Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Environmental Factors Associated With Triploid Aspen Occurrence In Intermountain West Landscapes, James A. Walton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Polyploidy is common among plants and can contribute to physiological and morphological differences, altering how plants respond to environmental changes, promoting genetic diversification and even species radiation. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a keystone species associated with high plant and animal diversity is frequently found in mixed diploid/triploid populations in the Intermountain West. Triploid aspen carries an extra chromosomal copy, whereas the diploid type contains two chromosomal copies. High mortality rates and widespread population declines in aspen are of increasing concern in the Intermountain West, and often ascribed to changing climates and drought stress events. The goal of this …

Enclosure Rather Than Topography Enhances The Soil Ecological Stoichiometry In Typical Steppe On The Loess Plateau, China, Zhaoxia Guo, Fujiang Hou, Jiao Ning

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Grassland is one of the largest terrestrial ecosystems in the world, a large part of which is distributed in varied topography. And grazing and enclosure are the main ways to use this part. Grazing changes the soil structure through feeding, trampling and excreta return, thus affects the soil nutrients. The aspect mainly affects soil temperature and moisture by affecting solar radiation. The slope affects soil nutrients by affecting surface runoff. Water and temperature are the main factors affecting soil nutrients. We carried out to explore the effect of enclosure years and topography on soil ecological stoichiometry. The results showed that: …

The Influence Of Volcano Topographic Changes On Infrasound Amplitude: Lava Fountains At Mt. Etna In 2021, Adriana Iozzia, Leighton M. Watson, Massimo Cantarero, Emanuela De Beni, Giuseppe Di Grazia, Gaetana Ganci, Jeffrey B. Johnson, Eugenio Privitera, Cristina Proietti, Mariangela Sciotto, Andrea Cannata

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Infrasound signals are used to investigate and monitor active volcanoes during eruptive and degassing activity. Infrasound amplitude information has been used to estimate eruptive parameters such as plume height, magma discharge rate, and lava fountain height. Active volcanoes are characterized by pronounced topography and, during eruptive activity, the topography can change rapidly, affecting the observed infrasound amplitudes. While the interaction of infrasonic signals with topography has been widely investigated over the past decade, there has been limited work on the impact of changing topography on the infrasonic amplitudes. In this work, the infrasonic signals accompanying 57 lava fountain paroxysms at …

The Effect Of Topographic Factors On The Productivity Of Mountain Grasslands In Northwestern Benin, T. H. Avohou, Brice Sinsin

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Atacora mountains range in northern Benin (660 m altitude) is a special ecosystem in the sudanian zone because of the overriding importance of topographic factors and shallow soils. The vegetation over this mountain range consists of shrub and tree savannas, woodlands and fallows. More and more cattle herds graze on this range. But the functioning of this ecosystem is still unknown like many others in the tropical zone (Sene & Zingari, 2001). This study aims to determine the impact of topography and mountain side exposure on the productivity of the Atacora mountains grasslands in the Atacora mountains.

Topographic Effects Of Shallow Crustal Earthquakes In The Greater Vancouver Region, Alex Vanderhoeff

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Vancouver has a high seismic risk due to the proximity of the city to the Cascadia subduction zone offshore, the soft sediments the metropolitan region overlies, and the mountainous topography nearby. The soft sediments and mountainous topography could cause an increase in shaking due to the sedimentary basin, topographic resonance and constructive/destructive interference, respectively. Numerical three-dimensional (3D) wave propagation simulations (WPS) were run using a finite difference scheme developed by Peterson and Sjogreen (2012), Seismic Waves, 4^th order, to perform simulations of large shallow crustal rupture scenario earthquakes using the 1994 M6.7 Northridge, California earthquake slip distribution. The …

Seasonal Variations In Circumpolar Deep Water Intrusions Into The Ross Sea Continental Shelf, Yufei Wang, Meng Zhou, Zhaoru Zhang, Michael S. Dinniman

CCPO Publications

Intrusions of the warm and nutrient-rich Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) across the Ross Sea shelf break play an important role in providing heat for ice shelf basal melting and setting the physical environment for biochemical processes. Several mechanisms driving CDW intrusions into the Ross Sea were proposed such as mesoscale eddies, tidal rectification, and interactions between Antarctic Slope Current (ASC) and topographic features. The seasonal variations in the poleward transport of CDW are investigated using ERA-Interim wind data and a Ross Sea circulation model based on the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) between September 1999 and September 2014. The analyses …

Streamlined Subglacial Bedform Sensitivity To Bed Characteristics Across The Deglaciated Northern Hemisphere, Marion A. Mckenzie, Lauren M. Simkins, Sarah M. Principato, Santiago Munevar Garcia

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Streamlined subglacial bedforms observed in deglaciated landscapes provide the opportunity to assess the sensitivity of glacier dynamics to bed characteristics across broader spatiotemporal scales than is possible for contemporary glacial systems. While many studies of streamlined subglacial bedforms rely on manual mapping and qualitative (i.e., visual) assessment, we semi-automatically identify 11,628 sedimentary and bedrock bedforms, created during and following the Last Glacial Maximum across nine geologically and topographically diverse deglaciated sites in the Northern Hemisphere. Using this large dataset of landforms and associated morphometrics, we empirically test the importance of subglacial terrain on bedform morphology and ice-flow behavior. A minimum …

The Role Of Physical Geographic Features In Video Games, Dexter Ferguson

Theses

This thesis examines how physical geographic features affect individuals when interacting with video game environments. There are very few studies on the geography of video games. I aim to bridge the gap between game studies and geography, a naturally occurring link. The observation of elements such as the geography of an area is critical when exploring an individual’s perception of a video game environment. Individuals interact with the geography of their location on a day-to-day basis, whether it be physical or human geography; how they can relate a video game’s geography to the real world dramatically affects their immersion. An …

Using Remote Sensing And Machine Learning To Locate Groundwater Discharge To Salmon-Bearing Streams, Mary E. Gerlach, Kai C. Rains, Edgar J. Guerrón-Orejuela, William J. Kleindl, Joni Downs, Shawn M. Landry, Mark C. Rains

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

We hypothesized topographic features alone could be used to locate groundwater discharge, but only where diagnostic topographic signatures could first be identified through the use of limited field observations and geologic data. We built a geodatabase from geologic and topographic data, with the geologic data only covering ~40% of the study area and topographic data derived from airborne LiDAR covering the entire study area. We identified two types of groundwater discharge: shallow hillslope groundwater discharge, commonly manifested as diffuse seeps, and aquifer-outcrop groundwater discharge, commonly manifested as springs. We developed multistep manual procedures that allowed us to accurately predict the …

Venus Mountain Waves In The Upper Atmosphere Simulated By A Time-Invariant Linear Full-Wave Spectral Model, Michael P. Hickey, Thomas Navarro, Gerald Schubert, Richard L. Walterscheid

Publications

A 2-D spectral full-wave model is described that simulates the generation and propagation of mountain waves over idealized topography in Venus’ atmosphere. Modeled temperature perturbations are compared with the Akatsuki observations. Lower atmosphere eddy diffusivity and stability play a major role in the upward propagation of gravity waves from their mountain sources. Two local times (LT) are considered. For LT = 11h the waves are blocked by a critical level near 100 km altitude, while for LT = 16 h the waves propagate into the thermosphere. As a result of the small scale height in the Venus thermosphere, for LT …

Analyzing Slab Holes In Subduction Zones And Their Impacts Through Numerical Simulations, Taylor M. Arrowood

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Subduction zones form as higher density oceanic lithosphere is forced beneath an over-riding, lower density, continental or oceanic plate; a process driven by contrasts in buoyancy throughout this system. We seek to explore subduction zones in which the subducting lithosphere is discontinuous after passing through the trench, forming a slab gap. The main research objective is to determine the effect of slab gaps on surface topography in a subduction-related orogen and asthenospheric flow into the mantle wedge using two and three-dimensional numerical mechanical models. We obtain results from 24+ models that suggest a connection between slab gaps/holes and the magnitude …

Waterpipe: A Global Alarming Problem, Tarek Houri, Bilal Osta, Sara Mobayed, Rayan Farha, Mazher Issa

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Waterpipe popularity has increased significantly in the recent decades to become the major cause of death worldwide. This practice, which is also known as hookah, shisha and Narghile that is based on tobacco burning, increases the percentage of tobacco smokers especially among young people, due to several factors such as the attracting effect of sweetened tobacco, the marketing role and the social acceptance of waterpipe. A literature review was constructed using "Pub med" as a searching tool to confirm by studies the differences in adverse effects between waterpipe and cigarette by analyzing the toxicant’s levels generated from them, evaluating the …

Characterization Of A Digital Holography Diagnostic For In Situ Erosion Measurement Of Plasma-Facing Components In Fusion Devices, Cary Dean Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

Fusion energy devices, particularly tokamaks, face the challenge of interior surface damage occurring over time from the heat flux of the high-energy plasma they generate. The ability to monitor the rate of surface modification is therefore imperative, but to date no proven technique exists for real-time erosion measurement of planar regions of interest on plasma-facing components in fusion devices. In order to fill this diagnostic gap, a digital holography system has been established at ORNL [Oak Ridge National Laboratory] for the purpose of measuring the erosion effects of plasma-material interaction in situ.

The diagnostic has been designed with the …

Effect Of Topography On Utilization From Mountain Rangelands Of Mazandaran Province--Case Study: Rangelands Of Babolrood Basin, Ir‐Iran, Reza Tamartash, Hamid Jalilvand, Karim Soleimani, Maryam Saeidi

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Examining Terrain Effects On Upstate New York Tornado Events Utilizing High-Resolution Model Simulations, Luke Lebel

Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences

The region at the intersection of the Mohawk and Hudson valleys of New York is characterized by complex terrain. It has been hypothesized that this complex terrain may have an impact on the development and evolution of severe convection in the region. Specifically, previous research has hypothesized that terrain-channeled flow in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys contributed to increased low-level wind shear and instability in the valleys during past severe weather outbreaks. However, a lack of observations in the region prevented this hypothesis from being robustly tested.

The goal of this study is to further examine this hypothesis and complement …

Fire-Environment Analysis: An Example Of Army Garrison Camp Williams, Utah, Scott M. Frost, Martin E. Alexander, R. Justin Derose, Michael J. Jenkins

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The planning of fuel treatments for ecological or societal purposes requires an in-depth understanding of the conditions associated with the occurrence of free-burning fire behavior for the area of concern. Detailed fire-environment analysis for Army Garrison Camp Williams (AGCW) in north-central Utah was completed as a prerequisite for fuel treatment planning, using a procedure that could be generally applied. Vegetation and fuels data, topographic and terrain features, and weather and climate data, were assessed and integrated into predictive fuel models to aid planning. A fire behavior fuel model map was developed from biophysical variables, vegetation type, and plot survey data …

Assessing The Impact Of 3d Printed Terrain On Teaching Topography In Introductory Earth Science Labs, Jay Alan Cockrell

Masters Theses

Learning to effectively read topographic maps is challenging for students, as these maps contain 3D representations of terrain displayed on a 2D surface map. This project assessed student learning when 3D terrain printed from a portion of the laboratory quadrangle map currently in use was introduced into an earth science course for non-science majors. Using a quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent groups across two semesters, performance on the Modified Topographic Map Assessment (MTMA) administered as a pre- and posttest was used to compare learning outcomes between the traditional lab and the 3D print lab intervention. Students in the traditional (n = …

Nested Scales Of Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Soil Water Content Across A Semiarid Montane Catchment, Kendra E. Kaiser, Brian L. Mcglynn

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Topographic redistribution of water has been represented by various terrain metrics (e.g., topographic wetness index, slope, and upslope accumulated area). This type of landscape characterization has promoted the use of terrain metrics to inform how spatial patterns of soil volumetric water content (VWC) influence streamflow, ecological processes, and associated nutrient fluxes. However, evaluation of what these static terrain metrics reflect has only been accomplished in a few catchments. Additionally, previous research suggests that relationships between topographic metrics and VWC could be different across catchments through time. Here we measured VWC from snowmelt through summer drydown across a semiarid montane catchment. …

Assessing Bulkhead Removal And Shoreline Restoration Using Boat-Based Lidar, George M. Kaminsky, Hannah Drummond, Heather M. Weiner, Diana Mccandless, Hacking Amanda

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The Washington State Department of Ecology performed before and after boat-based lidar surveys of a shoreline restoration project involving the removal of ~800 feet of armoring from the base of a historic feeder bluff at Edgewater Beach, along Eld Inlet in South Puget Sound. As part of the restoration project, 700 feet of bulkheads, two rock revetments, a large wood and rock groin, and several large boulders were removed or realigned from the site in fall 2016. Removal of the armoring is expected to reconnect the historic feeder bluff at the updrift end of the project site with the adjacent …

High Resolution Mapping Of Puget Sound Shorelines, George M. Kaminsky, Heather M. Weiner, Amanda Hacking, Diana Mccandless

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

In an effort to collect high-resolution baseline coastal topographic data of beaches and bluffs around the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Washington State Department of Ecology Coastal Monitoring & Analysis Program (CMAP) conducted a series of boat-based lidar surveys in October 2013, May through September 2015, and May 2016 at a total of 16 sites spanning 220 km of shoreline and over two dozen drift cells. The drift cells were selected based on a rigorous and systematic geospatial analysis of bluff-backed beaches for their potential for significant bluff sediment supply to intact shorelines identified as having …

Puget Sound Shoreline Inventory And Assessment Using Boat-Based Lidar, George M. Kaminsky, Alice Henderson, Heather Weiner, Hannah Drummond

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Boat-based lidar of Puget Sound shorelines collected by the Washington State Department of Ecology are developed to provide a comprehensive inventory, classification, and analyses of site conditions and variability. For example, quantitative metrics of shoreline characteristics are derived from DEMs such as bluff crest height, bluff slope, bluff toe elevation, beach slope, and shoreline armoring elevations. These metrics can then be compiled and compared within and among drift cells to determine regional variability such as differences between updrift and downdrift beaches and the effect of fetch, orientation, and other exposure variables. Certain features can also be correlated to characterize how …

Assessing A Multi-Platform Data Fusion Technique In Capturing Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Heterogeneous Dryland Ecosystems In Topographically Complex Terrain, Peter J. Olsoy, Jessica Mitchell, Nancy F. Glenn, Alejandro N. Flores

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water-limited ecosystems encompass approximately 40% of terrestrial land mass and play a critical role in modulating Earth’s climate and provisioning ecosystem services to humanity. Spaceborne remote sensing is a critical tool for characterizing ecohydrologic patterns and advancing the understanding of the interactions between atmospheric forcings and ecohydrologic responses. Fine to medium scale spatial and temporal resolutions are needed to capture the spatial heterogeneity and the temporally intermittent response of these ecosystems to environmental forcings. Techniques combining complementary remote sensing datasets have been developed, but the heterogeneous nature of these regions present significant challenges. Here we investigate the capacity of one …

Soil Composition

Activities

Soil, dirt, sediment, what’s the difference? Depending upon whom you ask, you might get a radically different answer. Some sources state that the only difference between them has to do with their location: soil is the unconsolidated material on the ground, dirt is that same matter on your hands or clothes, and sediment is the same material on the bottom of a river or lake. Others define the differences based upon the size and shape of the material grains. For the purposes of this activity, we are going to define things the following ways. Soil is a complex, unconsolidated mixture …

Typhoon Haiyan Overwash Sediments From Leyte Gulf Coastlines Show Local Spatial Variations With Hybrid Storm And Tsunami Signatures, Janneli Lea A. Soria, Adam D. Switzer, Jessica E. Pilarczyk, Fernando P. Siringan, Nicole S. Khan, Hermann M. Fritz

Faculty Publications

Marine inundation associated with the 5 to 8 m storm surge of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 left overwash sediments inland on the coastal plains of the northwestern shores of Leyte Gulf, Philippines. The Haiyan overwash deposit provides a modern sedimentary record of storm surge deposition from a Category 5 landfalling typhoon. We studied overwash sediments at two locations that experienced similar storm surge conditions but represent contrasting sedimentological regimes, namely a siliciclastic coast and a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate coast. The contrasting local geology is significantly reflected in the differences in sediment grain size, composition and sorting at the two sites. The …

Assessment Of Nasa Airborne Laser Altimetry Data Using Ground-Based Gps Data Near Summit Station, Greenland, Kelly M. Brunt, Robert L. Hawley, Eric R. Lutz, Michael Studinger

Dartmouth Scholarship

A series of NASA airborne lidars have been used in support of satellite laser altimetry missions. These airborne laser altimeters have been deployed for satellite instrument development, for spaceborne data validation, and to bridge the data gap between satellite missions. We used data from ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys of an 11 km long track near Summit Station, Greenland, to assess the surface–elevation bias and measurement precision of three airborne laser altimeters including the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM), the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS), and the Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar (MABEL). Ground-based GPS data from the monthly …

Investigating The Spatial Distribution And Effects Of Nearshore Topography On Acropora Cervicornis Abundance In Southeast Florida, Nicole D'Antonio, David S. Gilliam, Brian K. Walker

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Dense Acropora cervicornis aggregations, or patches, have been documented within nearshore habitats in Southeast Florida (SE FL) despite close proximity to numerous anthropogenic stressors and subjection to frequent natural disturbance events. Limited information has been published concerning the distribution and abundance of A. cervicornis outside of these known dense patches. The first goal of this study was to conduct a spatially extensive and inclusive survey (9.78 km²) to determine whether A. cervicornis distribution in the nearshore habitat of SE FL was spatially uniform or clustered. The second goal was to investigate potential relationships between broad-scale seafloor topography and …

1904, Water Resources In Salinas, United States Department Of Interior, Homer Hamlin

State and Federal Documents Relating to Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties

The 1904 report pertains largely to that portion of the Salinas Valley lying within the boundaries of Monterey County. It describes the geography, topography, geology, climate factors and hydrology of the region discussing the methods of irrigation and irrigation systems, the extent of underground waters, and the possibility of extending irrigation by utilization of surface streams and impounding of flood waters.

1925, Soil Survey Of The Salinas Area, California, E. J. Carpenter And Stanley W. Cosby

State and Federal Documents Relating to Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties

The 1925 reports describes the area surveyed, the climate, agriculture, soils, irrigation and drainage of the Salinas Valley. The report was prepared by E. J. Carpenter, United States Department of Agriculture and Stanley W. Cosby, University of California. The report covers the greater part of the area previously addressed in the Lapham and Heileman 1901 soil survey report.

Influence Of Topography On Convective Patterns Across The Greater Capital Region Of New York, Rachel O’Donnell

Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences

The greater Albany region is unique in regards to its terrain. The various mountain ranges and river valleys play a significant role in convective patterns due to modification of flow. The purpose of this research is to compare the days of convection, both severe and non-severe, to the large scale flow pattern. Lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network was used to analyze the role terrain plays in organizing convection and the associated lightning. The greater Capital Region was divided into 0.1° grid boxes, and the number of total lightning strikes (both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground) was recorded within that …

Improving Landslide Hazard And Risk Mapping In Guatemala Using Terrain Aspect, Yuri Gorohkovich, Elia Axinia Machado, Luis Ivan Giron Melgar, Mahta Ghahremani

Publications and Research

Guatemala is in the path of numerous atmospheric hazards that trigger landslides by saturating mountain slopes with water reducing their safety factor. Available local studies of landslide characterization in Guatemala have indicated the importance of slope in hazard and risk mapping, but, for the most part, ignored another topographic index: aspect. However, many regional studies analyzing the effect of hurricanes on terrain show that Caribbean and Central American locations experience higher impact from hurricanes and storms on eastern, southeastern, southern and southwestern slopes. Since hazard and risk mapping focuses on infrastructure and settlements located on slopes with various orientations, this …