Bedrockand Surficial Geologic Controls on Baseflow Chemistry in the Burd Run Watershed, South-Central Pennsylvania
Todd Grote
Department of Geology and Geography West Virginia University
and
Christopher Woltemade
Department of Geography/Earth Science Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Abstract:
Eight stream locations and two springs were sampled from January to July 1999 to assess stream water chemistry in the Burd Run watershed, south-central Pennsylvania. Bedrock and surficial geology were found to each play a significant role in controlling baseflow water chemistry. Waters are acidic throughout a large portion of the watershed due to the quartzitic nature of meta-sedimentary rocks in the headwaters and colluvium that covers the middle watershed. Only in the lower reaches of the watershed does the water change to an alkaline state with the introduction of carbonate charged groundwater into the stream. Chemical data collected throughout the watershed suggest that under dry climatic conditions as experienced in 1999, carbonate bedrock does not influence the water chemistry in middle watershed areas mantled by colluvium. The carbonate signature in the lower watershed is due to sub-surface weathering throughout the middle and lower portions of the watershed.
Environmental Equity in Michigan
Abhijit Banerjee
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
University of Delaware
and
Barry D. Solomon*
Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Policy
Department of Social Sciences
Michigan Technological University
Abstract:
In this article we analyze the distributional pattern of several types of hazardous or polluting facilities at the county level in Michigan. It is often alleged that minorities and low-income groups bear a disproportionate burden of pollution due to their proximity to hazardous or polluting facilities, raising questions of environmental equity. Though the cause is not always certain, there is mounting evidence on the distribution patterns of such hazardous sites. Several socioeconomic and demographic variables were correlated with the number of hazardous facility sites through ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and the findings were tested for statistical significance. It was found that race rather than income was the more significant explanatory variable in predicting the distribution of hazardous facility sites in Michigan, though the number of manufacturing units was also significant. The results agree with several other (though certainly not all) environmental equity analyses conducted in Michigan and elsewhere.
The Green Party Vote in California: An Examination of Race, Religion and Wealth from 1996 to 2000
John Heppen
Department of Geography and Mapping Science
University of Wisconsin C River Falls
Abstract:
This article will examine where the Green Party enjoys the greatest amount of electoral support in California. It is theorized that racial diversity and place in the world-economy contribute to creating a sense of place where voters find the Green Party a viable political alternative. This paper will analyze presidential and senatorial voting returns, Green Party registration, and Greens holding elected office at the county level. In order to examine the regional support of the Greens, this paper will employ global and local indicators of spatial autocorrelation, cluster analysis, and regression analysis. The findings indicate Green support in Northern California, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles County. Places which are wealthy and less racially diverse are places where the Green Party has enjoyed the support of a greater number of voters. This indicates that white, wealthy, and environmentally conscious urban and rural areas constitute the hub of Green Party support.
Microenvironmental Factors in Glacial Recession: A Study of the Morteratch Glacier
Charles H.V. Ebert
Department of Geography University at Buffalo
Abstract:
Climate change is one of the processes which occur on our planet, and the present global warming threatens our environment including a world-wide retreat of glacial ice. This writer studied the Morteratsch glacier in Switzerland, and field work revealed that local environmental factors influence the melting rate and melting pattern of this glacier. Should the present rate of ablation persist, only one quarter of the glacier¡¯s surface will remain by the year 2035. At this time there is no indication that the rate of melting is slowing down. The general retreat of glaciers will have a dramatic effect on the alpine ecology as well as on tourism which is the main economic income source of Switzerland.
Comparison of NEXRAD and Rain Guage Estimates of Storm Total Precipitation in a Mountainous South Central Pennsylvania Watershed
Christopher Woltemade and Diane Stanitski-Martin
Department of Geography-Earth Science
Shippensburg University
Abstract:
Next Generation Weather Radar (¡°NEXRAD¡±) estimates of storm total precipitation were compared to direct measurements from a network of 20 rain gauges. The study evaluated 31 storms with ¡Ý0.30 in. total precipitation in the 51.8 km2 Burd Run watershed, which drains a low mountainous area of south central Pennsylvania.* Rain gauge measurements fell within the corresponding range of radar estimates in less than half (46.8%) of all cases. Departures between rain gauge and radar estimates were more common for large storms (total precipitation ¡Ý 1.00 in.) than for smaller storms (0.30 - 0.99 in.).
The Role of Migration in the Adjustment of the Pittsburgh Labor MArket Area during a Period of Economic Restructuring
Mark E. Reisinger
Binghamton University
Abstract:
The dimensions of local labor market adjustments are illustrated by chronicling the experience of the Pittsburgh labor market area (LMA), which experienced the pains associated with the downsizing of a key industry that for decades had been the foundation of its economy. Specifically, this paper examines the role of migration in the adjustment of the Pittsburgh labor market area for workers in particular occupations and industries between 1985 and 1990. It was expected that workers in the declining industries would have left the area for opportunities elsewhere, and those in growing industries would have moved to the region. This was not the case. The data analyses in this research show that workers in occupations and industries demanding relatively high levels of education and skills were leaving the area despite job growth and those in declining industries remained in the region.
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* SI units are used throughout this paper except in the case of precipitation measurements. Because the National Weather Service data used in the study are in English units (inches), we maintain that standard.