Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Lake Samish Monitoring Project 2006 Final Report, Robin A. Matthews, Joan Vandersypen, Kara Hitchko

Lake Samish

Lake Samish is a valuable aquatic resource, providing public access for boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and other water and lakeshore activities. Residents around the lake enjoy outstanding views of both the lake and its surrounding watershed, and the lake serves as a water supply for many of the lakeshore residents.

Lake Samish is located in the Washington State Department of Ecology’s water resource inventory area #3 (WRIA 3), and discharges into Friday Creek, a salmon spawning tributary of the Samish River. The Lake Samish monitoring project was initiated in June 2005 to collect monthly water quality data from the lake …

An Exceptional Exponential Function, Branko Ćurgus

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We show that there is a link between a standard calculus problem of finding the best view of a painting and special tangent lines to the graphs of exponential functions. Surprisingly, the exponential function with the "best view" is not the one with the base e. A similar link is established for families of functions obtained by composing exponential functions with a fixed linear function. The key tool in the proof is the Lambert W function.

The Planet, 2006, Fall, Shawn C. Query, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Environmental Injustice In Ecuador: Endangered Indigenous Populations And Environmental Degradation, Clover Anneire Muters

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Nationally and globally there is a widening disparity between the rich and poor which is reflected at every level of society. Environmental injustice is a term to describe the unjust way that natural resources are allocated, and the very real phenomenon of a disproportionate amount of the negative consequences of environmental degradation being placed on those populations that are poor and underrepresented. This paper will address this situation in Ecuador, and specifically, the connection between the environmental degradation of one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, and the destruction of indigenous and repressed populations who have lived …

Congruences For The Coefficients Of Weakly Holomorphic Modular Forms, Stephanie Treneer

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Recent works have used the theory of modular forms to establish linear congruences for the partition function and for traces of singular moduli. We show that this type of phenomenon is completely general, by finding similar congruences for the coefficients of any weakly holomorphic modular form on any congruence subgroup Γ₀ (N). In particular, we give congruences for a wide class of partition functions and for traces of CM values of arbitrary modular functions on certain congruence subgroups of prime level.

Temperature Regulation Of Bacterial Production, Respiration, And Growth Efficiency In A Temperate Salt-Marsh Estuary, Jude K. Apple, P. A. Del Giorgio, W. Michael Kemp

Shannon Point Marine Center Faculty Publications

There is consensus that temperature plays a major role in shaping microbial activity, but there are still questions as to how temperature influences different aspects of bacterioplankton carbon metabolism under different environmental conditions. We examined the temperature dependence of bacterioplankton carbon metabolism, whether this temperature dependence changes at different temperatures, and whether the relationship between temperature and carbon metabolism varies among estuarine sub-systems differing in their degree of enrichment. Two years of intensive sampling in a temperate estuary (Monie Bay, Chesapeake Bay, USA) revealed significant differences in the temperature dependence of bacterial production (BP) and respiration (BR), which drove a …

Convergence Of Algorithms For Reconstructing Convex Bodies And Directional Measures, Richard J. Gardner, Markus Kiderlen, Peyman Milanfar

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We investigate algorithms for reconstructing a convex body K in Rⁿ from noisy measurements of its support function or its brightness function in k directions u₁, . . . , u_k. The key idea of these algorithms is to construct a convex polytope P_k whose support function (or brightness function) best approximates the given measurements in the directions u₁, . . . , u_k (in the least squares sense). The measurement errors are assumed to be stochastically independent and Gaussian. It is shown that this procedure is (strongly) consistent, meaning that, …

Multiscale Dynamics Of Biological Cells With Chemotactic Interactions: From A Discrete Stochastic Model To A Continuous Description, Mark Alber, Nan Chen, Tilmann Glimm, Pavel M. Lushnikov

Mathematics Faculty Publications

The Cellular Potts Model (CPM) has been used for simulating various biological phenomena such as differential adhesion, fruiting body formation of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, angiogenesis, cancer invasion, chondrogenesis in embryonic vertebrate limbs, and many others. In this paper, we derive continuous limit of discrete one dimensional CPM with the chemotactic interactions between cells in the form of a Fokker-Planck equation for the evolution of the cell probability density function. This equation is then reduced to the classical macroscopic Keller-Segel model. In particular, all coefficients of the Keller-Segel model are obtained from parameters of the CPM. Theoretical results are …

Multiscale Dynamics Of Biological Cells With Chemotactic Interactions: From A Discrete Stochastic Model To A Continuous Description, Mark Alber, Nan Chen, Tilmann Glimm, Pavel M. Lushnikov

Mathematics Faculty Publications

The cellular Potts model (CPM) has been used for simulating various biological phenomena such as differential adhesion, fruiting body formation of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, angiogenesis, cancer invasion, chondrogenesis in embryonic vertebrate limbs, and many others. We derive a continuous limit of a discrete one-dimensional CPM with the chemotactic interactions between cells in the form of a Fokker-Planck equation for the evolution of the cell probability density function. This equation is then reduced to the classical macroscopic Keller-Segel model. In particular, all coefficients of the Keller-Segel model are obtained from parameters of the CPM. Theoretical results are verified …

The Planet, 2006, Spring, Sarah M. Kuck, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

My Experiences With Obstinate Autoanalyzers While Doing Water Quality Analysis, Deborah Wilson

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

I started work at the Institute for Watershed Studies (IWS) in June of 2005. On my first day I incorrectly weighed out ammonium chloride thus making that a mistake I would never make again. Despite this hiccup, under the careful tutelage of my boss I have become proficient at a great many necessary skills. This report serves as a summary and description of what I have learned over the past year. I have experience in water quality procedures covering the processing and analyzing of samples.

A Dft Study Of Iron-Oxide Nanoparticle Ground-State Geometries, Danielle Mcdermott

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Density Functional Theory was used to construct a ground state configuration for Fe203, or maghemite. The bipyramidal structure that resulted from a numerical optimization scheme was computationally stable with a lower energy than individual (free) components of the molecule. These stable bipyramids form a basic building block to generate iron-oxide nanoparticles. The primary focus of the study is understanding appropriate input geometries and using proper basis sets to model the real system, and to approximate possible reaction kinetics with other compounds.

Characterization Of Sputtered Fe Thin Films, Cedar S. Wolf

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance for Fe films with thicknesses of 20-400 nm has been investigated. The films were prepared by DC magnetron sputtering onto SiO2 substrates. The investigation was prompted by the purchase of new lab equipment by Western Washington University and the necessity to test their basic functionality. The film thicknesses were characterized by x-ray diffraction for films up to about 200 nm. Temperature effects were observed by using a closed-cycle refrigerator. An anomalous dip in resistance was detected around 40-50 K for all samples. The resistivity of these films was also calculated and compared to …

Lake Whatcom Monitoring Project 2004/2005 Report, Robin A. Matthews, Michael Hilles, Joan Vandersypen, Robert J. Mitchell, Geoffrey B. Matthews

Lake Whatcom Annual Reports

This report is part of an on-going series of annual reports and special project reports that document the Lake Whatcom monitoring program. This work is conducted by the Institute for Watershed Studies and other departments at Western Washington University.

The major objective of this program is to provide long-term baseline water quality monitoring in Lake Whatcom and selected tributaries. Each section contains brief explanations about the water quality data, along with discussions of patterns observed in Lake Whatcom.

Depth Distribution Of Magnetofossils In Near-Surface Sediments From The Blake/Bahama Outer Ridge, Western North Atlantic Ocean, Determined By Low-Temperature Magnetism, Bernard A. Housen, Bruce M. Moskowitz

Geology Faculty Publications

Fe-oxide and Fe-sulfide trace minerals in sediments and sedimentary rocks provide proxy records of biogeochemical processes, record past variations in the geomagnetic field, and can serve as proxies for climatic variations. An important class of these Feoxides is produced by bacteria. Magnetic particles produced by magnetotactic bacteria have been proposed as a primary recorder of the geomagnetic field in many terrestrial marine sediments, and have also been suggested to represent fossil evidence of life on the planet Mars. To better understand their distribution and preservation in the sediment column, and their relationship to other biochemical processes, we present rock-magnetic data …

Trends In Satellite-Observed Circumpolar Photosynthetic Activity From 1982 To 2003: The Influence Of Seasonality, Cover Type, And Vegetation Density, Andrew Godard Bunn, Scott J. Goetz

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Time series analyses of a 22-yr record of satellite observations across the northern circumpolar high latitudes were conducted, and trends in vegetation photosynthetic activity were assessed using a series of statistical tests. The results indicate that most of the northern circumpolar high latitudes (>85%) showed no significant trend in vegetation activity despite systematic climate warming during the period of analysis. Of the areas that did change, many showed the expected trends in “greening” of vegetation activity. There were, however, significant differences in the magnitude and even in the direction of trends when stratified by vegetation type and density. Tundra …

Best Constants For Certain Multilinear Integral Operators, Árpád Bényi, Tadahiro Oh

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We provide explicit formulas in terms of the special function gamma for the best constants in nontensorial multilinear extensions of some classical integral inequalities due to Hilbert, Hardy, and Hardy-Littlewood-Polya.

Self-Assembly And Conformation Of Tetrapyridilporphyrin On The Ag(111) Surface, Willi Auwärter, Alexander Weber-Bargioni, Andreas Riemann, Agustin Schiffrin, R. Fasel, O. Gröning, Johannes V. Barth

Physics & Astronomy

We present a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study on the supramolecular ordering of tetrapyridyl-porphyrin (TPyP) molecules on Ag(111). Vapor deposition in a wide substrate temperature range reveals that TPyP molecules easily diffuse and self-assemble into large, highly ordered chiral domains. We identify two mirror-symmetric unit cells, each containing two differently oriented molecules. From an analysis of the respective arrangement it is concluded that lateral intermolecular interactions control the packing of the layer, while its orientation is induced by the coupling to the substrate. This finding is corroborated by molecular mechanics calculations. High-resolution STM images recorded at 15 K allow …

The Planet, 2006, Winter, Sarah M. Kuck, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Environmental Records In A High-Altitude Low-Latitude Glacier, Sierra Nevada, California, Alison J. (Alison Jane) Gillespie

WWU Graduate School Collection

Glaciers are sensitive and detailed recorders of changes in local, regional, and global climate. Stable isotope variations reflect seasonal temperature changes, physical stratigraphy relates to net precipitation, and trace element concentrations mark seasonal surfaces in the ice. Previous studies have largely focused on polar ice cores because cold, dry conditions in such locations are ideal for preserving ice stratigraphy. Conversely, low-latitude alpine glaciers have been generally ignored because warmer, wetter conditions in them have been presumed to destroy or obscure the original stable isotope stratigraphy. Here, I evaluate the potential to obtain viable environmental records from an ice core of …

Streamflow Calibration Of Two Sub-Basins In The Lake Whatcom Watershed, Washington Using A Distributed Hydrology Model, Katherine D. (Katherine Delia) Kelleher

WWU Graduate School Collection

Lake Whatcom provides drinking water to the City of Bellingham and portions of Whatcom County. Therefore, quantifying streamflow into the lake is important to establish the contribution of ground water and surface water runoff in the Lake Whatcom water budget. Runoff is nearly 74% of the total inputs to the lake, thus the runoff provides the most water and nutrients to the lake. The primary goal of this study was to determine the ability of the Distributed Hydrology-Soils-Vegetation Model (DHSVM) to simulate the hydrologic processes in two sub-basins of the Lake Whatcom watershed.

DHSVM is a physically based model that …

The Nature And Transport Of The Fine-Grained Component Of Swift Creek Landslide, Northwest Washington, Tovah M. (Tovah Michelle) Bayer

WWU Graduate School Collection

Extreme sedimentation in Swift Creek, located in the Cascades foothills in NW Washington (48°55’N, 122°16’W), results from erosion of the oversteepened, unvegetated toe of a large (0.55 km²) active earthflow. The amount of bedload in the creek has necessitated several mitigation projects in the channel including annual dredging and temporary sediment traps in an attempt to reduce the risk of flooding and damage to manmade structures downstream.

The bedload and suspended sediment in the creek are a direct result of the weathering process of the serpentinitic bedrock, in which the landslide is rooted. The serpentinite weathers to asbestiform …

Regional Correlations Of Late Pleistocene Climatic Changes Based On Cosmogenic Nuclide Exposure Dating Of Moraines In Idaho, Cody Sherard

WWU Graduate School Collection

Multiple post-last glacial maximum (LGM) moraines occur in the Sawtooth Range of the Rocky Mountains in central Idaho. Although relative ages of the moraines have been studied, few numerical ages exist for these moraine sequences. In this study, the ages of LGM and late glacial (Younger Dryas) moraines in the Redfish Lake drainage of Idaho are constrained with 23 new, cosmogenic, ¹⁰Be dates. Results of this study include developing a new chronology for the Redfish Lake late Pleistocene moraines that are consistent with regional morainal ages.

New cosmogenic ¹⁰Be data from boulders on Bull Lake moraines at Redfish …

A Contemporary Review Of 1975-1976 Elevated Activity Levels At The Mount Baker Complex, Washington, And Current Community Awareness Of Volcanic Hazards, Janna Juday

WWU Graduate School Collection

This investigation seeks to understand the changes in the associated volcanic and human systems during and after the 1975-1976 sudden thermal events at Mount Baker volcano. Included are reviews of some of the conclusions made by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and universities around the U.S. during that event. A questionnaire was also presented to people in communities around the volcano to outline current understanding of volcanic activity and hazards associated with Mount Baker.

The source of the Mount Baker thermal activity in 1975-1976 was never conclusively identified at the time. There appears to have been a small decrease …