Project Info
*Exploring how groundwater and soil chemistry on a landscape affect streams
Kamini Singha
ksingha@mines.edu
Water drives watershed-scale processes that ecosystems are dependent on. Despite this importance, hydrologists are still working to understand how water is stored and transmitted in the shallow subsurface—in a region known as the Critical Zone that humans are highly dependent on—and how changing precipitation inputs impact groundwater storage and solute transport. For example, what causes variations in subsurface water chemistry across a landscape? The objective of this work is to identify 1) how groundwater storage varies throughout watersheds, 2) how variation in storage impacts water quality, and 3) how changes in precipitation inputs due to climate change will alter storage dynamics and subsequent solute production. The selected intern will assist in collecting and analyzing data in the field with Professors Singha and Sitchler and two graduate students in the Manitou Experimental Forest, near Colorado Springs. This project will include field work as well as time in the geochemical lab and computer lab.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Provide access to clean water
https://czo-archive.criticalzone.org/national/news/story/critical-zone-collaborative-network/
Primary Contacts:
Dr. Kamini Singha, Dr. Alexis Sitchler, and PhD student Sara Warix
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Ability to code in R, Python, or Matlab would be a strongly suggested qualification. Otherwise, an interest in earth or environmental science.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
4-5
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Role and probable activities of intern during assigned project: Depending on covid-19 and the student's availability, the student will participate in and be taught methods including stream discharge measurements, soil and water collection, stable isotopes analysis, electrical resistivity, stream flow gauging and end-member mixing analyses in the field. If this isn't possible due to the start of the semester, the student will work with graduate students and faculty on data analysis and lab analyses.
MENTORING PLAN
The intern will meet weekly with Singha, Sitchler, or PhD student Warix during their time with us. This level of contact will allow us to monitor the progress of the intern, and help as they need. When the intern has decided on a part of our project they are most interested in, we will work to more specifically define their research goals and deadlines.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Sophomore
Junior
Senior