Digital Commons Network^™

The Gavel And The Camera: Environmental Law And Photojournalism's Relationship To Appalachian Identity, Emily S. Patton

Honors Theses

Both the federal government and photojournalism have played a substantial role in the “othering” of Appalachia while simultaneously attempting to save it. Examining both institutions demonstrates the exploitative processes that alter the perception of rural communities and their surrounding environment. Stacey Kranitz’s archival exhibit, As It Was Give(n) To Me, internalizes this precarious role of the camera in a region heavily journalized. By inhabiting the area for years, establishing close relationships, and researching the documented history of Appalachia, Kranitz’s work becomes her livelihood in the dissolution of profession vs. personal. She is critical of past projects whose objective portrayal of …

Sustainability Measures Of The Apparel Industry: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Apparel Corporations’ Sustainability Efforts, Lance Cheramie, Mahendran Balasubramanian

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Climate change is a paramount challenge of our era, with profound implications for various sectors, including the apparel industry, known for its extensive environmental footprint throughout the entire clothing lifecycle. This study assesses the industry’s carbon emission trends using six years of data (2017–2022) focusing on Scope 1 and Scope 2. Employing a one-way repeated measures ANOVA, this study evaluates the impact of sustainability strategies on emissions. The results indicate a notable decrease in Scope 2 and overall carbon emissions, while Scope 1 emissions remain relatively unchanged despite a downward trend. These findings underscore the success of current sustainability measures …

Mining Gambling Data For Modeling Gambling Behavior Patterns, Piyush Aniruddha Puranik

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Understanding player behavior for responsible gambling research is a difficult task due to the lack of data on players’ activities. Past studies in this area are largely limited to publicly available behavioral data or aggregated players data. Problem gambling in gamblers is typically identified only after they have already been addicted or have already been engaging in problematic gambling behavior. Furthermore, “risky” gambling behavior has historically been difficult to define due to the varying patterns of gambling activity that could potentially be attributed to it.In this dissertation we illustrate the methodology and algorithms used to engineer financial data for further …

We're Swarming Again! Swarming, Collectivity, And Trope: The Case Of Extinction Rebellion, Tyler J. Behymer

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the rhetoric of the eco-movement Extinction Rebellion, focusing on the use of swarming and nature tropes to mobilize collective action and revivify contemporary notions of collectivity. Drawing on rhetoric of social movement scholarship, cultural studies, and psychoanalysis, this essay theorizes swarming as a tropological economy that expands the conditions of propriety in the context of collectivity. Through an analysis of Extinction Rebellion’s discourse, this study demonstrates how the naturalization of swarming tropes works in various ways to rewild conventional political discourse, galvanize disruptive collective assembly, and challenge green neoliberalism.

Advisor: Casey Ryan Kelly

Transferred Benefits In Inter-Community Beach Nourishment: A Field Study On Efficiency, Owen Thomas

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

To combat the effects of relative sea level rise and the natural erosional processes affecting the sandy, diffusive beaches of New Jersey, most communities utilize beach nourishment to stabilize their beaches. Beach nourishment, the practice of artificially widening the beach berm with sand from other areas, not only stabilizes beaches but also protects oceanfront homes from storm surges, while adding recreational space and tourism value. These benefits are reflected in increased property values, most notably in oceanfront properties. The diffusive nature of these beaches, however, means that individual nourishment events are inherently shared with neighboring communities as sand is readily …

An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of Freshwater Wetlands With A Focus On Ecosystem Functions And Services, Michael Viteritto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, though they only occupy a very small portion of the planet’s surface. They are highly sensitive ecosystems that have been undergoing an extended period of loss because of anthropogenic stress. Freshwater wetlands number among the most numerous on the planet, and in the United States they make up the overwhelming majority of wetland area. Geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) are not directly connected to other surface water in a watershed. Freshwater wetlands provide a number of beneficial ecosystem services including climate control, erosion protection, nutrient removal and storage, flood control, food …

Onset Of Antarctic Glaciation At The Eocene-Oligocene Transition In The Weddell Sea And Its Impact On Ocean Circulation, Victoria Hojnacki

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Eocene – Oligocene Transition (EOT) (34 Ma) represents a greenhouse to icehouse climate transition that is marked by the appearance of permanent ice sheets in Antarctica. Studying this period of climate change allows us to understand how different Earth systems reacted under changing atmospheric CO₂ conditions. Though the timing of the development of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is well supported, the development of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is still up for debate. Ocean Drilling Program Site 696 is the only paleoarchive of the EOT in the Weddell Sea region and offers an opportunity to better constrain the …

Assessing Consequences And Relevant Thresholds Of Seismic Events In Puerto Rico To Aid The Future Creation Of Consequence-Driven Scenarios, Yahaira D. Alvarez-Gandia

Geography ETDs

Puerto Rico frequently experiences damaging earthquakes due to its location on the northeastern margin of the Caribbean Plate. Its unique combination of factors, including high population, informal construction practices, and environmental risks, such as tsunamis or landslides, create a heightened risk of loss of life and property. Within this context, earthquake scenarios are vital communication, mitigation, and preparedness tools. They provide the opportunity to think critically about possible alternatives to reduce the risks and impacts of these unpredictable events. As an initial step for integrated earthquake scenario development, this study uses semi-structured interviews and the analysis of government reports to …

Cap-And-Trade Carbon Pricing In Utah: Challenges And Potential Impact, Katherine Michaels, Kendall Becker, Alexi Elizabeth Lamm, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Cap-and-trade programs are a market-based form of carbon pricing that allows companies to trade with each other using carbon credits. Carbon credits function as permission slips to emit a certain amount of carbon. The “cap” establishes the number of carbon credits an industry or region has available for trading. Companies are incentivized to emit less because they can sell their excess carbon credits to other companies. Several cap-and-trade programs exist in the United States, and these programs are effectively reducing carbon emissions while creating net economic benefits for their regions. A cap-and-trade program could help Utah reduce carbon emissions in …

Implementing Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education With The Food-Energy-Water (Few) Nexus, Chelsie Romulo, Bhawani Venkataraman, Susan Caplow, Shamili Ajgaonkar, Craig R. Allen, Aavudai Anandhi, Steven W. Anderson, Caterina Belle Azzarello, Katja Brundiers, Eunice Blavascunas, Jenny M. Dauer, Daniel L. Druckenbrod, Ennea Fairchild, Lydia R. Horne, Kyungsun Lee, Marizvkuru Mwale, John Mischler, Emily Pappo, Nirav S. Patel, Nicole D. Sintov, Carla S. Ramsdell, Shirley G. Vincent

GGS Faculty Publications

Growth in the green jobs sector has increased demand for college graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce with interdisciplinary sustainability skills. Simultaneously, scholarly calls for interdisciplinary collaboration in the service of addressing the societal challenges of enhancing resilience and sustainability have also increased in recent years. However, developing, executing, and assessing interdisciplinary content and skills at the post-secondary level has been challenging. The objective of this paper is to offer the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus as a powerful way to achieve sustainability competencies and matriculate graduates who will be equipped to facilitate the transformation of the global society by …

Heritage Preservation In Egyptian Villages And Centers, Azza Elsakka Ahmed Abdalwahaab , Ebtehal Fady Shareef

Journal of Engineering Research

Heritage holds deep significance as a collective memory and a source of pride for any society. However, in today's world, it has evolved beyond its symbolic status and emerged as a crucial factor in human development across various dimensions. Preserving and restoring heritage has thus become an urgent issue that demands extensive cooperation between governments, international society, and community associations.

When Overextended Surface Allocation Turns To Groundwater: A Q Methodology Of Well Users In Oregon’S High Desert, Melissa Haeffner, Janet Cowal, Brandy Walker, Clare Mcclellan

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

As legal battles over surface water allocation in Klamath County, Oregon, USA have gained national attention, earning the name “Water Wars,” authorities have been increasingly turning to groundwater to compensate for water shortfalls. This case study aims to identify the nuanced perspectives of household groundwater well users who are affected by groundwater extraction. Using Q methodology, we uncover groundwater well users’ perceptions and to what extent they think water problems are dealt with fairly. We identify four water perspectives that differ in the degree to which respondents prioritize clean water accessibility, industry accountability, individual responsibility for water management, and trust …

A Geochemical Mechanism For >10 M Apparent Downward Offsets Of Magnetic Reversals Inferred From Comparison Of Two Scotia Sea Drill Sites, Brendan T. Reilly, Lisa Tauxe, Stefanie A. Brachfeld, Bridget Kenlee, Marcus Gutjahr, Andrew W. Dale, Iván Hernández-Almeida, Sidney Hemming, Ian Bailey, Xufeng Zheng, Daven Cheu, Reece Taglienti, Michael E. Weber, Maureen E. Raymo, Trevor Williams

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

We document an apparent downward displacement of the Matuyama-Brunhes magnetic reversal by ∼20 m at Scotia Sea International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1538 (Pirie Basin) by comparison with the well-defined paleomagnetic record at nearby Site U1537 (Dove Basin). Detailed stratigraphic correlation between the two sites is possible due to similar lithologic variations. However, the two sites have distinctly different porewater geochemistry. Notably, Site U1538 indicates a greater demand for electron acceptors to oxidize organic carbon and Fe²⁺ enrichment below the depth of SO4²⁻ depletion. Magnetic parameters indicate enrichment of an authigenic magnetic mineral with strong remanence properties around …

Resources In Northeast Nebraska's Waste Could Power The Future, Reese Vanosdel, Emma Kurtz, Tyler Knaak

Project Energy Nebraska: Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, summer 2024

A poster titled Resources in Northeast Nebraska's Waste Could Power the Future for clients City of Norfolk, Nebraska (Steven Rames) and City of Wayne, Nebraska (Wes Blecke and Sandy Brown).

Advisor: David Gosselin

The Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Portrayal In News Media, Megan K. Mcarthur, Monica V. Ogra

Student Publications

The Colorado gray wolf (Canis lupus) reintroduction began in December 2023 in the hope of restoring this once native population to the area, and it has received mixed responses from the media. By answering the research question of 'How has the wolf reintroduction in Colorado been framed in news media?', this research poster looks at the portrayal of the reintroduction in news articles from six months before and after the first wolves were released. Media is an influential factor in people's opinions and it is important to be aware of the information being shared and any bias within them.

The Application Of Multi-Isotope Analysis To Assist In Geoprofiling Unidentified Decedents Within Florida, Liotta D. Noche-Dowdy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The biochemistry of human tissues can provide information for geoprofiling (geographic birthplace or migration patterns) of an unidentified decedent. Utilizing isotope analyses (both stable and radiogenic) from teeth, bone, nails, and/or hair reveals specific isotopic information that correlates to diverse geographic regions reflecting an individual’s birthplace and migration patterns. Isotope analysis of enamel and bone has been employed in bioarchaeology for decades to reconstruct the diet, health, and migration patterns of past populations. Isotope ratios measured from enamel can then be compared to isotope ratios measured from bone of the individual to track patterns of migration. The enamel from the …

Pollution Characteristics Of Heavy Metals In Solid Waste Subgrade Filling Materials, Du Qianhui, Fu Wei, Zhang Junhui, Tang Qiang, Gu Fan

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Using solid waste in the road engineering field for subgrade filling is an important approach for building green and low-carbon emission roads.However,most solid waste contains heavy metal pollutants to varying degrees,and heavy metals will be released under complex environments including rainfall infiltration and groundwater immersion,thereby causing pollution to the surrounding soil and groundwater if not handled properly.This paper reviewed the current status of research on four aspects,including the comprehensive use of solid waste materials in subgrade engineering,the leaching and migration behaviors of heavy metals in solid waste,and the prevention and control treatment of heavy metals in solid waste.It is found …

Climate, Food, And Humans Predict Communities Of Mammals In The United States, Roland Kays, Matthew H. Snider, Andrew M. Wilson

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

The assembly of species into communities and ecoregions is the result of interacting factors that affect plant and animal distribution and abundance at biogeographic scales. Here, we empirically derive ecoregions for mammals to test whether human disturbance has become more important than climate and habitat resources in structuring communities.

Risk Of Climate Damage In The Mountain West, 2024, Taylor Volk, Isabelle G. Graham, Ivan Sun, Zachary Billot, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

This fact sheet examines 2024 data on the estimated annual cost per person of damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and population from climate related disasters for the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The original report, “States at Greatest Risk of Climate Damage - 2024 Study,” by Jaclyn DeJohn and published by SmartAsset, includes data on climate disaster risk for all 50 states.

A Geospatial And Machine Learning Framework For Forecasting Ground Level Ozone Pollution, William J. Keenan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The major detrimental health effects of ground-level ozone (GLO) pollution make it imperative that both policy makers and ordinary citizens have access to high accuracy, high-resolution forecasts of their local area. Recently, advancements in computing power have made it possible to apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to a variety of big data modelling problems, including GLO forecasting and estimation. Of these AI methods, deep neural networks (DNN) have demonstrated the highest accuracy due to their ability extract non-linear relationships from high dimensional, noisy data inputs.

This research effort uses novel data sources, namely NOAA’s High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) meteorology …

Using Historic Glacial Data And Gis To Predict Mount Rainier National Park’S Glacial Future, Daniel Kincaid

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Will Washington state have glaciers 100 years from now (year 2124)? Due to generally warmer weather glaciers are largely in retreat globally, including the glaciers in Washington state. In Washington state summer glacial meltwater plays a vital role in the survival of wildlife and is needed for human purposes that include recreation, power generation, drinking, agricultural, and industrial. This project looked at the most resilient glaciers in Washington state, the glaciers at Mount Rainier National Park. Historic measurements were used in an exponential growth calculation to project the amount in acres each glacier at Mount Rainer will advance or retreat …

Visualization Of Indiana And Northern Long-Eared Bats Using Spline Surfaces To Enable Targeted Land Management, Devin Escue

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

This project introduces a Bat Visualization Tool to help manage habitats for threatened bat species while considering broader ecosystem dynamics. It integrates data from acoustic bat surveys at the Corriell Nature Preserve in Iowa. The tool attaches spatial context to non-spatial survey data, weights species calls based on statistical p-values, and creates visual bat species distribution maps using spline surfaces. It also generates future survey locations based on these patterns. By using geospatial analysis and statistics, the tool identifies priority areas for conservation actions, focusing on factors like forest composition, roosting preferences, and land cover types that affect bat habitat …

The Chanterelle: The Magazine Of Environmental Studies At Cal Poly Humboldt, 2023-2024

The Chanterelle

The Chanterelle showcases the written work of Environmental Studies majors at Cal Poly Humboldt. Each contributing author enrolled in “ENST 395W: Research & Analysis for Environmental Studies” during the 2023-2024 academic year. While each student chose their own topic, they were prompted to write for a public audience. Specifically, they were encouraged to write for a friend, co-worker, roommate, sibling, or any other family member. Our intended audience in this magazine is thus public. We hope you enjoy this collective project. It is the outcome of course readings, research, and peer edits.

An Economic Remodel: The Genesis Of Modern Corporate Sustainability, Caitlin R. Doak

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

My thesis aims to understand and analyze what is catalyzing the advancement of sustainability in corporate agendas. After my internship at Deloitte and four years of Dartmouth undergrad, I recognized some important themes emerging in the sustainability landscape. Sustainability is at the forefront of policy and stakeholder engagement right now. Shareholders, consumers, regulators, policy makers, are all putting pressure on CSuite executives to redefine materiality and increase transparency in order to properly understand sustainability-related risks and opportunities within companies. Climate and nature-related disclosures are becoming just as important as financial disclosures because companies are being evaluated holistically, and a company’s …

Fiscal Incentives For Green Growth: A Mixed-Methods Study Of The State Of Agroforestry And Tree Cover In India, Spriha Pandey

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

Agroforestry is a crucial strategy for diversifying farmer livelihoods and achieving India's climate goals, but its adoption has been hindered by institutional and fiscal obstacles. This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of national government schemes on tree cover increase and expert perceptions of incentives and barriers to agroforestry adoption. Our analysis of national schemes from 2013-2017 reveals that effective fiscal mechanisms and policy cohesion are critical drivers of agroforestry growth. Specifically, we find that increased funding for the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is associated with significant increases in tree cover area while funding for the Horticultural Scheme (NHM) is …

The Impact Of Maine’S Municipal Shellfish Management On Clam Harvester Motivation To Participate In Resource Conservation, Rachel Lohr Freer

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

This study investigates how the resource management strategies implemented by Maine’s different Municipal Shellfish Conservation Committees influences the motivation held by shellfish harvesters’ to participate in resource conservation activities. As soft shell clam landings are declining across Maine due to increasing predation and climate-related stress, there seems to be a disconnect in harvesters’ willingness to support the conservation activities that Shellfish Conservation Committees make available to them. In efforts to improve participation, town leadership in select regions have started to mandate the completion of annual conservation hours requirements. The diversity of policy approaches enacted by towns provides the unique opportunity …

The Dartmouth Land Ethic: Synthesizing Environmental Ethical Beliefs In Hanover And Beyond, Conor M. Roemer

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

In this thesis, I seek to explore the nature of an environmental ethical paradigm at Dartmouth. In order to do so, I have chosen to begin with an examination of Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic. This watershed essay has inspired many environmental ethical inquiries in the last eighty years. Leopold’s Land Ethic urged human beings to view the environment beyond what might be extracted for anthropogenic use and to see the land as a summation of everything that lies within it: not just the plants and animals, but the mountains, rocks, rivers, and soil as well. In turn, scores of philosophers …

Conserving The Public Lands: Policy And Spatial Analysis Of A Bureau Of Land Management Conservation Leasing Mechanism, Isaiah M. Menning

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest land administrator in the United States, managing about 10% of U.S. lands, primarily in the Western states. The BLM manages under a multiple-use framework, issuing commercial authorizations for grazing, mining, oil and gas, and wind and solar on public lands, while also managing for ecosystem health. In April 2024, the agency finalized a rule that would create a conservation leasing mechanism to allow private, state, and tribal parties to lease BLM lands for restoration and mitigation purposes, which I investigate here. First, I find that while the conservation leasing mechanism does …

Land-Use Governance And Indigenous Engagement In Arctic Alaska And Norway: Successes, Current Gaps, And Paths Forward, Ningning Sun

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

This study aims to analyze the land use governance structures and the role of Indigenous engagement in Alaska and Norway using a comparative approach, with special focus on successful practices, current gaps, and paths forward to achieve equitable governance. Extractive land uses, such as oil and gas extraction and the construction of wind farms, have mixed impacts on Indigenous communities and lead to social and legal issues such as land use conflict and environmental injustice. Previous research has studied land use governance in Arctic countries with regard to Indigenous Peoples, yet there is a lack of literature that spans Alaska …

Carbon Pricing In Action: Evaluating The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Evelyn M. Hatem

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is one of the longest-standing emissions trading schemes for carbon dioxide in the United States. “Cap-and-trade” describes an emissions trading scheme where emissions are capped at a specific level, allowances are allocated beneath that cap, and emitters can trade allowances. In RGGI, the cap lowers over time, and the allowances are distributed via a quarterly auction. While RGGI includes 10 member states across the Northeast United States, there is risk of carbon leakage whereby the carbon price signal in RGGI states reduces carbon emissions in those states, but there is increased generation in neighboring …