RISE Program Faculty Mentor (program description and research labs)
International Workshop (coordinator) : PC-based Modeling of Water Flow and Contaminant Transport in the Vadose Zone and Groundwater (2004 program and photos)
Teaching Interests:
Surface and Subsurface Hydrology,
Hydrogeology, GIS, Environmental Science, Soil Physics
and Computer Applications.
Courses taught and developed at CSU Fresno:
EES 004: Environmental Science (GE)
EES 112: Earth System History (web-based and classroom)
EES 117: Hydrogeology
EES 177: Quantitative Methods for Earth Science
EES 178: Geostatistics
EES 180: Computer Applications in Geology
EES 186: Earth Science Applications of GIS
EES 217T: Contaminant Hydrology (graduate)
EES 217T: Unsaturated Zone Hydrology (graduate)
EES 230: Contaminant Transport (graduate)
NSCI 115: Environmental Earth and Life Science
NSCI 115: Environmental Earth and Life Science (distance learning)
NSCI 115: Environmental Earth and Life Science (web-based)
Research Interests:
- Climate change effects on hydrological processes, water resources and ecosystems.
- Fluid mechanics in porous media including soils and fractured rocks.
- Watershed hydrology and environmental hydrogeology - water flow and solute transport.
- GIS applications in geo-sciences.
- Hydraulic and irrigation engineering.
- Soil and water conservation in arid and semi-arid regions.
At present, I am conducting researches on the measurement and modeling of water flow and nutrient transport in the upper Fresno River and the Upper San Joaquin River watersheds, measurement and modeling of unstable (finger) flow in soils, and engineering improvement of surface irrigation systems using the Sequentially Activated Micro-Flood Irrigation System technology.
Project Summaries:
Fresno River-Hensley Lake Water Quality Monitoring Project: California EPA (total funding $200,000, collaborating with ecologist Dr. Steve Blumenshine at CSUF and Central Sierra Watershed Committee). My responsibility is to develop GIS-based Nutrient Loading and Species Distribution Models that are capable of analyzing the fate and transport of nutrients and exotic species in the Fresno River watershed. Using the water quality data collected by the team, chart and quantify the water quality and species distribution within the watershed. Identify watershed land uses associated with high nutrient loads using GIS. Determine threshold limits on algal growth inducers, alone and in combination with each other. Estimate the assimilative capacities of the Fresno River and Hensley Lake for these nutrients; identify areas in the watershed where nutrient input is highest, and attempt to determine whether the sources are point or non-point in nature. Using the model, identify and analyze various possible reduction strategies.
Field Trip 3-9-2003 (PDF).
Field sampling Plan - air-photo and GIS (PDF)
Other project files (2008-09)
Measurement and modeling of Unstable Flow in Soils (collaborating with Dr. Jiri Simunek at UC Riverside and Dr. Atac Tuli at UC Davis. News Release). Based on our own and widely reported qualitative data of unstable flow in soils, we will conduct experimental, analytical and numerical simulation of unstable flow in the vadose zone, including development of new simulation models to be incorporated into existing models.
Selected Publications (with PDF files):
- Liang, X., D. Su, S. Yin and Z. Wang. Leaf water absorption and desorption functions for three turfgrasses. Journal of Hydrology, 376: 243–248, 2009 (read this article through doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.07.035, download PDF - author's final manuscript).
- He, Z., Z. Wang, C.J. Suen, X. Ma. Climate Change Impacts on Water Availability in the Upper San Joaquin River Watershed, California. (submitted) 2009.
- Yu, X., D. Su, Y. Tian, Z. Wang. Performance of the ridge-furrow rain harvesting system in semiarid regions of China. (submitted), 2008.
- Li, He-li, Huai-en Li,Wen-juan Shi, and Zhi Wang, Research of Finger Flow in Porous Media - Summary and Perspective, Soils, 2007.
- Kim, S.B., H.S. On, D.J. Kim, W. A. Jury , and Z. Wang. Determination of bromacil transport as a function of water and carbon content in soils. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B, 42, 529–537, 2007.
- Wang, Z. Watershed Monitoring and Hydrologic Simulation using GIS (front page abstract), CSU Geospatial Review, Vol. 4 , Spring 2006. CSU Fresno News Release August 6, 2006
- Javaux, M., Z. Wang, J. Feyen, D.E. Elrick, and M. Vanclooster. Correction to ‘‘Prediction of fingering in porous media", Water Resources Research, Vol. 41, No. 4, W04005, doi:10.1029/2004WR003831, 2005.
- Wang, Z. BookReview: Seepage in Soils – Principles and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Vadose Zone Journal, 3:728-729, 2004.
- Wang, Z., W.A. Jury, A. Tuli, and D.J. Kim. Unstable flow during redistribution: Controlling factors and practical implications. Vadose Zone Journal, 3: 549-559, 2004.
- Wang, Z, A. Tuli, and W.A. Jury. Unstable flow during redistribution in homogeneous soil, Vadose Zone Journal, 2: 52-60. 2003.
- Jury, W.A., Z. Wang, and A. Tuli. A conceptual model of unstable flow in unsaturated soil during redistribution, Vadose Zone Journal, 2: 61-67. 2003.
- Wang, Z., L. Wu, T. Harter, J. Lu and W.A. Jury. A field study of unstable preferential flow during soil water redistribution. Water Resources Research. Vol. 39 (4): 1075, doi:10.1029/2001WR000903. 2003.
- Wang, Z., A. Chang, L. Wu, and D. Crowley. Assessing the soil quality of long-term reclaimed wastewater-irrigated cropland. Geoderma, 114: 261-278, doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00044-2. 2003.
- Wang, Z, J. Lu, L. Wu, T. Harter, and W.A. Jury. Visualizing preferential flow in field soils using ammonium carbonate and a pH indicator, Soil Science Society of America Journal , 66, 347-351. 2002.
- Wang, J., B. Fu, Y. Qiu, L. Chen, and Z. Wang. Geostatistical analysis of soil moisture variability on Da Nangou catchment of the loess plateau, China. Environmental Geology, 41: 113-120. 2001.
- Jury, W. A., and Z. Wang.Unresolved Problems in vadose zone hydrology and contaminant transport. In Dynamics of Fluids in Fractured Rock, AGU Geophysical Monograph 122, edited by B. Faybishenko, P. A. Witherspoon and S. M. Benson. pp. 67-72. 2000.
- Wang, Z., L. Wu, and Q. J. Wu.Water-entry value as an alternative indicator of soil water repellency and wettability, Journal of Hydrology, 231-232: 76-83. 2000.
- Wang, Z., Q.J. Wu, L. Wu, C.J. Ritsema, L.W. Dekker and J. Feyen. Effects of soil water repellency on infiltration rate and flow instability. Journal of Hydrology, 231-232:265-276. 2000.
- Zerihun, D., J. Feyen, J. M. Reddy and Z. Wang. Minimum cost design of furrow irrigation systems. Transactions of the ASAE, 42(4): 945-955. 1999.
- Wang, Z., Jan Feyen, and D.E. Elrick.Prediction of Fingering in porous media. Water Resources Research, 34: 2183-2190. 1998.
- Wang, Z., Jan Feyen and C. J. Ritsema. Susceptibility and predictability of conditions for preferential flow. Water Resources Research, 34: 2169-2182. 1998.
- Wang, Z., J. Feyen, M. Th. van Genuchten and D. R. Nielsen. Air entrapment effects on infiltration rate and flow instability. Water Resources Research, 34(2): 213-222. 1998.
- Wang, Z., J. Feyen, D. R. Nielsen and M. Th. van Genuchten. Two-phase flow infiltration equations accounting for air entrapment effects. Water Resources Research, 33(12): 2759-2768. 1997.
- Zerihun, D, Z. Wang, J. Feyen and J. M. Reddy. Empirical functions for dependent furrow irrigation parameters. 2: Applications, Irrigation Science, 17:121-126. 1997.
- Zerihun, D., Z. Wang, S. Rimal, J. Feyen and J. M. Reddy, Analysis of surface irrigation performance terms and indices. Agricultural Water Management, 34:25-46. 1997.
- Wang Z., D. Zerihun, and J. Feyen, General irrigation efficiency for field water management. Agricultural Water Management, 30(2): 123-132. 1996.
- Wang, Z., J. M. Reddy and J. Feyen. Improved 0-1 programming model for optimal flow scheduling in irrigation canals, Irrigation and Drainage Systems, 9: 105-116. 1995.
- Wang, Z., F. Zhu and X. Liu. Development of a non-hump parabolic throatless flume. Journal of Water Resources (Chinese), 7: 12-23. July 1994.
- Wang, Z. Field study of the Long Border Segment Irrigation systems. Journal of irrigation and Drainage (Chinese), 5: 15-26. Nov. 1986.
Graduate Students:
- James R. Meier (Graduated in Summer 2005 and hired by GeoMatrix Consultants): Thesis abstract: Analysis of Groundwater Banks in San Joaquin Valley.
- Ori Satono (graduated in Summer 2007, K.D. Schmidt & Assoc.) Thesis abstract: Parameterization of a fractured hardrock aquifer in western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, California
- Sana Alsaoudi (graduate in Fall 2007): Thesis abstract: Isotope studies of San Joaquin River and the nearby grandwater resources.
- Ronald E. Holcomb (California EPA - Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board): Water Quantity Analysis of Fresno River Watershed.
- Doug DeFlitch: Measurement and modeling of sediment transport along San Joaquin River below Friant Dam.
- Joe Knight: Geological study of selenium transport in the Central Valley of California.
- Jorge Baca Jr., (Graduated in Fall 2009, California EPA - Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board). Thesis abstrct: GIS-aided modeling and site measurement of soil erosion potentials in the upper Fresno River watershed, California.
- Ashley Ross: Measurement and modeling of sediment transport in the Big Creek basin of Kings River watershed, California
Complete CV (PDF file) |
