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1
Singh, Ajit. "Quantifying the effect of atmospheric pollution and meteorology on visibility and tropospheric chemistry." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2017. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/7828/.
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There are two distinct research foci within this thesis; the role of aerosol particle and trace gases on (i) visibility and (ii) tropospheric chemistry. This work investigates short and long term visibility, by exploring the combined influence of atmospheric aerosol and meteorology. Observations were fitted to a newly developed light extinction model to generate predictions of historic aerosol and gas scattering and absorbing properties, explaining long term visibility trends and their dependence on meteorological conditions. This model incorporates parameterizations of aerosol hygroscopicity, gas absorption and particle concentration, scattering, and absorption. Historical visibility data can therefore be used to assess trends in aerosol particle properties for time periods when observational data are scarce or non-existent. Short term visibility variations caused by particulate matter from firework and bonfire emissions is presented. It is shown that a reduction in the atmospheric visibility nationwide is -25%; which is a consequence of increased loading of atmospheric PM, and is found to be dependent upon relative humidity. Within tropospheric chemistry, HONO is an important source of OH radicals, and daytime HONO sources are poorly constrained. This work explores the abundance of HONO during a solar eclipse as a natural short-term perturbation to atmospheric photochemistry. A chemical kinetic model is employed to predict the concentrations of HONO using different source scenarios. The study provides insights into the variation of HONO with meteorology, traffic emission and other source.
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Mahmood, Marliyyah Abdullahi. "The interaction of pollution, meteorology and bioaerosols : implications on human health." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2018. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/8101/.
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The global incidence of allergic reaction has been rising for years, especially within westernised urban areas. There is evidence that the interaction between pollen grains, environmental pollution and meteorological change is increasing the allergenicity of the pollen grain and consequently, increasing the misery of hay fever sufferers. Laboratory experiments have shown that the interaction of pollen with atmospheric oxidants such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide NO₂ can alter protein molecules that are present within the pollen grains via post-translational modification of the protein. Within the laboratory, birch pollen was exposed to atmospherically relevant exposures of gas phase NO₂ and ozone under a range of environmentally relevant conditions (temperature and relative humidity RH). The effects of the exposures on the biochemistry of the pollen grains were probed using proteomic approach. The morphological changes of unexposed and exposed pollen samples to RH, rainwater and NO₂, where observed under fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscope. The discoveries suggest that interaction between gas pollutants and pollen do exist and cause protein specific modifications; nitration. Detailed analysis of London Ambulance data compared to London temperature data is presented. The relationships established will allow for prediction of likely changes in ambulance demand (and illness types) that will be caused by seasonal temperature changes, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, due to climate change, in the future. The study applied statistical analyses to examine short-term associations between birch pollen count with allergic related illnesses recorded in the London Ambulance data, temperature and NO₂.
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Dowling, Patrick Kevin. "The Meteorological Effects of the Kuwait Oil Fires." W&M ScholarWorks, 1996. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd/1539626039.
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Collins, Jennifer Mary. "Seasonal environmental conditions related to tropical cyclone activity in the Northeast Pacific Basin." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2002. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1317673/.
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This thesis presents the first in-depth study on interannual tropical cyclone activity in the Northeast (NE) Pacific, using statistical methods to investigate tropical cyclone frequency and its relationship with seasonal environmental conditions from 1972 to 1997. An improved method of calculating wind shear is first presented. It is demonstrated that the NE Pacific has more than one population of tropical cyclones with regard to causal factors, and tropical cyclones in the two regions show large differences in trends with time and in their relationships with environmental variables. Large increasing trends are found in the western development region (10˚N to 20˚N , 116˚W to 180˚W), with no significant trends in the eastern development region (10˚N to 20˚N, < 116˚W). No significant relationships were found in the eastern development region between tropical cyclone frequency and any of the environmental variables tested, except outgoing long-wave radiation, implying that the main causal factor here is triggering disturbances and their variations. However, in the western development region, some highly significant relationships exist. Important local variables there include relative humidity (RH) and SST. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is also a significant factor. The local relationships are probably largely due to the intensity-frequency effect and the spatial averaging of the variables, with threshold effects acting locally to provide conducive/non-conducive conditions in different parts of the region. Physical influences on the most important of these variables (RH) are investigated. (The reverse influence, of hurricanes on RH, is shown to be negligible. ) RH is shown to be significantly influenced, via the wind field, by ENSO and the intensity of the thermal low in North America. ENSO influences provide significant inverse relationships between tropical cyclone frequencies in the western development region and the North Atlantic.
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Robinson, Sean D. "Utility of tactical environmental processor (TEP) as a Doppler at-sea weather radar." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2002. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion-image/02Jun%5FRobinson.pdf.
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Brooke, Cassandra. "Climate change, vulnerability and conservation in Costa Rica : an investigation of impacts, adaptive environmental management and national adaptation networks." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.270112.
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Sanabia, Elizabeth R. "Objective identification of environmental patterns related to tropical cyclone track forecast errors." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2006. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion/06Sep%5FSanabia.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2006.<br>Thesis Advisor(s): Patrick A. Harr, Russell L. Elsberry. "September 2006." Includes bibliographical references (p. 43). Also available in print.
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Anderegg, Daniel. "Barium and Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Chronologies from Two Southeast Florida Coral Species- Environmental Implications." NSUWorks, 1998. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/333.
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The objectives of the study were to attempt to differentiate among potential sources of nutrients contributing to past algae blooms occurring off the coast of northern Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Florida. To accomplish this, hermatypic reef-building corals were collected from different depths and latitudes over an area extending from the southern part of Broward County to the southern portion of Palm Beach County. The CaC03 skeletons of these corals were X-rayed and then sampled using their internal annual density growth increments as chronological guides. The trace element barium and the isotopes of carbon and oxygen isotopes were measured allowing chemical time series to be developed. Measurements of the trace metal barium in coral skeletons were performed to assess the contribution of cold, organic-rich waters to the past summertime algal blooms (higher skeletal concentrations than in control sites during that time). Skeletal isotopic measurements of these corals were also conducted to possibly record oxygen enrichment (deeper cold waters) and carbon (deeper, organic and nutrient-rich waters) depletion.
Results demonstrate historical Ba levels in corals and variability among species, seasons, years, and sites. The study did not reveal a straightforward relationship between algal bloom events and the measured chemical parameters through increases or decreases that coincided with known recent algae blooms. Possible sources of the nutrients and the logic of how nutrient sources might be differentiated by our measurements are discussed. If the source of nutrients is coastal runoff or point source, then shallow corals nearest the inlets should record the highest barium levels (because this element is also concentrated in riverine effluents), particularly during the wet season (summertime).
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Lnu, Abhishek. "The Impact of Climate Change on Air Quality for Midwest USA." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1291144247.
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Varadarajan, Charanya. "Development of a Source-Meteorology-Receptor (SMR) Approach using Fine Particulate Intermittent Monitored Concentration Data for Urban Areas in Ohio." Connect to Online Resource-OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1197655960.
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Koga-Vicente, Andrea. "Incertezas na espacialização da precipitação, impactos associados e previsão de risco no litoral paulista." [s.n.], 2010. http://repositorio.unicamp.br/jspui/handle/REPOSIP/286920.
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Orientadores: Lucí Hidalgo Nunes, Armando Zaupa Remacre, Michael James Friedel<br>Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T10:14:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1
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Previous issue date: 2010<br>Resumo: A incerteza é inerente ao funcionamento do sistema hidrometeorológico. Neste trabalho buscou-se incorporar esse conceito no estudo sobre as precipitações que causam impactos nas regiões da Baixada Santista e Litoral Norte paulista. Considerando que as incertezas epistêmicas podem ser diminuídas a partir do melhor conhecimento sobre o fenômeno, foram realizadas investigações sobre as chuvas que deflagraram impactos, e admitindo que as incertezas aleatórias possam ser minimizadas por meio de ferramentas que demonstrem possíveis cenários para o desenrolar do evento, foram elaborados mapas de probabilidade, de desvio padrão e propostas modelagens preditivas. Com base em informações levantadas sobre os impactos associados à chuva que ocorreram em doze municípios entre 1994/95 e 2003/04, foi investigada a distribuição espacial e temporal dos registros e da pluviometria associada. Verificou-se que os eventos pluviais que causaram problemas são compostos por chuvas contínuas com um pico mais intenso, sendo que em 1999/00 e 1995/96 houve maior ocorrência de impactos registrados. Embora os maiores totais pluviométricos tenham ocorrido em Bertioga, os municípios de Santos e Guarujá apresentaram mais problemas; por outro lado, o maior número de vítimas foi registrado em Ubatuba, indicando que embora a vulnerabilidade seja o cerne do impacto, a suscetibilidade determinou a magnitude das pessoas afetadas. A partir da simulação estocástica foram elaborados cenários de distribuição espacial das precipitações com e sem a incorporação de variáveis físicas relacionadas, resultando em mapas que apontam locais com maior probabilidade de serem atingidos por chuvas acima de 80,0 mm/24h durante episódios pluviais impactantes e de mapas que representaram a incerteza associada à variabilidade espacial, fortemente associada à escarpa da Serra do Mar. Estes mapas podem ser usados como ferramenta no planejamento regional, bem como os modelos de predição de impactos propostos a partir da utilização de duas abordagens: (1) o Mapa Auto-Organizável, uma rede neural artificial não supervisionada, indicada para relações não-lineares e (2) uma técnica empírica de Regressão Linear Múltipla, tradicional em estudos preditivos. Os modelos propostos apresentaram entre 71% e 82% de acurácia na predição de ocorrências de impactos deflagrados por precipitações<br>Abstract: Uncertainty is part of the hydrometeorological system working. This research looked for ways to incorporate this concept in the study about the precipitations that cause impacts in Baixada Santista area and the North Coast of São Paulo state. Regarding that the epistemic uncertainties can be decreased when better knowledge about the phenomenon is acquired, investigations about the rain which cause impacts were made, and assuming that the random uncertainties can be decreased by using tools that show possible scenarios to develop the event, maps of probability and standard deviation were made, and also predictive modelings were proposed. Based on information raised about the impacts associated to rain that happened in twelve municipalities between 1994/95 and 2003/04, the spatial and time record distribution and the associated rainfall were studied. The rainfall events that had caused problems were mostly compound of continuous rain with a stronger peak, being in 1999/00 and 1995/96 the largest impacts recorded. Although the greatest total rainfall amounts happened in the city of Bertioga, major impacts were recorded in Santos and Guarujá. However, most victims were recorded in the city of Ubatuba showing that, although vulnerability is the core of the impact, the susceptibility determined the magnitude of people affected. By applying the stochastic simulation, scenarios of spatial distribution of precipitations were created with and without the incorporation of related physical variables. It resulted in maps that show locations with great probability of being reached by rain over 80.0 mm/24h during impacting rainfall episodes and maps that represent the uncertainty associated to the spatial variability strongly associated to the Serra do Mar escarpment. These maps can be used as tools to a regional planning, as well as the prediction models of impacts proposed from the use of two approaches: (1) the Self-Organized Map, an artificial neural net unsupervised, indicated to non-linear relations, and (2) an empirical technique of Multiple Linear Regression, traditional in predictive studies. The proposed models showed between 71% and 82% of accuracy in predicting impact caused by rainfalls<br>Doutorado<br>Análise Ambiental e Dinâmica Territorial<br>Doutor em Ciências
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Cruse, Vicki. "An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Wetland Mitigation in Broward County, Florida Permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation." NSUWorks, 1992. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/358.
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This study examines the effectiveness of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (FDER) in regulating, through mitigation, the wetlands of Broward County, Florida. Utilizing agency permit files, wetland impacts and required mitigation were analyzed for the years 1983 - 1991. Field evaluations were conducted to determine the actual area of wetland impacts and completion of required mitigation as permitted by FDER. Mitigation areas were evaluated based upon a set of criteria developed for this study. A total of 82 permits were reviewed, resulting in the evaluation of 30 completed mitigation areas. Results indicate that freshwater wetlands containing both forested and marsh areas were permitted for the largest impact and were impacted the most by project activities. However, mangroves comprised the largest area of required mitigation while freshwater forested areas composed the largest area of completed mitigation. The largest impact to the county's wetlands occurred in 1986 and the most mitigation was required in 1987. The study found no trend or consistency in mitigation ratios as analyzed on a yearly basis, although impacts or mitigation involving only trees commanded a higher mitigation ratio than impacts expressed as an area. The overall potential mitigation ratio for permits issued by FDER between 1983 and 1991 in Broward County was 2.3:1; however, by excluding preservation and easement areas, the ratio becomes 1.2:1. The actual mitigation ratio for areas with completed project impacts and mitigation was 2:1; by excluding preservation and easement areas, the ratio becomes 0.7:1, indicating a loss of wetland area through the FDER permitting process. Results of mitigation area evaluations found that permitted wetland impacts were incomplete at 24% of the sites, mitigation was not required in 5% of the permitted projects, mitigation was either incomplete or not attempted at 41% of the proposed mitigation areas, and permit requirements were met at 30% of the mitigation areas. The completed mitigation areas were ranked by using criteria developed for this study. On a scale of 1 to 3, with 3 being the highest, saltwater mitigation areas averaged a rank of 2.3 and freshwater mitigation areas averaged 2.0.
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Kerr, Jeremy M. "Environmental Controls on Depositional Patterns of Isolated Carbonate Platforms." Diss., NSUWorks, 2018. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/487.
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This dissertation explores the influence of the environment on the lateral spatial patterning of facies in modern isolated carbonate platforms through six studies. The first study describes the creation of a database of benthic habitat and bathymetric maps derived from multispectral satellite imagery and the field data used calibrate and validate the mapping algorithms. The second study develops and assesses a new approach for remotely-deriving water depth from multispectral satellite imagery without the need for ground-truth information. The third study identifies a criterion for distinguishing between facies belts and mosaics and deploys the criterion to investigate the co-occurrence of these arrangements within modern carbonate depositional systems. The fourth study explores the geologic history of an isolated carbonate platform in the Bahamas, Cay Sal Bank, to understand why the lateral spatial pattering observed in this site differs from the patterns observed in neighboring platforms. The fifth study explores the distribution of carbonate facies in relation to wave energy and water depth for two detached ramps in the Red Sea, Ras Al-Qisbah and Al Wajh. The last study investigates the recovery of scleractinian communities along the coasts of two islands in the Galapagos archipelago, Darwin and Wennman (Wolf) Islands, following a large-scale disturbance in the 1980s. Together, these six studies provide new insight into the spatial patterning of facies within modern carbonate depositional systems and the influence of the environment on the observed arrangements.
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Van, Meter Jessica. "Hurricane Preparedness And Planning In Coastal Public School Districts." Kent State University Honors College / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1304549628.
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Ross, Victor B. "Integration of the Navy Tactical Environmental Database Service with the Joint Effects Model." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2003. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion-image/03Dec%5FRoss%5FCS.pdf.
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Zubkova, Galina. "Analysis of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter, PM 2.5 , in Pittsburgh Using Time-Series Techniques and Meteorology." Ohio : Ohio University, 2003. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1060032557.
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Anderson, Eric Ross. "Analysis of rainfall-triggered landslide hazards through the dynamic integration of remotely sensed, modeled and in situ environmental factors in El Salvador." Thesis, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1543417.
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<p> Landslides pose a persistent threat to El Salvador's population, economy and environment. Government officials share responsibility in managing this hazard by alerting populations when and where landslides may occur as well as developing and enforcing proper land use and zoning practices. This thesis addresses gaps in current knowledge between identifying precisely when and where slope failures may initiate and outlining the extent of the potential debris inundation areas. Improvements on hazard maps are achieved by considering a series of environmental variables to determine causal factors through spatial and temporal analysis techniques in Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing. The output is a more dynamic tool that links high resolution geomorphic and hydrological factors to daily precipitation. Directly incorporable into existing decision support systems, this allows for better disaster management and is transferable to other developing countries.</p>
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Ooi, Chel Gee. "Numerical studies of urban heat island in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : from surface and boundary layer conditions to local air pollution." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2017. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/45137/.
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Rapid urbanization of cities has greatly modified the thermal and dynamic profile in the urban boundary layer. This thesis attempts to study the effect of urban heating on the local climate and air quality for a tropical coastal urban agglomeration, Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL) in Malaysia. A state-of-art numerical model, Weather Research and Forecast Model (WRF) is used to identify the influence of urbanization through modification of urban surfaces. In order to thoroughly study the environmental impact of land use change in GKL, this thesis begins with the local urban heating on the surface layer before extending to the influence on the boundary layer circulation and its atmospheric composition. The WRF model is tested for its applicability to reproduce the urban heating condition. The model verification hence incorporates sensitivity analysis of physics pertinent to the simulation of land surface and boundary layer dynamics condition, namely the land use map, urban canopy model (UCM) and planetary boundary layer (PBL) physics options. Result shows that the urban surface representation and parameterization models in WRF are of great importance for the high resolution urban climate in the region. The locally calibrated land use map and urban parameters have substantially improved the near-surface weather and urban heating prediction. The local PBL scheme also predicts a generally good agreement for the studied region in terms of near-surface environment and vertical profile during the morning and evening transitional period. Incorporating the optimum physics settings, the control study found that urbanization due to land use change has induced a modelled daily mean urban heat island intensity (UHII) of 0.9 °C with a more severe heating of 1.9 °C at night. The heating condition induces urban thermal circulation that interacts with the local topographic flow, namely sea/land breeze and downhill/uphill breeze for the coastal urban agglomeration sheltered by the mountain ranges on the other side. Depending on the cloud cover and prevailing synoptic flow, the immense heat forcing on the surface accelerates/decelerates the moisture-bearing sea breeze during the day. It also induces vertical lifting which creates a conducive environment for convective precipitation on the upwind region. The subsequent control study with chemical weather prediction model (WRF-Chem) shows that the urban heating condition reduces the ground ozone level by around 20 ppbv throughout the day. Analysis shows that the reduced ozone level is closely correlated to the stronger horizontal sea breeze front (SBF) advection in the morning and urban-enhanced vertical mixing during the night which disperse the ground ozone and its precursors. Despite the reduction of ozone level, the air quality monitoring result identifies GKL as NOx-sensitive region which is prone to higher level of ozone with the continuous expansion of urban. The thesis explores the ability of WRF software to reproduce the high resolution urban climate. The model evaluation has realistically discovered that WRF is able to produce good approximation of the near-surface weather condition and fairly reasonable vertical boundary layer profiles. However, the atmospheric chemistry composition of the local surface pollutants is greatly underestimated. Continuous effort is required to improve the regional prediction on the chemistry weather prediction tool.
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Rey, Sanchez Andres Camilo. "Measurements of Evaporation and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes over a Coastal Reef using the Eddy-Covariance Technique." The Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1528905399809107.
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Paxton, Leilani D. "Development of a Forecast Process for Meteotsunami Events in the Gulf of Mexico." Scholar Commons, 2016. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6564.
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The purpose of this research was to provide a better understanding of meteotsunamis over the eastern Gulf of Mexico along the west coast of Florida and to develop a process for forecasting those events. Meteotsunami waves develop from resonant effects of strong pressure perturbations greater than 1 hPa, moving in excess of 10 m s-1, over water areas up to around 100 m in depth. Meteotsunami events over 0.3 m in height, as measured by three primary NOAA coastal tide gauges at Cedar Key, Clearwater Beach, and Naples, from 2007-2015, impact the Florida Gulf coastline several times per year and are most prevalent south of Cedar Key. Cases that met the indicated thresholds were further examined. A majority of the cases were associated with bands of active convection that brought pressure changes and wind changes.
The cases derived from this research provide a baseline for formulating a forecast methodology. The prediction of meteotsunamis is challenging over the marine environment where sub-hourly pressure and wind observations are generally not obtainable. Two forecast methodologies were derived for longer term periods up to several days using numerical model surface pressure data and a refined methodology for forecasts up to several hours in advance of the impacts using a combination of high resolution weather prediction models to provide a robust environment of atmospheric pressure, wind, and pressure fields for prediction of meteotsunamis over shallow shelf waters and available observations. This research illuminates, for National Weather Service forecasters, meteotsunami development and potential hazards related to this phenomenon that can be transmitted to the public within specialized products.
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Hergert, Randall J. "Saharan Air Layer Dust Loading: Effects on Convective Strength in Tropical Cloud Clusters." Scholar Commons, 2015. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5882.
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Numerous factors play a role in the development and maintenance of North Atlantic tropical cyclones as they originate and cross the Main Development Region. These factors include sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), relative humidity, vertical wind shear, etc. One key player in many of these factors is the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) which has been a source for study for nearly five decades.
The interplay between dust loading within the SAL and the development of African Easterly Waves (AEWs) has been repeatedly noted in many of the studies in this field. The cumulative indirect effect of the dust on AEWs however remains unknown (Evan et al., 2006a). On a case by case basis, the SAL has been shown to negatively influence the development of AEWs, i.e. entrainment of dry air into the low to mid-levels, enhanced vertical wind shear and suppression of convection within the storm (Dunion & Velden, 2004). Positive influences on AEW development have also been attributed to the SAL, namely its enhancement of the African Easterly Jet (AEJ) which in turn helps produce positive vorticity along its southern edge that AEWs tap into for energy (Karyampudi & Pierce, 2002).
Further study is indeed warranted to try to fully understand whether or not the SAL has a positive or negative influence on the development of AEWs. A polarized view may be inadequate, as the SAL’s role could very well be positive, negative or somewhere in between depending on the storm characteristics and environmental conditions present at that unique time.
This study looked into the role dust loading has on the mixing between the SAL and the moist marine boundary layer directly beneath the base of the SAL, which can range from 500 – 1500m and revealed a dynamic and varying relationship. It also demonstrated, through a decrease in cloud top temperatures, that dust levels are associated with the convective strength of AEWs by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCNs). However this association can be nullified through other parameters unique to each individual storm; SSTs, vertical wind shear, dry-air entrainment, etc.
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Skutas, Jorie L. "Microbial and Genomic Analysis of Environmental Samples in Search of Pathogenic Salmonella." NSUWorks, 2017. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/461.
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Salmonellosis or “food poisoning” is a foodborne infection brought on by the pathogen Salmonella from the ingestion of the bacterium on contaminated foods such as vegetables. Infection from Salmonella leads to the highest incidence of hospitalizations and deaths each year, compared to any other bacterial foodborne illness. South Florida is the second largest agricultural winter vegetable producer in the United States, and contamination of vegetables is often observed in preharvest practices. A hardy bacterium, Salmonella, has been shown to live up to 6 weeks in soil and water up to 42°C without a host.
The Florida Everglades is a tropical wetland that plays a large role in South Florida’s watershed. It can be divided into agricultural, conservation, and urban areas that connect Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay by canals, swamps, and rivers. Inland canals tightly regulate water levels in South Florida as a means of flood control for residential and agricultural land. With the influences of anthropomorphic run off from agricultural and urban use, we hypothesized that microbial communities would significantly differ between three select sites in western (Collier county) versus three sites in more urban eastern Florida (Broward county): natural standing water, manmade drainage canal in agricultural areas, and manmade drainage canals in urban areas. We also hypothesized that pathogenic like Salmonella would be present in these habitats. Deep sequencing and ecological genetics analyses of the 16s rRNA V4 region yielded a total of 163,320 unique bacterial OTUs from a total of 139 samples collected monthly for one year in 2015 and part of 2016. Salmonella is not considered an abundant taxon within the microbial population.
With the knowledge that Salmonella resides within the microbial population isolates were cultured from soil and water samples that were taken monthly from each site using a modified version of the Food and Drug Administration Bacterial Analytical Methods manual (FDA-BAM). The culturing resulted in 234 isolates obtained and 31 different serovars of Salmonella. Culturing showed that Salmonella favored months with high standing water and high-water temperatures that would lead to the ideal environment for survival. The most commonly occurring isolates within the sample set are those associated with agricultural animals. Though Salmonella may be a rare taxon within the microbial population given the correct environmental conditions such as warm temperatures it is possible to observe Salmonella year round within the South Florida environment.
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Suprenand, Paul Mark. "Investigations for utilizing pteropods as bioindicators of environmental change along the western Antarctic Peninsula." Scholar Commons, 2013. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4588.
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Pteropods are holoplanktonic gastropod molluscs found globally. Although species diversity is greater at lower latitudes, species abundance is greater at temperate and polar latitudes. Declines in pteropod populations have not only been correlated to declines of their major predators, but pteropods have also been used as bioindicators of global environmental changes such as ocean acidification. With high latitude abundances, pteropods provide significant sustenance for species such as the Atlantic salmon in the Atlantic Ocean and Pleuragramma antarcticum in the Southern Ocean. Because pteropods eat phytoplankton and other pteropods, factors that affect pteropod abundance influence many trophic levels. This dissertation explores ecological, physiological and trophodynamic relationships of pteropods when considering the influences of environmental factors observed to be altering the western Antarctic Peninsula's marine ecosystem. Over the last few decades very few studies have reported the distributions of pteropods along the western Antarctic Peninsula, in particular south of the Gerlache Strait. The ecological study provided the first detailed report of the pteropods Spongiobranchaea australis and Clione antarctica along the western Antarctic Peninsula south of the Gerlache Strait, and their local distribution was correlated to the region's major water masses and mesoscale water mass circulation. The physiological study of S. australis and C. antarctica yielded the first account of their metabolism, ratios of oxygen consumed to nitrogen excreted, proximate body composition, primary substrates oxidized, and enzymatic activities along the study's latitudinal gradient; the first report of S. australis' physiology anywhere around Antarctica. The final chapter utilized a comprehensive Ecopath with Ecosim model of the western Antarctic Peninsula's marine ecosystem. The model was used to explore the trophodynamic significance of pteropods within their polar marine ecosystem as well as changes in whole ecosystem trophodynamics by employing various climate change scenarios expected to alter the Peninsula's marine ecosystem over the next 40 years. The sum of these studies provides a foundation for exploring pteropods as bioindicators of environmental change along the western Antarctic Peninsula, a region currently experiencing considerable climate anomalies.
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Ross, Victor B. "Using rapid environmental assessment to improve the hazard prediction and assessment capability for weapons of mass destruction." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2003. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion-image/03Dec%5FRoss%5FMETOC.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2003.<br>Thesis advisor(s): Carlyle Wash, Neil Rowe. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48). Also available online.
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Orthmann, Christine M. H. "An Assessment of the Extent and Types of Environmental Crime in Florida, With a Focus on Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, As Measured by Local Prosecutors' Records." NSUWorks, 1995. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/343.
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Estimating the extent of environmental crime in Florida, or in the three counties of Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, is difficult with the present system of record-keeping. Nevertheless, arrest, citation, and warning records from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission document a rise in the number of environmental violations occurring throughout the state from 1988 through 1992. Arrest records from the state law enforcement agency, FDLE, indicate 1,936 environmental crimes arrests were made throughout Florida during 1993, including 618 in Dade, 103 in Broward, and 79 in Palm Beach. A four-year incident total combining the records ofFDLE and the Game Commission reveals 7,894 documented cases of environmental violations. These data indicate environmental crime is a serious problem.
The three above counties have designated professionals to respond to and investigate environmental crimes; however, none were able to estimate environmental crime within their respective jurisdictions, better than the available, and relatively poor, FGFWFC and FDLE data. Data provided by the State Attorney's Offices in the three local counties indicate varying levels of environmental criminal activity, although little historical information is available and records are just now beginning to be collected and saved for future trend analysis.
The philosophy and approach taken by an agency in handling environmental crime helps to explain the FDLE, FGFWFC, and three State Attorney's Offices' data. A county reporting fewer arrests does not necessarily have less crime or more poorly trained officers. In Palm Beach County, fewer arrests may be the result of a proactive approach toward educating the offender and preventing violation recurrences.
A lack of communication among the various counties was identified as one area to be improved on. Although attempts have been made to facilitate networking between and among the counties, and between the agencies involved in environmental issues, separate agendas still prevail and hamper the overall effectiveness of efforts to handle environmental crime.
The true extent of environmental crime across the state and within the three local counties remains unknown. The results of this study, although an underestimation, indicate levels of environmental criminal activity which should raise concerns. It must also be realized that the cumulative effects of such violations pose a great threat to the welfare of the environment. In the case of environmental crime, the whole may be a great deal more than the sum of its parts.
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Morley, Danielle M. "Environmental Enhancement Gone Awry: Characterization of an Artificial Reef Constructed From Waste Vehicle Tires." NSUWorks, 2009. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/231.
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In 1967, Broward County, Florida resource managers initiated a project to construct an artificial reef to enhance recreational fishing using waste vehicle tires. An estimated two million unballasted tires were bundles and deployed in bundles approximately 1.8km offshore in 21m of water on sandy substrate separating the middle and outer reef tracts, running parallel to the coast. Over time, bindings on the tire bundles failed and the tires became mobile with normal currents and high energy storms. The tires have apparently moved extensively, travelling kilometers from their original location to beaches and deeper waters offshore. It has also been reported that loose tires have physically damaged benthic reef fauna on the natural reef. Due to this damage, a large-scale removal plan of the tires has been initiated. To assess damage and evaluate effectiveness of tire removal, an examination of existing biota was accomplished. Live corals were absent on the middle reef edge, buried by tires but were present on the tires themselves. When compared to the impacted middle reef edge (tires present), adjacent natural reef control sites (tires absent) exhibited significantly lower fish abundance and species richness. Removal of the tires will directly reduce the abundance of fishes and affect the corals in the area. Future studies will evaluate the loss of these resources relative to the gain in reduced impact to the natural reef.
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Arciszewska, C. "An evaluation of meteorological data needs for urban pollution modelling." Thesis, University of Northampton, 2001. http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/2815/.
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Atmospheric dispersion models are being increasingly used by local authorities in the United Kingdom as part of their urban air quality management programmes. Output from dispersion models now forms a vital part of any environmental impact assessment, road improvement or traffic management scheme or environmental health study. This study is centred primarily on Northampton, a county town in Southern England and is concerned with the limitations of meteorological data available to local authorities. The first part of the study investigates the variation in certain key meteorological parameters both within Northampton and between synoptic stations up to 70 kilometres away. The second part examines modelling outcomes using different sets of meteorological data and evaluates the performance of an urban dispersion model in relation to monitored air quality data. Special emphasis is placed on the use of cloud cover as a meteorological input variable. A small case study of monitoring and modelling work carried out in the London Borough of Richmond is also presented
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Detzer, Judah Adam. "Characterizing Temperature Variability States Across Southern South America and Associated Synoptic-Scale Meteorological Patterns." PDXScholar, 2018. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/4679.
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The aim of this thesis is to understand spatiotemporal temperature variability in southern South America by identifying overarching temperature variability states and their associated synoptic-scale meteorological patterns. Further, the temporal frequency of occurrence of those temperature variability states is investigated as is the role of recurrent low-frequency modes of climate variability (El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Southern Annular Mode) on temperature variability. K-means cluster analysis is used to group all months during the period 1980-2015 into four primary categories for summer and winter separately. Monthly maps of temperature anomalies are provided as input to the k-means algorithm and the resulting temperature variability states are the composites of temperature anomaly maps for months assigned to each cluster, illustrating the primary spatial patterns of temperature variability over Southern South America. Composites of synoptic-scale meteorological patterns (wind, geopotential height, and moisture fields) are calculated for months assigned to each cluster to better diagnose the driving meteorology associated with these patterns of temperature variability. Results show that in summer surface wind direction and geopotential height are robust indicators of temperature variability patterns, while in winter jet stream winds are important for diagnosing equatorward excursions of cold air and poleward excursions of warm air. According to the results the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Southern Annular Mode exhibit some relationship with temperature variability state frequency, with some states more associated with these two modes than others, however they do not appear to be primary drivers of any of the temperature variability states.
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Mitic, Constance M. (Constance Maria). "Spatial distribution and co-occurrence of surface-atmosphere exchange processes." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=68223.
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Grid-type flight patterns at an altitude of 30 m were executed in the summer of 1991 by the Canadian Twin Otter flux research aircraft over a 15 km x 16.5 km agricultural area, as part of the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Study/California Ozone Deposition Experiment (SJVAQS/CODE). Fast-response on board sensors for turbulence, temperature and gas concentrations permitted the spatial mapping of fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, moisture, CO$ sb2$ and ozone. Flux maps were produced in the form of GIS-interpolated 1 km averages, and in the discrete form of those coherent structures of the turbulent process, intermittent in time and space, which dominate the exchange of scalars between the ground and the atmosphere. The magnitude of surface-related mesoscale contributions to the flux was also quantified. Flux observations were compared against radiometrically observed surface temperatures and vegetation indices (NDVI), observed from aircraft and satellite (NOAA AVHRR), and surface characteristics from ground surveys.<br>Flux maps showed the expected correspondence between greenness, evapo(trans)ration (ET) and CO$ sb2$ exchange. Discrepancies between ozone flux maps and maps of greenness, ET or CO$ sb2$ were more pronounced than would be consistent with the hypothesis of stomatal control of ozone uptake. More insight into control mechanisms on ozone exchange is gained by an examination of the spatial coincidence between transporting structures for the various scalars (heat, moisture, CO$ sb2$ and ozone), through the Jaccard coefficient of co-location (J), which showed a lower value ($ rm0.3<J<0.6$) for coincidence in transfer between ozone and moisture than between moisture and CO$ sb2$ ($ rm0.5<J<0.8$). Analysis of J over the various land-use and crop-types in the test area, opens a door to a more differentiated understanding of the physical and physiological driving forces behind ozone uptake by soil and vegetation.
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Lapointe, Christopher. "Modeling Environmental Limitations on Remote Sensing of Coral Reef Ecosystems." NSUWorks, 2013. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/161.
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The fundamental components of a coral reef are coral, algae, and sand. At its simplest assessing the status of a coral reef may be reduced to quantifying the relative benthic cover of these three bottom-types. While in situ surveys can provide an accurate census on an individual reef scale (10s of meters), the only feasible method to surveys coral reefs on a reef tract (10-100s of kilometers) or worldwide scale is through the use of remote sensing. Remote sensing is a means of surveying entire ecosystems. A major issue in remote sensing of coastal environments is the confounding effects of the water column on the signal emerging from the water column. We used a simulation method to model differing levels of environmental parameters, which occur in marine ecosystems, with HydrolightEcolight 5. Simulated data were interpolated with actual bottom; type spectra to determine the accuracy of a classification function developed in MATLAB. The aim was to distinguish bottom-types as well as predict levels of water column parameters. The results of this study demonstrate that bottom-type (78% algae, 84% coral, and 94% sand) and chlorophyll concentration (85-90% across range) are well determined, while depth and suspended sediment load are not as well predicted (<70%) and has a tendency to slightly over predict depth.
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Key, Heather Joann. "Tornado Fatalities: An In-Depth Look at Physical and Societal Influences." Scholar Commons, 2015. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5714.
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The purpose of this study is to model and determine significant predictors of tornado death index values, and to investigate these significant predictors and what makes people vulnerable to tornado fatalities through expert interviews. This study also provides an understanding of the study participant’s perceptions of their county’s vulnerability to tornado fatality and demonstrates a true integration of methods and fields by studying geographic, meteorological, and sociological phenomena by use of quantitative and qualitative methods. The study consists of two parts: 1) A quantitative exploration of variables hypothesized to predict Tornado Death Index (TDI) values, 2) A qualitative investigation to further understand what leads to higher tornado fatalities. For the quantitative portion of the study descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were run on TDI values. It was predicted that several tornado characteristic, demographic, housing type and characteristic, religious, region, rural vs. urban, and potential casualty variables were significant predictors of TDI values. For the qualitative portion of the study a highest order emergency manager was interviewed, coding was done and themes, sub-themes, and categories emerged, and quotes that demonstrated the themes and categories were examined.
Overall, significant predictor variables of TDI are tornado frequency, tornado width, ages 35-44, percent born in the Northeast, percent rural housing units, and potential casualties. As tornado width, and percent of rural housing units increases TDI increases (positive relationship), whereas as tornado frequency, ages 35-44, being born in the Northeast, and potential casualty increases TDI decreases (negative relationship). In the interview, age, cultural beliefs, and mobility challenges were found to increase risk to tornado fatality. It was also suggested that differences in tornados may exist between the Midwest and the South in terms of tornado development, duration, and warning lead-times. Finally, vulnerability can be reduced by educating the public, and reaching out to vulnerable populations and their caregivers.
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Koerner, Sarah G. "Timing and Potential Drivers of Symbiont Selection in the Early Life Stages of the Massive Starlet Coral Siderastrea siderea." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2019. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/516.
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The ability of corals to build reefs can be attributed to their relationship with single-celled algae of the familySymbiodiniaceae.Through the process of photosynthesis, these algae can provide their coral hosts with over 90% of their daily energy requirements. Most coral species acquire multiple species of symbionts from the surrounding water during their larval stage or immediately after settling. However, over time, the coral will select a dominant symbiont speciesthat can depend on the local environment. Until this study, the size or age of the coral at which this transition from multiple Symbiodiniaceaespecies to one dominant species occurs has remained uncertain. Likewise, it was unclear whether the selection of Symbiodiniaceaespeciesis influenced by the environment. The environmental conditions and symbiont composition of one hundred and eighteen juvenile Siderastrea siderea were assessed across four sites in Broward County, Florida. Presuming newly settled corals acquire multiple symbionts and then select just one dominant species, it was determined that the transition from multiple symbiont speciesto one dominant species in Siderastrea sidereaoccurs in the single polyp stage, between the time of settlement and approximately 4 to 6 months of age. The results also suggest that the selection of these dominant symbiont speciesis influenced by the environment, and that juveniles commonly select the same species as adults inhabiting similar environmental conditions. The selection of symbionts homologous to adult corals combined with environmental influences may be an early indicator of acclimatization in Siderastrea siderea.
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Diaz, Gerardo Jr. "Analysis of 2017 Multi-Agency Field Campaign Data for Wintertime Surface Pollution in the Cache Valley of Utah." TopSCHOLAR®, 2019. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3112.
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Atmospheric motions resulting from rising airborne parcels help to scatter emissions, including PM, away from their sources, decreasing local pollution levels. However this pattern shifts during the wintertime, as cold air damming and inversion layers create stable conditions that limit the vertical transport of air masses. Both point and area sources of emissions currently dot the western United States and are responsible for the production of the vast majority of agricultural pollution in the region. At the same time, population-growth has resulted in an ever-increasing amount of urbansource emissions. The entrapment of PM, which are produced when a wide array of urban and agricultural emissions series are released onto a valley floor, aggregate until they become singular particles which vary in size and can negatively affect the human respiratory system. As such, this goal of this study was to investigate the processes that lead to poor wintertime air quality conditions in the Mountain West and primarily in Cache Valley, which experiences some of the worst air quality in the United States during the winter season. Several results, including the observation of chemical reactions such as the production of the NO3 radical, along with the discovery of significantly high levels of DMS in an area that is not known for its production, all suggest that the chemical behaviors of Cache Valley are rather complex and play a critical role in poor wintertime air quality conditions. Furthermore, the presence of DMS at such high concentrations could be due to its being produced on the valley floor. As such, we hope that these results will help in improving our understanding of the physical and chemical dynamics of the Valley during the winter season, which will in turn aid in our ability to forecast such conditions and also properly plan future industrial and commercial projects that will inevitably be introduced into the region as it continues to grow.
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Dubickas, Kate M. "Zooplankton Community Structure in the NE Gulf of Mexico: Impacts of Environmental Variability and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill." Scholar Commons, 2019. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7780.
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In the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, relating changes in zooplankton communities to environmental factors is crucial to understanding the marine ecosystem and impacts of perturbations such as oil spills on marine ecosystems. Zooplankton samples were collected each year between 2005–2014 in spring and summer in the vicinity of the oil spill (Deepwater Horizon) that occurred in spring 2010. Zooplankton assemblages and environmental conditions significantly differed seasonally, driven by strong variations in zooplankton at continental shelf stations, and by environmental factors including Mississippi River discharge, wind direction, temperature, and chlorophyll concentrations. Total zooplankton abundances were greatest at shelf stations, intermediate at slope stations, and lowest at offshore stations. Seasonal separation was driven by greater abundances of crab zoea, cladocerans, ostracods, and the copepod, Eucalanus spp. during summer. Copepods, Centropages spp., were significant indicators of summer conditions both before and after the oil spill.
Sub-regional comparisons in percent composition and abundances of six major non-copepod and seven copepod taxa revealed that most taxa either remained the same or significantly increased in abundance following the spill. A significant decrease in post oil spill taxa was observed only during spring for total copepods, Eucalanaus spp., and for salps at continental slope stations, however varying processing techniques used for zooplankton before and after the spill were employed and should be considered. . Based on our sampling periods, these results indicate that the 2010 oil spill did not significantly impact zooplankton communities in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.
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Beneli, Patrícia Costa. "Associação entre fatores meteorológicos, poluentes atmosféricos e ocorrência de viroses respiratórias em crianças: destaque ao Parainfluenza Vírus Humano (HPIV)." Universidade de São Paulo, 2011. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/87/87131/tde-02032011-181725/.
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As infecções respiratórias agudas contribuem para elevada morbimortalidade na infância, destacando o Parainfluenza (HPIV) nos quadros de crupe viral. Pouco é conhecido a influência dos fatores ambientais (meteorológicos e de poluição atmosférica) nas infecções respiratórias. De 21/10/2004 a 01/06/2007 foi conduzido um estudo ecológico de séries temporais, em menores de 15 anos, com sintomas respiratórios atendidos na Santa Casa de São Paulo e no Hospital Universitário de Jundiaí para determinar a freqüência de HPIV, pela imunofluorescência indireta e verificar a relação entre poluentes atmosféricos, variáveis meteorológicas na infecção respiratória. Os dados meteorológicos e de poluição ambiental foram coletados diariamente. Das 1464 amostras o HPIV foi detectado em 49 (5,5%) amostras (SCSP) e em 29(5,0%) amostras (HUFMJ),sendo o HPIV3 mais prevalente.O Ozônio e Dióxido de Nitrogênio tiveram relação com vírus respiratórios em São Paulo. Em Jundiaí observou-se relação com material particulado (lag3) e HPIV.<br>Acute respiratory infections contribute to high infant morbidity and mortality, highlighting the parainfluenza (HPIV) in the frames of viral croup. Little is known the influence of environmental factors (meteorological and air pollution) in respiratory infections. From 21/10/2004 to 01/06/2007 was an ecological study of time series, for children under 15 years, with respiratory symptoms treated at Santa Casa de São Paulo and the University Hospital of Jundiaí to determine the frequency of HPIV by immunofluorescence and verify the relationship between air pollutants, meteorological variables in respiratory infection. The meteorological and environmental pollution were collected daily. 1464 samples of the HPIV was detected in 49 (5.5%) samples (SCSP) and 29 (5.0%) samples (HUFMJ) and the HPIV3 more prevalente.O Ozone and nitrogen dioxide were associated with respiratory viruses in Sao Paulo. In Jundiaí was observed relationship with particulate matter (lag3) and HPIV.
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Matos, Janaina de Assis. "Variação espacial e temporal das concentrações de arsênio associado ao material particulado atmosférico em Paracatu (MG)." Niterói, 2016. https://app.uff.br/riuff/handle/1/1578.
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dissertação_JanainadeAssisMatos.pdf: 2873990 bytes, checksum: 2156e19154ea47bae44a7423a57412aa (MD5)<br>Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Química. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências-Geoquímica. Niterói, RJ<br>A poluição atmosférica se constitui como um dos maiores problemas ambientais da atualidade, sendo resultado do desenvolvimento urbano e industrial desordenado. O material particulado (MP) atmosférico tem sido estudado pelos seus efeitos nocivos, não só à fauna e flora, mas à saúde humana; tendo sua fração inalável (< 10μm) como a mais nociva, pois atinge áreas mais profundas do sistema respiratório. Este MP pode ter variada composição química; entre estas espécies químicas, destaca-se o arsênio (As) que é um metalóide altamente tóxico e cancerígeno, sendo as formas As+3 e As+5 as mais nocivas, respectivamente. Este material particulado contaminado por As pode ter diferentes fontes; entre elas a lavra de ouro que, promove o desprendimento do As do mineral arsenopirita. A cidade de Paracatu, em Minas Gerais, possui a maior mina de ouro a céu aberto com um processo de exploração que favorece a emissão desse MP para a atmosfera. O presente trabalho teve, como objetivo, caracterizar as concentrações de As no MP atmosférico, na cidade; estudando sua quantificação, variabilidade espacial e sazonal. Para isso, analisou-se os filtros amostrados de 8 amostradores Hi-Vol para particulados totais em suspensão (PTS) e 1 de material particulado em suspensão até 10 μm (MP10), durante o período de maio de 2011 a junho de 2012. A metodologia de coleta, tratamento e análise seguiu o estabelecido pelo método USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) – Method IO-3.1, com determinação e quantificação de As feita pela técnica de espectrometria de emissão ótica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-OES), onde a amostragem e análise química apresentaram limite de detecção de 0,64 ng As m-3. Aliado as análises químicas foram coletados dados meteorológicos tanto para o período de amostragem, quanto para se construir uma série de referência. A concentração média encontrada no PTS foi de 5,7 ng As m-3, variando de 0,7 a 18,8 ng As m-3; e a concentração média para MP10 foi de 4,4 ng As m-3, variando de 1,7 a 12,4 ng As m-3. As maiores concentrações foram observadas no período de estiagem e nas estações de amostragem próximas à região de mineração. As concentrações de As encontradas estão dentro do esperado pela literatura, contudo acima dos limites de risco à saúde definidos por diferentes órgãos internacionais<br>Air pollution constitutes one of the greatest environmental problems of today, being a result of urban and industrial development and cluttered. Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been studied for its harmful effects, not only to flora and fauna, but to human health; the inhalable fraction (< 10μm) being the most harmful, because it reaches the deeper regions of the respiratory system. The MP can have varying chemical compositions, including arsenic (As) which is a highly toxic and carcinogenic metalloid, the forms As+3 and As+5 being the most harmful. This particulate material contaminated's may have different sources; including the gold mine that that causes release of the mineral arsenopyrite. The city of Paracatu in Minas Gerais has the largest gold mine with an exploration process that favors the emission of this MP to the atmosphere. The present work had the objective to characterize As atmospheric concentrations of MP's in the city; studying its quantification, spatial and seasonal variability. For this, we analyzed the filters sampled 8 Hi -Vol samplers for total suspended particulates (TSP) and 1 of suspended particulate matter by 10 micrometres (PM10) during the period May 2011 to June 2012. A methodology for data collection, processing and analysis followed the method established by USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) - Method IO - 3.1, with determination and quantification of As taken by the technique of optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP - OES), where sampling and chemical analysis showed a detection limit of 0.64 ng As m-3. As well as Chemical analyzes, weather data for both the sampling period, as to build a series of reference were collected. The average concentration was found in the PTS 's of 5.7 ng m-3, ranging from 0.7 to 18.8 ng As m-3; and the average concentration for MP10 was 4.4 ng As m-3, ranging from 1.7 to 12.4 ng As m-3. The highest concentrations were observed in the dry season and at the sampling regions close to the mining stations. These concentrations found were expected by the literature, but above health risk limits set by various international institutions
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Miralles, Ortega Ricard. "Anàlisi climàtica i ambiental dels incendis forestals de Catalunya (1968-2008)." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/398715.
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Determinades situacions atmosfèriques i factors meteorològics/climàtics, biològics i geogràfics afavoreixen els incendis forestals. Es descriuen quatre tipus de períodes crítics de foc que han originat grans incendis a Catalunya (1980-1998): les situacions del nord, les situacions del nord-oest, les situacions de l’oest i les situacions del sud (onada de calor).
Considerant la sèrie d’incendis forestals per a Catalunya (1968-2008), el mes que registra una major freqüència d’incendis forestals i més hectàrees forestals cremades és juliol, seguit de l’agost. La major part d’hectàrees cremades es concentra a la comarca de l’Alt Empordà (amb el màxim) i també a la comarca del Bages i àrees pròximes, havent-hi altres focus secundaris calcinats cap al camp de Tarragona i terres de l’Ebre.
En tots els mesos de l’any la freqüència d’incendis forestals segueix una tendència a l’augment, en canvi, el nombre d’hectàrees forestals cremades presenta tendència a la disminució tenint l’explicació en la millora de la prevenció i extinció dels incendis forestals a Catalunya en les darreres dècades.
Es troben correlacions estadísticament significatives entre el nombre d’incendis forestals i les hectàrees forestals cremades amb variables meteorològiques i índexs de teleconnexió climàtica (NAOi, MOi, WeMOi).
L’índex de Gini i les corbes de Lorenz expliquen una part de la variabilitat superficial dels incendis forestals de Catalunya.
La regionalització climàtica d’incendis forestals de Catalunya permet establir diferents patrons sinòptics en funció de la localització dels màxims de càrregues factorials que configuren els patrons de les components principals. La regionalització climàtica explica la distribució i intensitat dels incendis forestals de Catalunya, essent un reflex de la freqüència de les situacions atmosfèriques predominants.
Els resultats de l’aplicació del mètode de Jenkinson i Collison als incendis forestals confirmen objectivament que hi han determinades situacions sinòptiques favorables al desenvolupament i propagació (magnitud) d’incendis forestals a determinades regions de Catalunya estacionalment.
El canvi climàtic afecta a la vegetació i als incendis forestals en els nostres ecosistemes mediterranis. És més que probable que els esperats augments de les temperatures i els canvis en les pautes de precipitació comportin un increment en la freqüència i en la intensitat dels incendis forestals, comportant un increment del risc potencial d’incendi forestal.<br>The relationships between meteorological, climatological, biological and geographical factors as main causes for developing and propagation of wildfires under certain
synoptical conditions are shown. Regarding these conditions, four atmospheric situations related to teleconnection indexes are studied as deciding factors to develop big wildfires in Catalonia: northern, northwestern, western and southern (heat waves) situations.
Considering the number of wildfires for Catalonia (1968-2008), the month that recorded a higher frequency of wildfires and burned hectares is July, followed by August. The most of hectares burned focuses on the Alt Empordà (the maximum) and also in the Bages and nearby areas, having other burned area into the field of Tarragona and Ebro area.
In all months the frequency of wildfires shows an increasing trend, however, the extension of burned forest has decreased. This can be due to the improvement of the prevention and extinction of wildfires in Catalonia during the latest decades.
Statistical correlations were found between the number of wildfires and the extension of burned forest with meteorological variables and climatic teleconnection indexes (NAOi, MOi, WeMOi).
The Gini index and Lorenz curves explain part of the surface variability of wildfires in Catalonia.
The climatic regionalization of wildfires in Catalonia allows to establish different synoptic patterns depending on the location of the maximum of factor loadings that form the main component patterns. The climatic regionalization explains the distribution and intensity of wildfires in Catalonia, being a reflection of the frequency of the prevailing weather conditions.
The results of applying the method of Jenkinson and Collison to wildfires objectively confirmed that there are certain favourable synoptic situations for the development and spread (magnitude) of wildfires in certain regions of Catalonia seasonally.
Climate change affects vegetation and wildfires in our Mediterranean ecosystems. It is likely that the expected temperature increases and changes in precipitation patterns could involve an increase in the frequency and intensity (potential risk) of wildfires.
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Beveridge, Susan Lynn. "Quantifying the Relationship Between Southern-end Supercells and Tornado Production." Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1556127178521766.
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Gadbois, Nicholas Brian. "Using Chaetognatha as Indicators of Water Masses in the Florida Current, Broward County, Florida." NSUWorks, 2013. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/168.
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Zooplankton samples and water mass measurements were conducted along a 10 km long, east-west transect off the coast of southeast Florida during 2007. Temperature and salinity measurements were recorded using a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensor, and current direction and magnitude measurements were recorded using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Daylight zooplankton samples were collected using a 335 μm mesh bongo net at surface 0-25 m and 0-150 m (nearshore) and 0-200 m (offshore), at three stations, for 5 nonconsecutive months along the transect. Chaetognatha were separated from bulk zooplankton samples and identified to species; fifteen different species were found. Flaccisagitta enflata had the highest densities over the entire sampling period, followed by Serratosagitta serratodentata, and Krohnitta pacifica. ADCP data revealed the existence of a Subsurface Counter Current in conjunction with an offshore meander of the Florida Current during May, July, and September 2007. Abiotic data confirmed the presence of Continental Edge Water and Yucatan Water occupying different spatial and temporal scales, and the boundary between these two water masses existed as the western boundary of the Florida Current. The densities of each species were compared to the collection site’s temperature and salinity data. Densities of several species (Flaccisagitta enflata, Ferosagitta hispida, M. minima, and Sagitta bipuctata) demonstrated a correlation to temperature and S. bipunctata and Ferosagitta hispida showed a correlation to salinity. These species were associated with the front and peripheries of the Florida Current.
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Morley, Kenneth James. "An Analysis of the Risk Posed by Tropical Cyclones along the Gulf Coast of the United States." The Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1396007123.
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Wardall, Austin D. "Dispersion of Ammonia from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations." TopSCHOLAR®, 2016. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1727.
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The purpose of this research is to investigate the dispersion of ammonia (NH3) from three Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in western Kentucky, as well as to investigate the Weather Research and Forecasting – Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model’s sensitivity response to initial NH3 concentrations under both wet conditions (significant precipitation) and dry conditions (no precipitation). As expected, pollutant concentrations generally were significantly higher near their points of origin and generally declined away from the sources. Contrary to expectations, ammonia tended to rise through the planetary boundary layer (PBL) regardless of atmospheric conditions. Results showed modeled NH3 pollution levels at the surface generally to be higher under wet conditions. A GIS-based analysis method was developed to investigate model sensitivity to initial NH3 concentrations. Using this method, it was found that WRF-Chem exhibits an exponential relation between initial NH3 concentration and the final amount of NH3 produced by the model.
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Heflin, Kelsey L. "Stabilizing California's Water Supply: A Strategy to Alleviate the Impacts of Drought with Desalination." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2016. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1262.
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California is headed into its fifth consecutive year of drought, and climate change is expected to bring more frequent and severe droughts to the state. The state’s water supply is susceptible to drought as seen from the effects of the current dry period. Besides the clear impacts of drought, there are less obvious environmental, economic, and social costs, such as land subsidence from groundwater overdraft, and the consequences of urban tree and green space loss. As a uniquely climate-independent source, desalinated water can stabilize California’s water supply and lessen some of these drought-related impacts. Although seawater desalination is touted as the most costly and energy-intensive method for augmenting water supply, if implemented in a feasible manner, the technology provides a range of positive benefits for drought-prone California in the long term.
This thesis analyzes the economic and environmental costs of using desalination to mitigate the effects of drought in California. The thesis explores both Australian and Californian desalination facilities as case studies for evaluating the benefits and impacts of using different methods of desalination, in an effort to determine which method would be the most beneficial for securing California’s water supply. It concludes that lower-capacity, flexible desalination facilities would be useful along California’s coast, under some conditions. By generating a supply of desalinated water for coastal communities, more water from the state and federal water projects could be redirected to agricultural regions and inland communities that suffer the most from dry spells, and thereby lessen a number of drought-related environmental, economic, and social consequences.
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Lee, Cameron C. "The Development of a Gridded Weather Typing Classification Scheme." Thesis, Kent State University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3618946.
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<p> Since their development in the 1990s, gridded reanalysis data sets have proven quite useful for a broad range of synoptic climatological analyses, especially those utilizing a map pattern classification approach. However, their use in broad-scale, surface weather typing classifications and applications have not yet been explored. This research details the development of such a gridded weather typing classification (GWTC) scheme using North American Regional Reanalysis data for 1979-2010 for the continental United States. </p><p> Utilizing eight-times daily observations of temperature, dew point, pressure, cloud cover, u-wind and v-wind components, the GWTC categorizes the daily surface weather of 2,070 locations into one of 11 discrete weather types, nine core types and two transitional types, that remain consistent throughout the domain. Due to the use of an automated deseasonalized z-score initial typing procedure, the character of each type is both geographically and seasonally relative, allowing each core weather type to occur at every location, at any time of the year. Diagnostic statistics reveal a high degree of spatial cohesion among the weather types classified at neighboring locations, along with an effective partitioning of the climate variability of individual locations (via a Variability Skill Score metric) into these 11 weather types. Daily maps of the spatial distribution of GWTC weather types across the United States correspond well to traditional surface weather maps, and comparisons of the GWTC with the Spatial Synoptic Classification are also favorable. </p><p> While the potential future utility of the classification is expected to be primarily for the resultant calendars of daily weather types at specific locations, the automation of the methodology allows the classification to be easily repeatable, and therefore, easily transportable to other locations, atmospheric levels, and data sets (including output from gridded general circulation models). Further, the enhanced spatial resolution of the GWTC may also allow for new applications of surface weather typing classifications in mountainous and rural areas not well represented by airport weather stations.</p><p> </p>
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Watson, Kathleen. "Spatial and Temporal Extent of a Subsurface Hydrocarbon Intrusion Following the Deepwater Horizon Blowout." Scholar Commons, 2014. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5150.
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The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil between April 20, 2010 and July 15, 2010. An estimated 36% of the oil formed a neutrally buoyant intrusion, containing both dissolved compounds and oil microdroplets, between 1000 and 1300 m depth. This study used geographic information systems software, and data from water samples that were collected as part of the National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), to determine that an area of at least 1,600 km2 was exposed to DWH oil. Toxic BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) reached concentrations 950 and 50 times higher than maximum background concentrations, respectively. BTEX and n-alkane concentrations above pre-2010 values were present through late August, more than a month after the wellhead was capped. This study is the first to examine the DWH intrusion over such a large temporal and spatial extent.
We further estimated that an area between 500 and 1000 km2 may have been exposed to harmful PAH concentrations, based on studies of PAH toxicity and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. We also found evidence of aggregation and deposition of oil near the DWH wellhead, as well as an area of 400 km2 where the intrusion may have impinged on the seafloor. While relative rates of dilution, degradation, and deposition in the intrusion are unknown, we have shown evidence that supports two previously proposed processes that may have deposited DWH oil from this deep intrusion onto sediments, where toxic compounds could be resuspended and continue to be bioavailable to benthic organisms.
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Sando, Thomas Roy. "A climatology of air pollution in the Kansas City metropolitan area." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/11987.
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Master of Arts<br>Department of Geography<br>Douglas G. Goodin<br>My thesis characterizes the temporal and spatial behavior of ozone and fine particulate matter in the Kansas City metropolitan area. I also investigate the capability of a synoptic weather typing scheme, the Spatial Synoptic Classification, to characterize and explain the behavior of ozone and fine particulate matter in the Kansas City area.
Daily maximum ozone concentrations from nine active ozone monitoring stations and daily average particulate concentrations six active PM2.5 monitoring stations were compared to daily SSC weather type records from 2004-2010. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests were conducted on the ozone and PM2.5 data to analyze temporal and spatial behavior. A non-parametric recursive partitioning technique was used to create a conditional inference tree-based regression model to analyze the association between the different SSC weather types and the selected pollutants.
The ANOVA results showed significant seasonal trends with both pollutants. In general, ozone concentrations are typically lower in the spring and autumn months and higher during the summer months. PM2.5 concentrations were not as dependent on the season, however, they did tend to be higher in the late summer months and lower in the autumn months.
The results also showed significant differences for both pollutants in average concentration depending on location. The ozone concentrations generally tended to be higher in the areas that are located downwind of Kansas City and lowest at the station located in the middle of the urban area. Fine particulates also seemed to be highest in the downwind portion of the urban area and lowest in the region upwind of the city.
The conditional inference tree showed that higher concentrations of both pollutants are associated with tropical air masses and lower concentrations are associated with polar air masses.
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Kalapati, Raga S. "Analysis of Ozone Data Trends as an Effect of Meteorology and Development of Forecasting Models for Predicting Hourly Ozone Concentrations and Exceedances for Dayton, OH, Using MM5 Real-Time Forecasts." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1091216133.
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Bergman, Niclas. "Meteorological Conditions on Nordenskiöldbreen Glacier, Svalbard (2009 – 2015)." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-324406.
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Glacial environments in the Arctic are a much-studied topic as well as a field of research with strong influences regarding the current and future global climate of our planet. This report is focused on the meteorological conditions on Nordenskiöldbreen glacier from 2009-2015 and how they correlate with each other, the glacier surface and the surrounding terrain. With data gathered from an automatic weather station located at the centre of the glacier, a range of meteorological parameters is examined; wind direction and velocity, snow depth, cloud cover, incoming and reflected shortwave radiation, temperature deficit, albedo and drifting snow. Seasonal differences were discovered, especially for wind direction and velocity where winds from the northeast occurred more frequently in the winter, indicating katabatic winds, whereas winds from the west and southwest were more pronounced in the summer. The calculated temperature deficit shows that katabatic winds blow down-glacier under stably stratified conditions and are shown to increase in strength with increasing temperature deficit (atmospheric temperature minus surface temperature). The mean albedo at Nordenskiöldbreen during this period is within the expected limits, 0.8 for snow and 0.3 for ice and the cloud cover was 0.58. Additionally, it could be observed that the occurrence of dry, drifting snow is present in the winter season as snow depth shows pronounced drops during high-wind events in winter. Overall, it is concluded that most of the examined parameters correlate and need each other to function and act as mechanisms within the cryosphere and as such it is crucial for scientists to understand their connected relationships when attempting to study global climate changes.
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Stripling, Caitlin. "A Hurricane Specific Risk Assessment of the United States' Gulf Coast Counties." The Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1478090258882176.
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Best, Zoey Ellen. "Environmental Factors Affecting Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Nesting, Hatching, and Incubation Patterns in Broward County, Florida." NSUWorks, 2017. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/446.
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Reproductive success in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles is strongly dependent on the effective placement and internal conditions of their nests. Embryos rely on optimal incubation conditions for proper development and growth, which determines how many hatchlings will emerge from the nest. The internal microclimate of each nest is delicately balanced and can be easily influenced by external environmental conditions. This study was designed to examine several environmental variables and determine their effects on sea turtle nesting numbers, hatching success, and incubation conditions in Broward County Florida. Over a span of 25 years (1991-2015), the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program has collected data on each sea turtle nest laid in Broward County. This data was analyzed and plotted to visualize nesting and hatching trends, and regressions were fitted to make comparisons to historic air temperature, sea surface temperature, precipitation, and lunar illumination data. These regressions were tested for significance, and each environmental variable was found to have varying levels of impact on sea turtle nesting and hatching behavior. Of the environmental variables considered in this study, analyses suggest that sea turtles are most responsive to temperature, with sea surface temperature serving as the best proxy for predicting nesting behaviors. Air temperature over the incubation period was found to be the best indicator for hatch success percentage. Air temperature, sea surface temperature, and precipitation averages all significantly affected the length of the incubation period. The regression models created in this study could be used to examine the interactions between climatic variables, and to indicate what impacts can be expected by these various environmental factors. This information could be used to estimate the future effects of climate change on sea turtle reproduction, and to predict general reproductive success and future population trends.
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Flynn, Lindsey Nicole. "Thermal Determinants of Nest Site Selection in Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Caretta caretta, at Casey Key, Florida." Scholar Commons, 2012. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4323.
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Many environmental cues are thought to influence nest site selection by loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, and much debate exists over the possible influence of sand temperature. This study had two primary objectives: (1) to measure thermal differences across transects of a major nesting beach of Casey Key (28.7 N, 82.3 W), Florida and (2) to evaluate thermal pattern variation that influenced nesting patterns of adult female loggerhead sea turtles. A secondary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of infrared thermometers to collect sand surface temperatures in the field.
Temperature data were collected from 145 nest events and 8 false crawls in the 2008 and 2009 nesting seasons. Infrared thermometers and thermocouple probes were used to obtain surface temperatures from the water, waterline, beach sand, body pit attempts, nest chamber attempts, eggs, and the surface of the gular skin of the nesting female, within the crawl track created by the female and at one meter adjacent to the crawl track (from undisturbed sand). Weather influences at the time of nesting were recorded, including the presence or absence of rain, wind, or clouds. Beach slope was measured using an angle locator.
Temperature data from the infrared thermometer and the thermocouple probe were highly correlated, indicating that an infrared thermometer is an effective measurement tool on a nesting beach. In 2008, there was a significant difference between temperatures collected within the crawl tracks of false crawl events and nest events, indicating a potential for females to use thermal cues in choosing whether to false crawl or nest. In both nesting seasons, the sand temperature in the body pit and the surface of the gular skin of the nesting female were nearly identical, suggesting females may locate a suitable nest site using their skin temperature. Data collected at other loggerhead rookeries in the United States and Australia yielded similar results, however, variability in the use of temperature may arise seasonally, and according to different nesting environments.
Rain, wind and cloud cover significantly thermally altered several locations on Casey Key, but it remains unclear if these weather events significant affect turtle nesting behavior. Additionally, crawl distance and beach slope were significantly, positively correlated.
Gravid females most likely use multiple environmental cues to select a nest site. Assimilating information from multiple sources allows for the highest degree of adaptability, and future studies should consider implications for climate change and beach renourishment projects.