Jim Chamberlain | University of Oklahoma (original) (raw)

Papers by Jim Chamberlain

Research paper thumbnail of Forming A Culture Of Engineering: Undergraduate Research Projects In A Developing Country

Jim Chamberlain, Clemson University Jim is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering and Earth... more Jim Chamberlain, Clemson University Jim is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. His dissertation research is quantifying the climate change effects of growing switchgrass as a monoculture for biofuels production. Jim received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M and an M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University. After completing his degree, he worked for 12 years as a consulting engineer in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for a variety of government and commercial clients. In 2006, Jim taught environmental chemistry at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, and decided to pursue his love of teaching by going back to school and acquiring his PhD.

Research paper thumbnail of Getting Students On The Right Track: A Study Of Exit Surveys In A First Year Engineering Program

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He rece... more is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He received his M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson in 1994 and has worked as an environmental consultant for 12 years. His research interests are in the environmental impacts of growing monocultural switchgrass as a biofuel. Jim is a registered professional engineer and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Research paper thumbnail of Multidisciplinary Design Of Student Projects In Developing Countries

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He rece... more is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He received his M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson in 1994 and has worked as an environmental consultant for 12 years. His research interests are in the environmental impacts of growing monocultural switchgrass as a biofuel. Jim is a registered professional engineer and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Research paper thumbnail of Using DAYCENT to quantify on-farm GHG emissions and N dynamics of land use conversion to N-managed switchgrass in the Southern U.S

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2011

Use of a simulation model to predict long-term yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and water q... more Use of a simulation model to predict long-term yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and water quality impacts can be valuable for assessing land use conversion to bioenergy crops. The objective of this study is to assess the usability of DAYCENT for measuring environmental impacts due to land conversions from cotton and CRP lands (as unmanaged grasses) to switchgrass in the Southern U.S. We use published yield data to calibrate the crop growth parameters and test the calibrated model on independent data sets. We then apply the model to predict other relevant C and N parameters. In the case of cotton, the model simulates long-term mean cotton lint yield within 25% of observed yields across the South and within 4% of yields in the case study area of Darlington County, SC. DAYCENT also matches observed mature switchgrass yields within 25% of the mean in the range of expected fertilization rates across the region and within 6% in the case study area. Long-term simulations predict a decrease in GHG emissions (1.0-3.8 MtCO 2-e/ha-yr) and a reduction of nitrate runoff (up to 95%) for conversions from cotton to switchgrass at N application rates of 0-135 kgN/ha. Conversely, conversion from unmanaged grasses to switchgrass resulted in annual increases of net GHG emissions (0.2-1.4 MtCO 2-e/ha-yr) for switchgrass at no and low (45 kgN/ha) fertilization rates. Sequestration occurs due to increased soil organic C when higher levels of N are applied. At all levels of fertilization, a reduction of nitrate (50-70%) occurs when converting from unmanaged, unharvested grasses. The amount of nitrate leaching is only slightly sensitive to the fertilization rate applied to the perennial switchgrass. DAYCENT sufficiently models the "carbon debt" from land use conversion from CRP grasslands to managed switchgrass and highlights the importance of fertilization rate. Both C and N parameter results fall within published observed ranges. Thus, the long-term (10-15-year) accuracy of the model for both cotton and switchgrass offers promise as a tool for analyzing land use conversions in terms of N-managed yields and subsequent environmental impacts and benefits.

Research paper thumbnail of Forming A Culture Of Engineering: Undergraduate Research Projects In A Developing Country

Jim Chamberlain, Clemson University Jim is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering and Earth... more Jim Chamberlain, Clemson University Jim is a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. His dissertation research is quantifying the climate change effects of growing switchgrass as a monoculture for biofuels production. Jim received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M and an M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University. After completing his degree, he worked for 12 years as a consulting engineer in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for a variety of government and commercial clients. In 2006, Jim taught environmental chemistry at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, and decided to pursue his love of teaching by going back to school and acquiring his PhD.

Research paper thumbnail of Getting Students On The Right Track: A Study Of Exit Surveys In A First Year Engineering Program

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He rece... more is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He received his M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson in 1994 and has worked as an environmental consultant for 12 years. His research interests are in the environmental impacts of growing monocultural switchgrass as a biofuel. Jim is a registered professional engineer and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Research paper thumbnail of Multidisciplinary Design Of Student Projects In Developing Countries

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He rece... more is a Ph.D. student at Clemson University in Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences. He received his M.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson in 1994 and has worked as an environmental consultant for 12 years. His research interests are in the environmental impacts of growing monocultural switchgrass as a biofuel. Jim is a registered professional engineer and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Research paper thumbnail of Using DAYCENT to quantify on-farm GHG emissions and N dynamics of land use conversion to N-managed switchgrass in the Southern U.S

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2011

Use of a simulation model to predict long-term yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and water q... more Use of a simulation model to predict long-term yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and water quality impacts can be valuable for assessing land use conversion to bioenergy crops. The objective of this study is to assess the usability of DAYCENT for measuring environmental impacts due to land conversions from cotton and CRP lands (as unmanaged grasses) to switchgrass in the Southern U.S. We use published yield data to calibrate the crop growth parameters and test the calibrated model on independent data sets. We then apply the model to predict other relevant C and N parameters. In the case of cotton, the model simulates long-term mean cotton lint yield within 25% of observed yields across the South and within 4% of yields in the case study area of Darlington County, SC. DAYCENT also matches observed mature switchgrass yields within 25% of the mean in the range of expected fertilization rates across the region and within 6% in the case study area. Long-term simulations predict a decrease in GHG emissions (1.0-3.8 MtCO 2-e/ha-yr) and a reduction of nitrate runoff (up to 95%) for conversions from cotton to switchgrass at N application rates of 0-135 kgN/ha. Conversely, conversion from unmanaged grasses to switchgrass resulted in annual increases of net GHG emissions (0.2-1.4 MtCO 2-e/ha-yr) for switchgrass at no and low (45 kgN/ha) fertilization rates. Sequestration occurs due to increased soil organic C when higher levels of N are applied. At all levels of fertilization, a reduction of nitrate (50-70%) occurs when converting from unmanaged, unharvested grasses. The amount of nitrate leaching is only slightly sensitive to the fertilization rate applied to the perennial switchgrass. DAYCENT sufficiently models the "carbon debt" from land use conversion from CRP grasslands to managed switchgrass and highlights the importance of fertilization rate. Both C and N parameter results fall within published observed ranges. Thus, the long-term (10-15-year) accuracy of the model for both cotton and switchgrass offers promise as a tool for analyzing land use conversions in terms of N-managed yields and subsequent environmental impacts and benefits.