Dr. Hongbin Zhan

Bio

Water is vital for human’s survival! Dr. Hongbin Zhan’s teaching and research interests cover various topics of subsurface hydrology. He and his students and colleagues have used rigorous physical reasoning, mathematical modeling, and carefully designed experiments to understand the fundamental processes of hydrological sciences and to apply the knowledge for better use of water resources. He is also interested in understanding water’s role in many geological processes. He has collaborated with scientists from several different countries, in particular China.

Research

• Groundwater flow and solute transport in aquitard-aquifer systems.
• Stream-aquifer interaction.
• Dynamics of horizontal wells and its applications in hydrosciences and environmental engineering.
• Non-Darcian flow and its impact on non-Fickian dispersion of solute transport.
• Vapor flow and transport in the unsaturated zone
• Unconfined aquifer dynamics and variably saturated flow

Projects

• Non-Darcian flow and non-Fickian transport in fractures: Systematic laboratory experiments and physical model (with Y. Zhang and J. Qian, revised proposal will submitted for National Science Foundation) .
• Pressure-driven, density-driven, and diffusion-driven gas phase transport in unsaturared zones with fluctuating atmospherirc pressures and water table (National Science Foundation, pending).
• Study on the rheological mechanism and the long-term stability of weak joint rockmass of reservoir bank high slopes under the influence of periodic large-scale water level fluctuation  (National Natural Science Foundation of China, with Dr. B. Hu, 2012-2015).

Experience

• 2010–present, Endowed Ray C. Fish Professor in Geology, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University.
• 2007–2009, Professor of Hydrogeology, Water Management and Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Program, Texas A&M University.
• 2007–Present, Professor of Hydrogeology, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University.
• 2005–2007, Associate Professor of Hydrogeology, Water Management and Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Program, Texas A&M University.
• 2002–2007, Associate Professor of Hydrogeology, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University.
• 2005–Present, Adjunct Professor, China Agricultural University.
• 2006–Present, Adjunct Professor, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
• 2004–2007, Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
• 1996–2002, Assistant Professor of Hydrogeology, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University.
• September 1995–September 1996, George B. Maxey Fellow of Water Resource Center, Desert Research Institute.
• June 1995–September 1995, Research Assistant of Professor Stephen W. Wheatcraft, Department of Geology, University of Nevada, Reno.
• January 1995–June 1995, Consultant and Research Assistant of Water Resource Center, Desert Research Institute.
• 1993–1994, Research Assistant of Professor Stephen W. Wheatcraft, Department of geology, University of Nevada, Reno.
• 1991–1993, Teaching Assistant of Physics Dept., University of Nevada, Reno.
• 1991–1993, Research Assistant of Professor Peter Winkler, Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno.

Publications

• You, K., and Zhan, H., Comparison of diffusive and advective fluxes of gas phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in unsaturated zones under natural conditions, Advances in Water Resources, 52, 221-231, 2013.
• Li, J., You, K., Zhan, H., and Huang, G., Analytical solution to subsurface air pressure in a three-layer unsaturated zone with atmospheric pressure changes, Transport in Porous Media, 93(3), 461-474, 2012. doi: 10.1007/s11242-012-9964-5.
• Qian, J., Liang, M., Chen, Z., and Zhan, H., Eddy correlations for water flow in a single fracture with abruptly changing aperture, Hydrological Processes, 26, 3369-3377, 2012. doi:10.1002/hyp.8332.
• Li, J., Zhan, H., Huang, G., and You, K., Determining air permeability in reclaimed coastal land based on tidal fluctuations, Environmental Earth Sciences, 66(4), 1259-1268, 2012. doi: 10.1007/s12665-011-1337-9.
• Mieles, J., and Zhan, H., Analytical solutions of one-dimensional multispecies reactive transport in a permeable reactive barrier-aquifer system, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 134-135, 54-68, 2012. doi: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2012.04.002.
• Gao, G., Zhan, H., Feng, S., Huang, G., and Fu, B., A mobile-immobile model with an asymptotic scale-dependent dispersion function, Journal of Hydrology, 424-425, 172-183, 2012. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.12.041.
• You, K., and Zhan, H., Can atmospheric pressure and water table fluctuations be neglected in soil vapor extraction?, Advances in Water Resources, 35, 41-54, 2012. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.10.008.
• Xu, X., Huang, G., Zhan, H., Qu, Z., and Huang, Q.Z., Integration of SWAP and MODFLOW-2000 for modeling groundwater dynamics in shallow water table areas, Journal of Hydrology, 412-413, 170-181, 2012. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.07.002.
• Qian, J., Wang, L., Zhan, H., and Chen, Z., Urban land-use effects on groundwater phosphate distribution in a shallow aquifer, Nanfei River basin, China Hydrogeology Journal, 19, 1431-1442, 2011. doi: 10.1007/s10040-011-0770-x.
• You, K., Zhan, H., and Li, J., Analysis of models for induced gas flow in the unsaturated zone, Water Resources Research, 47, W04515 , 2011. doi:10.1029/2010WR009985.
• Li, J., Zhan, H., Huang, G., and You, K., Tide-induced airflow in a two-layered coastal land with atmospheric pressure fluctuations, Advances in Water Resources, 34, 649-658 , 2011. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.02.014.
• You, K., Zhan, H., and Li, J., Gas flow to a barometric pumping well in a multilayered unsaturated zone, Water Resources Research, 47, W05522, 2011, doi:10.1029/2010WR009411.
• Ma, Y., Feng, S., Zhan, H., Liu, X., Su, D., Kang, S., and Song, X., Water infiltration in layered soils with air entrapment: Modified Green-Ampt model and experimental validation, ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 16(8), 628-638, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000360, 2011.
• Wen, Z., Huang, G., and Zhan, H., Non-Darcian flow to a well in leaky aquifers with the Forchheimer equation, Hydrogeology Journal, 19(3), 563-572, doi:10.1007/s10040-011-0709-2, 2011.
• Li, J., Zhan, H., and Huang, G., Applicability of the linearized governing equation of gas flow in porous media, Transport in Porous Media, 87, 815-834, 2011.
• Wen, Z., Zhan, H., Huang, G., and Jin, M., Constant-head test in a leaky aquifer with a finite-thickness skin, Journal of Hydrology, 399, 326-334, 2011.
• Qian, J., Zhan, H., Chen, Z., and Ye, H., Experimental study of solute transport under non-Darcian flow condition in a single fracture, Journal of Hydrology, 399, 246-254, 2011.
• Qian, J., Chen, Z., Zhan, H., Guan, H., Experimental study of the effect of roughness and Reynolds number on fluid flow in rough-walled single fractures: a check of local cubic law, Hydrological Processes, 25(4), 614-622, 2011.
• Wen, Z., Huang, G., and Zhan, H., Solution for non-Darcian flow to an extended well in fractured rock, Ground Water, 49(2), 280-285, 2011.
• Qian, J., Chen, C., Zhan, H., and Luo, S., Solute transport in a filled single fracture under non-Darcian flow, International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 48, 132-140, 2011.
• Chen,Z., Qian, J., Zhan, H., Chen, L., and Luo, S., Mobile-immobile model of solute transport through porous and fractured media, Proceedings of ModelCARE 2009, Wuhan, China, September 2009, IAHS Publ. 341, 2010.
• You, K., Zhan, H., and Li, J, A new solution and data analysis for gas flow to a barometric pumping well, Advances in Water Resources, 33, 1444-1455, 2010.
• Gao, G., Zhan, H., Feng, S., Fu, B., and Huang, G., A new mobile-immobile model for reactive solute transport with scale-dependent dispersion, Water Resources Research, 46, W08533, doi:10.1029/2009WR008707, 2010.
• Complete List of Publications

Awards & Honors

• 2010, Endowed Ray C. Fish Professorship in Geology, Texas A&M University;
• 2009–2013, Endowed Chang-Jiang Scholar, Ministry of Education, China;
• 2009 Dean's Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty Teaching, College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University;
• 2006 GSA Fellow;
• 2004 Distinguished Oversea Young Scientist Award: "Non-Darcian Flow and Transport in Porous and Fractured Media"
• (2005–2007) National Natural Science Foundation of China;
• 2002 Fred Burggraf Award Transportation Research Board, The National Academies;
• 2001 Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Texas A& M University;
• 1999–2000 Center for Teaching Excellence Montague Scholar Texas A&M University;
• 1999 Interview by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) Alumni Foundation
• 1997 Outstanding Ph.D. graduate award for academic excellence Mackay School of Mines, Univ. of Nevada, Reno;
• 1996 Board of Regents outstanding graduate student award for academic excellence University and Community College System of Nevada;
• 1995–1996 American Petroleum Institute and the National Ground Water Association Scholarship ;
• 1995–1996 George Burke Maxey Fellow Desert Research Institute.

Affiliations

• International Professionals for Advancement of Chinese Earth Science (IPACES)
• Geological Society of America (GSA)
• American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH)