Coastal zone landscape classification using remote sensing and model development

Coastal zone landscape characterization and empirical model development were evaluated using multi-spectral airborne imagery. Collectively, four projects are described that address monitoring and classification issues common to the resource management community. Chapter 1 discusses opportunities for remote sensing. Chapter 2 examines spectral and spatial image resolution requirements, as well as training sample selection methods required for accurate landscape classification. Classification accuracy derived from 25nm imagery with 4m pixel sizes outperformed 70nm imagery with 1m pixel sizes. Eight natural and five cultural landscape features were tested for classification accuracy. Chapter 3 investigated the ability to characterize 1m multispectral imagery into rank-ordered categorical biomass index classes of Phragmites australis. Statistical clustering and sample membership was based upon normalized field-measurements. The red imagery channel showed highly significant correlation with field measurements (p = 0.00) and explained much of its variability (r2 = 0.79). Addition of near-infra red, green, and blue image channels in a forward stepwise regression improved the coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.98). In Chapter 4, a landscape cover map was revised by incorporating expert knowledge into a simple spatial model. Examples are provided for a barrier island environment to illustrate this post-classification methodology. A prototype selection of expert rules was sufficient to change more than 20 per cent of the originally classified landscape pixels. Chapter 5 discusses the development of an empirical model that uses vegetation community classes to estimate: (a) soil type, (b) soil compaction rate, and (c) elevation. Vegetation class proved itself a reliable surrogate for estimating these variables based upon field-based statistical measures of association and significance tests. Vegetation was highly associated with four soil types (Cramer\u27s V = 0.98) and soil compaction rates values at depths of 30 and 46cm (Cramer\u27s V \u3e 0.85), and was able to accurately estimate three decimeter-level elevation zones (r2 = 0.86, p = 0.00). A preliminary model to estimate transverse dune crest heights and locations under forest canopy was presented. Lastly, Chapter 6 offers a summary and concluding statements advocating continued use of remote sensing as an application tool for resource management needs

The future of local television news: Is there a possible strategic planning approach?

This study compared the characteristic of strategic planning as used in the corporate world with the planning process used in a sample of television news departments. The purpose was to determine if commonalities exist; in what circumstances, and whether techniques and approaches used for many years by businesses could advance the process of planning in the fast-paced environment of local television news. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of highly experienced local news managers. The results indicated some similarities in planning approaches but suggested significant differences in how the two industries approach key elements of traditional strategic planning. The primary conclusion drawn from the research suggests the local television news industry has informally adapted strategic planning processes to their needs with heavy emphasis on tactical execution

Observations of Anomalous Cosmic Rays at 1 AU

Anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) provide a sensitive probe of the access of energetic particles to the inner heliosphere, varying in intensity by more than two orders of magnitude during the course of the solar cycle. New data which are becoming available from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) can provide a detailed record of ACR intensity and spectral changes on short (~ 1 day) time scales during the approach to solar maximum, which will help address issues of ACR modulation and transport. The elemental and isotopic composition of ACRs provides important information on the source or sources of these particles, while their ionic charge state composition and its energy dependence serves as a diagnostic of their acceleration time scale. We review measurements of the ACR elemental, isotopic, and charge state composition and spectra as determined at 1 AU by SAMPEX, ACE, Wind, and other spacecraft. These results are important input to models of the acceleration, modulation, and transport of ACRs

The Solar Energetic Particle Event of 6 May 1998

The abundances of elements from helium to iron have been measured in more than a dozen moderate to large solar energetic particle (SEP) events using the Solar Isotope Spectrometer (SIS) on-board the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). Time variations within some of these events and from event to event have been reported previously. This paper presents an analysis of the event of 6 May 1998, for which relatively time-independent abundance ratios are found. This event has been considered to be an example of an impulsive event, a gradual event, and as a hybrid of the two. Difficulties with classifying this event are discussed

Variable fractionation of solar energetic particles according to first ionization potential

The average composition of solar energetic particles (SEPs), like the solar corona, is known to be depleted in elements with first ionization potential (FIP) more than ~10 eV by a factor of approximately four. We examine evidence for event to event variations in the FIP-related fractionation of SEPs, following up a 1994 study by Garrard and Stone. In a survey of 46 SEP events from 1974 to 1999 the deduced FIP-fractionation varies by a factor of ~2 from event to event, with no apparent relation to charge-to-mass dependent fractionation patterns in these same events. These results are compared to similar variations observed in the solar wind

The Coronal Isotopic Composition as Determined Using Solar Energetic Particles

Solar energetic particles (SEPs), like the solar wind, provide a direct sample of the Sun. Although SEP abundances show a variable amount of mass fractionation, it is possible to develop methods of correcting for it in order to deduce the composition of the corona. Using high-resolution measurements from the Solar Isotope Spectrometer on the Advanced Composition Explorer, we have studied the isotopic composition of 10 abundant elements from C to Ni in 32 large SEP events from late 1997 to the end of 2001 at energies >15 MeV/nucleon. We show that various isotopic and elemental enhancements are correlated with each other, discuss the first order corrections used to account for the variability, and obtain estimated coronal abundances. We compare the coronal values and their uncertainties inferred from SEPs with those that are available from solar wind and meteoritic measurements and find generally good agreement. We include C and Ni isotopic abundances, for which no solar wind measurements have yet been reported

The Isotopic Composition of Solar Energetic Particles

Since the launch of ACE in August 1997, the Solar Isotope Spectrometer (SIS) has observed 11 large solar particle events in which elemental and isotopic composition was determined over a large energy range. The composition of these events has raised many issues and challenged generally accepted characterizations of solar energetic particle (SEP) events. In particular, ^3He/^4He enhancements have been observed in several large events as well as enhancements of heavy ions typically associated with smaller impulsive events. The isotopic composition varies substantially from event to event (a factor of 3 for ^(22)Ne/^(20)Ne) with enhancements and depletions that are generally correlated with elemental composition. This correlation suggests that the isotopic enhancements may be related to the Q/M fractionation typically evident in the elemental composition of SEP events. However, there are also significant deviations from this pattern, which may imply that wave-particle resonances or other mass fractionation processes may be involved. We review the recent isotopic observations made with ACE and discuss their implications for particle acceleration and transport

Relationship between Tibial conformation, cage size and advancement achieved in TTA procedure

Previous studies have suggested that there is a theoretical discrepancy between the cage size and the resultant tibial tuberosity advancement, with the cage size consistently providing less tibial tuberosity advancement than predicted. The purpose of this study was to test and quantify this in clinical cases. The hypothesis was that the advancement of the tibial tuberosity as measured by the widening of the proximal tibia at the tibial tuberosity level after a standard TTA, will be less than the cage sized used, with no particular cage size providing a relative smaller or higher under-advancement, and that the conformation of the proximal tibia will have an influence on the amount of advancement achieved