Researcher

Mr Mahmood Sadat-Noori

My Expertise

  • Submarine groundwater discharge
  • Natural groundwater tracers; radon and radium
  • Carbon, nutrient and greenhouse gas dynamics in estuaries and wetlands

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Groundwater Hydrology, Surfacewater Hydrology, Environmental Monitoring, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Impact Assessment

Biography

Dr. Mahmood Sadat-Noori is a Lecturer at the Water Research Laboratory within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mahmood holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Water Engineering both from the University of Tehran and a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Hydrology from Southern Cross University, Australia. His research operates at the interface between two fields; hydrology and geochemistry. His research interest is in...view more

Dr. Mahmood Sadat-Noori is a Lecturer at the Water Research Laboratory within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Mahmood holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Water Engineering both from the University of Tehran and a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Hydrology from Southern Cross University, Australia. His research operates at the interface between two fields; hydrology and geochemistry. His research interest is in quantifying groundwater - surface water interactions in coastal and inland environments and understanding how groundwater discharge into surface water bodies can influence surface water quantity and quality. This has implications for water quality management as groundwater discharge can act as a pathway for transporting dissolved nutrients, carbon, metal, and greenhouse gases to surface water bodies such as streams, estuaries, lakes, and wetlands.

Mahmood employs a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate groundwater - surface water interactions by conducting large-scale field investigations, and using hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and environmental tracer data, such as radon (Rn-222), radium isotopes (Ra-223,224, 226), and water stable isotopes (O-18 and H-2). His Ph.D. research introduced a novel sampling approach for reducing uncertainties related to quantifying groundwater discharge in estuaries using radon, (a natural groundwater tracer) through field investigation and analytical analysis. His current research is focused on understanding the role of groundwater in the carbon cycle of wetlands that have undergone restoration and how over-pumping of groundwater resources (for agriculture, industry, and water supply) can affect groundwater dependant ecosystems.


My Grants

Project Title | Role | Funding Source | Grant $ | 

  • A Picarro G2401-m analyser for environmental carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and water measurements | Co Cheif Investigator | UNSW Major Research Infrastructure Scheme | $180,000
  • Is groundwater discharge an overlooked source of methane in restored coastal wetlands? | Lead Cheif Investigator | The Hermon Slade Foundation | $75,000
  • Using tidal restoration to decrease nutrients and create blue carbon credit in the Hunter River Estuary | Co CI | Hunter Water | $30,000
  • Restoring a coastal wetland through hydrological management | Lead CI | Port of Newcastle | $10,000
  • Coastal erosion effects on groundwater quality after extreme rainfall events | Co CI | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services | $30,000
  • Groundwater surface water connectivity assessment in a restored coastal wetland | Co CI | Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group | $15,000
  • Independent Review of the Impacts of the Bottled Water Industry on Groundwater Resources in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW | Co CI | Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer | $85,000
  • A Radium Isotope Analyser for investigating groundwater-surface water interactions in coastal environments | Lead CI | UNSW | $42,000
  • A Portable Greenhouse Gas Analyser for in-situ measurement of the carbon dioxide and methane concentration | Lead CI | UNSW | $58,000


My Qualifications

  • Ph.D, 2017, Environmental Hydrology, Southern Cross University (SCU)
  • MSc., 2011, Water Resources Engineering, University of Tehran
  • BSc., 2009, Water Engineering, University of Tehran


My Awards

  • Top 100 Downloaded Paper in 2021 | Scientific Reports | 2022
  • Equality and Diversity Excellence Award | Faculty of Engineering | UNSW | 2021
  • Industry Engagement and Innovation Excellence Award | Faculty of Engineering | UNSW | 2021
  • Working with Nature Award | World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (the first in Australia) | 2020
  • Community Sponsorship Award | Port of Newcastle | 2020


My Research Activities

 


My Research Supervision


Areas of supervision

 


Currently supervising

 Program | Student | Topic | Completion year

  • Honours | John Salvaris | Predicting future groundwater levels using machine learning | 2022
  • Honours | Mallaka Pirrera | CO2 and CH4 emissions from an urban creek during a flood event | 2022
  • Honours | Dana Lanceman | Blue carbon ecosystem restoration assessment using remote sensing | 2022
  • Masters | Ivey Han | Investigating groundwater-surface water interactions using radon in Thirlmere Lakes | 2021
  • Masters | Zhilin Wang | Water quality drives in a tidal wetland | 2020
  • Masters | Hu Liu | Groundwater driven carbon fluxes in an urbanised freshwater lake | 2020
  • Honours | Yuan Qi | Groundwater dynamics and eutrophication at Many Dam, Sydney | 2019
  • Honours | Shangqing Pei | Groundwater discharge as a source of nutrients in a restored wetland | 2018


My Engagement

Associate Editor

          

 

 

Committee Member 

  • Committee Chair | Early Career Academic Network (ECAN) | Faculty of Engineering
  • Committee member | Equity, Diversity and, Inclusion Committee | Faculty of Engineering
  • Committee member | Research Management Group | Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering 


My Teaching

ENG2500 - Fluid Mechanics for Engineers

CVEN9625 - Fundamentals of Water Engineering

CVEN4503 - Groundwater Resources Investigation 

CVEN9630 - Groundwater Hydrology

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Location

MV15 (BEL Lab), Water Research Laboratory,
110 King St., Manly Vale, NSW, 2093

Map reference (Google map)