Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Recent Unprecedented Tree-Ring Growth In Bristlecone Pine At The Highest Elevations And Possible Causes, Matthew W. Salzer, Malcolm K. Hughes, Andrew G. Bunn, Kurt F. Kipfmueller Dec 2009

Recent Unprecedented Tree-Ring Growth In Bristlecone Pine At The Highest Elevations And Possible Causes, Matthew W. Salzer, Malcolm K. Hughes, Andrew G. Bunn, Kurt F. Kipfmueller

Andrew G. Bunn

Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) at 3 sites in western North America near the upper elevation limit of tree growth showed ring growth in the second half of the 20th century that was greater than during any other 50-year period in the last 3,700 years. The accelerated growth is suggestive of an environmental change unprecedented in millennia. The high growth is not overestimated because of standardization techniques, and it is unlikely that it is a result of a change in tree growth form or that it is predominantly caused by CO2 fertilization. The growth surge has occurred only in …


Late Quaternary Distribution And Biogeography Of The Southern Lake Eyre Basin (Sleb) Megafauna, South Australia, Steve Webb May 2009

Late Quaternary Distribution And Biogeography Of The Southern Lake Eyre Basin (Sleb) Megafauna, South Australia, Steve Webb

Steve Webb

Understanding the population demography, species distribution and biogeography of Australia’s megafauna is essential for understanding their extinction. This process is only just beginning, and this article discusses these aspects while concentrating on a particular region; the southern Lake Eyre Basin (SLEB). It is also the first detailed description of the distribution of megafauna across that region of central Australia. The data are based on an extensive longitudinal study of 41 palaeontological sites spread across 250 000km2. Megafauna adaptation and response to extensive environmental change during the late Quaternary is reflected in the composition and distribution of 21 megafauna species found …


Review Essay: Disagreeing About The Climate, Donald Nordberg Jan 2009

Review Essay: Disagreeing About The Climate, Donald Nordberg

Donald Nordberg

This paper is an early draft of a review essay that subsequently appeared in the journal Business and Society in 2010. The science concerning climate change is clear, both sides of the argument agree. What they don't agree about is what that clarity means. Each side considers the matter settled, and their points of view unsettle each attempt to make public policy. Mike Hulme, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, thinks the reasons for the persistent differences lies in the complex ways we see and use climate change as a totem …


Effects Of Increased Pco2 And Temperature On The North Atlantic Spring Bloom: Iii. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, P.A. Lee, J.R. Rudisill, A.R. Neeley, D.A. Hutchins, Y. Feng, C.E. Hare, K. Leblanc, J.M. Rose, Steven Wilhelm, J.M. Rowe, G.R. Ditullio Jan 2009

Effects Of Increased Pco2 And Temperature On The North Atlantic Spring Bloom: Iii. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, P.A. Lee, J.R. Rudisill, A.R. Neeley, D.A. Hutchins, Y. Feng, C.E. Hare, K. Leblanc, J.M. Rose, Steven Wilhelm, J.M. Rowe, G.R. Ditullio

Steven Wilhelm

The CLAW hypothesis argues that a negative feedback mechanism involving phytoplankton-derived dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) could mitigate increasing sea surface temperatures that result from global warming. DMSP is converted to the climatically active dimethylsulfide (DMS), which is transferred to the atmosphere and photochemically oxidized to sulfate aerosols, leading to increases in planetary albedo and cooling of the Earth’s atmosphere. A shipboard incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of increased temperature and pCO2 on the algal community structure of the North Atlantic spring bloom and their subsequent impact on particulate and dissolved DMSP concentrations (DMSPp and DMSPd). Under …


Agenda For A Sustainable America, John Dernbach Dec 2008

Agenda For A Sustainable America, John Dernbach

John C. Dernbach

No abstract provided.


An Agenda For Sustainable Communities, John Dernbach Dec 2008

An Agenda For Sustainable Communities, John Dernbach

John C. Dernbach

This article summarizes progress toward sustainable communities in the United States since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (or Earth Summit) in 1992. It shows the significant initiative that many communities have undertaken and identifies existing state and federal laws as impediments to achieving sustainability. This article also makes recommendations for further progress based on what we have already learned about how to achieve sustainable communities. They include not only more and strengthened sustainable community efforts, and broad state and federal legal support, but also deep engagement of all affected citizens. This article is based primarily on three …


Environmental Law: The Policy Implications Of The Reaction To Climate Change, Jeffrey Sutton, Jonathan Adler, John Dernbach, Steven Hayward, Jeremy Rabkin Dec 2008

Environmental Law: The Policy Implications Of The Reaction To Climate Change, Jeffrey Sutton, Jonathan Adler, John Dernbach, Steven Hayward, Jeremy Rabkin

John C. Dernbach

No abstract provided.