The Influence of Wildland Urban Interface Areas on Resource Assignments to Large Wildland Fires

We examine the relationship between U.S. wildfire resource assignments and fire proximity to inhabited areas. Climate change and previous vegetation buildup have enabled more severe fire seasons, while more structures are being developed near vegetated, wildland areas. These changes have contributed to a steep increase in the overall cost of wildfire management, the annual costs of which regularly rise into the billions (NIFC, 2021). Still, the extent to which each driver of suppression costs contributes to the increase in spending is not entirely understood. Previous studies have shown that more suppression resources are allocated to fires near inhabited areas, and it is commonly thought that structure growth into wildland areas is a leading cause of suppression cost increases (USDA OIG, 2006). In this paper, we find that proximity to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) influences resource allocation decisions, with a greater influence on resource types that engage in structure protection. We find evidence that suggests for many resources the influence of WUI proximity on allocation decisions has changed over time. Fire distance to WUI areas appeared to be less influential to resource allocation counts in later years but remains important. WUI expansion is likely to continue to increase fire management costs in the future

Chasing Plenty: A Documentary on Food Security in Montana

Chasing Plenty: A Documentary on Food Security in Montana Our GLI group aims to examine the following question: how will climate change impact food security? To address this question we are conducting interviews in Montana. Despite being an agricultural state, many Montanans struggle with food insecurity, and are left without plentiful or healthy options for food. We aim to research this issue by interviewing local community members involved in food distribution. The interview data will be compiled in a short documentary discussing current issues in food security, how these problems are likely to evolve in the future, and propose solutions to the issues facing Montanans and the global community. We will examine issues such as poverty, stigma, distribution, and climate change as problems impacting food security. Data on the state of food security in Montana is sparse. To supplement existing data we use geographic information systems to provide more detailed information on the status of food security in Montana. We aggregate our data and research into an additional, more academic report detailing the specifics of our work. However, we chose film as our primary medium in order to reach a broader audience of people. Our ultimate goal is to ignite interest in this topic and get more individuals involved. We aim to bring together a community of people dedicated to addressing food security, and create meaningful change

The harmonic style of Sergei Rachmaninoff in the Vesper mass, opus 37.

vi, 71 p. illus., music. 28 cm. Typewritten. Bibliography: p. 70-71.It is the purpose of this thesis to determine the harmonic equipment used in the choral work: Vsenoshchnaya [Vesper Mass], opus 37 by Sergei Rachmaninoff. This work consists of fifteen liturgical anthems for mixed chorus. Nine of these anthems are based on the Oktocohos, melodies of the Obikhod or chant book of the Russian Church. The other six anthems are based on melodies created by the composer, but imitating the melodies of the Oktoechos. Rachmaninoff, born in 1873, composed these anthems in 1915. They are fine examples of sacred choral music which maintain the natural harmonization of the ancient church codes, and reveal masterful contrapuntal writing. The anthems are written for a cappella chorus, since music in the Russian church is traditionally sung unaccompanied. The voices, though basically in four part harmony, vary in division of parts from four or less to as many as eleven parts, the most frequent being the division into six or seven voices. All these anthems have been thoroughly analyzed harmonically and contrapuntally. A study of the structure and tonality, and a general study of sonorities have been made