ABSTRACT:

I do not typically code in Python and this is my first attempt at developing a new set of labs for my groundwater flow modeling class at the University at Buffalo. The original set of labs was based on MATLAB. However, what I am finding is that students learn how to use MATLAB in graduate school but then can’t afford it once they join the workforce or their company is not willing to put down the money. As a result, my goal here is to develop an alternative set of tools for students that are open source.

There will be errors in these files and likely 1000s of better ways to set up these notebooks. I am always open to suggestions and will happily make modifications accordingly. Please feel free to e-mail me or call me.

ABSTRACT:

Globally, the number of people experiencing water stress is expected to increase by millions by the end of the century. The Great Lakes region, representing 20% of the world’s surface freshwater, is not immune to stresses on water supply due to uncertainties on the impacts of climate and land use change. It is imperative for researchers and policy makers to assess the changing state of water resources, even if the region is water rich. This research developed the integrated surface water-groundwater GSFLOW model and investigated the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities on water resources in the lower Great Lakes region of Western New York. To capture a range of scenarios, two climate emission pathways and three land development projections were used, specifically RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5, increased urbanization by 50%, decreased urbanization by 50%, and current land cover, respectively. Model outputs of surface water and groundwater discharge into the Great Lakes and groundwater storage for mid- and late century were compared to historical to determine the direction and amplitude of changes. Both surface water and groundwater systems show no statistically significant changes under RCP 4.5 but substantial and worrisome losses with RCP 8.5 by mid-century and end of century. Under RCP 8.5, streamflow decreased by 22% for mid-century and 42% for late century. Adjusting impervious surfaces revealed complex land use effects, resulting in spatially varying groundwater head fluctuations. For instance, increasing impervious surfaces lowered groundwater levels from 0.5 m to 3.8 m under Buffalo, the largest city in the model domain, due to reduced recharge in surrounding suburban areas. Ultimately, results of this study highlight the necessity of integrated modeling in assessing temporal changes to water resources. This research has implications for other water-rich areas, which may not be immune to effects of climate change and human activities.

ABSTRACT:

This point datalayer shows the locations of institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Sites appearing in this layer are those normally attended by students after completion of high school. Types are public and private, and categories include co-ed, vocational, technical, religious, medical, and traditional 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. This layer was developed by MassGIS and is primarily based on all Massachusetts colleges listed in the National Center for Education Statistics website as of March 12, 2018. Additional schools were added from lists of professional occupational/vocational institutions compiled by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Division of Professional Licensure.Data sources:https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/09/27/schools.pdfhttps://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/02/15/electricians%20150-600-hrs-course-approved-schools.pdfIndividual college websites were also consulted to verify locations and other material. MassGIS geocoded site addresses and verfied them using current ortho imagery.A few institutions have multiple campuses, as distinct from satellite locations. For example, Harvard School of Business and Harvard Medical School are campuses within Harvard University, and a point is included in this dataset for each. Some satellite campuses may not be included. For example, Northeastern University conducts classes in satellite locations such as Milford High School. Since Milford High School is a separate educational facility, it is not considered to be a Northeastern University campus, and a point is not included in this layer.The layer is stored in ArcSDE and distributed as COLLEGES_PT.For pre-kindergarten through high school educational facilities, see the SCHOOL_PT layer.