Jump to navigation

The University of Arizona Wordmark Line Logo White
Home
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  •  
  • Events
  • News
  • Publications
  • Programs
  • Resources
  • Opportunities
  • About
  • Give
Weekly Wave
  • Facebook  
  • Twitter  
  • YouTube  

Log In

A research and extension unit of the

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Research
November 19, 2021

Student Research Presented at WRRC Brown Bag

On Wednesday, November 10, the WRRC hosted a Brown Bag webinar featuring presentations by student researchers who received funding in 2020 through the WRRC from the Water Resources Research Act, Section 104(b) grant program. Sarah E. Abney, PhD candidate in the UArizona Department of Environmental Science, shared her research on environmental microplastic contamination and the development of a filtering method to remove microplastics from our water supply. Abney shared fascinating information about the problem that microplastics pose: contamination of not only oceans and rivers, but also tap water. Microplastics come from not just plastic waste, but everything from clothes to cosmetics. Abney explained the process by which microplastics enter water systems and the food chain, ultimately ending up in humans. She discussed current methods for filtering wastewater to prepare it for human consumption and highlighted different methods of analyzing microplastics in water and their pitfalls. The result of Abney’s research is a new method of filtering out microplastics, which is low-cost and can filter high volumes of water.
 
Ammon F. Cadogan, who received his MS in Civil Engineering from UArizona, presented his research on the use of drones, or small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), to remotely measure flow discharge after floods in dangerous areas. Flood events are the most common natural disaster and understanding the maximum amount of water that could flow through a given channel in a flood event is crucial for mitigation planning. Cadogan explained how drones can be used to measure the velocity of the water on the surface, and then use that to determine the velocity of water throughout the channel. Cadogan seeds the water by blowing rice cereal onto the water's surface, using the drone flying above to film the movement. He can then use that video and complex calculations to determine the flow rate. Cadogan’s research shows that drones can be reliably used to measure flood flow discharge.

Presentation Slides and Recording

Recent News

Engagement
May 13, 2022
Stressed Colorado River Makes News
Read More
Engagement
May 06, 2022
LSCRB Climate Change Impact Study Results Available

University of Arizona researchers Kathy Jacobs, Neha Gupta, Chris Castro, and Hsin-I Chang have been key contributors to the first comprehensive assessment of climate change effects on the Lower Santa Cruz River Basin (LSCRB). 

Read More
Engagement
April 29, 2022
Egyptian Ambassador Featured in Event on Egyptian-American Relations, Climate, and Water

The Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations and the University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES),

Read More
Engagement
April 29, 2022
Upcoming Special Event: INHABITANTS Panel & Asynchronous Screening

As part of the WRRC’s Indigenous Water Dialogues, we are pleased to announce a special panel discussion of INHABITANTS: Indigenous Perspectives On Restoring Our World, as well as free screening for all event registrants. 

Read More
April 22, 2022
WRRC Director Megdal Honored at IAH Commission Event

The International Association of Hydrogeologists Commission on Managing Aquifer Recharge (IAH-MAR Commission) held a meeting and plenary session at ISMAR11 on the evening of April 12, 2022. In addition to electing a slate of officers, the session honored individuals who had contributed significantly to the organization’s mission.

Read More
Engagement
April 22, 2022
WRRC Invites Your Support: Sponsor Our 2022 Annual Conference

The 2022 WRRC Conference, Arizona’s Agricultural Outlook: Water, Climate, and Sustainability, is quickly approaching. 

Read More
  • Show More

We tackle key water policy and management issues, empower informed decision-making, and enrich understanding through engagement, education, and applied research.

Give Today
Weekly Wave

Keep up with our news and events with a subscription to our Weekly Wave.

Subscribe

Reach Out

  • 350 N Campbell Ave
    Tucson, AZ 85719
  • (520) 621-9591
  • (520) 792-8518
  • Email Us
  • Directory

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2022 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of The University of Arizona.