Research

Hailstone Collection & Analysis in Texas

Texas is among the most hail-prone regions in the United States, yet systematic collection and physical analysis of hailstones remains underrepresented in the literature. This research involves direct field collection of hailstones during and immediately following storm events across West and Central Texas.

Collected specimens are analyzed for size distribution, internal structure, isotopic composition, and embedded particulate matter. The goal is to develop a more complete picture of hail formation dynamics in the region and to correlate physical properties with storm characteristics recorded by weather radar and surface observation networks.

Findings from this work have implications for agricultural loss assessment, insurance modeling, and the broader study of convective storm systems on the Southern Plains.

Water Wells & River System Research

Groundwater availability is among the most pressing resource questions facing Texas and the broader Southwest. This research examines the relationship between surface water systems — rivers, streams, and ephemeral drainages — and the underlying aquifer structures that sustain them.

Field work includes water well logging, water table monitoring, and systematic sampling along river corridors in West Texas. Data collected in the field is analyzed alongside historical records and geological survey data to identify long-term trends in water availability and aquifer recharge rates.

This work contributes to regional water planning efforts and informs decisions about well placement, irrigation management, and conservation policy in semi-arid environments.

Hydrogeochemistry & Aquifer Studies

Hydrogeochemistry examines the chemical composition of groundwater and the processes that shape it — dissolution, precipitation, ion exchange, and biological activity. This research focuses on aquifer systems in the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau regions of Texas, where complex carbonate geology produces distinctive water chemistry.

Water samples collected from wells and springs are analyzed for major ions, trace elements, and isotopic signatures. These data are used to identify recharge zones, estimate residence times, and assess vulnerability to contamination from surface activities including agriculture and hydrocarbon extraction.

The intersection of hydrogeochemistry with land use and resource extraction is a particular focus, given the region's history of ranching, farming, and oil and gas development.

Sedimentology & Depositional Systems

This investigation is new as of August 2026. I am investigating Calcareous Sandstone and the effect other materials may have on the rock. Here are some recent pictures of the lab work and where I am in the process.

Microplastics in Hail

This investigation examines the entrainment of microplastic particles within hailstones collected across Texas storm events. As atmospheric microplastic contamination becomes increasingly documented in precipitation, hailstones offer a unique and underexplored medium for studying how these particles are incorporated into convective storm systems.

Specimens are sectioned and analyzed for microplastic content by type, size, and distribution within the ice matrix. The research investigates whether microplastics serve as ice nucleation sites, how particle concentration varies with hailstone size, and what source regions the embedded particles may indicate.

Findings contribute to a growing body of literature on atmospheric microplastic transport and have implications for understanding contamination pathways in agricultural and water supply systems across the Southern Plains.