Passive Microwave Remote Sensing Of Flash Drought Impacts On Vegetation,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Passive Microwave Remote Sensing Of Flash Drought Impacts On Vegetation, Quinton R. Deppert
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
In 2002, Dr. Mark Svoboda characterized a new form of drought known as flash drought. Flash drought was defined as a rapid decline in vegetation health caused by severe heat and drought. In recent years, attempts to quantify the impacts of flash drought via precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and temperature indicators have proliferated. What has rarely been quantified is what the rapid decline in vegetation health amid flash drought looks like through remote sensing. This is because vegetation health indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are derived from the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and …
Construction Impacts On Nutrient Loads In An Urban Stream In The Ozark Highlands,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Construction Impacts On Nutrient Loads In An Urban Stream In The Ozark Highlands, Matthew B. Wilson
Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses
Degradation of water quality is primarily caused by human activity, including urbanization. Urban stream syndrome can be characterized as a stream that has undergone physical, chemical, and biological changes as a result of urbanization, which can include an influx of nutrients that can drive unwanted plant and algae growth. It is known that construction can result in untreated nutrients entering a stream; however, it is not understood how construction affects downstream nutrient transport. The objective of this study was to understand the impacts of construction on urban water quality in Tanglewood Branch in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the Ozark Highlands, which …
Comparing Strategies For Wetland Revegetation In An Uncertain Water Future,
2026
Utah State University
Comparing Strategies For Wetland Revegetation In An Uncertain Water Future, Hailey M. Machnikowski
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Wetlands worldwide are expected to experience more frequent and intense droughts and floods due to climate change. These shifting water conditions introduce challenges to restoring wetland plants, especially using direct seeding. Seeding is cost and labor-efficient compared to planting, but seeds and seedlings are highly vulnerable to water stress, so restoration efforts often fail when conditions are too wet or dry. Understanding how to improve seed-based revegetation under these conditions is increasingly important. Therefore, we sought to understand the response, measured by percent canopy cover or dry biomass weights, of native plants to different durations of drought in greenhouse experiments, …
Effects Of Beaver Dams On Components Of Riverscape Health And Biodiversity In The Great Basin,
2026
Utah State University
Effects Of Beaver Dams On Components Of Riverscape Health And Biodiversity In The Great Basin, Cashe C. Rasmussen
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Networks of rivers and their floodplains (i.e., low-lying areas adjacent to rivers and streams that could plausibly flood) have been degraded, reducing the availability of freshwater and habitat for people and wildlife. Therefore, land managers are pursuing cost-effective restoration strategies, including partnering with beavers (Castor canadensis), to promote the health of these ecosystems and associated benefits. However, our understanding of beaver-mediated restoration benefits remains incomplete. Here, we compared locations along streams with and without beaver dams to measure the benefits of beavers in the Great Basin of the Western United States. We measured the effects of beaver dams …
Drought-Tolerant Plants Of Great Salt Lake: Determining Dormancy Break, Germination, And Seeding Timing Requirements To Improve Restoration Under Hydrologically Extreme Conditions,
2026
Utah State University
Drought-Tolerant Plants Of Great Salt Lake: Determining Dormancy Break, Germination, And Seeding Timing Requirements To Improve Restoration Under Hydrologically Extreme Conditions, Montana Horchler
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Wetlands are declining worldwide, and those in arid regions are especially vulnerable to climate change, drought, water diversions, and other human pressures. As a result, land managers increasingly rely on active revegetation to re-establish native plant communities and their associated ecosystem functions. Restoration that utilizes seeds as the propagule source is often the most cost-effective way to revegetate large areas, but in highly variable environments such as exist at Great Salt Lake, Utah, drought and flooding regularly limit plant establishment. Restoration practitioners require science-informed strategies to reach their goal of establishing diverse native plant communities with high native species cover. …
Characterizing The Macroinvertebrate Community In Crissy Lake, An Impounded Reach Of The Pomme De Terre River, Prior To Channel Modification,
2026
University of Minnesota - Morris
Characterizing The Macroinvertebrate Community In Crissy Lake, An Impounded Reach Of The Pomme De Terre River, Prior To Channel Modification, Max Lundgren
Undergraduate Research Symposium (2026- )
The aging Crissy Lake Dam, on the Pomme de Terre River in Morris, has altered natural stream flow and impeded upstream passage of several fish species since 1939. In late 2026 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will replace the dam with stone arch rapids and facilitate river channel formation upstream of the dam. In order to evaluate the river modification project, we characterized the macroinvertebrate community in Crissy Lake, the impoundment upstream of the dam before implementation of channel modification. In September 2025 we collected benthic macroinvertebrates from two sets of Ekman grab samples. We found 12 taxa (average …
Dimensionless Ratios And Processes Controlling Volumetric Bioretention Performance,
2026
Marquette University
Dimensionless Ratios And Processes Controlling Volumetric Bioretention Performance, Andrew Charles Hiestand
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Urbanization of previously natural land cover has spurred the innovation and implementation of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to combat increased surface runoff due to impermeable areas and a changing climate. Bioretention has been a popular choice in design due to its small footprint and proven effectiveness in retaining stormwater runoff and limiting discharges to receiving surface waters. However, their event-to-event performance variability is difficult to explain due to a number of confounding and interacting influences that distort cross-site analyses including inter-event drying and antecedent soil moisture conditions, geometric size and media properties, and event magnitude. This study applies and evaluates …
Heavy Metal In Water Resources,
2026
Fort Hays State University
Heavy Metal In Water Resources, Zuming Bi, Jeanne Sumrall
SACAD: Scholarly Activities
Heavy metal pollution in surface water has posed a serious threat to human health. The goals of this research are to analyze the concentration and distribution of key heavy metals and compare the measured values with global standards. This study analyzed major heavy metals like Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Ag across several test points in Kansas and converted them to standard units mg/L. Based on the statistical graph, heavy metal iron and manganese levels are exceeded USEPA and WHO limits several times, while other heavy metals stay in the safe range. The results indicate that the pollution in Kansas …
Examining The Useability Of The Dakota Aquifer In Kansas For Irrigation Regarding Salinity,
2026
Fort Hays State University
Examining The Useability Of The Dakota Aquifer In Kansas For Irrigation Regarding Salinity, Alexander D. Leiker, Jeanne Sumrall
SACAD: Scholarly Activities
The Ogallala Aquifer has been overused for decades, so alternative water sources, such as the Dakota Aquifer, must be considered to prevent it further declining. However, the Dakota Aquifer is not a feasible alternative in many locations. To evaluate irrigation useability, existing well water data across the geographic region was analyzed. Salinity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were considered with existing data on plant salinity tolerance, especially those crops common to Kansas farmers. Results showed that most areas in southern Kansas that had access to the Dakota Aquifer could use it for irrigation, though counties closer to the Kansas-Nebraska state …
Groundwater Nitrate Contamination In Western Kansas,
2026
Fort Hays State University
Groundwater Nitrate Contamination In Western Kansas, Sihui Wei
SACAD: Scholarly Activities
Groundwater nitrate contamination is a significant environmental concern in agricultural regions of the United States. In Kansas, nitrate concentrations in some groundwater systems approach or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L. This study analyzes nitrate concentration data from groundwater samples in western Kansas, with a focus on the High Plains aquifer, where agricultural activity is intensive. Using data analysis and regression methods, spatial patterns in nitrate distribution were identified. Results indicate that nitrate concentrations vary across sampling locations, with higher levels generally associated with regions of intensive agricultural activity. Several sites approach or exceed …
Using Geoscience To Empower A Community And Provide Access To Potable Groundwater,
2026
Fort Hays State University
Using Geoscience To Empower A Community And Provide Access To Potable Groundwater, Hendratta Ali Dr
SACAD: Scholarly Activities
Access to potable water remains challenging around the world and remains one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Barriers to clean water access are exacerbated by the lack of technical expertise, limited funding for education and training, and the absence of reliable infrastructure that provides access to clean water. The Geoscientists Without Borders program, supported FHSU with funding to test, explore and provide access to clean potable groundwater to a rural community in Cameroon. We conducted water quality analyses, identified, mapped and located deep aquifers in fractured metamorphic rocks. Water quality analyses showed acidic pH and elevated amounts …
Transport Phenomena Of Multiphase Flow And Slippery Microsphere Suspensions In Confined Space,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Transport Phenomena Of Multiphase Flow And Slippery Microsphere Suspensions In Confined Space, Ryan Haggerty
Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–
Understanding multiphase flow has many important environmental and engineering applications. For example, understanding gas flow in porous media is useful for energy storage, petroleum engineering, and contaminant cleanup. Nano- and microparticle transport is vital for enhanced oil recovery techniques and environmental contamination. Despite their relevance to environmental engineering, multiphase flows, especially with concentrated particle suspensions, are still a complex and developing topic. Additionally, hydrophobic surfaces are a relatively new area of research, for while the effects of hydrophobicity are observable, the mechanisms may occur on several scales. Hydrophobicity leads to a property called “slip,” which contradicts the traditional treatment of …
Applications Of Machine Learning In Enhancing Evaporation Estimation For Small Reservoirs: A Case Study In Semi-Arid South Texas,
2026
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Applications Of Machine Learning In Enhancing Evaporation Estimation For Small Reservoirs: A Case Study In Semi-Arid South Texas, Syed Muhammad F Abdullah, Chu-Lin Cheng, Jude A. Benavides, Jungseok Ho, Rafael M. Almeida
School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications
Small reservoirs in semi-arid regions experience substantial evaporative losses but are rarely monitored at daily scales. A multi-reservoir machine learning (ML) framework was developed to estimate daily open-water evaporation. Empirical models (Penman, Penman-Monteith, Priestley-Taylor, Bowen Ratio Energy Budget) andabenchmark combination method (Daily Lake Evaporation Model-DLEM) were compared against ML models. Predictors combined gridded meteorology (gridMET) with reservoir attributes (surface area, average depth, maximum depth, and fetch). ML models (Random Forest-RF, Decision Tree-DT, K-Nearest Neighbor-KNN, and Support Vector Regression-SVR) were trained on four reservoirs using data from 2018 to 2025. Results from ML models were further validated using both DLEM and …
Monitoring Koyna Dam Displacements Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry,
2026
Benha University
Monitoring Koyna Dam Displacements Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, Sara Zouriq, Gehan Hamdy, Amr Fawzy, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary, Eehab Khalil, Mohamed Elsayad, Tarik El-Salawaky
Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research
Monitoring dam stability is critical to ensure structural safety and operational reliability. This study integrates Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) based on Sentinel-1 SAR imagery (2020–2023) with Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations to assess the behavior of the Koyna Dam in India. PSI detected crest displacements between −1.0 and −1.8 mm yr−1, while FEM simulations predicted a maximum vertical displacement of approximately −3.2 mm at the crest. Although these results represent different quantities (time-averaged displacement rates versus peak static displacement), both approaches indicate millimeter-scale deformation and a consistent pattern of settlement at the dam crest, supporting the interpretation of hydrologically driven …
Monitoring Of Dissolved Calcium Levels In Creeks, Embayment, And Kentucky Lake Waters In Western Kentucky,
2026
Murray State University
Monitoring Of Dissolved Calcium Levels In Creeks, Embayment, And Kentucky Lake Waters In Western Kentucky, Majeda Dalloul
Scholars Week
In order to reduce the economic and ecological impacts of aquatic alien species, studies are warranted across major taxonomic groups, geographic regions, and habitat types. This study addressed the dissolved calcium levels in Kentucky Lake and their implications for one of the top-ranked invasive species, the zebra mussel, and its colonization. Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are well known for their “biofouling” capabilities, costing billions of dollars (for northeastern and midwestern states) in their removal from industrial, public, and power plant water supply lines. Calcium is one of the essential elements that contribute to the growth and reproduction of zebra …
Water Current, Volume 58, No. 1, Spring 2026,
2026
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Water Current, Volume 58, No. 1, Spring 2026
Water Current Newsletter
No abstract provided.
Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Monitoring Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity Using Hyperspectral Satellite Data, Serge Tuyambaze
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Accurate estimation of terrestrial Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is critical for quantifying global carbon sequestration and understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle. While eddy covariance (EC) towers provide standard flux measurements, upscaling these measurements to continuous global coverage remains challenging due to the sparse distribution of flux towers and their small footprints. Remote sensing (RS), especially coupled with eddy covariance data, has been used to estimate GPP at the global scale. Different RS derived productivity models have been developed, including vegetation indices, light use efficiency (LUE) models, solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), dynamic global vegetation models (DGVM), and machine learning. One widely adapted …
Downstream Effects Of Post Aerobic Digestion And Divalent Cation Treatment: Dewaterability, Phosphorus Mitigation, And Process Odors,
2026
Old Dominion University
Downstream Effects Of Post Aerobic Digestion And Divalent Cation Treatment: Dewaterability, Phosphorus Mitigation, And Process Odors, Maya Marisol Quijano Garcia
Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations
This study evaluated post-aerobic digestion (PAD) with aeration, mixing, and divalent cation addition to improve phosphorus capture, dewaterability, and odor control in thermal hydrolysis process (THP)–treated anaerobic digestate at the Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s Atlantic Treatment Plant. A three-day PAD process was operated under constant air flow (5 LPM) and dissolved oxygen (DO)-setpoint (0.2 mg/L) aeration conditions with Ca(OH)₂ or Mg(OH)₂ dosing. Aeration and mixing alone increased polymer demand by 14–46 % relative to untreated influent, indicating enhanced extracellular polymeric substance release. Chemical conditioning partially mitigated this increase but did not restore polymer demand to baseline levels. Dewatered cake total …
Recovery Of Bioenergy From Industrial Wastewater Using Microbial Fuel Cell,
2026
Department of Development Studies, HANDS-Institute of Development Studies, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Energy and Environment Engineering, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
Recovery Of Bioenergy From Industrial Wastewater Using Microbial Fuel Cell, Syed Wamiq Ali, Ghulam Mujtaba, Manzoor Ahmed Sanjrani, Falak Shad
Journal of Bioresource Management
Water problems and Energy demands are increasing particularly in developing countries. Researchers are looking for sustainable technologies that can address increasing energy and environmental concerns. Major reasons behind those emerging concerns are industrialization and rapid development. There is need of sustainable technology which can solve wastewater issues and fulfill energy demand. One of the emerging technologies that have been studied comprehensively is Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). It is a bio-electrochemical conversion technology that converts organic substrate into electrical energy. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is removed as a result of microbial metabolism of organic substrate. Even through technical and economic aspects …
A Review Of Satellite-Derived Terrestrial Evapotranspiration: Theories, Methods And Products,
2026
Beijing Normal University
A Review Of Satellite-Derived Terrestrial Evapotranspiration: Theories, Methods And Products, Yunjun Yao, Jiquan Chen, Joshua B. Fisher, Changliang Shao, Yuanbo Liu
Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research
Accurately estimating terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET), the second-largest hydrologic flux in the terrestrial water cycle, is vital for understanding global water and carbon exchanges. It is difficult to measure and estimate terrestrial ET at regional and global scales. Satellites have provided us an effective tool to estimate regional and global terrestrial ET in recent decades. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the basic theoretical foundations, methods and products of satellite-derived terrestrial ET. The basic theoretical foundations for estimating terrestrial ET are the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) and other budding theories (e.g., Maximum entropy production theory, and generalized Hamilton …
