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Dr. Alex Beebe

Dr. Alex Beebe

Professor of Geology
Department of Earth Sciences

Research Interests

  • Coastal Hydrology
  • Environmental Geology
  • Geomorphology
  • Applied Geophysics

Bio

Dr. Alex Beebe is a hydrologist and environmental geologist and currently serves as a Professor of Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of South Alabama. He received a B.S. in Geology and Biology from the University of South Alabama in 2007 and went on to receive his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Clemson University in 2013. Dr. Beebe’s research interests are strongly focused on interactions between humans and the environment, particularly the relationship between human activities and the quantity and quality of precious water resources that we rely upon as a society.  Dr. Beebe’s previous research projects have included physical and chemical characterization of produced water generated during unconventional natural gas production, evaluation of petroleum bi-product water for beneficial use, design and implementation of constructed wetland treatment systems for beneficial reuse of industrial wastewater, and assessment of water treatment via ion exchange using natural geologic materials.

Since joining the Department of Earth Sciences in 2013, Dr. Beebe has expanded his research to investigate factors influencing water quality in Mobile and Baldwin Counties As a groundwater hydrologist, Dr. Beebe is currently working to elucidate the effects of diffuse groundwater discharge through seafloor sediments (i.e. submarine groundwater discharge) on the quality of waters in Mobile Bay and other Gulf of Mexico estuaries. This interdisciplinary research draws upon aspects of hydrology, hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, and oceanography to provide essential linkages between human activities and critical ecosystem services offered by our coastal waters. 

Publications

Journal Articles (*Mentored undergraduate students)

  • Waselkov, G.A., D.A. Beebe, H. Cyr, E.L. Chamberlain, J.M. Mehta, and E.S. Nelson, 2022. History and Hydrology: Engineering Canoe Canals in Estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Field Archaeology, Online

  • Beebe, D.A., *M.B. Huettemann, B.M. Webb, and W.T. Jackson, Jr., 2022. Atmospheric Groundwater Forcing of a Subterranean Estuary: A Seasonal Recirculation Process. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(7): e2021GL096154

  • Jackson, Jr., W.T., M. McKay, D.A. Beebe, C. Mullins, A. Ionescu, B. Shaulis, and D. Barbeau, 2021. Detrital Zircon U-Pb ages and Th/U Reveal a Southern Appalachian Piedmont Provenance along the Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain (USA) during Late Cretaceous. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 91(10): 1025-1039

  • *Bellais, K.C., *S. T. Barber, D.A. Beebe, and M.W. Clark, 2020. Lake or Estuary? - Sedimentary and Benthic Foraminiferal Characterization of a Gulf of Mexico Coastal Dune Lake. Gulf and Caribbean Research, 31(1): 46-52

  • Beebe, D.A. and *B.A. Lowery, 2018. Seawater recirculation drives groundwater nutrient loading from a developed estuary shoreline with on-site wastewater treatment systems: Mobile Bay, USA. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77(10): Online Article 372
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Courses

  • EXT599 Environmental Toxicology Graduate Research
  • GY575 Graduate Level Hydrology
  • GY494 Geology Directed Studies
  • GY480 Field Geology
  • GY425 Hydrology
  • GY305 Geophysics
  • GY301 Geomorphology
  • GY112L Earth History Laboratory
  • GY112 Earth History
  • GY111L Physical Geology Laboratory
  • GY111 Physical Geology