Hydrology Commons^™

Characterizing Rainfall Variability Within A Series Of Storms Over Northern California In February 2017, Parker Jan Malek

Dissertations and Theses

In February 2017, a series of storms with associated atmospheric rivers (ARs) made landfall in the US state of California, dropping large amounts of precipitation over the Sierra Nevada Mountains and their western foothills. The rainfall from these ARs, long, narrow bands of water vapor that transport large amounts of water vapor from the tropics to the mid-latitudes, instigated the near-failure of the Oroville Dam located at the southeastern edge of the Feather watershed outside the city of Oroville in the state's Central Valley. This case study provides a synoptic and mesoscale diagnosis of the drivers of rainfall pulses that …

Modelled Flooding Impacts On Lower Fish River Watershed, Sebastian Loschner

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

This study investigates the impacts of compound flooding in the Lower Fish River watershed, Baldwin County, Alabama, with a focus on the potential effects of sea level rise due to climate change. Coastal flooding, particularly in smaller watersheds, is a growing concern as it results from the interaction of multiple factors, including rainfall, tidal changes, and extreme weather events. Compound flooding, which involves multiple flood drivers, is expected to worsen with climate change, as increased precipitation and rising sea levels create heightened flood risks. However, existing research on compound flooding predominantly focuses on large-scale watersheds, leaving a knowledge gap in …

Reviews And Syntheses: Variable Inundation Across Earth’S Terrestrial Ecosystems, James Stegen, Amy J. Burgin, Michelle H. Busch, Joshua B. Fisher, Joshua Ladau, Jenna Abrahamson, Lauren Kinsman-Costello, Li Li, Xingyuan Chen, Thibault Datry, Nate Mcdowell, Corianne Tatariw, Anna Braswell, Jillian M. Deines, Julia A. Guimond, Peter Regler, Kenton Rod, Edward K. P. Bam, Etienne Fluet-Chouinard, Inke Forbrich, Kristin L. Jaeger, Teri O'Meara, Tim Scheibe, Erin Seybold, Jon N. Sweetman, Jianqiu Zheng, Daniel C. Allen, Elizabeth Herndon, Beth A. Middleton, Scott Painter, Kevin Roche, Julianne Scamardo, Ross Vander Vorste, Kristin Boye, Ellen Wohl, Margaret Zimmer, Kelly Hondula, Maggi Laan, Anna Marshall, Kaizad F. Patel

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The structure, function, and dynamics of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems are profoundly influenced by how often (frequency) and how long (duration) they are inundated with water. A diverse array of natural and human-engineered systems experience temporally variable inundation whereby they fluctuate between inundated and non-inundated states. Variable inundation spans extreme events to predictable sub-daily cycles. Variably inundated ecosystems (VIEs) include hillslopes, non-perennial streams, wetlands, floodplains, temporary ponds, tidal systems, storm-impacted coastal zones, and human-engineered systems. VIEs are diverse in terms of inundation regimes, water chemistry and flow velocity, soil and sediment properties, vegetation, and many other properties. The spatial and temporal …

Tracing The Sources Of Nitrogen In Submarine Groundwater Discharge And Primary Producers In The Great South Bay Estuary, Nia H. Rene

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The primary aim of this research was to elucidate the impact of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and septic effluent on coastal primary producers in the Great South Bay (GSB). The study focused on three main objectives: assessing the impact of precipitation patterns on SGD, tracing nitrogen sources into the GSB, and determining the impact of these nitrogen sources on coastal primary producers. The research revealed that current precipitation patterns significantly influence SGD across different seasons, highlighting the seasonal variability in groundwater discharge and its implications for nutrient loading in coastal waters. A suite of tracers was employed to identify and …

Increasing Atmospheric Evaporative Demand Across The Tibetan Plateau And Implications For Surface Water Resources, Shiqin Xu, Dennis P. Lettenmaier, Tom R. Mcvicar, Pierre Gentine, Hylke E. Beck, Joshua B. Fisher, Zhongbo Yu, Ningpeng Dong, Akash Koppa, Matthew F. Mccabe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Asian water tower,” is a hotspot for complex hydroclimatic changes. We reveal that the previously decreasing atmospheric evaporative demand (Eo) trend at the end of the 20th century has reversed over the last two decades. Although both wind stilling and solar dimming have persisted, their effects on Eo rates have been overshadowed by increasing air temperatures and decreasing relative humidity, leading to a net rise in Eo for 1980−2015. Using the empirical “top-down” Budyko approach, we estimate that across seven sub-catchments draining the Tibetan Plateau, a 10% increase in annual-averaged …

Forest Fires Increase Mid-Winter Snowmelt In The Western Oregon Cascades, Sage Ebel

Dissertations and Theses

As the spatiotemporal overlap between burned forests, seasonal snow, extreme precipitation, and mid-winter warming continues to increase with climate change, it is critical we quantify the impacts of forest fires and rain-on-snow (ROS) on mid-winter snowmelt and snow-water resources. In the Pacific Northwest, the release of large volumes of meltwater to downstream receiving water from already vulnerable snowpacks can have catastrophic consequences. I show that forest fires doubled mid-winter snowmelt proportions as compared to unburned reference sites, using a novel network of snow monitoring and micrometeorological stations installed across an elevational and forest type gradient in a burned watershed in …

Diffendal Receives Wisherd Award For University Service, Ronica Stromberg

Robert F. Diffendal, Jr., Publications

Even though he’s retired, Robert Diffendal seems to be working everywhere.

The professor emeritus in the School of Natural Resources retains offices in three buildings. He reports to work at the Center for Great Plains Studies five days a week for about four hours a day. His list of volunteer activities around the state goes on and on, affecting, by his count, 21,088 people since 2003, when he stepped away from full-time faculty work. He capped 2024 at Nebraska Innovation Campus, where he received the Wisherd Award for Outstanding Service to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Chosen by the Emeriti and …

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 …

Spatial Analysis Of Heavy Metal Enrichment In A Historic Appalachian Mining Stream, Eric M. Torres

Research and Creativity Symposium

This study examined the spatial distribution of heavy metals along the Levisa Fork and primary tributaries in Buchanan County, VA and Pike County, KY. Buchanan and Pike Counties have a long history of coal mining, a process known to release heavy metals into surrounding waterways. Exposure to certain heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead, has been known to cause health problems, such as cancer and organ damage. The study looked at concentrations in riverine sediments, surface water and groundwater for As, Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Sediment samples were collected, dried and digested …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Stratigraphy And Osl Chronology Of Lunette Deposits Indicates That Nebraska’S Rainwater Basins Formed By Aeolian Deflation Between 39 And 25 Ka, P.R. Hanson, Robert Matthew Joeckel

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Groundwater Pumping Impacts On Stream Depletion In Humboldt County, Ca: Integrating Analytical Models And Field Data, Andy Hans Heise

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study addresses the significant concern of stream depletion from groundwater pumping in Humboldt County, CA. The objective of this study is to develop an analytical model for estimating stream depletion and integrating field data into model parameters.

The methodology involved conducting a field study near three operating wells by a stream, installing stream gages upstream and downstream of the wells, and recording pumping rates and schedules for two of the wells. The third well’s pumping data was synthetically generated, for privacy concerns of the well owner. The StreamDepletR package was used for estimating depletion rates in a stream in …

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.

Topographic Forcing Of Submesoscale Instability In The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Laur Ferris, Donglai Gong, John Klinck

CCPO Publications

Subpolar frontal zones are characterized by energetic storms, intense seasonal cycles, and close connectivity with surrounding continental shelf topography. At the same time, predicting the ocean state depends on appropriate partition of resolved and parameterized dynamics, the latter of which requires understanding the dynamical processes generating diffusivity throughout the water column. While submesoscale frontal instabilities are shown to produce turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and mixing in the surface boundary layer (SBL) of the global ocean, their development in complex dynamical regimes (e.g., elevated preexisting turbulence, large ageostrophic shear, or in proximity to topographic boundaries) is less understood. This study investigates …

Early Holocene Interaction Of Aeolian, Alluvial, And Lacustrine Processes In A Dune-Dammed Valley In The Central Nebraska Sand Hills, Gpsia Mahoney, R. D. Mandel, P.R. Hanson, Sherilyn Fritz

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

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 …