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.