"Achieving international distinction for creativity, innovation and excellence in geographical, geological and environmental education, research and outreach."

Publications

Papers
Presentations (selected)
Conference Posters

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Papers

Beatty, S.M. and J.E. Smith. (2013) Dynamic soil water repellency and infiltration in post-wildfire soils. Geoderma. 192: 160-172.

Beatty, S.M. and J.E. Smith. (2010) Fractional wettability and contact angle dynamics in burned water repellent soils. Journal of Hydrology, 391(1-2): 97-108.

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Presentations (selected)

Beatty, S.M. and J.E. Smith. June 11, 2012 Infiltration under tension into water repellent post-wildfire soils. IASH-ICCE International Conference on Wildfire and Water Quality: Process, Impacts and Challenges. The Banff Centre, Banff, AB, Canada.

Beatty, S.M. and J.E. Smith. Dec. 2, 2010. Towards a better understanding of dynamic soil water repellency using complimentary field and lab experiments. 1st International Conference and Exploratory Workshop on Soil Architecture and Physico-Chemical Functions. Aarhus University, Research Centre Foulum, Denmark.

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Conference Posters (selected)

Beatty, Sarah M. and James E. Smith. Dec.14-18 2009. Fractional wetting and contact angle dynamics in water repellent soils. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, USA. (Outstanding Student Paper Award).

Beatty, S.M. and J.E. Smith. May 24-27 2009. Understanding Dynamic Soil Water Repellency and its Hydrological Implications. American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly. Toronto, ON.

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Teaching

McMaster University	GEOG 3ER3, Environment, Economics and Sustainability, 2012-13	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH SC/ENVIR SC 4WB3, Contaminant Hydrogeology, 2012-13	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH SC/ENVIR SC 2B03, Soils & the Environment, 2012-13	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH SC/ENVIR SC 3N03, Cold Environments, 2011-12	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH/ENVIR SC 3W03, Physical Hydrogeology, 2010-11	T.A.
McMaster University	GIS High School Workshop (2008)	T.A.
McMaster University	ES1B03: The Living Environment (2008)	T.A.
McMaster University	GEO2B03: Soils and the Environment (2007)	T.A.
McMaster University	GEO2A03: Introduction to Environmental Issues (2007)	T.A.
Brock University	A Conversation About a Cliff: Controversies in Science (2007)	Guest Speaker
Brock University	1F91: Introduction to Physical Geography ('05-'06)	T.A.
Brock University	2P11: Quantitative Research Methods (2007)	T.A.

 

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Affiliations

• American Geophysical Union
• International Association of Hydrogeologists

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Research

Research Interests:

• Soil Water Repellency (SWR),

• Wildfire,

• Vadose Zone Hydrology

• GIS

Thesis Summary:

The adverse effects of water repellent soils on vadose zone hydrology are being increasingly identified worldwide in both rural and urban landscapes.  Among the affected landscapes are agricultural fields, forests, and effluent application sites, golf greens and parks.  In spite of cross-discipline research efforts put forth in recent years, understanding of fundamental parameters that control soil water behaviour in these systems is lacking.  This is due, in part, to inherent complexities of water repellent soil systems and logistical shortcomings of methods commonly used by researchers in situ and in the lab (Bachmann et al., 2006).  As a result, modeling flow and transport in these systems has further proven to be a difficult task.

Soil water repellency is a near-surface phenomenon often investigated in situ on undisturbed samples at discrete depths using drop tests (e.g. Water Drop Penetration Time (WDPT), Critical Surface Tension (CST)), rainfall simulations, or simple infiltration devices.  In the lab, controlled conditions permit more direct measures of contact angle and flow behaviour, but can require highly sensitive (and costly) equipment and time to calibrate and use.  While lab procedures are not readily transferable to the field, the reliability of tests used in the field is often complicated by the system itself.  Many hydrophobic soils exhibit dynamic water repellency. When expressed, water repellent soils limit infiltration and moisture redistribution for some time (e.g. minutes, months, years) (Clothier et al., 2000; DeBano, 2000).  These effects, even if only temporal, can promote aquifer contamination, soil erosion, agrochemical leaching, and the development of preferential flow paths and can limit agricultural productivity and seed germination.  The objective of this study is to advance our understanding of transient hydrophobic soils by: 1) systematically measuring and quantifying water infiltration and redistribution in transient water repellent systems and 2) monitoring the fundamental hydraulic controls that lead to a breakdown of repellency in natural systems over time.  With this contribution, both natural and anthropogenically induced hydrophobicity may be better understood, managed, and remediated in the future.

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Service

• Guest Lectures & Mentorship Talks - Niagara College (2010, 2008) Brock University (2007, 2008)
  

• Planning Committee, Graduate Research Day (2008) – McMaster University

• Workshop Assistant, High school GIS workshop (2008) – McMaster University
  

• Earth Sciences Representative, Graduate committee (2007-2008) - McMaster University          

 

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