Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Plastic Fast, Maureen E. Schlangen

Roesch Library Staff Publications

In the era of Silent Spring, the first Earth Days and the “Keep America Beautiful” campaigns in the 1970s, littering was just the tip of the pollution iceberg. It still is. The bigger problems are demand and production. A June 2018 article in National Geographic found that worldwide, we produce almost 500 million tons of plastic every year — and about 40 percent is tossed after one use. According to the nonprofit Plastic Oceans, more than 8 million tons of plastic go into the oceans each year; production of plastic water bottles alone has grown from 3.8 billion in 1996 …

Rain Gardens: The Return Of Ecosystem Services, Katie Dehaan

Honors Theses

In the modern world impervious surfaces, especially in urban areas, abound. These include roads, highways, sidewalks, parking lots, and roofs that have replaced permeable surfaces, mainly open land, forests, and wetlands. Rainwater runs off of these surfaces collecting pollutants on its way to permeable areas. Rain gardens collect and process rainwater. Native plants with deep root systems process large volumes of rainwater and the microorganisms living in the soils and roots can process pollutants. The purpose of my research was to find out what variables affect species presence or absence in rain gardens. Species presence or absence at the time …

Turning Disaster Data Into Knowledge: Field Reconnaissance, Damage Assessment, And Lessons Learned From Hurricane Sandy, Harvey, And Michael, Jie Gong

Sustainability Seminar Series

The recent hurricanes in 2012, 2017, and 2018, and efforts of researchers to capture vast quantities of perishable data through support of the National Science Foundation and other agencies, have created enormous databases of hurricane impacts to coastal structures that can be used to extract fundamental knowledge as to why these structures perform as they do during hurricanes. But exploration of these large data sets, untangling the complex factors contributing to various hurricane damages, and forming a holistic understanding of damage mechanisms are challenging tasks, requiring convergent approaches in system modeling, data science, and cyberinfrastructure design. In this presentation, Dr. …

The Economics Of Residential Solar Panels: Comparing Tiered And Time Of Use Plans, Prashanth Nyer, Candace Ybarra, Jack B. Broughton

Business Faculty Articles and Research

This case study uses data from a Southern California Edison residential customer on a grandfathered tiered rate plan to investigate 1) whether it is economically beneficial for the customer to switch from a tiered-rate plan to a Time-of-Use (TOU) plan, 2) whether going solar now makes financial sense for new solar customers, 3) what level of usage offset (the percentage of the customer’s annual electricity consumption that is provided by the solar panels) would result in the maximum financial benefit for the customer under each of the many TOU plans, and 4) whether solar customers on TOU plans can save …

Small Ruminant Health Intervention Calendar In Ethiopia, Mesfin Mekonnen, Ayalew Assefa, Tesfalem Nane, Firdawok Ayele, Asrat Arke, Belay Elias, Barbara Wieland

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Contents

1 Background................................................................................................... 3
2 Developing the health intervention calendar............................................................ 4
The treatment calendar ......................................................... 4 Applying the calendar..................................................................... 5 4 References................................................................... 8

6th Annual Sustainability Report, Saint Mary's College Of California

Sustainability Report

Highlights from the past year include reviving the Sustainability Living Learning Community in South Claeys (formerly called the “Green LLC”) with double the anticipated enrollment, representing Saint Mary's at Al Gore's Climate Reality Leadership Training in Minneapolis, and launching several new paid Sustainability Student Leadership positions.

Cost Effectiveness Of Greenhouse Gas Reductions Through Afforestation Of Agricultural Land In The Arkansas Delta, Karli A. Moore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sequestration of atmospheric carbon in forested lands offsets carbon emissions from other industries. Conversion of private lands, particularly agricultural tracts in marginal areas, to forests can bolster carbon abatement. The United States government agencies administer some voluntary, incentive-based programs to encourage landowners to adopt production practices with positive environmental outcomes. This policy stream can be used to increase transition of marginal agricultural land to forests, thereby creating new carbon sinks. We analyze an eleven-county study area in the Arkansas Delta to determine feasibility for a subsidy focused on carbon abatement through afforestation. This study area is significant for two reasons: …

Mammal Species Inventory Using Various Trapping Methods In Zone 4 Of Billy Barquedier National Park, Belize During Rainy Season, Mersady Redding

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Belize is a small country, but it is extremely ecologically diverse. Based on the few studies conducted in Belize, the abundance of mammals is low but diversity is high. Particular findings note the number and identity of species differed between four sites in the Maya Mountains of Belize, indicating that a data set from a single site is not representative of the Neotropical region. Insufficient data is available to estimate current species richness of many areas in Belize, including Billy Barquedier National Park (BBNP). The objective of this study was to explore trapping and documentation methods of terrestrial mammals in …

Umphlett Qci Dec 2019, Natalie A. Umphlett

High Plains Regional Climate Center: Personnel Publications

Highlights for the Basin

Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies

Soil Moisture Conditions

Agriculture

Energy

Infrastructure

Temperature

Precipitation

Benchmarking On-Farm Maize Nitrogen Balance In The Western U.S. Corn Belt, Fatima Amor Tenorio

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A nitrogen (N) balance, calculated as the difference between N inputs and grain-N removal, provides an estimate of the potential N losses. We used N balance with other N-related metrics (partial factor productivity for N inputs, and yield-scaled N balance), to benchmark maize yields in relation with N input use in the US Corn Belt. We first used experimental data on grain-N concentration (GNC) to assess variation in this parameter due to biophysical and management factors. Subsequently, we used N balance and N-related metrics to benchmark yields in relation with N inputs in irrigated and rainfed fields in Nebraska using …

Gnome Waste Warriors: Waste Reduction Through Sustainability, Hayley E.R. Frost Rubino

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus of this Capstone Project was on how waste and waste reduction could positively impact a community. Waste reduction is an important issue because the negative impacts of waste affect the whole planet. By educating Monterey Gnome School (MGS) about waste, changes in daily habits are intended to result in lasting change. An evidence-based argument is offered that waste is a global issue that negatively impacts the earth's landmasses, oceans, and human health. Both MGS staff and students were interviewed and surveyed, as their perspectives provide unique aspects of thinking about waste issues. The themes that emerged from an …

Interpreting Potential Groundwater Policies Through Modeling Of Market And Non-Market Benefits And Costs, Grant H. West

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Current policies leveraging financial incentives and improved irrigation efficiency to mitigate groundwater scarcity have not proven to curtail trends of resource depletion. Groundwater benefits cannot be appropriately valued solely on market forces, and so deeper policy consideration is warranted under a framework that considers the importance of groundwater across all its values to society. Understanding time preferences for groundwater management and preferences for alternative policies is vital to inform efficient policies. Furthermore, climate change remains politically controversial yet has important consequences for critical groundwater resources and their sustainable long-term management. Proliferating policy narratives concerning climate change could influence the way …

Social And Political Factors Influencing Green Energy Transition, Rachel Schwom

Sustainability Seminar Series

Society’s dependence on fossil fuels is harming humans and the environment and we must transition our energy system to be more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. While the economics driving energy transitions are important, sociologists and political scientists have highlighted that these transitions are social and political processes. This talk will provide examples of research that has highlight the social and political factors that influence how people and institutions interact with the market and our energy systems. Those factors include public opinion and social movement pressure, industry resistance or support, political opportunity structure, and windows of opportunity. Cases will include …

Copenhagen: Sustainable By Design, David P. Jones, Karen M. Watkins

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Why Build Multi-Use Greenways? Implications For New Jersey And Beyond, R. Bruce Donald

Sustainability Seminar Series

In this presentation, Bruce Donald will explain comprehensive research that investing in bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure has numerous benefits including public health, reduced transportation costs, increased access to reliable transportation, tourism, improved local economy, reduced user mortality rates, and environmental benefits. Solutions include developing a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle network, as well as improving access to these facilities by all of New Jersey’s residents and its visitors. Investing in bicycle infrastructure is at the forefront of twenty-first-century economic development.

Making Trees Count: Measurement And Reporting Of Agroforestry In Unfccc National Communications Of Non-Annex I Countries, Todd S. Rosenstock, Andreas Wilkes, Courtney Jallo, Nictor Namoi, Medha Bulusu, Marta Suber, Damaris Mboi, Rachmat Mulia, Elisabeth Simelton, Meryl Richards, Noel Gurwick, Eva Wollenberg

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Agroforestry—the integration of trees with crops and livestock—generates many benefits directly relevant to the UNFCCC's Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, including: (i) building resilience, (ii) increasing soil carbon and improving soil health, (iii) providing fodder and shade for sustainable livestock production and (iv) diversifying human diets and economic opportunities. Despite its significance to the climate agenda, agroforestry may not be included in measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems under the UNFCCC. Here we report on a first appraisal of how agroforestry is treated in national MRV systems under the UNFCCC. We examined national communications (NCs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) …

The Ethics Of Outdoor Education: Increasing Access While Minimizing Environmental Impacts, Steven Sassaman

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Solutions, Fall/Winter 2020, Issue 41

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Wcu Study Abroad And Carbon Offsets: Not Whether But Whxen Now!, Paul Sylvester

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Foliar Spray Application Of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles On Quantitative, Nutritional, And Physiological Parameters Of Foxtail Millet (Setaria Italica L.) Under Field Conditions, Marek Kolenčík, Dávid Ernst, Matej Komár, Martin Šebesta, Martin Urík, Edmund Dobročka, Ivan Černý, Ramakanth Illa, Raghavendra Kanike, Qian Yu, Huan Feng, Denisa Orlová, Gabriela Kratošová

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

It has been shown that the foliar application of inorganic nano-materials on cereal plants during their growth cycle enhances the rate of plant productivity by providing a micro-nutrient source. We therefore studied the effects of foliarly applied ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Setaria italica L. foxtail millet’s quantitative, nutritional, and physiological parameters. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the ZnO NPs have an average particle size under 20 nm and dominant spherically shaped morphology. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry then confirmed ZnO NP homogeneity, and X-ray diffraction verified their high crystalline and wurtzite-structure symmetry. Although plant height, thousand grain weight, and grain …

Harnessing The Potentials Of The Blue Economy For Kenya’S Sustainable Development, Enock Mong'are Okemwa

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Economic Impact Of Low Sulphur Compliance On Future Fuel Cost And Container Freight Rates: A Case Study Of Shanghai-Lagos, Usman Shuaibu

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Case Study Of The Implementation And Enforcement Of Marpol Annex Vi Sulphur Regulations In Kenya, Annette Wangari Muriithi

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Implementation Of The Joint Development Of Greater Sunrise Special Regime Under The 2018 Timor Sea Maritime Boundaries Treaty Between Timor-Leste And Australia, Melkiades Laot

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Emissions Control Investment Policy For The 2020 Sulphur Cap Implemented By Port Of Gothenburg As A Model For The Port Of Mombasa, Luis M. Colmenares, Wachira W. Margaret

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Holistic Framework For Shipyard Energy Management : A Case Study On Production Facilities And Technology, Morné Irshkin Sinden

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Stakeholder Engagement In Marine Spatial Planning Of Bangladesh, Mohammad Samsul Mannan

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessing Stakeholder Expectations For Marine Spatial Planning In Tonga: Implications For Governance, Hulita Lamasialeva Fa'anunu

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Identify Monitoring Needs And Emerging Technology To Support Ecosystem Based Management (Ebm) And Sustainable Blue Growth In Nigerian Ports: Case Study : Lagos Ports (Lagos Pport Complex And Tin Can Island Port Complex), Roland Oladipo Ijabiyi

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Impact Assessment Of Illegal Unreported Unregulated (Iuu) Fishing In Central Africa As A Step Towards Sustainability In Africa’S Fishing Industry: Case Study : Cameroon, Noella Njeuyap Mbotiji

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.