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Junfeng Zhu

Research Interests:
groundwater hydrology
hydrogeophysics
karst hazard
Remote Sensing
Education

Ph.D., Hydrology, University of Arizona, 2005
M.S., Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Nanjing University, China, 1998
B. S., Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Nanjing University, China, 1995

Research

Aquifer characterization; groundwater flow and transport modeling; hydrogeophysics, focusing on electrical resistivity; water chemistry modeling; LiDAR applications for karst hydrology.

Selected Publications:

Sarker, S. K., J. Zhu, A. E. Fryar, and G. Jeelani. 2023. Hydrological Functioning and Water Availability in a Himalayan Karst Basin under Climate Change, Sustainability 15, no. 11: 8666. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118666.

Bettel, L., J. Fox, A. Husic, J. Zhu, N. Al Aamery, T. Mahoney, and A. Gold-McCoy, 2022, Sediment transport investigation in a karst aquifer hypothesizes controls on internal versus external sediment origin and saturation impact on hysteresis, Journal of Hydrology, 613(2022) 128391, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128391.

Rafique, M. U., J. Zhu, & N. Jacobs, 2022, Automatic segmentation of sinkholes using a convolutional neural network. Earth and Space Science, 9, e2021EA002195. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EA002195.

Al Aamery, N., E. Adams, J. Fox, A. Husic, J. Zhu, M. Gerlitz, C. Agouridis, and L. Bettel, 2021, Numerical model development for investigating hydrologic pathways in shallow fluviokarst, Journal of Hydrology, 593 (2021) 125844, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125844.

Zhu, J., A. M. Nolte, N. Jacobs, and M. Ye, 2020, Using machine learning to identify karst sinkholes from LiDAR-derived topographic depressions in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, Journal of Hydrology, 588 (2020) 125049, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125049.

Zhang, X., J. Zhu, O. Wendroth, C. Matocha, and D. Edwards. 2019. Effect of macroporosity on pedotransfer function estimates at the field scale. Vadose Zone J. 18:180151. doi:10.2136/vzj2018.08.0151

Bandy A. M., K. Cook, A.E. Fryar, J. Zhu, 2019, Differential transport of Escherichia coli isolates compared to abiotic tracers in a karst aquifer, Groundwater, doi: 10.1111/gwat.12889.

Zhu, J., Parris, T. M., Taylor, C. J., Webb, S. E., Davidson, B., Smath, R., Richardson, S. D., Molofsky, L. J., Kromann, J. S. and Smith, A. P. 2017, Assessing Methane in Shallow Groundwater in Unconventional Oil and Gas Play Areas, Eastern Kentucky. Groundwater. doi:10.1111/gwat.12583.

Zhu, J. and W. P. Pierskalla Jr. 2016, Applying a weighted random forests method to extract karst sinkholes from LiDAR Data, Journal of Hydrology, 533, 343-352, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.12.012.

Zhu J., G. A. O’Dell, E. L. Laudermilk, G. Bogosian, J. C. Currens, S. E. Webb, and P. Bogosian, 2016, Locating a Sealed Cave in Kentucky Using Electrical Resistivity Surveys, AIMS Geosciences, 2(1): 32-44, DOI: 10.3934/geosciences.2016.1.32.

Crawford, M. M., Zhu, J., and Webb, S. E. 2015, Geologic, geotechnical, and geophysical investigation of a shallow landslide, eastern Kentucky, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, doi: 10.2113/EEG-1642.

Sawyer, A. H., Zhu, J., Currens, J. C., Atcher, C., and Binley, A. 2015, Time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging of solute transport in a karst conduit. Hydrological Processes, doi: 10.1002/hyp.10622.

Zhu, J., T.P. Taylor, J.C. Currens, and M.M. Crawford, 2014, Improved karst sinkhole mapping in Kentucky using LiDAR techniques: a pilot study in Floyds Fork Watershed, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 76, no. 3, p. 207–216. DOI: 10.4311/2013ES0135.

Zhu, J., T. M. Parris, J. R. Bowersox, and D. C. Harris, 2013, Modeling CO2–brine–rock interactions in the Knox Group: Implications of a deep carbon storage field test in western Kentucky, Applied Geochemistry, Volume 37, October 2013, Pages 29-42, ISSN 0883-2927, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.07.007.

Zhu, J., J. C. Currens, J. S. Dinger,  2011, Challenges of using electrical resistivity method to locate karst conduits—A field case in the Inner Bluegrass Region, Kentucky, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 75(3), 523-530, doi:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2011.08.009.

Illman, W. A., J. Zhu, A. J. Craig, and D. Yin, 2010, Comparison of aquifer characterization approaches through steady state groundwater model validation: A controlled laboratory sandbox study, Water Resources Research, 46, W04502, doi:10.1029/2009WR007745.

Zhu J., X. Cai, T.-C. J.Yeh, 2009, Analysis of tracer tomography using temporal moments of tracer breakthrough curves, Advances in Water Resources, Volume 32, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 391-400, ISSN 0309-1708, DOI: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2008.12.001.

Yeh, T.-C. J., and J. Zhu, 2007, Hydraulic/partitioning tracer tomography for characterization of dense nonaqueous phase liquid source zones, Water Resources Research, 43, W06435, doi:10.1029/2006WR004877.

Zhu, J., and T. –C J. Yeh, 2006, Analysis of hydraulic tomography using temporal moments of drawdown recovery data, Water Resources Research, 42, W02403, doi:10.1029/ 2005WR004309.

Zhu, J. and T. –C J. Yeh, 2005, Characterization of aquifer heterogeneity using transient hydraulic tomography, Water Resources  Research, 41, W07028, doi:10.1029/2004WR003790.