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Dr. Philippe Vidon, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences

 

 

Contact Information
Office: SL 130
Phone: 317-278-0722
Email: pvidon@iupui.edu
Departmental Mailing Address

Background
Ph.D. 2004, Geography, York University, Canada

Specialties
Watershed Hydrology, Biogeochemistry, N, P and C cycling, Riparian Zones, Water quality

 

Research Program

My current research is primarily field based in nature and focuses on the mechanisms regulating the fate and transport of agricultural contaminants/nutrients (mainly N, P, and C) in both the terrestrial and aquatic environment, and on the role of riparian zones as best management practices to mitigate the impact of agriculture on water/air quality. This interdisciplinary research program at the intersection of hydrology, biogeochemistry and ecology directly addresses the impact of land use and global climate changes on water, N, P, and C cycling in the environment.

 

One of my main research interests includes determining how landscape characteristics (topography, surficial geology, soil characteristics) affect riparian zone hydrology, greenhouse gas production (CO2, N2O, CH4), nutrient removal and N cycling in riparian ecosystems (i.e. near stream zones). The recent focus of this aspect of my research program has been on understanding how riparian hydrological functioning helps regulate biogeochemical processes in riparian zones from the soil scale (e.g. N removal) to the landscape scale (e.g. regional estimates of N removal and greenhouse gas production in riparian zones, riparian zone placement strategies to achieve multiple water quality goals). The long-term goal of this aspect of my research program is to develop a better understanding of the role that riparian ecosystems play in regulating water, N, P, C and other nutrient/contaminant fluxes to streams at the watershed scale. Understanding the complexities of N, P and C cycling along the stream-riparian zone-upland continuum and the hydrological linkages between riparian systems and their immediate environment (stream, upland and atmosphere) is critical in determining the sensitivity of major biogeochemical cycles to global climate and land use changes in a wide array of geomorphic settings and climatic regions.

 

The second area on which my research program focuses is nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon (NPC) dynamics in streams during episodic high flow periods (precipitation events or snowmelt). Specifically, my interest lies in identifying the hydrological processes regulating NPC delivery to streams during episodic high flow periods. This work includes determining the relative importance of various flow pathways (i.e. overland flow, macropore flow, matrix flow, seepage) in NPC exports at the watershed scale. This research is critical to help develop better management practices to mitigate the impact of agriculture on water quality. Understanding how hydrology affects NPC fluxes in agricultural landscapes is also important in developing better solute export models at the watershed scale and in predicting how water quality will change in the future under various cultural practices and climate change scenarios.

 

Together, these two areas of research allow me to comprehensively address how land use and climate changes affect the fate and transport of water, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus in natural, managed and degraded ecosystems in a variety of physiographic regions and across a variety of scales (i.e. soil, riparian zone, watershed, ecosystem).

Course Information

G107 - Environmental Geology

G430 -  Principles of Hydrology

G550 -  Surface Water Hydrology

Recently Funded Projects

Greenhouse gas emissions from riparian zones across a regional hydrogeomorphic gradient. (05/09-04/12), with P. Jacinthe, M.E. Baker (UDSA-CSREES – Air Quality Program Award #2009-35112-05241)

Nutrient and carbon delivery to streams in artificially drained landscapes of the Midwest: matrix flow, overland flow or macropore flow? (04/08-04/11), with J.W. Frey, N. T. Baker (USGS-NIWR National Competitive Grant Program Award #08HQGR0052)

Hydrological controls on nitrate and carbon delivery to streams in artificially drained landscapes of the Midwest (03/08-02/10), Indiana Water Resources Research Center (USGS 104B grant # 06HQGR0084)

Finished Projects:

Generalizing Riparian Zone Function at the Landscape Scale: New Tools, New Approaches, Gaps in Knowledge and Future Research Directions (09/01/07 – 08/31/08), with C. Allan. National Science Foundation, Hydrological Sciences Program Award # EAR-0741781

Mitigation of contaminants in rural and semi-rural environments to protect drinking water reservoirs (AQUISAFE 2007) (07/07-12/08), with L.P. Tedesco and P.E. Jacinthe, Veolia Water

Contaminant Transport Dynamics during storms in medium to large river systems of the Midwest (03/07-03/08), with L.P. Tedesco, Central Indiana Water Resources Partnership

Nutrient specific flow paths during spring and summer storm events in Eagle Creek Watershed (04/06-04/07), Central Indiana Water Resources Partnership. Veolia Water Indianapolis.

Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance: Phase 1 Watershed BMP Implementation, Education and Public Outreach grant (09/05-07/08), with L.P. Tedesco. Environmental Protection Agency. Clean Water Act Section 319, Non-point source pollution management program

Nutrient and sediment stream budgets of streams under the influence of agricultural, urbanized and in transition areas in Eagle Creek watershed, Indiana (03/05-03/06), Central Indiana Water Resources Partnership. Veolia Water Indianapolis. 

 

Graduate Students/Interns

Hilary Hubbard;  Xiaoqiang Liu; Matt Hennessy; Pilar Cuadra; Abby Campbell; Joe Johnstone

Past Students: Laura Wagner (MS, 2007); Andrew Smith (MS, 2007)

Recent Publications

Vidon, P., C. Allan, D. Burns, T. Duval, N. Gurwick, S. Inamdar, R. Lowrance, J. Okay, D. Scott, S. Sebestyen, 2009. Hot spots and hot moments in riparian zones: potential for improved water quality management. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (Special Edition Contribution - INVITED) (in press).

 

Dosskey, M., P. Vidon, N.P. Gurwick, C.J. Allan, T. Duval, R. Lowrance, 2009. The Role of Riparian Vegetation in Protecting and Improving Chemical Water Quality in Streams. . Journal of the American Water Resources Association (Special Edition Contribution - INVITED) (in press).

 

Vidon, P., L.E. Hubbard*, E. Soyeux, 2009. Seasonal solute dynamics across land uses during storms in glaciated landscape of the U.S. Midwest. Journal of Hydrology, 376:34-47, DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.07.013.

 

Groffman, P., K. Butterbach-Bahl, W. Fulweiler, A. Gold, J. Morse, E. Stander, C. Tague, C. Tonitto, P. Vidon, 2009. Incorporating spatially and temporally explicit phenomena (hotspots and hot moments) in denitrification models. Biogeochemistry, DOI:10.1007/s10533-008-9277-5, 93:49-77.

 

Vidon, P., L.E. Hubbard*, E. Soyeux, 2009. Impact of sampling strategy on stream load estimates in till landscapes of the Midwest. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, DOI: 10.1007/s10661-008-0635-5 (Online).

 

Vidon, P., M.A. Campbell*, E. Soyeux, 2009. Escherichia Coli and Fecal Coliform export rates in two agricultural watersheds of the U.S. Midwest. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 118:13-21.

 

Wagner*, L.E., P. Vidon, L.E. Tedesco, M. Gray, 2008. Stream nitrate and DOC dynamics during three spring storms across land uses in glaciated landscapes of the Midwest. Journal of Hydrology, 362:177-190.

 

Allan, C.A., P. Vidon, R. Lowrance, 2008. Invited Commentary: Frontiers in riparian zone research in the 21st Century. Hydrological Processes, 22:3221-3222 (INVITED).

 

Vidon, P., L.P. Tedesco, J. Wilson, M.A. Campbell*, L.R. Casey*, and Mark Gray. 2008, Direct and indirect hydrological controls on E.coli concentration and loading in Midwestern streams. Journal of Environmental Quality, 37(5):1761-1768.

 

Vidon, P., L.E. Wagner*, E. Soyeux, 2008. Changes in the character of DOC in streams during storms in two Midwestern watersheds with contrasting land uses. Biogeochemistry, 88: 257-270, DOI 10.1007/s10533-008-9207-6.

 

Vidon, P., C.A. Allan, R. Lowrance, 2008. Generalizing riparian zone function at the landscape scale: new tools, new approaches, gaps in knowledge and future research directions. Impact. 10(3):12-15 (INVITED).

 

Vidon, P., L.P. Tedesco, D.L. Pascual, M.A. Campbell*, L.R. Casey*, J. Wilson, M. Gray, 2008. Seasonal changes in stream water quality along an agricultural/urban land-use gradient. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 117(2):107-123

 

Vidon, P., M.G. Dosskey, 2008. Testing a simple field method for assessing nitrate removal in riparian zones. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 44(2):523-534. DOI: 10.1111 ⁄j.1752-1688.2007.00155.

 

Vidon, P, M.A. Campbell*, M. Gray. 2008. Unrestricted cattle access to stream and water quality in till landscape of the Midwest. Agricultural Water Management, 95(3):322-330 DOI:10.1016/j.agwat.2007.10.017.

 

Vidon, P., A.P. Smith*, 2008. Assessing wetland restoration success and the influence of former drainage pipe locations on wetland hydrology: A case study. Ecological Restoration, 26(1):36-46.

 

Vidon, P., A.P. Smith*, 2007. Upland controls on the hydrological functioning of riparian zones in glacial till valleys of the Midwest. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 43(6):1524-1539 DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2007.00125.

 

Vidon, P., A.R. Hill, 2006. A landscape based approach to estimate riparian hydrological and nitrate removal functions. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 42(4):1099-1112.

 

Vidon, P., A.R. Hill, 2004. Denitrification and patterns of electron donors and acceptors in 8 riparian zones with contrasting hydrogeology. Biogeochemistry, Vol.71, Issue 2, pp 259-283.

 

Hill, A.R., P. Vidon, J. Langat, 2004. Denitrification potential in relation to lithology in five headwater riparian zones. Journal of Environmental Quality, 33: 911-919.

 

Vidon P., A.R. Hill, 2004. Landscape controls on the hydrology of stream riparian zones. Journal of Hydrology, 292:210-228.

 

Vidon, P., A.R. Hill, 2004. Landscape controls on nitrate removal in stream riparian zones, Water Resources Research, 40, W03201, doi:10.1029/2003WR002473.

 

Benoît P., E. Barriuso, P. Vidon, B. Réal, 2000. Isoproturon movement and dissipation in undisturbed soil cores from a grassed buffer strip. Agronomie, 20:297-307.

 

Benoît P., E. Barriuso, P. Vidon, B. Réal, 1999. Isoproturon sorption and degradation in a soil from grassed buffer strip. Journal of Environmental Quality, 28:121-129.

 

 

IUPUI Department of Earth Sciences
723 West Michigan Street, Room SL118
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5191
317.274.7484
317.274.7966 (fax)