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"West, Krista"
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Ansel Adams
This book explores the life and photography of Ansel Adams, whose work inspired the conservation movement in America.
BOOK
Satellite-Derived Estimates of Herbaceous Fractional Cover and Its Influence on Fire Regime in San Diego County, California, USA Shrublands
Expanding invasive herbaceous vegetation (non-native grasses and forbs or herbs) is replacing portions of native shrublands in San Diego County, California, USA through a grass-fire cycle, which contributes to an increased risk of wildfire ignition and spread as well as a changing fire regime. Despite the association between herb abundance and wildfire risk, remote sensing and image processing approaches for quantification of fractional herb cover in shrublands are not well established, nor is the association between herb fraction and proportion of ignitions. In this research, I comparatively assess the accuracy of herb cover estimation and mapping based on three spectral unmixing models applied to Landsat-derived spectral reflectance and spectral vegetation index data from multiple 2020 dates. Based on the model and methods that most accurately and reliably represent herb cover, I then reconstruct the spatial-temporal distribution of herb growth using Landsat images from 1988, 1997, and 2011 and assess the extent to which herb cover has expanded and replaced woody vegetation cover (1988 to 2020). Finally, I combine the herb cover maps with historical ignition points to evaluate the spatial association between herb fractions and locations where fires initially ignited and spread (1992 to 2020). When compared to generated reference data, results demonstrate the parsimonious spectral unmixing approach applied to a fall date estimates herb cover at the 10% accuracy level and more accurately than the more sophisticated unmixing models. Absolute change estimates derived from the earliest and most recent herb cover maps show approximately 25% of the study area exhibited an increase in herb cover > 20%, and roughly 5% experienced a decrease in herb < -20%, with the greatest concentration of change occurring in wildland-urban interface areas. Factors most strongly associated with substantial increase in herb cover include fire return interval, drought, proximity to development, and elevation. The results of evaluating historical ignitions in herbs show the largest proportion of ignitions occurred in areas with > 20% herbaceous fractional cover. Results from this study will enable improved detection of sensitive habitats by satellite for wildfire-prone communities and help identify target areas for mitigating and combating the grass-fire cycle.
Dissertation
Satellite-Derived Estimates of Herbaceous Fractional Cover and Its Influence on Fire Regime in San Diego County, California, USA Shrublands
Expanding invasive herbaceous vegetation (non-native grasses and forbs or herbs) is replacing portions of native shrublands in San Diego County, California, USA through a grass-fire cycle, which contributes to an increased risk of wildfire ignition and spread as well as a changing fire regime. Despite the association between herb abundance and wildfire risk, remote sensing and image processing approaches for quantification of fractional herb cover in shrublands are not well established, nor is the association between herb fraction and proportion of ignitions. In this research, I comparatively assess the accuracy of herb cover estimation and mapping based on three spectral unmixing models applied to Landsat-derived spectral reflectance and spectral vegetation index data from multiple 2020 dates. Based on the model and methods that most accurately and reliably represent herb cover, I then reconstruct the spatial-temporal distribution of herb growth using Landsat images from 1988, 1997, and 2011 and assess the extent to which herb cover has expanded and replaced woody vegetation cover (1988 to 2020). Finally, I combine the herb cover maps with historical ignition points to evaluate the spatial association between herb fractions and locations where fires initially ignited and spread (1992 to 2020). When compared to generated reference data, results demonstrate the parsimonious spectral unmixing approach applied to a fall date estimates herb cover at the 10% accuracy level and more accurately than the more sophisticated unmixing models. Absolute change estimates derived from the earliest and most recent herb cover maps show approximately 25% of the study area exhibited an increase in herb cover > 20%, and roughly 5% experienced a decrease in herb < -20%, with the greatest concentration of change occurring in wildland-urban interface areas. Factors most strongly associated with substantial increase in herb cover include fire return interval, drought, proximity to development, and elevation. The results of evaluating historical ignitions in herbs show the largest proportion of ignitions occurred in areas with > 20% herbaceous fractional cover. Results from this study will enable improved detection of sensitive habitats by satellite for wildfire-prone communities and help identify target areas for mitigating and combating the grass-fire cycle.
Dissertation
Congressional intervention in the administrative state: An inquiry into the Keating Five Hearings
The relationship between members of Congress and administrators has always been problematic. Interaction between the two takes place in oversight, casework and constituency service. Since the relationship is between two branches of government, separation of powers is a problem and a delicate balance must be maintained when the two branches interact. Interaction is a current concern because the amount taking place is increasing. There are only a few guidelines that govern the interaction between members of Congress and administrators: court opinions, rules and expectations of both the House and Senate and the code of ethics for public servants. Since the guidelines are sketchy, most operate according to their own ideas of what is and what is not appropriate interaction. The Keating Five Hearings provide a well-documented interaction between members of Congress and administrators highlighting the relevant law and the normative and ethical issues that guide this interaction.
Dissertation
HMS Investigator
HMS Investigator--the first ship to sail the westernmost leg of the Northwest Passage--was found last July in Canada's Mercy Bay under 30 feet of water, but otherwise right where its crew left it in 1853. The crew, abandoning the ship when it became trapped in pack ice, spent three winters in the area before being rescued and returning to Britain, which made them the first people to travel the passage (by ship, foot, and sled) from end to end. Given the remote location outside Canada's Aulavik National Park, the ease of the discovery was quite unexpected.
Magazine Article
Sled Dog Science
West discusses the metabolic secrets of distance-racing canines. He notes that sled dogs seem to flip an internal switch that acutely changes how they burn fat calories, allowing them to keep going and going with no obvious pain during races. Moreover, he believes that figuring out how that mechanism works may have implications for human diabetics and those battling obesity. Such dogs may have learned to switch metabolic strategies on demand through intense training. If so, then researchers might have an easier time applying what they learn about the canines to humans training for an endurance event or those seeking treatment for diabetes or obesity. Such patients might benefit, for instance, if researchers could pinpoint the mechanisms that boost the body's sensitivity to insulin or that better utilize fat that build up in muscle tissue.
Magazine Article