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Andrew Luhmann

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Andrew Luhmann, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Geology, Department Chair

Biography

Before coming to Wheaton, Andrew Luhmann was an Assistant Professor of Hydrology in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, NM, and a Postdoctoral Researcher/Research Associate in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. His research generally involves the fields of hydrogeology and geochemistry, and grants from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy support his research. He has served as an Associate Editor of Hydrogeology Journal and the Primary Representative of the Joint Technical Program Committee for the Geological Society of America Karst Division.

Education

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Ph.D., Geology, 2011
Thesis: Water temperature as a tracer in karst aquifers

Wheaton College
B.S., Geology, with an integrative double major in Biblical and Theological Studies, 2006

Areas of Expertise

  • Karst Hydrogeology
  • Flow and Transport
  • Aqueous Geochemistry
  • Fluid-Rock Interaction
  • Geologic Carbon Sequestration

Professional Affiliations

  • American Geophysical Union: Member
  • American Scientific Affiliation: Member
  • Geochemical Society: Member
  • Geological Society of America: Member, Member of the GSA Karst Division Awards Committee (2022 – present), Primary Representative of the GSA Karst Division Joint Technical Program Committee (2018 – 2020)

Teaching

  • CORE 325: AIS: Nature, Environment, and Society
  • CORE 345: AIS: Water, the Essential Resource
  • ENVR/GEOL 212: Dynamic Earth and Environment
  • GEOL 232: Environmental Geochemistry
  • GEOL 332: Studies in Regional Geology
  • GEOL 336: Process Geomorphology
  • GEOL 395/495: Geoscience Research
  • GEOL 437: Hydrogeology
  • GEOL 494: Senior Capstone Seminar for Geology Majors

Research

Andrew Luhmann’s research focuses on water resources and environmental processes at and near the Earth’s surface. He has conducted research in settings that range from caves to the laboratory, and from Yellowstone National Park to the bottom of the ocean floor, with a memorable dive in the submersible Alvin in the North Pacific! Much of his work in aquifers occurs in karst landscapes, with features that include sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, and springs. This research involves the use of tracers such as temperature and various chemical parameters as well as geophysical instruments to identify aquifer and flow path information. He has also used laboratory experiments to understand fluid-rock interactions, with implications for the injection of CO2 in the subsurface to mitigate the effects of global climate change and reactions that occur below hydrothermal vent fields. Particular emphasis has sought to understand how chemical reactions impact flow and mechanical properties.

Publications

Rinehart, A.J., A.J. Luhmann, and B.M. Tutolo. 2025. The geochemistry of carbon capture and storage with implications for hydromechanical feedbacks and geophysical monitoring. In Geophysics and the Energy Transition, Ed. by M. Wilson, T. Davis, and M. Landrø, pp. 235-274. Elsevier.

Gochenour, J.A., A.J. Rinehart, A.J. Luhmann, R. Grapenthin, and S.L. Bilek. 2024. Poroelastic response to karst conduit pressurization: A finite element modeling exercise toward the use of tiltmeters in karst aquifer monitoring applications. Water Resources Research. 60 (7), e2022WR034293, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034293.

Gochenour, J.A., S.L. Bilek, H.B. Woo, A.J. Luhmann, R. Grapenthin, and J.B. Martin. 2024. Ambient seismic noise tomography within the Floridan Aquifer System, Santa Fe River-Sink Rise, Florida, U.S. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth 129 (5), e2023JB027644, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JB027644.

Wu, Z., J.D. Simmons, S. Otu, A. Rinehart, A. Luhmann, J. Heath, P. Mozley, and B.S. Majumdar. 2023. Control of cement timing, mineralogy, and texture on hydro-chemo-mechanical coupling from CO2 injection into sandstone: A synthesis. Energies 16 (24), 7949, https://doi.org/10.3390/en16247949.

Otu, S., A.J. Rinehart, A.J. Luhmann, J. Simmons, and P. Mozley. 2023. Effects of CO2 on creep deformation in sandstones at carbon sequestration reservoir conditions: An experimental study. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 129, 103970, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103970.

Simmons, J.D., S. Wang, A.J. Luhmann, A.J. Rinehart, J.E. Heath, and B.S. Majumdar. 2023. Paragenetic controls on CO2-fluid-rock interaction and weakening in a macroporous-dominated sandstone. Applied Geochemistry 156, 105744, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2023.105744.

Woo, H.B., S.L. Bilek, J.A. Gochenour, R. Grapenthin, A.J. Luhmann, and J.B. Martin. 2023. Processing ambient noise data using phase cross-correlation and application toward understanding spatiotemporal environmental effects. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 128 (7), e2023JF007091, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007091.

Kavousi, A., T. Reimann, T. Wöhling, S. Birk, A.J. Luhmann, J. Kordilla, T. Noffz, M. Sauter, and R. Liedl. 2023. Joint-inversion of groundwater flow, heat, and solute state variables: A multipurpose approach for characterization and forecast of karst systems. Hydrogeology Journal, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02631-8.

Bilek, S.L., A.J. Luhmann, R. Grapenthin, H.B. Woo, and J.A. Gochenour. 2023. Capturing seismic signals from karst aquifer injection experiments and a natural recharge event. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth 128 (4), e2022JB025635, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB025635.

Awolayo, A.N., C.T. Laureijs, J. Byng, A.J. Luhmann, R. Lauer, and B.M. Tutolo. 2022. Mineral surface area accessibility and sensitivity constraints on carbon mineralization in basaltic aquifers. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 334, 293-315, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2022.08.011.

Simmons, J., A. Rinehart, A. Luhmann, P. Mozley, J. Heath, and B. Majumdar. 2022. Using petrographically observable microstructure to predict hydromechanical changes in a complex siliciclastic storage site during CO2 injection. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 119, 103724, https://doi.org/10.1016.j.ijggc.2022.103724.

Isihara, P., L. Henneker, A. Luhmann, N. Bowden, D. Bremner, J. Higgins, S. McKay, and J. Reyes. 2022. A groundwater contaminant extraction model using complex potentials. Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics and its Applications (UMAP Journal) 43 (1), 39-76.

Tutolo, B.M., A.J. Luhmann, X.-Z. Kong, B.C. Bagley, D. Alba-Venero, N. Mitchell, M.O. Saar, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2020. Contributions of visible and invisible pores to reactive transport in dolomite. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 14, 42-46, https://doi.org/10.7185/geochemlet.2022.

Tutolo, B.M., T. Kiesel, A.J. Luhmann, P. Solheid, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2020. Experimental evaluation of the role of redox during glauconite-CO2-brine interactions. Applied Geochemistry 115, 104558, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104558.

Wu, Z., A.J. Luhmann, A.J. Rinehart, P.S. Mozley, T.A. Dewers, J.E. Heath, and B.S. Majumdar. 2020. Chemo-mechanical alterations induced from CO2 injection in carbonate-cemented sandstone: An experimental study at 71°C and 290 MPa. Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth 125, e2019JB019096, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB019096.

Rasmussen, L., T. Fan, A. Rinehart, A. Luhmann, W. Ampomah, T. Dewers, J. Heath, M. Cather, and R. Grigg. 2019. Carbon storage and enhanced oil recovery in Pennsylvanian Morrow Formation clastic reservoirs: Controls on oil/brine and oil/CO2 relative permeability from diagenetic heterogeneity and evolving wettability. Energies 12 (19), 3663, https://doi.org/10.3390/en12193663.

Tutolo, B.M., A.J. Luhmann, N.J. Tosca, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2018. Serpentinization as a reactive transport process: The brucite silicification reaction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 484, 385-395, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.12.029.

Douglas, P.M.J., D.A. Stolper, J.M. Eiler, A.L. Sessions, M. Lawson, Y. Shuai, A. Bishop, O.G. Podlaha, A.A. Ferreira, E.V. Santos Neto, M. Niemann, A.S. Steen, L. Huang, L. Chimiak, D.L. Valentine, J. Fiebig, A.J. Luhmann, W.E. Seyfried, Jr., G. Etiope, M. Schoell, W.P. Inskeep, J.J. Moran, and N. Kitchen. 2017. Methane clumped isotopes: Progress and potential for a new isotopic tracer. Organic Geochemistry 113, 262-282, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.07.016.

Luhmann, A.J., B.M. Tutolo, B.C. Bagley, D.F.R. Mildner, P.P. Scheuermann, J.M. Feinberg, K. Ignatyev, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2017. Chemical and physical changes during seawater flow through intact dunite cores: An experimental study at 150-200°C. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 214, 86-114, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.07.020.

Luhmann, A.J., B.M. Tutolo, B.C. Bagley, D.F.R. Mildner, W.E. Seyfried, Jr., and M.O. Saar. 2017. Permeability, porosity, and mineral surface area changes in basalt cores induced by reactive transport of CO2-rich brine. Water Resources Research 53 (3): 1908-1927, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019216.

Luhmann, A.J., B.M. Tutolo, C. Tan, B.M. Moskowitz, M.O. Saar, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2017. Whole rock basalt alteration from CO2-rich brine during flow-through experiments at 150°C and 150 bar. Chemical Geology 453: 92-110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.02.002.

Syverson, D.D., A.J. Luhmann, C. Tan, D.M. Borrok, K. Ding, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2017. Fe isotope fractionation between chalcopyrite and dissolved Fe during hydrothermal recrystallization: An experimental study at 350 ºC and 500 bars. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 200, 87-109, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.12.002.

Tutolo, B.M., A.J. Luhmann, X.-Z. Kong, M.O. Saar, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2015. CO2 sequestration in feldspar-rich sandstone: Coupled evolution of fluid chemistry, mineral reaction rates, and hydrogeochemical properties. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 160, 132-154, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2015.04.002.

Luhmann, A.J., M.D. Covington, J.M. Myre, M. Perne, S.W. Jones, E.C. Alexander, Jr., and M.O. Saar. 2015. Thermal damping and retardation in karst conduits. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 19: 137-157, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-137-2015.

Luhmann, A.J., X.-Z. Kong, B.M. Tutolo, N. Garapati, B.C. Bagley, M.O. Saar, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2014. Experimental dissolution of dolomite by CO2-charged brine at 100 ºC and 150 bar: Evolution of porosity, permeability, and reactive surface area. Chemical Geology 380: 145-160, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.05.001.

Tutolo, B.M., A.J. Luhmann, X.-Z. Kong, M.O. Saar, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2014. Experimental observation of permeability changes in dolomite at CO2 sequestration conditions. Environmental Science & Technology, 48, no. 4: 2445-2452, https://doi.org/10.1021/es4036946.

Luhmann, A.J., X.-Z. Kong, B.M. Tutolo, K. Ding, M.O. Saar, and W.E. Seyfried, Jr. 2013. Permeability reduction produced by grain reorganization and accumulation of exsolved CO2 during geologic carbon sequestration: A new CO2 trapping mechanism. Environmental Science & Technology 47, no. 1: 242-251, https://doi.org/10.1021/es3031209.

Luhmann, A.J., M.D. Covington, S.C. Alexander, S.Y. Chai, B.F. Schwartz, J.T. Groten, and E.C. Alexander, Jr. 2012. Comparing conservative and nonconservative tracers in karst and using them to estimate flow path geometry. Journal of Hydrology 448-449: 201-211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.04.044. 

Covington, M.D., A.J. Luhmann, C.M. Wicks, and M.O. Saar. 2012. Process length scales and longitudinal damping in karst aquifers. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface 117, F01025, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002212.

Covington, M.D., A.J. Luhmann, F. Gabrovšek, M.O. Saar, and C.M. Wicks. 2011. Mechanisms of heat exchange between water and rock in karst conduits. Water Resources Research 47, W10514, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR010683.

Luhmann, A.J., M.D. Covington, A.J. Peters, S.C. Alexander, C.T. Anger, J.A. Green, A.C. Runkel, and E.C. Alexander, Jr. 2011. Classification of thermal patterns at karst springs and cave streams. Ground Water 49, no. 3: 324-335, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2010.00737.x.

Professional Presentations

Recent invited seminars 

University of Calgary, Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment, Sept. 13, 2024

Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, June 9, 2023

Kansas State University, Department of Geology, Mar. 23, 2023

 

Recent conference presentations

* indicates Wheaton College student author 

Covington, M., C. Shobe, A.J. Luhmann, M. Abolins, M. Noble*, E. Oleson, Y. Gao, and M. Ye. 2024. Exploring the controls of karstification by analyzing karst surface drainage across the United States. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 56, No. 5, Paper No. 134-8, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-405803.

Rinehart, A., J. Simmons, J. Heath, A.J. Luhmann, Z. Wu, T.A. Dewers, and S. Wang. 2024. Quantifying microtextural controls on changes in absolute permeability during fluid-rock interactions using Lattice Boltzmann simulations of XRCT-measured sandstone pore networks. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 56, No. 5, Paper No. 9-13, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-405243.

Gochenour, J.A., C.P. Zeiler, S.L. Bilek, and A.J. Luhmann. 2024. Ambient seismic noise tomography of heterogeneous geological formations. Abstract presented at the 2024 Seismological Society of America Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK, 29 Apr. – 3 May.

*Lam, E.N., M.W. Noble*, A.J. Luhmann, H.B. Woo, J.A. Gochenour, S.L. Bilek, R. Grapenthin, J.B. Martin, M.K. Flint, and M.D. Covington. 2023. Comparison of electrical conductivity and temperature datasets along a karst sink-rise flow system to infer flow dynamics. Abstract to be presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting.

Luhmann, A.J., Z. Wu, J.D. Simmons, S. Otu, J.E. Heath, and A.J. Rinehart. 2023. The control of the diagenetic sequence and burial history on chemomechanical responses during CO2 injection into sandstone. Abstract to be presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting.

*Noble, M.W., E.N. Lam*, A.J. Luhmann, J.A. Gochenour, H.B. Woo, S.L. Bilek, R. Grapenthin, J.B. Martin, M.K. Flint, and M.D. Covington. 2023. Inferring hydrologic architecture from the propagation of water level signals at a karst sink-rise flow system. Abstract to be presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting.

Bilek, S.L., J.A. Gochenour, A.J. Luhmann, H.B. Woo, R. Grapenthin, and J.B. Martin. 2022. Site characterization and seismic noise correlation with hydrologic data using a dense nodal seismic array deployed within the Santa Fe Sink-Rise, FL, USA karst aquifer system. Abstract S13B:03 presented at the 2022 Fall Meeting, AGU, Chicago, IL, 12-16 Dec.

*Emerson, E.B., J. Baer*, S. Dunbar*, S.L. Bilek, J.A. Gochenour, H.B. Woo, R. Grapenthin, J.B. Martin, B.J. Luhmann, and A.J. Luhmann. 2022. Interactive museum exhibit illustrating seismic responses during flow through karst conduits. Abstract ED12A:02 presented at the 2022 Fall Meeting, AGU, Chicago, IL, 12-16 Dec.

*Kranendonk, E.A., A.J. Luhmann, H.B. Woo, J.A. Gochenour, A.J. Rinehart, S.L. Bilek, R. Grapenthin, J.B. Martin, M.K. Flint, and M.D. Covington. 2022. Three-dimensional hydraulic characterization in a karst aquifer using cross correlation analysis of water level data. Abstract H52P-0685 presented at the 2022 Fall Meeting, AGU, Chicago, IL, 12-16 Dec.

Luhmann, A.J., H.B. Woo, J.A. Gochenour, E.A. Kranendonk*, M.D. Covington, S.L. Bilek, R. Grapenthin, J.B. Martin, and M.K. Flint. 2022. Cross correlation hydrologic analysis to determine water exchange between conduits and the surrounding rock matrix in karst aquifers. Abstract H42D:1289 presented at the 2022 Fall Meeting, AGU, Chicago, IL, 12-16 Dec.

Woo, H.B., S.L. Bilek, J.A. Gochenour, A.J. Luhmann, R. Grapenthin, and J.B. Martin. 2022. High frequency ambient noise seismic data processing and quality control towards monitoring changes in spatio-temporal seismic velocities. Abstract S15D:0231 presented at the 2022 Fall Meeting, AGU, Chicago, IL, 12-16 Dec.

*Emerson, E.B., J. Baer*, S. Dunbar*, S.L. Bilek, J.A. Gochenour, H.B. Woo, R. Grapenthin, J.B. Martin, B.J. Luhmann, and A.J. Luhmann. 2022. Using an interactive museum exhibit to illustrate seismic signals during flow through caves. Abstract presented at the 2022 Chicago Chapter Student Paper Night, AEG, Downers Grove, IL, 15 Nov.

Simmons, J., S. Wang, A. Luhmann, A. Rinehart, D. Crandall, and J. Moore. 2022. Geochemical and mechanical evolution of Bluff and Entrada Sandstone due to CO2-fluid-rock interaction. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 54, No. 5, Paper No. 151-3, doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-380266.

Tutolo, B., J.C. de Obeso, A. Awolayo, Q. Zhang, C. Brown, T. Kirschner, J. Byng, A. Mitton, C. Laureijs, D. Syverson, M. Nightingale, A. Luhmann, and R. Lauer. 2022. Designing experiments and models to predict carbon dioxide mineralization in basalts at the field scale. 2022 Goldschmidt Meeting, Honolulu, Hawai’i, 10-15 July.

Tutolo, B.M., A. Awolayo, J.C. de Obeso, J. Byng, and A. Luhmann. 2022. CO2 mineralization in basalt from nanopore to global scales. Abstract presented at the 2022 ACS Spring Meeting, San Diego, CA, 20-24 Mar.

Links

Media

Interactive museum exhibit – Seismic signals from water flowing through caves 

Witnessing Creation 

Wheaton College’s Dr. Andrew Luhmann Receives Grants for Two Research Projects