RESEARCh
University of Pittsburgh Department of Geology and Environmental Science
Our research program focuses on the comprehensive assessment of human driven changes in environmental systems. Hydrology, geomorphology, biogeochemistry, ecology, and spatial analysis are combined to focus on fundamental landscape components, particularly fluvial (stream) and urban systems, over the last several centuries. These inquiries are supported by state of the art laboratory facilities for the examination of sediment and water chemistry (please see our facilities page). However, they are also strongly rooted in the measurement of the environment in the field and collection of historical data from the archives. In addition, we routinely pursue opportunities to work and lead in larger synthesis efforts, allowing rich interactions with a broad community.
Current projects:
5th Act 54 Assessment: I am leading a University of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Museum of Natural History team to evaluate subsidence impacts from underground mining in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This assessment period covers all mining and impacts between August 21, 2013 and August 20, 2018.
Quantifying Human Forcing of Legacy Sediment and Metal Contamination Dynamics on the Yunnan Plateau of Southwestern China: In collaboration with Duo Wu, Aubrey Hillman, and Mark Abbott we will quantify the amount of legacy contaminants stored in watershed sediments and document the mechanisms of legacy contaminant delivery to the lakes in Yunnan, China and influences of natural and anthropogenic forcing on these sediment dynamics.
Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education and Outreach: This collaborative project (with Emily Elliott, Brian Thomas, and Eitan Shelef seeks to catalyze creative solutions to Western Pennsylvania's water challenges by facilitating collaborations between University of Pittsburgh researchers, water practitioners, and communities.
Selected PAst projects:
Baltimore Ecosystem Study: I am a collaborator on the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, an NSF funded long-term ecological research (LTER) site. This is one of two LTER sites in the US LTER network focusing on urban processes.
Example Publications: Bain, DJ, I. D. Yesilonis, R. V. Pouyat, (2012) “Metal Concentrations in Urban Riparian Sediments Along an Urbanization Gradient”, Biogeochemistry 107: 67-79
Example Publications: Bain, DJ, I. D. Yesilonis, R. V. Pouyat, (2012) “Metal Concentrations in Urban Riparian Sediments Along an Urbanization Gradient”, Biogeochemistry 107: 67-79
4th Act 54 Assessment: Working as part of a University of Pittsburgh team, we are evaluating the effectiveness of Act 54, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's legislation governing the impacts of underground coal mining. Our role on the team was focused on examining the changes to groundwater systems following underground mining.
ENERGY-NET: Energy Environment and Society Learning Network: Enhancing opportunities for learning using an Earth Systems Science Approach (Co-I): An NSF-funded collaboration with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This project allows collaboration among geoscience and learning science graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh with museum staff and local high school students to develop exhibits and exhibit space regarding local energy and environmental issues. Follow the activities here: http://energynetcmnh.blogspot.com/
Examining Hydrologic Changes Following Installation of Demonstration Green Infrastructure: A project in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, we are evaluating the hydrologic consequences of Green Infrastructure Projects scheduled to be installed in the Summer of 2014. This project is somewhat unique due to the wealth of pre-project data we have been able to collect.
Example Publications: Hopkins, K. G., D.J. Bain, and E. M. Copeland, (2014) “A Century of Land Use Change and Hydrologic Response in an Urban Stream: Implications for Diagnosing Stream Impairment”, Landscape Ecology 29(3): 413-424
Example Publications: Hopkins, K. G., D.J. Bain, and E. M. Copeland, (2014) “A Century of Land Use Change and Hydrologic Response in an Urban Stream: Implications for Diagnosing Stream Impairment”, Landscape Ecology 29(3): 413-424
Acquisition of an Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometer for Research in Geochemical, Environmental, and Paleoenvironmental Geoscience: NSF funding allowed the acquisition of a Perkin Elmer Nexion 300x ICP-MS. The instrument has served the department and university widely, including users from the Graduate School of Public Health, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemistry and Biological Sciences.
Example Publications: Meindl, G. A., D.J. Bain, and T.-L. Ashman. (2013) “Edaphic factors and plant plant-insect interactions: effects of soil chemistry on pollination and florivory.” Oecologia 173:1355–1366
Example Publications: Meindl, G. A., D.J. Bain, and T.-L. Ashman. (2013) “Edaphic factors and plant plant-insect interactions: effects of soil chemistry on pollination and florivory.” Oecologia 173:1355–1366
Baseline Studies to Determine Marcellus Shale Field Development Effects on Environmental Variables and Ecological Receptors (Co-I): This was a Heinz Foundations funded effort in collaboration with Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon University to collect baseline water and biological data for southwestern Pennsylvania.
Long Term Hydrologic Change: Disturbance Legacies in Material Fluxes: This was an U. S. LTER Network Office sponsored synthesis working group bringing together researchers from six long sites in the eastern United States (Hubbard Brook, Harvard Forest, Plum Island, Baltimore, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and Coweeta. We examined the evidence for legacy effects in long term records from these sites.
Example Publications: Bain, DJ, M. Green, J. Campbell, J. Chamblee, S. Chaoka, J. Fraterrigo, S. Kaushal, S. Martin, T. Jordan, T. Parolari, W. Sobczak, D. Weller, W. Wollheim, E. Boose, J. Duncan, G. Gettel, B. Hall, P. Kumar, J. Thompson, J. Vose, E. Elliott, D. Leigh (2012) “Legacies in Material Flux: Structural Changes Pre-Date Long-term Studies”, BioScience 62 (6), 575-584
Example Publications: Bain, DJ, M. Green, J. Campbell, J. Chamblee, S. Chaoka, J. Fraterrigo, S. Kaushal, S. Martin, T. Jordan, T. Parolari, W. Sobczak, D. Weller, W. Wollheim, E. Boose, J. Duncan, G. Gettel, B. Hall, P. Kumar, J. Thompson, J. Vose, E. Elliott, D. Leigh (2012) “Legacies in Material Flux: Structural Changes Pre-Date Long-term Studies”, BioScience 62 (6), 575-584
Humans Transforming the Water Cycle:
Community-Based Activities in Hydrologic
Synthesis (CUNY CUAHSI Synthesis Activity): I was one of the early career fellows in this effort, working closely with the summer institute graduate students reconstruct hydrologic changes over the last 400 years.
Example Publications: Bain, DJ, J. A. Arrigo, M. B. Green, B. Pellerin, C. Vörösmarty (2011) “Historical legacies and contemporary water science and management”, Water, 3(2):566-575
Example Publications: Bain, DJ, J. A. Arrigo, M. B. Green, B. Pellerin, C. Vörösmarty (2011) “Historical legacies and contemporary water science and management”, Water, 3(2):566-575
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University of Pittsburgh
Department of Geology and Planetary Science 200 SRCC / 4107 O'Hara St. Pittsburgh, PA 15260 |
dbain at pitt dot edu
412 624 8766 Fax: 412 624 3914 |