Research

CWSS Research Objectives

The Center for Water Supply Studies is actively involved in conducting research relevant to addressing water supply issues in the Coastal Bend region of South Texas.

The Center for Water Supply Studies research is focused on:

CWSS Research Projects (including graduate and undergraduate students)

• understanding groundwater contributions to water quality and habitat degradation in coastal embayments.
• Using radionuclides such as Radon (Rn) and Radium (Ra), elemental and stable isotope geochemistry, temperature, and electrical resistivity as indicators of groundwater discharge.
• Understanding the role of groundwater nutrients in system-wide nutrient budgets, and hypoxia and phytoplankton (red & brown tide) trends in relation to groundwater flow and nutrient discharge.
• Implications of climatic and anthropogenic change on decreased freshwater inflows to coastal embayments and increased salinities in surface water and groundwater in coastal areas.
• Investigation of methane sources in groundwater active horizontal drilling areas and prediction of injected water quality changes under aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) using stable isotopes and modeling techniques.
• Magnetotelluric and conductivity imaging of the geometry of barrier island freshwater aquifers
• Development of forward modeling algorithms for modeling vertical electrical soundings of magnetotelluric and conductivity geophysical data
• Development of software to extract NEXRAD rainfall data for use in watershed models
• Investigation of groundwater/surface water interaction in Oso Creek to track bacteria sources
• Study of the use of fluorescent whitening agents as tracers in the investigation of domestic sewage contamination of surface waters
• Investigation of the geometry of the freshwater/saltwater interface on barrier islands
• Examination of the correlation of rainfall recharge with spring flow at Comal Springs
• Development of a variable density flow model of freshwater lens dynamics on Padre Island to constrain the flux of nitrogen into the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico

Recent Publications

• Gyawali, B.*, Murgulet, D., Ahmed, M. (2022). Quantifying Changes in Groundwater Storage and Response to Hydroclimatic Extremes in a Coastal Aquifer Using Remove Sensing and Ground-Based Measurements: The Texas Gulf Coast Aquifer. Remote Sensing, v. 14, p. 612, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14030612.
• Haley, M.*, Ahmed, M., Gebermichael, E., Murgulet, D., Starek, M. (2022). Land Subsidence in the Texas Coastal Bend: Locations, Rates, Triggers, and Consequences. Remote Sensing, v. 14, p. 192. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14010192 
• Qiu, Y.*,Felix, J.D. (2021). Hurricane/tropical storm rainwater chemistry in the US (2008-2009). Science of The Total Environment, v. 798, p. 149009. 
• Ahmed, M., Aqnouy, M., Elmessari, J. (2021). Sustainability of Morocco's Groundwater Resources in Response to Natural and Anthropogenic Forces. Journal of Hydrology, v. 603, p. 126866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126866
• Sharma, B.*, Felix, J.D., Myles, L., Butlet, T., Summerlin, S., Shimizu, M. (2021). Ethanol concentrations in wet deposition at US Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network (AIRMoN) sites. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry (2021): 1-14.
• Ahmed, M., Turner, R.*, Haley, M.*, Shyrigh, S.*, Colmenero, D.*, Penchala, T.* (2020). Constructing a Geophysical Test Site for Coastal Community's Research and Education Activities. The Leading Edge, v. 40, p. 2.8-2.13. https://doi.org/10.1190/tle40030208.1 
• Essam, D.,* Ahmed, M., Abouelmagd, A., Soliman, F. (2020). Monitoring temporal variations in groundwater levels in urban areas using Ground Penetrating Radar. Science of the Total Environment, v. 703, p. 134986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134986 
• Douglas, A. R.*, Murgulet, D., & Montagna, P. A. (2020). Hydroclimatic variability drives submarine groundwater discharge and nutrient fluxes in an anthropogenically disturbed, semi-arid estuary. Science of the Total Environment, 142574.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142574.
• Lopez, C.*, Murgulet, D., & Santos, I.R. (2020). Radioactive and Stable Isotope Measurements Reveal Saline Submarine Groundwater Discharge in a Semiarid Estuary. Journal of Hydrology, 125395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125395.
• Felix, J.D. and Murgulet, D. (2020). Nitrate isotopic composition of sequential Hurricane Harvey wet deposition: Low latitude NOx sources and oxidation chemistry. Atmospheric Environment, p.117748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117748
• Murgulet, D., Douglas, A.R.*, Herrera Silveira, J.A., Mariño Tapia, I., Valle-Levinson, A. (2020). Submarine groundwater discharge along the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impact of Karst, San Juan, Puerto Rico. National Cave and Karst Research Institute Symposium 8. Carlsbad (NM): National Cave and Karst Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.5038/9781733375313.1060.
• Ahmed, M. (2020). Sustainable management scenarios for northern Africa's fossil aquifer systems. Journal of Hydrology: 589, 125196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125196
• Berner, A.H.** and Felix, J.D. (2020). Investigating ammonia emissions in a coastal urban airshed using stable isotope techniques. Science of the Total Environment: 707, 134952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134952
• Abdulla, H.A., Burdige, D.J., and Komada, T. (2020). Abiotic formation of dissolved organic sulfur in anoxic sediments of Santa Barbara Basin. Organic Geochemistry: 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2019.05.009.
• Douglas, A. R.*, Murgulet, D., & Peterson, R. N. (2020). The use of radon and radium isotopes to determine submarine groundwater discharge in an anthropogenically disturbed, semi-arid estuary. Journal of Hydrology, 124369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124369.
• Spalt, N.*, Murgulet, D., and Abdulla, H. (2019). Spatial variation and availability of nutrients at an oyster reef in relation to submarine groundwater discharge. Science of the Total Environment. 136283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136283
• Spalt, N*, Murgulet, D., and Hu, X., (2018). Relating estuarine geology to groundwater discharge at an oyster reef in Copano Bay, Texas. Hydrology Journal (In Press: HYDROL22980).
• Lopez, C.*, Murgulet, D., Douglas, A*, and Murgulet, V. (2018). Evaluating Groundwater Inflow and Nutrient Transport to Texas Coastal Embayments, Phase III (Baffin Bay). Scientific report submitted to Texas General Land Office, April 2018; p. 105. GLO Contract No. 16-060-000-9104.
• Murgulet, D., Trevino, M.*, Douglas, A.*, Spalt, N.*, Hu, X., and Murgulet, V. (2018). Temporal and spatial fluctuations of groundwater-derived alkalinity fluxes to a semiarid coastal embayment. Science of the Total Environment. Science of the Total Environment 630 (2018) 1343–1359. #https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.333.
• Murgulet, D., Murgulet, V., Hay, R., Mestas-Nunez, A., and Tissot, P. (2017). Relationships between Sea Surface Temperature Changes in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and South Texas Precipitation and Streamflow Variability. Hydrology Journal (550 (2017) 726-739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.05.041
• Douglas, A*, Murgulet, D., Wetz, M., and Spalt, N* (2017). Evaluating Groundwater Inflow and Nutrient Transport to Texas Coastal Embayments, Phase II (Mission-Aransas Estuary). Scientific report submitted to Texas General Land Office, April 2017; p. 103. GLO Contract No. 15-047-000-8392
• Murgulet, D. and G.R. Tick (2016). Effect of variable-density groundwater flow on nitrate flux to coastal waters. Journal of Hydrological Processes. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.10580.
• Tick, G.R., J.R.Harvell, and D. Murgulet (2015). Intermediate-Scale Investigation of Enhanced-Solubilization Agents on the Dissolution and Removal of a Multicomponent Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) Source. Water Air and Soil Pollution, doi: 10.1007/s11270-015-2636-7.
• Bighash, P. and D. Murgulet (2015). Application of factor analysis and electrical resistivity to understand groundwater contributions to coastal embayments in semi-arid and hypersaline coastal settings. Science of the Total Environment. 532:688-701. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.077.
• Murgulet, D. and R.G. Hay (2015). Technical Support document: Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load for the Oso Creek Watershed, Texas. Submitted October 15, Contract No. 582-11-90501; Work Order No. 13
• Weber, E. T. II and D. Denny (2009). 1-D inversion of magnetotelluric vertical electrical sounding curves: Defining coastal aquifers with freshwater-saltwater transition zones: Journal of Applied Geophysics.
• Garrison, James R. Jr., E.T. Weber, II, S. Potter Miller, G. McMechan and X. Zeng (2009). Ground-penetrating Radar study of North Padre Island, Texas: Implications for barrier island internal architecture, models of micro-tidal barrier island growth, and Gulf of Mexico sea-level cyclicity: Journal of Sedimentary Research. doi:10.2110/jsr.2010.034

Selected Recent Presentations

• Ahmed, Wiese, D.N., Gyawali, B.*, Ilhan, I., Fawzy, D.E., Arslan, G., and Somay-Altas, M., 2020. Filling Temporal Gaps Within and Between GRACE and GRACE-FO Records: Advances, Challenges, and Future Opportunities. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. G001-06.
• Colmenero, D.M.** and Ahmed, M., 2020. Subsurface Geologic Controls on the Dune Morphology in Barrier Islands. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. EP061-0032.
• Gyawali, B.*, Murgulet, D., and Wolfe, W.**, 2020. Estimation of Groundwater Discharge Variability to the Gulf of Mexico Using Remote Sensing and Field Observations. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. H033-0007.
• Haley, M.** and Ahmed, M., 2020. Quantifying Land Subsidence Along the South Texas Coast Using Radar Interferometric Techniques. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. G004-0010.
• Murgulet, I.***, Douglas, A. R.*, Wolfe, W.**, and Abdulla, H.A.N., 2020. Nutrient and DOM distribution and transformation along a river course from headwaters to discharge: inorganic and organic nutrients. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. B047-0013.
• Penchala, T.** and Ahmed, M., 2020. Modeling the Impact of Abandoned Wells on the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Texas. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. H050-09.
• Vickers, C. M.**, Murgulet, D., Felix, J. D., Douglas, A. R.*, and Wolfe, W.**, 2020. Groundwater Contribution of Elevated Nutrients to a Hypersaline Estuary: Laguna Salada (Baffin Bay), Texas. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. H033-0008.
• Wolfe, W.** and Murgulet, D., 2020. Constraints on Radon and SGD Temporal Variability in a Semi-arid, Well Mixed Estuary. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. H033-0006.
• Walker, L.**, Murgulet, D., Lopez, C.V., and Douglas, A.*, 2019. Temporal changes in the radiogenic signature of shallow groundwater and its potential implications in the SGD estimates in a semiarid area. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. H41K-1862,
• Gyawali, B.* and Murgulet, D., and Ahmed, M., 2019. Quantifying change in groundwater storage in the coastal region of Texas. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. H43M-2239.
• Greige, M.**, Murgulet, D., Douglas, A.R.*, Abdulla, H.A., 2019. Hurricane Harvey’s impact on the DOM composition on the south shore of Corpus Christi Bay, Texas. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. B23A-05.
• Douglas, A.R.*, Murgulet, D., Abdulla, H.A., 2019. Seasonal trends and relationships between surface and porewater dissolved organic matter in a disturbed semi-arid estuary. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. B13G-2581.
• Stearns, J* and Murgulet, D., 2019. An evaluation of the feasibility of the time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography method in quantifying submarine groundwater discharge in fine sediment and highly saline embayments. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2019. https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2019-3216805.1
• Murgulet, D., 2019. What does groundwater have to do with phytoplankton growth and hypoxia in South Texas estuaries? Geological Sciences Seminar, University of Texas at San Antonio. Invited talk
• Murgulet, D., 2019. The impacts on groundwater from mining and “natural” occurrences of radium (Where does uranium occur in groundwater, how serious is the problem and what is the best course of action?). 2019 Texas Groundwater Conference, Austin. Invited talk
• Murgulet, D., Lopez, C.*, 2019. Submarine Groundwater Discharge and Nutrient Input to a Semiarid and Hypersaline Estuary: Baffin Bay, Texas. Goldschmidt Geochemical Society Conference. Goldschmidt Abstracts, 2019 2377.
• Murgulet, D., Murgulet, V., Trevino, M.*, Douglas, A.*, and Hu, X., 2019. Alkalinity variation in a semi-arid and secondary bay of south Texas. 2019 Texas Sea Grant Research Symposium (April 2019). Invited talk
• Gyawali, B.* and Murgulet, D., Ruben, Z.*, and Stearns, J.*, 2019. Quantifying temporal variation in groundwater storage and submarine groundwater discharge in the coastal region of Texas; 2019 Texas Sea Grant Research Symposium (April 2019).
• Douglas, A.*, Murgulet, D., Abdulla. H., and Montagna, P., 2019. Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter in a highly disturbed semi-arid bay. 2019 Texas Sea Grant Research Symposium (April 2019).
• Ruben, Z.**, Murgulet, D., Douglas, A.*, 2019. The presence and significance of radium and radon isotopes in south Texas estuaries; ASLO 2019 Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Puerto Rico. (February 2019).
• Murgulet, D., Coeckelenbergh, K., Uhlman, K. 2018. Freshwater Withdrawals Associated with Oil and Gas Production in Texas - Dorina Murgulet, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; 2018 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference. 
• Gyawali, B. and Murgulet, D., 2017. Prediction of Terrestrial Water Storage Using Different Modeling Approaches; 2018 UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference.