Spatial and Temporal Variations of Surface Characteristics on the Greenland Ice Sheet as Derived from Passive Microwave Observations

The primary goals of this research were to identify and begin to comprehend the spatial and temporal variations in surface characteristics of the Greenland ice sheet using passive microwave observations, physically-based models of the snowpack and field observations of snowpack and firn properties

Sensitivity of Streamflow to Climate Change: A Case Study for Nebraska

Climate change, whether natural or due to human action, will have an impact on many aspects of our environment. The nature of streamflow changes will depend on the magnitude and direction of the climate change. However, since the principal climatic factors that control streamflow are precipitation and evapotranspiration (which can be estimated from air temperature data), the sensitivity ofstreamflow to variations in climate can be studied through the use of plausible scenarios of climate change. A simple water budget model was used to reconstruct streamflow from monthly temperature and precipitation data for locations within and immediately surrounding the Little Blue River basin in south-central Nebraska. Then, climate change scenarios corresponding to changes in monthly temperature of 1 °C and 3 °C and to differences in monthly precipitation of 10% and 20% were used to estimate the sensitivity of streamflow to climate change. Results of this procedure show the sensitivity of streamflow to climate variability. For example, a 20% increase in precipitation would more than double the average annual streamflow, while a 20% precipitation decrease would almost halve the average annual streamflow. The effects of temperature changes are similar, with a 3 °C increase resulting in an almost 60% decrease in streamflow, and a 3 °C decrease causing streamflow to increase by more than 80%. Scenarios with both temperature and precipitation changes can either enhance or nullify the effects of a single change

A Critical Review of Design and Use of Field Tent Shelters in Polar Regions

Polar research teams often spend extended periods of time away from base stations, living and working in remote field camps of portable tents. This article reports results of a survey study conducted in 1996 of polar researchers from the United States. The study was about the design and use of portable field tents being deployed in polar areas with regard to safety, health, and well-being from the user\u27s perspective. Preliminary analysis indicates that there existed a number of areas in design and use of the shelters that contributed to concerns of safety, health, and well-being among a considerable number of tent users. The article concludes with suggestions for designing and manufacturing portable field tents

Polar Field Tent Shelters and Well-Being of Users

Polar research teams often spend extended periods of time away from base stations, living and working in remote field camps of portable tent shelters. This article reports on a study of the design and use of portable field tent shelters being deployed in Antarctica and other circumpolar areas. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the shelters on health and well-being of their users from an environment-behavior perspective. Preliminary analysis indicates that although the design and use of field tent shelters were generally satisfactory, there are areas in which the shelters had some adverse bearing on health and well-being of a considerable number of shelter users. This article concludes with suggestions that can be used for future design and manufacture of portable field tent shelters