Spring 2012* Weekly Wednesday Colloquium
The forum for the HWRS 695A Colloquium Invited Speaker Seminar Series
Wednesdays, 4:00 PM, in JW Harshbarger Room 206 unless noted otherwise
Refreshments hosted by
HWRSA begin at 3:45 PM
"PDF/CDF methods for uncertainty quantification in nonlinear flow equations"
Probabilistic PDF and CDF methods are developed to quantify uncertainty in nonlinear flow equations that satisfy hyperbolic conservation laws. The proposed approach relies on the concept of fine-grained probability density function (PDF) or cumulative density function (CDF) and derives a deterministic equation for the PDF/CDF of the system state. It is computationally efficient and enables one to obtain full statistical description of system states, which is necessary for risk assessment. The formation of shocks from the governing physical equation has also been considered and translated to the statistics of system state. We have used the PDF/CDF methods to solve stochastic advection-reaction equations describing kinematic waves and Buckley-Leverett equation.
BIO
Dr. Peng Wang (Koby) is currently a postdoctoral research associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Durham, England, and his Ph.D in Engineering Science from the University of California, San Diego. His current research at PNNL focuses on the development of uncertainty quantification tools for advection-diffusion-reaction equations.
"Radium isotopes and water-rock interaction in groundwater systems: Response to environmental conditions"
Wed, Feb 22 - Ed Pinero, Chief Sustainability Officer, Veolia Water North America
"Veolia's Water Impact Index: An Analysis Tool for Comprehensive and Quantitative Water Footprint"
The Water Impact Index is a footprint indicator that will integrate all the complexities of the water cycle, including water quality and availability in the local environment. Although impacts of water use could be expressed as a combination of indicators (e.g. aquatic ecotoxicity, eutrophication, scarcity, volume abstracted), there is a need for a composite stand-alone indicator that incorporates multiple variables. Such an indicator can be used for screening water assessment, or support to decision making or communication, among other uses. With this tool, for any product or process, the physical water balance is weighted by a quality index and a water stress index. This methodology is rooted in life cycle concepts and methodologies, taking into account both direct but also indirect water uses of any process. The Water Impact Index expands on existing volume-based water measurement tools by incorporating multiple factors, such as volume, resource stress, and water quality. It provides additional parameters needed to make informed choices about effective water management.
BIO
Ed Pinero is the Chief Sustainability Officer for Veolia Water North America and leads Veolia Water's sustainability efforts in the region. He works to support programs at company operations, facilitate relations with key stakeholders in regard to sustainability, as well as develop and implement sustainable programs and services for Veolia Water's clients. The company's North American operations serve more than 14 million people in approximately 650 communities. Over his more than 31-year career, he has worked in the private sector, as a consultant to many clients on sustainability, environment, and energy. He has also worked in the public sector at the state and federal levels addressing sustainability issues. He served on the White House Federal Environmental Executive where he focused on developing and implementing sustainability policy and practices within the federal government. He has served in the Pennsylvania state government in the areas of sustainability and energy. He has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Geology and was an adjunct professor for Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, teaching environmental science for their Master of Science Environmental Science and Management program. He has extensive experience in international standards and currently serves as the Chair of ISO TC 242-Energy Management (International Organization for Standardization).
NOTE CHANGE IN DATE & LOCATION from usual Weekly Colloquium:
Special Guest Seminar: Monday, Feb 13, at 12:00 noon in the UA Marshall Building, Room 531
"Can Payments for Watershed Services Restore Forested Federal Watersheds?"
Ecological restoration can play a pivotal role in restoring ecosystem health and mitigating catastrophic wildfire potential. An effort to restore southwestern Ponderosa pine forests, the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, seeks to restore over 970,000 hectares of ponderosa pine forests across four National Forests in Northern Arizona. While forest restoration may buffer threats to watershed services, funding shortfalls for landscape-scale restoration efforts limit management action. The hydrologic response and reduction in risk to watersheds following forest restoration treatments could create significant non-market benefits for downstream water users. Estimates of the willingness to pay (WTP) for improved watershed services from a contingent valuation survey for one group of downstream users, irrigators, following forest restoration activities will be presented along with summaries of policy implications for watershed managers.
Wed, Feb 8 - Peter Quinlan, Vice President of Dudek
"Seal Beach: The Importance of Applying Fundamental Principles to Determine Representativeness of Groundwater Monitoring Data"
A case study demonstrates the importance of basic principles in interpreting environmental monitoring data. The discovery of high vapor concentrations of benzene led to the evacuation of several residences. Application of Henry's Law demonstrated that groundwater monitoring data were inconsistent with vapor concentrations and, therefore, not representative of actual conditions in the subsurface. Further review of lithology, well construction, and sampling methods revealed why the wells produced unrepresentative data.
BIO
Peter Quinlan, RG, received his MS Hydrology degree from the University of Arizona in 1982. He has worked in groundwater exploration-water supply development in interior Oman and investigated seawater intrusion beneath coastal plains of southern Oman until 1985. He returned to the US and began work in contaminant hydrogeology investigating and remediating groundwater and soil at various manufacturing facilities. He worked on multiple party Superfund sites to design remedies and allocate responsibility for costs. He has provided expert witness testimony concerning relative contributions to groundwater contamination of various releases by successive operators at facilities. Current Vice President of Dudek, an environmental and engineering firm of 240 people headquartered in Encinitas, California, engaged in assessing sustainable groundwater development, including surface water-groundwater interaction, quantifying habitat vegetation water requirements, and planning mitigation for potential impacts of groundwater development. He is also still involved in contaminant hydrogeology and evaluating seawater intrusion impacts of increased groundwater production.
*For a list of seminars from prior semesters, go
here.
