 |
William Wright Ph.D. Geosciences wwrigh19@fau.edu
Xavier Comas Thesis Title: Time-lapse ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements for exploring biogenic gas distribution and releases from peat soils in the Florida Everglades Thesis Description: Peat soils are known to release significant amounts of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. However, uncertainties still remain regarding the spatio-temporal distribution of gas accumulations and the triggering mechanisms of gas releasing events. Furthermore, most peatland gas dynamics research has historically been focused on high latitude peatlands, while recent works have suggested that gas production rates from low-latitude peat soils may be higher than those from colder climates. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical tool that has successfully been used in the past to non-invasively investigate the release of biogenic gasses from peat soils. This study is conducted in the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA), a hydrologically controlled, landscape scale (30 HA) model of the Florida Everglades. Here, temporal and spatial heterogeneity of gas releases from peat soil at the plot scale (<100 m2) are shown using a time series of three-dimensional (3D) GPR measurements. GPR data are supported by direct gas flux measurements using flux chambers combined with time-lapse photography, and surface deformation measurements using terrestrial LiDAR scanning and differential leveling. Publications: Comas, X., Wright, W. Heterogeneity of biogenic gas ebullition in subtropical peat soils is revealed using time-lapse cameras. Water Resources Research, vol. 48, W04601, doi:10.29/2011WR011654, 2012. Presentations: Wright, W., Comas, X., Berber, M. Exploring the temporal and spatial distribution of biogenic gases from peat soils at LILA using ground penetrating radar (GPR). Poster presentation for USFWS Loxahatchee NWR 2013 Science Workshop, September 2013. Wright, W., Comas, X., Heij, G., Slater, L.D., Schafer, K., Reeve, A.S. Autonomous ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements for exploring biogenic gas dynamics of peat soils in a northern peatland. Presented at Biogeosciences Poster Session, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2012. Wright, W., Comas, X. Autonomous ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements for exploring temporal dynamics in biogenic gas releases from peat soils in the Florida Everglades. Presented at Biogenic Gas Emissions session, INTECOL 9 International Wetlands Conference 2012. Wright, W., Comas, X., Slater, L.D., Monahan, P., Alcivar, W., Parsekian, A., Doelger, S., Schafer, K., Reeve, A.S. Autonomous ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements for exploring biogenic gas dynamics of peat soils in a northern peatland. Presented at Biogeosciences Poster Session, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2011. Funding: NOAA Grant Additional Activities: Professional Surveyor and Mapper Geomatics Engineering Student Society; treasurer Sigma Gamma Epsilon; former prez American Geophysical Union Florida Surveyors and Mappers Society GeoClub |