Environmental Studies Commons^™

An Eventful Past Predicting A Bizarre Future: Assessing The Influence Of Ocean Circulation On Key Fish Species In Icelandic Waters. An Analysis Of Past Circulation Records In Order To Predict The State Of Demersal Fish Stocks In Future Climate Scenarios, Matthew Engfer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Feedback-driven changes in North Atlantic Ocean circulation are affecting marine ecosystems off the coast of Iceland and are predicted to have differing outcomes by 2100. In this study, data reflecting Icelandic fish stock distributions was compiled on a map with oceanographic temperature and depth in order to observe patterns of population changes with changes in ocean currents. After evaluating past temperature effects on demersal fish stocks, future habitat predictions were estimated in weaker ocean circulation scenarios. A number of assumptions were made in order to pinpoint a correlation between ocean temperature and fish habitat. Iceland’s unique location and climate offers …

Becoming A Place Of Unrest : Environmental Crisis And Ecophenomenological Praxis, Robert Booth

Ohio University Press Open Access Books

The key to mitigating the environmental crisis isn’t just based on science; it depends upon a profound philosophical revision of how we think about and behave in relation to the world.

Our ongoing failure to interrupt the environmental crisis in a meaningful way stems, in part, from how we perceive the environment—what Robert Booth calls the "more-than-human world.” Anthropocentric presumptions of this world, inherited from natural science, have led us to better scientific knowledge about environmental problems and more science-based—yet inadequate—practical “solutions.” That’s not enough, Booth argues. Rather, he asserts that we must critically and self-reflexively revise how we perceive …

Otoliths Of South-Western Australian Fish: A Photographic Catalogue, Chris Dowling, Kim Smith, Elaine Lek, Joshua Brown

Fisheries Research Reports

Due to the species-specific nature of otoliths and given they are often the only part of the fish preserved when fish die, otolith catalogues can be used in numerous applications, such as diet studies in fish eating animals, including pinnipeds, fish and sea birds; archaeological purposes such as reconstructing indigenous people’s diets from otoliths found in middens or evolutionary history of fish species by comparing fossilized otoliths. Given the unique mixture of subtropical and temperate fish, including many endemic species that occur off the southwest corner of WA having a catalogue for this area is extremely important for people working …

Connecting Communities To Coastal Resilience: Enhancing Sustainability Through Public Participation In Salt Marsh Management And Restoration In Suffolk County, Ny, Jennifer L. Mcgivern

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Coastal resiliency is becoming significantly more critical to the livelihood of coastal communities as the frequency and intensity of storm events increases and is exacerbated by rising sea levels due to climate change. In October 2012 Superstorm Sandy impacted the New York-New Jersey area costing over $70 billion in storm damages and 147 lives lost, as storm surges surpassed record highs for the region. Protruding more than 100 miles into the Atlantic Ocean with over 1,000 miles of shoreline, Long Island is particularly vulnerable to the increasingly ferocious and numerous storms as well as the rising sea levels that climate …

“Surviving And Growing Up With Illegal Status”: The Analysis Of Socio–Economic Household, Potential Conflict, The Environmental Damage, And Vulnerability Of Local Community To Disaster, Sofyan Syahnur, Yossi Diantimala

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This study aims to analyze, from social-economics and environmental perspectives, how illegal gold mining survives and grows with its illegal status. Generally, illegal mining has a positive impact on the socio-economy of all parties involved. However, mining activities cause environmental damage and pollution so that the local community is vulnerable to disaster and potential conflict. This research was conducted at an illegal mining site in Aceh, the western province of Indonesia. To describe the primary data, it employs a descriptive qualitative method. The purposive sampling method is used to select key informants. The results show an increasing income of all …

Evaluation On Navigation Environment Of Luoyu Port Area For 400,000-Dwt Uloc, Lijiao Wen

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

Current State Of Seagrasses In Zanzibar: Impacts Of Coastal Economic Activities And Marine Protected Areas On Seagrass Cover, Danielle Purvis, Narriman Jiddawi

Capstone Collection

Seagrass meadows are located abundantly in Zanzibar, Tanzania and provide essential ecosystem services, such as sediment nutrient enrichment and blue carbon sequestration. However, seagrasses have been less researched or protected than other marine ecosystems. Although environmental variables affect seagrass health, evidence suggests that anthropogenic impacts are their greatest threats. The rapid expansion of seaweed farming and tourism and widespread use of harmful small-scale fishing practices in Zanzibar have contributed to the degradation and removal of seagrass meadows, disrupted coastal marine food chains, and reduced local biodiversity that seagrasses support. Public or private marine protected areas (MPAs) protect most of Zanzibar’s …

Operating Solar Projects In Nevada, 2021, Kristian Thymianos, Saha Salahi, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) both provide national databases that contain comprehensive lists of active solar projects in the United States. This fact sheet provides a list of operating solar projects in the State of Nevada.

Participatory Gis Mapping Highlights Indirect Use And Existence Values Of Coastal Resources And Marine Conservation Areas, Kaegan M. Scully‐Engelmeyer, Elise F. Granek, Max Nielsen-Pincus, Greg Brown

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Consideration of social and cultural dimensions in coastal and marine planning has increased and ecosystem services provide important framing to investigate values and priorities associated with these systems. Research efforts in coastal communities offer insights on social dimensions of ocean and coastal management decisions, but questions remain about how demographics and geographic residence affect perceptions of marine resources and management. We conducted and analyzed a public participation geographic information system (PPGIS) mapping survey of Oregon residents to capture uses and perceived values of coastal and marine areas. We measured coastal values, explored regional differences in those values, and identified a …

Are We Really Getting Into The Green Scene? Investigating The Effects Of Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms On The Environment And Economy, Erica Reanne C. Co, Samantha Colleen M. Francisco, Chelsie Marie D. Gumba, Joshua Martine J. Magallanes

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

The world has changed drastically in favor of the human race as the processes of production improve, leading to the stimulation of economic growth. However, we failed to consider how these changes affect the environment, causing pollution levels to rise due to it being an unavoidable by-product of production. Eventually, nations were driven to develop a strategy to combat climate change and increase greenhouse gas emissions in the form of the Kyoto Protocol. This research compares two of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms, specifically the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), to investigate the effect of such …

Climate Adaptation And Water Conservation Decision-Making In Paso Robles, California Vineyards, Christopher R. Klier

Master's Theses

This paper examines vineyard perceptions and adoption of climate change adaptation and water conservation measures in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA). A survey was distributed to all 220 vineyards and vineyard management companies that operate in the AVA, with a 53.64% response rate. The objective of the survey was to determine vineyard manager and owner attitudes towards climate change and adaptation, as well as their perceptions of how these threats would impact their operation. A second objective was to document the current level of water conservation and climate adaptation while identifying the barriers and opportunities for further adoption …

Super Solar, William Wilton

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

No abstract provided.

Degumming Of Hemp Fibers Using Combined Microwave Energy And Deep Eutectic Solvent, Bulbul Ahmed

LSU Master's Theses

Hemp is considered as one of the sustainable agricultural fiber materials. Degumming or surface modification of hemp bast is needed to produce single fibers for ensuing textile and industrial applications. The traditional degumming process necessitates a high amount of alkali, which causes detrimental environmental pollution. This study offers a new method to degum hemp fibers with reduced use of harmful alkali and precious water resources. In this work, hemp bast fibers were degummed by using combined microwave energy and deep eutectic solvent (DES). The properties of hemp fibers manufactured by this method were investigated and compared with the traditional alkali …

A Ground-Based Assessment Framework For Validating Diesel Particulate Emission Models And Applicability In Portland, Or, Kirsten Marie Sarle

Dissertations and Theses

Exposure to diesel emissions causes a range of health effects throughout the body, impairing; respiratory, cardiovascular, central nervous, renal, and cognitive systems. Diesel particulate matter (DPM) in Portland, Oregon is prevalent due to the layout of highly trafficked roadways, rail lines, and marine ports exposing a dense population to high levels of exhaust pollution. These high concentrations of ambient diesel emissions disproportionately impact minority and low-income populations.

Ground-based monitoring and modeling are two ways to assess ambient DPM. However, there are uncertainties in modeled DPM due to knowledge gaps in emissions inventories as well as lack of model validation against …

Assimilation Of Seasonal Moisture Variability In North America And Asia For The Last Millennium, Chang Liu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The seasonal tree-ring chronologies that recorded discrete moisture signal for warm and cool season have been used to reconstruct the North America Seasonal Precipitation Atlas (NASPA) by the point-by-point regression method, and the results indicated that they can fairly reproduce the seasonal precipitation variability in the past. Compared with reconstructions using only paleoclimate proxy data, the paleoclimate data assimilation (PDA) considers both proxy data and climate model output, so the PDA reconstructions are consistent with both the climate signals reflected by the proxy data and the physical mechanisms represented by climate models. Based on the tree rings with discrete seasonal …

Flood Hazard Mapping And Assessment Of Precipitation Monitoring System Using Gis-Based Morphometric Analysis And Trmm Data: A Case Study Of The Wadi Qena Watershed, Egypt, Wael M. Elsadek, Wael E. Mahmod, Mona G. Ibrahim

Applied Environmental Research

Wadi Qena is one of the Nile Valley areas particularly at risk of severe flash flooding, located in Egypt. The study aims to verify TRMM rainfall data (TRMM 3B42), using eight stations across Egypt as well as relies on morphometric analysis to generate a flood risk map based on the ranking method. Three process could be recognized through the study, calibration, correction and verification processes. The results discuss the match daily rainfall trends of TRMM and observed data, producing a correction equation for TRMM data with root mean square error (RMSE) value of 0.837 mm d-1 and R2= 0.238 (calibration …

Biochar From Rice Husk As Efficient Biosorbent For Procion Red Removal From Aqueous Systems, Neza R. Palapa, Tarmizi Taher, Novie Juleanti, Normah Normah, Aldes Lesbani

Applied Environmental Research

Numerous reports have elucidated the use of biochar (BC) to adsorb dyes from wastewater. However, its applicability for adsorbing Procion Red, which causes carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on aquatic life, has not been studied. In this work, biochar produced from rice husk in Sumatera, Indonesia was used as a biosorbent for Procion Red removal from aqueous systems. Rice husk-BC was characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, surface area specific analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for mor-phological analysis. The characterisation showed a (002) reflection peak at 2θ = 23° with broad and quite intense diffraction, which …

Monitoring The Land Cover Changes In Mangrove Areas And Urbanization Using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index And Normalized Difference Built-Up Index In Krabi Estuary Wetland, Krabi Province, Thailand, Katawut Waiyasusri

Applied Environmental Research

Krabi Estuary Wetland (KEW) is an outstanding wetland with an estuary environment. At present, the tourism industry has rapidly grown, resulting in the impact of land cover changes. This research aims to assess the changes that have occurred in the KEW from 1999 to 2020 using NDVI and NDBI for monitoring changes in mangrove areas and urbanization in Krabi Province, Thailand. Landsat satellite images in years 1999, 2009 and 2020 were classified by using a band ratio to create land cover maps. The results show that NDVI between 0.41–1.00 clearly shows the mangrove forest area, while NDBI between 0.01–0.40 shows …

Application Of Gis And Multi-Criteria Statistical Techniques In Assessing Water Quality In The Coastal Province Of Vietnamese Mekong Delta, Giao Thanh Nguyen, Thi Hong Nhien Huynh

Applied Environmental Research

The study was conducted to evaluate the quality and spatial distribution of surface water quality in Soc Trang, a coastal province using Geographic information system (GIS) and multivariate statistical analysis. Water monitoring data was collected from 19 sampling locations with 19 parameters were analyzed from February 2019 to August 2020. The results indicated that water quality was contaminated with organic matters, nutrients, coliforms and salinity. Water quality index (WQI=22–73) indicated that water quality was from poor to medium level. Cluster analysis (CA) classified 19 monitoring sites into 7 groups and 19 months into 3 seasons including rainy season, rainy season-early …

Adsorption Of Methylene Blue By Low-Cost Biochar Derived From Elephant Dung, Yanasinee Suma, Nittaya Pasukphun, Numfon Eaktasang

Applied Environmental Research

Elephant dung biochar (ED350) prepared by controlled heating at 350 ºC was used to adsorb methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution. The effects of adsorption time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial MB concentration were examined. Kinetic, isotherm, and thermo-dynamic models were then further analyzed to determine the adsorption. The results show that ED350 was found to be efficient within 180 min. The optimum pH of MB adsorption was 11. The Langmuir isotherm model was found to be the most suitable fit for the adsorption equilibrium data, with ED350 having a homogeneous surface. The calculated equilibrium parameter (RL) …

A Workforce And Truck Allocation Model In A Solid Waste Management System: A Case From Nigeria, Desmond E. Ighravwe, Sunday A. Oke

Applied Environmental Research

No abstract provided.

Spatiotemporal Flood Risk Determination And Management For A Large River Basin, Nuanchan Singkran

Applied Environmental Research

No abstract provided.

Synergistic Effect Of Waste Feedstock Mixture And Torrefaction Pre-Treatment On Some Briquette Characteristics Of Cornhusk And Sawdust Wastes, Mufutau A. Waheed, Opeyemi A. Akogun

Applied Environmental Research

Agricultural waste management through energy recovery is one of the critical options that could drive the clean energy production industry and properly replace the use of coal in Nigeria if done sustainably. The objective of this work therefore is to study the synergetic effect of waste feedstock mixture and torrefaction pre-treatment on some physical and performance characteristics of briquettes from cornhusk (CH) and sawdust (SD) wastes. In this work, CH and SD wastes were processed raw and torrefied at 200 to 300 °C and were mixed in the ratios between 90/10 and 10/90 for briquette production using D-optimal crossed design. …

Nutrient Sources, Loads And Trends Vary Spatially And Temporally Within The Poteau River Watershed And Lake Wister, Oklahoma, Abbie Lasater

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Excess inputs of nutrients and sediments jeopardize drinking water sources, aquatic life habitats, and aesthetic quality of freshwater resources for recreation. The purpose of this dissertation was to analyze long-term water quality trends and loads in the Upper Poteau River Watershed (UPRW) and the Lake Wister Watershed (LWW), and analyze internal phosphorus (P) loads in Lake Wister, Oklahoma. Additionally, this dissertation sought to review the literature for methods of prioritizing subwatersheds for watershed management using watershed models, implement a cost efficient method to remotely monitor streamflow and estimate constituent loads in small-scale watersheds, and finally, to validate the Soil Water …

Climate-Induced Stressors To Peace: A Review Of Recent Literature, Ayyoob Sharifi, Dahlia Simangan, Chui Ying Lee, Rose Reyes, Tarek Katramiz, Jairus Carmela C. Josol, Leticia Dos Muchangos, Hassan Virji, Shinji Kaneko, Thea Kersti Tandog, Leorence Tandog, Moinul Islam

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a threat to global peace and security. This paper intends to provide a better understanding of the nature of interactions between climate change and events that undermine peace through a systematic review of recent literature. It highlights major methodological approaches adopted in the literature, elaborates on the geographic focus of the research at the nexus of climate change and peace, and provides further information on how various climatic stressors, such as extreme temperature, floods, sea-level rise, storms, and water stress may be linked to different events that undermine peace (e.g. civil conflict, crime, intercommunal …

Individual Exposure Potential Assessment For Livestock Based On Spatial-Temporal Analysis Of Gps Data And Behavior Patterns Classification In Cove Wash Watershed, Arizona, Zhuoming Liu

Geography ETDs

This thesis examined the geospatial and temporal grazing patterns of domesticated livestock to model individual-level exposure potential to abandoned uranium mine (AUM) waste in a tribal community in the Southwest United States. Lotek Litetrack Global Positioning System (GPS) collars collected data at 20-minute-intervals for 2 flocks of sheep and goats during the Spring and Summer of 2019. Depending on the flock and individual animals, tracking time ranges from 10 days to four months. This research developed a GIS-based exposure potential framework that built on existing methodologies in time geography, GIS, and exposure mapping. This thesis aims to: 1) classify GPS …

The Contribution Of Mining Sector To Sustainable Development In Saudi Arabia, Mourad Zmami, Ousama Ben-Salha, Sultan O. Almarshad, Houyem Chekki

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The mining sector development is among the priorities of the Saudi Vision 2030. There is currently a lot of interest in the role of the mining sector in Saudi Arabia. This research contributes to this debate by empirically assessing the effects of mining on sustainable development in Saudi Arabia during the period 1980-2018. Unlike many previous studies, the three sustainable development dimensions, namely economic, social, and environmental, are jointly considered. The cointegration analysis, based on the ARDL, Gregory-Hansen, and combined cointegration tests, confirms the existence of long-run relationships between mining and all sustainable development dimensions. Furthermore, the findings lend substantial …

Contested Landscapes, Disputed Realities: An Investigation Of Socio-Environmental Conflict From Mining In Northern Ecuador: An Honors Thesis, Ian F. Hirons

Student Works

For decades, Ecuador has been one of the preeminent petrostates in South America. However, in response to recent drops in global demand and pricing for oil products, the country has made serious commitments to further develop its mineral resources. By opening a new natural resource sector, Ecuador has firmly cemented itself as a primarily extractivist nation. In the process, the national government has frequently come into conflict with activist and community groups who protest the encroachment of extractive industry. This thesis explores the various dimensions of socio-environmental conflict created by large-scale mining projects in northern Ecuador with specific attention to …

The Economic Value Of America’S Estuaries: 2021 Report, Tracy Rouleau, Charles S. Colgan, Jefferey Adkins, Castelletto Anthony, Dirlam Patty, Shannon Lyons, Hilary Stevens

Publications

This study builds on the work completed in 2009, “The Economic and Market Value of Coasts and Estuaries: What’s At Stake?,” a report by NOAA in collaboration with the Center for the Blue Economy and the Ocean Foundation, at the request of Restore America’s Estuaries. Like the 2009 study, the 2021 update uses the same data sources (Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis and NOAA), and looks in detail at the same five major sectors of the U.S. economy (fisheries, energy infrastructure, marine transportation, real estate, and recreation) from 2009-2018.

The 2021 update includes the economic …

An Analysis Of The Impacts Of Climate Change On Food Security In The Albertine Rift Of East Africa, Malcolm Jacob

Sustainability and Social Justice

As one of the most densely populated regions on the continent of Africa, the Albertine Rift (consisting of parts of Rwanda, Uganda, and the eastern DRC) faces ongoing problems providing enough food for its people through crop production, livestock husbandry, and other forms of food production. Even more troubling for the future is that anthropogenic climate change is expected to significantly exacerbate food insecurity. This paper addresses one central question: how will climate change impact food security in the Albertine Rift? Based on an analysis of available data, this paper finds that policymakers should listen closely to local farmers and …