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Hydrogeologic assessment of the Brazos River alluvial aquifer : Waco to Marlin, Texas
(1990-05) Harlan, Scott K.; Yelderman, Joe C.
The Brazos River alluvial aquifer is a shallow unconfined aquifer within the alluvial deposits along the Brazos River. The deposits include the floodplain and terrace material which are comprised of clay, silt, sand, and gravel. Thicknesses of the alluvial deposits range up to 80 feet. Groundwater in the terraces is restricted to domestic and livestock wells producing less than 50 gpm. Irrigation wells located in the floodplain may occasionally exceed 800 gpm.
Flow directions in the terraces are toward the nearest stream dissection. Flow in the floodplain is toward the Brazos River and slightly downstream. Recharge to the aquifers consists primarily of rainfall recharging the terrace and floodplain surfaces as well as subsurface lateral inflow and recharge from losing streams and surface water bodies. Terrace deposits form minor aquifers that influence the hydrogeology of the floodplain aquifer system. Analysis of the water budget for the study area indicates that a portion of the Brazos River recharge originates from the terrace deposits. This recharge is transmitted through the Lower Taylor Marl Formation, the primary bedrock unit in the area, as lateral recharge into the adjacent floodplain aquifer. Estimates of hydraulic conductivities for the Lower Taylor Marl, as determined from this study, range from 1.45 x 10^-7 to 5.52 x 10^-7 cm/s.
Hydrochemical analysis indicates that the groundwater in the Brazos River alluvial aquifer is primarily a calcium bicarbonate water. There is, however, significant variation within the study area. Analysis of chemical data by numerous methods indicate that although there are some trends within the study area, there are no mappable groundwater facies. Statistical analysis of a selected sample set indicate that there are significantly higher concentrations of some ions in the floodplain aquifer than in the terrace systems.
Variations in measured parameters are a function of recharge-discharge relationships, flow paths, residence time and mineralogic differences in the aquifer matrix. A two-dimensional flow model is presented that describes the hydrochemical evolution in the aquifer.
Mise-en-séance : a director’s approach to Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov.
(2024-05) Skjaret, Lucas Grant, 1991-; Jortner, David, 1971-
Chekhovian theatre is often seen as an acquired taste. Its longevity and infamy
within the literary and dramatic canon have prompted scholars, artists, and audiences worldwide to have an opinion when they hear his name. To produce Chekhov for
contemporary audiences is to acknowledge those experiences, memories, and beliefs
within any artistic praxis. This thesis documents the director’s process in approaching,
conceptualizing, analyzing, and staging Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of Chekov’s penultimate play, Three Sisters, at Baylor University in November of 2023. It also explores the biography of Anton Chekhov, scholarly criticism of his dramatic canon, and Chekhovian
dramaturgy, as well as Sarah Ruhl’s life, her body of work, and the process of adapting
the play. Additionally, the thesis investigates Marvin Carlson’s theory of the haunted
stage and how past productions of Three Sisters informed the understanding and ultimate direction of the script.
Extreme stoichiometric gradients and B-vitamin effects on phytoplankton communities.
(2024-05) Barnard, Malcolm A., 1996-; Scott, J. Thad (Jefferson Thad)
Eutrophication of natural waters is a major environmental detriment, leading to increased occurrence of harmful algal blooms and harmful cyanobacterial blooms. In addition to the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous, micronutrients such as B vitamins can drive phytoplankton growth. To better understand the complex interactions between nutrient stoichiometry and B vitamin biogeochemistry in phytoplankton communities, a B vitamin bottle bioassay experiment was conducted in subsequent years with samples from a long-term shallow-lake mesocosm experiment set up with an extreme nutrient stoichiometry gradient. Vitamin additions did not have a significant effect on the phytoplankton community or their nutrient stoichiometry but halting N additions to shallow-lake mesocosms in 2023 led to an increase in community fraction and photosynthetic efficiency of green algae. The legacy of nutrient supply played a major role in the phytoplankton community and continued nutrient stoichiometry. Therefore, it is important to evaluate present and legacy loading in evaluating eutrophic systems.
Isotopic niche, trace element concentrations, and fatty acids in Pacific walrus tissues.
(2024-05) Godfrey, Genevieve L., 1982-; King, Ryan Steven, 1972-
Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) are a culturally and ecologically important species in the Arctic. Walruses are dependent on sea ice cover for breeding, pupping, and resting between foraging bouts. Recent Arctic warming has altered walrus access to sea ice and this may have profound effects on the population. A lack of sea ice cover may limit walrus access to preferred foraging areas or result in shifts in prey consumption. This dissertation focuses on markers of foraging and physiology that can be measured in walrus tissue, including analysis of toxic and essential trace elements, stable isotopic niche, and fatty acids. Concentrations of toxic elements in walrus muscle were low. Muscle trace element concentrations differed between male and female walruses indicating either differences in habitat use or prey selection. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed in liver and muscle and compared between males and females, as well as based on the Arctic sea ice minimum. Results indicated that male and female walruses differ in their isotopic niche. An increase in the days without sea ice caused a reduced stable isotopic niche area in males. Lower summer minimum ice area similarly reduced the isotopic niche among females, and the occupation of coastal haulouts caused a shift to lower trophic level prey. Fatty acids in muscle were highly variable compared to the fatty acids measured in blubber, and this variability appears to be driven by differences in fatty acid oxidation to support muscle activity. In blubber, reduced stratification between blubber layers coincided with lower percent lipid measurements and clear differences in fatty acid proportions were evident between males and females and among sample years. These studies indicate that adult walruses have adjusted their prey selection in response to climate-driven habitat changes. However, future research should assess foraging success in calves and juveniles as they may be more vulnerable to habitat change.
Development of a generalized fatigue assessment approach for steel castings.
(2024-05) Batson, Matthew, 2000-; Jordon, J. Brian (James Brian), 1979-; Allison, Paul Galon, 1981-
The objective of this project was to develop a generalized fatigue assessment approach for steel castings for a range of internal casting quality details. In particular, this project examined the effect of quality details on the fatigue performance of steel castings using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) analysis. This is a research effort to address issues common in the casting industry, as current fatigue assessment approaches can be too conservative leading to overdesigned parts and the use of computationally expensive methods. The model was shown to conservatively capture experimental data in the high cycle fatigue regime using Murakami’s effective area method for quality details and LEFM estimated crack growth constants. A main outcome of this study found that the minimum indication size using an industry accessible non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique, such as phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT), correlated to the proposed lower limits of the LEFM fatigue design approach.