Testing a MODIS Global Disturbance Index across North America

Large-scale ecosystem disturbances (LSEDs) have major impacts on the global carbon cycle as large pulses of CO₂ and other trace gases from terrestrial biomass loss are emitted to the atmosphere during disturbance events. The high temporal and spatial variability of the atmospheric emissions combined with the lack of a proven methodology to monitor LSEDs at the global scale make the timing, location and extent of vegetation disturbance a significant uncertainty in understanding the global carbon cycle. The MODIS Global Disturbance Index (MGDI) algorithm is designed for large-scale, regular, disturbance mapping using Aqua/Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Aqua/MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data. The MGDI uses annual maximum composite LST data to detect fundamental changes in land-surface energy partitioning, while avoiding the high natural variability associated with tracking LST at daily, weekly, or seasonal time frames. Here we apply the full Aqua/MODIS dataset through 2006 to the improved MGDI algorithm across the woody ecosystems of North America and test the algorithm by comparison with confirmed, historical wildfire events and the windfall areas of documented major hurricanes. The MGDI accurately detects the location and extent of wildfire throughout North America and detects high and moderate severity impacts in the windfall area of major hurricanes. We also find detections associated with clear-cut logging and land-clearing on the forest-agricultural interface. The MGDI indicates that 1.5% (195,580 km²) of the woody ecosystems within North America was disturbed in 2005 and 0.5% (67,451 km²) was disturbed in 2006. The interannual variability is supported by wildfire detections and official burned area statistics.     

Using ICESat's Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) to assess large-scale forest disturbance caused by hurricane Katrina

In 2005, hurricane Katrina resulted in a large disturbance to U.S. forests. Recent estimates of damage from hurricane Katrina have relied primarily on optical remote sensing and field data. This paper is the first large-scale study to use satellite-based lidar data to quantify changes in forest structure from that event. GLAS data for the years prior to and following hurricane Katrina were compared to wind speed, forest cover, and damage data to assess the adequacy of sensor sampling, and to estimate changes in Mean Canopy Height (MCH) over all areas that experienced tropical force winds and greater. Statistically significant decreases in MCH post-Katrina were found to increase with wind intensity: Tropical Storm ?MCH = − 0.5 m, Category 1 ?MCH = − 2 m, and Category 2 ?MCH = − 4 m. A strong relationship was also found between changes in non-photosynthetic vegetation (?NPV), a metric previously shown to be related to storm damage, and post-storm MCH. The season of data acquisition was shown to influence calculations of MCH and MCH loss, but did not preclude the detection of major large-scale patterns of damage. Results from this study show promise for using space-borne lidar for large-scale assessments of forest disturbance, and highlight the need for future data on vegetation structure from space.     

Volatile organic compounds emitted by filamentous fungi isolated from flooded homes after Hurricane Sandy show toxicity in a Drosophila bioassay

Superstorm Sandy provided an opportunity to study filamentous fungi (molds) associated with winter storm damage. We collected 36 morphologically distinct fungal isolates from flooded buildings. By combining traditional morphological and cultural characters with an analysis of ITS sequences (the fungal DNA barcode), we identified 24 fungal species that belong to eight genera: Penicillium (11 species), Fusarium (four species), Aspergillus (three species), Trichoderma (two species), and one species each of Metarhizium, Mucor, Pestalotiopsis, and Umbelopsis. Then, we used a Drosophila larval assay to assess possible toxicity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by these molds. When cultured in a shared atmosphere with growing cultures of molds isolated after Hurricane Sandy, larval toxicity ranged from 15 to 80%. VOCs from Aspergillus niger 129B were the most toxic yielding 80% mortality to Drosophila after 12 days. The VOCs from Trichoderma longibrachiatum 117, Mucor racemosus 138a, and Metarhizium anisopliae 124 were relatively non‐toxigenic. A preliminary analysis of VOCs was conducted using solid‐phase microextraction‐gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry from two of the most toxic, two of the least toxic, and two species of intermediate toxicity. The more toxic molds produced higher concentrations of 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐octanone, 3‐octanol, 2‐octen‐1‐ol, and 2‐nonanone; while the less toxic molds produced more 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol and 2‐methyl‐1‐propanol, or an overall lower amount of volatiles. Our data support the hypothesis that at certain concentrations, some VOCs emitted by indoor molds are toxigenic.     

基于机载多普勒雷达数据的飓风内部三维风场反演算法

利用2002年NOAA海洋飓风实验中三维风雨微波成像仪(IWRAP,UMass Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler)数据,提出了两种自适应卡尔曼滤波算法进行飓风三维风矢量的反演。为验证不同自适应滤波算法的准确性,通过对实际风场以及相应的机载雷达观测数据进行仿真,得到一种最优自适应滤波;文中对滤波结果误差进行了初步分析,探讨了误差来源。根据仿真结果,利用最优自适应滤波对2002年10月2日飓风莉莉多普勒雷达测量数据进行处理,滤波得到的三维风场与本次实验中GPS下投式探空仪的三维风场同步测量数据,多波段微波辐射计的海面风场测量数据,以及飞机高度风场数据进行了比较。
     

Mental health services in Louisiana school-based health centers post-Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana school-based health centers (SBHCs) were called on to respond to a sharp increase in mental health needs, especially for displaced students coping with grief, loss, trauma, and uncertainty. To assess the impact of the hurricanes on the students and the needs of SBHC mental health providers (MHPs), we surveyed MHPs in each of the SBHCs under the auspices of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health. SBHC practitioners from around the state reported that mental health service utilization rose during the 2005-2006 school year, but utilization of services increased most significantly in schools receiving the majority of displaced students. Anxiety and adjustment problems were noted as increasing the most following the hurricanes. A multitude of other conditions was also reported. By the time of this survey in April 2006, the reported prevalence of most symptoms had declined, but all remained above their pre-hurricane levels. Self-reported needs of SBHC MHPs are also discussed in light of the major natural disasters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Organizing chaos: Crisis management in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Applying the model of crisis management (D. Smith, 1990), this case study of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New Orleans chronicles the organization's response to Hurricane Katrina and illustrates the unique aspects of this crisis, as well as the well-worn patterns this organization faced in the year following the storm. We describe the organizational challenges associated with various stages of crisis and identify the strengths that facilitated this organization's successes. Practical and theoretical suggestions are provided for how organizations and organizational psychologists can learn from the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe. Five lessons are summarized for helping organizations better prepare for future crises. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term hurricane risk assessment and expected damage to residential structures

This paper presents results from a study to evaluate long-term hurricane risks in the Southeastern United States using event-based simulation procedures. These risks are defined by (1) the statistical extreme wind climate, and (2) the expected insured losses from damage to residential structures. A probabilistic hurricane event model developed by the authors is used to evaluate long-term risks. The event model parameters were derived from a statistical analysis of storms affecting the Southeastern United States and include radius of maximum winds, central pressure difference, landfall location, storm track, and decay rate. The 50-year mean recurrence interval (MRI) gradient-level and surface gust wind speeds are evaluated for the region investigated using results from the simulation analysis. When coupled with a damage model, also developed by the authors, the results from the event-based simulation analysis are used to provide estimates of the expected losses. The states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida are used to demonstrate the applicability of this procedure for evaluating expected losses. Implications for setting design wind speeds as well as risk-consistent insurance rates are discussed.     

Modeling of hurricane damage for Hawaii residential construction

Past information on Hurricane Iniki damage to Hawaii buildings of residential, commercial, and resort occupancies has been gathered and geo-referenced on GIS. Comprehensive reconstruction cost documentation has been combined with post-hurricane aerial photography and linked to a robust property tax database of construction type attributes and property valuation. Using the data available in the property tax records to define construction attributes, residential building fragilities and loss functions have been developed along with risk relativity factors. The resultant Damage Curves estimate hurricane damage to a wide variety of Hawaii building types as a function of peak gust windspeed.     

An approach to design interface topologies across interdependent urban infrastructure systems

This paper proposes an approach to design or retrofit interface topologies to minimize cascading failures across urban infrastructure systems. Four types of interface design strategies are formulated based on maximum network component degree, maximum component betweenness, minimum Euclidean distance across components and component reliability rankings. To compute and compare strategy effectiveness under multiple hazard types, this paper introduces a global annual cascading failure effect (GACFE) metric as well as a GACFE-based cost improvement (GACI) metric. The GACI metric quantifies the improvement of the strategy effectiveness per kilometer increment of interdependent link length (ILL) relative to a reference strategy with minimum ILL. Taking as examples the power and gas transmission systems in Harris County, Texas, USA, optimum interface designs under random and hurricane hazards are discussed. Findings include that the strategy based on reliability rankings minimizes the GACFE metric, and decreases the GACI value relative to a reference practical strategy by 10-15% under different power grid safety margins. Such metrics will contribute to coupled utility system design or retrofit given that current guidelines or recommended practices in the utility industry mostly rely on minimum Euclidean distances and are yet to include interdependent effects in their provisions.     

Irma Serrano-García: Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training.

This document presents the citation awarded to Irma Serrano-García, recipient of the 2005 APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training. A brief biography and a selected bibliography of Serrano-García accompany the citation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)