The two‐way relationship between ionospheric outflow and the ring current

It is now well established that the ionosphere, because it acts as a significant source of plasma, plays a critical role in ring current dynamics. However, because the ring current deposits energy into the ionosphere, the inverse may also be true: the ring current can play a critical role in the dynamics of ionospheric outflow. This study uses a set of coupled, first‐principles‐based numerical models to test the dependence of ionospheric outflow on ring current‐driven region 2 field‐aligned currents (FACs). A moderate magnetospheric storm event is modeled with the Space Weather Modeling Framework using a global MHD code (Block Adaptive Tree Solar wind Roe‐type Upwind Scheme, BATS‐R‐US), a polar wind model (Polar Wind Outflow Model), and a bounce‐averaged kinetic ring current model (ring current atmosphere interaction model with self‐consistent magnetic field, RAM‐SCB). Initially, each code is two‐way coupled to all others except for RAM‐SCB, which receives inputs from the other models but is not allowed to feed back pressure into the MHD model. The simulation is repeated with pressure coupling activated, which drives strong pressure gradients and region 2 FACs in BATS‐R‐US. It is found that the region 2 FACs increase heavy ion outflow by up to 6 times over the noncoupled results. The additional outflow further energizes the ring current, establishing an ionosphere‐magnetosphere mass feedback loop. This study further demonstrates that ionospheric outflow is not merely a plasma source for the magnetosphere but an integral part in the nonlinear ionosphere‐magnetosphere‐ring current system.Key PointsRegion 2 field‐aligned currents drive additional ionospheric O+ outflowThis additional outflow feeds the ring current, creating a feedback systemIonospheric outflow is a tightly coupled piece of the M‐I systemPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112284/1/jgra51836.pd

Experiences of self and belonging among young people identified as having learning difficulties in English schools

Young people identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEN/D), remain some of the most marginalised learners in the English education system. These young people are one of the most likely groups to face exclusion from school and evidence suggests that discrimination against disabled adults and children, in England, is on the rise. Within research debates on education, the voices of those identified as having SEN/D remain on the margins. Six story-telling case studies were undertaken, exploring the experiences of young people identified as having learning difficulties in a mainstream, mainstream faith and special school in England. Specifically, the way in which the young people described themselves and experienced a sense of belonging was examined. An ethical and robustly inclusive methodology using arts-based methods was developed to empower the young people to share their experiences on their own terms. Embracing the potential of video voice, self-portraiture and life-mapping as ethical, participatory and inclusive research methods, this study has captured multi-sensory narrative data. Offering a detailed description of how the methods operated inclusively contributes to the field and, supports other researchers to undertake inclusive research alongside young people identified as having learning difficulties. The voices of the six young people are examined to show the ways in which they demonstrate a resistance to othering discourses in society, through describing themselves and articulating their sense of belonging. The young people’s reflection on difference and disability demonstrated that their knowledge of disability and specific ‘diagnoses’ was limited. Moreover, the way in which they described themselves and their peers reinforced a dichotomy of ‘normal’ and ‘other’. Hence, I argue within this thesis for the further development and dissemination of a social model of learning difficulty. This model rejects the notion of essential difference and offers an understanding that learning difficulty, similarly to disability, can be viewed as socially constructed. Based on the young people’s reflections on belonging, I also problematise the use of special educational needs (SEN) labels within school settings arguing that, discussions around the use of labels must involve the voices of young people. In relation to SEN labels, I also examine the geographies of SEN/D using the young people’s reflections to underline how nurture or inclusion units can have the potential to both offer refuge and reinforce notions of difference.My thanks to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences for generously awarding me a three-year PhD bursary

Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the 380.6-Acre Stockdick School Road Tract, Katy, Harris County, Texas

Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. (Horizon) was selected by Berg-Oliver Associates, Inc. (BOA) on behalf of the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to conduct a cultural resources inventory and assessment for the proposed Stockdick School Road Project in Katy, Harris County, Texas (HCFCD Project No. U501-07-00-E001). The proposed undertaking would consist of constructing various storm water detention ponds and other drainage improvements within a non-contiguous 154.0-hectare (380.6-acre) tract located off either side of Grand Avenue Parkway (State Highway [SH] 99) in Katy, Harris County, Texas. The tract is bounded on the north by Stockdick School Road, on the west by Peek Road, on the south by Clay Road, and on the east by the Vineyard Meadow Tuscany residential subdivision. Mayde Creek flows southeastward through the tract. For purposes of the cultural resources survey, the project area is assumed to consist of the entire 154.0-hectare (380.6-acre) tract. The proposed undertaking is being sponsored by HCFCD, a political subdivision of the state of Texas; as such, the project would fall under the jurisdiction of the Antiquities Code of Texas. In addition, the project would require the use of federal permits issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). As such, those portions of the overall project area that fall within the federal permit area would also fall under the jurisdiction of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). As the proposed project represents a publicly sponsored undertaking, the project sponsor is required to provide the applicable federal agencies, in this case the USACE, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC), which serves as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for the state of Texas, with an opportunity to review and comment on the project’s potential to adversely affect historic properties listed on or considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the NHPA and/or for designation as State Antiquities Landmarks (SAL) under the Antiquities Code of Texas. Between April 30 and May 5, 2020, Horizon archeologists Charles E. Bludau, Jr. and Luis Gonzalez conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of the project area. Jeffrey D. Owens acted as Principal Investigator, and the survey was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 9409. The purpose of the survey was to locate any significant cultural resources that potentially would be impacted by the proposed undertaking. Horizon’s archeologists traversed the project area and thoroughly inspected the modern ground surface for aboriginal and historic-age cultural resources. The project area consists of a vast tract that is roughly bisected by Mayde Creek, which flows southeastward through the approximate middle of the tract. Areas adjacent to the creek were largely undeveloped and covered in dense hardwood forests with a thick understory of shrubs, grasses, forbs, brambles, vines, and various grasses. Vegetation in the more open areas consisted of dense pasture grasses with isolated copses of hardwood trees. Whereas most of the project area is undeveloped and appears to be largely intact, various disturbances were observed. An Enterprise Crude Pipeline, LLC pipeline corridor passes northeast to southwest through the north-central portion of the project area; a Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline, LLC pipeline corridor passes northeast to southwest through the central portion of the project area; and a transmission line passes northwest to southeast through the center of the project area. In the northwestern corner of the project area, immediately south of Stockdick School Road and east of Clay Road, a large section of land has been cleared and a number of underground utility lines have been installed. In the southwestern corner of the project area, north of Clay Road and east of Peek Road, a wide, contoured drainage channel has been constructed. Finally, Grand Avenue Parkway (SH 99) passes between the two sections of the project area located on either side of the highway. Visibility of the modern ground surface ranged from poor (\u3c20%) in more heavily vegetated areas to excellent (80 to 100%) in cleared areas. In addition to pedestrian walkover, the Texas State Minimum Archeological Survey Standards (TSMASS) call for excavation of a minimum of two shovel tests per 0.4 hectare (1.0 acre) for projects measuring 10.1 hectares (25.0 acres) or less in size plus one additional shovel test per 2.0 hectares (5.0 acres) above 10.1 hectares (25.0 acres). As such, a minimum of 121 shovel tests would be required within the 154.0-hectare (380.6-acre) project area. Horizon excavated a total of 164 shovel tests, thereby exceeding the TSMASS for a project area of this size. Shovel tests typically revealed sandy clay loam to sandy loam sediments overlying sandy clay. Mottling and iron staining were ubiquitous in shovel tests, suggesting that large portions of the project area are likely saturated on a seasonal or perennial basis. It is Horizon’s opinion that shovel testing was capable of fully penetrating sediments with the potential to contain subsurface archeological deposits. No cultural resources of prehistoric or historic age were recorded within the project area during the survey. A modern church or some other type of large community center is present in the northern portion of the project area off the southern side of Stockdick School Road. This structure was built at some time between 1973 and 1981; as such, the structure is not of historic age. Based on the results of the survey-level investigations documented in this report, no potentially significant cultural resources would be affected by the proposed undertaking. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.4, Horizon has made a reasonable and good-faith effort to identify historic properties within the project area. No cultural resources were identified within the project area that meet the criteria for designation as SALs according to 13 TAC 26 or for inclusion in the NRHP under 36 CFR 60.4. Horizon recommends a finding of “no historic properties affected,” and no further archeological work is recommended in connection with the proposed undertaking. However, human burials, both prehistoric and historic, are protected under the Texas Health and Safety Code. In the event that any human remains or burial objects are inadvertently discovered at any point during construction, use, or ongoing maintenance in the project area, even in previously surveyed areas, all work should cease immediately in the vicinity of the inadvertent discovery, and the THC should be notified immediately. Following completion of the project, project records will be permanently curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL)