Digital Commons Network^™

A Global Fingerprint Of Macro-Scale Changes In Urban Structure From 1999 To 2009, Steve Frolking, Tom Milliman, Karen C. Seto, Mark A. Friedl

Earth Sciences

Urban population now exceeds rural population globally, and 60–80% of global energy consumption by households, businesses, transportation, and industry occurs in urban areas. There is growing evidence that built-up infrastructure contributes to carbon emissions inertia, and that investments in infrastructure today have delayed climate cost in the future. Although the United Nations statistics include data on urban population by country and select urban agglomerations, there are no empirical data on built-up infrastructure for a large sample of cities. Here we present the first study to examine changes in the structure of the world's largest cities from 1999 to 2009. Combining …

Communities, Health, Transportation: March 6 Science Café Connects The Dots, Evelyn Jones

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

2012 Unh/Noaa Joint Hydrographic Center Performance And Progress Report, Larry A. Mayer, Noaa-Unh Joint Hydrographic Center (Jhc/Ccom)

Progress Reports

Report Period: 01/01/2012 – 12/31/2012

2012 Unh/Noaa Joint Hydrographic Center Performance And Progress Report Executive Summary, Larry A. Mayer, Noaa-Unh Joint Hydrographic Center (Jhc/Ccom)

Progress Reports

Report Period: 01/01/2012 – 12/31/2012

University Of New Hampshire Graduate School Catalog, 2013-2014, University Of New Hampshire

Graduate Catalog

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Biotic And Abiotic Factors On Byssogenesis, Growth And Movement Patterns Of The Blue Mussel, Mytilus Edulis, Yvette Louise Garner

Doctoral Dissertations

Blue mussels create extensive aggregations on intertidal and low subtidal shores in the Gulf of Maine, in which they modify habitat, trap sediments and create microclimates for many organisms. Mussels are an important aquaculture species worldwide, and play a major part of the economy of New England. Blue mussels produce collagenous byssal threads to anchor themselves to the substrate on wave swept shores. Byssogenesis, growth and movement abilities of mussels are influenced by a host of biotic and abiotic factors. In this dissertation I quantified byssogenesis and growth of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, affected by wave exposure, temperature, and …

Extreme Value Theory: Applications To Estimation Of Stochastic Traffic Capacity And Statistical Downscaling Of Precipitation Extremes, Eric Matthew Laflamme

Doctoral Dissertations

This work explores two applications of extreme value analysis. First, we apply EV techniques to traffic stream data to develop an accurate distribution of capacity. Data were collected by the NHDOT along Interstate I93, and two adjacent locations in Salem, NH were examined. Daily flow maxima were used to estimate capacity, and data not associated with daily breakdown were deemed censored values. Under this definition, capacity values are approximated by the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution for block maxima. To address small sample sizes and the presence of censoring, a Bayesian framework using semi-informative priors was implemented. A simple cross …

Bacterial Biodegradation Of Soluble Crude Oil Hydrocarbons And The Influence Of Protists In Simulated Arctic Seawater And Sea Ice, Heather Ballestero

Doctoral Dissertations

With expected increases in vessel traffic, drilling, and exploration for petroleum and natural gas, the potential for an Arctic oil spill is heightened, yet knowledge of contaminant fate and behavior is limited in this environment. With challenging conditions in the Arctic and limited equipment caches, response will be extremely difficult. In freezing conditions, oil may become encapsulated in ice. Understanding biodegradation potential in this environment can dictate response options for spills that occur in Arctic marine waters. The influence of protists on bacterial biodegradation of water accommodated fractions (WAF) of petroleum hydrocarbons is unknown, yet important because it could enhance …

Unh Forest Watch Students Note Negative Effects Of Warming Temps, David Sims

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

Nutrient Loading Coefficients For Nh Watersheds: Development And Connectivity, Jeffrey Schloss

NH Water Resources Research Center Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Spatiotemporal Studies Of Black Spruce Forest Soils And Implications For The Fate Of C, Jennifer Harden, Kristen L. Manies, Jonathan O'Donnell, Kristofer Johnson, Steve Frolking, Zhaosheng Fan

Earth Sciences

Post-fire storage of carbon (C) in organic-soil horizons was measured in one Canadian and three Alaskan chronosequences in black spruce forests, together spanning stand ages of nearly 200 yrs. We used a simple mass balance model to derive estimates of inputs, losses, and accumulation rates of C on timescales of years to centuries. The model performed well for the surface and total organic soil layers and presented questions for resolving the dynamics of deeper organic soils. C accumulation in all study areas is on the order of 20–40 gC/m²_/yr for stand ages up to ∼200 yrs. Much …

2011 Unh/Noaa Joint Hydrographic Center Performance And Progress Report, Larry A. Mayer, Noaa-Unh Joint Hydrographic Center (Jhc/Ccom)

Progress Reports

Report Period: 01/01/2011 – 12/31/2011

The New Hampshire Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund: Year 3 (July 2011-June 2012) Evaluation, Matthew Magnusson, Cameron P. Wake

The Sustainability Institute Publications

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund (GHGERF) was created by the New Hampshire legislature in 2008 and has been administered by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The purpose of the Fund was to support energy efficiency, energy conservation, and demand response programs to reduce New Hampshire’s greenhouse gas emissions. Funding was derived from the State’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cooperative effort by nine northeastern states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the electric power sector via a cap and trade program. As of June 2012, RGGI auctions have resulted in revenues to New …

Graduate Degree Completions, 2002-2011, University Of New Hampshire. Institutional Research And Assessment

UNH Factbooks

University of New Hampshire factbook data from the 2011-2012 academic year

University Of New Hampshire Graduate Catalog, 2012-2013, University Of New Hampshire

Graduate Catalog

No abstract provided.

Can We Get There From Here? Ecosystem Based Governance In The Bay Of Fundy/Gulf Of Maine Region, John R. Coon

Doctoral Dissertations

Decades, even centuries, of resource extraction and exploitation by humans have taken a toll on the Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine ecosystems. The very real threats posed by population growth and coastal development, climate change, habitat loss, overharvesting, chemical pollution, nutrient overloading, and invasive species invasions show no sign of abating. Traditional methods of managing the human activities that impact the Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine are proving unable to keep pace with the growing threats. The Gulf of Maine Council and others have joined in the chorus calling for a broader, more holistic ecosystem approach to the governance of …

A Multi-Temporal Image Analysis Of Habitat Modification In The Coastal Watershed, Nh, Meghan Graham Maclean

Doctoral Dissertations

Habitat modification has become a progressively important concern as human populations increase and urbanization continues to replace natural environments with anthropogenic landscapes. Habitat modification concerns both the loss and fragmentation of environments, and these actions can have profound effects on ecosystem function, including increasing the potential of invasion by exotic species in vulnerable landscapes. The Coastal Watershed of New Hampshire (NH) has seen a 52% growth in population over the last 30 years which has led to marked urbanization and land use change. However, little has been done to study current land cover types, levels of fragmentation, and how fragmentation …

An Empirical Investigation: How Small To Mid-Sized Enterprises Use Innovation On The Path Toward Ecological Sustainability, Shelley F. Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations

Dependence upon the natural environment is redefining the business relationship between ecological, economic, and social systems. In addition, the major market forces of diminishing natural resources, extreme transparency, and increasing social expectations are reshaping a new sustainability path for companies. This empirical investigation explored the phenomenon of sustainability in small to mid-sized enterprises, focusing on the link between innovation and ecological sustainability. In addressing the research questions, an Eco-Sustainability Conceptual Framework was developed and applied to a sample of small to mid-sized enterprises. In addition, the development and use of an Eco-Scorecard helped to identify key performance indicators for measuring …

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student Socialization, Susan K. Gardner, Jessica S. Jansujwicz, Karen Hutchins, Brittany Cline, Vanessa R. Levesque

Faculty Publications

Interdisciplinary research and education are a growing emphasis in United States institutions of higher education but relatively little is known about the doctoral students engaged in these atypical programs. The purpose of this study was to understand the socialization process of 18 students involved in a large-scale, federally funded, interdisciplinary research project focused on sustainability at one university. Using Weidman, Twale, and Stein’s framework of graduate student socialization, themes emerged related to (a) their distinctive characteristics and cultures, (b) the learning process, (c) balance, (d) uncertainty, and (d) support. Recommendations for policy and practice are included.

Unh Researchers Receive Nsf Grant To "Scale Up" Stream Ecology, David Sims

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

2010 Unh/Noaa Joint Hydrographic Center Performance And Progress Report, Larry A. Mayer, Noaa-Unh Joint Hydrographic Center (Jhc/Ccom)

Progress Reports

Report Period: 01/01/2010 – 12/31/2010

University Of New Hampshire Graduate Catalog, 2011-2012, University Of New Hampshire

Graduate Catalog

No abstract provided.

Examining The Relationship Between Social Capital And The Built Environment: A Case Study In Measuring Community Sustainability, Shannon H. Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations

The concepts of sustainability and sustainable development are frequently described as having three main components, sometimes referred to as the three pillars or the triple bottom line: environmental, economic, and social. Because the origins of sustainability come from a desire to right environmental wrongs much consideration has been given to the environmental issues, especially how they interface with economic ones. Frequently mentioned but rarely examined, the social aspects of sustainability have been considered the weakest and least described pillar. This work explores the utility of social capital, the value of one's networks and connections, as a measure of sustainability. As …

From Sweetwater To Seawater: An Environmental History Of Narragansett Bay, 1636--1849, Christopher L. Pastore

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines environmental change on and around Narragansett Bay from first European settlement in 1636 to the dissolution of the Blackstone Canal Company in 1849. It uses one of the largest estuaries on the East Coast and one situated at the heart of early English settlement in New England as a means to write estuaries into Atlantic history. Examining the ecological and epistemological complexities that arose at the nexus of land and sea, where improvable space and the push of "progress" met an eternal or "profound" ocean, this study reframes estuaries as watery borderlands that people used but never …

Assessing Social-Ecological Resilience And Adaptive Capacity In The Face Of Climate Change: An Examination Of Three Communities In The Crown Of The Continent Ecosystem, Bradley B. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

This research examines the social-ecological resilience and adaptive capacity of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem through a suite of three case study communities and the impacts of climate change on the ecosystem's hydrologic regime. The Crown of the Continent Ecosystem spans the U.S.-Canadian border; case study communities composed of Kalispell and Choteau, Montana and Fernie, British Columbia fall on both sides of the border.

Primary data was gathered through a "bottom-up" qualitative approach utilizing an online survey followed by a semi-structured interview process with stakeholders in natural resource dependant industries and government at the local, state, and federal levels …

An Exploratory Approach To Social Impact Assessment Of Public Policy Decisions: Multiple Stakeholders Perspectives On The Social Impact Of Overfishing In New England Groundfisheries In The 1990s, Fabienne Lord

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis seeks to understand how stakeholders' perspectives and understanding of social impacts influence decision processes. Understanding stakeholders' comprehension of social impacts provides insight as to how they weigh these impacts against others when making decisions. Moreover, the way stakeholders influence, or are influenced by, management decisions provides information on the use and development of methodologies successful in assessing social impacts and communicating the results. Built on this information, the main objective is to explore and develop a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) approach that could capture and integrate multiple stakeholders' perspectives in predicting impacts from ongoing, renewable resource management actions. …

Graduate Degree Completions, 2001-2010, University Of New Hampshire. Institutional Research And Assessment

UNH Factbooks

University of New Hampshire factbook data from the 2010-2011 academic year

The Effects Of Historic Earthen Barriers On Northern New England Tital Marshes, Jordan W. Mora

Master's Theses and Capstones

Berms, defined as historic earthen barriers, represent one type of hydrological modification introduced by humans in the tidal marshes of northern New England. Three different research approaches were applied to study the impact of berms on various tidal marsh dynamics. The descriptive study shows that restricted flooding from berm interference can result in significantly altered physical gradients in addition to landward subsidence and pool development. The results from the transplant experiment indicate that the altered landward structure affects the relative importance of biological interactions, namely herbivory, in controlling plant species distribution. The predictive GIS analyses illustrate the location of 34 …

Regional Harmonization Procedure For Prioritization Of Recycled Material Specifications, Courtney Goldstein

Master's Theses and Capstones

Widely varying recycled material requirements across state lines has been perceived as a significant barrier to greater use of recycled materials in highway construction by state contractors and industry. The goal of this thesis is to create a procedure to compile, compare, contrast and finally synthesize documents that support a priority list of recycled materials and applications for which material specifications can be harmonized among regional states in the US.

This work compiled background research on selected materials and related regulations into standardized templates. The information analyzed was communicated with EPA, FHWA, and state representatives to approve a breakdown priority …

Toward An Environmental Conservatism, Terri S. Winters

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) argues that climate change is real and human-induced and represents a moral challenge for Christians to which an urgent response is required. The ECI demonstrates that there is common ground between conservatism and environmentalism. The actions of the ECI fit within an "environmental conservatism" whose elements have historical precedence. We find the seeds of parallel ideas in the writings of the Southern Agrarians in the 1920s and 1930s---ideas that were brought to full flower by Richard Weaver, an important figure in the development of a post-World War II traditional conservatism. We also find a similar …