Collaborative Research (IRES Track I): A Multi-Faceted Approach for Understanding Hydrologic Controls on Transmission Losses in Dryland Environments

University Of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington KY

Investigators

Abstract

This IRES project is co-funded by Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) and Hydrologic Sciences programs (GEO/EAR). Part 1: Water resources are critical to health and sustainable development, particularly in arid regions such as the Middle East and North Africa. Water-resource management strategies require scientific knowledge, physical observations, and cultural sensitivity to ensure long-term sustainability. This program will develop the abilities of young US hydrologic scientists with diverse backgrounds to conduct research, communicate their findings, and work collaboratively in an international setting. Over three years, student-led projects with colleagues in Morocco will provide an improved understanding of the sustainability of groundwater resources. Understanding how aquifers are recharged by infiltration through streambeds in arid regions will allow researchers to model water-resource availability and answer questions about the impact of such infiltration on water quality and ecosystem services. Students will acquire both "hard" (technical) and "soft" (interpersonal) skills by participating in online training courses and a workshop, in field data collection and analysis, and in professional meetings and public outreach. Part 2: This IRES project proposes to integrate international research projects with cultural training, technical instruction, and preparation for professional practice in hydrology for 5 graduate students each year from US institutions, including underrepresented colleges and universities. The proposed research examines infiltration (transmission-loss) rates and variability within ephemeral channels in arid watersheds to test whether modern recharge occurs within these settings, further the understanding of transmission-loss processes, and examine controlling factors. This represents a partnership between the University of Georgia (UGA), University of Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State University, and four Moroccan universities. Three sets of activities will be linked to the research theme: (1) developing technical expertise through a pre-trip online course, a pre-trip workshop at UGA, and a 5-week research trip to Morocco; (2) developing professional contacts and skills, including accessing and distributing data via shared platforms, communicating science, writing grant proposals, and learning scientific ethics; and (3) conducting outreach to the general public, increasing students’ global awareness, and transferring information to technical users. We will pursue continuous improvement of mentoring through training and feedback, and we will evaluate student learning through both formative and summative assessments. The intellectual merit of this work lies in the integration of physical hydrology, geochemistry, remote sensing, and modeling to determine groundwater recharge at local to regional scales under varying environmental conditions. The researchers seek to determine (1) the timing of flash floods and net infiltration, (2) the effects of soil moisture, slope, and soil properties during transmission losses, (3) whether infiltration during transmission losses is equal to groundwater recharge, and (4) the influence of subsequent rainfall events on infiltration, as well as (5) improving future land-surface parameterization of models in drylands. Socioeconomic and political constraints, inaccessibility, and/or the heterogeneous nature of transmission losses could limit access to vast, sustainable, fresh groundwater reserves. An improved understanding of transmission losses will lead to better decisions by water managers, regulators, and planners in arid regions such as the Middle East and North Africa. Results will be disseminated through meetings with collaborators, public outreach activities, the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science (CUAHSI) Water Data Center, the Global Groundwater Monitoring Network (GGMN), scientific presentations in the USA and Morocco, and peer-reviewed publications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.