Geography Commons^™

Predicting Cardiovascular Mortality In Hampton Roads Using Social Determinants Of Health, Mohan D. Pant, Aditya Chakraborty, Prachi P. Chavan, George Mcleod, Brett J. Sierra, Glenn A. Yap, Brian C. Martin, Ebbie Kalan, Gregory T. Scott

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: In Virginia’s Hampton Roads (HR) region, minority populations experience notably higher mortality rates than white populations. Despite abundant research on the association between social determinants of health (SDOH) and cardiovascular mortality rates at the state and national levels, there is a lack of research examining this association in the HR region.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to train and validate a geospatial-temporal predictive model to examine the association between SDOH and cardiovascular mortality, in the HR region.

Methods: Utilizing a longitudinal dataset (2010–2021) from the Virginia Department of Health and the U.S. Census Bureau, we trained …

Projections Of Lightning‐Ignited Wildfire Risk In The Western United States, Dmitri A. Kalashnikov, John T. Abatzoglou, Frances V. Davenport, Zachary M. Labe, Paul C. Loikith, Danielle Touma, Deepti Singh

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning is a major source of summer wildfire ignition in the western United States (WUS). However, future projections of lightning are uncertain since lightning is not directly simulated by most global climate models. To address this issue, we use convolutional neural network (CNN)‐based parameterizations of daily June‐September CG lightning. CNN parameterizations of daily CG lightning occurrence at each grid cell use fields of three thermodynamic variables—ratio of surface Moist Static Energy (MSE) to 500 hPa saturation MSE, 700–500 hPa lapse rate, and 500 hPa relative humidity. Applying these parameterizations to the Community Earth System Model version 2 Large …

No. 44: Tracking Translocality: Food Remittance Narratives In The Africa-Gulf Migration Corridor, Bernard Owusu, Jonathan Crush

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

This paper explores the overlooked practice of food-related remittances in the Ghana-Qatar migration corridor, emphasizing their social, emotional, and cultural significance within translocal households. While cash remittances are widely studied, food remitting remains under-researched despite its critical role in sustaining family ties and addressing food insecurity. Drawing on a mixed-methods study involving household surveys in Ghana and interviews with migrants in Qatar, the paper employs a tripartite conceptual framework incorporating gifting, caregiving, and moral economy to analyze migrant remittance narratives. The paper shows that remitting practices are shaped by cultural norms, kinship obligations, and emotional care, often at significant personal …

La Niña Effects On The Mjo Modulation Of North Pacific Atmospheric Rivers And Associated Western North American Precipitation, L. G. Fernandes, Paul C. Loikith, M. Mora

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

We investigate connections between the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) and North Pacific atmospheric rivers (ARs) and associated precipitation over North America during La Niña (LN) years. Overall, AR frequency is reduced over the northeastern Pacific and western North America in phases 2–5 of the MJO. However, under LN, increased AR activity appears over those regions in phases 4–6 and across the central North Pacific in Phase 3. Distinct effects of LN on the basic state and MJO contribute to the persistence of AR anomalous patterns in phases 3–6. For instance, MJO intensifies in Phase 3 under LN, favoring the coupling between …

Hindcasting The Occurrence Time Of Major Earthquakes Using Machine Learning And Time Series Analysis, Rubidha Devi D

Theses and Dissertations

An earthquake is an intense shaking of the ground that typically occurs when tectonic plates move beneath the surface of the Earth. Scientists analyze historical seismic records and geophysical and atmospheric signs to build models estimating the probability of major earthquakes by detecting patterns and anomalies in data such as ground deformation and seismic waves. This study would help in predicting earthquakes to minimize risks of people and buildings. The present study investigates the devastating earthquakes along the Chilean subduction zone in South America, linking non-seismic data to machine learning predictions of Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and Relative Humidity (RH) …

Flowing Progress: Transforming The Danube Through Infrastructure, Stefan Dorondel, Luminita Gatejel

Central European Studies

Flowing Progress: Transforming the Danube Through Infrastructure focuses on how different political regimes and forms of governance have imagined and technologically transformed the most international river in the world. Multidisciplinary and drawing on methodologies of history, anthropology of infrastructure, and science, technology, and society, this collection explores the tensions between the river and its natural pulses, the humans that populate its floodplains, state agencies, and infrastructure. The book engages the concept of disturbance to point out the circular and spiraling dynamics between hydrological processes and technopolitical and economic practices. Disturbance denotes a specific type of long-term dynamic between human attempts …

Analyzing Food Access: An Investigation Of Food Insecurity Amongst Latinos In Rural Nebraska, Natalia Santos

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Food insecurity is a public health issue in the United States, with disproportionately higher rates among Latino/Hispanic households. Rural communities face unique geographical, socioeconomic, and systemic barriers that often exacerbate food access disparities. Despite the growing Latino population in rural areas, particularly in Midwestern states like Nebraska, there remains a critical gap in comprehensive research that integrates both objective and subjective understandings of their food environments. Understanding these multifaceted influences is crucial for developing effective, culturally sensitive interventions.

Problem Statement: This dissertation aims to answer the central question: How does food access and food insecurity manifest amongst Latinos in …

Volume Ii | Issue I | 2025

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Inflation Targeting And Inertial Rules, Araha Uday

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Restrictions On Veto Power: Holding The Permanent Five Accountable In The Face Of Intervention And Peacekeeping Operations, Theo Aldrighi

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

ABSTRACT: This article examines the structural constraints of the United Nations Security Council, with a focus on the veto power of its permanent members and its implications for intervention and peacekeeping. Through a realist lens and grounded in structural analysis, it contends that the recurrent paralysis of the Council in the face of mass atrocities stems from entrenched power asymmetries. The paper advances a bifold proposal: the adoption of the French-Mexican initiative to suspend veto use in cases of mass atrocities, and the entrenchment of the Council’s authority to authorize the use of force under defined conditions. Drawing on case …

Clickbait Economics: When Narratives Outshine Fundamentals, Esther Eisenstat

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Judicial Lustration In Backsliding Democracies: Causes And Solutions For Publication, Collin Mcdonnell

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Eco-Humanitarianism: A Political Ecological Framework For Humanitarian Resilience, Roksanna Keyvan

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Export Processing Zones: Misguided Vehicles Of Globalization, Isabella Calise

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Geopolitical Policy—Case Study Of “Korea Limitation Order” Upon The Cultural Entertainment Industry In China, Zhilin Li

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

This paper examines the impact on the South Korean Cultural Entertainment Indus- try(CEI) of China’s “Korea Limitation Order”. In November 2016, Beijing restricted South Korean artists from holding concerts and the broadcast of South Korean TV dramas and banned cooperation between the two countries in the entertainment in- dustries. This paper focuses on the effect this had on exports of cultural products and relating industries from Korea, and how Korea was able to adjust to this geopolitical shock. I examine exports from Korea to China, Japan, and the United States using data from Cultural Entertainment Industry Products Exports, such as …

Development Analysis Of South Africa: Potential Impacts Of The Democratic Alliance’S Presence In The New Coalition, Mitchell Susswein

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

Does Bilingualism On Resumes Affect Callback Rates?, Autumn Halfpenny

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

I study the influence of bilingualism in Spanish on the likelihood of receiving a callback for female customer service positions in the Chicago area. Data are collected from sixteen unique resumes submitted to 131 different job postings in an audit study, with applicants differing in bilingual ability. Bilingualism in Spanish significantly in- creases the likelihood of a callback by 17.86%-25.4%, implying bilingualism is valued in customer service roles. This suggests that bilingualism in Spanish may increase job prospects. While previous research studies this using observational and survey data, I use an audit study design with resumes to obtain causal results. …

Housing Construction In Washington, Dc: A Spatiotemporal Perspective, Willem Ells

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Pandemic School Closures On Standardized Testing Outcomes: Evidence From Connecticut, Michael Manieri

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

During the Covid-19 pandemic, schools around the nation closed to prevent the virus’s spread. Following these closures, students’ performance on standardized exams worsened. Using a two-way fixed effect model with district and year fixed effects, I examine if the use of non-traditional schooling modes (i.e. hybrid and virtual) during the pandemic is associated with lower ELA and Math proficiency rates in Connecticut public schools. I find that Connecticut public school districts’ Math and ELA pass rates on the annual Smarter Balanced exam significantly decreased as they used higher levels of virtual and hybrid education. The magnitude of this decrease was …

Performance Mapping And Weighting For The Evapotranspiration Models Of The Openet Ensemble, M. Reitz, J. M. Volk, T. Ott, M. Anderson, G. B. Senay, F. Melton, A. Kilic, R. Allen, Joshua B. Fisher, A. Ruhoff, A. J. Purdy, J. Huntington

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Evapotranspiration (ET) accounts for the majority of water available from precipitation in the terrestrial water cycle, and improvements to the accuracy, resolution, and coverage of ET data can enhance hydrologic models and assessments. The OpenET collaboration of six remotely sensed ET modeling teams has demonstrated that an ensemble approach to ET estimation generally provides improved accuracy relative to individual ensemble members. The performance of individual models has been shown to vary by land cover type and climate zone, but a thorough study of the variables that influence model performance differences has not yet been conducted. In this paper, we model …

From Larvae To Livelihoods: Examining The Realities Of Black Soldier Fly Farming In Malawi, Emily Herriott

Capstone Collection

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae offer a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers and conventional feed inputs such as soy, fishmeal, and maize bran in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, where smallholder farmers grapple with declining soil fertility, high input prices, chronic food insecurity, and livestock nutritional challenges, BSF farming is emerging as a promising circular agricultural innovation. Despite its technical promise, the social, economic, and ecological realities of BSF adoption remain underexplored.This study investigates the early implementation of BSF farming in Malawi through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, focusing on farmer experiences, challenges, and the social and structural processes shaping uptake …

First Report Of Fibropapillomatosis And Critical Habitat Use In Green Sea Turtles In Curaçao, M. Tripepi, I. J. R. Van Veghel, A. D. Vreugdenhil, E. Brunelli

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Fibropapillomatosis, a disease affecting green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), has been documented in many regions of the world, including the Caribbean, but has not been scientifically reported in Curaçao until now. The present study utilized VHF telemetry in Caracas Bay, Curaçao, to track green sea turtles, both healthy and affected by fibropapillomatosis, with the objective of ascertaining their foraging locations. VHF telemetry proved to be a pivotal method for assessing habitat use in areas characterized by limited visibility and high boat traffic, conditions that present significant challenges for divers and snorkellers attempting to access the area. The results …

The First Thirty Years Of Green Stormwater Infrastructure In Portland, Oregon, Michaela Koucka, Cara Poor, Jordyn Wolfand, Heejun Chang, Vivek Shandas, Adrienne Aiona, Henry Stevens, Tim Kurtz, Svetlana Hedin, Steve Fancher, Joshua Lighthipe, Adam Zucker

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the past 30 years, the City of Portland, Oregon, USA, has emerged as a national leader in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). The initial impetus for implementing sustainable stormwater infrastructure in Portland stemmed from concerns about flooding and water quality in the city’s two major rivers, the Columbia and the Willamette. Heavy rainfall often led to combined sewer overflows, significantly polluting these waterways. A partial solution was the construction of “The Big Pipe” project, a large-scale stormwater containment system designed to filter and regulate overflow. However, Portland has taken a more comprehensive and long-term approach by integrating sustainable stormwater management …

Spatial Variability Of Heat Mortality Rate Relationships In Arizona At Primary Care Area Level, Ria Mukherjee

Theses and Dissertations

Heat Mortality Rates (HMR) in Arizona (AZ) are one of the highest in all of US. The HMR association with environmental, socioeconomic, demographic, and occupational factors has been widely investigated to inform mitigative policy. This study employed linear and spatial models- Ordinary Least Square (OLS), Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR), across AZ at Primary Care Area (PCAr) level to identify important spatial trends in HMR relationship. Results indicated a significant global association between heat mortality and environmental variables and the elderly population aged 65 and older. In contrast, the working age group between 54 and …

Births In The Mountain West, 2023, Lara Karaalp, Yashesvi Sharma, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Demography

This fact sheet details data from a National Vital Statistics report on the number of births within the Mountain West in 2023. This report, offered through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), includes data on the race/ethnic demographics of mothers of American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, white, and Hispanic descent. This fact sheet explores birth data for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, by the mother’s place of residence.

Convergence Research For Sustainable Regional Systems, Heejun Chang, Brian Roe, Murat Erkoc, Josiah Heyman, Katherine Foo, Debankur Sanyal, Debjyoti Banerjee, Richard Rushforth, Jaishri Srinivasan

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Summary:

Convergence research addresses societal and environmental challenges by co-creating knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, often in deep collaboration with extra-academic parties to ensure that the research process is solution-focused, actionable, and just. As part of National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research projects on sustainable regional systems, we present multiple perspectives on conducting convergence research within the coupled social-ecological-technological systems framework. These projects explicitly engage extra-academic parties to co-design and co-produce knowledge throughout all stages of this participatory research. We introduce the 3 C’s model as a framework that links a research team’s Communication, Collaboration, and Creation decisions to the likely degree …

Hybrid Geographies And Nature In The City: A Tale Of Two Greenspaces In Louisville, Ky., Rebecca Dixon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many conservation initiatives position nature and the urban as opposing constructions, which means the possibilities where cities can work with nature are often overlooked. This study uses the lens of relational geographies to examine nature in the city by comparing two greenspaces in the Beargrass Creek watershed in Louisville, Kentucky: Waterfront Botanical Gardens and the Louisville Nature Center. The two organizations are compared by using a combination of content analysis, discourse analysis, and GIS flood analysis methods to determine how their geographical location and history affect the ways in which the dynamic between nature and culture is reproduced. Results show …

Montana Resident Report: Participation In Outfitted And Guided Outdoor Recreation And Sports Tourism Within Montana, Carter Bermingham, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

While nonresidents play a significant role in outdoor recreation and travel across the state, the contribution of residents is not to be underestimated. This report sheds light on two important topics from the Montana resident perspective: 1) their participation in outfitted or guided outdoor recreation activities in Montana, and 2) their participation in travel for sport across Montana.

Impacts And Insights: Assessing The Aftermath Of Yellowstone’S 500-Year Flood In Montana, Melissa Weddell, Kara Grau, Patrick Holland-Stergar, Christina S. Barsky, Lauren K. Mckeague

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Tourism is shaped by many elements, including natural disasters and unexpected events, which can profoundly affect visitor patterns and destination choices. While disasters typically reduce tourist numbers, occasionally they can have a positive influence. The purpose of this report is to document the flood event, analyze its impact, recovery process, and the economic losses to the region, particularly in terms of tourism visitation and revenue to the area and its gateway communities. The project was a coordinated effort among researchers from the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR), the Department of Public Administration and Policy, and …

Nacaa Am/Pic Conference 2025, Billings, Montana, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This study was conducted for Montana State University (Extension) to provide insight into the characteristics of attendees of the 2025 National Association County Agricultural Agent’s Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference hosted in Billings, Montana. Four hundred forty-seven attendees of the event completed the survey. Results show that the majority of respondents resided outside of Montana, 95% in other US states and 1% visiting from other US Territories, only 3% of respondents were residents of Montana. Out-of-county respondents spent an average of 6.4 nights in Montana, reporting a total spending of $748,676.05, mostly in hotel/motel/bed and breakfasts and event registration …