Current Search: Climate changes -- Environmental aspects (x)
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- Title
- Climate change impacts on the secondary metabolite production in Caribbean coral reef sponges.
- Creator
- Vansach, Tifanie, Duckworth, Alan R., Hard, M., Stubler, A., West, Lyndon, Graduate College
- Date Issued
- 2011-04-08
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3164802
- Subject Headings
- Climatic changes --Environmental aspects, Metabolism, Sponges --Caribbean Sea
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Very Useful Notion: A Rhetorical History of the Idea of Human-Made Climate Change, 1950-2000.
- Creator
- Brooten, Gary, Marin, Noemi, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
This dissertation tests an original hybrid methodology to explore the rapid spread of the idea of human-made climate change that began in the 1950s after the idea had lain dormant for half a century. It describes the 1950s rhetorical events that triggered the idea’s diffusion, then traces how its rhetorical uses gradually gave root to the end-of-thecentury political impasse over how to respond to the societal implications of the idea. The research methodology rests on the simple logic that an...
Show moreThis dissertation tests an original hybrid methodology to explore the rapid spread of the idea of human-made climate change that began in the 1950s after the idea had lain dormant for half a century. It describes the 1950s rhetorical events that triggered the idea’s diffusion, then traces how its rhetorical uses gradually gave root to the end-of-thecentury political impasse over how to respond to the societal implications of the idea. The research methodology rests on the simple logic that an idea can only spread by being used in human discourses. It combines traditions of rhetorical historiography with a philosophical view of intellectual history as the cumulative effect of a “natural selection” of ideas and their spread by human individuals over time and geography. It calls for sampling and analyzing rhetorical artifacts in light of the rhetorical situations in which they originate, focusing on how the idea of human-made climate change is used rhetorically in scientific and other discourses. The analyses form the basis of a narrative giving emphasis both to rhetorical continuities and to conversation-changing rhetorical events. They also show how these rhetorical dynamics involve interactions of human communities using or attacking the idea for their communal purposes. The results challenge science-focused understandings of the history of the idea itself and also suggest that the methodology may be more broadly useful. As to the history, the analyses highlight how changes in the rhetorical uses of the idea made possible its 1950s breakout in climate science, then led to uses that spread it into other sciences and into environmentalism in the 1960s, attached it to apocalyptic environmentalism in the 1970s, injected it into partisan politics in 1980s and shaped the political impasse during the 1990s. The data show that the methodology reveals elements of the discourses missed in histories emphasizing the “power of ideas,” suggesting that a focus on the usefulness of ideas may be more fruitful. A focus on rhetorical uses of ideas grounds the causation of intellectual change in human motivation and agency, expressed in material acts that multiply and disperse naturally through communities and populations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004691, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004691
- Subject Headings
- Climate change mitigation, Climatic changes -- Philosophy, Climatic changes -- Social aspects, Global environmental change, Human beings -- Effect of climate on, Rhetorical criticism
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of a severe winter on invasive green iguanas (Iguana iguana).
- Creator
- Campbell, Ashley B., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is an herbivorous lizard native to South America and is invasive in south Florida. The severe weather in January 2010 negatively impacted many species and significantly reduced the green iguana population, specifically adult females and juveniles of both sexes. Fifteen adult iguanas from two locations in Palm Beach County were tagged and had blood drawn for blood chemistry and HPLC steroid hormone analysis. Individuals were tracked for home range/territory...
Show moreThe green iguana (Iguana iguana) is an herbivorous lizard native to South America and is invasive in south Florida. The severe weather in January 2010 negatively impacted many species and significantly reduced the green iguana population, specifically adult females and juveniles of both sexes. Fifteen adult iguanas from two locations in Palm Beach County were tagged and had blood drawn for blood chemistry and HPLC steroid hormone analysis. Individuals were tracked for home range/territory analysis and behavioral observations. Blood chemistry values of cold-stunned individuals showed abnormal values similar to those reported in cold-stunned sea turtles. Territoriality and breeding behaviors, including nesting and head-bob displays, decreased or ceased during the following months. Steroid hormone concentrations were detected by HPLC and were not consistent with results from RIA studies in the literature.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3174507
- Subject Headings
- Weather, Environmental aspects, Adaptation (Biology), Climate changes, Environmental aspects, Conservation biology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Evaluation of future design rainfall extremes and characteristics using multiple-model and multiple-scenario climate change models.
- Creator
- Dezmain, Celyn, Teegavarapu, Ramesh, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
Climate models are common tools for developing design standards in the hydrologic field; however, these models contain uncertainties in multi-model and scenario selections. Along with these uncertainties, biases can be attached to the models. Such biases and uncertainties can present difficulties in predicting future extremes. These hydrologic extremes are believed to be non-stationary in character. Only in the recent past have model users come to terms that the current hydrologic designs are...
Show moreClimate models are common tools for developing design standards in the hydrologic field; however, these models contain uncertainties in multi-model and scenario selections. Along with these uncertainties, biases can be attached to the models. Such biases and uncertainties can present difficulties in predicting future extremes. These hydrologic extremes are believed to be non-stationary in character. Only in the recent past have model users come to terms that the current hydrologic designs are no longer relevant due to their assumption of stationarity. This study describes a systematic method of selecting a best fit model in relationship to location and time, along with the use of that best fit model for evaluation of future extremes. Rain gage stations throughout Florida are used to collect daily precipitation data used in extreme precipitation and quantitative indices. Through these indices conclusions are made on model selection and future extremes, as they relate to hydrologic designs.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004016
- Subject Headings
- Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects, Climatic extremes, Hydrologic models, Percipitation (Meteorology) -- Measurement
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Influences of decadal and multi-decadal oscillations on regional precipitation extremes and characteristics.
- Creator
- Pierce, Milla, Teegavarapu, Ramesh, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
Three major teleconnections, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), in warm and cool phases, effect precipitation in Florida. The effects of the oscillation phases on the precipitation characteristics are analyzed by using long-term daily precipitation data, on different temporal (annual, monthly, and daily) and spatial scales, utilizing numerous indices, and techniques. Long-term extreme precipitation data for 9...
Show moreThree major teleconnections, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), in warm and cool phases, effect precipitation in Florida. The effects of the oscillation phases on the precipitation characteristics are analyzed by using long-term daily precipitation data, on different temporal (annual, monthly, and daily) and spatial scales, utilizing numerous indices, and techniques. Long-term extreme precipitation data for 9 different durations is used to examine the effects of the oscillation phases on the rainfall extremes, by employing different parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, along with Depth-Duration- Frequency analysis. Results show that Florida will experience higher rainfall when AMO is in the warm phase, except in the panhandle and south Florida, while PDO cool phase is positively correlated with precipitation, except for the southern part of the peninsula.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004046
- Subject Headings
- Climatic change -- Environmental aspects, Climatic extremes, Hydrologic models, Hydrometeorology, Precipitation (Meteorology) -- Measurement
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Influences of climate variability and change on precipitation characteristics and extremes.
- Creator
- Goly, Aneesh, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
This study focuses on two main broad areas of active research on climate: climate variability and climate change and their implications on regional precipitation characteristics. All the analysis is carried out for a climate change-sensitive region, the state of Florida, USA. The focus of the climate variability analysis is to evaluate the influence of individual and coupled phases (cool and warm) of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and El Niäno southern oscillation (ENSO) on regional...
Show moreThis study focuses on two main broad areas of active research on climate: climate variability and climate change and their implications on regional precipitation characteristics. All the analysis is carried out for a climate change-sensitive region, the state of Florida, USA. The focus of the climate variability analysis is to evaluate the influence of individual and coupled phases (cool and warm) of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and El Niäno southern oscillation (ENSO) on regional precipitation characteristics. The two oscillations in cool and warm phases modulate each other which have implications on flood control and water supply in the region. Extreme precipitation indices, temporal distribution of rainfall within extreme storm events, dry and wet spell transitions and antecedent conditions preceding extremes are evaluated. Kernel density estimates using Gaussian kernel for distribution-free comparative analysis and bootstrap sampling-based confidence intervals are used to compare warm and cool phases of different lengths. Depth-duration-frequency (DDF) curves are also developed using generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions characterizing the extremes. ... This study also introduces new approaches to optimally select the predictor variables which help in modeling regional precipitation and further provides a mechanism to select an optimum spatial resolution to downscale the precipitation projections. New methods for correcting the biases in monthly downscaled precipitation projections are proposed, developed and evaluated in this study. The methods include bias corrections in an optimization framework using various objective functions, hybrid methods based on universal function approximation and new variants.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362383
- Subject Headings
- Climatic changes, Environmental aspects, Global temperature changes, Environmental aspects, Precipitation (Meteorology), Measurement, Bootstrap (Statistics)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Advanced methods in sea level rise vulnerability assessment.
- Creator
- Romah, Thomas., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
Increasing sea levels have the potential to place important portions of the infrastructure we rely on every day at risk. The transportation infrastructure relies on roads, airports, and seaports to move people, services, and goods around in an ever connected global economy. Any disturbances of the transportation modes have reverberating effects throughout the entire economic spectrum. The effects include delays, alterations of routes, and possible changes in the origin and destinations of...
Show moreIncreasing sea levels have the potential to place important portions of the infrastructure we rely on every day at risk. The transportation infrastructure relies on roads, airports, and seaports to move people, services, and goods around in an ever connected global economy. Any disturbances of the transportation modes have reverberating effects throughout the entire economic spectrum. The effects include delays, alterations of routes, and possible changes in the origin and destinations of services and goods. The purpose of this project is to develop an improved methodology for a sea level rise scenario vulnerability assessment model. This new model uses the groundwater elevation as a limiting factor for soil storage capacity in determining previously underestimated areas of vulnerability. The hope is that early identification of vulnerability will allow planners and government officials an opportunity to identify and either remediate or create alternative solutions for vulnerable land areas before high consequence impacts are felt.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358965
- Subject Headings
- Sea level, Environmental aspects, Coastal zone management, Sea level, Climactic factors, Climate change mitigation, Climatic changes, Risk management
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Toward climate neutrality: greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Florida Atlantic University, 2005-2007.
- Creator
- Fannin, Sarah., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Colleges and universities across the U.S. are working to reduce their environmental impact. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has joined this nationwide collegiate effort through President Frank Brogan's recent signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). For my thesis, I estimate greenhouse gas emissions at FAU from 2005-2007 through collecting and analyzing data from different university departments and inputting this information into the Clean Air-...
Show moreColleges and universities across the U.S. are working to reduce their environmental impact. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has joined this nationwide collegiate effort through President Frank Brogan's recent signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). For my thesis, I estimate greenhouse gas emissions at FAU from 2005-2007 through collecting and analyzing data from different university departments and inputting this information into the Clean Air- Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator for further computations. This greenhouse gas emission inventory for FAU meets the ACUPCC requirements. Using this greenhouse gas emission baseline, a comprehensive plan can be produced to monitor progress toward creating a sustainable and climate neutral FAU.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77664
- Subject Headings
- Greenhouse gases, Environmental aspects, Climate changes, Environmental aspects, Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric, Greenhouse gas mitigation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Assessment of clilmate change impacts on streamflow trends using a water balance model.
- Creator
- Matthews, Kevin., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
Significant changes in climate and their impacts are now visible in various places around the globe and are expected to become more evident in the coming decades. For each increase in temperature, there are environmental and societal consequences. It has important implications for existing water resources systems as well as for future water resources planning and management. Water accounting (identifying, quantifying and reporting information of water flow in a system) is the first step...
Show moreSignificant changes in climate and their impacts are now visible in various places around the globe and are expected to become more evident in the coming decades. For each increase in temperature, there are environmental and societal consequences. It has important implications for existing water resources systems as well as for future water resources planning and management. Water accounting (identifying, quantifying and reporting information of water flow in a system) is the first step towards formulating productive and sustainable water management strategies in a region. Thus, water balance models could be an empowering tool for water resource managers to prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change on their local hydrologic resources. This thesis offers an insight into how such a tool can be used to assess and predict future stream flow trends in an effort to mitigate or manage any potential effects.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358599
- Subject Headings
- Climatic changes, Environmental aspects, Hydrology, Water resources development, Natural resources, Accounting
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Letter from the inside: a conventional farmer’s daughter on the need for a new agriculture.
- Creator
- Anderson, Stephanie, Schmitt, Kate, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
- Abstract/Description
-
In “Letters from the Inside,” Stephanie Anderson presents a vision for sustainable, regenerative agriculture from the perspective of someone born and raised on a conventional cattle ranch. From Florida to New Mexico to the Dakotas, she traces the stories of farmers and ranchers who are already creating such an agriculture. She argues that producers, in tandem with consumers and government, hold the power to change what is currently an environmentally and socially destructive food system.
- Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004342, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004342
- Subject Headings
- Agriculture--Environmental aspects, Agriculture--Economic aspects, Agriculture--Social aspects, Alternative agriculture, Sustainable agriculture, Climate change mitigation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Tradable permits as a policy mechanism for greenhouse gas abatement.
- Creator
- Van Treese, Jeff., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
This paper examines permit trading as an instrument for greenhouse gas emission abatement and suggests that a cap and trade scheme is the lowest-cost option for achieving this goal. The paper examines relevant examples of emission trading within the United States, including the Acid Rain Program contained within the 1990 Clean Air Act, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. I address the circumstances, constraints, and degree of success of such programs in...
Show moreThis paper examines permit trading as an instrument for greenhouse gas emission abatement and suggests that a cap and trade scheme is the lowest-cost option for achieving this goal. The paper examines relevant examples of emission trading within the United States, including the Acid Rain Program contained within the 1990 Clean Air Act, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. I address the circumstances, constraints, and degree of success of such programs in relation to the Kyoto Protocol as well as other possible permit schemes at the national level within the United States. I contrast tradable permits with other forms of environmental abatement policy including command and control regulation and taxation. Finally, I analyze the effect of several variables including population and GDP on emissions growth and draws conclusions on what extent those variables play on shaping a domestic greenhouse gas trading program.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/40973
- Subject Headings
- Emissions trading, Greenhouse gases, Environmental aspects, Climatic changes, Government policy, Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric, Environmental policy
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Assessment of Changes in Precipitation Data Characteristics due to Infilling by Spatially Interpolated Estimates.
- Creator
- Hachmi, Mohammad, Teegavarapu, Ramesh, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
Spatial and temporal interpolation methods are commonly used methods for estimating missing precipitation rain gauge data based on values recorded at neighboring gauges. However, these interpolation methods have not been comprehensively checked for their ability to preserve time series characteristics. Assessing the preservation of time series characteristics helps achieving a threshold criteria of length of gaps in a data set that is acceptable to be filled. This study evaluates the efficacy...
Show moreSpatial and temporal interpolation methods are commonly used methods for estimating missing precipitation rain gauge data based on values recorded at neighboring gauges. However, these interpolation methods have not been comprehensively checked for their ability to preserve time series characteristics. Assessing the preservation of time series characteristics helps achieving a threshold criteria of length of gaps in a data set that is acceptable to be filled. This study evaluates the efficacy of optimal weighting interpolation for estimation of missing data in preserving time series characteristics. Rain gauges in the state of Kentucky are used as a case study. Several model performance measures are also evaluated to validate the filling model; followed by time series characteristics to evaluate the accuracy of estimation and preservation of precipitation data characteristics. This study resulted in a definition of region-specific threshold of the maximum length of gaps allowed in a data set at five percent.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004783, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004783
- Subject Headings
- Precipitation (Meteorology), Spatial analysis (Statistics), Geographic information systems--Mathematical models., Climatic changes--Environmental aspects., Functions of real variables.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Using a Groundwater Influenced Sea Level Rise Model to Assess the Costs Due to Sea-Level Rise on a Coastal Community’s Stormwater Infrastructure Using Limited Groundwater Data.
- Creator
- Wood, Michael Burton Jr, Bloetscher, Frederick, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
A confounding factor for sea level rise (SLR) is that it has a slow, steady creep, which provides a false sense for coastal communities. Stresses caused by SLR at today’s rate are more pronounced in southeastern Florida and as the rate of SLR accelerates, the exposure areas will increase to a point where nearly all the state’s coastal infrastructure will be challenged. The research was conducted to develop a method for measuring the impact of SLR on the City of West Palm Beach (City), assess...
Show moreA confounding factor for sea level rise (SLR) is that it has a slow, steady creep, which provides a false sense for coastal communities. Stresses caused by SLR at today’s rate are more pronounced in southeastern Florida and as the rate of SLR accelerates, the exposure areas will increase to a point where nearly all the state’s coastal infrastructure will be challenged. The research was conducted to develop a method for measuring the impact of SLR on the City of West Palm Beach (City), assess its impact on the stormwater system, identify vulnerable areas in the City, provide an estimate of long-term costs of improvements, and provide a toolbox or strategies to employ at the appropriate time. The assessment was conducted by importing tidal, groundwater, topographic LiDAR and infrastructure improvements into geographic modeling software and performing analysis based on current data. The data revealed that over $400 million in current dollars might be needed to address stormwater issues arising from SLR before 2100.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004798, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004798
- Subject Headings
- Climatic changes., Coastal zone management., Ecosystem management., Sea level--Climatic factors--Florida--West Palm Beach., Water--Environmental aspects.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Joint probability analysis of precipitation and streamflow extremes.
- Creator
- Lin, Chia-hung., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis focuses on evaluation of joint occurrence of extreme precipitation and streamflow events at several hydrologic structures in South Florida. An analysis of twelve years storm events and their corresponding peak streamflow events during wet and dry season including annual peaks considering two seasons was performed first. Dependence analysis using time series data of precipitation and streamflow was carried out next. The analysis included use of storm events with different temporal...
Show moreThis thesis focuses on evaluation of joint occurrence of extreme precipitation and streamflow events at several hydrologic structures in South Florida. An analysis of twelve years storm events and their corresponding peak streamflow events during wet and dry season including annual peaks considering two seasons was performed first. Dependence analysis using time series data of precipitation and streamflow was carried out next. The analysis included use of storm events with different temporal lags from the time of occurrence of peak streamflow events. Bi-variate joint probability was found to be appropriate to analyze the joint occurrence of events. Evaluation of joint exceedence probabilities under two phases of Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) influencing south Florida was also evaluated. All methodologies are evaluated for application using observations at several structures in the case study region to provide advances and valuable insights on joint extremes of precipitation and streamflows.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360954
- Subject Headings
- Climatic changes, Precipitation (Meterology), Streamflow, Environmental aspects
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Public Perception of Health Risks Related to Climate Change in Broward County, Florida.
- Creator
- Buck, Jeanmarie A. Steckler, Cameron, Mary, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
Scholars agree that global climate change is a major threat to the physical environment, affecting all aspects of life on the planet. However, the general public do not feel that climate change is a major risk or threat, especially to humans. It is important to understand the public’s perception and opinions of climate change as it affects and influences the creation and passing of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. Specifically, little is known about public perceptions in...
Show moreScholars agree that global climate change is a major threat to the physical environment, affecting all aspects of life on the planet. However, the general public do not feel that climate change is a major risk or threat, especially to humans. It is important to understand the public’s perception and opinions of climate change as it affects and influences the creation and passing of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. Specifically, little is known about public perceptions in regards to the greater health risk imposed by global climate change. This study examines the public's perception of health risks related to climate change in Broward County, Florida by using mixed methods. An online survey was conducted along with in-person interviews with the general public and a physician. The study found majority of respondents to believe climate change affects health, but lacked an understanding of how it is harmful to their health. It also found that gender affects their perceptions and political ideology appears to have an effect, but the effect of socioeconomic status on their perceptions were unable to be determined at this time. Broward is just developing policies to adapt and mitigate the health effects of climate change.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004813, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004813
- Subject Headings
- Environmental health--Florida--Broward County., Health risk assessment--Florida--Broward County., Human beings--Effect of climate on., Climatic changes--Health aspects., Social change--Health aspects., Global warming--Health aspects., Public health surveillance--Florida--Broward County.
- Format
- Document (PDF)