Research

From GeoClasses

Ground Water Research

Surface/Ground Water interactions in the small river systems

Conceptual numerical model of surface/groundwater interactions in rivers flowing across shallowly dipping sedimentary layers.

Using a combination of numerical modeling, sandbox modeling and field work, we are investigating the effects of groundwater discharge on surface flow and geomorphology.

• Project homepage: http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/GeoMod/index.php/Ground/Surface_Water_Interactions
• Article: Urbano, L., Waldron, B., Larsen, D. and Shook, H., 2006. Groundwater–surfacewater interactions at the transition of an aquifer from unconfined to confined, Journal of Hydrology, v. 321, n. 1-4, p. 200-212. (preprint)
  • We used large-scale numerical modeling and field measurements to demonstrate that systematic patterns of groundwater/surfacewater interactions occur when streams cross the subcrops of shallowly dipping sedimentary units.
• Article: Neilans, D., and Urbano, L.D., Assessing meter-scale heterogeneity of groundwater discharge using streambed thermal mapping, Journal of Hydrology, (in review) (manuscript)
  • This project used stream-bed thermal mapping to characterize the stability of groundwater discharge foci and their interaction with stream-bed morphology.
• Thesis: Dan Neilans' thesis project on the effect of ground-water on stream geomorphology - Uses spatially and temporally detailed field measurements of reach geomorphology, temperature and groundwater flux to answer the research question.

Future work: I am currently collaborating with Dr. Santosh Kumar in the Department of Computer Sciences in developing an array of autonomous, mobile, wireless sensors that can be used to collect identify groundwater discharge foci in small streams. This will allow the expansion of the detailed measurements documented in Neilans and Urbano to much larger scales.

Geomicrobiology

Pressure (head) contours and flow vectors from numerical model of planned experimental apparatus.

As part of a collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Houghton we are creating a Hele-Shaw type experimental apparatus to investigate the microbial effects on diagenesis and fluid geochemistry in hydrothermal systems. Experiments will be designed using numerical simulations of the apparatus. Active flow and mixing during experiments will be monitored using visible light and thermal infra-red cameras, in combination with geochemical analyses of outflowing fluids.

Surface/Ground Water interactions: The Mississippi River

Map showing the Sunflower River Low Flow Augmentation Project groundwater model area.

• Investigating the water-bearing potential of the Sunflower River Low Flow Augmentation Project for the Yazoo Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District (YMD). The YMD is particularly interested in analyzing the degree of connection between the well field of the Flow Augmentation Project and the Mississippi River.

• Thesis: Josh Epting's Thesis Project - Using pump tests and numerical modeling (with MODFLOW) to answer the research question.

Saltwater intrusion: Climate change, sea-level rise, tsunamis, storms

Projected groundwater pumping induced saltwater upconing beneath Nantucket Island.

These projects use numerical modeling to examine the effects of climate, tsunamis and storms on the rate of saltwater intrusion.

Saltwater intrusion due to sea-level rise induced by projected global warming

• Predicting the impact of global warming induced sea-level rise on saltwater intrusion on a small island.
  • Thesis chapter: Urbano, 2001. Global warming, sea-level change, and the freshwater resources of small islands], University of Minnesota.

Post-glacial salinization of the continental shelf

• Role of Quaternary glacial melting and sea-level rise on saltwater intrusion on the continental shelf.
  • Potential effect of global warming on saltwater intrusion rates of small islands
  • Article: Person, M., Dugan, B., Swenson, J., Urbano, L., Stott, C., Taylor, J., and Willett, M., 2003. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 115, no. 11, pg. 1324-1343. Media:GSA Bul Person 04.pdf
  • Abstract: Person, M., and Urbano, L., 2001. The Pleistocene hydrology of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts inferred from salinity data within coastal plain aquifers and confining units, Geological Society of America, 2001 annual meeting Abstracts with Programs, 33, no. 6, 106.

Conceptual numerical model of a small island using SUTRA for variable-density, variable-saturated flow.

Tsunamis and salinization on small islands

• The effect of tsunami inundation on saltwater intrusion of a small island.
  • Peer-reviewed conference proceedings - Urbano, L., and Thibault, C., (in review). Pattern of saltwater contamination resulting from tsunami inundation of small islands, Proceedings of the 17th Caribbean Geological Conference 2005, San Juan PR. (http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/GeoMod/index.php/Caribbean_Conference_Short_Paper)
  • Abstract - Urbano, L., 2005. Pattern of saltwater contamination resulting from tsunami inundation of small islands, Abstract for the 17th Caribbean Geological Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 17-21.

Storms and coastal salinization

• Project website: http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/GeoMod/index.php/Storm_Impact_Project
• Proposal: 2007: Hydrogeological impacts of hurricanes and other tropical storms on shallow coastal ground water resources. With Dr. Dan Larsen. (PI 50%) (NSF in review)
  • Examines the effect of storms on saltwater intrusion along the Mississippi coast.

Ground water/lake interactions in large arid basins

Nulla Lake, a saline lake in the Murray Basin of southeastern Australia.

• This project investigates the causes and evolution of salinity in large inland basins like the Murray Basin of southeastern Australia.

• Article: Urbano, L., Person, M., Kelts, K. and Hanor, J., 2004. Transient groundwater impacts on the development of paleoclimatic lake records in semi-arid environments, Geofluids, v. 4, n. 3, pg. 187-196. (Abstract) (Media:GF Urbano 04.pdf)

• Article: Urbano, L., Person, M., and Hanor, J., 2000. Groundwater-lake interactions in semi-arid environments, Proceedings of Geofluids III; third international conference on Fluid evolution, migration and interaction in sedimentary basins and orogenic belts, Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 69-70, pg. 423-427.

Geo-archeology

Chertman

Path of a single walk of the Chertman model agent.

The Chertman project attempts to reconstruct the interactions between early humans and their environment based on archeological lithic assemblages and random walk modeling.

• Poster: Cole, S. and Urbano, L., 2005. Modeling Toolstone Procurement Using Random Walk Simulation, 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Salt Lake City.

• Thesis: Rodney Quarles' Thesis project developing and conducting sensitivity analysis of the agent-based model (Chertman) to answer the research question.

Effect of climate on pre-historic human populations

The two main mounds at the Link Farm site.

• A project to investigate the link between environmental conditions and the rise and decline of a vibrant pre-historic (1,000-1,500 A.D.) society in middle-Tennessee.

• Project website: Urbano, L., 2007. http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/GeoMod/index.php/Link_Farm_Geoarcheology
  • The website describes the project (including a recently funded proposal) and provides regular updates on progress.
• Proposal: 2007: Effect of climate on the pre-historic populations of middle-Tennessee (U. Memphis Faculty Research Grant - funded $5,600)

Geoscience Education Research

The focus of this work is to use educational pedagogy to create technological mechanisms that enhance teaching.

• Service: 2006: I was invited to serve on a proposal review panel in the National Science Foundation's Geoscience Education program.
• Proposal: 2007: An Earth Science curriculum for the 21st century (U.Memphis TAF program) (PI: 75%) - A proposal aimed at deploying new technology to improve the undergraduate curriculum.

MovieClassroom: Online video editor for the Geosciences

MovieClassroom website logo.

In collaboration with Mr. Lavin Urbano and others I have created an online movie editor for the production of Earth Science themed movies. We are using this tool to develop educational modules that harness the power of visualizations and the creative process of movie production. We are also exploring cognitive and affective parameters that determine the utility of a student-produced movie as educational media for peers. The ultimate goal of this project is to create an online environment for the creation and sharing of geoscience themed educational video.

• Website/Online application: Urbano, L.D., et al., 2007. The MovieClassroom Project, http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/MovieClassroom/ (accessed July 15th 2007).
• Educational applications: Urbano, L.D. 2007. Applications and Analysis, http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/MovieClassroom/index.php/Applications_and_Analysis (accessed July 2007)
  • This webpage documents applications of the MovieClassroom in a variety of educational settings (eg. extra-credit projects, laboratory exercises, quizzes).
• Article: Urbano, L. and Urbano, L.C., 2008. Learning through movie production with the MovieClassroom, Journal of Geoscience Education, (in press: September 2008) (manuscript).
• Presentation: Urbano, L.D., and Bateman, J.M., 2007 (upcoming). Affective response to peer-produced movies, GSA Fall 2007. (Abstract)
• Presentation: Urbano, L.D., and Urbano, D.L.C., 2007 (upcoming). Online video creation for the Geosciences using the MovieClassroom 2.0, GSA Fall 2007. (Abstract).
• Past presentations are documented in my C.V.
• Support: 2006. Using movie production in Earth Science Education, (U.Memphis SI/ST program - Funded $7,500) (proposal and final report).
• Future/ongoing work: I am in the process of instituting user-ratings and commenting on movies and media elements which should encourage the evolutionary improvement and divergent speciation of movies as they are adapted for a variety of audiences.

3d interactive VPython models

Screen capture of coriolis model.

This project explores the use of interactive, 3d models, created and adapted by myself and students in my upper level classes, to create and assess educational modules for undergraduate Earth Science classes. It also investigates the use of the VPython programming language for the class, Introduction to Modeling in the Earth Sciences.

• Models collection website: Urbano et. al., 2007. GeoMod: Earth Science Models for Research and Education, http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/GeoMod/ (accessed July 2007).
  • This website documents the full suite of VPython models I have developed and used in undergraduate education.
• Article: Urbano, L., and Houghton, J., 2006. An Interactive Computer Model for Coriolis Demonstrations, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 54, no. 1, p. 54-60. (preprint) (Media:Urbano-v54n1.v2.pdf).
• Manuscript: Urbano, L., (in preparation). Using VPython in Geoscience Education, for the Journal of Geoscience Education. (manuscript)
• Course: Introduction to Modeling in the Earth Sciences, http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/GeoMod/index.php/Introduction_to_Modeling, (accessed May 14, 2007).
• Educational module: Urbano, L., 2006. The scientific method - The formation of the Earth, http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/Classes/index.php/The_scientific_method_-_The_formation_of_the_Earth (accessed July 2007)

Recycling education

Pictures of smog in Santiago de Chile by David Eldred a student in ESCI 1010.

Using Wikis to produce

1. learning through teaching by creating websites, and
2. learning from peer-produced educational media.

• Wiki website: Urbano, L.D., et al., GeoClasses Wiki, http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/Classes/