NAU-USGS projects for graduate students

The Hydrogeology project position described below is no longer available - the position has been filled.

Research Discipline: Hydrogeology
Contact: Dr. Abe Springer (abe.springer@nau.edu)
Title: Measuring ephemeral spring flow at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon using electronic resistance sensors
Funding and Timetable: An M.S. student in Geology is needed for the project. Funding will include $26,000 per year for equipment and operations, and salary for one full-time masters student, for each of the two years of study. The student will spend a significant amount of time during the first year constructing and installing instruments and collecting data. During the second year the student will assimilate the data into a statistical model and write a thesis. Study products must include but are not limited to, a USGS website describing the project (include short description, photos, and data highlights), Northern Arizona University Masters Thesis, and a journal article summarizing findings of the study (possible outlet is Journal of the American Water Resources Association, GSA or AGU).
Principal Investigators and Collaborators:
Donald Bills, Steve Monroe, Kyle W. Blasch – U.S. Geological Survey
Dr. Abe Springer and M.S. Student – Northern Arizona University
John Rihs – National Park Service
Project Description: Spring flow from the south rim of the Grand Canyon is an important resource for the Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA). Springs offer refuge to endemic and exotic terrestrial wildlife species, help maintain the riparian areas associated with this resource, and provide critical watering holes for recreational users of the Park year around. Recent commercial, industrial, and residential development on the Coconino Plateau has heightened awareness and concern that ground-water pumpage may affect these spring resources. (Hart and others, 2002: Flynn and Bills, 2002). As a consequence, natural springs with outlets in the south rim of the canyon may be at risk of diminishing flow and in the worst case may go dry. Data describing ephemeral flow in spring fed tributaries related to the principal ground-water flow systems are currently lacking. The timing and quantity of these flows are of particular interest to the NPS.

We are proposing the use of low-cost electronic resistance sensors to conduct a baseline survey of spring flow timing over the next two years under a variety of conditions. Electronic resistance sensors have been proven to work in ephemeral channels in southern Arizona (Blasch and others, 2002), but have not been evaluated in bedrock and other environments. Their use in the south rim of the Grand Canyon has the potential for a significant improvement of spring-flow timing data collection and fills a critical data need of the NPS that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. : The electronic resistance sensors will be manufactured and installed at 10-15 sites along the south rim. Sensors will be deployed at spring sources in critical spring-fed tributaries and also at locations downstream near trail crossings and/or in riparian zones. Simultaneously, precipitation data, water level data from wells (may not be available), and withdrawal data will be collected within the region. The spring-flow timing data will be used to ascertain periods of active spring flow at their sources, near the sensitive riparian areas, and near hiking trails. A comparison of flow patterns along the springs’ reaches will provide information on the flow front extent and periods of increased evapotranspiration and freezing. Additionally, timing data between the different springs will help to infer spring connections to groundwater sources.

Research Discipline: Planetary Geology

Contact: Dr. Paul Morgan (paul.morgan@nau.edu)

Title: Chemical, mineralogic, and geologic indicators of Martian evaporite deposition and basin characterization

Funding: Funding pending, available possibly starting Fall 2003 or Spring 2003. Funding, if available, will support (a) one full-time Master's Student for 2 years at a rate of approximately $13 per hour for half-time (20 hours per week) during the first academic year, $16 per hour for half-time in the second academic year, and up to 40/hours per week during the summer months; (b) travel by the student to one domestic U.S. conference per year--either the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, or a Mars meeting; (c) up to $1,000 per year to support software purchases or other operations critical to the project. Total funding anticipated at a level of $25,000 before institutional burdens are applied.

Tasks and timeline: Year 1. The student will become familiar with and begin use of Mars data archives for the gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS), thermal emission imaging system (THEMIS), Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter (MOLA), and Mars Orbiting Camera (MOC). Student will gain initial experience in determining or mapping element or mineral ratios in interesting areas of the Martian surface and in manipulating and overlaying various Mars data sets in a GIS environment. Year 2: Student will examine GRS data for trace and major element indications of possible aqueous chemical fractionations, THEMIS data for signs of minerals that may have been precipitated from aqueous solutions, THEMIS and MOC images for signs of sedimentary deposition and fluvial erosion, and MOLA data for indications that Martian basins served as either open systems or closed systems with respect to aqueous precipitation. The goal will be to identify and characterize at least one Martian hydrogeologic basin in which aqueous chemical precipitation has occurred, or to conclude that no such basins can be reliably identified on the basis of existing data. The student may additionally employ any of a variety of possible tools, depending on her/his experience and interests, to explore hydrologic or aqueous chemical processes. These may include use of aqueous geochemical equilibrium modeling tools to simulate chemical weathering or aqueous precipitation, finite element modeling tools to examine subsurface and surface water flow, or digital elevation modeling of laser altimetry to render and analyze 3-D structure of sedimentary deposits and explore relations to inlet and outlet channels. Exact project design will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis for qualifying students, with the student's expertise and interests taken into account.

Principal Investigators and Collaborators:

Dr. Jeffrey Kargel, Dr. Jeffrey Plescia and Dr. Ken Tanaka: US Geological Survey

Dr. Paul Morgan, Dr. Nadine Barlow, Dr. Richard Shand, and M.S. student: Northern Arizona University

Qualifications: The student is expected to be highly self motivated and must be a self-starter with the following experience and background. (1) Successful application for admission to NAU’s M.S. in Geology degree program (2) Experience in one or more supplemental disciplines related in some way to evaporite deposition, basin sedimentation, chemical weathering, or other aspects pertinent to the project. Qualifying supplemental experience may include, for instance, a minor in inorganic geochemistry; documented field experience in a sedimentary evaporite basin; significant experience in optical petrography of aqueously altered rocks or evaporite minerals; theoretical petrology of aqueous chemical systems; relevant work with a petroleum company in evaporite basins; remote sensing and identification of mineral and rock types; lab analysis of trace elements in rocks and minerals; or other specialized expertise that would offer the student a particular insight into reduction and analysis of Mars data. (3) GIS capability (ArcView, for example) and multispectral image processing capability. To some extent, students lacking the indicated experience will be considered if they can demonstrate a plan for academic course work that would build the required expertise prior to completion of the project. The Contact above can assist the student in rounding out her/his experience with training, if needed, in Mars geology and paleoclimatic history, phase diagrams and aqueous chemical sedimentology, and trace element behavior in aqueous chemical environments and precursory igneous materials. The student will be expected to have or acquire through assistance of other people at USGS or NAU, an expertise in other required areas.