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- Title
- SHALLOW-WATER ENCRUSTERS AND THE TAPHONOMY OF THE HOLOCENE STORM RIDGE OFF POMPANO BEACH, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Ciesinski, Carson Park, Oleinik, Anton, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Encrusters have a proven history as indicators of environmental conditions in nearshore habitats and are useful in both ecological and paleoenvironmental research within benthic ecosystems. Off the coast of Pompano Beach, Florida, a Holocene storm deposit contains large accumulations of subfossil Acropora palmata fragments with these same encrusting organisms attached to their surfaces. The objective of this research was to create an inventory of encrusters found within the storm deposit and...
Show moreEncrusters have a proven history as indicators of environmental conditions in nearshore habitats and are useful in both ecological and paleoenvironmental research within benthic ecosystems. Off the coast of Pompano Beach, Florida, a Holocene storm deposit contains large accumulations of subfossil Acropora palmata fragments with these same encrusting organisms attached to their surfaces. The objective of this research was to create an inventory of encrusters found within the storm deposit and document their successional outgrowth to determine the post-depositional history of sampled coral fragments. Foraminifera and coralline algae were the most common species found, and various sequences of successional outgrowth were observed that indicated fragments were either deposited gradually, immediately buried, or reworked after initial burial. This information is vital for understanding modern biodiversity on the Pompano coast, and the development of nearshore benthic marine ecosystems during the mid-late Holocene.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014344
- Subject Headings
- Taphonomy, Corals, Acropora palmata, Pompano Beach (Fla.), Environmental sciences
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- REEF WARS: MONITORING AND PREDICTING PHASE SHIFTS ON FLORIDA CORAL REEFS.
- Creator
- Conkling, Megan, Pomponi, Shirley A., Hindle, Tobin, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Reefs off the coast of Florida face threats from stressors associated with climate change which leads to phase shifts. Under rapid climate change, a clear understanding of how reefs and their benthic organisms respond is still lacking and needs to be investigated. Using in situ imagery, a sponge cell model, and long-term benthic biota surveys, the effects of climate change on reef dynamics were explored in this dissertation project. Results from the in situ imagery found that differences in...
Show moreReefs off the coast of Florida face threats from stressors associated with climate change which leads to phase shifts. Under rapid climate change, a clear understanding of how reefs and their benthic organisms respond is still lacking and needs to be investigated. Using in situ imagery, a sponge cell model, and long-term benthic biota surveys, the effects of climate change on reef dynamics were explored in this dissertation project. Results from the in situ imagery found that differences in spectral signatures are found between functional groups (i.e., corals, sponges, and algae) and different species from substrate. Results based on a sponge cell model and transcriptomics data have found a resilience of these sponges to the predicted thermal extremes. Results from benthic biota surveys suggested that depth and light attenuation have the largest influence on the predicted distribution of corals, sponges, and algae at Pulley Ridge. Climate change has been impacting reef benthic biota starting at the organismal scale up to the reef scale. This research demonstrates the importance of monitoring reefs at a finer scale and determining the thresholds and limits of benthic biota to projected thermal extremes to better inform resource managers to preserve these irreplaceable ecosystems.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014323
- Subject Headings
- Reefs--Florida, Climate change, Coral reef ecology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- MICROPLASTICS IN MANGROVE AND BEACH SEDIMENTS ON SOUTHEAST FLORIDA BARRIER ISLANDS.
- Creator
- O’Brien, Kayla Shae, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a global occurrence. Microplastics have been documented in numerous marine systems and organisms. Coastal estuaries and beach systems are at high risk for microplastic pollution. The distribution, abundance, and hazards microplastics present in these marine environments is not fully understood but are widely recognized as needed to support efforts aiming to protect and enhance these extremely valuable marine systems. This project aimed to...
Show morePlastic pollution in the marine environment is a global occurrence. Microplastics have been documented in numerous marine systems and organisms. Coastal estuaries and beach systems are at high risk for microplastic pollution. The distribution, abundance, and hazards microplastics present in these marine environments is not fully understood but are widely recognized as needed to support efforts aiming to protect and enhance these extremely valuable marine systems. This project aimed to quantify the abundance and variation of microplastics in estuarine mangrove and open coast beach sediments on Southeast Florida barrier islands, which are vulnerable and important coastal ecosystems. Barrier islands serve as a buffer between Florida’s wetland environments, reefs, and other marine habitats and may serve as a conduit or temporary sink for microplastics entering the ocean. The microplastic pollution present in estuarine mangrove and open coast beach systems may also elucidate patterns of microplastic pollution in the surrounding or similar coastal environments. There have been no extensive studies or monitoring efforts evaluating microplastics in Southeast Florida barrier islands sediments, nor comparing geomorphic properties of an area on microplastic accumulation. Study sites included back barrier estuarine mangroves and open coast beaches at three regionally similar but geomorphically distinct study sites throughout Palm Beach County, Florida. The sites were sampled seasonally in 2022 (i.e., summer and winter) to quantify the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014354
- Subject Headings
- Microplastics, Microplastics--Environmental aspects, Mangrove, Coastal sediments
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- LONG-TERM NATIONAL & REGIONAL BEACH NOURISHMENT TRENDS & DRIVERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR COASTAL RESILIENCE.
- Creator
- Palaparthi, Jyothirmayi, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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With the escalating challenges posed by global warming, sea-level rise, and natural disasters like hurricanes and tropical storms, coastal erosion has become a critical issue along the US coasts. The economic significance of U.S. coastlines, multitude of services offered by these coastal areas, underscores the critical importance of addressing the threats posed by both natural and human-induced factors that lead to erosion and coastal loss. To enhance future planning and to promote resilience...
Show moreWith the escalating challenges posed by global warming, sea-level rise, and natural disasters like hurricanes and tropical storms, coastal erosion has become a critical issue along the US coasts. The economic significance of U.S. coastlines, multitude of services offered by these coastal areas, underscores the critical importance of addressing the threats posed by both natural and human-induced factors that lead to erosion and coastal loss. To enhance future planning and to promote resilience of these invaluable coastal resources, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategies employed to mitigate coastal erosion in response to the diverse array of driving forces. A widely embraced solution to this erosion, caused by both natural forces and human activities, is beach nourishment. Historical assessments of beach nourishment at the regional level have been conducted, however, there remains a gap in national-level analysis examining the overarching trends and the diverse factors that impact these trends. This study aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on beach nourishment practices encompassing 16 coastal states, including the top ten highly nourished states, and an additional six states selected from various coastal regions. It delves into the multifaceted factors that shape these practices, offering a holistic understanding of the beach nourishment landscape at a national level. An extensive analysis of beach nourishment trends and the influence of factors such as sea level rise, storms, hurricanes, hurricane categories, and coastal management approval years on beach nourishment activities was conducted.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014309
- Subject Headings
- Beach nourishment, Coastal zone management
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- NITROGEN ENRICHMENT, EUTROPHICATION, AND BOTTOM-UP TROPHIC SHIFTS IN ECOSYSTEMS OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.
- Creator
- Brewton, Rachel A., Lapointe, Brian, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Eutrophication of urbanized estuaries is a global issue that continues to worsen as coastal development increases. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) on Florida’s east-central coast is a eutrophic estuary that is experiencing harmful algal blooms of macroalgae and phytoplankton, as well as widespread seagrass losses. This is concerning as seagrasses provide many ecosystem services, including the provision of essential habitat. These alterations in benthic cover can have ecosystem level effects and...
Show moreEutrophication of urbanized estuaries is a global issue that continues to worsen as coastal development increases. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) on Florida’s east-central coast is a eutrophic estuary that is experiencing harmful algal blooms of macroalgae and phytoplankton, as well as widespread seagrass losses. This is concerning as seagrasses provide many ecosystem services, including the provision of essential habitat. These alterations in benthic cover can have ecosystem level effects and require further investigation. Thus, drivers and effects of primary producer alterations in the IRL were investigated through analysis of long-term monitoring data, field surveys of faunal densities inhabiting macroalgae and bare bottom habitats, and stable nitrogen isotope (δ15N) analyses of primary producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers. Long-term monitoring data from the northern IRL (NIRL) and Banana River Lagoon (BR) demonstrated there have been major seagrass losses coupled with increases in occurrence of the rhizophytic green macroalgae Caulerpa prolifera, which is now the dominant benthic cover in many locations. Multivariate analyses of long-term monitoring data spanning 2011-2020 suggested that the carbon to phosphorus ratio (C:P) of macroalgae is an important factor related to annual changes in benthic cover in the NIRL and BR; increased P-availability is correlated with these primary producer shifts. In situ collections of macroinvertebrates and resident fishes showed the current function and importance of macroalgae as habitat in the NIRL and BR, particularly in the relative absence of seagrass.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014231
- Subject Headings
- Indian River (Fla. : Lagoon), Estuarine eutrophication, Nitrogen, Harmful Algal Bloom, Estuarine ecology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- QUANTIFICATION OF PERMAFROST THAW DEPTH AND SNOW DEPTH IN INTERIOR ALASKA AT MULTIPLE SCALES USING FIELD, AIRBORNE, AND SPACEBORNE DATA.
- Creator
- Brodylo, David, Zhang, Caiyun, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Much of Interior Alaska contains permafrost, which is a permanently frozen layer found within or at the surface of the Earth. Historically, this permafrost has experienced relative stability, with limited thaw during warmer summer months and fire events. However, largely due to the impact of a warming climate, among other factors, permafrost that would typically experience limited thawing during the summer season has recently been thawing at an unprecedented rate. Trapped by this layer of...
Show moreMuch of Interior Alaska contains permafrost, which is a permanently frozen layer found within or at the surface of the Earth. Historically, this permafrost has experienced relative stability, with limited thaw during warmer summer months and fire events. However, largely due to the impact of a warming climate, among other factors, permafrost that would typically experience limited thawing during the summer season has recently been thawing at an unprecedented rate. Trapped by this layer of permafrost is a large quantity of carbon (C), which could be released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Due to the remoteness of the Arctic, there is a lack of yearly recorded permafrost thaw depth and snow depth values across much of the region. As such, the focus of this research was to establish a framework to identify how permafrost thaw depth and snow depth can be predicted across both a 1 km2 local scale and a 100 km2 regional scale in Interior Alaska by a combination of 1 m2 field data, airborne and spaceborne remote sensing products, and object-based machine learning techniques from 2014 – 2022. Machine learning techniques Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, k-Nearest Neighbor, Multiple Linear Regression, and Ensemble Analysis were applied to predict the permafrost thaw depth and snow depth. Results indicated that this methodology was able to successfully upscale both the 1 m2 field permafrost thaw depth and snow depth data to a 1 km2 local scale before successfully further upscaling the estimated results to a 100 km2 regional scale, while also linking the estimated values with ecotypes. The best results were produced by Ensemble Analysis, which tended to have the highest Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, alongside the lowest Mean Absolute Error and Root Mean Square Error. Both Random Forest and k-Nearest Neighbor also provided encouraging results. The presence or absence of a thick canopy cover was strongly connected with thaw depth and snow depth estimates. Image resolution was an important factor when upscaling field data to the local scale, however it was overall less critical for further upscaling to the regional scale.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014229
- Subject Headings
- Permafrost--Alaska, Remote sensing, Machine learning
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE MANTEÑO OF BOLA DE ORO: PAST HUMAN RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH REMOTE SENSING, EXCAVATION, AND CHRONOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF LANDSCAPE MODIFICATIONS.
- Creator
- Garzón-Oechsle, Andrés E., Johanson, Erik, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
The term "collapse" has become a widely used term that oversimplifies the intricate histories of human-environment interactions. It has contributed to the belief that civilizations in the Americas and the tropics could not endure over time. However, the Manteño civilization of the Ecuadorian coast challenges this notion. Flourishing for a thousand years (ca. 650–1700 CE), the Manteños inhabited the neotropics at the gates of one of the world's most influential climatic forces, the El Niño...
Show moreThe term "collapse" has become a widely used term that oversimplifies the intricate histories of human-environment interactions. It has contributed to the belief that civilizations in the Americas and the tropics could not endure over time. However, the Manteño civilization of the Ecuadorian coast challenges this notion. Flourishing for a thousand years (ca. 650–1700 CE), the Manteños inhabited the neotropics at the gates of one of the world's most influential climatic forces, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). To thrive, the Manteños needed to navigate the extremes of ENSO during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA, ca. 950–1250 CE) and the Little Ice Age (LIA, ca. 1400–1700 CE) while capitalizing on ENSO's milder phases. This research uses change detection analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) on Landsat satellite imagery under various ENSO conditions from 1986 to 2020 in southern Manabí, where the 16th-century Manteño territory of Salangome was situated. The findings indicate that the cloud forests found in the highest elevations of the Chongón-Colonche Mountains provide the most resilient environment in the region to adapt to a changing climate. Further investigations of the cloud forest of the Bola de Oro Mountain using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipped with LiDAR, ground-truthing, and excavation uncovered a landscape shaped by the Manteños.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014225
- Subject Headings
- Climate change, Remote sensing, Archaeology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- MONITORING AND ANALYZING THE SEASONAL WETLAND INUNDATION DYNAMICS IN THE EVERGLADES FROM 2002 TO 2021 USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE.
- Creator
- Hasan, Ikramul, Liu, Weibo, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Previously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the...
Show morePreviously published in Geographies 2023, 3(1), 161-177 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies3010010) Inundation dynamics coupled with seasonal information is critical to study the wetland environment. Analyses based on remotely sensed data are the most effective means to monitor and investigate wetland inundation dynamics. For the first time, this study deployed an automated thresholding method to quantify and compare the annual inundation characteristics in dry and wet seasons in the Everglades, using Landsat imagery in Google Earth Engine (GEE). This research presents the long-term time series maps from 2002 to 2021, with a comprehensive spatiotemporal depiction of inundation. In this paper, we bridged the research gap of space-time analysis for multi-season inundation dynamics, which is urgently needed for the Everglades wetland. Within a GIS-based framework, we integrated statistical models, such as Mann–Kendall and Sen’s Slope tests, to track the evolutionary trend of seasonal inundation dynamics. The spatiotemporal analyses highlight the significant differences in wet and dry seasons through time and space. The stationary or permanent inundation is more likely to be distributed along the coastal regions (Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay) of the Everglades, presenting a warning regarding their vulnerability to sea level rise.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014244
- Subject Headings
- Everglades (Fla.)--Environmental conditions--Remote sensing, Google Earth
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- EXPANDED CORAL-REEF DEVELOPMENT OFF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE.
- Creator
- Modys, Alexander B., Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Coral reefs around the globe have undergone widespread degradation due to a myriad of natural and anthropogenic stressors. Climate warming, in particular, has emerged as an especially pressing threat, reshaping not only the biodiversity of coral-reef ecosystems worldwide, but also undermining the vital ecosystem services they provide. Yet amidst this decline, there is growing evidence that many coral species are expanding their ranges poleward into historically cooler subtropical and...
Show moreCoral reefs around the globe have undergone widespread degradation due to a myriad of natural and anthropogenic stressors. Climate warming, in particular, has emerged as an especially pressing threat, reshaping not only the biodiversity of coral-reef ecosystems worldwide, but also undermining the vital ecosystem services they provide. Yet amidst this decline, there is growing evidence that many coral species are expanding their ranges poleward into historically cooler subtropical and temperate marine environments thereby establishing critical refugia in response to climate warming. However, understanding the long-term viability and potential of these emerging refugia under ongoing climate change remains an area of active research, constrained by the temporal limitations of modern ecological studies. In addressing these challenges, this dissertation explores insights from a newly discovered late Holocene record of coral community development off southeast Florida, shedding light on historical coral range expansions, and providing critical context for assessing the future response of reef-building coral communities to continued climate warming. Using a combination of high-precision uranium-thorium dating and detailed paleoecological analysis of well-preserved subfossil coral skeletons, we provide new evidence that diverse coral communities dominated by Acropora spp. expanded to the nearshore hardbottom habitats off northern Broward County during a period of warming in the subtropical western Atlantic between 3500 and 1800 years before present. However, despite this historical precedent of range expansion in response to regional warming, modern comparisons reveal a significant shift towards low diversity coral assemblages dominated by stress-tolerant coral taxa, suggesting that ongoing range expansions may be constrained by new challenges that were absent during the late Holocene. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive conservation strategies informed by historical baselines to navigate the complex dynamics of coral reefs in the face of climate change.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014271
- Subject Headings
- Coral reefs and islands--Florida, Holocene Epoch, Climate change, Anthropogenic Effects
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys and traditional methods to examine influences on loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nest site selection.
- Creator
- Manestar, Summer, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
This study examined the environmental and anthropogenic factors that may influence loggerhead sea turtle nest site selection and how these factors vary between successful nesting attempts and false crawls on a high-density sea turtle nesting beach in Boca Raton, Florida. Beach morphology, sand texture, and nests’ proximity to artificial structures were measured using a combination of drone-based photogrammetry, traditional surveys with Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS),...
Show moreThis study examined the environmental and anthropogenic factors that may influence loggerhead sea turtle nest site selection and how these factors vary between successful nesting attempts and false crawls on a high-density sea turtle nesting beach in Boca Raton, Florida. Beach morphology, sand texture, and nests’ proximity to artificial structures were measured using a combination of drone-based photogrammetry, traditional surveys with Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS), and sediment granulometry. Proximity to dune crossover stairs was significantly different between nests and false crawls, and the probability of a false crawl occurring decreased as proximity to dune crossover stairs increased. The results of this study will provide researchers with a new tool for nest monitoring and a better understanding of the microhabitat cues that may influence loggerhead sea turtle nest site selection and aid in guiding beach and sea turtle management decisions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014184
- Subject Headings
- Loggerhead sea turtles, Drone aircraft, Sea turtles--Nests, Geomorphology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- SEDIMENT CORE AND REMOTE SENSING ANALYSIS OF MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE WITHIN A CYPRESS SWAMP FOREST, COLLIER COUNTY, FL.
- Creator
- Swick, Kathryn, Johanson, Erik, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
The Florida Everglades is a vast subtropical wetland that historically spanned over 1,000,000 hectares, but much of the Everglades has changed in the last 100 years due to anthropogenic activity. Collier County was subject to alteration in the form of logging, road building, and canal digging. These actions disrupted the natural sheet flow of water and had large environmental impacts on the region, impacts which are slowly being addressed by Everglades restoration efforts. The aim of this...
Show moreThe Florida Everglades is a vast subtropical wetland that historically spanned over 1,000,000 hectares, but much of the Everglades has changed in the last 100 years due to anthropogenic activity. Collier County was subject to alteration in the form of logging, road building, and canal digging. These actions disrupted the natural sheet flow of water and had large environmental impacts on the region, impacts which are slowly being addressed by Everglades restoration efforts. The aim of this project was to observe the effects of environmental change at a cypress swamp forest in Collier County within the Big Cypress National Preserve. Using sediment core data including charcoal analysis, loss on ignition, and peat humification, as well as remote sensing techniques, this project uses a novel approach to assess local environmental conditions in the modern era. Historical records and contemporary data are used to evaluate change over time, and satellite imagery is used to quantify vegetative health. Modification of the environment related to anthropogenic activity is noted, and evidence of progress from restoration efforts is observed from the last two decades in our study’s data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014160
- Subject Headings
- Nature--Effect of human beings on, Anthropogenic effects on nature, Wetland ecology--Florida--Big Cypress National Preserve, Ecology--Remote sensing
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DETERMINATION OF BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER LEVEL TRENDS AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE SURFICIAL, INTERMEDIATE, AND FLORIDAN AQUIFER SYSTEMS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Geddes, Elizabeth Tara, Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Groundwater is a valuable resource essential for residential, agricultural, commercial, and environmental water supply needs in Florida. Understanding drivers of groundwater level trends and time series forecasting in vulnerable areas provides water managers with timely information for effective resource protection. This study evaluates groundwater level trends in the surficial, intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems in Central and South Florida at 106 unconfined and confined aquifer wells...
Show moreGroundwater is a valuable resource essential for residential, agricultural, commercial, and environmental water supply needs in Florida. Understanding drivers of groundwater level trends and time series forecasting in vulnerable areas provides water managers with timely information for effective resource protection. This study evaluates groundwater level trends in the surficial, intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems in Central and South Florida at 106 unconfined and confined aquifer wells using 15 to 27 years of data through 2019. Wells were clustered into relatively homogenous groups based on spatial characteristics using the k mean clustering method. Land surface and top of aquifer elevations as well as groundwater level ranges were key factors. Distance to the coast was also important for surficial aquifer clustering, while proximity to water supply wells influenced Mid-Hawthorn aquifer (MHA) results. Principal component analyses (PCAs) were performed using rainfall, temperature, actual evapotranspiration, El Niño Southern Oscillation, and population data and regressed against average monthly groundwater levels for each cluster. This study is the first of its kind PCA using variables impacting groundwater levels in South Florida. Sandstone aquifer PCAs correlated well with groundwater levels. When compared with multiple linear regression, PCA results had similar correlation. However, the drivers of groundwater level trends identified by each method for the MHA and Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) differed. Seasonal Kendall trend tests indicated 12 surficial aquifer wells had trends related to changes in land use and decreased usage. MHA trends were related to exploitation or a shift in water source usage. A regional increasing trend exists in the UFA in South Florida.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014060
- Subject Headings
- Aquifers--Florida, Groundwater--Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- COASTAL SYSTEM VARIABILITY OF THE BEACH-NEARSHORE ENVIRONMENT FROM NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCES.
- Creator
- Brown, Nicholas, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
The coastal system provides habitat, storm protection, and economic value. In particular, Florida’s beaches are subject to chronic coastal erosion resulting from natural and anthropogenic influences. The most common mitigation response is the nature-based solution of beach nourishment. While this method is widely considered effective, quantifying changes from the dredge and placement on the physical environment is critical to ensure best management practices. The first step in addressing the...
Show moreThe coastal system provides habitat, storm protection, and economic value. In particular, Florida’s beaches are subject to chronic coastal erosion resulting from natural and anthropogenic influences. The most common mitigation response is the nature-based solution of beach nourishment. While this method is widely considered effective, quantifying changes from the dredge and placement on the physical environment is critical to ensure best management practices. The first step in addressing the need to identify gaps in knowledge relating to natural and human-induced changes to the continental shelf, a comprehensive literature review of the US East and Gulf coast continental shelves was conducted identifying needs for more expansive sand searches, a greater understanding of storm impacts on shelf morphodynamics, planning for long-term use of offshore sediment sources, and the impact of dredging on habitats. This study then evaluated the northern Palm Beach County beaches adjacent to the Jupiter Inlet over multiple years to understand the effects of natural and human influence on the morphology and sedimentology of the beach-nearshore environment. Beach sediment was coarser near the Inlet and finer downdrift (south). Seasonal changes in the nearshore from storms decreased the grain size and eroded beaches, whereas nourishment increased grain size and expanded beach width. Influences of physical characteristics of the beach-nearshore environment on the ecosystem were examined based on two important marine species: loggerhead sea turtles and blacktip sharks. No adverse impacts from restoration activities were found on loggerhead reproductive success. However, the active 2020 hurricane season resulted in lower reproductive success metrics. The blacktip shark migration coincides with the typical nourishment construction window. High turbidity in the nearshore was documented in association with multiple nourishment events during the two-year study. The blacktip sharks were quantified in the nearshore south of the nourishment; however, whether the turbidity was influencing the shark aggregates or habitat preference remains unknown. These results support numerous benefits of beach nourishment but suggest further research is needed to evaluate how project construction may impact nearshore fauna. The findings of this study are important for coastal managers who may consider reviewing best management practices of the beach-nearshore system.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013982
- Subject Headings
- Coastal zone management, Beach nourishment, Coastal zone management--Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- SALT MARSH SPECIES CLASSIFICATION AND SOIL PROPERTY MODELING USING MULTIPLE REMOTE SENSORS.
- Creator
- Nicholson, Heather M., Zhang, Caiyun, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Salt marshes are highly dynamic ecosystems that rely on multiple environmental and physical drivers that determine species distribution and soil property distribution. However, climate change and human interference are threatening the delicate ecosystem. One of the easiest ways to monitor marsh dynamics is through remote sensing. Traditional methods may not handle the large, non-parametric datasets well and often do not spatially determine areas of uncertainty. This dissertation research...
Show moreSalt marshes are highly dynamic ecosystems that rely on multiple environmental and physical drivers that determine species distribution and soil property distribution. However, climate change and human interference are threatening the delicate ecosystem. One of the easiest ways to monitor marsh dynamics is through remote sensing. Traditional methods may not handle the large, non-parametric datasets well and often do not spatially determine areas of uncertainty. This dissertation research developed a framework to map marsh species and predict ground soil properties using multiple remote sensing data sources by integrating modern Object-based Image Analysis (OBIA), machine learning, data fusion, and band indices techniques. It also sought to determine areas of uncertainty in the final outputs and differences between different spectral resolutions. Five machine learning classifiers were examined including Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) to map marsh species. Overall results illustrated that RF and SVM typically performed best, especially when using hyperspectral data combined with DEM information. Seven regressors were assessed to map three different soil properties. Again, RF and SVM performed the best no matter the dataset used, or soil property mapped. Soil salinity had r as high as 0.93, soil moisture had r as high as 0.91, and soil organic an r as high as 0.74 when using hyperspectral data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014000
- Subject Headings
- Salt marshes, Salt marsh ecology, Species, Remote sensing
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Event-driven Nearshore Sediment Transport and Morphodynamics of a Beach in Boca Raton, Florida.
- Creator
- Priddy, Michael S., Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Tropical storms and mid-latitude cyclones are major drivers of coastal change and damage in coastal communities. Beaches act as a first line of defense against storms, as well as provide recreation, contribute to the economy, and serve as ecological habitat for coastal flora and fauna. Throughout the year, meteorological event-driven increases in wave energy result in higher amounts of sediment transport that cause rapid coastal zone morphology alterations and threaten these beach functions....
Show moreTropical storms and mid-latitude cyclones are major drivers of coastal change and damage in coastal communities. Beaches act as a first line of defense against storms, as well as provide recreation, contribute to the economy, and serve as ecological habitat for coastal flora and fauna. Throughout the year, meteorological event-driven increases in wave energy result in higher amounts of sediment transport that cause rapid coastal zone morphology alterations and threaten these beach functions. This study uses streamer traps to evaluate cohesionless sediment dynamics in the surf zone and storm-induced morphology change in Boca Raton, Florida. The quantitative and sedimentological characteristics of sediment collected in the bottom streamer trap bins was larger grains with a higher capture weight near the seabed compared to sediment captured in the middle and upper streamer trap bins during both the cold front and the tropical storm. A greater quantity of sediment was captured in transport due to the tropical storm compared to the cold front. Morphology change observed as a result of the cold front included berm erosion, swash zone and foreshore accretion, and erosion beyond the -1.0m contour elevation. Analysis of the morphology observed post-tropical storm included berm accretion, and swash zone and foreshore erosion that continued seaward to the end of the profile. Dean number calculations using pre-cold front sediments and wave parameters predicted erosion, and the post-cold front BMAP measurements confirmed this prediction. Dean number calculations using pre-tropical storm sediments and wave parameters predicted accretion and the post-tropical storm BMAP measurements invalidated this prediction at all capture locations, although above the 1.0m contour the berm did exhibit accretion. Results of this study aim to quantify granulometric differences in event-driven sediment transport in Boca Raton, FL for improved prediction capabilities. Given the current trajectory of climate change, sea-level rise, and increased storm intensity, better understanding the morphological impact of different classes of storms is necessary to ensure and improve coastal resiliency and management.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014005
- Subject Headings
- Sediment transport, Boca Raton (Fla.), Geomorphology, Beaches
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Comparison of the spatiotemporal variability of dredge material at two inletadjacent beaches.
- Creator
- Scheinkman, Austin, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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This study analyzed two different inlet management strategies being utilized in Palm Beach County and compared how the downdrift beaches were affected by those strategies throughout the year. Cross-sectional beach profiles, Digital Elevation Model comparisons, and subaerial volumetric change were analyzed for patterns in postplacement beach morphology. Trends in cross- and alongshore grainsize were also analyzed. In Boca Raton the inlet was dredged multiple times a month depending on the...
Show moreThis study analyzed two different inlet management strategies being utilized in Palm Beach County and compared how the downdrift beaches were affected by those strategies throughout the year. Cross-sectional beach profiles, Digital Elevation Model comparisons, and subaerial volumetric change were analyzed for patterns in postplacement beach morphology. Trends in cross- and alongshore grainsize were also analyzed. In Boca Raton the inlet was dredged multiple times a month depending on the level of infilling and the material was placed on the beach immediately downdrift of the inlet. The downdrift beach of the Boca Raton inlet underwent a cycle of shoreline advance in the summer and shoreline retreat in the winter. It was dominated by seasonal processes and its morphologic change was the direct result of shifts in the wind and waves without having a beach more than 60 to 80 meters over the course of the study. In Jupiter, the inlet was dredged on a near annual basis and the material was placed 600m south of the inlet. The size and scope of the larger one-time annual nourishment project resulted in beach widths upwards of 120 meters. The equilibration process that followed in both the cross- and alongshore are what dominated the morphological trends experienced at the site. The results of this study should help coastal managers without current inlet management strategies, compare and overview two different successful inlet management options. For future studies, researchers should extend the monitoring period and extend profiles to the depth of closure to capture. Sediment is a valuable resource, and it’s important for best management practices to maximize benefits and protect downdrift beaches for long-term resiliency of coastal communities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014010
- Subject Headings
- Inlets, Coastal zone management, Sediment, Beaches--Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- MAPPING, MONITORING, AND ANALYZING THE DYNAMICS OF TIDAL FLATS IN THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES.
- Creator
- Xu, Chao, Liu, Weibo, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Tidal flat refers to the sediment-rich environment along the seashore, which is alternatively exposed or inundated during tidal cycles. It is widely recognized as not only the sentinel of coastal environment change, but also the safeguard for beachfront communities. It is necessary to comprehensively understand the wellness of tidal flat environments, especially for the United States (US), which has the eighth longest coastline throughout the world. Aiming at the dynamics of tidal flats, this...
Show moreTidal flat refers to the sediment-rich environment along the seashore, which is alternatively exposed or inundated during tidal cycles. It is widely recognized as not only the sentinel of coastal environment change, but also the safeguard for beachfront communities. It is necessary to comprehensively understand the wellness of tidal flat environments, especially for the United States (US), which has the eighth longest coastline throughout the world. Aiming at the dynamics of tidal flats, this dissertation firstly proposed a monitoring framework from three levels, including the pixel, object, and lifecycle. In addition, eleven events were defined to describe the dynamic activities throughout the lifecycles, which were captured, represented, and analyzed by utilizing graph theory. The Everglades in the southeastern corner of Florida Peninsula was selected to test this approach, which verifies an effective way to track, represent, and analyze the dynamic activities of tidal flats. Secondly, this dissertation mapped the distributions of tidal flats in the conterminous US, which provides a reliable dataset on a large spatiotemporal scale for future use. A random forest classification model was proposed, which uses 30 predictor variables to describe the spectral change patterns between the satellite images acquired in subsequent time steps. On the other hand, a total of 58,735 ground truth samples were collected under five classes, including permanent water, tidal flats, barren grounds, vegetated lands, and artificial surfaces. These sample points were randomly divided into two parts: 80% of them were used to train the random forest model, and the rest 20% were used to validate the results.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014014
- Subject Headings
- Tidal flats, Spatio-Temporal Analysis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- URBAN HEAT ISLAND DRIVING FORCES AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT: A STUDY OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Cresswell, Kevin J., Mitsova, Diana, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Urban heat islands present a significant public health threat for cities. A confluence of warming climate and increasing urbanization should exacerbate urban heat health risks since hotter temperatures result in heat-induced morbidity and mortality. Southeast Florida, the only region in the continental United States with a tropical climate, embodies these trends with a growing regional urban population and climbing heat index. Despite this growing threat, only a few studies have explored...
Show moreUrban heat islands present a significant public health threat for cities. A confluence of warming climate and increasing urbanization should exacerbate urban heat health risks since hotter temperatures result in heat-induced morbidity and mortality. Southeast Florida, the only region in the continental United States with a tropical climate, embodies these trends with a growing regional urban population and climbing heat index. Despite this growing threat, only a few studies have explored urban heat islands there, while urban heat vulnerability has been neglected as well. Thus, assessment of the contributing factors to increasing urban temperatures as well as identifying susceptible populations to UHI effects is imperative to mitigate environmental threats posed by heat islands. Analysis was first conducted to understand regional heat island geospatial characteristics and intensity then correlation analysis performed to understand the influence of meteorological variables. Furthermore, the influence of land use orchestration and surface characteristics (e.g., imperviousness) was analyzed using a spatial regression process. Additionally, a composite index blending dimensions of physical exposure, sensitivity (socioeconomic, health), and adaptive capacity was constructed to gauge vulnerability from hotter temperatures associated with UHIs. Principal Component Analysis weighting was used to group and weight variables then an assessment conducted evaluating composite performance compared to alternative models.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013891
- Subject Headings
- Urban heat island, Florida, Urban planning
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- INVESTIGATING DEPRESSIONAL FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH SINKHOLES IN DEEP-SEATED INTERSTRATAL KARST USING NEAR-SURFACE SEISMIC REFLECTION TECHNIQUES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Khan, Haibat, Comas, Xavier, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Sinkholes are one of the major geohazards in karst areas, causing significant economic damage and even occasional loss of life. Sinkhole formation mechanisms vary depending on geological conditions but are initiated by dissolution of bedrock (generally carbonates or evaporites) below the ground resulting in ground surface deformation and eventual collapse. The process may be accelerated by natural events like storms or heavy rains and droughts, or human activities like water pumping or...
Show moreSinkholes are one of the major geohazards in karst areas, causing significant economic damage and even occasional loss of life. Sinkhole formation mechanisms vary depending on geological conditions but are initiated by dissolution of bedrock (generally carbonates or evaporites) below the ground resulting in ground surface deformation and eventual collapse. The process may be accelerated by natural events like storms or heavy rains and droughts, or human activities like water pumping or loading of the land surface. In Florida, limestone dissolution leading to sinkhole development often results in the formation of surface depressions that are often water-filled and develop into depressional wetlands. Previous studies using near-surface geophysical imaging techniques (including seismic refraction) in Central Florida have shown the correspondence between depressional wetlands and sinkholes originated in deep-seated interstratal karst with a variable overburden. However, these geophysical techniques are often unable to reach the karst interface which may typically be positioned at depths exceeding < 50-60 m. This research investigates the use of ground-based seismic reflection techniques to image deep paleokarst relief and better understand sinkhole development and extent below the overburden. This approach follows earlier studies by others using seismic reflection methods to identify sinkholes under lakes in Central Florida. While these previous studies deployed the method over water, the approach here investigates how land-based near-surface seismic reflection surveys may provide similar results below depressional wetlands. A total of three different locations with depressional wetlands under similar geological conditions (but somewhat variable depth to the karst interface) are investigated, including the Disney Wilderness Preserve near Poinciana (FL), the Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area near Palm City (FL); and the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area in Palm Beach County (FL).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013957
- Subject Headings
- Sinkholes--Florida, Karst, Imaging systems in geophysics, Seismic reflection method
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- ANALYSIS OF TROPHIC STRUCTURE FOLLOWING ESTUARINE HABITAT RESTORATION WITHIN LAKE WORTH LAGOON, FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Kobylski, Adam, Markwith, Scott, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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We collected, with FWC, taxa inventory and numerical abundance data at three sites, a restoration concurrent with sampling, an older completed restoration, and an unimproved reference site, from 2014 to 2018 in the Central Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida. We examined effects in response to estuary habitat restoration and water quality on nekton food web structure among sites over time. A binary matrix of plausible interactions among trophic species, classified by size, was used to produce 51...
Show moreWe collected, with FWC, taxa inventory and numerical abundance data at three sites, a restoration concurrent with sampling, an older completed restoration, and an unimproved reference site, from 2014 to 2018 in the Central Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida. We examined effects in response to estuary habitat restoration and water quality on nekton food web structure among sites over time. A binary matrix of plausible interactions among trophic species, classified by size, was used to produce 51 individual food webs and nine trophic structure metrices within the R: Package Cheddar. Interactions of site and restoration, i.e., pre- vs. post-restoration samples, were found to be not significant in repeated-measures ANOVAs for each food web metric. Random forest analysis only identified Secchi depth as an important predictor of food web generality. Our findings suggest that generality and Secchi depth are inversely correlated and relatively stable within the Central Lake Worth Lagoon sites.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013921
- Subject Headings
- Estuarine restoration, Food chains (Ecology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)