Snow accumulation of a high alpine catchment derived from LiDAR measurements

The spatial distribution of snow accumulation substantially affects the seasonal course of water storage and runoff generation in high mountain catchments. Whereas the areal extent of snow cover can be recorded by satellite data, spatial distribution of snow depth and hence snow water equivalent (SWE) is difficult to measure on catchment scale. In this study we present the application of airborne LiDAR (Light Detecting And Ranging) data to extract snow depths and accumulation distribution in an alpine catchment. <br><br> Airborne LiDAR measurements were performed in a glacierized catchment in the Ötztal Alps at the beginning and the end of three accumulation seasons. The resulting digital elevation models (DEMs) were used to calculate surface elevation changes throughout the winter season. These surface elevation changes were primarily referred to as snow depths and are discussed concerning measured precipitation and the spatial characteristics of the accumulation distribution in glacierized and unglacierized areas. To determine the redistribution of catchment precipitation, snow depths were converted into SWE using a simple regression model. Snow accumulation gradients and snow redistribution were evaluated for 100 m elevation bands. <br><br> Mean surface elevation changes of the whole catchment ranges from 1.97 m to 2.65 m within the analyzed accumulation seasons. By analyzing the distribution of the snow depths, elevation dependent patterns were obtained as a function of the topography in terms of aspect and slope. The high resolution DEMs show clearly the higher variation of snow depths in rough unglacierized areas compared to snow depths on smooth glacier surfaces. Mean snow depths in glacierized areas are higher than in unglacierized areas. Maximum mean snow depths of 100 m elevation bands are found between 2900 m and 3000 m a.s.l. in unglacierized areas and between 2800 m and 2900 m a.s.l. in glacierized areas, respectively. Calculated accumulation gradients range from 8% to 13% per 100 m elevation band in the observed catchment. Elevation distribution of accumulation calculated by applying these seasonal gradients in comparison to elevation distribution of SWE obtained from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data show the total redistribution of snow from higher to lower elevation bands. <br><br> Revealing both, information about the spatial distribution of snow depths and hence the volume of the snow pack, ALS data are an important source for extensive snow accumulation measurements in high alpine catchments. These information about the spatial characteristics of snow distribution are crucial for calibrating hydrological models in order to realistically compute temporal runoff generation by snow melt

Mechanism of impact and potential recovery of pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba) after the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2000The abundance of pigeon guillemots in oiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska, failed to increase after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Population growth may be constrained by the physiological effects of oil exposure, food availability, and nest predation." The author "conducted a comparative study among unoiled, oiled, and pre-spill data sets, to provide insight on factors limiting population recovery in oiled areas. Blood samples from chicks in oiled and unoiled areas provided little evidence of physiological effects of exposure to oil. Pigeon guillemot diet, productivity, growth rates, and fledging weights in unoiled areas of southwestern Prince William Sound from 1994 to 1998 indicate oiled areas had a lower proportion of high-lipid fish in the chick diet and lower fledging weights, compared to unoiled and pre-spill studies. These results suggest that the lack of recovery in oiled areas is associated with a prey base that results in lower fledging weights, which may reduce juvenile survival

Examining Employee Use Of Family-friendly Benefits With The Theory Of Planned Behavior

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may be related to employees\u27 decisions to use the family-friendly benefits (e.g., maternity/paternity leave, flexible work schedule) that are offered to them by their employers. Research has shown that both employees and organizations benefit when employees use family-friendly benefits. However, research has also shown that many employees do not take advantage of such benefits. Studies examining this issue are limited, and much of the research that has been conducted is anecdotal and atheoretical. The present study overcame this problem by empirically examining the use of family-friendly benefits within the theoretical context of Ajzen\u27s (1991) theory of planned behavior. The results of this study support the theory of planned behavior. Specifically, the results indicated that whether an individual perceived he/she had control over the use of family-friendly benefits was the most predictive of whether he/she intended to use them. Whether the individual perceived that others would approve of these behaviors was also predictive of intention to perform the behaviors. In addition, an individual\u27s intention to take leave or use a flexible work schedule was the most predictive of whether he or she actually engaged in the behaviors. Implications for practice as well as future research directions are also discussed

Identification and preliminary design of dyes and extraction techniques for diffusion modeling in a prototype freon atomospheric boundary layer simulation tunnel

Diffusion modeling in a water tunnel is a frequently used technique to predict the path and relative concentration of a spilled contaminant in the atmosphere. This technique involves injection of a dye into the tunnel and measurment of its position and concentration along the dispersion path. One illustration of this technique is the prediction of the dispersion path of the space shuttle\u27s plume at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and Vandenburg Air Force Base, California. Due to the temperature constraints imposed on diffusion modeling in a water tunnel, development of a prototype Freon tunnel is being considered. The types of dye best suited for diffusion modeling in Freon are discussed in this thesis. Combinations of dye and Freon to simulate lighter-than- and heavier- than-air spills are also briefly described. Due to the relative cost of the Freon, various techniques are discussed on how the dye can be extracted such that the Freon is reusable. Criteria were first established to define those characteristics of dyes best suited for diffusion modeling in a Freon tunnel. Hundreds of dyes were researched for suitability but only those dyes with characteristics meeting the established criteria were recommended for use. Guidelines and illustrations were identified for mixing dyes with various Freons to simulate the range of atmospheric diffusion processes which are of interest for simulation. Several separation and filtration techniques were researched to identify the best and most practical procedure for extracting the dye from the Freon

Women in Law Enforcement: The Impacts and Obstacles They Face in a Hispanic- and Male-Dominated Culture

Despite a lack of female law enforcement representation in police departments across the country and especially in the Border Patrol, there have been minimal studies performed that focus on the obstacles women face in these professions. The purpose of this study was to attempt to understand the lived experiences of female law enforcement officers/border patrol agents in this male-dominated profession, but also adding the aspect of them working in a Hispanic-dominated culture. The findings revealed these women in law enforcement working in a Hispanic area face many of the same obstacles as women in other parts of the country - including sexual harassment, perceptions of women in this male-dominated field and family obligations. While not all obstacles mentioned could be linked with the Hispanic culture, there were certainly connections related to Machismo and how women are treated by the public and fellow officers in this culture. While women continue to integrate into various law enforcement agencies, the percentage of women in this field is relatively stagnant and has been for many years. These findings could be used to educate current and future law enforcement leaders as to the obstacles women face with hopes to make changes to the way women are viewed in the law enforcement profession and in a Machismo culture

A modeling process to develop payload operational data

This dissertation addresses the need for and development of a modeling process which will develop a complete set of detailed representative payload operational data including timelines, power profiles, crew utilization profiles, venting profiles, logistical items, etc. pertaining to a new or hypothetical payload when supplied with only top-level payload operational data. A modeling process is proposed to accomplish this objective. The underlying hypothesis behind the proposed process is that similar payloads with similar mission objectives will behave in a similar fashion and exhibit similar resource requirements. The proposed process was developed into a computerized system with the aid of a relational data base and the development of Fortran modeling programs. An experiment was performed to validate the proposed process. This experiment consisted of utilizing the computerized system to develop operational data for payloads in which actual operational data was known. The data developed from the process was then compared to the actual data to assess the validity of the process and the hypothesis. The results of the study establish both the hypothesis and the process to be accurate. However, it was found that the process tended to be more qualitative than quantitative in nature

The Krampus in Austria: a case of booming identity politics

In Austria, the Krampus has recently witnessed an unprecedented boom. Since the early 2000s, the number of troupes and organized events has skyrocketed. Most of these can be termed "invented traditions" in Hobsbawm’s sense, as there are only a handful of places with a history of the practice from before the mid-twentieth century. Despite the vast differences between regions, young men in all of them dress up in masks that invoke associations with the devil or demons, wear long fur suits and roam the streets scaring and attacking onlookers with the switches they carry. Investigating contemporary Krampus practices in rural Austria, we argue that they serve as important sources of identity making, at the centre of which are relations between men and women, as well as between ethnic Austrians and immigrants. Through an engagement with anthropological discussions on identity, our article will suggest that the recent Krampus boom is indicative of new forms of white identity

The Krampus in Austria: A Case of Booming Identity Politics

In Austria, the Krampus has recently witnessed an unprecedented boom. Since the early 2000s, the number of troupes and organized events has skyrocketed. Most of these can be termed ‘invented traditions’ in Hobsbawm’s sense, as there are only a handful of places with a history of the practice from before the mid-twentieth century. Despite the vast differences between regions, young men in all of them dress up in masks that invoke associations with the devil or demons, wear long fur suits and roam the streets scaring and attacking onlookers with the switches they carry. Investigating contemporary Krampus practices in rural Austria, we argue that they serve as important sources of identity making, at the centre of which are relations between men and women, as well as between ethnic Austrians and immigrants. Through an engagement with anthropological discussions on identity, our article will suggest that the recent Krampus boom is indicative of new forms of white identit

Syntheses and Biological Activity of the HDAC Class I Inhibitor Largazole

Histone deacetylase inhibitors are an emerging class of antiproliferative agents that have the potential to combat cancer on an epigenetic level. The recently reported marine natural product largazole has been recently isolated in trace amounts from cyanobacteria and displays a very potent and selective antiproliferative activity towards a number of cell lines. Several lines of evidence suggested it might act as a histone deacetylase inhibitor. These compelling properties have generated considerable interest in the synthetic community which resulted in several total syntheses of largazole. The present review offers a brief overview of the synthetic routes and some early structure–activity relationships