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Geography News, V37n2, Fall 2014, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa.

Geography News

Inside This Issue:
--Coordinator's corner
--Changes at National Geographic
--Resources for Elementary Education
--2015 Workshops
--New Resources

Geography News, V37n1, Spring 2014, Geographic Alliance Of Iowa.

Geography News

Inside This Issue:
--Coordinator's Corner
--GAI Updates--Nat Geo's "Big Cats Initiative"
--Summer 2014 Workshops

Climate Analysis Using Tree-Rings From The Wind River Range, Wyoming, Derek Richards

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study utilizes tree‐rings from the Wind River Range to determine past climates in this region of Wyoming and how they may have been affected by climate oscillations connected to the Pacific Ocean, such as El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The research considers what type(s) of past climatic cycles can be found in a roughly 500‐year series of tree‐rings collected from the Southeast Wind River Range using dendroclimatology and spectral analysis. It includes the reconstructed past temperature and precipitation data and how these compare with other reconstructions near the study area. The tree‐rings were found to …

Understanding The Impact Of Vegetation On Surface Roughness Length For Enhancing Wind Resource Characterization In Iowa, Andrei Vladimirovich Kushkin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Wind energy development shows a rapid growth in the United States. This renewable energy source not only mitigates environmental concerns by reducing greenhouse gas emission, but also provides energy independence. Wind is clean and abundant, and is one of the most promising sources of alternative energy. Iowa is among the top wind energy producers in the nation, it is third by installed capacity and first in per capita production. In order to utilize wind resource potential most efficiently, accurate wind resource assessments are required. Changes in the aerodynamic characteristics of a site can have a major influence on the wind …

Understanding The Long-Term Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of The Taimyr Reindeer Herd During The Summer Concentration Period, Matthew D. Cooney

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study was part of a larger research effort devoted to investigation of spatiotemporal patterns and dynamics of the Taimyr Reindeer Herd (TRH) migration under changing climate and environmental conditions. The research aimed to systematize and analyze available historical (archival) data on wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) migration and ecosystems change in the Taimyr Peninsula, Russia. The summer concentration patterns of the TRH as observed from 1969-2009 were investigated through the utilization of existing and innovative spatioanalytic methods and advanced GIS technologies not previously used to examine R. tarandus migration in the Russian Arctic. The project applied and tested the …

Developing An Integrated Spatially Explicit Scale Dependent Modeling Framework For Wind Farm Suitability Assessment In Iowa, Tesfay G. Russell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Wind energy development is occurring rapidly in the United States due to the drive for energy independence and to mitigate environmental concerns. Wind is a clean, abundant, and entirely renewable source of energy and the most promising source of alternative energy. Among the top wind energy producers in the nation, the state of Iowa is experiencing tremendous growth and it’s projected to grow. However, despite the vast development, the contributing factors and spatial decision principles for optimal wind farms placement are not yet well understood. This research advanced an empirical methodology for building site suitability assessment framework for the state …

Creative Heartland: Creative Capital And Knowledge Economy In Micropolitan Midwest, Philip A. Cavin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Recent regional development studies increasingly focus on creative economies that provide an alternative perspective to regional development in a globalizing world-economy. However, most research in economic geography of creativity and innovation is exclusively concerned with larger metropolitan areas. The lack of attention does not make knowledge-based economy less relevant or creative capital less important in smaller urban regions, where it acts as an agent of economic development and revitalization. This study is the first attempt to use creative capital metrics and a combination of qualitative and qualitative analyses to investigate the creative capital and its economic implications in micropolitan areas …

Geography Newsletter, 2013-2014, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Geography.

Geography Newsletter

Inside this issue:

-- Faculty and Graduate Student Travel to the Canadian Arctic for Research Project
-- Geography Continues Success with NSF REU Program
-- In Memory of Irina Childinova (1984-2013)
-- Welcome Bing Liang
-- UNI to Become a National Focus Center for Research on Sustainable Development in the Arctic
-- Congratulations to Dr. Owusu on His Promotion
-- Recognition to Outstanding Individuals
-- Lu Lecture in Biblical Geography
-- New Director
-- 2013 Awards Banquet