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examination of hurricane vulnerability of the U.S. northeast and mid-Atlantic region
Title
An examination of hurricane vulnerability of the U.S. northeast and mid-Atlantic region.
Creator
Prasad, Shivangi, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description
Northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States are understudied from the perspective of hurricane vulnerability. In an attempt to fill this gap in research, this dissertation attempted to assess the hurricane vulnerability of the northeastern and mid- Atlantic United States through the construction of a Composite Hurricane Vulnerability Index (CHVI) for 184 counties extending from Maine to Virginia. The CHVI was computed by incorporating indicators of human vulnerability and physical exposure....
Show moreNortheastern and mid-Atlantic United States are understudied from the perspective of hurricane vulnerability. In an attempt to fill this gap in research, this dissertation attempted to assess the hurricane vulnerability of the northeastern and mid- Atlantic United States through the construction of a Composite Hurricane Vulnerability Index (CHVI) for 184 counties extending from Maine to Virginia. The CHVI was computed by incorporating indicators of human vulnerability and physical exposure. Human vulnerability was derived from demographic, social and economic characteristics whereas physical exposure was based on attributes of the natural and built up environments. The spatial distribution of the CHVI and its component indices were examined and analyzed to meet the research goals, which were a) to develop indices of human vulnerability, physical exposure and composite hurricane vulnerability for all counties; b) to assess vulnerability distribution in terms of population size, metropolitan status (metropolitan versus non metropolitan counties) and location (coastal versus inland counties); c) to identify the specific underlying causes of vulnerability; d) to identify the significant clusters and outliers of high vulnerability; and e) to examine overlaps between high human vulnerability and high physical exposure in the region. Results indicated high overall vulnerability for counties that were metropolitan and / or coastal. Vulnerability clusters and intersections pointed towards high vulnerability in the major cities along the northeastern megalopolis, in the Hampton Roads section of Virginia and in parts of Delmarva Peninsula. Evidence of relationship of population size, metropolitan status and location with vulnerability levels provides a new perspective to vulnerability assessment.
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Date Issued
2013
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360969
Subject Headings
Hurricane protection, Regional planning, Emergency management, Natural disasters, Risk assessment, Geographic information systems
Format
Document (PDF)
retrospective analysis of sea turtle nest depredation patterns at Canaveral National Seashore, Florida
Title
A retrospective analysis of sea turtle nest depredation patterns at Canaveral National Seashore, Florida.
Creator
Welicky, Rachel., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description
Nest predation can significantly reduce hatchling recruitment in sea turtle populations. This study uses 20 years of data from Canaveral National Seashore, Florida, which has pristine and altered beaches. Chi-square tests were used to determine if secondary predation events were related to the nest's primary depredation event. To determine if human beach use and nest predation are spatially or temporally linked, we ranked human beach use and examined predation frequency across all screened...
Show moreNest predation can significantly reduce hatchling recruitment in sea turtle populations. This study uses 20 years of data from Canaveral National Seashore, Florida, which has pristine and altered beaches. Chi-square tests were used to determine if secondary predation events were related to the nest's primary depredation event. To determine if human beach use and nest predation are spatially or temporally linked, we ranked human beach use and examined predation frequency across all screened and marked nests (n=40,441). Lastly, I quantified nest predation risk spatially and temporally. I found that primary predation increases the chance of a nest suffering subsequent predation. Primary and multiple predation events occurred with greater frequency in limited use areas and with lowest frequency in moderate use areas. Predation risk decreased by an average of 29.5% from 2000-2008. Nests deposited midseason were 9.8% more likely to be predated than nests deposited early or late.
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Date Issued
2010
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2683130
Subject Headings
Predation (Biology), Wildlife managment, Sea turtles, Sea turtles, Nests
Format
Document (PDF)