Mali’s Water Crisis
Haley Adolf - Undergraduate - NSU
Mali faces increasing water scarcity driven by a combination of geological, climatic, and human factors. The country's landscape includes shallow weathered and fractured aquifers in the south, deeper sedimentary aquifers in central regions, and poorly recharged or saline aquifers in the arid north. Groundwater recharge is low and highly variable, often less than 15% of annual rainfall, making aquifers weak to seasonal and long-term depression. Climate change is intensifying this crisis, with projections indicating reduced rainfall, prolonged dry seasons, and higher evaporation rates. These trends contribute to declining surface water availability and lower groundwater levels, especially in already stressed basins like Klela in southern Mali. At the same time, rising demand from population growth, agriculture, and urban expansion is increasing pressure on water resources. Furthermore, many aquifers suffer from poor water quality due to high salinity or contamination, particularly in areas with limited recharge. Without proper management and deteriorating quality it will continue to limit access to safe and reliable water supplies. Effective responses must combine geological mapping, climate adaptation, and sustainable water governance. Investment in groundwater monitoring and protection of recharge zones is essential to ensure long-term water security in Mali.
How Major Hurricanes Contribute to the Accelerating Sinkhole and Karst Formation in Florida, United States of America
Susan Avena– Undergraduate - NSU
Florida’s unique limestone foundation makes it one of the most karst-prone regions in the world, yet the connection between extreme weather and sinkhole formation remains underexplored. While hurricanes are known for their destructive winds and flooding, their influence on subsurface geological factors has received minimal attention. Despite numerous post-storm sinkhole incidents, there is no direct comprehension linking hurricane characteristics to all sinkhole occurrences. There is also a limited understanding of short-term hydrological shocks triggering subsurface collapse in Florida’s limestone topography. The following research investigates how major hurricanes accelerate the formation of sinkholes and other karst features across Florida’s land by analyzing incidents with multiple hydrologic data. The main catalysts studied being intense rainfall, rapid groundwater level changes, and storm surge infiltration. This research is significant because it can improve risk assessment for communities, infrastructure, and groundwater systems built on vulnerable karst areas. significantly. Addressing these critical gaps in a state where both hurricanes and karst landscapes are dominant will improve the prediction and managing of sinkhole collapses. Additionally, these findings will also provide a clearer understanding of the changing climate and its impacts.
A hydrosocial critique of water scarcity indices: case studies from the Arabian Peninsula
Tyler Cadwell – Undergraduate - UNR
This study addresses the limitations of quantitative water scarcity metrics, specifically focusing on the Water Poverty Index (WPI) and its variations . By examining and contrasting the socio-political and economic conditions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the utility of this metric will be called into question. Both of these countries are characterized by extreme physical water scarcity; however, a hydrosocial approach is necessary in order to provide a more holistic evaluation of water scarcity in these two countries. Saudi Arabia has leveraged its enormous oil wealth and energy production into water resource allocation via large-scale desalination and unsustainable groundwater extraction to support domestic economic expansion . In contrast, Yemen’s current water situation is characterized not only by extreme physical water scarcity, but also by access issues due to political unrest, armed conflict exacerbated by neighboring states, displacement of large numbers of the population, and destruction of key water and energy infrastructure. Proper contextualization of the water issues of these nation-states emphasizes the importance of the adoption of a hydrosocial framework that accounts for the relationality and dialectical nature of water issues, taking into account social and political contexts, but also power relations. This paper argues for the adoption of a hydrosocial framework for evaluating water issues on a regional scale over reliance on arbitrary quantitative metrics.
The Collapse of the Aral Sea: A Monument to Environmental Overreach
Samuel Huthmaker – Undergraduate - UNR
In this paper I examine how Soviet era resource policies unleashed cascading environmental consequences for the Aral Sea, leaving a stark legacy of ecological overreach. The desiccation of the Aral Sea remains one of the most striking man-made environmental disasters of the twentieth century. Beginning in the 1960s with Soviet agricultural expansion, heavy irrigation demands were made for new fields, primarily consisting of cotton plants. The subsequent diversions of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, primary tributaries of the Aral, saw drastic reductions in inflows to the Sea, setting off a chain reaction. Water receded, salinity levels spiked, habitats fragmented and concentrated contaminants further destabilized the local ecology. Coupled with this was the abandonment of various defense industry sites leading to further contamination of the region with various chemical and biological compounds with major negative effects. As the water level continued to drop, the now exposed seabed, a dusty expanse riddled with salts, minerals, and chemical residues quickly became a source of airborne toxins, further spreading the ecological damage to the surrounding areas beyond the immediate shores, contaminating soils, stressing nearby freshwater systems and harming human health. A place that once supported generations of fishermen and their prey vanished within a generation, leaving behind a landscape of toxic salt flats and carcinogenic dust storms.
Climate Change and Cocoa: How Ecuador's Downfalls has the United States Looking into the Future
Amiee Sestrich – Undergraduate - NSU
Ecuador is the third largest producer of cocoa in South America, with an annual output of about 454,000 tons per year. Most of the cocoa produced is exported and only about 2% is consumed domestically. The climate in Ecuador’s Amazon region is tropical, warm, humid and with consistent high temperatures and annual rainfall which help the cocoa trees grow. Climate change is impacting the growth of cocoa with increased pest and disease prevalence. These changes are threatening the existing farms, reducing the crop quality and resulting in higher prices for all chocolate consumers. Strategies to improve cocoa production in Ecuador and to produce cocoa in the United States are needed. Adding manure or compost can improve the nutrient retention and quality of Ecuador’s soils. Watering managing systems will make sure adequate water is distributed for the cocoa trees. Having accessible resources for all farmers will improve farming practices and a more sustainable production. Producing cocoa in greenhouses with controlled environments that mimic tropical conditions will prevent the need in the United States to import cocoa. With the demand continuing to increase and the supply decreasing, this method will increase cocoa supply, will not likely cause environmental harm or increase costs.
