Geography and Environmental Science Research

Geography and Environmental Science Research

May 2023 - May 2024

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Different Land Management Practices
Lauren Whetstone
Noah Reilly

Noah Reilly, Lauren Whetstone, Dr. RasmussenOver twelve weeks, alongside Noah Reilly and with the guidance of Dr. Rasmussen and Dr. Boyd, I will be conducting research aiming to explore amounts of soil carbon sequestration and variance in carbon levels relative to different land management practices; the research process will involve a robust sample size for soil and land use classes. Research is split into sections; the first section involving physical analysis using the Bouyoucos method. Sampling and analyzing procedure of soils will account for soil type/series, texture classes, land use, tillage practices, and crop rotations in agricultural soils. The second section involving chemical analysis involves developing in-field testing kits. 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and UV-Vis including complexation with metals for spectroscopic analysis, along with a variety of solvents and extraction conditions, will help identify correlations between results and classes of organic materials in soils and provide carbon sequestration potential. Overall, examining the spatial and temporal aspects of carbon capture within different soils will provide meaningful progress on better understanding soil carbon sequestration, and is intended to be a pilot study for future work to investigate the seasonality of carbon sequestration.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jim Rasmussen, Geography / Environmental Studies
Funded by: Mohler-Thompson Summer Research Grant

May 2022 - May 2023

Ecological Components That Contribute to Stream Quality
Sarah Thong

This project aims to understand the ecological components that contribute to stream quality in the Grand River Watershed, in partnership with Trout Unlimited. The first objective of this project is to create stage/ discharge rating curves. This will be done by measuring stream discharge and depth/stage at several different streams. With these results, stream discharge can be predicted using just depth/ stage. These results will be helpful regarding Trout Unlimited’s mayfly stations. The second objective is to determine the effects of water quality and physical characteristics on habitat quality. These characteristics include vegetation on banks, shade on the stream, bed substrate, and morphology. Results will be compared with the current MiCorps rating of macroinvertebrates. These results will be used by the State of Michigan Environmental Assessment.
 
Faculty Advisor: Dr. James Rasmussen
Funded by: Mohler-Thompson Summer Research Grant

May 2021 - May 2022

VanderBrug RasmussenAn Assessment of the Impacts of Fine Sediment Pollution on Stream Habitat and Water Quality in West Michigan Streams
Zoe VanderBrug

This project will work in conjunction with local watershed partners and governmental units. It is designed to assess the effects of sedimentation on stream habitat and water quality. This issue has been tied to land use and topsoil erosion and it is one of the focal points in the mission of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. One of the limitations in this mission is the lack of temporally recent and spatially fine monitoring programs. Our goal for this season will be to establish such a program within the context of other monitors.

Faculty Advisor: Jim Rasmussen
Funded by: Mohler-Thompson Summer Research Grant

May 2016 - May 2017

student researchers

The Past and Future of Agricultural Land in Kent County
Jacob Towne  

This project aims to quantify the changes in the area, distribution, and spatial structure of agricultural land in Kent County from 1967 to 2007, as well as to identify any impacts which the Purchase of Developmental Rights program may have had. We are also interested in finding the rate in which these changes are taking place in addition to seeing if there is a spatial pattern to the change. With these findings we hope to be able to predict future trends in agricultural land use in Kent County.

Faculty Advisor: Mary Clinthorne
Funded by: Mohler-Thompson Summer Research Grant