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Margaret Shanafield

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Dr Margaret Shanafield

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1710-1548
20052026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research Biography

My research is at the nexus between hydrology and hydrogeology.  I began in hydrology by studying water clarity in Lake Tahoe, a deep mountain lake, then shifted my research to surface water-groundwater interactions, where focus was on developing the use of heat as a tracer of streambed water flux and advancing an integrated model capable of simulating spatial and temporal changes in streamflow along a river channel.  This tool has been used to understand the fate of environmental flows at the outlet of the mighty Colorado River, USA/Mexico. 

Current research interests still focus on surface water-groundwater actions, although I work on a diverse set of projects from international development projects to ecohydrology.  I use multiple tracers and soil properties to understand streamflow generation and groundwater recharge patterns. I am particularly interested in multi-disciplinary studies merging our understanding of stream hydrology and water quality with stream ecology. From 2015-2019, I was an ARC DECRA fellow, measuring and modelling how soil properties and hydrology lead to streamflow and groundwater recharge in semi-arid regions, using Pedler Creek in the important wine region McLaren Vale as an example.

Read about some of my projects here:

https://eos.org/opinions/science-gets-up-to-speed-on-dry-rivers 

https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/is-the-river-really-dry-scientific-interpretations-of-zero-flow-readings/

https://10play.com.au/scope/episodes/season-4/episode-71/tpv190902jcung (at 10'45")

https://www.stockjournal.com.au/story/6885380/farmers-help-grow-water-plan/

https://research.flinders.edu.au/rp/Blog/3394/research-engagement-and-impact-ecr-spotlight-margaret-shanafield

http://www.australasianscience.com.au/article/issue-marchapril-2019/immediate-risks-gas-production-water-resources.html#:~:text=This%20is%20due%20to%20several,compiling%20and%20making%20sense%20of

https://blogs.agu.org/waterunderground/2017/07/24/humanitarian-groundwater-projects-notes-motivations-academic-world/

http://stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/2015/turning-groundwater-into-wine/

http://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2017/07/17/urban-heat-islands/

http://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2015/11/23/urban-aquifer-project-links-to-germany/

http://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2014/03/31/measuring-water-flow-in-the-endangered-coorong/

Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding the dynamic processes of the hydrologic cycle, especially in arid regions.  This has included soil characterisation, evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge, streambed discharge and recharge, and river and groundwater flow.  I have worked on a diverse range of national and international water development projects to better understand and manage freshwater resources around the world.

Supervised Students Successes

  • Dec 2024 Nastaran Chitsaz - PhD
  • Dec 2024 Amirhossein Shadmeri - PhD
  • Apr 2024 Natchanok Ounping - Masters
  • Dec 2023 Jessica Thompson - Masters
  • Dec 2020 Ferijal Teuku - PhD
  • Oct 2020 Karina Gutierrez-Jurado - PhD
  • Nov 2019 Carl Greenall (UWA) - Masters
  • Nov 2019 Phongeun Thammavongsa - Masters
  • Aug 2019 Hai Manh Vu - PhD
  • Aug 2019 Hai Manh Vu - PhD
  • Jun 2019 Behzad Gitjamal - Masters
  • Nov 2018 Imogen Cescate - Masters
  • Jun 2017 Marianna Lagunas Ramirez - Masters
  • Jan 2017 Jesus Eliana Rodriguez Burgueno (UABC)- PhD completed
  • Nov 2016 Angela London - Masters

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, Spatial and Temporal variation in seepage from unlined channels, University of Nevada, Reno

15 Jan 2007 → 16 Dec 2010

Award Date: 16 Dec 2010

Master of Science, Water clarity in Lake Tahoe, University of Nevada, Reno

1 Jul 2002 → 16 Aug 2004

Award Date: 16 Aug 2004

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), The status of prairie restoration in Chicago, Northwestern University

16 Aug 1996 → 3 Jun 2000

Award Date: 3 Jun 2000

External positions

Science Officer, Environmental Defenders Office, South Australia

31 Oct 2021 → 31 Dec 2024

Supervision

  • Registered

Research Areas

  • Hydrology

Supervisory Interests

  • Surface water hydrology
  • Groundwater hydrology
  • Climate change
  • Water resources development
  • Groundwater/surface water interaction
  • Hydrology
  • Hydrogeology
  • Water quality
  • Aquatic ecology

Keywords

  • Q Science (General)
  • hydrology
  • hydrogeology
  • soil science
  • ecohydrology
  • catchment science

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  4. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  5. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  6. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  7. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  8. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  9. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  10. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  11. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  12. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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