Curriculum Vitae

SCOTT W. TYLER

Professor
 Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering

University of Nevada, Reno
(775) 784-6250
email: tylers@unr.edu

http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/tylers/index.html/

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Hydrology/Hydrogeology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
Dissertation Title: Fractal Applications to Soil Hydraulic Properties.  August 1990

M.S. Hydrology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; Socorro, New Mexico
Thesis Title: Field Results of Borehole Infiltration Tests. June 1983

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut; Storrs, Connecticut. June 1978

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2006-Present     Professor, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno.

2005-2006         Visiting Professor, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switerzlerand. (sabbatical year)

2000-2005         Director, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences and Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Environmental and Resource Science and the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno.

2000-2006         Professor, jointly appointed Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Tyler is currently involved with studies of moisture flux and ground-water recharge in arid environments. Other work includes the development of soil-atmosphere models of energy and water flux, the study of ground-water/brine interactions in terrestrial environments, the reconstruction of paleoclimates from soil water chemistry, and reactive transport of contaminants in fractured, dual porosity unsaturated media and mine waste materials.

1998                 Sabbatical year spent with the French National Research Organization, CNRS in Grenoble, France.  Research during sabbatical focused on the reactive transport of arsenic in unsaturated media, nitrogen leaching in agricultural soils and transport of radioisotopes from low-level radioactive waste disposal sites.

1998 - 1999       Professor, jointly appointed in the Water Resources Center, Desert Research Institute and Department of Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno.

1992 - 1998       Associate Professor, Desert Research Institute and Department of Environmental and Resource Sciences (UNR).  From 1992 to 1995, Dr. Tyler taught through the Department of Geological Sciences; from 1995-1998, Dr. Tyler was jointly appointed to the Department of Environmental and Resource Sciences and the Desert Research Institute as an Associate Professor.

1990 - 1991       Sabbatical year spent with Australia's CSIRO's Centre for Environmental Mechanics in Canberra and the Centre for Groundwater Studies of the Division of Water Resources in Adelaide. Research included convection in porous media, scaling of infiltration equations, and recharge estimation techniques in arid climates.

1986 - 1992       Assistant Research Soil Scientist, Water Resources Center, Desert Research Institute, University and Community College System of Nevada.

1983 - 1985       Staff Hydrologist, Water Resources Center, Desert Research Institute

1982 - 1983       Research Engineer, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory. Conducted research in the fields of waste disposal on ground-water quality.

1978 - 1980       Senior Sanitary Engineer, Connecticut Dept. of Health Services. Responsible for inspection and review of municipal water treatment plants and ground water protection.

refereed PUBLICATIONS

Albright, W.H., C. H. Benson, G. W. Gee, T. Abichou, E. V. McDonald, S. W. Tyler, and S. A. Rock. 2006. Field Performance of a Compacted Clay Landfill Final Cover at a Humid Site, J. Geotech. and Geoenvir. Engineering. 132:1393-1399. PDF version.

Phoenix, V.R., P.C. Bennett, A.S. Engel, S.W. Tyler and F.G. Ferris. 2006. Chilean high-altitude hot spring sinters: A model system for UV screening mechanism by early Precambrian cyanobacteria. Geobiology. Vol. 4(1):15-28. PDF version

Decker, D.L,, C. Papelis, S.W. Tyler, M. Logsdon and J. Simunek. 2006. Arsenate and Arsenite Sorption on Carbonate Hosted Precious Metals Ore. Vadose Zone J. 5:419-429. PDF Version 

Decker, D.L, J. Simunek, S. W. Tyler, C. Papelis, and M. J. Logsdon. 2006. Variably Saturated Reactive Transport of Arsenic in Heap-Leach Facilities. Vadose Zone J. 5:430-444. PDF version

Parlange, Marc B.; Berkowitz, Brian; Porporato, Amilcare; Torgersen, Thomas; Tyler, Scott W. 2005. Editorial: Future of Water Resources Research. Water Resour. Res., 41, W01001, doi: 10.1029/2004WR003899. PDF version

Kampf, S.K., S. W. Tyler, C. O. Astete, J. F. Munoz and P. Adkins. 2005.  Evaporation and land surface energy budget at the Salar de Atacama, Northern Chile. J. of Hydrology. Vol 310 (1-4):236-252. PDF version

Gee, G.W., Z.F. Zhang, S.W. Tyler, W.H. Albright and M. J. Singleton. 2005. Chloride-mass balance for predicting increased recharge after land use change. Vadose Zone Jl. 4:72 – 78. PDF version

Tyler, S.W., S.E. Silliman and M.E. Campana. 2004. Undergraduate Program Focuses on International Issues in Water Resources. EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union. Vol. 85(9): 89-92. PDF version

Constanz, J., S.W. Tyler and E Kwicklis. 2003. Temperature-Profile Methods for Estimating Percolation Rates in Arid Environments. Vadose Zone J. 2:12-24. PDF version

Kampf, S., M. Salazar and S. Tyler. 2002. Preliminary Investigation of Effluent Drainage from Mine Heap Leach Facilities. Vadose Zone J. 1:186-196.PDF version

Walvoord, M.A., F.M. Phillips, S.W. Tyler and P.C. Hartsough. 2002. Deep arid system hydrodynamics Part 2: Application to paleohydrologic reconstruction using vadose zone profiles from the Northern Mojave Desert.  Water Resour. Res. 38 (12), 1291, doi:10.1029/2001WR000825. PDF version

Qualls, R. G., B.L. Haines, W.T. Swank and S. W. Tyler. 2002. Retention of soluble organic nutrients by a forested ecosystem. Biogeochemistry. 61:135-171.

Edmunds, W.M. and S.W.Tyler. 2002. Unsaturated zones as archives of paleoclimate: Towards a new proxy for continental regions. Hydrogeology Journ. 10: 216-228.

Hartsough, P., S.W. Tyler, J. Sterling and M. Walvoord. 2001. A 14.6 kyr record of nitrogen flux from desert soil profiles as inferred from vadose zone pore waters. Geophysical Research Letters. Vol. 28(15):2955-2958.PDF version

Cooper, C., R.J. Glass and S.W. Tyler. 2001. The effect of buoyancy ratio on the development of double diffusive finger convection in a Hele-Shaw cell. Water Resources Research, 37(9): 2323-2331. 

Qualls, R. G., B.L. Haines, W.T. Swank and S. W. Tyler. 2000. Soluble Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Fluxes in Clearcut and Mature Deciduous Forests.  Soil Science Soc. of Am. Journ. Vol 64(3):1068-1077.PDF version

Decker, D.L. and S.W. Tyler. 1999. Evaluation of Flow and Solute Transport Parameters for Heap Leach Recovery Materials.  Jour. of Env. Quality. Vol. 28(2): 543-555

Tyler, S.W., P.G. Cook, A.Z. Butt, J.M. Thomas, P.T. Doran and W.B. Lyons.  1998. Evidence of Deep Circulation in Two Perennially  Ice-Covered Antarctic Lakes.  Limnology and Oceanography. Vol 43(4):  625-635.

Lyons, W.B., S.W. Tyler, R.A. Wharton, D.M. McKnight and B.H. Vaughn. 1998. A Late Holocene Dessication of Lake Hoare and Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Antarctic Science. Vol 10(3): 247-256.

Tyler, S.W., S. Kranz, M.B. Parlange, J. Albertson, G. Cochran, B. Lyles and G. Holder.   1997. Measurement of Evaporation and Salt Flux at Owens Dry Lake in Eastern California, U.S.A.  Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 200: 110-135. PDF version

Scanlon, B.R., S.W. Tyler and P. J. Wierenga. 1997.  Review of Unsaturated Hydrologic Studies in Arid Regions.  Reviews of Geophysics. Vol 35(4): 461-490.

Wooding, R.A., S.W. Tyler and I. White.  1997.  Convection in Groundwater below an Evaporating Salt Lake: 1. Onset of Instability.  Water Resources Research. Vol 33(6): 1199-1218. PDF version

Wooding, R.A., S.W. Tyler, I. White and P. Anderson.  1997. Convection in Groundwater below an Evaporating Salt Lake: 2. Evolution of Fingers or Plumes.  Water Resources Research. Vol 33(6): 1219-1228. PDF version

Cooper, C., R. J. Glass, and S.W. Tyler. 1997. Experimental Verification of Double-Diffusive Convection in Porous Media. Water Resources Research. Vol 33(4):  517-526.PDF version

Burcar, S., W.W. Miller, S. W. Tyler and R.R. Blank. 1997. Moist and dry season nitrogen transport in Sierra Nevada soils. Soil Science of America Journal. Vol 61(6): 1774-1780.

Friedman, I., J. Bischoff, C. A. Johnson, S.W. Tyler and  J.P. Fitts. 1997. Movement and Diffusion of Pore Fluids in Owens Lake Sediments from Core OL-92 as shown by Salinity and Deuterium-Hydrogen Ratios. Geological Society of America Bulletin Special Paper 317. pp. 49-65.

Tyler, S.W., J. B. Chapman, S. Conrad, D. Hammermiester, D. Blout, J. Miller, M. Sully and J. Ginanni.  1996. Soil Water Flux on the Nevada Test Site: Temporal and Spatial Variations over the Last 120,000 Years. Water Resources Research. Vol 32(6): 1481-1499. PDF version

Sullivan, M., J.J. Warwick, and S.W. Tyler. 1996. Quantifying and Delineating Spatial Heterogeneities of Surface Infiltration in a Small Watershed. Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 181(1-4):  149-168. PDF version

Pohll, G.M., J.J. Warwick and S.W. Tyler. 1996. Coupled Surface/subsurface Hydrologic Model of a Nuclear Subsidence Crater at the Nevada Test Site.  Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 186 (1-4):  43-62.PDF version

Liesing, J., S.W. Tyler and W.W. Miller. 1995. Convection of Saline Brines in Enclosed Lacustrine Sedimentary Basins: A Mechansim for Potassium Metasomatism. Geological Society of America Bulletin. Vol. 107(10):  1157-1163.

Lyons, W.B., S.W. Tyler and H.E. Gaudette. 1995. The Use of Strontium Isotopes in Determining the Groundwater Mixing and Brine Salt-Fingering in a Playa Discharge Zone, Lake Tyrrell, Australia.  Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 167: 225-239.PDF version

Albertson, J.D., M.B. Parlange, G.G. Katul, C.-R. Chu, H. Stricker and S.W. Tyler. 1995. Sensible Heat Flux from Arid Regions: A Simple Flux-Variance Method. Water Resources Research. Vol 31(4): 969-974.PDF version

Tyler, S.W. and G.R. Walker. 1994. Impacts of the Root Zone on Tracer Transport.  Soil Science Society of America Journal. Vol 58(1): 25-31.

Allison, G.B., G.W. Gee and S.W. Tyler. 1994. Recharge Estimation in Arid and Semiarid Regions.  Soil Science Society of America Journal. Vol 58(1):  6-14.

Katul, G., J. Albertson, C. Chu, M. Parlange, H. Stricker and S. W. Tyler. 1994. Sensible and Latent Heat Flux Predictions Using Conditional Sampling Methods. Water Resources Research. Vol 30(11): 3053-3059. PDF version

Nicholl, M., S.W. Wheatcraft, S.W. Tyler and B. Burkowitz. 1994. Is Old Faithful a Strange Attractor? Journal of Geophysical Research, 99:B3: 4495-4503.

Burcar, S., W.W. Miller,  S.W. Tyler and D. Johnson.  1994. Preferential Flow Phenomenon in Two Sierra Nevada Watersheds. Soil Science Society of America Journal. Vol 58: 1555-1561.

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1992. Fractal Scaling of Soil Particle Size Distributions: Analysis and Limitations. Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vol. 56(2): 362–369.

Tyler, S.W., S.A. McKay and T. Mihevc, 1992. Assessment of Soil Moisture Movement in Nuclear Subsidence Craters. Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 139: 159-181. PDF version

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1992. Reply to Comment of J.R. Phillip on “An Explanation of Scale Dependent Dispersivity in Heterogeneous Aquifer Using Concepts of Fractal Scaling. Water Resources Research. Vol. 28(5): 1487-1490

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1992. Reply to Comment of Brakensiek and Rawls on “Fractal Processes in Soil Water Retention." Water Resources Research. Vol. 28(5): 1487–1490.

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1990. Fractal Processes in Soil Water Retention. Water Resources Research, Vol. 26(5): 1047-1054.

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1990. The Consequences of Fractal Scaling in Heterogeneous Soils and Porous Media. In: Scaling in Soil Physics: Principles and Applications, D. Hillel and D. Elrich, eds., Agronomy Society of America.

Tyler, S.W. and R.L. Jacobson. Soil Moisture Flux Studies on the Nevada Test Site:  A Review of Results and Techniques. In: Hydraulics/Hydrology of Arid Lands; Proceedings of the International Symposium. R.H. French, ed., July 1990. San Diego, CA.

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1989. Application of Fractal Mathematics to Soil Water Retention Estimation. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 53(4): 987-996.

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft, 1989. Fractal Aspects of Soil Porosity, In: Proceedings of Indirect Methods for Estimating the Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated Soils, October 11-13, 1989, Riverside, CA.

Tyler, S.W., 1988. Calibration of Neutron Moisture Meters in Large Diameter Boreholes. Soil Science Society of America Journal. Vol. 52(3):  890-893.

Wheatcraft, S.W. and S.W. Tyler, 1988. An Explanation of Scale-Dependent Dispersivity in Heterogeneous Aquifers using Concepts of Fractal Geometry. Water Resources Research. Vol. 24(4):  566-578.

Russell, C.A., J.W. Hess and S.W. Tyler, 1987. Hydrologic Investigations of Flow in Fractured Tuffs in Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site. In: Flow and Transport Through Unsaturated Fractured Rock, D.D. Evans and T.J. Nicholson, eds., AGU Geophysical Monograph 42: 43-50.

Book chapters

Tyler, S.W., B.R. Scanlon, G.W. Gee and G.B. Allison.  1999. Water and Solute Transport in Arid Vadose Zones: Innovations in Measurement and Analysis. In: Vadose Zone Hydrology: Cutting Across Disciplines, J. Hopmans and M. Parlange, editors. Oxford University Press. Pp 334-373.

Tyler, S.W., I. White and R.A. Wooding. 1997. Anthropogenic Impacts on the Distribution of Playa Lake Salinity. In: Subsurface Hydrological Responses to Land Cover and Land Use Changes. M. Taniguchi, Editor. Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 73-86.

Tyler, S.W., J. B. Chapman, S. Conrad and D.  Hammermeister. 1995. Paleoclimatic Response of a Deep Vadose Zone in Southern Nevada as Inferred from Soil Water Tracers. In: Applications of Tracers in Arid Zone Hydrology. IAHS Publication No. 232. pp. 351-362.

Tyler, S.W., and S. W. Wheatcraft. 1992. Fractal Aspects of Soil Porosity. In : Indirect Measurements for Estimating the Hydraulic Properties of Unsaturated Soil. Edited by M.Th. Van Genuchten, F.J. Leij, and L. J. Lund. U. S. Salinity Laboratory Press. pp. 53-64.

Tyler, S.W. and S.W. Wheatcraft. 1990. The Consequences of Fractal Scaling in Heterogeneous Soils and Porous Media. In: Scaling in Soil Physics: Principles and Applications. SSSA Special Publication 25. pp. 109-122.

Wheatcraft, S.W., G.A. Sharp and S.W. Tyler, 1990. Fluid Flow and Solute Transport in Fractal Heterogeneous Porous Media. In: Dynamics of Fluids in Hierarchical Porous Media, J.H. Cushman, ed., Academic Press, 505 pp.

Stephens, D.B., S.W. Tyler, K. Lambert and S. Yates, 1983. Field Experiments to Determine the Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in the Vadose Zone. In: Role of the Unsaturated Zone in Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Disposal, J. Mercer; ed., Ann Arbor Press, pp. 113-126.

 

Professional Achievements

SOCIETY ACTIVITIES

Editor for Water Resources Research (2005-2008)

Hydrogeology Division Chairman, Geological Society of America (2007)

Associate Editor for Water Resources Research (1995-2001).

Deputy Editor for Water Resource Research (2002-2005)

Associate Editor for Groundwater (2002-2005)

Associate Editor for Hydrogeology Journal (2002-2005)

Soil Science Society of America Journal Guest Editor, responsible for publication of six invited papers on the subject of recharge in arid and semi-arid regions published in the January/February 1994 issue.

Serve as Peer Reviewer for the following journals: Water Resources Research, Journal of Hydrology, Ground Water, Soil Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of Canada.

Serve as Proposal Reviewer for the National Science Foundation, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

APPOINTMENTS

National Science Foundation Hydrologic Sciences Peer Review Panel (2003-2005)

National Academy of Sciences Panel member (1994-1995) to review the proposed low-level nuclear waste disposal site at Ward Valley, California.

Co-chairman of joint ASA/SSSA Symposium entitled “Recharge in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas" held in Denver, Colorado, 1991.

Chairman, USDA Western Regional Research Project entitled “Characterization and Management of Soil Water and Solutes in Field Soils", 1988.

Committee member, AGU Large-Scale Field Experiment Committee and Unsaturated Zone Committee

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2005 University of Nevada System Regents Outstanding Graduate Advisor

Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and Agronomy Society of America (2003)

Fellow of the Geologic Society of America (1997)

1999 Distinguished Darcy Lecturer (National Ground Water Association)

1999 University and Community System of Nevada Regents Outstanding Employees and Students Award

1998 University and Community System of Nevada Regents Outstanding Employees and Students Award

Cited by the UNS Board of Regents for outstanding achievement as a faculty member of the University of Nevada System (for BBC program and 1990 Encyclopedia Britannica Yearbook of Science and the Future citation), January, 1990.

My work on fractal scaling is cited as a significant advance in the hydrologic sciences in the 1990 Encyclopedia Britannica Yearbook of Science and the Future.

Cited by the Soil Science Society of America for Excellence in Editorial Review, 1991.

Antarctic Service Medal for participation in joint NSF/NASA studies during the Austral Summer of 1993 at Lake Hoare, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica.

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Soil Science Society of America
International Soil Science Society

              

MAJOR GRANTS & CONTRACTS

RING-TRUE II  (NSF EPSCoR): Science and Engineering Infrastructure for Arid Regions.  (Co-Principal Investigator) 2006-2009.  (~$6M)

This project consists of several program elements. Tyler is co-PI on Element #2, “Development of mesoscale analysis systems to investigate fluxes of water, solute and energy in the vadose zone”.  Construction of a mesoscale lysimeter facility will begin in early 2006 and, coupled with existing FACE facility in southern Nevada, will support a wide range of experiments and modeling of fluxes at moderate scales. Specifically, Tyler will be developing nitrogen transport models and improving conceptual understanding of 3 dimensional water, chloride and nitrogen uptake in the root systems of desert species.

An REU Site for Training in International Water Supplies. National Science Foundation (Co-Principal Investigator) 2002-2005. ($287K)

This project is designed to train undergraduate students on issues and solutions to potable water supplies in developing countries.  Specifically, undergraduates participate in month-long summer course on the issues and problems facing developing countries in providing safe drinking water to all citizens.  Following the in class training, students are taken abroad for 2-3 weeks for field work in developing countries related to drinking water, water resource development and environmental issues facing third world nations.

Retention of Soluble Organic Nutrients in Ecosystems during Primary Succession and Soil Development. National Science Foundation (Co-Principal Investigator), 1999-2002. ($542K)

This research focuses on the quantification of dissolved organic nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorous and iron) transport on soil development across climatic regimes.  In the past dissolved organic nutrients have been largely ignored as both a soil forming agent and as a potential pollutant.  Field sites adjacent to Mt. Shasta and in Indiana are currently being instrumented to quantify nitrogen fluxes across a transect of climate and soil development time.

The Role of Road Construction on Stream Development and Channel Incision. U.S. Forest Service (Co-Principal Investigator) 2000-2007 (268K)

This effort supports a graduate student to conduct research on the impacts of road development on stream geomorphology in mountainous watersheds of central Nevada.  The research is extremely timely as there is significant debate on the relationships between roadway development and stream stability and riparian zone habitats.  The effort is in collaboration with Dr. Jeanne Chambers (U.S. Forest Service) and Dr. Thomas Bullard (DRI).

Migration of Concentrated Electrolyte Solutions underneath Leaking High-Level Waste Tanks: Evaluation of the Effects of Wetted Path Geometry and Vapor-Driven Dilution on Plume Mobility. (Co-Principal Investigator). U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management Science Program. 1998-2001. (~$760K)

This collaborative research with Oregon State University, Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory and Desert Research Institute investigates the migration of highly concentrations solutions contained in nuclear waste storage tanks at Hanford through the unsaturated zone.  The research will combined laboratory experiments, field experiments and numerical simulation (both continuum and Lattice Gas approaches) to determine the migration behavior of these fluids in a multiphase system.  Preliminary results have indicated that the high ionic strength solutions tend to finger through the vadose zone, magnified by local scale vapor transport from the surrounding soil moisture to the solute plumes. 

Development of Environmental Tracers for Water and Solute Transport in Arid Vadose Zones (Principal Investigator): National Science Foundation 1997-2001 (~$160K)

This research focuses on the use of stable chloride and 36Cl to investigate recharge processes in the Great Basin province of the United States and role of paleoclimate in controlling recharge.  Core analysis of deep vadose zone samples along with numerical analysis of flow and transport in very dry soils will be conducted. Chloride and 36Cl paleofluxes will be estimated from interpretation of age dated groundwater.

Multicomponent Convection in Porous Media and Fractures (Principal Investigator): U.S. Dept. of Energy Basic Energy Sciences Program.  1996-1999 ($228K)

Multicomponent or double diffusive convective processes have received limited attention in porous media studies yet may be an important mass transfer mechanism in natural and contaminated aquifer settings. This research combines detailed laboratory experiments of multicomponent convection in simulated porous media to develop mass transfer relationships and further verify theoretical stability criteria. Numerical modeling via lattice gas techniques is being used to further investigate the importance of multicomponent convection in geologic and hydrologic settings. This effort is in collaboration with R. J. Glass and H. Stockman at Sandia National Laboratories.

Geochemical, Biological and Economical Effects of Arsenic and other Oxyanions on a Mining-Impacted Watershed (Co-PI with G. Miller, L. Papelis, D. Shaw and W. Miller): EPA/NFS Water and Watersheds Initiative. 1996-2000 ($778K)

Large-scale precious metal mining in the Humbolt River watershed of eastern Nevada has the potential to significantly increase arsenic and other oxyanion concentrations in surface and groundwaters.  This research focuses on the processes controlling oxyanion concentrations and fluxes from open pit mining, heap leach extraction and waste rock dumps from the mining activities.  Activities will focus on quantifying pit lake rock/water reactions, transport and reactions of recharging waters through spent cyanide heap leaches and the biological implications of oxyanions to aquatic communities.

Evaluation of Evaporation and Groundwater Discharge at Owens Dry Lake (Task Leader): $78K (1996-1997)

This research investigates ground water discharge from playa and saline sediments to develop both the water and solute budgets for Owens Dry Lake, which is a major air pollution source in Southern California.  This study compares three techniques, micrometeorological, soil solute profiles and lysimeters, to determine the effect of varying time and length scales of measurements on the estimated evaporation.  Data collected in this study will be used to develop a detailed water and solute budget and to aid in the dust mitigation efforts.  Funded by the California Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District for $83K in 1993, $33K in 1994 and currently under review for $78K in 1995.

Investigation of the Role of Submarine Groundwater Discharge on the Nutrient Dynamics of Lake Tahoe (Principle Investigator): $56K (1995-1999)

Ground water discharge is suspected of transporting significant quantities of nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, phosphorous, into the nutrient-deficient waters of Lake Tahoe. This research compares, via field measurement of discharge flux and discharge nutrient chemistry, the magnitude of ground water inflows under two conditions of land use practices (urbanized and relatively pristine). The research is funded by the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station under Hatch funding.

Analysis and Measurement of Soil Water Flux from a Low Level Waste Disposal Site (Task Leader): ~$325K (FY96)

This research investigates the role of deep unsaturated zones for waste disposal facilities. The project focuses on measurement of soil water potential, isotopic composition and solute chemistry to estimate recharge at an arid site.  Research includes development of techniques to rapidly measure soil water potential and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity at very low water contents. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for $93K in 1992, $285K in 1993, $275K in 1994 and $265K in 1995

Analysis of Leach Pad Hydraulics and Transport Behavior During Rinsing (Co-Principal Investigator with G. Danko, University of Nevada, Reno): $78K (FY95)

This research investigates the transport behavior of cyanide from spent leach pads. Studies will focus on extending existing theories of unsaturated water movement in dual porosity media from traditional soil physics to the problem of cyanide leaching during rinsing of leach pads. Analysis of laboratory breakthrough curves and field lysimeters are planned. Funded by the U. S. Bureau of Mines Mineral Institute Program for $78K in 1994.

Impacts of Fracture Coatings on Matrix Imbibition in Unsaturated Tuff (Co-PI): $115K (FY95)

This research investigates the role of fracture coatings on the infiltration of water into Yucca Mountain tuff. Research is focused on laboratory studies of imbibition through various natural fracture coatings. Funded by the State of Nevada for $81K in 1993 and $115K in 1994.

Ground-Water Interactions in Taylor Valley, Antarctica (Principal Investigator): 1993 ($25K)

This research investigated ground water inputs at Lake Hoare, a perennially ice-covered lake in the Dry Valley region of Antarctica.  Conducted in 1992, work focused on measurement of submarine ground-water discharges beneath the perennial ice cover. Data to date suggests that ground water is entering the lake in spite of the large areas of deep permafrost. Funded by NASA/NSF and through an award of Institutional Project Assignment funds from the Desert Research Institute in 1992.

Use of Fractal Methods for Generation of Synthetic Datasets and Scientific Visualization in the Modeling of Groundwater Flow and Transport. (Co-Principal Investigator with S. Wheatcraft): 1989-1991 ($225K)

This research investigated the development of fractal algorithms to reproduce important aspects of natural heterogeneity. The studies focused on development of gridding algorithms for sparse data for the purpose of using sparse data with scientific visualization software; development of computer graphic methods to simultaneously visualize 3-dimensional model input data (such as hydraulic conductivity) and 3-dimensional transient output data from models. Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approximately $400K over three years, 1990 through 1992.

Examination of the Fractal Characteristics of Solute Transport in Porous Media with Field Scale Heterogeneity (Co-Principal Investigator with S. Wheatcraft): 1987-1989 ($240K)

This research investigated the fractal nature of aquifer heterogeneity and the interpretation of dispersion problems with respect to fractal geometry.  Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the State of Nevada for approximately $200K per year from 1988 through 1990.

Estimation of Recharge from Nuclear Subsidence Craters:  (Co-Principal Investigator) 1986-1988

This research investigated via drilling and analysis of soil physics and geochemical data the role of subsidence craters in recharge in arid environments.  Research included innovative drilling and sampling procedures, coupled with isotopic analysis of soil water chemistry. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for $120K each year from 1985 through 1988.

Teaching & advisement

Vadose Zone Hydrology (GEOL 784): This graduate level course focuses on the flow and transport of water and solutes in unsaturated porous media. The course emphasis numerical methods and the course extensively uses a partially saturated flow and transport simulator for all aspects of the topics. Taught yearly since 1992.  In the Spring of 1994, this course was the first graduate course to be taught via interactive television between the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Ground Water Hydrology (GE 684):  This course provides the basic introduction to ground water hydrology.  It is required for all Hydrologic Sciences Program graduate students as well as all undergraduates in Geologic Engineering.  Taught Fall 1993.

Evaporation and its Measurement (GEOL 782): This graduate level seminar is designed to introduce the concepts of evaporation and energy transport at the land surface. The course details commonly used empirical, energy budget and direct measurement techniques to estimate actual and potential evapotranspiration. Taught in 1995.

Hydrologic Field Methods (GEOL 701Z): This graduate level course emphasis “hands-on” training of all major methods and equipment used for both surface water and ground water investigations. Components of the course include a 48 hour aquifer test, geochemical sampling of groundwater, construction and maintenance of an automated weather station, stream gauging, stream sediment analysis, and aquifer slug testing and basic surveying. This course in taught yearly.

Hydrology/Hydrogeology Seminar (GEOL 782): This is a required course of all Hydrologic Science Graduate students. The course emphasizes writing skills, presentation skills and review of seminal papers in the hydrologic sciences. Taught yearly since 1999.

 

Students Advised

William Albright:  Analysis of fluid flow through alternative landfill cover designs: Field measurement and simulation. Ph.D 2005.

Jena Green: Storm water detention pond treatment of highway runoff in the Lake Tahoe Basin. MS 2005.

Christian Kroft: Well head protection delineation by Bayesian Methods in Spanish Springs Nevada. M.S. 2003.

Geoff Webb: Unsaturated transport processes in gold heap leach mining. M.S 2003.

Stephanie Kampf: Measurement of energy balance components on the Salar de Atacama M.S 2002.

Jeff Gamlin: Sources and distribution of arsenic in Honey Lake Valley, California M.S. 2002

David Decker: Solute Mobilization and Transport of Arsenic and other Oxyanions from Spent Heap Leach Mining Activities. Funded through the NSF/EPA Water and Watersheds Program, Ph.D. 2001.

Peter Hartsough: Quantifying Paleorecharge through Vadose Zone Tracer Profiles. Funded through the National Science Foundation. M.S. 2001.

Fred Ramsing: The Role of Submarine Ground Water Discharge in Lake Tahoe. M.S. 2001

Clay Cooper: The Role of Double Diffusion in Subsurface Solute Transport. Funded by U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences. Ph.D. 2000.

Joseph Leising: Evaporative Forcing of Brine Convection and its Relation to Alteration Minerals. Maki Fellowship. .Ph.D. 2000.

Brian Andraski: Water Balance Studies at an Arid Low Level Waste Disposal Site. Funded through the U.S. Geological Survey. Ph.D. 1998.

William Albright: The Role of Soil Amendments to Modify the Hydraulic Properties of Potential Waste Cover Soils at the Nevada Test Site. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy-Nevada Operations Office. M.S. 1995.

David Decker: Modeling the Behavior of Cyanide Breakthrough in Heap Leach Rinsing Operations. Funded by the U. S. Bureau of Mines Mineral Institute Program. M.S., 1996.

Karen Font: Geochemical Modeling of the Owens Dry Lake Ground Water System. Funded by the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District. M.S. 1995.

Scott Kranz: Measurement of Evaporative Flux from Owens Dry Lake. Funded by the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District. M.S. 1995.

Vijay Chekuri: The Role of Fracture Coatings in Controlling Water Imbibition in Fractured Tuff. Funded by State of Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office. M.S. 1995.

Joseph Leising: The Role of Ground Water Convection in Controlling Potassium Metasomatism. M.S. 1994.

Students Currently Under Advisement

David Prudic: Ph.D. Candidate. Coupled climate/groundwater/surface water modeling in arid regions

Gitane Royce: MS Candidate. The role elevated temperatures on root dynamics and below ground carbon storage in grasslands

Brian Rasmussen: MS Candidate. Modeling the impacts of acid mine drainage on water quality in the Mullens Creek Aquifer.

Thomas Fenstemaker: Ph.D. Candidate. Reactive transport simulation of gold forming processes in the Carlin Trend of eastern Nevada.

Richard Redd: MS Candidate: The use of surface geophysics to improve well siting in carbonate terrain of Haiti.

Edmund Bwofo-Twum:MS Candidate: Use of INSAR data to infer impacts of ground water depletion in alluvial basins.