iain Thomson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Mean annual air temperatures are increasing rapidly in northwestern Canada, which is among the most rapidly warming regions on Earth (Box et al., 2019). Consequently, permafrost thaw within northwestern Canada is proceeding at a rate not found in the historical record (Pelletier et al., 2017), with areal thaw rates especially high in the peatland-dominated southern margin of discontinuous permafrost (Quinton et al., 2019). Permafrost thaw has caused vast land cover changes and transformed the permafrost underlain forest into permafrost free wetlands over much of Taiga Plains (Carpino et al., 2018; Jorgenson & Osterkamp, 2005). This land cover change has …

Efficacy Of Stress Acclimation Techniques In Coastal Wetland Plants (Spartina Alterniflora And S. Patens): Implications For Restoration And Nursery Production, Taylor M. Sloey, Kylie D. Gieser, Kaitlyn Pounders, Sofía E. Báez, Jennifer L. Whytlaw

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The implementation of coastal nature-based features, created wetlands, and wetland restoration has increased globally over recent years. Many of these projects have been successful in meeting their goals, however, when projects fail, it is often attributed to mortality of transplanted vegetation. Transplant mortality may be due to inappropriate timing, poor site selection, or abiotic stressors associated with transplant shock. Science-backed guidelines have been well established in many coastal regions regarding site specifications and species selection, but nursery practices for reducing transplant shock remain inconsistent. In this study, we tested a combination of four salinity acclimation treatments and two inundation acclimation …

Integrating Satellite-Based Precipitation Analysis: A Case Study In Norfolk, Virginia, Imiya M. Chathuranika, Dalya Ismael

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In many developing cities, the scarcity of adequate observed precipitation stations, due to constraints such as limited space, urban growth, and maintenance challenges, compromises data reliability. This study explores the use of satellite-based precipitation products (SbPPs) as a solution to supplement missing data over the long term, thereby enabling more accurate environmental analysis and decision-making. Specifically, the effectiveness of SbPPs in Norfolk, Virginia, is assessed by comparing them with observed precipitation data from Norfolk International Airport (NIA) using common bias adjustment methods. The study applies three different methods to correct biases caused by sensor limitations and calibration discrepancies and then …

Changes In Efficiency And Magnitude Of Recharge Due To Climate Change For Headwater Catchments In The Mountain West, Harrison Mcgillen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Changes to groundwater recharge and stream flow were simulated from downscaled CMIP6 global climate models in a headwater catchment of the Blackfoot River, MT. A calibrated, 3-D, coupled surface and groundwater GSFLOW model, forced with minimum and maximum temperature, and precipitation from a downscaled CMIP6 simulation was used to quantify groundwater recharge and stream flow. The model was calibrated against measured groundwater head and stream flow using observed temperature and precipitation boundary conditions. The calibrated model was then forced with downscaled temperature and precipitation from the CANESM5 model for the SSP245, 370 and 585 scenarios, as well as a manual …

Impacts Of Fire-Driven Vegetation Changes On Evapotranspiration In North American Boreal Forests, Tyler Glen Albrethsen

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

A growing body of evidence suggests that land cover change could be impacting evapotranspiration (ET) trends more than the direct impacts of climate change (Dashti et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2015). In boreal forests, one of the Earth’s most important carbon sinks (Kang et al., 2006), climate and disturbance-driven land cover change is progressing rapidly, threatening the resilience of conifer-dominated forests (Baltzer et al., 2021; Massey et al., 2023). The spread of deciduous trees and the changing structure of boreal forests likely have large implications for the magnitude and seasonality of ecosystem water fluxes (Young-Robertson et al., 2016). This …

Spatiotemporal Evolution Of Surface Water Quality And Driving Factors Across Varying Levels Of Human Interference In A Major Subbasin Of The Yellow River Basin, China, Longmei Xie, Ruizhong Gao, Xixi Wang, Limin Duan, Lijing Fang, Hui Tong, Chang Yue, Tingxi Liu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Study region

The Dahei River Basin, a sub-basin of the Yellow River Basin, was selected for this study. Encompassing population centers and villages in Inner Mongolia, it supports vital ecosystems and underscores the need to address its unique challenges in water management and protection.

Study focus

This study examines surface water quality dynamics in the Dahei River Basin, a key aspect of sustainable water management. Predicting spatiotemporal variations and driving factors remains challenging. Using 2013–2023 datasets on water quality, hydrology, and meteorology, the composite pollution index (CPI), ANOVA, and generalized additive models were applied to provide insights for effective management. …

The Relative Contribution Of Deep And Shallow Benthic Sources To Iron Supply In The Ross Sea, With Specific Emphasis On The Ross Bank, Blair J.W. Greenan, Michael S. Dinniman, Dennis J. Mcgillicuddy Jr., Peter N. Sedwick, Stefanie L. Mack, Walker O. Smith Jr.

OES Faculty Publications

Summer primary productivity in the Ross Sea is limited by the availability of dissolved iron (DFe) in the euphotic zone. Previous studies have suggested that benthic sources dominate the supply of DFe to the upper water column in the southern Ross Sea polynya. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether these benthic sources are derived from shallow banks or deeper areas of the continental shelf. Our study combines analysis of in situ observations near Ross Bank with a physical ocean model simulation in an overlapping summertime period to investigate the vertical supply of DFe. Two passive tracer dyes …

Tidal Flooding Contributes To Eutrophication: Constraining Nonpoint Source Inputs To An Urban Estuary Using A Data Driven Statistical Model, Alfonso Macías-Tapia, Margaret R. Mulholland, Corday R. Selden, Sophie Clayton, Peter W. Bernhardt, Thomas R. Allen

OES Faculty Publications

In coastal urban areas, tidal flooding brings water carrying nutrients and particles back from land to estuarine and coastal waters. A statistical model to predict nutrient loads during tidal flooding events can help estimate nutrient loading from previous and future flooding events and adapt nutrient reduction strategies. We measured concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in floodwater at seven sentinel sites during 15 tidal flooding events from January 2019 to September 2020. The study area was the Lafayette River watershed in Norfolk, VA, USA, which is prone to tidal flooding and is predicted to experience more frequent and intense …

Dust Deposition To The Sargasso Sea: A Comparison Of Estimates Using Aluminum In The Surface Ocean Versus Aerosols And Rainwater, T. E. Williams, P. N. Sedwick, B. M. Sohst, K. N. Buck, S. Caprara, R. J. Johnson, D. C. Ohnemus, J. A. Resing, L. E. Sofen, A. Tagliabue, B. S. Twining

OES Faculty Publications

As a major component of mineral aerosol that partially dissolves in seawater, aluminum (Al) has been used to estimate time-averaged dust fluxes to the ocean, based on dissolved aluminum (DAl) concentrations and an assumed replacement time of DAl (tau DAl) in the surface mixed layer, along with the fractional solubility (Als) and mass abundance of Al in dust. We apply this method in the Bermuda region using seasonal water-column DAl concentrations, and compare our results with fluxes estimated from Al measured in Bermuda aerosols and rain. Inventories of DAl over the maximum mixed-layer depth of 200 m and empirically derived …

Evidence Of Mineral Alteration In A Salt Marsh Subterranean Estuary: Implications For Carbon And Trace Element Cycling, J. J. Tamborski, M. J. Eagle, M. T. Thorpe, M. A. Charette, B. L. Kurylyk, S. Rahman, K. D. Kroeger, J. O'Keefe Suttles, A. G. Mann, T. W. Brooks, Z. A. Wang

OES Faculty Publications

Subterranean estuaries (STE) in salt marshes are biogeochemically active zones where interactions between terrestrial groundwater and seawater drive complex cycling of carbon and trace elements, influenced by mineral dissolution. These systems, characterized by fine-grained organic-rich peat overlying permeable coastal aquifers, play a crucial role as a blue carbon sink, yet their geochemical dynamics remain poorly understood. We investigated dissolved trace elements, carbon, silica, and radium isotopes in a salt marsh STE (Sage Lot Pond, Waquoit Bay, MA) over seasonal and annual cycles. Our results reveal that groundwater and estuarine water circulation through marsh peat and aquifer sediments leads to enrichments …

Seasonality Of Submarine Groundwater Discharge Pathways In A Coastal Lagoon Revealed By Radium Isotopes: The Importance Of Porewater Exchange In Summer, Júlia Rodriguez-Puig, Valentí Rodellas, Marc Diego-Feliu, Andres Alcolea, Joaquín Jiménez-Martínez, Irene Alorda-Montiel, Aaron Alorda-Kleinglass, Francisco Pereira, Marisol Manzano, Javier Gilabert, Jordi Garcia-Orellana

OES Faculty Publications

Chemical fluxes supplied by Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) can be relevant for coastal ecosystems, particularly lagoonal environments. An appropriate understanding of SGD requires constraining the magnitude and composition of its different pathways. However, the evaluation of SGD pathways is often limited to independent estimations, lacking a comprehensive understanding of the groundwater processes at play. In this study, we combined a Ra mass balance and hydrogeological modeling to simultaneously estimate different SGD pathways flowing into a coastal lagoon. We assessed water fluxes derived from fresh SGD, long-scale recirculation of seawater, and porewater exchange (PEX) into Mar Menor, a highly anthropized coastal …