Team Project Grant
Grand Challenges: Remediation of Methane, Water, and Heat Waste
Remediation of Methane, Water, and Heat Waste
News
Coal Dust Clouds a Baltimore Neighborhood’s Fight for Clean Air
July 21, 2025
Mapping Maryland’s Methane: UMD Initiative Takes Flight
March 11, 2025
Grand Challenges Team Engages Students and Statewide Partners in Methane and Waste Heat and Water Remediation Project
September 30, 2024
Solving the Mystery of the Vapor Plumes on Campus
February 26, 2024
UMD Scientists ‘Fingerprint’ Methane to Track a Climate Change Culprit
November 27, 2023
Behind the Wheel or in the Cockpit, Researcher Helps Marylanders Breathe Easier
April 5, 2023
Summary
The human impact on the environment and climate are critical concerns locally, nationally, and globally. The University of Maryland campus is a microcosm of many of these urban and suburban environmental impacts. Stream and air contamination arises from methane emissions, CO2 emissions, pipeline water loss, and storm drains that receive heat, chemical and sewer waste. All of these are consequences of human activities and can be mitigated following adequate monitoring. Prof. Daniel Lathrop with droneThis student-centric project is focused on environmental and climate impact with a local campus phase, a State of Maryland phase, and a plan to leverage results into a national-scale, externally funded initiative. The team is using geophysical instruments to identify, map, and measure air and water contaminant sources on campus, in particular methane emissions and steam/heat/water waste (in collaboration with UMD Facilities Management). The team will also conduct methane emission mapping excursions within the state of Maryland using aircraft outfitted with UMD methane sensors flown by pilots from the Maryland Civil Air Patrol (Auxiliary to the US Air Force). In coordination with campus and state authorities, the team will analyze the results to produce recommendations for the joint remediation of coupled environmental quality challenges and develop the basis for a national strategy.
PI: Daniel Lathrop
Professor, Physics
CMNS
Russell Dickerson
Professor, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
CMNS
James Farquhar
Distinguished University Professor and Chair, Department of Geology
CMNS
Sujay Kaushal
Professor, Department of Geology
CMNS
Danielle Niu
Assistant Clinical Professor, First-Year Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE) Program
Yiqun Xie
Assistant Professor, Geospatial Information Sciences
BSOS
Stephanie Yarwood
Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Technology
AGNR
Karen Prestegaard
Associate Professor, Geology
CMNSAdditional Faculty Participants:
Michael Evans (GEOL, ESSIC) - Geochemistry, experimental design, data analysis, education
Vedran Lekic (GEOL) - Geophysical data analysis, education
Karen Prestegaard (GEOL) - Hydrology and Water quality, education
Team Staff Personnel:
Jason Chewning (FM) - FM lead on steam issues
Ruth Heffes (CMNS) - Chemical Engineering support
Piotr Kulczakowicz (VPR) - Civil Air Patrol officer
Bryan Quinn (IREAP/ECE) - Engineering support and student organization
