Shikha Sharma

Dr. Shikha Sharma
Associate Director
UWYO Stable Isotope Facility

Sr. Research Scientist
Department of Renewable Resources
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY-82071
Phone : 307-766-5021 (off) 307-766-5203 (Lab)
Fax: 307-766-6403 ; E-mail: shikha@uwyo.edu

All Publications

RESEARCH

My research bridges the fields of low-temperature stable Isotope geochemistry, environment, energy, water resources and ecology. I primarily use stable isotopes of C, O and H as natural tracers to understand modern environmental processes and to interpret past environments. Recent projects include:

Acquisition of Instrumentation for compound specific isotope analysis at the University of University of Wyoming (Co-PI with D.G. Williams, C.M.del Rio, E. Pendall, M.T. Clementz). Funded by NSF $467,608; 2009-2011
A new method for tracing seepage from CBNG water holding ponds in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. (PI with K.J. Reddy and C.D. Frost). Funded by USGS and WWDC $167,339; 2008-2010.
Baseline geochemical characterization of produced waters and gases at Moxa Arch CO₂ sequestration site in Wyoming (PI with C.D. Frost). Funded by DOE $41,748; 2008-2009.
Using carbon isotopes to track microbial methanogenesis in enhanced coalbed methane recovery efforts (PI with D.M. Bagley and M. Urynowicz). Funded by School of Energy Resources seed Grant. $32,800; 2008-2011.
Recharge capacity of reclaimed aquifers (Co-PI with K.J. Reddy and K.M. Ogle). Funded by DEQ $45,660; 2008-2010.
Environmental tracers applied to quantifying impact of CBNG-related water production on surface and ground water and soil in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming (Co-PI with C.D. Frost). Funded by DOE $243,375; 2006-2008.
Volcanic degassing in Yellowstone National Park: An un-tapped research opportunity for studying effects of elevated CO₂ on coniferous forest (PI with D.G. Williams). Funded by faculty-grant-in-aid University of Wyoming Research Office $7,500; 2006-2007.

TEACHING

RNEW 5500 Stable Isotope Ecology (3 credits)
RNEW 4990/5990 Stable Isotopes Applications in Water Resources (2 credits)
REWM 4540 Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry (3 credits)
RNEW 4990/GEOL 4200 Climate Reconstruction (3 credits)

Graduate Students

Joshua K. Baggett, MS in Renewable Resources working on project "A new method for tracing seepage from CBNG water holding ponds in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming".
Scott Quillinan, MS in Geology and Geophysics working on project "Stable isotope and geochemical analyses of Wyoming coalbed aquifers".

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

Sharma S. and Williams D.G. (2009) Carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of leaf biomass reveals contrasting photosynthetic responses to elevated CO2 near geologic vents in Yellowstone National Park. Biogeosciences 6: 23-31.

Sharma S. and Frost C. (2008) Tracing coal bed natural gas co-produced water using stable isotopes of carbon . Ground Water 46:329-334.

Sharma S., Joachimski M., Sharma M., Tobschall H.J., Singh I.B., Sharma C. and Chauhan M.S. (2006) Correlative Evidences of Monsoon Variability, Vegetation Change and Human Inhabitation in Sanai lake deposit: Ganga Plain, India. Current Science 90: 973-978.

Sharma S., Mora G., Johnston J.W. and Thompson T.A. (2005) Stable isotope ratios in swale sequences of Lake Superior as indicators of climate and lake level fluctuations during the late Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews 24: 1941-1951.

Sharma S., Joachimski M., Sharma M., Tobschall H.J, Singh, I.B., Sharma C., Chauhan M.S. and Morgenroth G. (2004) Lateglacial and Holocene environmental changes in Ganga Plain, Northern India. Quaternary Science Reviews 23:145-159.

Sharma S., Joachimski M., Tobschall H.J., Singh I.B., Tewari D.P. and Tewari R. (2004) Oxygen Isotopes of Bovid Teeth: Archives of Palaeoclimatic Variations in Archaeological Deposits of Ganga Plain, India. Quaternary Research 62: 19-28.