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- Creators: School of Life Sciences
Description
I present the results of studies from two historically separate fields of research: heat related illness and human thermal comfort adaptation. My research objectives were: (a) to analyze the relationships between climate and heat related morbidity in Phoenix, Arizona and Chicago, Illinois; (b) explore possible linkages of human thermal comfort adaptation to heat-related illness; and (c) show possible benefits of collaboration between the two fields of research. Previous climate and mortality studies discovered regional patterns in summertime mortality in North America: lower in hot, southern cities compared to more temperate cities. I examined heat related emergency (911) dispatches from these two geographically and climatically different cities. I analyzed with local weather conditions with 911 dispatches identified by responders as "heat" related from 2001 to 2006 in Phoenix and 2003 through 2006 in Chicago. Both cities experienced a rapid rise in heat-related dispatches with increasing temperature and heat index, but at higher thresholds in Phoenix. Overall, Phoenix had almost two and half times more heat-related dispatches than Chicago. However, Phoenix did not experience the large spikes of heat-related dispatches that occurred in Chicago. These findings suggest a resilience to heat-related illness that may be linked to acclimatization in Phoenix. I also present results from a survey based outdoor human thermal comfort field study in Phoenix to assess levels of local acclimatization. Previous research in outdoor human thermal comfort in hot humid and temperate climates used similar survey-based methodologies and found higher levels of thermal comfort (adaptation to heat) that in warmer climates than in cooler climates. The study presented in this dissertation found outdoor thermal comfort thresholds and heat tolerance levels in Phoenix were higher than previous studies from temperate climates more similar to Chicago. These differences were then compared to the differences in weather conditions associated with heat-related dispatches. The higher comfort thresholds in Phoenix were similar in scale to the climate differences associated with the upsurge in heat-related dispatches in Phoenix and Chicago. This suggests a link between heat related illness and acclimatization, and illustrates potential for collaboration in research between the two fields.
ContributorsHartz, Donna (Author) / Brazel, Anthony J. (Thesis advisor) / Heisler, Gordon (Committee member) / Cerveny, Randal (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
This thesis analyzes the implications of climate change for insect-borne diseases in humans, focusing especially on mosquitoes and ticks as the two most common vectors. I first introduce relevant background on climate change, arthropod vectors, and the diseases they carry, and the significance of vector-borne diseases for human health. I report on current knowledge of spatial and temporal trends in most common mosquito and tick-borne diseases in the United States, with a detailed table provided in Appendix A. I then review how climatic variability is anticipated to cause profound changes in vector life cycles. In particular, the rise in global ambient temperatures is likely to be the primary driver of arthropod proliferation, although they are also sensitive to changes in humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and water levels. As regions warm, arthropods will be able to survive where they were not able to previously, potentially infecting more individuals. The incidence of several vector-borne diseases in the United States is predicted to increase in multiple states as climate change progresses. The World Health Organization predicts that in North America, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Lyme disease will become the primary vector-borne diseases that are increasingly common (Githeko, et. al, 2000).
ContributorsKarjala, Sylvia (Author) / Sterner, Beckett (Thesis director) / Jevtic, Petar (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are important for many ecological processes within river ecosystems and, as a result, their abundance and diversity are considered indicators of water quality and ecosystem health. Macroinvertebrates can be classified into functional feeding groups (FFG) based on morphological-behavioral adaptations. FFG ratios can shift due to changes in normal disturbance patterns, such as changes in precipitation, and from human impact. Due to their increased sensitivity to environmental changes, it has become more important to protect and monitor aquatic and riparian communities in arid regions as climate change continues to intensify. Therefore, the diversity and richness of macroinvertebrate FFGs before and after monsoon and winter storm seasons were analyzed to determine the effect of flow-related disturbances. Ecosystem size was also considered, as watershed area has been shown to affect macroinvertebrate diversity. There was no strong support for flow-related disturbance or ecosystem size on macroinvertebrate diversity and richness. This may indicate a need to explore other parameters of macroinvertebrate community assembly. Establishing how disturbance affects aquatic macroinvertebrate communities will provide a key understanding as to what the stream communities will look like in the future, as anthropogenic impacts continue to affect more vulnerable ecosystems.
ContributorsSainz, Ruby (Author) / Sabo, John (Thesis director) / Grimm, Nancy (Committee member) / Lupoli, Christina (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Climate change presents a significant threat to human health, both mental and physical; as a result, it has become one of the most commonly discussed phenomena of the 21st century. As many people are aware, a wide range of social and physical factors affects mental health. However, many people fail to realize that these increases global temperatures also have a significant impact on mental health as a result of increased vulnerability that is often manifested through one's emotions. By analyzing perceptions of people across the globe, in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Fiji, we were able to pinpoint these emotions and trace them individual's feelings of worry, distress, and hope that resulted from their perceived impacts on climate change. Overall, we found that people tend to have overall more negative emotional reaction when it comes to the perceived effects of climate change. Of the respondents, more men than women expressed concern regarding the various negative implications. Finally, those in the United Kingdom exhibited a stronger emotional response, followed by those in New Zealand and Fiji, respectively.
ContributorsSmith, Austin Lee (Author) / Wutich, Amber (Thesis director) / du Bray, Margaret (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Climate change is a well-known global threat to societal systems; however, its effects on
the health of individuals are often less evident. Physicians who aim to properly treat patients
holistically must be educated on the various forms of illness and disease projected to be
exacerbated by climate change. Without this necessary climate education, physicians run the risk of being unable to fulfill the most sacred charge of the Hippocratic oath: Do No Harm. To
ensure that physicians moving forward are prepared to face this new global health threat, the
prevalence of climate change in current medical school curricula must be examined. Content
analysis of publicly available medical school curricula in the Southwest U.S. was done using
ChatGPT to track the frequency of climate health search terms. Medical school curricula
analyzed included mandatory degree programs as well as optional dual degree programs or
pathways for medical student education. Researchers found that medical schools within the
Southwest region of the United States are not sufficiently preparing students to mitigate the
regional effects of climate change on the health of patients. Mandatory medical degree
curriculum does not sufficiently educate on climate health issues, nor is it present in Utah, New
Mexico, or Colorado. Optional degrees and pathways are available to medical students to enroll
in and may be sufficient to educate a medical student, but are not enticing enough to sufficiently
educate all medical students. Some medical schools have recently conducted revisals of their
mandatory curriculum and still show a lack of education available about climate health issues.
The lack of educational resources for future providers could lead to detrimental health outcomes
for patients, and medical schools in development should take the lead in educating their students about climate health issues.
ContributorsGutierrez, Sean (Author) / Jamieson, Ann (Co-author) / Vanos, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Lobo, Jose (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
Climate change has necessitated the transition from non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas to renewable, low-carbon energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric. These energy sources, although much better equipped to reduce carbon-induced climate change, require materials that pollute the environment when mined and can release toxic waste during processing and disposal. Critical minerals are used in low-carbon renewable energy, and they are subject to both the environmental issues that accompany regular mineral extraction as well as issues related to scarcity from geopolitical issues, trade policy, and geological rarity. Tellurium is a critical mineral produced primarily as a byproduct of copper and used in cadmium-telluride (CdTe) solar panels. As these solar panels become more common, the problems that arise with many critical minerals’ usage (pollution, unfair distribution, human health complications) become more apparent. Looking at these issues through an energy justice framework can help to ensure availability, sustainability, inter/intragenerational equity, and accountability, and this framework can provide a more nuanced understanding of the costs and the benefits that will accrue with the transition to low-carbon, renewable energy. Energy justice issues surrounding the extraction of critical minerals will become increasingly prevalent as more countries pledge to have a zero-carbon future.
ContributorsMaas, Samantha (Author) / Jalbert, Kirk (Thesis director) / Chester, Mikhail (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Public Affairs (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
Climate change is a well-known global threat to societal systems; however, its effects on the health of individuals are often less evident. Physicians who aim to properly treat patients holistically must be educated on the various forms of illness and disease projected to be exacerbated by climate change. Without this necessary climate education, physicians run the risk of being unable to fulfill the most sacred charge of the Hippocratic oath: Do No Harm. To ensure that physicians moving forward are prepared to face this new global health threat, the prevalence of climate change in current medical school curricula must be examined. Content analysis of publicly available medical school curricula in the Southwest U.S. was done using ChatGPT to track the frequency of climate health search terms. Medical school curricula analyzed included mandatory degree programs as well as optional dual degree programs or pathways for medical student education. Researchers found that medical schools within the Southwest region of the United States are not sufficiently preparing students to mitigate the regional effects of climate change on the health of patients. Mandatory medical degree curriculum does not sufficiently educate on climate health issues, nor is it present in Utah, New Mexico, or Colorado. Optional degrees and pathways are available to medical students to enroll in and may be sufficient to educate a medical student, but are not enticing enough to sufficiently educate all medical students. Some medical schools have recently conducted revisals of their mandatory curriculum and still show a lack of education available about climate health issues. The lack of educational resources for future providers could lead to detrimental health outcomes for patients, and medical schools in development should take the lead in educating their students about climate health issues.
ContributorsJamieson, Ann (Author) / Gutierrez, Sean (Co-author) / Vanos, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Lobo, Jose (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
Multi-regional assessments of the trophic niches of different baleen whale species can help elucidate patterns of interspecific and intraspecific variation and mechanisms of coexistence. Challenges in observing feeding dynamics of baleen whales make it difficult to characterize trophic dynamics on a large scale. Stable isotope analysis has been applied to studies of marine trophic ecology as a way to understand individual dietary sources of energy and nutrients as they move through a food web. Generation of Bayesian ellipses within a bi-plot space can allow us to map species trophic niches by means of their isotopic niche which may reveal underlying patterns in resource use within and between species. A detailed review of the variable differences of trophic niche width within and between different species and regions based on isotope analysis of baleen whales has not been previously published. We conducted a meta-analysis examining the isotopic niches from skin isotope data of blue, fin, and humpback whales collected in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans, in which we suggest patterns of niche overlap and partitioning both at the interspecific and intraspecific levels. Furthermore, we highlight variation in baleen whale plasticity to potential changes in environmental and anthropogenic stressors that may drive changes in habitat and resource use, specifically in regard to temporal and spatial variability in prey availability which can have negative consequences for baleen species in a rapidly changing environment.
ContributorsMurrell, Austin (Author) / Britton, Michael (Thesis director) / Besser, Alexi (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
This study investigates the impact of urban form and landscaping type on the mid-afternoon microclimate in semi-arid Phoenix, Arizona. The goal is to find effective urban form and design strategies to ameliorate temperatures during the summer months. We simulated near-ground air temperatures for typical residential neighborhoods in Phoenix using the three-dimensional microclimate model ENVI-met. The model was validated using weather observations from the North Desert Village (NDV) landscape experiment, located on the Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus. The NDV is an ideal site to determine the model's input parameters, since it is a controlled environment recreating three prevailing residential landscape types in the Phoenix metropolitan area (mesic, oasis, and xeric). After validation, we designed five neighborhoods with different urban forms that represent a realistic cross-section of typical residential neighborhoods in Phoenix. The scenarios follow the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification scheme after Stewart and Oke. We then combined the neighborhoods with three landscape designs and, using ENVI-met, simulated microclimate conditions for these neighborhoods for a typical summer day. Results were analyzed in terms of mid-afternoon air temperature distribution and variation, ventilation, surface temperatures, and shading. Findings show that advection is important for the distribution of within-design temperatures and that spatial differences in cooling are strongly related to solar radiation and local shading patterns. In mid-afternoon, dense urban forms can create local cool islands. Our approach suggests that the LCZ concept is useful for planning and design purposes.
ContributorsMiddel, Ariane (Author) / Hab, Kathrin (Author) / Brazel, Anthony J. (Author) / Martin, Chris A. (Author) / Guhathakurta, Subhrajit (Author)
Created2014-02
Description
This project offers a multi-perspective overview of why art matters in ecology. Combining the research of others with my own art and insight from within the academic system, I address the breadth of applications that art has in science education. The goal of this project is to show that creative engagement can foster a sustainable mindset, make science-learning more accessible, and encourage progress in social and environmental justice in an integrative, interdisciplinary way.
ContributorsSvitak, Lo (Author) / Barca, Lisa (Thesis director) / Chew, Matthew (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2024-05