Sustainability Commons^™

The Effect Of Agrivoltaics On Irrigation Water Consumption In Central California, London Camba

Undergraduate Theses

An agricultural system where solar energy generation and agricultural systems are used together for mutual benefit, agrivoltaics reduces loss of water due to evaporation, particularly in drylands. Central California has faced extreme droughts, and water has become a scarce resource. However, the wide-scale use of agrivoltaics has been limited due to lack of knowledge about agrivoltaics and also the lack of funding for start-up agrivoltaics projects. Therefore, this research investigated the potential for agrivoltaics in Central California to reduce irrigation water consumption using a review of multiple crop studies using agrivoltaics to determine an optimal crop for agrivoltaics and a …

The Water That Will Be: A Qualitative Look Into The Effects Of Visual Imagery On Participation In Water Conservation Initiatives, Shane Martin White

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the role of visual imagery in water conservation initiatives, focusing on its impact on public understanding, emotional connection, and willingness to participate. Drawing from the Theory of Planned Behavior and Affective Disposition Theory, the study investigated how art interventions can enhance comprehension and engagement with water conservation easements. Utilizing qualitative methods, including interviews, focus groups and PhotoVoice, data was collected from stakeholders in the Illinois River Watershed region. The research examined current levels of understanding regarding conservation easements, evaluated the effectiveness of visual imagery interventions in enhancing public awareness, and identified the potential for collaborative approaches between …

Agricultural Groundcover Update March 2024, Justin Laycock

Natural resources published reports

• In March, over 10% (1,577,000 ha) of the arable farmland in the south-west of Western Australia had less than 50% vegetative groundcover, which is inadequate to prevent wind erosion.

• The northern grainbelt had the highest risk of wind erosion and over 20% of this farmland had inadequate groundcover.

• About 1.3% (191,000 ha) of arable land had a high to very high risk of wind erosion because groundcover was less than 30%.

Conversion Of Microcrystalline Cellulose To Hexane Using Hydrogenated Metal Oxides At Low Temperature And Pressure, Mubarak Osman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increasing global energy demand and environmental concerns have fueled the exploration of sustainable and efficient methods for renewable fuel production. The conversion of cellulosic waste to hydrocarbon fuels using hydrogenated metal oxides presents a novel and eco-friendly approach to sustainably address energy demand. In this study, hydrogenated metal oxides were used as catalysts in a relatively low-temperature and atmospheric-pressure environment to facilitate the conversion of cellulosic waste into hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogenated metal oxides have been introduced as potential hydrogen transfer catalysts. The expected result is the selective conversion of cellulose to hexane at relatively low temperatures, which significantly reduces energy …

Traffic Analysis Of Cities In San Bernardino County, Sai Kalyan Ayyagari

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research offers an in-depth analysis of vehicular traffic within San Bernardino County, California, aiming to spotlight congestion areas and suggest improvements for more efficient and sustainable transportation. Leveraging 2021 data from StreetLight Data, traffic patterns in 15 key cities were examined based on their population sizes, covering various vehicle types to dissect dynamics and flow. The methodology focused on analyzing trip purposes and metrics to calculate Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and its influence on congestion and environmental factors.

Findings indicate considerable disparities in traffic volume, purposes, and timings across different urban areas, with population density and intercity connections significantly …

Truck Traffic Analysis In The Inland Empire, Bhavik Khatri

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study undertakes a meticulous examination of truck traffic within the Inland Empire, focusing on the distribution and dynamics of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, to advocate for the region's transition to electric trucks. Utilizing advanced spatial analysis and data from Streetlight Data, it segments the region into six subregions, revealing distinct traffic patterns and environmental impacts. Notably, the research uncovers that the North Center and West zones, integral to the logistics and warehousing sectors, exhibit the highest traffic volumes, significantly influencing air quality and infrastructure.

Quantitative results from 2021 illustrate a pronounced disparity in truck activity: medium-weight vehicles accounted for …

Disaster Plant Pathology: Smart Solutions For Threats To Global Plant Health From Natural And Human-Driven Disasters, Berea A. Etherton, Robin A. Choudhury, Ricardo I. Alcalá Briseño, Romaric A. Mouafo-Tchinda, Aaron I. Plex Sulá, Manoj Choudhury, Ashish Adhikari, Si Lin Lei, Nattapol Kraisitudomsook, Jacobo Robledo Buritica

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Disaster plant pathology addresses how natural and human-driven disasters impact plant diseases, and the requirements for smart management solutions. Local to global drivers of plant disease change in response to disasters, often creating environments more conducive to plant disease. Most disasters have indirect effects on plant health through factors such as disrupted supply chains and damaged infrastructure. There is also the potential for direct effects from disasters, such as pathogen or vector dispersal due to floods, hurricanes, and human migration driven by war. Pulse stressors such as hurricanes and war require rapid responses, while press stressors such as climate change …

Eco-Anxiety Effects College Students, Alexa Edmundson

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

A survey was conducted on the UNL student population to evaluate whether college students, 18-25 year olds who are currently attending an accredited post-secondary school, are experiencing eco-anxiety and if eco-anxiety affects their pro-environmental behaviors. Climate change is taking a toll not only physically on us but also mentally. The mental health of people, especially college students, is not often studied in relation to climate change, but if we are to understand how to create change in this issue then we need to be looking at the whole picture. The hypothesis is that if college students are experiencing eco-anxiety, then …

The Effects Of Partisanship On Legislative Support For Environmental Policies In The United States, Rachel Summers

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study investigates the relationship between political partisanship and support for environmental policies at the state level in the United States from the years 2017-2022. To do this, the study focused on two policy areas, water and land, for the average proposed, enacted, and failed bills for all 50 states in the timeframe, with the states categorized as Democratic, swing, or Republican based on the 2016 and 2020 elections. While the study did find that Democratic states were more likely to introduce environmental bills than Republican states, the study also found that there was no statistical difference in the enactment …

Grading Climate Action Plans In The Midwest, Megan Baker

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

As agreed upon by international climate scientists, decarbonization in the American Midwest is critical to keeping the planet below the 1.5C increase in global temperature from pre-industrial levels. However, most previous research that evaluates climate action plans (CAPs) to find their weaknesses and provide policy recommendations neglects this crucial region of the United States. To fill this gap, this paper replicates Deetjen et al.’s (2018) review of CAPs in 29 US cities by applying their CAP rubric to 11 Midwestern cities. The results of both quantitative analysis were used to analyze the differences in plans in the Midwest versus the …

Agricultural Producer And Non-Producer Perceptions Of Crop Residue Burning: A Focus On Arkansas, Jillian Hyink, Ryan Bresnahan, Brandon R. Mcfadden, Aaron M. Shew, James Mitchell

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Agricultural producers adopt management practices that positively and negatively affect the lives of non-producers in their communities. CRB has important environmental and human health implications, and local non-producers might have different perceptions and attitudes from agricultural producers about crop residue burning. In this paper, we use a multi-stakeholder approach to study the issue of crop residue burning (CRB). Survey data were collected from a sample of producers in Arkansas who burn crop residue and a sample of non-producers who resided in the same counties as the producers. Non-producers may not be willing to compensate producers at an amount that would …

Boron Isotopes In Plants And The Environment Of Growth, Troy Rasbury

Sustainability Seminar Series

Work to be presented is a synthesis of a number of studies examining boron in waters, soils and plants. Our work demonstrates a preference for borate in aquatic plants and a high enrichment factor particularly in plants from fresh lakes. Additionally we will look at boron uptake in common garden plants such as tomatoes, spinach and carrots using natural fertilizers such as seaweed compared to more traditional fertilizers such as Miracle Grow. Boron is an essential nutrient and plants have been shown to have boron transport genes. Bioimaging data from Brookhaven National Laboratory shows that the amount of boron in …

Designed For Life: Unearthing Just And Sustainable Urban Design Through The Daylighting Of Phalen Creek, Corgan R. Archuleta

Geography Honors Projects

This thesis conceptualizes a relational approach to urban design. Often separated from justice, I argue urban design can shape spaces to enable respectful and reciprocal human and more-than- human relationships. Focusing on Phalen Creek in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I illuminate just and sustainable possibilities between ecologically sustainable and socially inclusive design. Phalen Creek was a natural waterway buried in a pipe during 20th century urbanization to be partially reconstructed through daylighting. The Indigenous and Immigrant stories driving restoration expand urban design’s liberatory potential. Combining just sustainabilities with infrastructure theory and Indigenous Knowledges, I contend urban design offers a relational approach …

Linking Reactive Nitrogen Species Within The Vadose Zone With Surface Irrigation, Kaitlyn Richards

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This study investigated the relationship between irrigation methods and the mobilization of nitrogen in the vadose zone, focusing on soil properties, water dynamics, and nitrogen species distribution. Data collected from dryland and pivot-irrigated soil cores reveal distinct patterns in water content, bulk density, soil texture, pH, conductivity, and nitrogen concentrations. Results indicated that water content has a major influence in nitrogen availability and microbial activity. Nitrate-N and ammonium-N concentrations varied between dryland and pivot soils, with notable disparities observed. In dryland soils, nitrate-N concentrations varied widely across depth intervals, with notable accumulation in deeper layers, while ammonium-N concentrations exhibited a …

Response Mechanism Characteristics Of Mining-Induced Fault Activation, Sun Wenbin, Hao Jianbang, Dai Xianzheng, Kong Lingjun

Coal Geology & Exploration

In the process of coal mining, mining-induced stress perturbation is a key factor leading to fault activation, which is a primary challenge faced by safe coal mining. Fault activation is prone to induce geological disasters such as rock bursts and floor water inrushes of coal mines. Furthermore, it poses a serious threat to mining safety. Using the Flac^3D software for numerical simulations and similar material simulation experiments, this study established a model for faults’ stress-displacement responses under coal mining to analyze the mechanisms behind the evolution of fault structure zones in the process of coal mining. Key findings are …

Laws Of Changes In The Energy Of Gas Hydrate-Bearing Coals Under Different Confining Pressures And Saturations, Zhu Wei, Gao Xia, Zhang Baoyong, Wu Qiang

Coal Geology & Exploration

Gas hydration for the solidification of coal seams susceptible to outbursts is a novel technology used to prevent coal and gas outbursts by reducing gas pressure and enhancing coal strength. However, an unclear understanding of the failure characteristics and the energy dissipation law of gas hydrate-bearing coals under different confining pressures and saturations leads to the lack of a theoretical basis for the prevention of dynamic disasters such as field coal and gas outbursts in deep mines. Based on the deviatoric stress-strain curves obtained using triaxial compression tests, this study calculated and analyzed the laws of changes in energy of …

Preliminarily Exploring The Theories And Technologies For Coalbed Methane Production Using Horizontal Wells: Comparison Of Conditions For Coalbed Methane And Shale Gas Exploitation, Wang Hongyan, Duan Yaoyao, Liu Honglin, Zhao Qun, Chen Shangbin, Lu Haibing, Shi Zhensheng, Sun Qinping, Chen Zhenhong, Zhou Shangwen, Yang Mingwei, Wang Cong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Through 30 years of unremitting explorations, coalbed methane (CBM) wells in China have gradually transitioned from vertical to horizontal wells. However, the lack of basic theories on CBM production using horizontal wells is the main challenge to current CBM development. Compared to shales, coal seams exhibit heterogeneity and a minor presence of foliations and brittle minerals, hindering the formation of volumetric fracture networks. Nevertheless, the roofs and floors of coal seams have high sealing capacities and mechanical strength, creating excellent conditions for hydraulic fracturing. Some fractures in coals are filled with calcite, rendering acidification conducive to the improvement of reservoir …

Accumulation Characteristics And Exploration Prospects Of Deep Coalbed Methane In The Longtan Formation Of The Nanchuan Block On The Southeastern Margin Of The Sichuan Basin, Guo Tao, Jin Xiaobo, Wu Didi, Xie Fei, Liu Jinxian

Coal Geology & Exploration

Vertical well Y2 in the Nanchuan bloc on the southeastern margin of the Sichuan Basin has yielded daily production of natural flowing gas of 13000 m³, signifying a strategic breakthrough in deep coalbed methane (CBM) exploration on the margin. This study aims to systematically reveal the enrichment and high-yield patterns of CBM in the Nanchuan block. Using data on the regional geology, tests, assays, and production, this study investigated the accumulation characteristic and conducted exploration potential evaluation for deep CBM in the Nanchuan block from the perspective of the quality, pore and fissure characteristics, gas content, and fracability …

Fracture Propagation Mechanism In Directional Perforation And Hydraulic Fracturing Of Coal Seam Horizontal Wells, Pang Tao, Jiang Zaibing, Hui Jiangtao, Jia Bingyi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Horizontal well perforation and fracturing in complex coal-bearing strata are key to increasing coal seam permeability and enhancing gas extraction efficiency, with the formation structure and perforation location determining fracture propagation. Considering the characteristics of formation structure and perforation locations, a fracturing geological model is established. Based on the finite element method, a numerical model is constructed to study the effects of perforation location, formation conditions, and the difference between vertical stress and horizontal stress on fracture perforation. Engineering verification is conducted, and construction suggestions are proposed. Key findings are as follows: There are three scenarios for the perforation locations: …

An Intelligent Water Source Discrimination Method For Water Inrushes From Coal Seam Roofs In The Inner Mongolia-Shaanxi Border Region, Wang Hao, Sun Junqing, Zeng Yifan, Shang Hongbo, Wang Tiantian, Qiao Wei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Water hazard on the coal seam proof induced by high-intensity coal mining are increasingly prominent in the Inner Mongolia-Shaanxi border region. The effective, accurate water-source discrimination of the water inrushes is the key to water hazard prevention. This study investigated three typical mines in the Inner Mongolia-Shaanxi border region. To this end, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to extract principal components from 80 groups of groundwater samples. Then, with inorganic indicators K⁺+Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, HCO₃ ⁻ and TDS and organic indicators UV_{254 …}