Transit Photometry of Multiple Exoplanet Watch Targets

Since 1995 exoplanet research has increase dramatically, as a result it is more important than ever to precisely know the dates and times of future transits for repeated observations of a target. NASA’s Exoplanet Watch database and accompanying light curve producing code EXOTIC have the goal of allowing small observatories across the world help find future transits. Under these objective observations of known exoplanet transits where made, using the Saint John’s University observatory, to find the transit midpoint, the ratio of the planet radius and the solar radius, and the period. Using these values, the confirmation that a transit happened can be made, known periods may have their uncertainties reduced, and transit midpoints reported in BJD (Barycentric Julian Date) can be used to predict future transits most accurately. Additionally, the flat fielding done natively in EXOTIC was compared to an external custom flat fielding program to see if improvements in the above-mentioned values could be made. Of five observed transits two had midpoints that could be used for predicting future transits. The other values calculated had larger uncertainties than the current accepted values making them in significant. Comparisons of the native EXOTIC flat fielding and the external flat fielding showed that neither performed better, suggesting that there are improvements that could be made to EXOTIC

Stationary components of HeI in strong magnetic fields - a tool to identify magnetic DB white dwarfs

In only three of the 61 known magnetic white dwarfs helium has been identified unambiguously while about 20% of all non-magnetic stars of this class are known to contain HeI or HeII. Until recently, data for HeI data were available only for magnetic fields below 20MG. This changed with the publication of extensive data by the group in Heidelberg. The corresponding calculations have now been completed for the energetically lowest five states of singlet and triplet symmetry for the subspaces with |m| <= 3; selected calculations have been performed for even higher excitations. In strongly magnetized white dwarfs only line components are visible whose wavelengths vary slowly with respect to the magnetic field, particularly stationary components which have a wavelength minimum or maximum in the range of the magnetic fields strengths on the stellar surface. In view of the many ongoing surveys finding white dwarfs we want to provide the astronomical community with a tool to identify helium in white dwarfs for fields up to 5.3GG. To this end we present all calculated helium line components whose wavelengths in the UV, optical, and near IR vary slowly enough with respect to the field strength to produce visible absorption features. We also list all stationary line components in this spectral range. Finally, we find series of minima and maxima which occur as a result of series of extremal transitions to increasingly higher excitations. We estimated the limits for 8 series which can possibly give rise to additional absorption in white dwarf spectra; one strong absorption feature in GD229 which is yet unexplained by stationary components is very close to two estimated series limits.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication by Astronomy and Astrophysic

Effects of Growth Mindset on a Student\u27s Educational Experience

While schools focus on a students’ intelligence and academic growth, a lack of self-efficacy and growth mindset may create a larger challenge for kindergarteners through twelfth graders to make proper academic growth. In an attempt to achieve academic success, this paper sought to gain an understanding of growth mindset strategies and interventions by synthesizing available research studies on the topic. Research showed that the implementation and application of growth mindset interventions encouraged growth mindset beliefs and can lead to higher success rates in overall academic outcomes. In addition to a shift in beliefs, students also saw increased levels of motivation, self-efficacy, and perseverance as a result of the interventions. However, not all studies showed sustained longevity of growth-minded beliefs in students, seeing changes last for short periods of time before returning to pre-existing beliefs. These results call for a continuous need for growth mindset development and practices among educators to strengthen the collaborative approaches and understanding of the implementation process taken in schools. As a result, professional development on continuous learning and teaching practices of a growth mindset will help to sustain the higher levels of academic achievement produced through interventions

Analysing international tourist flows to estimate energy use associated with air travel

Tourism is a major global industry and air travel is an increasingly vital component of international tourism. This paper examines the neglected relationship between tourism and aviation with regard to global environmental impacts, including energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Based on visitor arrival data collected by Statistics New Zealand, it estimates a total energy use of 27.8 PJ resulting from international passenger air travel to New Zealand, which would increase national energy use by 6% if international air travel were included in national inventories. This energy use translates into additional carbon dioxide emissions of 1.9 million tonnes. These estimates are discussed in terms of a tourist's 'energy bill', national and international climate change policies, and with regard to the concept of sustainable tourism development

Tourism and transport in New Zealand : implications for energy use

Securing and conserving our long term future is the number one objective of the recently released New Zealand Tourism Strategy (2001). Previous research showed that an essential impediment to achieving sustainable tourism is the heavy use of transport by tourists and the environmental impacts resulting from this travel (Müller, 1992; Gössling, 2000). The associated energy use is a major concern, since it does not only undermine the goal of efficient resource use as outlined by the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010, but it also contributes to the failure of New Zealand in achieving its goals set by the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. This report discusses previous research in this field, describes the present transport sector’s greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand, discusses the supply of tourism transport infrastructure, and provided senergy intensities of main New Zealand transport modes. Different transport modes are hypothetically juxtaposed on an analysis of a journey from Christchurch to Dunedin. Suggestions for reducing transport energy use are discussed. Clearly, to achieve the stakes set by both the Tourism (Tourism Strategy Group, 2001) and the Energy Strategy (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority [EECA], 2001), transport of tourists plays a critical role

Distance models for New Zealand international tourists and the role of transport prices

We analyse data on the distances travelled using car and air transport modes in New Zealand by a large sample of international tourists from six different countries of origin. We use two-stage hurdle models to relate both the decision to use each mode and the distance travelled by a mode if used to visitor characteristics and prices. In general we find little evidence of price sensitivity for either decision, although older tourists, those with longer stays, and non-tour group travellers may be more price-sensitive. The most important characteristics for determining transport behaviour are shown to be length of stay, purpose of visit and travel style (tour vs non-tour).http://jtr.sagepub.com/cgi/rapidpdf/0047287510362919v1http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/004728751036291

Canary in the coalmine: Norwegian attitudes towards climate change and extreme long-haul air travel to Aotearoa/New Zealand

Accelerating global climate change poses considerable challenges to all societies and economies. The European Union now targets a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. Indeed, the Labour-led Norwegian government is committed to carbon neutrality across all sectors of the economy by 2030. Aviation has been identified as a rapidly growing contributor to CO2 emissions. This article reports on a research project that explored Norwegian attitudes towards climate change, particularly as they relate to extreme long-haul air travel to Aotearoa/New Zealand. It reveals that the 'dream trip' to New Zealand for Norwegians is still largely intact. It also finds evidence of 'air travel with a carbon conscience' arising from growing concern for high frequency discretionary air travel. Evidence of denial of the climate impact of air travel that recent studies have revealed was largely absent. Interviewees expressed a greater concern for short-haul air travel emissions than for the climate impact of long-haul travel. However, intentions to adapt long-haul travel behaviours were expressed, highlighting the need to monitor consumer attitudes towards the impact of air travel on climate change. We conclude that Norway is a vanguard European tourism market in terms of climate sensitivity

Evaluating the business case for investment in the resilience of the tourism sector of small island developing states

Over the last decade, a number of disasters severely affected tourist destinations. At the same time, the management of disasters has shifted from a reactive, top-down approach to a more inclusive approach that seeks to proactively include the private sector in reducing the risk of disasters. Considering that a significant proportion of tourism occurs in the potentially hazardous coastal zones of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), private tourism sector stakeholders can – and maybe have to – play an active role in disaster risk reduction (DRR). Establishing the business merits associated with investment in disaster resilient measures would be necessary to support increased private sector DRR investment. This study therefore evaluated the business case for investment in the resilience of the tourism sector in SIDS. As such, it offers: 1) a greater understanding of the root causes of destination vulnerability and risk using a cross-regional, comparative case study approach; and 2) a qualitative evaluation of the business case for investment in the resilience of SIDS tourism. Semi-structured interviews with 80 private and public sector stakeholders in the Caribbean, Pacific and AIMS regions revealed that some private sector stakeholders already self-regulate based on individual evaluations of a variety of tangible and less tangible benefits. More research is needed to develop the economic and financial data that may possibly encourage greater private sector investment in DRR, as well as, create a supportive and enabling national economic context for resilient tourism investment.This Background Paper was commissioned and financially supported (award no. OBMO#51870) by the Global Assessment Report team led by Andrew Maskrey based at the Secretariat of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Geneva, Switzerland