Sand dams – low-head dams built in ephemeral streambeds that store water within saturated sediments – are a proven means to increase water supplies for rural communities in arid and semiarid regions. Water percolates into the reservoir-impounded sediments during wet season rains and can subsequently be extracted during the dry...
Urban development causes changes in the hydrology, increasing stormwater runoff volumes, which often leads to flooding and ecosystem degradation. This is a common phenomenon in most urban Africa, due to lack of stormwater drainage infrastructures. Green Infrastructure (GI) has been shown to be an effective approach to lessen the effects...
In the face of climate change droughts are predicted to become more persistent, further intensifying the need for accurately predicting the timing and magnitude of summer streamflow in rivers. In order to determine the sensitivity of a watershed to drought, there is a need to describe what these drought conditions...
Finding trees and crops that are resistant to pathogens is key in preparing for current and future disease threats. In this dissertation, we analyzed the potential of using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to find infection while identifying issues and strategies addressing differences over time, in spatial resolution, the application of machine...
Diking and channelizing in the Toppenish Creek basin, associated with irrigated agricultural development, has altered its natural ecosystem function and hydraulic processes. We seek to answer two research questions: if surface waters are diverted for aquifer recharge in the winter, will this water be available for ecosystem function in the...
Survival of ecological systems pivot on critical moments. In the arid John Day Basin of Eastern Oregon, extensive restoration of the stream and floodplain focused on supporting salmon has been ongoing for the past 20 years, but recurring short periods of extreme temperature increase and low flows result in mortality...
Solute transport models in karst groundwater must consider variable and complex flow regimes. Within fissures less than 2 mm in aperture, during unsaturated flow events, seeping flow may flow as films or under capillary tension as a capillary rivulet. This project focuses on exploring the mass transport characteristics of seeping...
As climate change contributes to larger and more severe wildfires in California, areas of fire refugia – considered unburned and low-severity burn patches – are playing an increasingly important role in sustaining ecosystem resilience, maintaining biodiversity, and supporting post-disturbance recovery. At the same time, climate refugia – which are areas...
Hyperspectral images were taken from March till October, 2018, of southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis), SWWP, seedlings of ten different seed-source families. Half of the seedlings were inoculated with white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola). Visual assessments of vigor coincided with hyperspectral data acquisition.
The aim of the experiment was...
Growing populations and industrialization rates across the world are leading to increased food and energy demand. The challenge of meeting this demand while also mitigating climate change impacts serves as a driving force for the development of renewable energies technologies. This study focuses on the role of Agrivoltaic systems in...