Rachel Rotz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Marine and Earth Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University 

Join us for the livestream November 6th, 11:45am ET: https://youtube.com/live/Kib87Ie8Bno?feature=share

(Please visit our YouTube channel main page for the stream if there are any issues with the direct link.)

ABSTRACT

Water systems are shaped by complex interactions between environmental, climatic, and geological factors, both on Earth and potentially on other planetary bodies. This presentation explores an interdisciplinary approach to examining these interactions across diverse landscapes, including desert lakes, coastal wetlands, and planetary analogs. Research sites include Southwest Florida’s wetlands, Australia’s arid playa lakes, and Hawaii’s coastal ecosystems, where groundwater-surface water interactions, nutrient transport, and hydrological processes are analyzed. Employing remote sensing, geophysics, field studies, laboratory analyses, and computational modeling, this research aims to elucidate the mechanisms governing water movement and quality in these distinct environments. Insights derived from these studies offer analogs for planetary hydrology, underscoring the potential for similar processes on other planets. This integrated approach supports sustainable water management on Earth and enhances the understanding of hydrological dynamics in planetary science.

BIO

Dr. Rachel Rotz is a geologist and assistant professor at Florida Gulf Coast University investigating the dynamics between groundwater and surface water, with a foci on terrestrial water quality and planetary hydrology, Rachel explores water dynamics not only across Earth’s diverse ecosystems but also in extraterrestrial contexts. She actively mentors students, securing grants for regional water protection projects and creating a hands-on learning environment that prepares them for impactful careers in environmental science.

POSTCARD