Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Chemical And Morphological Variance In Vitriclastic Shards From Iodp Site U1437: Inferences About Source Regions And Eruptive Mechanisms, Larissa Sleeper

Geology Graduate and Undergraduate Student Scholarship

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 350 recovered roughly 2000 meters of volcaniclastic material. This paper focuses on the first 100 meters of this core which was almost entirely composed of tuffaceous mud. Tiny (micron) vitriclastic shards within this mud were analyzed to determine their chemistry and their morphology to make inferences about their source environment and eruptive mechanisms.

Spatiotemporal Variability In The Climate Growth Response Of High Elevation Bristlecone Pine In The White Mountains Of California, Andrew Godard Bunn, Matthew W. Salzer, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Jamis M. Bruening, Malcolm K. Hughes

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Tree-ring chronologies from bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) are a unique proxy used to understand climate variability over the middle to late Holocene. The annual rings from trees growing toward the species’ lower elevational range are sensitive to precipitation variability. Interpretation of the ring-width signal at the upper forest border has been more difficult. We evaluate differences in climate induced by topography (topoclimate) to better understand the dual signals of temperature and moisture. We unmix signals from trees growing at and near the upper forest border based on the seasonal mean temperature (SMT) experienced by each tree. We find that trees …

Environmental Inequality Dataset, Aran Clauson, Debra J. Salazar, Troy D. Abel

College of the Environment on the Peninsulas Publications

The Disaggreated RSEI model data (also known as RSEI-GM, or Geographic Microdata) version 2.3.4 was downloaded from the Amazon Web Service created by EPA. The RSEI-GM provides detailed air model results from EPA’s Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model. The results include chemical concentration, toxicity-weighted concentration and score, calculated for each 810 meter square grid cell in a 49-km circle around the emitting facility, for every year from 1988 through 2014. The data can be used to examine trends in air pollution from industrial facilities over time and across geographies. In order to allow for evaluation of toxic-weighted concentration over time, …

A Multidecade Experiment Shows That Fertilization By Salmon Carcasses Enhanced Tree Growth In The Riparian Zone, Thomas P. Quinn, Helfield M. James, Catherine S. Austin, Rachel A. Hovel, Andrew Godard Bunn

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

As they return to spawn and die in their natal streams, anadromous, semelparous fishes such as Pacific salmon import marine‐derived nutrients to otherwise nutrient‐poor freshwater and riparian ecosystems. Diverse organisms exploit this resource, and previous studies have indicated that riparian tree growth may be enhanced by such marine‐derived nutrients. However, these studies were largely inferential and did not account for all factors affecting tree growth. As an experimental test of the contribution of carcasses to tree growth, for 20 yr, we systematically deposited all sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) carcasses (217,055 individual salmon) in the riparian zone on one …

The Planet, 2018, Fall, Emily Stout, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

Deblurring Images, Jamie Mcmullen

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Let the matrix B be a blurred version of a sharp image represented by the matrix X. Given B, we would like to recover X.

To accomplish this, we construct linear models of the blurring process that produced B from X. The idea is that we could then reverse the blurring to reproduce the original image.

For example, if the blurred image satisfies

B = CXR^T

for some invertible matrices C and R, then we could recover X as

X = C-¹B(R^T)^-1.

However, the blurring model …

The Energy Imbalance Market: Environmental Benefits Of Regional Market Integration In The West, Kristen E. Tarr

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Compared to other regions of the United States, the Western electric grid is fragmented and balkanized, due to lack of regional market coordination. As the West anticipates the growth of renewable energy, there is an evident need for regional market interconnection. The Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) is the first sub-hourly regional power-trading market in the West, allowing Western utilities to buy and sell electricity across the diverse geographic region (EIM, 2018a). By tapping into the flexibility and diversity of regional production profiles, the EIM reduces the variability and intermittency of renewable power. According to the 2017 quarterly benefits report, from …

Enhancing Student Ability To Transfer Energy Concepts In Postsecondary Science Education Through Explicit Instruction Of Concepts, Student Self-Reflection, And Guided Practice In Knowledge Transfer, Jim Harmon, Lauren Gray

Scholars Week

While concepts of energy and matter apply across science disciplines, students have difficulty transferring their knowledge of energy concepts from one science discipline to another. Traditionally, instruction of physical sciences, chemistry, and life sciences are presented independently of one another; with energy concepts introduced in isolated contexts and with differing emphases. Two instructional strategies have been shown to improve student transfer of knowledge: metacognitive student reflection, and explicit framing of concepts. This study integrates these instructional strategies into an introductory physics course for non-science majors as a series of instructional interventions, measuring student ability to transfer knowledge of energy concepts …

Locate And Mitigate The State Of Nitrate: Assessing Potential Sources Of Nutrients In Tributaries To The Nooksack River, Alyssa Peter, Melanie Roy

Scholars Week

Anthropogenic activities greatly increase the amount of nitrogen entering our environment. While this allows for increased agriculture production, excess nitrogen raises health concerns for humans and ecosystems. Understanding the sources of excess nutrients is necessary for effective efforts to reduce them. We aimed to understand nutrient fluxes through tributaries to the Nooksack River, in particular, to what extent are excess nutrients arriving to northern Whatcom County from Canada via both surface and ground water. We collected water samples from three creeks fed by the central portion of the Sumas-Blaine aquifer (Kamm, Fishtrap, and Bertrand), two situated at the southern edge …

Modeling And Forecasting Crime Patterns In Bellingham, Washington, Zachary Domingo, Eric Shoner

Scholars Week

Our purpose is to use time series analysis to model and forecast the underlying dynamics behind crime in Bellingham, Washington. Using recent monthly data from the Bellingham Police Department, we considered singular spectrum analysis and autoregressive moving average modelling techniques to estimate significant deterministic patterns in the data. After examining the multitude of data provided, we narrowed down to two categories of crime: alcohol offenses and domestic violence. We created two time series models for each category and compared them to each other. The better performing model was used to forecast the number of crime incidents for ten months and …

Short-Term Volatility Curve Predictions Using Singular Spectrum Analysis, Nick Odell

Scholars Week

This project aims to produce accurate volatility forecasts, using high-frequency financial time series data. The primary mathematical methods used are Functional Data Analysis, time series analysis techniques such as Autoregressive Models and a comparison between Multi-variate and Uni-variate Singular Spectrum Analysis. These results aim to be useful for financial risk quantification.

Connection: An Autism-Focused Dating App, Cyrena Johnson

Scholars Week

30% of US internet users 18-29 use dating apps to find partners. Meanwhile, only 9% of adults with autism are married—and there are no popular dating apps designed for ASDs. We propose the app Connection, a dating app designed for the autistic community. Using queries and informal analysis, we created possible features and prototype displays for Connection to show its future application.

Modeling Current Flow In Nanoparticle Doped Polymer Film Systems, David Seaman, Joshua Spradlin, Janelle Leger, Armin Rahmani

Scholars Week

Nanoparticle-doped polymer systems have elicited great interest for their ability to exhibit an electrical hysteresis, which can be applied to bistable organic memory devices. Such hysteresis is characterized by the ability maintain different currents at the same voltage, upon increasing and decreasing the voltage. Developing a successful theoretical and computational model for this effect could provide insights into what mechanisms are driving the hysteresis. However, while there has been interest in these systems for two decades, there are still open questions regarding modeling their operation mechanism. In this work, we explore a method of modelling these systems that approximates the …

New Reactions Of Strained Allyl Silacycles, Elizabeth Cummins

Graduate Student Symposium

Ring-strained allylsilanes exhibit both electrophilic and nucleophilic characteristics, allowing for simultaneous activation and allylation of carbonyl compounds. Results are presented describing an optimized synthesis of certain allylsilacyclobutanes and their use in several selective carbon-carbon bond forming reactions.

Carbon Sequestration In A Pacific Northwest Eelgrass (Zostera Marina) Meadow, Katrina L. Poppe, John M. Rybczyk

Environmental Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Coastal wetlands are known to be efficient carbon sinks due to high rates of primary productivity, carbon burial by mineral sediments, and low rates of sediment organic matter decomposition. Of the three coastal wetland types: tidal marshes, tidal forests, and seagrass meadows, carbon burial by seagrasses is relatively under-studied, and reported rates range widely from 45 to 190 g C m^-2 yr^-1. Additionally, most of these seagrass rates are biased toward tropical and subtropical species, particularly Posidonia oceanica, with few focused on Zostera marina, the most widespread species in the northern hemisphere. We measured sediment …

Construction, Emplacement, And Geochemical Evolution Of Deep-Crustal Intrusions: Tenpeak And Dirtyface Plutons, North Cascades, Western North America, Robert B. Miller, Susan M. Debari, Scott R. Paterson

Geology Faculty Publications

Deep plutonic systems represent an important link between lower-crustal melt-generation sites and higher-level regions of magma accumulation, but models for these systems are limited by the relative scarcity of exposed weakly deformed, deep-crustal plutons. Exceptions include the ca. 92.3–89.7 Ma, dominantly tonalitic Tenpeak pluton and the smaller, nearby ca. 91 Ma Dirtyface pluton of the North Cascades (western North America), which represent deeply exposed crustal levels (∼25–35 km) of a Cordilleran arc. Initial subduction-driven magmatism in the Tenpeak pluton was marked by co-magmatic hydrous mafic and felsic magmas, which formed gabbro, diorite, tonalite, and hornblendite within a heterogeneous mafic complex. …

Relational Values And Valuation: Challenges, And Possibilities, Kai Chan

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Although the ecological valuation literature has been focused largely on instrumental values, there is increasing recognition that relational values might play a crucial and related role in environmental policy and practice. For example, relational values—as preferences, principles and virtues about human relationships involving nature—are identified as central in the IPBES Conceptual Framework, and recent work has investigated the implications of these for conservation and ecosystem management. But what are the implications of relational values for ecosystem valuation? In this talk, I address this question in three points. First, whereas instrumental or economic values are values of a thing, relational values …

Assessing Biological Condition In Small Streams Of The Puget Sound Lowlands Through Collaborative Regional Monitoring, Richard Sheibley, Curtis Degasperi, Chad Larson, Brandi Lubliner, Leska S. Fore, Keunyea Song

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

In 2015, the condition of Puget Sound Lowland streams was evaluated by collecting data for stream invertebrates, algae, water and sediment quality, and instream and riparian habitat. The study was designed and implemented as part of the Stormwater Action Monitoring program, a collaborative, regional stormwater monitoring program funded by more than 90 Western Washington cities and counties, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and the Washington State Department of Transportation. The goal of this long term program is to inform stakeholders on the status and trends of small streams within the Puget Lowlands and to track whether stream condition improves …

Wood Waste Assessment, Characterization, And Remediation In Esquimalt Harbour, Mikaela Davis, Scott Northrup

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Log booming and wood processing operations in BC’s Esquimalt Harbour since the 1800s have resulted in the accumulation of wood waste deposits throughout the subtidal zone. Wood waste can adversely affect sediment quality and benthic and infaunal communities, prompting the Department of National Defence to prioritize the assessment of effects of wood waste on the ecological health of the nearshore marine environment in Esquimalt Harbour. In alignment with the overall Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project, The Esquimalt Harbour Wood Waste Assessment and Characterization Project was initiated in 2016 and continues into 2018, with Hemmera supporting the assessment, determination of impacts and …

Discerning Population Connectivity And Natal Origins Of Pacific Herring (Clupea Pallasi): Inferences On Population Structure From Otolith Chemistry, Wade Smith, Tony Pitcher, Margot Hessing-Lewis, Brian P.V. Hunt, Evgeny A. Pakhomov

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi, undertake annual migrations between feeding and spawning grounds that link life stages, habitats, populations, communities, and ecosystems. However, movement patterns of these highly mobile fish are poorly understood. Declines in Pacific herring abundance and slow population recoveries in the absence of fishing pressure have elevated concerns over the status of this ecologically, economically, and culturally important species. Pacific herring spawn on substrate in nearshore habitats where eggs and larvae develop for approximately two weeks before hatching. Early development within discrete spawning grounds could facilitate the incorporation of distinctive chemical signatures within otoliths that could be used …

Washington State Ferries: Colman Dock And The New Mukilteo Ferry Terminal: Environmental Protection And Marine Mammal Monitoring During Construction, Richard Huey

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is constructing two major infrastructure projects in the Salish Sea. Colman Dock (Seattle Ferry Terminal) is undergoing a 5-year reconstruction, and WSF is building the first new ferry terminal in over 50 years in Mukilteo. This presentation gives an overview of both projects, focusing on environmental protection, sediment cleanup, mitigation, and protection of marine mammals and marbled murrelet from pile driving noise. The presentation includes a report on protected species seen during the first year of both projects, and the use of ArcGIS Online Survey 123 for sightings data collection.

Understanding The Implications Of A Changing Environment On Harvested Bivalve Populations Using Habitat Suitability Models, Ted Dewitt, Nathaniel Lewis, Eric Fox, Stephen Pacella

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Habitat suitability models are useful to forecast how environmental change may affect the abundance or distribution of species of interest. In the case of harvested bivalves, those models may be used to estimate the vulnerability of this valued ecosystem good to stressors. Using literature-derived natural history information, rule-based habitat suitability models were constructed in a GIS for several bivalve species (Clinocardium nuttallii, Mya arenaria, and Tresus capax) that are recreationally and commercially harvested in NE Pacific estuaries, including in the Salish Sea. Spatially-explicit habitat maps were produced for two Oregon estuaries using environmental data (salinity, depth, sediment grain size, and …

The Role Of Reproductive Timing As A Driver Of Genetic Differentiation In Populations Of Pacific Herring, Eleni L. Petrou, Todd Sandell, Dayv Lowry, Lorenz Hauser

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

There is growing recognition that maintaining diversity in life history traits contributes to the sustainable management of wild populations. One important life history characteristic is reproductive phenology, and it has been shown that differences in the timing of reproduction can act as a barrier to gene flow between populations. If the difference in reproductive timing determines the level of connectivity, one would expect that genetic differentiation between populations would increase as a function of difference in reproductive date. This pattern, known as “isolation by time” (IBT), has been observed in wild populations of salmonids containing early and late runs. Pacific …

Salish Sea Surface Currents: Real-Time Velocities From Hf Radar, Richard Dewey, Rich Pawlowicz, Mike Morley, Manman Wang

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Ocean Networks Canada has operated Salish Sea CODAR high-frequency (HF) surface radar systems for monitoring surface currents since 2012. The network of antennae continues to grow, with four arrays now deployed in the southern Strait of Georgia, two more planned for the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and several more installed and planned along BC’s northern coast. These arrays provide hourly maps of surface currents. In the Strait of Georgia, where the Fraser River and ocean tides meet, there are complex surface current patterns that vary under seasonal river and wind conditions. Data are used to understand the circulation, validate …

Downstream Fish Passage Improvements At Hiram M. Chittenden Lock And Dam, Seattle, Wa: A New Approach For An Old Dam, Phil Peterson, Scott V. Pozarycki, Adam Slowik, Paul Heisey

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The Salish Sea is ringed with human development and infrastructure of multiple generations, some of which strongly influenced patterns of early development and continue to this day to maintain significant elements of the human environment. These developments are not going away, we will not “preserve” our way out of the environmental challenges they pose. Thus, it remains the role of the scientists, engineers, and owners to collaboratively guide their modification and maintenance to make their operation and presence more benign to the fish and the environment. One such development is the US Army Corps of Engineers owned and operated Hiram …

Challenges And Opportunities For Marine Spatial Planning In The Salish Sea: Learning From Other Jurisdictions, Ross Jameson, Alexandra Barron, Sabine Jessen

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The Salish Sea is a tremendously dynamic, diverse, and ecologically significant inland sea. It has supported indigenous communities for millennia and is now one of the most heavily used coastlines in the world. Increasing industrial use has resulted in declining biodiversity and ecosystem health. As we continue to see increases in human activities and escalating impacts from climate change on marine ecosystems, and associated declines in marine biodiversity and ecosystem health, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is becoming an increasingly important tool to ensure sustainable use of our coastal and marine resources, for generations to come. However, MSP is a resource …

Redfish School Of Change: An International Field School Focused On Socioecological Movements In The Salish Sea, Nicholas Stanger, Hilperts Ryan, Joseph Loviska

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

The Redfish School of Change is a non-profit program designed for people who want to lead the way in creating ecological sustainability and social equity in their communities. Each student enters the program with a proposed Community Action Project (CAP) that they develop during the course of our unique field experience, and then work to implement after the program is over. As a participant in this intensive field school, participants kayak, cycle and hike through coastal communities in British Columbia and Washington State. They visit innovative sites and engage with experts in the field of environment and social justice. They …

Alternatives To Disposing Dredged Wood Waste At Sea, Tiffany Paul

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Dredged material in British Columbia sometimes contains wood waste as a by-product of the wood processing industry, typically log handling facilities and sawmills. This presentation will focus on the potential alternative disposal options for dredged wood waste, based on a report by Azimuth Consulting Group, commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada to develop a better understanding of the effects of, and options for reducing and managing wood waste and improve the Disposal at Sea permitting process. An analysis of disposal options was considered in light of a comparative assessment of: human health risks; environmental costs; hazards; economics; and exclusion …

Effects Of Large Infrastructure On The Underwater Visual Environment And Heightened Predation On Salmon In The Salish Sea, David A. Beauchamp

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Most predatory fish, marine mammals, and birds that eat salmon rely primarily on vision to feed. Natural processes and anthropogenic change affect visual conditions underwater which in turn profoundly affect the magnitude of predation risk on juvenile and adult salmon as well as forage fishes and other species in shoreline and pelagic environments. I will discuss the implications of how natural and anthropogenic changes in water transparency and artificial light pollution have significantly increased the predation threat environment for juvenile salmon in the Salish Sea and relate these to some of the major infrastructure projects in the Pacific Northwest. High …

Experiential Education And Outreach Based On Nearshore Monitoring Of The Elwha River Restoration Project, Andrea S. Ogston, Ian M. Miller, Chloe Dawson, Emily F. Eidam, Nancy Elder, Hannah E. Glover, Steve P. Rubin, Melissa Williams

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference

Nearshore monitoring of benthic habitats and the coastal environment following the Elwha River Restoration project has engaged students and citizens with coastal science and management issues. In the post-dam-removal period, the lessons learned will continue to be disseminated via a UW undergraduate course and an interactive digital map, both designed to engage students and communities in restoration science. The research-focused course developed at the UW Friday Harbor Labs has allowed us to engage diverse undergraduate students (and graduate teaching assistants) in the research process. The course integrates interdisciplinary lectures and workshops on data analysis and laboratory methods, with the research …