Modelling commuting catchments in Ireland: a hierarchical approach using GIS.

Over recent years there has emerged an increased awareness of the importance of strategic spatial planning and of the extent to which concepts such as place and space really matter (Faludi, 2000). An enhanced understanding of the geography of living and the economy requires not only a knowledge of where people and objects are but also of how those places relate to one another to create functional spaces. This requires fundamentally sound data on movement patterns, of which the most important is probably the daily journey to work (Horner, 1999, McCabe, 2006 Pers Comm). In this paper we examine spatial modelling approaches to commuting patterns using data from the CSO 2002 Census of Population (CSO 2003a, CSO 2003b. CSO 2004a). This is a particularly apposite time to undertake this research. A number of national strategic initiatives including the next Irish National Development Plan and the current National Spatial Strategy provide a clear policy context for the study (Morgenroth and Fitzgerald,2006). Additionally it is the specific intent of the CSO in providing this data set to stimulate geo-computational analysis and modelling. This research aims to map travel to work flows in 2002 from the 15% national anonymised individual sample (known as the POWSAR data set) and secondly to investigate the technical production of new Travel Catchments Areas (TCAs) for the state as a whole

Sorting Out Abrasion in a Gypsum Dune Field

Grain size distributions in eolian settings are the result of both sorting and abrasion of grains by saltation. The two are tightly coupled because mobility of particles determines abrasion rate, while abrasion affects the mobility of particles by changing their mass and shape; few field studies have examined this quantitatively. We measured grain size and shape over a 9 km transect downwind of a line sediment source at White Sands National Monument, a gypsum dune field. The sediment source is composed of rodlike (elongate), coarse particles whose shapes appear to reflect the crystalline structure of gypsum. Dispersion in grain size decreases rapidly from the source. Coarse particles gradually become less elongate, while an enrichment of smaller, more elongate grains is observed along the transect. Transport calculations confirm that White Sands is a threshold sand sea in which (1) the predominant particle diameter reflects grains transported in saltation under the dune-forming wind velocity and (2) smaller, elongate grains move in suspension under this dominant wind. Size-selective transport explains first-order trends in grain size; however, abrasion changes the shape of saltating grains and produces elongate, smaller grains that are spallation and breaking products of larger particles. Both shape and size changes saturate 5–6 km downwind of the source. As large particles become more equant, abrasion rates slow down because protruding regions have been removed. Such asymptotic behavior of shape and abrasion rate has been observed in theory and experiment and is likely a generic result of the abrasion process in any environment

Social Defense: An Evolutionary-Developmental Model of Children’s Strategies for Coping with Threat in the Peer Group

Navigating the ubiquitous conflict, competition, and complex group dynamics of the peer group is a pivotal developmental task of childhood. Difficulty negotiating these challenges represents a substantial source of risk for psychopathology. Evolutionary developmental psychology offers a unique perspective with the potential to reorganize the way we think about the role of peer relationships in shaping how children cope with the everyday challenges of establishing a social niche. To address this gap, we utilize the ethological reformulation of the emotional security theory as a guide to developing an evolutionary framework for advancing an understanding of the defense strategies children use to manage antagonistic peer relationships and protect themselves from interpersonal threat (Davies and Sturge-Apple, 2007). In this way, we hope to illustrate the value of an evolutionary developmental lens in generating unique theoretical insight and novel research directions into the role of peer relationships in the development of psychopathology

The seasonal cycle of ocean-atmosphere CO2 Flux in Ryder Bay, West Antarctic Peninsula

Approximately 15 million km2 of the Southern Ocean is seasonally ice covered, yet the processes affecting carbon cycling and gas exchange in this climatically important region remain inadequately understood. Here, 3 years of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) measurements and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes from Ryder Bay on the west Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) are presented. During spring and summer, primary production in the surface ocean promotes atmospheric CO2 uptake. In winter, higher DIC, caused by net heterotrophy and vertical mixing with Circumpolar Deep Water, results in outgassing of CO2 from the ocean. Ryder Bay is found to be a net sink of atmospheric CO2 of 0.59–0.94 mol C m−2 yr−1 (average of 3 years). Seasonal sea ice cover increases the net annual CO2 uptake, but its effect on gas exchange remains poorly constrained. A reduction in sea ice on the WAP shelf may reduce the strength of the oceanic CO2 sink in this region

Barchan-Parabolic Dune Pattern Transition From Vegetation Stability Threshold

Many dune fields exhibit a downwind transition from forward-pointing barchan dunes to stabilized, backward-pointing parabolic dunes, accompanied by an increase in vegetation. A recent model predicts this pattern transition occurs when dune surface erosion/deposition rates decrease below a threshold of half the vegetation growth rate. We provide a direct test using a unique data set of repeat topographic surveys across White Sands Dune Field and find strong quantitative support for the model threshold. We also show the threshold hypothesis applied to a barchan dune results naturally in its curvature inversion, as the point of threshold crossing progresses from the horns to the crest. This simple, general threshold framework can be an extremely useful tool for predicting the response of dune landscapes to changes in wind speed, sediment supply, or vegetation growth rate. Near the threshold, a small environmental change could result in a drastic change in dune pattern and activity

Low-cost UAV surveys of hurricane damage in Dominica: automated processing with co-registration of pre-hurricane imagery for change analysis

In 2017, hurricane Maria caused unprecedented damage and fatalities on the Caribbean island of Dominica. In order to ‘build back better’ and to learn from the processes causing the damage, it is important to quickly document, evaluate and map changes, both in Dominica and in other high-risk countries. This paper presents an innovative and relatively low-cost and rapid workflow for accurately quantifying geomorphological changes in the aftermath of a natural disaster. We used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys to collect aerial imagery from 44 hurricane-affected key sites on Dominica. We processed the imagery using structure from motion (SfM) as well as a purpose-built Python script for automated processing, enabling rapid data turnaround. We also compared the data to an earlier UAV survey undertaken shortly before hurricane Maria and established ways to co-register the imagery, in order to provide accurate change detection data sets. Consequently, our approach has had to differ considerably from the previous studies that have assessed the accuracy of UAV-derived data in relatively undisturbed settings. This study therefore provides an original contribution to UAV-based research, outlining a robust aerial methodology that is potentially of great value to post-disaster damage surveys and geomorphological change analysis. Our findings can be used (1) to utilise UAV in post-disaster change assessments; (2) to establish ground control points that enable before-and-after change analysis; and (3) to provide baseline data reference points in areas that might undergo future change. We recommend that countries which are at high risk from natural disasters develop capacity for low-cost UAV surveys, building teams that can create pre-disaster baseline surveys, respond within a few hours of a local disaster event and provide aerial photography of use for the damage assessments carried out by local and incoming disaster response teams

The seasonal cycle of carbonate system processes in Ryder Bay, West Antarctic Peninsula

The carbon cycle in seasonally sea-ice covered waters remains poorly understood due to both a lack of observational data and the complexity of the system. Here we present three consecutive seasonal cycles of upper ocean dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity measurements from Ryder Bay on the West Antarctic Peninsula. We attribute the observed changes in DIC to four processes: mixing of water masses, air–sea CO2 flux, calcium carbonate precipitation/dissolution and photosynthesis/respiration. This approach enables us to resolve the main drivers of the seasonal DIC cycle and also investigate the mechanisms behind interannual variability in the carbonate system. We observe a strong, asymmetric seasonal cycle in the carbonate system, driven by physical processes and primary production. In summer, melting glacial ice and sea ice and a reduction in mixing with deeper water reduce the concentration of DIC in surface waters. The dominant process affecting the carbonate system is net photosynthesis which reduces DIC and the fugacity of CO2, making the ocean a net sink of atmospheric CO2. In winter, mixing with deeper, carbon-rich water and net heterotrophy increase surface DIC concentrations, resulting in pH as low as 7.95 and aragonite saturation states close to 1. We observe no clear seasonal cycle of calcium carbonate precipitation/dissolution but some short-lived features of the carbonate time series strongly suggest that significant precipitation of calcium carbonate does occur in the Bay. The variability observed in this study demonstrates that changes in mixing and sea-ice cover significantly affect carbon cycling in this dynamic environment. Maintaining this unique time series will allow the carbonate system in seasonally sea-ice covered waters to be better understood

An Integrated Conceptual Framework Linking Attachment Insecurity to Increased Risk for Both Enacting and Experiencing Objectification

Sexual objectification (i.e., reducing a person to their appearance, body, or sex appeal and functions) is a significant risk factor for negative health outcomes. In the present investigation, we examined multiple manifestations of objectification (i.e., objectification of others, objectification of self, and objectification by others) in an interpersonal context. We merged objectification theory with attachment theory, one of the most prominent theories of close relationships, and propose that sexual objectification can shed light on attachment processes (and vice versa). To bolster this conceptual overlap, we tested this novel, integrated framework across two independent samples of women and men including (a) a sample of 813 undergraduate students—both partnered and single—who completed self-report questionnaires of attachment security and multiple forms of objectification and (b) a sample of 159 committed couples navigating pregnancy who were observed during naturalistic interactions to assess attachment security and completed self-report questionnaires of attachment security and objectification (including partner objectification). Results from both studies demonstrate the utility of our proposed conceptual framework linking attachment insecurity to increased risk for both enacting and experiencing objectification. The most compelling evidence emerged for (a) a link between attachment anxiety and self-objectification with moderate effect sizes across both samples, and (b) an association between a less secure base within the couple relationship during pregnancy and feeling more objectified by one’s partner as well as less humanized (i.e., feeling that your partner values you more for your physical attributes and less for your non-physical attributes)

Manned Mars mission accommodation: Sprint mission

The results of a study conducted at the NASA-LaRC to assess the impacts on the Phase 2 Space Station of Accommodating a Manned Mission to Mars are documented. In addition, several candidate transportation node configurations are presented to accommodate the assembly and verification of the Mars Mission vehicles. This study includes an identification of a life science research program that would need to be completed, on-orbit, prior to mission departure and an assessment of the necessary orbital technology development and demonstration program needed to accomplish the mission. Also included is an analysis of the configuration mass properties and a preliminary analysis of the Space Station control system sizing that would be required to control the station. Results of the study indicate the Phase 2 Space Station can support a manned mission to Mars with the addition of a supporting infrastructure that includes a propellant depot, assembly hangar, and a heavy lift launch vehicle to support the large launch requirements