Events
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JSG | BEG | UTIG | EPS |
BEG Friday Seminar Series
Start:May 1, 2015 at 9:00 am
End:
May 1, 2015 at 10:00 am
Location:
BEG Main Conference Room; Building 130; PRC Campus
Contact:
Sophia Ortiz, sophia.ortiz@beg.utexas.edu, 512.475.9588
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Dr. Farzam Javadpour
Research Scientist
Bureau of Economic Geology
Abstract:
Nanoscience is the science of matter at nanoscale—for example one millimeter is equal to one million nanometer and the size of a methane molecule is 0.5 nanometer. We utilize nanoscience in two major research efforts related to reservoir engineering. First is the exploration of the fundamental physics of natural nanosystems, including unconventional shale gas reservoirs with pores as small as few nanometers; second is the use of engineered nanoparticles (10-100 nanometers) to improve reservoir characterization and enhanced recovery. Although these applications are different, the governing physics at nanoscale carry over between the two, and some experimental techniques can be used for both subfields. In this talk we highlight the nanoscale features of shale gas reservoirs and describe the experimental methods and mathematical/numerical models used to study such systems. We also summarize fundamental works in understanding the transport of nanoparticles in reservoirs. Advances, challenges, and future prospects will be presented.
UTIG Seminar Series: John (Mike) Wallace, University of Washington
Start:May 1, 2015 at 10:30 am
End:
May 1, 2015 at 11:30 am
Location:
PRC, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg 196, Rm 1.603, Austin, TX 78758
Contact:
Yuko Okumura, Yukoo@ig.utexas.edu, 512-471-0383
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“Detecting Climate Change in the Presence of Natural Climate Variability”
Abstract:
In variables such as global mean temperature the signal of human-induced climate change stands out clearly above internal variability of the climate system that we refer to as “natural variability”. However, when we consider climate change over a limited region such as Texas, the presence of natural variability makes it difficult to see the human-induced signal clearly over the time span of a human lifetime. The one notable exception is the tropics, where the internal variability is very small and humans and ecosystems have adapted to living within a very narrow temperature range. The difficulty of detecting climate change is compounded when the focus is on short-lived extreme events such as heat waves. To appreciate the gravity of the current global environmental crisis one needs to look beyond climate change. The current California drought provides an example.
Career Center Open House
Start:May 4, 2015 at 9:00 am
End:
May 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Location:
JGB 2.112 Martineau Career Services Suite
Contact:
Chelsea Ochoa, chelsea.ochoa@jsg.utexas.edu, 5122320893
JSG students, faculty and staff are invited to come by the Career Center for coffee and bagels.
Soft Rock Seminar - Sarah Brothers
Start:May 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm
End:
May 4, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Location:
JGB 3.222
Tech Sessions Speaker Series: PhD Talk
Start:May 5, 2015 at 4:00 pm
End:
May 5, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Eagle Ford Revisited: a field trip in San Antonio
Start:May 6, 2015 at 4:00 pm
End:
May 6, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Location:
meet at Capparelli's Parking lot - 15901 FM 3009 in San Antonio
Contact:
Kristen Tucek, ktucek@jsg.utexas.edu, 512-471-2223
GLOW Evening of Science and Leadership Banquet
Start:May 7, 2015 at 5:30 pm
End:
May 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Location:
UT Austin, Texas Union Building Santa Rita Suite (UNB 3.502)
Contact:
Emilie Gentry, emilie.gentry@utexas.edu
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The Geoscience Leadership Organization for Women (GLOW), a student organization in the Jackson School of Geosciences, would like to invite JSG friends and alumni to our GLOW Evening of Science and Leadership Banquet. As an effort to promote the involvement of women in geosciences, we would like to bring geoscientists together to enhance this professional community. GLOW’s membership ties the class gap between undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty in the Jackson School. We encourage and look forward to interacting with geoscientists of a variety of careers.
UTIG Graduate Student Presentations
Start:May 8, 2015 at 10:30 am
End:
May 8, 2015 at 11:30 am
Location:
PRC, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg 196, Rm 1.603, Austin, TX 78758
Contact:
Larry Lawver/Terry Quinn, lawver@ig.utexas.edu/quinn@ig.utexas.edu, 512-471-0433 /512-47
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“The Dispersal of East Gondwana from Breakup to the Start of the Cretaceous Normal Superchron” (Bud Davis)
Abstract:
Existing plate models for the breakup of Africa and East Gondwana (Australia, East Antarctica, India, Madagascar, the Seychelles, and Sri Lanka) are problematic and require revision. Specific problems include the utilization of dubious Gondwana configurations, improbable plate motion, and/or a failure to satisfy the holistic marine magnetic anomaly data. I present here a new model for the breakup of East Gondwana. This new model begins from a constrained, pre-breakup, Gondwana configuration. Out of this initial “tight-fit” configuration, East Gondwana rifts from West Gondwana (Africa & South America) as a cohesive unit. During this breakup and subsequent seafloor spreading, East Gondwana is devoid of any internal compression or anomalous plate motion. The overall motion of East Gondwana is constrained by seafloor spreading in the coeval Somali Basin and Mozambique/Riiser Larsen Basins. Seafloor spreading in these basins is modeled using existing marine magnetic anomaly interpretations and satellite-derived gravity data. Our model is uniquely able to satisfy the magnetic anomaly observations in both of the aforementioned basins without invoking improbable plate motion or configurations. Additionally, this plate model provides insight about the formation of two previously enigmatic systems, the hydrocarbon-rich Davie Ridge offshore East Africa, and the tectonically contentious Enderby Basin offshore East Antarctica. Predictions from our plate model agree well with geophysical observations from both regions and can greatly aid our future work understanding the evolution of regional scale continental rift systems.
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“Little Ice Age Links between Atlantic Ocean Dynamics and Hydroclimate” (Kaustubh Thirumalai)
Abstract:
The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is an integral component of tropical-to-extratropical heat transfer in the Western Hemisphere. Sea-surface temperature (SST) and sea-surface salinity (SSS) in the GOM strongly influence the moisture budget of North America. Oceanographically, the GOM is dynamically complex owing to the Loop Current, a surface current that transports 23 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3s-1) of warm Caribbean waters through the Yucatan Strait into the GOM and ultimately flows out of the Florida Straits as a precursor to the Gulf Stream. The signature of the Loop Current is manifest as SST and SSS anomalies in the northern and western GOM through eddies. The brief length of the observational record however, limits us from knowledge of long-term (century-scale) variability in GOM oceanography. Understanding variability of GOM SSTs and SSS on these timescales is crucial in understanding North American hydroclimate variability and equally importantly, can give us key insights into Atlantic Ocean dynamics. Here, using a suite of well-dated sediment cores collected from the Garrison Basin, GOM, we reconstruct local SST and SSS variability during the late Holocene by employing planktic foraminiferal geochemistry. I will make a case in this talk that the reconstructed temperature and salinity variations at Garrison Basin are representative of large-scale climatic processes on centennial timescales. With a multiproxy analysis, we show that proxy data during the Little Ice Age (1450-1850 AD) display a spatially consistent pattern compared to low-frequency analysis of observational data. Our study provides strong evidence for a tight coupling between Atlantic Ocean dynamics and hydroclimate in the Western Hemisphere, during a time period where climatic background conditions were similar to the preindustrial era.
BEG/JSG: Postdoctoral Fellow Collaborative Seminar
Start:May 15, 2015 at 9:00 am
End:
May 15, 2015 at 10:00 am
Location:
BEG Main Conference Room; Building 130; PRC Campus
Contact:
Sophia Ortiz, sophia.ortiz@beg.utexas.edu, 512.475.9588
View Event
Jackson School of Geological Sciences Speakers:
Nick Dygert
George Fisher
Tieyuan Zhu
Reactive transport and flow in porous media: an example from the mantle at Trinity ophiolite
Presented by: Nick Dygert (9:00-9:20)
Tabular dunite bodies (dunite channels) are thought to represent pathways for efficient melt extraction from the mantle. They form by melt-rock reaction, an important physical process that affects the compositions of dunite-hosted basaltic melts and the mantle they originate from. In order to better understand melt-rock interactions at dunite channels, we analyzed pyroxene in samples collected across an ~20 m wide dunite-harzburgite-lherzolite-plagioclase lherzolite sequence at the Trinity Ophiolite. The lithological sequence and major and trace element concentration gradients suggest a two stage history of evolution is preserved at Trinity. In the first stage, basaltic melt infiltrated a harzburgitic residue of partial melting, forming plagioclase lherzolite. In the second stage, a trace element depleted melt migrated from a dunite channel into the plagioclase lherzolite. The infiltration of dunite-hosted melts into peridotitic host rock may be common, providing an explanation for the wide array of melt-peridotite interactions observed in abyssal peridotites and some ophiolites.
A tale of two projects: Pliocene drivers of erosion in the Andes and the fate of Deepwater Horizon oil
Presented by: George Fisher (9:20-9:40)
The aim of this talk is to briefly showcase two of the projects I am currently working on as well as highlight some of the techniques I use in my research. I will begin by discussing ongoing work in NW Argentina where we have utilized a unique field setting along the foreland Rio Iruya canyon to create a high-resolution terrestrial record of erosion rates off the eastern Cordillera spanning the Pliocene. Early evidence indicates a strong correlation between erosion rate values and 400 kyr eccentricity driven insolation and may result from complex global climate teleconnections. The second part of the talk will focus on recent and ongoing work in the Gulf of Mexico looking at the fate and degradation of the oil released during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Our work identifies a fallout plume of hydrocarbons ~3200 km2 in area on the seafloor surrounding the spill site and represents ~4-30% of the oil sequestered in the deep ocean (~2 million barrels). I will end by highlighting some of the implications, questions, and ongoing research directions associated with this finding.
Spatial-temporal changes in seismic attenuation indicate the movement of sequestrated CO2
Presented by: Tieyuan Zhu (9:40-10:00)
Active source crosswell seismic data was continuously collected during CO2 injection in Frio CO2 sequestration site in Texas. I present an analysis of spatial-temporal seismic attenuation changes of the first P-wave arrivals. Attenuation changes over the injection period are estimated by the amount of the centroid frequency shift computed by the local frequency tool. Observations are: at receivers above the packer (in shale) seismic attenuation does not change in a physical trend; at receivers below the packer (in Frio formation) attenuation sharply increases as the amount of CO2 plume increase and peaks at specific points with distributed receivers, which are consistent with observations from time delays of first arrivals. Then, attenuation decreases over the injection time with increased amount of CO2 plume. Attenuation changes show a unique increase-decrease pattern. Along with the attenuation-saturation White patchy model, the relationship between increase-decrease pattern of attenuation change and CO2 saturation can be (at least) qualitatively explained. Our analysis suggests that seismic attenuation during CO2 injection not only is able to reveal the movement/saturation of CO2 plume but also is sensitive to a possible larger saturation that velocity does not.
Spring Graduation Ceremony
Start:May 23, 2015 at 3:00 pm
End:
May 23, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Location:
Bates Recital Hall on UT campus
Contact:
Kristen Tucek, ktucek@jsg.utexas.edu, 512-471-2223
DeFord Lecture | Dr. Rose CoryApril, 18 2024Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PMLocation: Boyd Auditorium (JGB 2.324) The Role of Iron in The Degradation of Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Arctic by Dr. Rose Cory, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan Abstract: Current estimates are that 5–15% of the tremendous pool of organic carbon stored in permafrost soils could be emitted as greenhouse gases by 2100 given the current trajectory of climate change, resulting in an additional one third degree Celsius of warming everywhere on Earth (i.e., Arctic amplification of climate change). However, the degree to which climate change will be amplified by greenhouse gases released from thawing permafrost is highly uncertain in large part due to insufficient understanding of the processes that degrade dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to carbon dioxide (CO2). Our work has shown that DOC degradation is tightly coupled to iron redox cycling in permafrost soils of the Arctic and in the surface waters draining these soils. For example, in waterlogged soils, redox reactions of iron produce reactive oxygen species (e.g., the hydroxyl radical) that oxidize DOC. On a landscape scale, the hydroxyl radical produced by iron redox cycling can oxidize as much DOC to CO2 as does microbial respiration of DOC in arctic surface waters. Upon export of dissolved iron and DOC from permafrost soils to sunlit surface waters, iron likely catalyzes the sunlight-driven (photochemical) oxidation of DOC to CO2. As a consequence, current estimates of additional global warming from the permafrost carbon feedback may be too low by ~ 14%. |
UTIG Seminar Series: Tanner Mills, UTIGApril, 19 2024Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AMLocation: PRC 196/ROC 1.603 Speaker: Tanner Mills, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Host: Peter Flemings Title: Predicting greenhouse gas fluxes to the atmosphere from thawing permafrost Abstract: Arctic permafrost is thawing at rapid rates, which threatens to expose large stores of soil organic carbon to microbial degradation. As microbes utilize this carbon source, they produce greenhouse gasses (GHGs; CO2 and CH4) that can be emitted to the atmosphere and act as a positive feedback during future global temperature increases. While the permafrost carbon feedback has received much attention in the literature, little is known about the multiphase flow properties and the temperature dependence of microbial GHG production rates in thawing permafrost, both of which are essential for predicting GHG emissions from permafrost in the future. Flow experiments of synthetic and natural permafrost specimens under frozen conditions and incubations of permafrost samples are being performed to better understand the effective and relative permeabilities and GHG production rates of thawing permafrost soils. These data will be integral in providing new source terms for permafrost and global carbon models. |
Master\'s Thesis PresentationsApril, 19 2024Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PMLocation: JGB The Master of Science (MS) degree at the Jackson School of Geosciences is considered to be the professional degree for a career in the Geosciences. This degree is the foundation for students pursuing employment in the petroleum industry, environmental and hydrogeological fields, state and federal government agencies, and other related geoscience fields. Some students also use the MS degree as preparation for pursuing a Ph.D. The Energy & Earth Resources Interdisciplinary program provides the opportunity for students to prepare themselves in management, finance, economics, law and policy leading to analytical and leadership positions in resource-related fields. The private sector and government organizations face a growing need for professionals that can plan, evaluate, and manage complex resource projects, commonly international in scope, which often include partners with a variety of professional backgrounds. As requirements for these degrees, students must present a professional talk on Master\'s Thesis Presentations. |
Hot Science - Cool Talks: \"Humans vs AI\"April, 19 2024Time: 5:30 PM - 8:15 PMLocation: Burdine 106 Advancements in AI have unleashed astonishing capabilities, but it is not magic. Peter Stone reveals his insights into cutting-edge AI and robotics and explores how they may reshape our world. Someday these technologies could win the World Cup, and they are already outperforming the best humans at complex tasks like high-speed racing. |
Planetary Habitability Seminar SeriesApril, 22 2024Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PMLocation: PMA 15.216B UT Center for Planetary Systems Habitability Seminar Series. See website for speaker schedule and more details: View Events Join remotely: https://utexas.zoom.us/j/94052130734 In person: Classroom 15.216B, Physics, Math and Astronomy Bldg. UT Austin, Department of Astronomy 2515 Speedway, Stop C1400 Austin, Texas 78712-1205 |
UTIG Discussion Hour: Nicholas Montiel - PhD Talk (UTIG)April, 23 2024Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PMLocation: ROC 2.201 |
UTIG Seminar Series: Cornelia Rasmussen, UTIGApril, 26 2024Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AMLocation: PRC 196/ROC 1.603 Speaker: Cornelia Rasmussen, Research Associate, University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Host: Krista Soderlund Title: The Emerging Field Of Position-Specific Isotope Analysis: Applications in chemical forensics, exobiology, geo- and environmental sciences Abstract: Complex organics can be found all over our solar system and within each living thing on our planet, be it as part of its physiology or as a contaminant. However, different processes can lead to the formation of chemical identical molecules. This makes answering a number of scientific questions challenging. One example is distinguishing between biotic and abiotic molecules, hence hindering life detection on early Earth but especially on other planetary bodies, such as on Mars, Titan, Enceladus and on meteorites where organics have been detected. Moreover, tracing molecules as they move through the environment can be demanding, yet is essential in studying the flow of organic molecules as well as correlating pollutants with their source. Novel tools to address these challenges are currently being developed. Especially, the emerging field of position-specific isotope analysis is beginning to grant access to the unique intramolecular carbon (13C/12C) isotope fingerprint preserved in complex molecules. This fingerprint can be applied in various scientific disciplines, ranging from forensics to exobiology, geo- and environmental sciences, including geo health. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) has the potential to become a key player in this research area, as it allows the analysis of organics within complex mixtures, all without the need to fragment the molecule into single carbon units or the combustion of the molecule of interest. We have been developing several NMR tools that allow us to investigate the intramolecular carbon isotope distribution within various molecule classes and to test the central hypothesis that the position-specific carbon isotope distribution within complex organics depends on a molecule’s source and formation history. |
Planetary Habitability Seminar SeriesApril, 29 2024Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PMLocation: PMA 15.216B UT Center for Planetary Systems Habitability Seminar Series. See website for speaker schedule and more details: View Events Join remotely: https://utexas.zoom.us/j/94052130734 In person: Classroom 15.216B, Physics, Math and Astronomy Bldg. UT Austin, Department of Astronomy 2515 Speedway, Stop C1400 Austin, Texas 78712-1205 |
UTIG Discussion Hour: Kristian Chan - PhD Talk (UTIG)April, 30 2024Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PMLocation: ROC 2.201 |