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MSU NSF C-RUI

 

C-RUI Faculty
H.  Whiteman
S. Hendricks
T. Johnston 
G. Kipphut                B.Loganathan
D. Owen
W. Spencer
T. Timmons
D. White

C-RUI Students
Jason Albritton
Suzan Barton
Amanda Crook
Kari Foster
Joanna Kind
Thomas Moore
Terry Ray
Kosta Seaford

C-RUI Publications

C-RUI Presentations

C-RUI Photos

Other Links
College of S&ET
Biology 
Chemistry
Geosciences
Center for Reservoir Research


George Kipphut

Professor of Biological Sciences and Geosciences

B.S.                Providence College 

M.Phil., Ph.D., Columbia University 

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The overall objective of my research interests in the context of the C-RUI project is to assess rates of chemical fluxes of nutrients between seasonally flooded embayment sediments and the overlying reservoir waters. In coordination with other research components, we seek to investigate the relationship between these chemical fluxes and the activities of the microorganisms present in the sediments and to the distribution of micro- and macro-organisms within the sediments and overlying waters. During the initial phases of research, experimental work will focus on:

  1. Measurement of the vertical distribution of important biochemical species within the interstitial waters of embayment sediments. Initially, effort will be focused on dissolved nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, phosphate); dissolved organic material (carbon, nitrogen phosphate); major cations (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium), major anions (sulfate, chloride); dissolved gases (CO2, CH4), and important metallic species (iron, manganese). Variability in measured nutrient concentrations from site to site is a good indicator of overall rates of sediment diagenesis, and can be used to identify sites for more intensive efforts in the future.
  2. Chemical characterization of the solid phases of embayment sediments with particular attention given to total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, iron, and manganese.
  3. Direct measurement of chemical fluxes between sediments and overlying waters using sediment chambers. The chemical species measured will be those mentioned above, with the addition of dissolved oxygen. Except in the case of dissolved gases, this measurement can be made only when the sediments are covered with reservoir water.