Research Professor, Emeritus
Professional Interests
Dr. Jacobson is involved in conducting research primarily on chemical reactions and processes in surface water, groundwaters, and geothermal systems. His special research interests include chemical and isotope techniques for estimating recharge in arid terrains, water chemistry of deep carbonate aquifers, near surface chemical reactions in playas and caliche formation, subsurface radionuclide migration, ore deposit geochemistry, risk assessment, deep subsurface microgeology, and mountain watersheds. He also has participated in research and demonstration activities on renewable energy and sustainability. He has served on over 60 MS and PhD student committees in hydrogeology and geochemistry, and teaches graduate courses in Soil and Water Restoration and Isotope Hydrology. His present committee membership support these research interests.
Professional Memberships
- City of South Lake Tahoe Technical Advisory Council.
Help with design and evaluation of stream restoration.
- Washoe County Water Resources Technical Advisory Council
Provide technical advice on water projects.
- Nevada Mining Task Force
Work with other signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding to design and implement mine reclamation in Nevada.
- DOE Underground Test Area Technical Working Group
Provide technical advice to DOE for underground testing projects
- DOE Nevada Environmental Research Park (NERP)
Develop DOE needs statements and evaluate proposals from UNR and UNLV
Education
| Degree |
Year |
Institution |
Area |
| Ph.D. |
1973 |
Pennsylvania State University |
Geochemistry and Mineralogy |
| M.A. |
1968 |
University of Missouri – Columbia |
Geology |
| B.A. |
1965 |
University of Minnesota – Duluth |
Geology |
Professional Activities
- American Geophysical Union (AGU) member and reviewer
- Geochemical Society member and reviewer
- Member Nevada Test Site Development Corporation Board of Directors
Selected Publications
French, R., R.L. Jacobson, and B. Lyles, 1996.
Threshold precipitation events causing deep moisture precipitation at the Nevada Test Site, ASCE, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 122, No. 10, pp. 573-578.
Russell, C.E., R.L. Jacobson, D.L. Haldeman, and P.S. Amy, 1994.
Heterogeneity of Deep Subsurface Microorganisms and Correlations to Hydrological and Geochemical Parameters at Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site. Journal of Geomicrobiology, 12:37-51.
Andricevic, R., J. Daniels, and R.L. Jacobson, 1994.
Radionuclide migration using travel time transport approach and its application in risk analysis, Journal of Hydrology, 163, 125-145.
Ingraham, N.L., B.F. Lyles, R.L. Jacobson & J.W. Hess, 1991.
Stable Isotopic Study of Precipitated Spring Discharge in Southern Nevada. Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 125, 15 p.
Tyler, S.W. and R.L. Jacobson, 1990.
Soil Moisture Flux Studies on the Nevada Test Site: A Review of Results and Techniques. Hydraulics/ Hydrology of Arid Lands; Proceedings of the International Symposium, R.H. French, ed., San Diego, CA.
Jacobson, R.L., M.S. Henne & J.W. Hess, 1986.
A Reconnaissance Investigation of Hydrogeochemistry and Hydrology of Rainier Mesa. Desert Research Institute, Water Resources Center Publication No. 45046, 57 p. (DOE/NV/10384-05).
Galat, D.L. and R.L. Jacobson, 1985.
Recurrent aragonite precipitation in saline-alkaline, Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Arch. Hydrobiol., V. 105, No. 2, pp. 137-159.
Jacobson, R.L., N.L. Ingraham and M.E. Campana, 1983. Isotope Hydrology of a Basin and Range Geothermal System. Desert Research Institute, Water Resources Center Publication No. 41087, 18 p.
Jacobson, R.L. and E. Usdowski, 1975.
Partitioning of strontium between calcite, dolomite, and liquids. Contributions of Mineralogy and Petrology, V. 59, No. 2, pp. 171-185.
Jacobson, R.L. and D. Langmuir, 1973.
Dissociation constants of calcite and CaHCO3 from 0 to 50 C. Geochemical et Cosmo, Acta, V. 38, pp. 301-318.
Publications
2014
Robbins, C. M., Goldade, T. D., Hoekman, S.K., Jacobson, R. L., Turner, R. H. (2014). Empirically Driven Computer Simulations of Solar Thermal Systems for Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water, ASME Technical Paper, ESFuelCell2014-6626
2007
Decker, D. L., Cooper, C. A., Jacobson, R. L., Oberlander, P. L., Shafer, D. S. (2007). Preliminary numerical modeling and sub-scale experimental design of a nuclear rocket test facility with vadose zone exhaust sequestration at the Nevada Test Site
Decker, D. L., Cooper, C. A., Jacobson, R. L., Oberlander, P. L., Shafer, D. S. (2007). Preliminary Numerical Modeling and Sub-scale Experimental Design of a Nuclear Rocket Test Facility with Vadose Zone Exhaust Sequestration at the Nevada Test Site, DRI Report No. 41238
2005
Heyvaert, A. C., Mihevc, T. M., Jacobson, R. L. (2005). Efficiency Assessment of Stormwater Treatment Vaults in the Round Hill General Improvement District — Final Report, DRI Report No. 41216
2002
Smolen, K. D., Jacobson, R. L., Mihevc, T. M., Panorska, A. (2002). Sediment and Nutrient Monitoring and Modeling in Lake Tahoe, California, USA, DRI Report No. 41178
1996
Mihevc, T. M., Jacobson, R. L., Cochran, G. F. (1996). South Flood Irrigation Project Wells, Owens Dry Lake: Completion Report and Aquifer Test Analysis, DRI Report No. 41150
1992
Jacobson, R. L., Cochran, G. F., Lyles, B. F., Mihevc, T. M. (1992). River Site Upper Aquifer Owens Dry Lake: Analysis of Long-Term Aquifer Test & Pumping Effects, 37, DRI Report No. 41135
McKenna, S., Ingraham, N., Jacobson, R. L., Cochran, G. F. (1992). A stable isotope study of bank storage mechanisms in the Truckee river basin, Journal of Hydrology, 134 (1-4), 203-219
1987
Lyles, B. F., Jacobson, R. L., Hess, J. W. (1987). Reconnaissance of Groundwater Quality in Southern Nevada, 87, DRI Report No. 41101
1983
Szecsody, J., Jacobson, R. L., Campana, M. (1983). Environmental Isotopic and Hydrogeochemical Investigation of Recharge and Subsurface Flow in Eagle Valley, Nevada, 120, DRI Report No. 42037
Price, D., Wheatcraft, S., Jacobson, R. L., Bruce, L. (1983). Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction at Topaz Lake, Nevada, 130, DRI Report No. 41085
Leatham, S., Huckins, L., Jacobson, R. L. (1983). Nitrate in Nevada Playas, 128, DRI Report No. 41086
Jacobson, R. L., Ingraham, N., Campana, M. (1983). Isotope Hydrology of a Basin and Range Geothermal System, 18, DRI Report No. 41087
Fox, F., Jacobson, R. L. (1983). Chemical Variations of the Truckee River from Lake Tahoe to Truckee, California During Low Flow, 101, DRI Report No. 41081
1982
Ingraham, N., Jacobson, R. L., Campana, M. (1982). Hydrologic Interpretation of Shallow Subsurface Temperature Data, 35, DRI Report No. 41076
Dowden, I., Campana, M., Wheatcraft, S., Jacobson, R. L. (1982). Artificial Recharge of Surface Runoff in Cold Spring Valley, Nevada, 50, DRI Report No. 41071
Campana, M., Cunningham, A., Navoy, A., Jacobson, R. L. (1982). Quantitative Evaluation of Factors Affecting Flash Floods on Ephemeral Watersheds, 24, DRI Report No. 41072
Bratberg, D., Jacobson, R. L., Fordham, J. (1982). Water Quality Changes in the Lower Truckee River, 45, DRI Report No. 41078
1980
Hess, J. W., Jacobson, R. L. (1980). Water Supply Investigations for Fort Churchill Historic State Monument, Lyon County, Nevada, 21, DRI Report No. 41064
1978
Merritt, R., Jacobson, R. L., Campana, M. (1978). Investigation of the Sun Valley Shallow Groundwater System, 14, DRI Report No. 41052
1977
Bohm, B., Jacobson, R. L. (1977). Preliminary Investigation of the Geothermal Resources Near Hawthorne, Nevada, 30, DRI Report No. 41050
Conference Proceedings
2014
Robbins, C. M., Goldade, T. D., Hoekman, S.K., Jacobson, R. L., Turner, R. H. (2014). Empirically Driven Computer Simulations of Solar Thermal Systems for Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water. ASME 2014 8th International Conference on Energy Sustainability & 12th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference, ESFuelCell2014: Boston, MA, June 30, 2014-July 2, 2014
