Luo, J., Wu, W. -M., Carley, J., Fienen, M. N., Cheng, H., Watson, D., C. S. Criddle, C. S., Jardine, P. M., Kitanidis, P. K., 2008, Estimating first-order reaction rate coefficient for transport with nonequilibrium linear mass transfer in heterogeneous media: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 98, p. 50-60. 10. 1016/j. jconhyd. 2008. 03. 002.
Michael N Fienen
Biography
Mike Fienen is a Research Hydrologist at the USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center, an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a member of the PhD Advisor Committee in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Parma, Italy (DICATeA – Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, dell’Ambiente e Territorio e Architettura – Università degli Studi di Parma).
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
M.Sc. Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
B.A. Geology, Macalester College Spring Semester in the Rockies, National Outdoor Leadership School
RESEARCH SUMMARY
My research mission is to provide decision-making support for environmental managers that considers uncertainty in all aspects of decisions and strives to extract the most information from the data. This mission is expressed through the main research threads of model calibration and inference of environmental systems. Specific applications include groundwater quantity and quality; statistical inference and prediction of recreational water quality on beaches; mercury in water and fish; and the groundwater and habitat impacts of sea-level rise. In support of these threads, aspects of computational efficiency, statistical analysis, and data management also play important roles.
EDITORIAL
Associate Editor, Groundwater
REVIEWER
- Water Resources Research
- Groundwater
- Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation
- Journal of Hydrology
- Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
- Advances in Water Resources
- Hydrogeology Journal
- Hydrological Sciences
- Entropy
- Hydrology and Earth Systems Science Discussions
- Journal of Climatology
- Computers and Geosciences
- Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment
- Journal of Environmental Informatics
- American Geophysical Union Geophysical Monograph Series
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources—Groundwater Coordinating Council Joint Solicitation (2010, 2011, 2012)
- United States Geological Survey/National Institutes for Water Resources Competitive Grants Program Panel (2010)
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Earth Sciences (EAR) – Hydrologic Sciences
- ARISTEIA – National Council for Research and Technology of Greece
Science and Products
Date published: March 29, 2019
Status: Active TC Chamberlin Modeling Center
The TC Chamberlin Modeling Center provides one-stop access to advanced computing so no project is limited by a lack of computer power. The Center can provide hardware access, assistance with migration and implementation, and training. We also develop, test, and disseminate state-of-the-art computational and analytical techniques and tools so models can be more effectively used in decision-...
Contacts: Randall J Hunt, Ph.D., Michael N Fienen
Date published: October 1, 2017
Status: Active Flocks of a feather dock together: Using Docker and HTCondor to link high-throughput computing across the USGS
USGS scientists often face computationally intensive tasks that require high-throughput computing capabilities. Several USGS facilities use HTCondor to run their computational pools but are not necessarily connected to the larger USGS pool. This project demonstrated how to connect HTCondor pools by flocking, or coordinating, within the USGS. In addition to flocking the Upper Midwest...
Attribution: Community for Data Integration (CDI)
Date published: October 1, 2017
Status: Active Empowering decision-makers: A dynamic web interface for running Bayesian networks
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are at the forefront of research that is critical for decision-making, particularly through the development of models (Bayesian networks, or BNs) that forecast coastal change. The utility of these tools outside the scientific community has been limited because they rely on expensive, technical software and a moderate understanding of statistical...
Attribution: Community for Data Integration (CDI)
Date published: March 3, 2016
Status: Active Hunting Invasive Species with HTCondor: High Throughput Computing for Big Data and Next Generation Sequencing
Large amounts of data are being generated that require hours, days, or even weeks to analyze using traditional computing resources. Innovative solutions must be implemented to analyze the data in a reasonable timeframe. The program HTCondor (https://research.cs.wisc.edu/htcondor/) takes advantage of the processing capacity of individual...
Attribution: Community for Data Integration (CDI)
Date published: October 1, 2012
Status: Active A digital crust to advance continental‐scale modeling of subsurface fluid flow in climate, crustal process, and Earth system models
Fluid circulation in the Earth’s crust plays an essential role in surface, near surface, and crustal dynamics. Near the surface, soil water and groundwater interact with each other and with rivers, lakes and wetlands, affecting weathering, soil formation, ecosystem evolution and biogeochemical cycles. Further down (1km), fluid flow affects diagenesis, hydrocarbon maturation and migration, ore...
Attribution: John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Year Published: 2019
Growing pains of crowdsourced stream stage monitoring using mobile phones: The development of CrowdHydrology
Citizen science-based approaches to monitor the natural environment tend to be bimodal in maturity. Older and established programs such as the Audubon’s Christmas bird count and Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) have thousands of participants across decades of observations, while less mature citizen science projects...
Lowry, Christopher; Fienen, Michael N.; Hall, Damon M.; Stepenuck, Kristine
Year Published: 2019
Use of a Numerical Model to Simulate the Hydrologic System and Transport of Contaminants Near Joint Base Cape Cod, Western Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Historical training and operational activities at Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC) on western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have resulted in the release of contaminants into an underlying glacial aquifer that is the sole source of water to the surrounding communities. Remedial systems have been installed to contain and remove contamination from the aquifer....
Walter, Donald A.; McCobb, Timothy D.; Fienen, Michael N.Attribution: New England Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Walter, D.A., McCobb, T.D., and Fienen, M.N., 2019, Use of a numerical model to simulate the hydrologic system and transport of contaminants near Joint Base Cape Cod, western Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5139, 98 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185139.
Year Published: 2019
Adjudicating groundwater: A judge’s guide to understanding groundwater and modeling
Dividing the Waters offers this groundwater science bench book that cannot be matched by any other scientific or judicial publication. Adjudicating Groundwater combines the expertise and experience of academic scientists (UC Davis/Stanford), federal scientists (U.S. Geological Survey), and judicial officers to create a...
Brandt, Alf; Fienen, Michael N.; White, Jeremy; Harter, Thomas; Moran, Tara; Wildman, Eric
Year Published: 2018
Wrangling distributed computing for high-throughput environmental science: An introduction to HTCondor
Biologists and environmental scientists now routinely solve computational problems that were unimaginable a generation ago. Examples include processing geospatial data, analyzing -omics data, and running large-scale simulations. Conventional desktop computing cannot handle these tasks when they are large, and high-performance computing is not...
Erickson, Richard A.; Fienen, Michael N.; McCalla, S. Grace; Weiser, Emily L.; Bower, Melvin L.; Knudson, Jonathan M.; Thain, GregAttribution: Community for Data Integration (CDI), Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Ecosystems, United States of America
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Erickson, R.A., Fienen, M.N., McCalla, S.G., Weiser, E.L., Bower, M.L., Knudson, J.M., Thain, G. 2018. Wrangling distributed computing for high-throughput environmental science: An introduction to HTCondor. PLoS Computational Biology. 14(10):e1006468. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006468.
Year Published: 2018
Metamodeling for groundwater age forecasting in the Lake Michigan Basin
Groundwater age is an important indicator of groundwater susceptibility to anthropogenic contamination and a key input to statistical models for forecasting water quality. Numerical models can provide estimates of groundwater age, enabling interpretation of measured age tracers. However, to extend to national‐scale groundwater systems where...
Fienen, Michael N.; Nolan, B. Thomas; Kauffman, Leon J.; Feinstein, Daniel T.
Year Published: 2018
A tool for efficient, model-independent management optimization under uncertainty
To fill a need for risk-based environmental management optimization, we have developed PESTPP-OPT, a model-independent tool for resource management optimization under uncertainty. PESTPP-OPT solves a sequential linear programming (SLP) problem and also implements (optional) efficient, “on-the-fly” (without user intervention) first-order, second-...
White, Jeremy; Fienen, Michael N.; Barlow, Paul M.; Welter, Dave E.Attribution: Wisconsin Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
White, J. T., Fienen, M. N., Barlow, P. M., and Welter, D.E. (2017) A tool for efficient, model-independent management optimization under uncertainty. Environmental Modeling and Software. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.11.019
Year Published: 2018
Depletion mapping and constrained optimization to support managing groundwater extraction
Groundwater models often serve as management tools to evaluate competing water uses including ecosystems, irrigated agriculture, industry, municipal supply, and others. Depletion potential mapping—showing the model-calculated potential impacts that wells have on stream baseflow—can form the basis for multiple potential management approaches in an...
Fienen, Michael N.; Bradbury, Kenneth R.; Kniffin, Maribeth; Barlow, Paul M.Attribution: Wisconsin Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Fienen, M. N., Bradbury, K. R., Kniffin, M. and Barlow, P. M. (2017), Depletion Mapping and Constrained Optimization to Support Managing Groundwater Extraction. Groundwater. doi:10.1111/gwat.12536
Year Published: 2017
Generalized hydrogeologic framework and groundwater budget for a groundwater availability study for the glacial aquifer system of the United States
The glacial aquifer system groundwater availability study seeks to quantify (1) the status of groundwater resources in the glacial aquifer system, (2) how these resources have changed over time, and (3) likely system response to future changes in anthropogenic and environmental conditions. The glacial aquifer system extends from Maine to Alaska,...
Reeves, Howard W.; Bayless, E. Randall; Dudley, Robert W.; Feinstein, Daniel T.; Fienen, Michael N.; Hoard, Christopher J.; Hodgkins, Glenn A.; Qi, Sharon L.; Roth, Jason L.; Trost, Jared J.Attribution: Geology, Water, Colorado Water Science Center, Michigan Water Science Center, Michigan-Ohio Water Science Center, Minnesota Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, Ohio Kentucky Indiana Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Wisconsin Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Water Resources, Ohio, United States of America
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Reeves, H.W., Bayless, E.R., Dudley, R.W., Feinstein, D.T., Fienen, M.N., Hoard, C.J., Hodgkins, G.A., Qi, S.L., Roth, J.L., and Trost, J.J., 2017, Generalized hydrogeologic framework and groundwater budget for a groundwater availability study for the glacial aquifer system of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017–5015, 49 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175015.
Year Published: 2017
Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report
The Community for Data Integration (CDI) represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the U.S. Geological Survey and the CDI community. This annual report describes the various presentations, activities, and outcomes of the CDI monthly forums, working...
Langseth, Madison L.; Hsu, Leslie; Amberg, Jon J.; Bliss, Norman; Bock, Andrew R.; Bolus, Rachel T.; Bristol, R. Sky; Chase, Katherine J.; Crimmins, Theresa M.; Earle, Paul S.; Erickson, Richard; Everette, A. Lance; Falgout, Jeff T.; Faundeen, John L.; Fienen, Michael N.; Griffin, Rusty; Guy, Michelle R.; Henry, Kevin D.; Hoebelheinrich, Nancy J.; Hunt, Randall J.; Hutchison, Vivian B.; Ignizio, Drew A.; Infante, Dana M.; Jarnevich, Catherine; Jones, Jeanne M.; Kern, Tim; Leibowitz, Scott; Lightsom, Francis L.; Marsh, R. Lee; McCalla, S. Grace; McNiff, Marcia; Morisette, Jeffrey T.; Nelson, John C.; Norkin, Tamar; Preston, Todd M.; Rosemartin, Alyssa; Sando, Roy; Sherba, Jason T.; Signell, Richard P.; Sleeter, Benjamin M.; Sundquist, Eric T.; Talbert, Colin B.; Viger, Roland J.; Weltzin, Jake F.; Waltman, Sharon; Weber, Marc; Wieferich, Daniel J.; Williams, Brad; Windham-Myers, LisamarieAttribution: Community for Data Integration (CDI), Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), United States of America
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Langseth, M.L., Hsu, Leslie, Amberg, Jon, Bliss, Norman, Bock, A.R., Bolus, R.T., Bristol, R.S., Chase, K.J., Crimmins, T.M., Earle, P.S., Erickson, Richard, Everette, A.L., Falgout, Jeff, Faundeen, J.L., Fienen, Michael, Griffin, Rusty, Guy, M.R., Henry, K.D., Hoebelheinrich, N.J., Hunt, Randall, Hutchison, V.B., Ignizio, D.A., Infante, D.M., Jarnevich, Catherine, Jones, J.M., Kern, Tim, Leibowitz, Scott, Lightsom, F.L., Marsh, R.L., McCalla, S.G., McNiff, Marcia, Morisette, J.T., Nelson, J.C., Norkin, Tamar, Preston, T.M., Rosemartin, Alyssa, Sando, Roy, Sherba, J.T., Signell, R.P., Sleeter, B.M., Sundquist, E.T., Talbert, C.B., Viger, R.J., Weltzin, J.F., Waltman, Sharon, Weber, Marc, Wieferich, D.J., Williams, Brad, Windham-Myers, Lisamarie, 2017, Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1053, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171053.
Year Published: 2017
Groundwater flow model for the Little Plover River basin in Wisconsin’s Central Sands
The Little Plover River is a groundwater-fed stream in the sand plains region of central Wisconsin. In this region, sandy sediment deposited during or soon after the last glaciation forms an important unconfined sand and gravel aquifer. This aquifer supplies water for numerous high-capacity irrigation, municipal, and industrial wells that support...
Ken Bradbury; Fienen, Michael N.; Kniffin, Maribeth; Jacob Krause; Westenbroek, Stephen M.; Leaf, Andrew T.; Barlow, Paul M.Attribution: Wisconsin Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
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Bradbury, K.R., Fienen, M.N., Kniffin, M.L., Krause, J.J., Westenbroek, S.M., Leaf, A.T., and Barlow, P.M., 2017, Groundwater flow model for the Little Plover River basin in Wisconsin’s Central Sands: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 111, 82 p.
Year Published: 2016
MODFLOW-NWT model used to evaluate groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Bad River Watershed, Wisconsin
A groundwater-flow model was developed for the Bad River Watershed and surrounding area by using the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finite-difference code MODFLOW–NWT. The model simulates steady-state groundwater-flow and base flow in streams by using the streamflow routing (SFR) package. The model was calibrated to groundwater levels and base...
Leaf, Andrew T.; Fienen, Michael N.; Hunt, Randall J.; Buchwald, Cheryl A.Attribution: Wisconsin Water Science Center
View Citation
Andrew T. Leaf, Michael N. Fienen, Randall J. Hunt, Cheryl Buchwald, 2016, MODFLOW-NWT model used to evaluate groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Bad River Watershed, Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey data release, http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7Z0368H
Year Published: 2016
HESS Opinions: Repeatable research: what hydrologistscan learn from the Duke cancer research scandal
In the past decade, difficulties encountered in reproducing the results of a cancer study at Duke University resulted in a scandal and an investigation which concluded that tools used for data management, analysis, and modeling were inappropriate for the documentation of the study, let alone the reproduction of the results. New protocols were...
Fienen, Michael; Bakker, MarkAttribution: Wisconsin Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Fienen, M. N. and Bakker, M.: HESS Opinions: Repeatable research: what hydrologists can learn from the Duke cancer research scandal, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3739–3743, 2016
Pre-USGS Publications
Date published: April 6, 2017
Wells Affect Water Flows in the Central Sands Region
Both irrigation wells and municipal wells affect flows in the Little Plover River near Plover, Wisconsin, stretches of which ran dry in past years, according to a new scientific report.
Date published: April 7, 2016
Little Plover groundwater study - public meeting
Mike Fienen (USGS), along with Ken Bradbury (WGHNS), presented the results of their two-year study of the Little Plover River groundwater system on April 12, 2016, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at the Noel Fine Arts Center in Stevens Point, Wis. This study used existing stream and high-capacity well data to simulate the groundwater and surface-water flow system of the Little Plover.