Career: New Insights Into The Ancient Carbon Cycle From Siliceous Deep-Sea Sediments,
2026
Utah State University
Career: New Insights Into The Ancient Carbon Cycle From Siliceous Deep-Sea Sediments, Donald Penman
Funded Research Records
No abstract provided.
A Geotechnical Analysis Of Mid-Slope Soil Sample Pp-15 From The Palouse Prairie Restoration Project In Cheney, Wa,
2026
Eastern Washington University
A Geotechnical Analysis Of Mid-Slope Soil Sample Pp-15 From The Palouse Prairie Restoration Project In Cheney, Wa, Basil Lund, Robin Roose, Chloe Jensen
2026 Symposium
The Palouse is an Inland Northwestern ecoregion with loess hills created by aeolian processes related to Pleistocene glacial events. Eastern Washington University’s Prairie Restoration Project aims to restore a 120-acre site located in Cheney, Washington. EWU is gradually seeding bunchgrasses and perennial forbs to increase biodiversity of the site, which will be used for educational and recreational purposes. The objective of this project was to determine to what extent the engineering properties of soil on the site varies along a slope. To determine if location on the slope affects soil properties on the site, we sampled and performed a geotechnical …
Reconstructing 5000 Years Of Hurricane Activity In Holyrood Pond Using Sediment Core Analysis,
2026
Old Dominion University
Reconstructing 5000 Years Of Hurricane Activity In Holyrood Pond Using Sediment Core Analysis, Jamie Mclaulin, Arielle Nogueira, Elizabeth Wallace
Knowledge and Creativity Expo
Hurricanes are hazardous and costly events that annually negatively impact people that live in coastal areas in North America. The current observational record of hurricanes is short (1970- present) and does not offer insight into the effects of climate change on hurricane frequency. One method of improving and extending our observational record of hurricanes is to reconstruct paleohurricanes using sediment cores. These cores record hurricane activity in the form of coarse-grained overwash layers that are deposited when hurricanes move sand from beaches into backbarrier ponds. In this project, we analyzed sediment cores from Atlantic Canada to locate coarse-grained storm layers …
Microplastics In St. John, United States Virgin Islands Sediments: Methodological Approaches And Variability Of Microplastics Concentrations And Accumulation Rates,
2026
University of San Diego
Microplastics In St. John, United States Virgin Islands Sediments: Methodological Approaches And Variability Of Microplastics Concentrations And Accumulation Rates, Henry B. Arbaugh, Sarah C. Gray, Dimitri Deheyn
Theses
Sediment samples were collected from a near shore and reef site in Coral Bay, St. John, United States Virgin Islands (USVI) from 2007-2016, using tube sediment traps. These samples provide an opportunity to study microplastics (MPs) in an area where no previous MP studies have been performed. Most sedimentary MP studies utilize benthic samples which can only measure MP concentrations (#MP/g or #MP/mL sediment), while sediment traps can provide MP accumulation rates (#MP/cm2/day) as a function of time. However, the methods used for extracting MPs from benthic samples have not been tested using sediment trap samples whose characteristics, …
Exploring Mesoproterozoic Marine Redox States In A Young Banded Iron Formation From The Needle Mountains,
2026
Dartmouth College
Exploring Mesoproterozoic Marine Redox States In A Young Banded Iron Formation From The Needle Mountains, Jaya Sharma, Brenhin Keller
Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters
Banded iron formations (BIF), as redox-dependent chemical sedimentary rocks, have served as proxies for marine and atmospheric oxygen and iron conditions throughout Earth history. While abundant in the Archean and early Proterozoic, the widespread deposition of BIFs declined following the Great Oxidation Event, as oxygenated surface waters prevented the accumulation of ferrous iron. However, the Needle Mountains, located in southwestern Colorado, houses an anomalously young BIFs deposited between 1.786±10 - 1.801±6 Ga given existing geochronology. Here, we use rare earth element (REE) systematics, bulk chemistry, and petrographic analysis to determine the depositional conditions under which this BIF was formed. We …
Timing, Orbital Pacing, And Provenance Of Late Paleogene Loess In The Western United States,
2026
University of Texas at Arlington
Timing, Orbital Pacing, And Provenance Of Late Paleogene Loess In The Western United States, Xiangwei Guo
Earth & Environmental Sciences Dissertations - Archive
This project examines the timing of loess emergence, the nature of the fluvial–eolian transition, orbital forcing on dust accumulation, and sediment recycling in the late Paleogene White River Formation (Group) of Wyoming and Nebraska, western United States. By integrating traditional sedimentology with machine learning–enhanced grain-size analysis, this research shows that loess accumulation at Flagstaff Rim in central Wyoming began during active fluvial deposition at approximately 35.8 Ma, indicating a gradual transition from fluvial to eolian conditions. Machine learning complements field sedimentology and granulometric interpretation while enabling the development of new, testable hypotheses. Extending this framework eastward to Toadstool Geologic Park …
Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2025,
2026
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2025, Aaron R. Young, Mark E. Burbach, Sue Olafsen Lackey, Robert Matthew Joeckel, Jeffrey Westrop
Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications
No abstract provided.
Report 17—Revisions To The Articles Of Organization And
Procedure Of The Commission On Stratigraphic Nomenclature
Of The Americas,
2026
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Report 17—Revisions To The Articles Of Organization And Procedure Of The Commission On Stratigraphic Nomenclature Of The Americas, Lynn T. Dafoe, Robert B. Macnaughton, Marie-Perre Aubry, Carlton E. Brett, James R. Lehane, Fernando Núñez-Useche, Randall C. Orndorff, Frank Brunton, Lucy E. Edwards, Richard H. Fluegeman, Howard Harper, Robert Matthew Joeckel, Norman P. Lasca, B. H. Tew
Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications
Several revisions to the Articles of Organization and Procedure for the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature have been adopted following the 75th, 79th, and 80th annual meetings of the Commission in 2020, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Of these, the most substantial change was revision of Article III regarding membership composition of the Commission and the addition of new member organizations from Central and South America and the Caribbean region. As a result, the Commission also voted to change its name to be more inclusive of the expanding membership, with approval of the name: Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the …
Scanning Electron Microscopy As A Potential Tool For Distinguishing Charcoal From Dark, Oxidized, Biomass,
2026
Old Dominion University
Scanning Electron Microscopy As A Potential Tool For Distinguishing Charcoal From Dark, Oxidized, Biomass, João Vitor Dos Santos, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Lais Gomes Fregolente, Joao Marcos De Lima-Faria, Diego Stefani Teodoro Martinez, Patrick G. Hatcher
Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications
Condensed aromatic carbon (ConAC) is widely used as a proxy for organic materials derived from biomass burning. However, recent evidence shows that ConAC can be also formed through nonpyrogenic oxidative processes. This study presents a proof-of-concept investigation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to distinguish charcoal from dark, ConAC-rich materials produced by ambient oxidation of biomass. Pine wood exposed to long-term iron-mediated oxidation was compared with unaltered wood and a controlled laboratory-generated charcoal reference. Conventional geochemical analytical methods, including benzenepoly(carboxylic acid) (BPCA) analysis, Fourier transform–ion cyclotron resonance–mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, confirmed substantial …
Last Glacial Maximum And Late Glacial Aeolian Sand Activity, South-Central Indiana, Usa,
2026
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Last Glacial Maximum And Late Glacial Aeolian Sand Activity, South-Central Indiana, Usa, H. M. Loope, J. L. Antinao, P.R. Hanson, P. M. Jacobs, D. A. Grimley
Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications
No abstract provided.
Investigating Netarts Bay, Oregon Coastal Landscape Change From Tectonic Subsidence Through Isotopic, Stratigraphic Records And Quantifying Dune Influence On Salt Marsh Morphodynamics,
2026
University of Rhode Island
Investigating Netarts Bay, Oregon Coastal Landscape Change From Tectonic Subsidence Through Isotopic, Stratigraphic Records And Quantifying Dune Influence On Salt Marsh Morphodynamics, Emily Hall
Open Access Master's Theses
Coastal salt marshes on tectonically active margins face dual pressures from episodic seismic events and anthropogenic modifications. This study investigated how the 1700 CE Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and the 1900 CE introduction of invasive dune grass influenced back-barrier salt marsh morphodynamics at Netarts Bay, Oregon. It was hypothesized that (1) salt marsh habitats and elevation transitions would be detectable in geochemical proxies preserved in stratigraphy, (2) modern dune stabilization significantly limits mineral sediment delivery to the salt marsh, and (3) this reduction would be preserved in the stratigraphic record. Stratigraphic and isotopic analyses of sediment cores incorporating CT scans, …
The Shoreline Protection Potential Of Oyster Reefs: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis,
2026
William & Mary
The Shoreline Protection Potential Of Oyster Reefs: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jessica R. Fergel, Robert E. Isdell, Gabriella Dipetto, Karinna Nunnez, Sean T. Gregory, Evan Hill, Donna Marie Bilkovic
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Nature-based solutions for erosion control that incorporate oyster reefs, alone or in combination with other habitats, are an increasingly popular approach due to their potential to protect shorelines and enhance oyster production. However, the extent to which natural or constructed oyster reefs provide shoreline protection remains unclear. We conducted a global systematic literature review and meta-analysis to summarize and evaluate the potential of oyster reefs in attenuating waves, promoting sediment accretion, and/or reducing shoreline erosion. Factors extracted from studies included shoreline protective measures examined, oyster reef structure type, and oyster reef tidal location. The results of the meta-analysis showed generally …
Efficient Preservation Of Old Methane-Derived Organic Carbon In Deep-Sea Surface Sediments,
2026
Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center
Efficient Preservation Of Old Methane-Derived Organic Carbon In Deep-Sea Surface Sediments, Rui Bao, Yangli Che, Mingzhi Liu, Naiyu Zhang, Yang Zhou, Lihua Dong, Shen Li, Owen A. Sherwood, Min Yu, Zongheng Chen, Shengxiong Yang, Nan Wang, Longhai Zhu, Jiawang Chen, Mutai Bao, Haoshuai Li, Luonan Chen, Weifeng Wu, Haiyue Ma, David J. Burdige
OES Faculty Publications
Methane released from the subseafloor is significantly attenuated during upward migration, yet the preservation of methane-derived organic carbon (OC) in global deep-sea sediments remains poorly understood. Here, we measured carbon isotopes coupled with temperature-ramped analyses on various methane seepage sediments. Our results reveal a correlation between the radiocarbon (¹⁴)C) content in deep-sea surface sediments and sulfate-methane transition depth. Notably, our findings suggest that a substantial amount of (¹⁴)C-depleted OC may originate from deep-seated methane and is efficiently preserved in surface seepage sediments. We propose that the efficient OC preservation is related to microbial-mediated aggregate formation at the seawater-sediment interface, where …
Sedimentology, Paleontology, And Depositional Environments Of The Upper Devonian Lock Haven Formation In West Burlington Quarry, North-Central Pa,
2026
Bucknell University
Sedimentology, Paleontology, And Depositional Environments Of The Upper Devonian Lock Haven Formation In West Burlington Quarry, North-Central Pa, Michael Harman
Honors Theses
The Upper Devonian Lock Haven Formation in north-central Pennsylvania preserves evidence of significant climactic and evolutionary transitions, including the fin-to-limb transition and initial arborescence. The formation contains abundant sedimentary features, palynomorphs, trace fossils, and fish body fossils, making it crucial for reconstructing these paleoenvironments. However, integrated studies on the Lock Haven Formation are rare. This study characterizes the depositional environments, ichnology, paleontology, and age of the Lock Haven Formation. A recent exposure at the Insinger-Ward West Burlington Quarry reveals three middle to early late Famennian lithofacies associations (FAs). FA1 consists of red sandstone, shale, and mudstone containing rhizoliths (deeply penetrating …
Paleoflood Chronology For The West Branch Of The Susquehanna River Using Abandoned Chute Channel Sediments, Pennsylvania, Usa,
2026
Bucknell University
Paleoflood Chronology For The West Branch Of The Susquehanna River Using Abandoned Chute Channel Sediments, Pennsylvania, Usa, Juliette A. Vanluven
Honors Theses
Anthropogenic climate change is altering the hydrologic cycle, increasing flood frequency and severity, with associated increased risks in population exposure. This is associated with increasing risks to the population of the Susquehanna River Valley, which supports over 600,000 people today. However, our understanding of the frequencies of large floods is limited by relatively short instrumental records. By studying sediments from an abandoned chute channel in the Robert Allen Natural Area near Williamsport, PA, we can extend the existing flood records using paleoflood slackwater sediments along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Sylvan Dell is an abandoned chute channel that …
Paleo-Environmental Change In Deer Lagoon, Whidbey Island Interpreted From Diatoms And Lithology,
2026
Central Washington University
Paleo-Environmental Change In Deer Lagoon, Whidbey Island Interpreted From Diatoms And Lithology, Lourdes Garcia
All Master's Theses
Puget Sound is a densely populated, tectonically active area that can be affected by earthquakes from local crustal faults and the Cascadia subduction zone capable of producing abrupt coseismic subsidence. Tidal wetlands are particularly sensitive to abrupt changes because they are depositional environments that reside at sea-level and their lithology and ecological communities are strongly controlled by elevation within the tidal frame. As a result, coseismic subsidence can disrupt established environmental gradients and leave distinguishable signatures preserved within the stratigraphy, like tidal mud directly over peat deposits. These preserved records provide an opportunity to reconstruct past earthquakes and associated relative …
Integrated Seismic And Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis Of The Abu Madi Formation, Baltim Field, Nile Delta, Egypt,
2026
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Capital University, Cairo, Egypt
Integrated Seismic And Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis Of The Abu Madi Formation, Baltim Field, Nile Delta, Egypt, Nouran Mostafa Eissa, Mostafa Toni, Alhussein Adham Basheer, Amr Talaat, Amir Ismail
Trends in advanced sciences and technology
Despite the economic significance of the Messinian Abu Madi Formation as a primary gas reservoir target in the Nile Delta Basin, a high-resolution, field-scale integration of seismic sequence stratigraphy with quantitative petrophysical characterization remains lacking for the Baltim area. This study addresses this gap by presenting an integrated seismic sequence stratigraphic and petrophysical analysis of the Upper Miocene Abu Madi Formation within the prolific Baltim gas fields, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt. The objectives are to characterize its depositional architecture, delineate reservoir distribution, and assess hydrocarbon potential. The workflow synthesizes well log data from five key wells with a grid of …
Constraining The Tectono-Climatic Evolution Of The Northern Rocky Mountains: Insights From Volcanic Glass, Leaf Water, And Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotopes,
2026
University of Texas at Arlington
Constraining The Tectono-Climatic Evolution Of The Northern Rocky Mountains: Insights From Volcanic Glass, Leaf Water, And Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotopes, Rijumon Nandy
Earth & Environmental Sciences Dissertations
The Eocene-Oligocene period in the North American Cordillera represents a period of great intrigue with complex interactions among tectonics, climate, and surface processes. Although this period is generally associated with synorogenic extension associated with gravitational collapse of the Cordillera, the paleotopographic history remains debated. Existing studies offer conflicting interpretations, suggesting either sustained elevations or modest uplift during this time. Notably, recent reconstructions based on volcanic glass δD values have proposed renewed uplift during the early Oligocene, which needs to be tested with a more extensive and robust dataset. Concurrently, global cooling and aridification during this interval may have been amplified …
Testing The Limits Of Provenance Analysis From Basaltic Fluvial Sediment Near Sandvatn, Iceland, As A Mars Analog,
2026
Rice University
Testing The Limits Of Provenance Analysis From Basaltic Fluvial Sediment Near Sandvatn, Iceland, As A Mars Analog, Audrey R. Putnam, Kirsten L. Siebach, Michael T. Thorpe, Valerie M. Tu, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Candice C. Bedford, Gelu Costin, Joseph J. Tamborski
OES Faculty Publications
Detrital sediments that accumulate downstream and are preserved in sedimentary rocks can allow characterization of geologic formations that are inaccessible for spatial or temporal reasons. However, mixing, sorting, and alteration of sediment during transport may complicate reconstruction of protolith characteristics. We test the preservation of three key provenance signals in coarse fluvial sand at a Mars analog watershed in Iceland to determine whether detrital sediments capture (a) watershed magmatic chemical variation, (b) textural indicators of lava-water interaction during eruption and cooling, and (c) hydrothermal alteration. Specifically, we tested whether diagnostic variations in rock mineralogy, chemistry, and texture can be recovered …
Preliminary Analysis Of The Spatial Distribution Of Microplastics Along The Cuyahoga River, Northeast, Ohio,
2026
The University of Akron
Preliminary Analysis Of The Spatial Distribution Of Microplastics Along The Cuyahoga River, Northeast, Ohio, Ella Pitz
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Plastics are nearly ubiquitous throughout modern society, and when left in the natural environment, they degrade into microplastics. Microplastics are particles that range in diameter from 5 millimeters down to nanometers, and microplastics pose many potential environmental and health risks due to their small size and ease of ingestion. While the study of microplastics in the environment has become more common over the past ten years, microplastic concentrations remain unexplored in many regions throughout the country. Here I present a method for separating microplastics from organic matter and clastic sediment as well as preliminary measurements of microplastic concentrations in sediment …
