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Our research focus on a wide range of applications of environmental fluid dynamics. We use both observations and modeling to understand turbulence, particle-fluid interactions, and transport phenomena. Our primary research subjects are within water resources, including natural water bodies and engineered water systems. We also collaborate with scientists and physicians to study broader fluid problems.
Current research topics:
Natural seeps of hydrocarbon bubbles from shallow to deep seas (NSF)
Developing new instrument to better understand marine seeps (NSF)
Turbulence structures in the Missouri River and their influences on transport of fish eggs and larvae (USGS)
Applications of small UAVs in hydraulic measurements (MoDOT)
Understanding mechanisms of environmental transmission of avian flu (USGS)
High-frequency echosounder measurements of bubbles in water columns (ONR)
Bubble bursting and transport of waterborne contaminants (EPA - Missouri Water Center)
Wind-driven seed dispersal and the effect of the seed morphology
Hinkson Creek Digital Twin
Under one of the Missouri Water Center target projects, we developed a prototype of the Hinkson Creek Digital Twin (mofloodwatch.me), a web-based flood visualization platform for the Hinkson Creek watershed in Columbia, Missouri. The system integrates physics-based flood simulation using HEC-RAS 2D with a Graph Neural Network (GNN) to enable real-time flood depth predictions. The HEC-RAS model was calibrated against USGS gauge observations across historical storm events spanning 2000 to 2025, and GNN learns the spatiotemporal flood dynamics directly on the computational mesh, producing predictions in seconds that would otherwise take hours with traditional simulation.
The interactive platform provides live creek monitoring with real-time gauge and weather data, return period flood maps, animated replay of major historical events with depth and velocity visualization, a real-time forecast tool for user-defined rainfall scenarios, and land use change analysis showing urbanization impacts on flood risk. The platform is designed to support emergency managers, and city planners in understanding flood behavior and making informed decisions for the Hinkson Creek watershed.
Real-time stream flow tracking
demo.mp4
Hydraulic measurements using UAVs
Funded by the Missouri Department of Transportation, we are conducting extensive field studies to evaluate best practices for using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in hydraulic measurements. This work involves measuring water surface elevation, flow depth, and surface velocity to estimate stream discharge. The findings will support the planning, design, and management of infrastructure projects such as bridges and improve flood risk assessments. UAVs offer a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional ground-based and in-stream methods, particularly during high-flow or flood conditions.
We employ airborne LiDAR and photogrammetry to survey streams across a range of drainage areas and discharge levels, assessing the capabilities and limitations of UAV-based hydraulic measurements. This project also incorporates a comprehensive literature review and analysis, which provides us with critical context and insights to guide our fieldwork and data interpretation.
Hydrocarbon release from the sea floor is a vertical transport mechanism and the dynamical process between water and bubbles determines the maximal height of rise. This is an important process to ocean biogeochemistry, microbial population, and ecosystem structures. Understanding seep dynamics also has significant implications on the fate and transport of oil and gas particles in oceans.
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), we conducted field observations of natural seeps at Green Canyon (GC) 185, collected rich data using our newly developed RPiPIV system, along with measurements of gas flux and acoustic backsatter from bubbles using several single-beam and multi-beam echo-sounders mounted on the research vessel and two underwater robots (AUV Sentry and ROV Jason).
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), we conducted field observations of natural seeps at Green Canyon (GC) 185, collected rich data using our newly developed RPiPIV system, along with measurements of gas flux and acoustic backsatter from bubbles using several single-beam and multi-beam echo-sounders mounted on the research vessel and two underwater robots (AUV Sentry and ROV Jason).
Transport of Carp Eggs in Large Rivers
Invasive carps often spawn in high turbulence areas of rivers. The eggs are initially small and dense, which requires substantial turbulence to keep them suspended. While drifting downstream, they increase their volume by taking on large amount of water and approach a near-neutrally buoyant density (slightly heavier than water) before hatching. In large rivers, highly three dimensional turbulence are present. Along with the current in the rivers, they dominate the location, timing of the dispersion of carp eggs in rivers, which serves the critical role in survival of these eggs.
Funded by the USGS Aquatic Invasive Species program, we are investigating the effect of turbulence on the egg drift in a unique reach of Missouri River, where a series of channel-training structures and bedforms are present (see upper left figure). We are collaborating with USGS scientists on using observations and modeling to quantify the fine-scale turbulent structures and their influence on the dispersion of egg particles in water.
Funded by the USGS Aquatic Invasive Species program, we are investigating the effect of turbulence on the egg drift in a unique reach of Missouri River, where a series of channel-training structures and bedforms are present (see upper left figure). We are collaborating with USGS scientists on using observations and modeling to quantify the fine-scale turbulent structures and their influence on the dispersion of egg particles in water.
Dispersal of grass seeds in wind
Grasses are ubiquitous components of the natural and human-influenced environment, covering as much as 40% of the Earth's land surface. This global distribution reflects their ability to disperse their seeds. While the major domesticated grasses have been selected for their large seeds and high nutritional value, most of the more than 11,000 species of grasses have tiny seeds, which may be subject to dispersal by wind. The seeds are enclosed in papery leaf-like structures or bracts (glumes and lemmas), one of which bears a long tail-like appendage known as an awn; together the seed plus the bracts and awn form the spikelet, which is the dispersal unit.
We studied the flight dynamics of a bent-awn plumegrass called Saccharum contortum. We applied both laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. The goal of this study is to determine how the tiny hairs can affect the seed drag in various wind conditions. From experiment, we found that the Saccharum contortum seeds have a terminal free fall velocity primarily in the range of 1–2 m/s. The seed lacking hairs exhibited a significantly higher terminal velocity, reaching 2.34 times the average velocity observed in seeds with hairs. For seeds with hairs, terminal velocity exhibited a linear relationship with seed mass, while the drag coefficient displayed a power-law dependence on the Reynolds number. The CFD simulation demonstrates that the body of Saccharum contortum seeds possesses a streamlined shape, with frictional forces within the boundary layer dominating drag during free fall and upward wind conditions. The presence of hairs leads to an increase in pressure drag, suggesting the formation and influence of eddy motions in the wake of seeds. See our publication here.
We studied the flight dynamics of a bent-awn plumegrass called Saccharum contortum. We applied both laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. The goal of this study is to determine how the tiny hairs can affect the seed drag in various wind conditions. From experiment, we found that the Saccharum contortum seeds have a terminal free fall velocity primarily in the range of 1–2 m/s. The seed lacking hairs exhibited a significantly higher terminal velocity, reaching 2.34 times the average velocity observed in seeds with hairs. For seeds with hairs, terminal velocity exhibited a linear relationship with seed mass, while the drag coefficient displayed a power-law dependence on the Reynolds number. The CFD simulation demonstrates that the body of Saccharum contortum seeds possesses a streamlined shape, with frictional forces within the boundary layer dominating drag during free fall and upward wind conditions. The presence of hairs leads to an increase in pressure drag, suggesting the formation and influence of eddy motions in the wake of seeds. See our publication here.
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