2015 Research Project Descriptions
- Johnson State College in Johnson, VT
- 01- Water Quality of Tributaries of the Lamoille River
- 02- Microclimate Evaluation
- Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT
- 03- Storm Chasers: Effects of Storms on Suspended Sediments in Streams
- University of Vermont in Burlington, VT
- 04- Biogeochemistry of Nutrients and Trace Metals in the Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain: Factors Controlling Temporal and Spatial Variation of Nutrients and Trace Metals
- 05- Harmful Algal Blooms and Nutrient Biogeochemistry in Lake Champlain
- 06- Linking Nutrient Dynamics to Food Webs in a Eutrophic System
- 07- Phosphorus Movement and Transformations from Soils into Tributaries of Lake Champlain
- 08- Capture and Analysis of Fluvial Sediments
- 09- Tracer Study for Identifying and Quantifying Sources of Sediments Found in Vermont Streams
- 10- Field Studies in the Mad River
- 11- Water Quality Analysis for Bioretention Stormwater Treatment Lab
- 12- Northern Forest Mesocosm (NForM) Climate Change Experiment: sustaining forest health and function in a warming world
- 13- Vermont Agricultural in a Changing Climate
- 14- What lurks below: how important are subsurface flows of nitrogen and phosphorus?
- 15- Interpreting Climate Change Data for Vermont's Public
- 16- Project is longer available.
- 17- Vermont’s Act 250 – Characterizing Proposed Legislative Amendments to the Law, 1985 to Present
- 18- Twitter Networks for Water Quality and Climate Change
- 19- Evaluating and Improving An Interactive Land Use Transition Agent-based Model (ILUTABM)
- Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT
- 20- Macrophytes and Sediments in Lake Champlain
- Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT
- 21- Effects of Sedimentation and High Water Events on Macroinvertebrate Communities
- Johnson State College in Johnson, VT
- 22- Characterization of Landslide Potential
- University of Vermont in Burlington, VT
- 23- Algae blooms and Lake Champlain Hydrology
- 24- Evaluation of Downscaling Methods for Climate Data
Johnson State College in Johnson, VT
Project Code: 01
Title: Water Quality of Tributaries of the Lamoille River
Co-mentors:
Dr. Robert Genter, Environmental & Health Sciences (Community Ecology, Toxicology, Hazard Assessment)
Saul Blocher, Laboratory Technician, Environmental & Health Sciences (Water Quality)
Research Description: Water samples will be collected from 19 stream sites on tributaries of the Lamoille River, Vermont. These samples will be analyzed for different strains of the bacterium E. coli and for seven different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. This work began in 2008 and sets a reference point for water quality that can be used to assess future changes due to climate change. The results are also applied to present-day water quality assessment. Interns will work in the field (streams and small rivers), laboratory, and computer lab setting. Students must have completed a two-semester sequence of introductory biology and introductory chemistry for college-level science majors. Courses in limnology, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics are preferred.
Research Questions: 1) How much of an impact do storm events have on concentrations of seven different forms of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based molecules in streams of the Lamoille River basin?; 2) How much of a role do soil interstitial E. coli play in the contribution of E. coli to streams in the Lamoille River basin?; and 3) How are amounts of E. coli and loadings of N and P related to land-use practices in the Lamoille River basin?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Organize equipment and supplies and conduct field sampling of streams and small rivers; 2) Perform high-quality microbiological techniques in isolation and culturing of E. coli and high-quality laboratory techniques in processing water samples for chemical analyses; and 3) Data analysis and presentation.
Project Code: 02
Title: Microclimate Evaluation
Mentor: Dr. Tania Bacchus, Environmental & Health Sciences (Meteorology and Climatology)
Research Description: My research focuses on a comparison of weather data (primarily temperature and precipitation statistics) for stations across the northern tier of Vermont to assess trends in weather patterns and ultimately climate patterns. So far I have been processing and comparing monthly/seasonal/yearly data from 2000 to present (ongoing for 2014) from the Burlington International Airport (BTV) weather station, the Morrisville-Stowe Airport (MVL) weather station and our Johnson State College (JSC) weather station. During the summer of 2014 I extended this same type of monthly/seasonal/yearly comparisons to include a fourth station - the St. Johnsbury (Fairbanks Museum) station. This upcoming summer (2015), I plan on continuing the evaluation of my dataset . My preference is for students who are environmental science or meteorology majors who have a good working knowledge of using spreadsheets (especially excel).
Research Questions: 1) When and how frequently have our four stations recorded unusual weather events (for example: larger than usual precipitation amounts, record high/low temperatures)?; and 2) How does the timing and frequency of these events compare to those already documented by climate records (both local and regional)?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) How to process and analyze recent/current weather patterns from multiple weather stations (and microclimates).; and 2) How to assess significant trends from multiple weather stations (and microclimates) to help determine regional/local climate change.
Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT
Project Code: 03
Title: Storm Chasers- Effects of Storms on Suspended Sediments in Streams
Mentor:
Katie Chang, Laboratory Technician (Water Quality)
Research Team:
Dr. Declan McCabe, Biology Department (Community Ecology and Water Chemistry)
Research Description: Under the direction of the Laboratory Technician, interns will help in the collection, analysis, and evaluation of water quality in the Missisquoi and Winooski watersheds. Field work will involve regular visits to established sites where automated equipment collect stream samples. This will ultimately help RACC researchers understand the transport of nutrients and sediment over the watersheds, data to be included in Vermont climate change models. In the lab, interns will be trained in basic laboratory procedures, safety, and water quality assays. (This will include analysis for suspended sediment and acid washing). Other techniques and concepts in water quality sampling and stream ecology will also be covered. Interns will also have the opportunity to assist in the training of high school students. At least two semester of college level chemistry are required. Majors in biology, chemistry, environmental science, hydrology, geology, natural resource are encouraged. Attention to detail required.
Note: Project will require regular weekly field travel with research team. Please indicate on your application if you have a valid driver's license and/or vehicle. Applicants able to drive will be asked to complete SMC driver safety training and screening in order to drive a college vehicle. Not all students placed in this lab will be required to drive.
Research Questions: 1) What are the annual TSS loads for sampling sites along the Winooski or Missisquoi River?; 2) How have the TSS and nutrient levels changed over the last three years of sampling?; and 3) Determine the phosphorus loading for one (or more) of EPSCoR's high school stream sites by measuring and creating a stage-discharge rating curve.
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Proper laboratory practices, including safety, water quality analyses, and QAQC protocols; 2) Perform data analysis and create a professional presentation; and 3) Become experts with the use of automated water quality sampling equipment.
University of Vermont in Burlington, VT
Project Code: 04
Title: Biogeochemistry of Nutrients and Trace Metals in the Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain: Factors Controlling Temporal and Spatial Variation of Nutrients and Trace Metals
Co-Mentors:
Dr. DongJoo Joung , Postdoctoral Fellow
Peter Isles, MA Conservation Biology, PhD candidate (Lake Biogeochemistry)
Research Team:
Dr. Andrew Schroth, Department of Geology (Lake and Watershed Biogeochemistry)
Research Description: Eutrophication of lakes is a global concern creating many environmental as well as socio-economic problems, such as nuisance and toxic algal blooms (e.g., cyanobacteria), bottom water hypoxia, the release of contaminants from sediments into the water column and/or biomagnified through trophic levels, that potentially reach humans. Although management efforts can reduce significant point sources of nutrients, eutrophication remains a problem due to the internal loading of nutrients from sediments. However, the factors controlling the internal nutrient loading are poorly understood. Thus, the goal of our study is to examine how and to what extent are factors controlling the variations of the sedimentary nutrient release. This study will help water quality management efforts that should be optimized with different nutrient loading regimes in temporal and spatial manners. Our research is labor intensive, including frequent field visits (every two weeks), sample processing (sediment and water), and data acquisition and analysis. Thus, student interns will be a great support for our research.
Research Questions: 1) Are there spatial and temporal variations of N, P, Fe, and Mn in the sediments and water column?; 2) What are the factors controlling the variations?; and 3) What is the link between sedimentary nutrients and algal blooms?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Sample preparation and collection (sediments, water, phytoplankton); 2) Sample processing (sediments core sectioning, freeze drying, chemical digestion/extraction of sediments, and water filtration for nutrients and trace metals); and 3) Sample measurements and data acquisition (handling instrument, e.g., ICP-OES), and Data interpretation in written and oral practices using software (e.g., power point, excel and other graphic programs).
Project Code: 05
Title: Harmful Algal Blooms and Nutrient Biogeochemistry in Lake Champlain
Co-Mentors:
Dr. Yaoyang Xu, Postdoctoral Fellow (Lake Biogeochemistry)
Peter Isles, MA Conservation Biology, PhD candidate (Lake Biogeochemistry)
Research Team:
Dr. Andrew Schroth, Department of Geology (Aquatic geochemistry)
Dr. DongJoo Joung, Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Description: Students will work with a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying lake processes (Question 1, RACC) at the University of Vermont to understand the interplay between harmful algal blooms and nutrient biogeochemistry. Field work will include maintenance of a biogeochemical monitoring buoy moored in Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain; collection of weekly water samples; and periodic spatial data collection using sensors and water samplers. Lab work will take place at the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, and duties will involve maintenance and calibration of advanced aquatic sensors, nutrient assays using a variety of instruments, preparations for field excursions, phytoplankton identification, and data analysis. Students will work cooperatively with a team of RACC interns studying related questions.
Research Questions: 1) What are the resources for limiting primary production over the course of the summer?; 2) What are the sources of nutrients to the water column?; and 3) How to use mathematical tools for detecting and predicting catastrophic shifts in aquatic ecosystems?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Field sampling design and implementation; 2) Lab analysis of nutrients and phytoplankton; and 3) Complex modeling of ecosystem behavior.
Project Code: 06
Title: Linking Nutrient Dynamics to Food Webs in a Eutrophic System
Mentor:Trevor Gearhart
, PhD candidate (Aquatic Ecology)
Research Team:
Dr. Jason Stockwell, Rubenstein School (Aquatic Ecology, Food Web & Nutrient Dynamics)
Peter Isles, MA Conservation Biology, PhD candidate (Lake Biogeochemistry)
Research Description: Students will work with an interdisciplinary team of professors and graduate students examining how nutrient dynamics affect algal blooms in Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain, and how these dynamics propagate up the food web to invertebrates and fish. Fieldwork will include sampling for phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates and fish. Lab work will include processing of biological samples, species Identification, and biochemistry techniques. Interns will also have the opportunity to interact and participate with other aspects of the RACC research project.
Research Questions: 1) How do blue-green algal blooms affect the lipid and fatty acid dynamics in native and invasive fishes?; and 2) What are the seasonal trends in phytoplankton and zooplankton community composition?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Experimental design and analysis; 2) Survey design and methodology; and 3) Laboratory analysis.
Project Code: 07
Title: Phosphorus Movement and Transformations from Soils into Tributaries of Lake Champlain
Co-mentors:
Scott Hamshaw, PhD candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Vanesa Perillo, PhD candidate (Soil Science)
Research Team:
Dr. Don Ross, Department of Plant and Soil Science (Soil Chemistry)
Dr. Beverley Wemple , Geography Department (Hydrology)
Dr. Donna Rizzo, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Description: Fieldwork will consist of sampling soils and streams in the Missisquoi and Winooski watersheds to determine the potential for movement and release of bioavailable phosphorus (P). A focus will be on understanding the forms and availability of organic P. Field efforts will include soil sampling and water quality sampling using automated ISCO samplers and turbidity sensors. Laboratory work will consist of processing and analyzing these samples for various forms of P, along with a suite of other parameters. Project is ideally suited to students interested in chemistry, hydrology and earth science. This research will coordinate with other researchers investigating in-lake processes.
Note: Project will require regular weekly field travel with research team. Please indicate on your application if you have a valid drivers license and/or vehicle. Applicants able to drive will be asked to complete
UVM driver safety training online course and screening in order to drive a UVM vehicle. Not all students placed in this lab will be required to drive.
Research Questions: 1) How does soil organic phosphorus change with distance away from the stream bank?; 2) How available is this P when the soil is eroded into the stream?; and 3) How does P concentration and speciation in stream water vary in time?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Field: Soil sampling techniques, stream water quality sampling, field surveying using GPS.; 2) Lab: soil and sediment analytical techniques including operation of advanced analytical instruments such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).; and 3) Mapping and analysis of field data using GIS.
Project Code: 08
Title: Capture and Analysis of Fluvial Sediments
Mentor: Scott Hamshaw, PhD candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Team:
Dr. Donna Rizzo, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Dr. Mandar Dewoolkar, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Description: As part of an ongoing study in the Mad River watershed looking at quantifying sediment sources and yields, students will participate in sampling and analysis of fluvial sediments. Fieldwork will include building, installing, and monitoring fluvial sediment samplers as well as automated ISCO water samplers in the Mad River and its tributaries. Water quality sample analysis will focus on the relationships between phosphorous and sediments. There will also be opportunities for laboratory analysis of both fluvial soil samples and water quality samples.
Research Questions: 1) How do turbidity and suspended sediment concentrations relate to phosphorous concentrations over storm events?; and 2) What is a practical method to capture fluvial soils over a storm event?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Experimental design and analysis methods; 2) Fluvial soil sampling techniques including working with time-integrated samplers, automated water quality samplers, and turbidity sensors; and 3) Analytical techniques for measuring sediment and phosphorous concentrations in soil and water samples.
Project Code: 09
Title: Tracer Study for Identifying and Quantifying Sources of Sediments Found in Vermont Streams
Mentor: Kristen Underwood, MS, PhD candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Team:
Dr. Mandar Dewoolkar, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Dr. Donna Rizzo, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Description: As part of an ongoing study in the Mad River watershed, we are investigating where the sediments are originating (e.g. agricultural fields, forest land, stream banks, roads). An isotope-based tracer study is being done, which involves fieldwork and sediment sampling in streams, stream banks and land. Fieldwork will also include building, installing, and monitoring fluvial sediment samplers.
Research Question: 1) The sediments found in the streams - where do they originate and what is the contribution of potential individual contributors?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Field sampling; 2) Development of sampling equipment; and 3) Specimen preparation.
Project Code: 10
Title: Field Studies in the Mad River
Co-mentors:
Dr. Arne Bomblies, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Jody Stryker, MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Justin Guilbert, PhD candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Description: As part of a watershed modeling effort in the Mad River Valley, the summer research consists of field surveys of stream bank structure, vegetation, erosion and stream bed sediment along entire reaches of the main stem and tributaries. In addition, observations of stream networks will be used to validate computer-generated stream networks. The observations will be used to parameterize and validate computer models of the Mad River Valley watershed. This will involve much field work and some Geographic Information System (GIS) work.
Research Questions: 1) How do sediment and geomorphology characteristics depend on stream order, and can reach-scale parameter assignments be made based on point measurements?; and 2) How vulnerable are stream banks to failure by high flow, and to what degree does vegetation variability influence this vulnerability?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Field sampling design and implementation, incorporation in hydrology models.; and 2) Basic GIS application to develop stream order/parameter relationships.
Project Code: 11
Title: Water Quality Analysis for Bioretention Stormwater Treatment Lab
Co-Mentors:
Dr. Stephanie Hurley, Plant and Soil Science (Water Resources, Ecological Design)
Paliza Shrestha, PhD Candidate, Plant and Soil Science
Research Description: The University of Vermont Bioretention Laboratory is a site of ongoing research on the use of bioretention systems to absorb and treat stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. Built in 2012 near a major visitor parking lot on the UVM Campus, this project serves as a public demonstration of bioretention “rain gardens” and is an example of environmental science research in action. Our research investigates the mechanisms influencing sediment and nutrient retention, water quality (heavy metals, sediment, nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen), plant health and greenhouse gas emissions within eight stormwater bioretention “cells.” Interns will work in an indoor and outdoor laboratory setting on the UVM campus. They will help with equipment set-up, data collection, water quality analysis methods and data analysis. This will be our third year of interns at the UVM Bioretention lab, and past interns have expressed that they learned a lot and enjoyed the work!
Research Question: 1) How do different vegetation treatments - low diversity and high diversity species mixes- compare in their ability to clean pollution from stormwater runoff?; 2) How do existing stormwater treatment designs function with existing precipitation patterns versus simulated "future" precipitations that are designed to mimic precipitation patterns in a climate-change-future?; 3) Do bioretention rain gardens, designed as stormwater treatment systems, emit greenhouse gases?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Water quality sampling and analysis techniques; 2) How to write hypotheses and research questions for scientific research and testing hypotheses during a short field season; 3) Learn about the basics of stormwater management and give detailed explanations of field monitoring setup options for assessing water quality changes from inflow to outflow in stormwater treatment systems.
Project Code: 12
Title: Northern Forest Mesocosm (NForM) Climate Change Experiment: sustaining forest health and function in a warming world
Co-mentors:
Dr. Carol Adair, Rubenstein School (Ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, Climate Change and Adaptation)
Ali Kosiba, PhD Candidate, Rubenstein School (Tree physiology, climate change)
Stephanie Juice, PhD Candidate, Rubenstein School (Ecosystem ecology, climate change)
Research Description: As temperatures rise, the ability of forests to maintain, gain, or loose carbon (C) and nutrients has important consequences for climate change mitigation, soil fertility and water quality. The goal of the NForM experiment is to identify the mechanisms driving forest C, nutrient and water balances and to quantify how warming-driven changes in these mechanisms will alter forest health and function using in-field forest mesocosms (small simulated forest watersheds).
This work has direct relevance for determining the ability of temperate forests to maintain important ecosystem services such as C, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) storage and retention and water purification as the climate warms. We will also examine how tree species currently near the northern or southern limits of their ranges will respond to warming. We will use gathered data to develop, test and compare C and nutrient process models that will allow us to better understand and predict the effect of climate change on temperate forests.
Research Questions: 1) How (and why) does a warming world impact forest carbon storage?; 2) How (and why) does a warming world impact forest nutrient (N, P) retention?; 3) How will a warming world change forest species composition?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Experimental design and analysis; 2) Tree physiology and fitness measurements; and 3) Soil, plant, microbial carbon and nutrient measurements.
Project Code: 13
Title: Vermont Agricultural in a Changing Climate
Co-mentors:
Dr. Carol Adair, Rubenstein School (Ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, Climate Change and Adaptation)
Tyler Goeschel, MS Candidate, Rubenstein School (Biogeochemistry, Agriculture, Climate change)
Research Description: This long-term, collaborative project seeks to work with farmers, agricultural service providers, researchers, and community organizations to address the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Vermont. The project focuses on evaluating and implementing on-farm climate change adaptation and mitigation practices. In partnership with farmers, we have identified "best management practices" for dealing with climate change, and are evaluating the economic and environmental impacts of these strategies. Our work also seeks to involve and inform state and federal policymakers.
Research Questions: 1) How do agricultural management practices affect carbon storage?; 2) How do different agricultural management practices affect greenhouse gas emissions?; 3) Can we work with farmers to lessen the effects of climate change?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Experimental design and analysis; 2) Soil carbon and greenhouse gas field and laboratory measurements/analysis; and 3) Basic spreadsheet use and preliminary data analysis..
Project Code: 14
Title: What lurks below: how important are subsurface flows of nitrogen and phosphorus?
Co-mentors:
Dr. Carol Adair, Rubenstein School (Ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, Climate Change and Adaptation)
Dr. Joshua Faulkner, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Farming and Climate Change Program Coordinator)
Research Description: Recent research suggests that subsurface nutrient fluxes may impact surface water quality and algal blooms via transport of both phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Yet, little is known about subsurface N and P transport in the Lake Champlain Basin. We will investigate subsurface flows of N and P from two watersheds on one agricultural site: one under conventional agriculture and the other under best management practices. Site soil characteristics and P levels indicate high potential for subsurface P losses. As such, this site will serve as useful test system to determine the potential importance of subsurface P losses.
Research Questions: We will collect preliminary data to test the hypotheses that (1) subsurface P leaching is a substantial fraction of total P loss, but P travel off site is not substantial due to interactions with and immobilization by subsurface soils and (2) subsurface mineral N loss (e.g., nitrate) will be a large proportion of total N loss both from both surface soils and the site (i.e., nitrate will be transported off site in groundwater).
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Experimental design and installation; 2) Soil and leachate sample collection and lab analysis; and 3) hypothesis development and testing via data analysis.
Project Code: 15
Title: Project is longer available.
Project Code: 16
Title: Project is longer available.
Project Code: 17
Title: Vermont’s Act 250 – Characterizing Proposed Legislative Amendments to the Law, 1985 to Present
Mentor: Dr. Clare Ginger, Environmental Policy and Planning
Research Team:
Dr. Steve Scheinert, Postdoctoral Fellow (Modeling Governance Systems)
Dr. Christopher Koliba, Community Dev. and Applied Economics (Public Administration and Policy)
Dr. Asim Zia, Community Dev. and Applied Economics (Policy, Governance & Adaptive Management)
Research Description: Vermont’s Land Use and Development Law (10 V.S.A. Chapter 151, Section 6001 et seq), commonly known as Act 250, was adopted by the state legislature in 1970. Act 250 established a permit system to place conditions on proposed residential, commercial, and industrial development to control impacts to water, air, soil, highway congestion, municipal services, aesthetics, historic sites and natural areas.
Since its adoption, many proposals have been made to amend Act 250. Some of these proposals are pertinent to the EPSCOR RACC Question 3 query: How can adaptive management interventions (regulation, incentives, treaties) be designed, valued and implemented in the multi-jurisdictional Lake Champlain Basin? In brief, Act 250 provides a regulatory mechanism that can promote adaptive management interventions and also support adaptation to and mitigation of climate change and consequent impacts on water quality in Lake Champlain.
The purpose of this project is to identify and assess legislative amendments to Act 250 proposed between 1985 and 2014 to identify and assess those that are relevant to efforts to adapt to climate change and minimize impacts to water quality in Lake Champlain.
Research Questions: 1) What amendments to Act 250 have been proposed in the Vermont State Legislature between 1985 and 2014?; 2) Which of these amendments are pertinent to the permit system for developments that might affect land use patterns in the Lake Champlain Basin, and affect water quality in the lake under conditions of climate change?; and 3) Of these pertinent amendments, when were they introduced, which ones were adopted and which ones were not adopted? Are there patterns evident in what types of amendments have been adopted and what types of amendments were not adopted? Are there patterns evident in the timing of passage of amendments, for example, relationship to when particular political parties are in control of the legislative and executive branches in Vermont?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Gain experience conducting legislative research and reading/interpreting legislative language; 2) Gain skills in data collection and coding; 3) Gain skills in content analysis for comparative assessment of policy proposals.
Project Code: 18
Title: Twitter Networks for Water Quality and Climate Change
Co-mentors:
Dr. Steve Scheinert, Postdoctoral Fellow (Modeling Governance Systems)
Dr. Ahmed Abdeen Hamed, Postdoctoral Fellow (Integrated Assessment Models RACC lead)
Research Description: During Summer 2014, we collected data on organizational interactions around implementing water quality policy and projects. We did this using an online survey that targeted respondents at organizations in the Winooski and Missisquoi watersheds, as well as throughout Vermont and parts of New York and Quebec. But surveys are notoriously tricky and often unreliable sources of data. Further, formal reports of any type provide limited amounts of data for checking or augmenting the survey results. Instead, social media platforms provide a means of identifying and tracking actual communication patterns between the organizations and individuals whose actions impact water quality. This includes the potential to access the public communication of hard-to-reach populations, such as farmers. RACC has access to a database that currently contains content data, representing the tweeted text, and meta-data from over 30 million tweets, and growing. This project will use that database to build a network of tweeted communication. The project will then analyze how broadly defined topics of discussion and sentiments regarding climate change and water quality management are distributed in this network. Finally, the project will compare these networks with the survey results to see if twitter networks should augment or replace the survey results.
Research Questions: 1) What are the patterns of communication (re-tweeting and tweeting at) relating to water quality and climate change on Twitter?; 2) Who is participating in the public social media conversation about climate change and water quality?; 3) What is the content of this conversation on Twitter, the sentiments expressed (happy v. sad; optimistic v. pessimistic) and how are they distributed across the network?; and 4) How does network compare with existing survey results?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Network analytic techniques; 2) Quantitative analysis of social phenomena; 3) Dataset construction and management; 4) Pre- and Post-processing of data; 5) Technical data mining; and 6) Visualization of network data.
Project Code: 19
Title: Evaluating and Improving An Interactive Land Use Transition Agent-based Model (ILUTABM)
Mentor: Dr. Yu-shiou Tsai, Postdoctoral Fellow (Public Administration and Policy)
Research Team:
Dr. Christopher Koliba, Community Dev. and Applied Economics (Public Administration and Policy)
Dr. Asim Zia, Community Dev. and Applied Economics (Policy, Governance & Adaptive Management)
Dr. Richard Kujawa, Geography Department (Economics and Human Geography)
Dr. Steve Scheinert, Postdoctoral Fellow (Modeling Governance Systems)
Research Description: RACC researchers are studying the Lake Champlain Basin as a coupled human and natural system with climate-change and human drivers. The novel and potentially transformational methodology in this work is the use of complex systems tools across all spheres, from the research on the Lake and working landscape of the watershed to the policies for management of the Basin. In this effort, we will apply the Interactive Land Use Transition Agent-based Model (ILUTABM) to two of the Watersheds in Vermont: Missisquoi and Winooski Watersheds by using empirical data. We will then assess the goodness-of-fit of the ILUTABM via calibration and validation processes. Lastly, we will further develop and tweak the ILUTABM to improve its performance.
Research Question: 1) How land use and land cover trajectories are impacted by the interactions of biophysical (Soil, Slope, Elevation, current Land Cover) and socioeconomic attributes (Landowners' income, age, value, public policies)?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Develop programming skills, especially Java; 2) Develop advanced skills in processing spatial data using ArcGIS; and 3) Develop advanced skills in data analysis and presentation.
Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT
Project Code: 20
Title: Macrophytes and Sediments in Lake Champlain
Mentor:
Dr. Sallie Sheldon, Professor of BiologyResearch Description: The continued phosphorus enrichment of Lake Champlain is a great concern. Phosphorus is coming from non-point sources such as fields. Materials coming off the land and draining into streams then are carried to Lake Champlain. The State of Vermont has not yet been able to come under the Total Maximum Daily Load for phosphorus. Aquatic macrophytes might help in two ways: 1) plant roots penetrating the sediment can stabilize the material, making it less likely to move during large weather events. 2) macrophyte beds can grow as a curtain slowing the rate of stream flow to the lake and might lead to sediment deposition in near shore areas, and less likely flow into open water. We will visit stream deltas, mapping the aquatic macrophytes currently there. We will also collect cores of sediment both in areas with macrophytes and areas without macrophytes. We will analyze soil particle size. We are trying to get permission to transplant native macrophytes from one part of the lake to near stream sites see if they lead to more sediment being deposited near shore, hence repeated trips to some sites. We would measure phosphorus concentration on transects running from shore to the lake.
Note: Students should know how to swim
Research Questions: 1) 1) Can aquatic plants (macrophytes) slow the movement of sediments to Lake Champlain?; and 2)What is the sediment structure where macrophytes are located compared to locations where macrophytes are absent?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Surveying streams for macrophytes; and 2) Mapping the location of macrophytes and sediment types.
Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT
Project Code: 21
Title: Effects of Sedimentation and High Water Events on Macroinvertebrate Communities
Mentor:
Dr. Declan McCabe, Biology Department (Community Ecology and Water Chemistry)
Research Description: Students will sample macroinvertebrates in a series of gauged streams in watersheds of varying land use, during base flow conditions and following significant storm events. We will also sample sediment from these streams for sieve analysis. All macroinvertebrates will be identified and we will measure benthic diversity from the samples.
Note: Project will require regular weekly field travel with research team. Please indicate on your application if you have a valid driver's license and/or vehicle. Applicants able to drive will be asked to complete SMC driver safety training and screening in order to drive a college vehicle. Not all students placed in this lab will be required to drive.
Research Questions: 1) Do benthic communities from streams draining different land uses respond differently to storm events? 2) Do stream sediment characteristics correlate with benthic diversity?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Macroinvertebrate identification and benthic index calculation; and 2) Experimental design and analysis.
Johnson State College in Johnson, VT
Project Code: 22
Title: Project is longer available
University of Vermont in Burlington, VT
Project Code: 23
Title: Algae blooms and Lake Champlain Hydrology
Mentor:
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed , Postdoctoral Fellow
Co-mentor:
Dr. Arne Bomblies, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydrology)
Research Description: Lake Champlain has experienced blue-green algae blooms plague that periodically become toxic. Excessive amounts of phosphorous and nutrients led to degraded water quality in Lake Champlain and exacerbated the algae bloom plague. Phosphorus can affect water quality by enabling excessive aquatic plant and algae growth, which can contribute to fish die offs and other environmental and health impacts. Implementation of conservation practices and systems that address improving water quality conditions in Lake Champlain have become a pressing need. Moreover, a better understanding of how the Lake Champlain hydrological system works is essential in handling this complex problem. This work will then tries to analyze historical data of occurrences of algae blooms at Lake Champlain as well as data on Lake’s hydrology. The purpose of this data analysis is to find if there is a relationship(s) among Lake Champlain level, precipitation over the lake, runoff to the Lake and the occurrences of algae blooms. In summary, we will look at various historical datasets to examine trends and correlations. This work is an essential element needed by scholars, policy makers and other stakeholders to form a holistic understanding that can deal with Lake Champlain environmental concerns of degrading water quality during summers.
Research Questions: 1) How are algae blooms are related to Lake Champlain’s hydrology?
Student Learning Objectives: 1) Hydrological data analysis and presentation. 2) Spatial modeling skills in a geographic information system (GIS).
Project Code: 24
Title: Evaluation of Downscaling Methods for Climate Data
Mentor:
Dr. Gabriela Bucini, Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Team:
Dr. Brian Beckage, Plant Biology Dept. (Climate modeling and Bayesian statistics)
Dr. Patrick Clemins, (VT EPSCoR Cyber Specialist)
Research Description: The RACC climate team is studying statistical approaches to generate fine-scale climate projections. We start from coarse-scale climate data output from general circulation models (GCMs), and refine their spatial information by adding the effects of topography (e.g., the Green Mountains). We apply this process, called downscaling, to simulations of temperature and precipitation. We analyze various combinations of GCMs and downscaling methods to assess the ability of downscaling to create improved fine-scale climate information. The downscaled projections are used by other RACC scientists (hydrologists and social scientists) to run their models with appropriate spatial details. The intern will work within the team to downscale model data, interpret the output through comparison to observed climate measurements collected at stations. This includes data analysis (statistics), literature review and writing. The position will build student knowledge of climate change and modeling within the context of impacts and adaptation in the Lake Champlain Basin.
Research Questions:1) How can we use the GCM data for climate change impacts and adaptation assessments over the Lake Champlain Basin?; 2) Can we improve the coarse-scale GCM data by adding the effect of regional topography?; and 3) What is the optimal method for generating fine-scale climate data over the Lake Champlain Basin?
Student Learning Objectives:1) Understand the spatial and temporal characteristics of modeled climate data; 2) Apply/write short scripts in R to visualize climate data and to run climate analyses; 3) Develop computer skills in different operating systems including the Yellowstone super computer; 4) Develop familiarity with climate change science, including literature and data analysis/interpretation; 5) Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers.
Thank you for your interest. Our application is now closed.
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