Geography Commons^™

Assessing Future Drought Scenarios In Rangpur, Bangladesh Using Cmip6 Climate Projections And Drought Indices, Mijanur Rahman, Hossain Al Mahbub, Mst Sanjida Alam, Janifer Alam, Nusrut Sharmin, Md Naim Molla

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Climate-induced drought has become a growing concern across South Asia as rising temperatures and monsoon variability intensify hydroclimatic stress. This study evaluates historical (1979–2014) and future (2015–2100) hydroclimatic conditions in Rangpur using observed data and CanESM5 projections for three CMIP6 scenarios (SSP1-1.9, SSP2-2.6, SSP5-8.5). Multi-scale Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were applied to detect droughts, while Tmax and Tmin Z-scores quantified heat anomalies and compound drought–temperature events. Historical records show strong rainfall variability with no significant long-term trend, but significant warming particularly in Tmin indicating increasing evaporative demand. Future projections reveal moderate precipitation increases (+ …

Caribou Migration And Non-Local Hunting In Northwest Alaska: A Gis Analysis Of Hunting Activity And Its Relationship With Caribou Migration Corridors, Brittney L. Jiménezszabo

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Indigenous Alaskans rely on subsistence hunting for food, with Barren-ground caribou making up approximately 27% of their diet. It is believed by subsistence hunters that non-local hunting is forcing a change in caribou migration behavior. This study examined non-local harvesting records from 2013 – 2025 in the northwest and interior Game Management Units (GMU) and Alaksa’s Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) migration range data to answer the question, is there a spatial relationship between non-local harvests and WACH migration behavior. Mixed methods included spatial autocorrelation and local statistics. Findings led to the rejection of the null hypothesis which will help …

“They’Re Not Just Leaving, They’Re Gone”: Challenges To Generational Renewal And Long-Term Care On The Islands Of West Cork, Amy Duley

International Journal of Islands Research

While the field of rural ageing has garnered attention due to the rapidly ageing rural population worldwide, islands are generally given less consideration when examining the needs of older people. This study aimed to explore the challenges to ageing in place faced by residents in the farming community of two West Cork islands in Ireland. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight islanders in January 2025. A qualitative content analysis was conducted and nine overarching themes situated within the social-ecological framework were identified. The loss of the younger generation, its effect on generational renewal and informal care, and poor access …

Montana Arts And Culture: Value And Impact, Elena Bigart, Emma Keinath-Lopez, Kara Sage, Melissa Weddell

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Montana’s arts and cultural production sector was estimated at $2.45 billion in value added and 20,269 jobs in 2023, or 3.3% of state GDP, a larger share than in any neighboring state, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data. This report uses those federal estimates as an economic baseline and adds what national accounts cannot capture: how community leaders perceive the local economic role of arts and culture, and the social, educational, and civic value the sector provides. The mixed-methods study combines a literature review, a statewide survey of 75 community leaders, and interviews with arts organizations in …

Interpreting The Mystery Of The Edmund Fitzgerald: A Reexamination Of Maritime Documentation, Phillip C. Brady

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

The sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10^th, 1975 remains one of the most mysterious and highly debated shipwrecks in the history of the Great Lakes. The most probable of the three reasons, hatch failure, compromising seas, or shoaling, can be concluded through a thorough analysis of prominent sources paired with new research gathered from the receptivity of each conclusion to the average person.

A Systematic Review Of Urban Forest Governance And Green Infrastructure For Climate Resilience In Lagos, Nigeria, Quadri Olatunbosun Taiwo, Kyrian Izuchukwu Nnadi, Esther Aishat Tonade, Damilola Emmanuel Oluyege, Wasiu Ademola Oyeniyi, Nofisat Baruwa

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract In Lagos, rapid urbanisation, infrastructure expansion and land-use pressure continue to place urban forests, parks, street trees and wider green infrastructure under strain, while fragmented governance limits their contribution to climate resilience, public wellbeing and equitable urban development. Using a systematic review design, this study synthesized peer-reviewed empirical evidence on urban and community forestry (UCF) governance in Lagos, Nigeria, to support the proposed development of a State of Urban Forestry Report. Searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Environment Complete, DOAJ, Google Scholar and reference lists for English-language studies published between 2016 and 2025. Twenty studies …

The Role Of Environmental Awareness In Green Technological Usage: A Mediation Of Sustainable Green Practices In The Manufacturing Sector, Joel Mark P. Rodriguez

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study investigates environmental awareness, sustainable green activities, and green technology adoption in the manufacturing industry, with special attention being paid to the role of sustainable green activities in the mediating effect of environmental awareness on green technology adoption.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative cross-sectional design was applied in the study based on the use of data gathered from 350 employees/managers from five manufacturing companies in the CALABARZON area of the Philippines. The analysis was conducted using SEM with WarpPLS 8.0 software, while the mediator effects were studied using the bootstrapping technique.

Research Findings: Environmental awareness significantly impacts sustainable …

Cropland Change And Prime Farmland In Calloway County, Kentucky, 2015–2025: A Gis Analysis Of Corn And Soybean Fields, Shiba Hari Dhakal Shiba

Scholars Week

Understanding where cropland change occurs relative to soil quality helps indicate whether farmland is being used on the most productive land. This study used GIS-based change detection analysis to evaluate changes in corn and soybean fields in Calloway County, Kentucky, between 2015 and 2025 and to test whether new corn and soybean fields were located on prime farmland. USDA Cropland Data Layer maps for 2015 and 2025 (30 m resolution) were reclassified into seven classes and compared in ArcGIS Pro, and the results were overlaid on USDA NRCS gSSURGO farmland classification. Combined corn and soybean area declined about 19% from …

The U.S. Forest Monitor: Establishing A Historical Baseline For The Drivers And Climate Impacts Of Permanent Forest Loss, Christopher A. Williams, Natalia Hasler

Geography

This report introduces the U.S. Forest Monitor, a new system for tracking permanent forest conversion across the United States and reveals that forest loss is occurring at a significant and increasing scale. The burden of forest loss is unevenly distributed with 11 states representing 70% of all loss nationally. Forestland provides critical benefits including habitat and biodiversity, clean water and air, outdoor recreation, healthy soils, and climate regulation. Forests today face many threats, including fire, pest outbreaks and other stressors. Permanent deforestation, the focus of this report, involves the clearing of forests for another land use – like development and …

Distinguishing Auroral-E And Sporadic-E In Gnss Radio Occultation Measurements, Sharjeel Hyder, Jeffrey M. Holmes, Kyle E. Fitch, Kyle D. Roberts, Also: Themens, David R.; Emmons, Daniel J., Nimalan Swarnalingam, Dong L. Wu, Cornelius C. J. H. Salinas, David R. Themens, Daniel J. Emmons

Faculty Publications

GNSS radio occultation (RO) is widely used to detect metallic-ion sporadic-E layers on a global scale, but in auroral environments, particle precipitation-driven ionization can produce auroral-E structures with similar RO signatures. This overlap complicates reliable identification of sporadic-E and may bias high-latitude occurrence rate estimates. In this study, we quantify auroral contamination in RO-based sporadic-E detection and evaluate the performance of both threshold-based and multivariate classifier approaches. A dataset of 106 conjunction events was constructed using RO observations from the Spire and COSMIC-1 constellations, together with co-located ionosonde and magnetometer measurements at two high-latitude sites and an ionosonde at a …

Transitory Ownership: A Spatial Analysis Of The Financialization Of The Housing Market In Cincinnati, Oh, Chad Kinsella, Colleen Mctague, Rafael Ranieri

The Journal of Economics and Politics

The mortgage bubble that burst in 2007 created an economic environment where many housing properties were transferred from individual households to investors hoping for quick profits with minimal investment. These properties were traded among investors, businesses, and lenders; they acquired a market identity as financial assets; and many of these properties were acquired by “out-of-area” interests. This study examines properties purchased by out-of-area interests that were sold in 2009 within the City of Cincinnati in an attempt to identify the spatial implications of the financialization of this housing stock. The analysis finds that many of these properties were sold multiple …

Swaag Award Press Release, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Study Abroad - Dominica 2026

Jessica Harvey won first place in the undergraduate paper category at the annual Southwestern Division American Association of Geographers (SWAAG).

Comparing Knowledge-Driven And Data-Driven Machine Learning Frameworks For Coastal Vulnerability Assessment On The Egyptian North Coast, Ali Elgendy, Hesham Morgan, Hesham El-Askary, László Mucsi

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Coastal erosion worsened by climate change and human activities is a major threat to global shorelines. As sea levels rise and storms intensify, this rapid shoreline retreat endangers critical infrastructure and the economic security of coastal populations worldwide. However, traditional knowledge-driven frameworks for assessing these threats often rely on subjective, static rules that fail to capture complex, non-linear environmental interactions. To address this critical gap and demonstrate the value of advanced methods, this study compared the traditional Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model against machine learning algorithms, highlighting the potential for more accurate coastal erosion risk assessment. …

In Memory Of Jane Widtfeldt Meged, Luis Miguel Brito, Cristina Carvalho

International Journal of Tour Guiding and Visitor Attraction Research

Short piece in Memory of Jane Widtfeldt Meged, founder member of Editorial Board of the International Journal of Tour Guiding and Visitor Attraction Research

Using Scenario-Based Generative Ai In A Social Studies Methods Course, Timothy Lintner, Ellis Reeves

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming the landscape of educator preparation. This shift is especially evident in social studies. As emerging technologies like AI reshape how social studies is taught and learned, it is essential to incorporate them into course design and student outcomes. Simply put, we must ensure that the next generation of social studies educators can effectively use AI to create real-world, scenario-based learning experiences that foster inquiry and encourage student action-taking. This article examines how AI-supported, scenario-based learning was strategically integrated into a secondary social studies methods course at the University of South Carolina Aiken. From concept …

‘There Is No Continuity’: Assessment Of Pre-Service Teachers' Ability To Analyse Historical Sources In Two Ghanaian Public Universities, Anitha Oforiwah Adu-Boahen

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

The paper examined student-teachers’ understanding of change and continuity in History. Using a convergent parallel mixed method approach, one hundred and thirty-five (135) student-teachers from two public universities examined images depicting classroom settings in Ghana’s educational system from different periods. Respondents were expected to show and explain the continuities and changes in the different periods in Ghanaian history. They were to focus on the disparities in ‘change’ and ‘continuities’ in classroom settings in the Ghanaian educational system over time. Again, student-teachers were expected to transform their knowledge of these changes into historical understanding by writing an interpretation from the sources. …

Using The Past To Better Understand The Present: Contextualizing Today’S History Wars, For Ourselves And For Our Students, Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This essay considers our contemporary moment in the context of the long history of the so-called "history wars" in the United States. It identifies four historical moments with ties to the present, and makes use of primary documents to discuss each time period. It also considers the ways in which historical activists such as Frederick Douglass and W. E. B. Du Bois advocated for honest history in the past, and the ways in which we might argue for nuanced historical thinking in the present. Teachers may find the documents of use for their own classrooms, and a brief appendix at …

Visitor Perceptions Of Lampenflora And Implications For Adaptive Show Cave Management: A Case Study From Ryusen-Do Cave, Japan, Kanato Ando, Kazuhide Nakajima, Shuji Watanabe, Masuo Komukai, Hidesato Kuwahara

International Journal of Speleology

Artificial lighting in show caves promotes lampenflora growth, altering cave ecosystems and posing persistent management challenges. Although various control methods have been proposed, their effectiveness and social acceptance remain context dependent. This study investigated visitors’ perceptions of lampenflora through questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews to explore adaptive management strategies. Results indicated that visitors generally held positive impressions of lampenflora, but these impressions became more critical after receiving information about its artificial origin and ecological impacts. At the same time, support for conservation-oriented management, including willingness to contribute financially, tended to increase following information provision. Tourism-related evaluations were more strongly associated …

Where Do I Live, Again?: Finding Kentucky Geographic Information, Kurt X. Metzmeier

Brandeis School of Law Faculty Scholarship

Since the foundation of the United States, Americans have surveyed and recorded deeds to their properties in the county where they resided. However, until recently, those property surveys, as well as county maps, were the product of human surveyors drawing lines on paper. Only in the late 20th century, when satellites began surveying the globe and the internet made information readily accessible, did human maps give way to geographic information systems (GIS). This article surveys the GIS systems available to Louisville lawyers.

Nonresident Travel Pattern Analysis, 2021-2025, Kira Minehart

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report summarizes nonresident travel patterns across Montana for the 2021– 2025 survey period, prepared by an independent contractor for the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) at the University of Montana.

The analysis reconstructs each survey respondent’s most likely travel route through Montana using their recorded entry gateway, towns marked along the route, and exit gateway. Of the 40,837 nonresident survey respondents collected from 2021 through 2025, 5,004 (12.3%) could be reconstructed into mappable routes; these routed respondents are the basis for the analysis that follows and are referred to throughout as “visitors.” Non-routable respondents either did not …