NSF Science and Technology Center for www.sahra.arizona.edu Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas 520-626-6974
EphemeralA NEWSLETTER ABOUT SAHRA Flow JANUARY/FEBRUARY2006
elcome to the January/February issue of Ephemeral Flow, a newsletter UPCOMING EVENTS W for sharing information within the SAHRA community. Ephemeral Flow is sent to SAHRA researchers, staff, and students at all participating institutions Feb. 17: WSP workshop on Innovations in approximately every two months. Your contributions and suggestions are always Arsenic Management for Water Providers, welcome. Please send items to Mary Black at [email protected]. Tucson, AZ; contact Louise MacDermott ([email protected]) for more info.
March 7-8: Executive Committee retreat, FEATURES Marshall Bldg., Tucson, AZ March 30-31: Integrated Modeling workshop, Research Blossoming at UC Irvine Socorro, NM (see details under Research) The SAHRA research effort at the They have been able to enhance the May 18-19: SAHRA External Advisory Board University of California, Irvine (UCI) spatial and temporal resolutions of meeting, Tucson AZ is led by SAHRA Founding Director the precipitation estimation over the Soroosh Sorooshian and includes southwest more accurately. Some specific July 9-12: Scenario Development Workshop, researchers Xiaogang Gao, Kuolin Hsu, deliverables by UCI team include: Environmental Modeling and Software Summit of the IEMS Biennial Meeting, Burlington, VT; Jialun Li, Hamid Moradkhani, and 1) The near contact Thorsten Wagener ([email protected]. programming real-time edu) for more info. specialist, high-solution Dan precipitation Braithwaite. CONTACT US! data were Three Ph.D. made available Please let us know when you have news students through a to share or a reason to brag. Students, involved in public website the SAHRA let us know for example when you have for global studies completed your oral exam, defended your 6-hourly graduated thesis/dissertation, or accepted a position 0.25˚×0.25˚ in the past in the real world (or even academia). The Laurel L. Wilkening Rose Garden at UCI data three years Faculty members, are you offering a new (hydis8.eng.edu/hydis-unesco) and for (Yang Hong, 2003; Hamid Moradkhani, course, hosting a workshop, leading a North American hourly 0.04˚×0.04˚ data 2004; and Huiling Yuan, 2005). The panel, editing a new journal? Too bashful (hydis8.eng.edu/ccs). Recently, NESDIS research goal of this group is to develop to talk about your own accomplishments? selected UCI’s global dataset as one of the long-term (10-20 years) multi-resolution Anonymous or second-party tips on major precipitation data sources for the precipitation and meteorological forcing newsworthy announcements are also United States and will include the data in data over the SAHRA study regions using its popular website at gratefully accepted. satellite remote sensing and regional www.nesdis.noaa.gov. climate modeling. These long-term, high- resolution (sub-daily and 4-km) data, now 2) Analysis of the 5-year meteorological 3) Techniques of sequential state- available for 2000-2004, are needed to data from the high-resolution regional parameter estimation were developed drive and examine the new land surface, climate modeling revealed important to improve hydrologic forecast via hydrologic, and water management information about the interannual- ensemble data assimilation (Moradkhani models under development by SAHRA to-seasonal variability of climate and et al.). This approach directly contributes integrated modeling researchers. hydrology in the semiarid southwestern to the modeling effort of SAHRA. U.S. (Li et al. and Gao et al.), which is Partially supported by SAHRA and useful for the improvement of southwest leveraged by NASA funding, the UCI hydrologic forecasting and water research team has developed precipitation management proposed by SAHRA. estimates using cloud classification techniques developed by Hong et al. PAGE JANUARY/FEBRUARY2006
Features, continued from previous page SAHRA’s NEON and CUAHSI efforts would serve as testbeds for the Dave Breshears is involved in NEON development and proof-of-concept for leadership at multiple levels, including the Collaborations Exposed! an HIS system to operate at watershed steering committee for the Southwestern by James Hogan and regional scales, integrate local, state, Ecological Observatory network and SAHRA researchers remain active federal and researcher data streams, NEON’s design subcommittee on in a variety of efforts associated and support “observatory” and climate change impacts. Dave is also with CUAHSI (Consortium integrating modeling activities. the current chair of the Consortium of Regional Ecological Observatories of Universities Allied One relevant question for (COREO, www.neoncoreo.org), NEON’s for Hydrologic Sciences, SAHRA’s involvement with primary user community. COREO was www.cuahsi.org) and the HIS effort is whether created in Oct. 2004 by representatives NEON (National Ecological it is possible to create a from regions self-organized to support Observatory Network, distributed (multiple node) NEON’s creation. In Jan. 2005, COREO www. neoninc.org). database that appears received funding from NSF to support seamless. For example, could CUAHSI is an organization regional meetings of scientists to data for the lower Rio Grande sponsored by the NSF to develop contribute local expertise and perspectives below El Paso be stored in Austin, and infrastructure and services for the to national observatory discussions. advancement of hydrologic science the data for the northern reaches stored and education in the United States, at SAHRA? SAHRA researchers also One outgrowth of NEON planning in the and represents more than a hundred remain interested in the possibility of an Southwest is the development of a new universities in the U.S. CUAHSI is environmental observatory that would USA National Phenology Network that presently writing a National Hydrologic build on the infrastructure that SAHRA will focus on the timing of key biological Science Plan, led by SAHRA researcher and its collaborators have developed events such as time of plant blooming. John Wilson and former SAHRA in the Rio Grande. Currently, the path Such a network is needed to detect graduate student Kevin Dressler. The plan forward for HOs or other environmental regional-scale environmental responses supports CUAHSI’s HydroView, a shared observatories is unclear and will certainly to temporal dynamics in the water budget infrastructure that represents the first not be short. SAHRA’s efforts in the Rio (www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geography/npn/). nationwide, coordinated effort to collect, Grande, however, serve as a smaller-scale Last August, the Institute for the Study synthesize and disseminate hydrologic proof-of-concept for the hydrological of Planet Earth at UA sponsored and information. HydroView includes four science that an observatory might helped organize a workshop in Tucson to integrated facilities: the Hydrologic enable. Finally, the UA plans to submit begin developing an implementation plan Measurement Facility (HMF), Hydrologic a proposal for the CUAHSI Synthesis for a USA-National Phenology Network Information Systems (HIS), Hydrologic Center when the RFP is released. (USA-NPN). The workshop summary, which appeared in the December 20 Observatories (HO), and a National Center NEON is an NSF initiative to develop issue of EOS, is available online at for Hydrologic Synthesis (NCHS). the first national ecological measurement www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geography/npn/ and observation system designed both SAHRA is presently active in several meetings/2005/betancourt_etal_2005. to answer regional- to continental-scale efforts related to HydroView. The pilot pdf. A team will meet this spring, scientific questions and to have the HIS effort, led by David Maidment of the probably in Tucson, to further develop interdisciplinary participation necessary University of Texas has been underway the implementation plan. An important to achieve credible ecological forecasting for the past three years. A second phase issue is the location, management, and and prediction. NEON is addressing is now being proposed in which SAHRA’s funding for a national network office, three Grand Challenges, including one Rio Grande and San Pedro database which could be established at the UA. in Hydroecology. SAHRA researcher
ADMIN NOTES Jacobs Assumes New Position consortium of the three state agencies and communities to state universities, and advance technologies related to water SAHRA Deputy Director Kathy Jacobs will draw on faculty and provide support for policy makers. has been named Executive Director and researchers on Good work, Kathy! The Arizona of the new Arizona Water Institute by issues pertaining to Water Institute will cohabitate with Governor Janet Napolitano, effective sustainable water SAHRA, on the 5th floor of the Marshall Jan. 1. Jacobs will also retain her position resources. The institute Building at the University of Arizona. at SAHRA. The new organization is a will also work with PAGE JANUARY/FEBRUARY2006 PEOPLE Student and Faculty DSS which carries out simulation of water As Joe says, “They’ve got a unique ice resources allocation, reservoir operation core; I’ve got a unique ice core analytical News/Milestones policies, increased water distribution system, so it is a win-win situation.” He We regret to report the impending efficiencies, and temporary water rights also expects to work with Argentineans, departure of Kat Wilson, who will leave transfers. His work also analyzed the French, and Chilean researchers in SAHRA in February for a position as current water right allocation mechanism examining the impact of global climate trainer and from an institutional perspective to change on water resources with respect to education identify management alternatives on the snow and glacier melt; more than 90% of programs Conchos Basin and facilitate Mexico’s the water resources in the region comes manager at compliance with treaty requirements. from these sources. It is hoped that this the National will lead to collection and analyses of one Daniel Potts received his Ph.D. from the Aviary in or more Andean ice cores to document UA in December 2005 in ecology and Pittsburgh. Kat changes in snowfall and precipitation evolutionary biology. Daniel started as first came to chemistry over the past centuries to a CATTS fellow at SAHRA, working SAHRA in millenia. Joe expects to also present one for two years with Gary Woodard, Jim fall 2003 as or more lectures on SAHRA activities Washbourne and Liz Hancock on the graduate in semi-arid hydrology, particularly SPLASH. Later he worked as a graduate assistant for sustainability, and will soon be contacting research assistant with Travis Huxman, the WATER his SAHRA colleagues with respect to this. Dave Goodrich, and Russ Scott at the San Kits program, Pedro River tower sites and at the Santa Soroosh Sorooshian gave the Robert received Kat says goodbye to a pal, a Rita Experimental Range, linking leaf- E. Horton Lecture at the 86th Annual her MA last distraught American kestrel. level plant gas exchange with ecosystem- Meeting of the American Meteorological spring, and level gas exchange measured by the Society, February 1 in Atlanta. The lecture, continued on at SAHRA in the position eddy covariance towers. Daniel says entitled “Our Journey Towards Improved of statewide program coordinator for that intellectual, financial and logistical River Flow & Flood Forecasting,” was WATER Kits. Kat’s good humor, keen support from SAHRA was a critical factor included in a session sponsored by intelligence, and winning ways with in allowing him to complete his degree the 20th Conference on Hydrology. children and educators will be missed in just 3 1/2 years. His dissertation was at SAHRA and throughout the state! Congratulations to Karletta Chief, Ph.D. titled “Rainfall variability and carbon candidate in hydrology and water resources, cycling in semi-arid ecosystems.” He who was named one of six recipients now is a postdoc at UC-Irvine. Students who finished degrees for 2005 of the prestigious Marshall Amy Defreese is the first in her class to Foundation Dissertation Fellowship at the Our latest OMS info-gathering exercise complete the M.Eng. degree from the University of Arizona. The award includes revealed a number of recent graduates who UA, which allows a flexible approach for a $12,945 stipend and tuition for two nearly slipped past our notice. Among them: working water professionals to complete semesters. Karletta’s dissertation title is their master’s degrees, requiring only one “Wildfires in Arizona: Soil physical changes Renee Sandvig received an MS degree full-time semester in residence. Amy’s and their effect on the spatial distribution in hydrology from New Mexico Tech in culminating project was “Riparian of infiltration and runoff generation.” May 2005. Her thesis, “Ecohydrological wetlands of East Canyon Creek in Summit, And Southwest Hydrology continues control on soil-moisture fluxes in arid County, Utah: losses authorized under to garner awards, this time an Award of vadose zones,” was completed under the Section 404 of the Clean Water Act within Excellence in the regional Publications, mentorship of Fred Phillips. Renee is now the context of overall historic losses.” She Art, and Online competition (Arizona, working on contaminated site remediation continues to work for the Army Corps of New Mexico, and Oklahoma) of the at ENVIRON, an environmental Engineers in Salt Lake City. consulting firm in Princeton, NJ. Society for Technical Communication. Entries were judged against standards Congratulations to Jesus Gastelum, Publicity/Honors for each category, not against each who in December successfully defended other. Next year, Southwest Hydrology his dissertation, “An analysis of water Joe McConnell, of the Desert Research hopes to nab a “Distiniguished” Award, resources alternatives to improve water Institute in Reno, Nevada, has received a which would automatically move the allocation on the Conchos Basin during Fulbright to lecture and conduct research in entry into national competition. drought situations.” His work was Argentina from March to June of this year. undertaken at the UA under the direction His research will focus on an Argentine ice of Juan Valdes and involved creation of a core from the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. PAGE JANUARY/FEBRUARY2006 RESEARCH R & R Water Banking Work since considerable current efforts are What ^*(!^&#% Words being focused there and the knowledge Would You Like to Ban? Generates Interest from base is stronger. The work will involve NM State Engineer developing and running scenarios and will We recently received several suggestions for words that SAHRA should ban in As a direct consequence of the stakeholder supplement ongoing model development for the Middle Rio Grande area. 2006. Please email your own suggestions engagement session at SAHRA’s 5th to [email protected]. We’ll Annual Meeting in October, SAHRA compile them and include a ballot in the representatives met on Jan. 12 with New next issue of Ephemeral Flow for the Mexico State Engineer John D’ Antonio IM Workshop Looms favorite word/phrase to banish! Apologies and Estevan Lopez, Director of the SAHRA’s Integrated Modeling team to all who have a sentimental attachment Interstate Stream Commission, to discuss is planning a two-day workshop in to any of following words, phrases, or SAHRA’s work on water markets and Socorro, NM on March 30-31, 2006. concepts: water banking and to strengthen ties The first day will focus on “Where with the Office of the New Mexico State Suggestions for words to ban: We Are,” with the goal of establishing • biogeohydrochemical, answers to important questions as to biogeometeorological, or any how the integrated modeling activities similar utterance by Paul Brooks are contributing to answering the three • cyberinfrastructure SAHRA science questions. The second • hydrologic literacy day’s focus, “Where We Are Going,” will • integrated (and variations thereof) be devoted entirely to advancing the • knowledge transfer development of scenarios. Attendance • OMS (Note: you can try to ban the for the first day is open to all interested word, but you’ll never be rid of the parties including SAHRA PIs, co-PIs, database) students, and stakeholders. The second • strawman day will mainly be attended by the Engineer (NMSE). As a result of these SAHRA Scenario Development team, Suggestions for previously discussions, The State Engineer’s staff key PIs in each question area, SAHRA banned words to revive: is investigating establishing a formal administrators, and relevant stakeholders. • thrust area working agreement between NMSE Other interested parties are also welcome. On a related note, SAHRA will no and SAHRA. SAHRA will develop a Contact Yuqiong Liu (yqliu@hwr. longer consider employment applications water markets/trading model for the arizona.edu) for more information. or student or research affiliations/ Mimbres River Basin as a pilot study, appointments for any individuals with the following common-as-dirt names: James/ Jim, David/Dave, Jennifer/Jen/Jenny.