Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Assessment Of Awareness Regarding Climate Change Between Seafarers Towards Sdgs Achievement, Ahmed Saad Noufal, Adham Torky, Kareem Tonbol

Blue Economy

This research study examines the perception of seafarers regarding climate change, a significant global issue. The present study aims to investigate the degree of awareness and comprehension of climate change impacts among marine officers. Specifically, the research focuses on exploring the potential association between the marine officers' ranks and their knowledge of climate change issues. The study utilises a quantitative analytical approach, employing questionnaires as the primary means of data collection and the Chi-Square test for statistical analysis. The findings of the research indicate a noteworthy correlation between the hierarchical positions of the marine respondents and their perspectives on the …

A Climatology Of Mesoscale Airmasses With High Theta-E, Charles J. Kropiewnicki

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A Mesoscale Airmass with High Theta-E (MAHTE) is a narrow region of larger theta-e located on the cool side of an airmass boundary. MAHTEs typically possesses higher CAPE than the warm side of the boundary, creating a more favorable environment for severe convection. MAHTEs can also be characterized by larger low-level shear and lower LCLs and may also have a propensity for supporting tornadogenesis. The majority of MAHTE research to date has been comprised of case studies, and the prevalence of MAHTEs is not well understood. This project fills that knowledge gap by creating a climatology of MAHTE occurrence. This …

Comparison Of Ceneb And Cohyst Hydrologic Models Within A Common Domain In Central Nebraska, William R. Moak

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) has developed several hydrologic models to help effectively manage water resources in the state. These models guide water managers to allocate surface and groundwater supplies to a range of uses (irrigation, environmental protection, interstate water agreements) and evaluate the impacts of changes to the surface water-groundwater system (e.g., new wells, evolving recharge patterns). Two such models, the Central Nebraska (CENEB) model and the Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) model cover north central and south central Nebraska, respectively, but the model domains overlap along a west-east strip between the Platte and Loup Rivers, enabling direct …

An Empirical Examination Of The Environmental Variability That Impacted Supercell Evolution, Longevity, And Severe Weather Production On 22 May 2019 In Oklahoma, Kyle D. Pittman

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mesoscale environmental heterogeneity can have significant impacts on thunderstorm organization, evolution, longevity, and severe weather production. This study examines the 22 May 2019 thunderstorm event in Oklahoma, where a relatively broad area of strong instability and vertical wind shear existed along a synoptic boundary and in the open warm sector that would seem to support long-lived supercells and tornadoes. There were two particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watches issued during the event, but few severe reports and no tornadoes formed in the watch that covered the southwestern portion of the state. Several tornadic supercells and many more severe reports occurred …

Precipitation And Greenness In Pastoral Lands Of East Turkana, Kenya, Paul Akpejeluh

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pastoralism has long supported livelihoods and provided essential ecosystem services in landscapes of East Africa. Vegetation productivity is central to the functioning of pastoral systems but may be affected by changes in climate and landuse. Vegetation monitoring is important for understanding the effects of global change in pastoral lands; however, it can be time and resource intensive. Remote sensing provides opportunities for efficient multi-scale monitoring of vegetation and climatic drivers. In this thesis, I explore the utility of satellite and UAV remote sensing for monitoring vegetation and precipitation trends and relationships in the East of Lake Turkana Region of northern …

Using Biometrics, Behavioral Observations, And Multiple Molecular Techniques To Assess The Impacts Of Changes In Temperature And Salinity On The Common Bay Mussel (Mytilus Trossulus), Casey Martin

Dissertations and Theses

The intertidal zone is a place of rapid and frequent change that is home to a variety of creatures who are essential to the integrity of the habitat. Mussels are robust sessile bivalves that anchor to the rocks of the intertidal. The prominent species on the Oregon Coast, the Common Bay Mussel (Mytilus trossulus), plays an essential role as a coastal food source, water column filter, and barrier to prevent erosion due to wave action. Mytilus trossulus withstands daily shifts in temperature, salinity, and tide, as well as seasonal changes. Global climate change due to excess carbon emissions …

Labile Dissolved Nickel (Ni) Concentrations In The North Pacific, Calyn M. Crawford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nickel (Ni) is an important micronutrient for phytoplankton and bacteria that serves as a required co-factor in several metalloenzymes. Despite these known biological uses, total dissolved Ni concentrations remain elevated in global surface waters, in contrast to the surface depletion commonly observed for macronutrients and other nutrient-type trace elements. A prevailing hypothesis for the muted depletion of dissolved Ni concentrations in surface waters is that dissolved Ni in seawater is not in a bioavailable form. The chemical lability of Ni in seawater provides insight into Ni speciation and bioavailability, but few measurements have been made in the open ocean to …

Review Of Harmful Algal Bloom Effects On Birds With Implications For Avian Wildlife In The Chesapeake Bay Region, Barnett A. Rattner, Catherine E. Wazniak, Julia S. Lankton, Peter C. Mcgowan, Serguei V. Drovetski, Todd A. Egerton

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

The Chesapeake Bay, along the mid-Atlantic coast of North America, is the largest estuary in the United States and provides critical habitat for wildlife. In contrast to point and non-point source release of pesticides, metals, and industrial, personal care and household use chemicals on biota in this watershed, there has only been scant attention to potential exposure and effects of algal toxins on wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay region. As background, we first review the scientific literature on algal toxins and harmful algal bloom (HAB) events in various regions of the world that principally affected birds, and to a lesser …

Stable Isotope Analysis On Yellowfin And Blackfin Tuna Eye Lenses Reveals Life History Patterns In The Gulf Of Mexico, Kylee M. Rullo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spatial geography, ontogenetic movement, and trophic patterns of mobile species are key elements of effective marine resource management. A number of methods are currently available for tracking movements of pelagic migratory species, including the use of conventional and electronic tags. However, tagging campaigns can take years to provide useful data, can be expensive, and only capture a portion of a fish’s lifetime. For this project, I used stable-isotopic ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) in metabolically inert, chronologically-layered fish-eye lenses to explore lifetime movement and trophic patterns of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) in the …

Observed Increases In North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Peak Intensification Rates, Andra J. Garner

School of Earth & Environment Faculty Scholarship

Quickly intensifying tropical cyclones (TCs) are exceptionally hazardous for Atlantic coastlines. An analysis of observed maximum changes in wind speed for Atlantic TCs from 1971 to 2020 indicates that TC intensification rates have already changed as anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have warmed the planet and oceans. Mean maximum TC intensification rates are up to 28.7% greater in a modern era (2001–2020) compared to a historical era (1971–1990). In the modern era, it is about as likely for TCs to intensify by at least 50 kts in 24 h, and more likely for TCs to intensify by at least 20 kts …

Reducing Uncertainty In Sea-Level Rise Prediction: A Spatial-Variability-Aware Approach, Subhankar Ghosh, Shuai An, Arun Sharma, Jayant Gupta, Shashi Shekhar, Aneesh Subramanian

I-GUIDE Forum

Given multi-model ensemble climate projections, the goal is to accurately and reliably predict future sea-level rise while lowering the uncertainty. This problem is important because sea-level rise affects millions of people in coastal communities and beyond due to climate change's impacts on polar ice sheets and the ocean. This problem is challenging due to spatial variability and unknowns such as possible tipping points (e.g., collapse of Greenland or West Antarctic ice-shelf), climate feedback loops (e.g., clouds, permafrost thawing), future policy decisions, and human actions. Most existing climate modeling approaches use the same set of weights globally, during either regression or …

Smart Sounding Table Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System, Osman Ünal, Nuri Akkaş

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Marine engineers measure the liquid level (sounding depth) to calculate the volumetric content of a ship's tank. The sounding depth is determined using an ullage pipe located at specific points on the tanks. To estimate the accurate volume of liquid, considering the ship's trim and heel conditions, engineers use a tank table (sounding table) consisting of hundreds of pages. However, this method is time-consuming and lacks intermediate values for sounding depth, trim, and heel. Ship designers recommend to use linear interpolation for intermediate values, yet this process is also time-consuming. This paper proposes the implementation of an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference …

Case Study Of Coastal Erosion And Measures At Kezailiao Coast, Taiwan, Tai-Wen Hsu, Yi-Tse Tu, Jen-Yi Chang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

This paper examines major factors of coastal erosion and measures against beach erosion at Kezailiao Coast, Taiwan. Typical examples of coastal erosion due to natural or man-made factors are reviewed. Case studies of countermeasure for beach erosion are addressed. We further analyze and discuss historical shoreline and coastal cliff recession as a result of the attack of storm surges and waves. The coastline mainly made up of cliffs (2-3m high), made of soft, easily eroded boulder sand and clay. In total, 3km of land have been lost since 1951, including villages and farm buildings. The most important impacts of beach …

Wearable Sensor-Based Walkability Assessment At Ferry Terminal Using Machine Learning: A Case Study Of Mokpo, Korea, Jungyeon Choi, Hwayoung Kim

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Walkability assessments are becoming more popular, as walking offers numerous health, environmental, and economic benefits to communities. However, previous studies on ferry terminal walkability assessment have been inadequate. This study aimed to develop a wearable sensor system to automatically assess walkability at ferry terminals without conducting surveys. We applied seven machine learning (ML) classifiers to detect different walking environments, including flat ground (FG), downhill slope (DS), uphill slope (US), and uneven surface (UE). The ML models were evaluated across different combinations of classes: 2-class (FG vs. UE), 3-class (U) (FG vs. US vs. UE), 3-class (D) (FG vs. DS vs. …

Application Of Blockchain Technology In Aquaculture Management, Yu-Jen Pan, Hsin-Pei Shieh

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

In recent years, food safety has become a growing concern in Taiwanese society. To ensure efficient management of the supply chain within the L Aquatic Products company, it is imperative to employ reliable technical support in establishing an effective traceability management system. The traceability of products can provide managers with valuable insight into the intricacies of the supply chain. By establishing a dependable food traceability system, brand trust can be strengthened, and consumers can inquire about the movement of aquatic products within the supply chain. Blockchain technology offers features such as traceability, accountability, transparency, reliability, trust, privacy, and security, making …

Production Of Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag Cement: Energy And Carbon Reduction Efficiency Of Cement-Grinding System, Kuan-Hung Lin, Chung-Chia Yang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

This study used clinker, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and gypsum in a cement-grinding system to produce GGBS cement (GCE). Gypsum was used as the alkaline activator to modify the surface area of GCE and increase its compressive strength. The results revealed that the use of the gypsum activator and the modification of the surface area of GCE effectively increased the formerly inadequate compressive strength of GCE (GGBS > 60%) in the early stage. In addition, energy consumption data were obtained during the production of GCE and Portland cement (PCE) by the cement-grinding system. The calculations concerning the production proportions indicated …

Causes And Effects Of Shisper Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Event In Karakoram In 2022, Sandeep Kumar Mondal, Vatsal D. Patel, Rishikesh Bharti, Ramesh P. Singh

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Karakoram Himalayas are vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which cause catastrophic floods in the surrounding areas. The increasing natural and anthropogenic activities, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plains at the southern flank of the towering Himalayas, could be the cause of climate change affecting the frequency of the natural hazards in the Himalayas. In the present study, a detailed analysis of the Shisper Lake breach of 7 May 2022 is carried out using satellite remote sensing. A decreasing trend in the glacial mass balance is observed between 2017 and 2021; in this period, frequent GLOF episodes occurred. A pronounced …

Gravity Waves Generated By The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘Apai Volcanic Eruption And Their Global Propagation In The Mesosphere/Lower Thermosphere Observed By Meteor Radars And Modeled With The High-Altitude General Mechanistic Circulation Model, Gunter Stober, Sharon L. Vadas, Erich Becker, Alan Liu, Diego Janches, Zishun Qiao, Et.Al

Publications

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai volcano erupted on 15th January 2022, launching Lamb waves and gravity waves into the atmosphere. In this study, we present results using 13 globally distributed meteor radars and identify the volcanic- caused gravity waves in the mesospheric/lower thermospheric winds. Leveraging the High-Altitude Mechanistic General Circulation Model (HIAMCM), we compare the global propagation of these gravity waves. We observed an eastward propagating gravity wave packet with an observed phase speed of 240±5.7 m/s and a westward propagating gravity wave with an observed phase speed of 166.5 ±6.4 m/s. We identified these waves in the HIAMCM and obtained …

The Great Displacement: Climate Change And The Next American Migration, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Weather/Natural Disasters

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Analyzing The Ramifications Of Climate Change On Mental Health, Salvatore A. Medori

Student Publications

When thinking about the vast array of impacts that the climate crisis has on humanity, there are many things that come to mind, but mental health impacts are likely not one of them. Even though research demonstrates that mental effects from any form of disaster far exceed the physical health implications mental health impacts of the largest disaster facing humanity since the Second World War are rarely considered at all, let alone when solutions are being created. This has led to a hidden crisis emerging underneath an even larger crisis, with serious consequences for most individuals across the globe. The …

Lightning Forecast From Chaotic And Incomplete Time Series Using Wavelet De-Noising And Spatiotemporal Kriging, Jared K. Nystrom, Raymond Hill, Andrew J. Geyer, Joseph J. Pignatiello Jr., Eric Chicken

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Present a method to impute missing data from a chaotic time series, in this case lightning prediction data, and then use that completed dataset to create lightning prediction forecasts.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the technique of spatiotemporal kriging to estimate data that is autocorrelated but in space and time. Using the estimated data in an imputation methodology completes a dataset used in lighting prediction.

Findings: The techniques provided prove robust to the chaotic nature of the data, and the resulting time series displays evidence of smoothing while also preserving the signal of interest for lightning prediction.

Abstract © Emerald Publishing …

Do Microplastics, Vibrio Bacteria, And Warming Water Temperatures Cause Disease In The Northern Star Coral, Astrangia Poculata?, Heather Leigh Sheffey

OES Theses and Dissertations

As marine plastic pollution increases, it becomes imperative to study the effects of microplastics on marine fauna. Marine plastic debris is a vector for disease to marine invertebrates (Lamb et al., 2018; Rotjan et al., 2019). In this context, studies have shown Astrangia poculata will consume microplastics as they do their normal food (Allen et al, 2017; Rotjan et al., 2019). Further, with temperatures increasing worldwide, there is a concern the virulence of disease-causing bacteria will increase (Vezzulli et al., 2015). In a series of manipulative laboratory experiments, this study quantified changes in respiration rates and visual health of Astrangia …

A New View Of Chlorophyll Dynamics In The Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight From A Two-Year High-Resolution Spray Glider Survey, Francesco Lane

OES Theses and Dissertations

The southern Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) near Cape Hatteras, NC, USA, is likely a hotspot for the episodic export of carbon-rich shelf waters to the open ocean. Over a 2 year period, from March 2017 to May 2019, Spray gliders repeatedly occupied transects, along the slope and across the shelf, generating high-resolution chlorophyll fluorescence (fChl) data in the southern MAB. This study implements an fChl calibration method utilizing remotely sensing ocean color as a standard. We validate the method’s utility by demonstrating a reduction in post-calibration cross-mission fChl variability and demonstrating close correspondence between the calibrated fChl data and an in …

Climate Change, Malnutrition, And Hiv: The Impact Of Food Insecurity On Hiv Response In Sub-Saharan Africa, Olivia Walshak

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Climate change is a key driver of an unprecedented global food crisis, exacerbated by rising temperatures and the vulnerability of crop yields. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly susceptible, and case studies demonstrate the fragility of food systems in the region, leading to severe food insecurity and famine in the face of climate shocks.

There are a variety of health implications, particularly the syndemic relationship between malnutrition and HIV. HIV interacts bidirectionally with malnutrition, creating a vicious cycle of poor clinical outcomes. Expanding access to antiretroviral therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa is hindered by rampant food insecurity, including inadequate food intake, reduced dietary …

Carbon Credibility: Strategic Opportunities For Asean Regional Industrial Policy In Voluntary Carbon Markets, Bryan Jed Soh

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Carbon offsets have come under increasing scrutiny due to uncertainties in real carbon abatement, transparency, and fears that it will exacerbate global inequality by allowing the global North to ‘pay to pollute’ through ethically questionable projects in the South. Following Article 2.1.C of the Paris Agreement, this paper argues that the global green transition requires private capital to be fully mobilized through voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). Given that ASEAN states face some of the world’s greatest climate risks while being a fast-growing region, this case study answers the question: how can states play a more proactive role in regulating VCMs …

A Reflection Of Change: Evolutions In International Water Law Principles Through The Lens Of Euphrates-Tigris Dispute, Maeve Sullivan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As climate change intensifies, water scarcity will increase. Coupled with a growing global population, water security is a major modern challenge. To bring stability to international watercourses, states must establish effective sharing agreements. On this matter, international water law can help. International water law captures some of the major principles and considerations that states must account for while considering issues related to water security. This paper uses primary interviews and secondary sources to identify some of the major characteristics, features, and developments in international law to develop a conceptual framework for the topic. It then moves into a case study …

Flujos De Servicios Ecosistémicos En Un Área Marina Protegida Del Atlántico Sur: Perspectivas Desde El Análisis De La Teoría De Redes, Mitch Porter

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En cuestiones de gestión de áreas protegidas, los servicios ecosistémicos se tienen cada vez más en cuenta junto con la conservación de la biodiversidad. Sin embargo, las decisiones que se toman sobre la conservación de los servicios ecosistémicos no suelen incluir los posibles efectos en cascada de la pérdida de biodiversidad sobre la provisión de servicios. Los conocimientos de la teoría de redes y los estudios de robustez pueden proporcionar una metodología para evaluar la vulnerabilidad de estos servicios frente la estructura trófica de los ecosistemas que los proveen. A través de una serie de simulaciones de extinción para la …

On The Rocks, Below The Rocks: A Study Of Intertidal Life In The Low, Middle And High Zones Of The Puerto Cabuyal – Punta San Clemente Marine Reserve During An El Niño Event, Juliana M. Ferrer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The rocky intertidal zone is one of the most difficult environments for organisms to survive in due to its harsh biotic and abiotic conditions. As such, it is also one of the best indicators of climate change and an important barrier to beach erosion. This study looked at the rocky intertidal zone of the Puerto Cabuyal-Punta San Clemente Marine Reserve in the Manabí province of Ecuador, with a focus on observing and identifying the organisms found in the area. Data was collected along 30 m transects at varying elevations along the shore using quadrants of two sizes: 50x50 cm for …

A Case Study Of Sustainable Development At The Penonomé Wind Farms, A Cdm Registered Project In Coclé, John Matuszewski

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Penonomé wind projects fit into a long history of previous internationally financed development projects in Panama, including those from the Clean Development Mechanism. A moderate level of research has been conducted on other Clean Development Mechanism projects, but despite contributing to 5% of Panama’s energy needs and constituting the largest wind park in Central America, the Penonomé wind farms remain little researched. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant people associated with the project or with relevant information to gain more information about the case study. Using the information processed from these reviews and information from publicly available resources, the …

Extent Of The 2023 Coral Bleaching Event In The Nargana Region Of Guna Yala, Panama, Brydon Deanna Hollander

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Coral reefs are diverse marine ecosystems that exist in tropical ecosystems all over the world. They provide a myriad of ecological services that are vital for marine organism biodiversity and human coastal communities. A major threat to coral reefs is a rise in sea surface temperature that causes coral bleaching. The effect of a coral bleaching event in Nargana, Guna Yala will be investigated to examine how the health status of coral reef ecosystems are being impacted. To guide these efforts, the extent of coral bleaching will be measured along with whether sea surface temperature (SST), human concentration, and El …