scholarly journals Fatalities Associated with Nonconvective High-Wind Events in the United States

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 717-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walker S. Ashley ◽  
Alan W. Black
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Extratropical Cyclones ◽  
High Wind ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Wind Events ◽  
Gap Winds ◽  
Social Vulnerabilities ◽  
High Winds

Abstract A database was compiled for the period 1980–2005 to assess the threat to life in the conterminous United States from nonconvective high-wind events. This study reveals the number of fatalities from these wind storms, their cause, and their unique spatial distributions. While tornadoes continue to cause the most wind-related fatalities per year, nonconvective high winds (defined as phenomena such as downslope and gap winds, gradient winds, dust storms, and winds associated with midlatitude cyclones) have the potential to fatally injure more people than thunderstorm or hurricane winds. Nonconvective wind fatalities occur more frequently in vehicles or while boating. Fatalities are most common along the West Coast and Northeast in association with passing extratropical cyclones, with fewer fatalities observed in the central United States despite this region’s susceptibility for high-wind gusts. A combination of physical and social vulnerabilities is suggested as the cause for the unique fatality distribution found. More than 83% of all nonconvective wind fatalities are associated with the passage of extratropical cyclones.

scholarly journals The Paths of Extratropical Cyclones Associated with Wintertime High-Wind Events in the Northeastern United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1871-1885 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Booth ◽  
Harald E. Rieder ◽  
Dong Eun Lee ◽  
Yochanan Kushnir
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Extratropical Cyclones ◽  
Separate Analysis ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
High Wind ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Cyclone Tracks ◽  
Wind Events

AbstractThis study analyzes the association between wintertime high-wind events (HWEs) in the northeastern United States and extratropical cyclones. Sustained wind maxima in the daily summary data from the National Climatic Data Center’s integrated surface database are analyzed for 1979–2012. For each station, a generalized Pareto distribution is fit to the upper tail of the daily maximum wind speed data, and probabilistic return levels at 1, 3, and 5 yr are derived. Wind events meeting the return-level criteria are termed HWEs. The HWEs occurring on the same day are grouped into simultaneous wind exceedance dates, termed multistation events. In a separate analysis, extratropical cyclones are tracked using ERA-Interim. The multistation events are associated with the extratropical cyclone tracks on the basis of cyclone proximity on the day of the event. The multistation wind events are found to be most often associated with cyclones traveling from southwest to northeast, originating west of the Appalachian Mountains. To quantify the relative frequency of the strong-wind-associated cyclones, the full set of northeastern cyclone tracks is separated on the basis of path, using a crosshairs algorithm designed for this region. The tracks separate into an evenly distributed set of four pathways approaching the northeastern United States: from due west, from the southwest, and from the southeast and storms starting off the coast north of the Carolinas. Using the frequency of the tracks in each of the pathways, it is shown that the storms associated with multistation wind events are most likely to approach the northeastern United States from the southwest.

scholarly journals The Pseudoscorpions of Illinois

1949 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 413-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Clayton Hoff
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
North Central ◽  
Taxonomic Importance ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Identification Of Species ◽  
Made In

Pseudoscorpions are minute animals only a few millimeters long, with the general appearance of diminutive scorpions except that they have no tails. They belong to the large phylum of joint-legged animals, the Arthropoda, and to the class Arachnida. which, in addition to the pseudoscorpions, embraces the spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions, and other related groups. Pseudoscorpions are seclusive in habit, occurring in soil cover and rotten logs, under bark, and in similar places out of doors: one species is found in houses. In their natural habitat, these little brown animals arc difficult to see. especially when they draw in their legs and "play possum." In this position they look like little specks of dirt. Probably because pseudoscorpions are inconspicuous, few collections of the group have been made in the past, and the fauna, at least of North America, and especially of the central and north-central United States, has remained scantily known. The object of this report is twofold, first to present illustrated keys and descriptions for the identification of species in this region, and, secondly, to summarize information regarding the distribution, biology, and habitat preferences of the species. As an aid in use of the keys, a section has been included on morphology, in which the structures now considered of major taxonomic importance are explained. Summarizing the distribution has been especially difficult because many identifications made prior to Chamberlin's work are probably incorrect and should be rechecked before they are cited. Because of this situation there is little accurate information to serve as a guide in foretelling what additional described species may be collected in Illinois. In order to make this report of wide application, the keys have been made to include all the genera known from the central and northeastern portions of the United States and adjacent portions of Canada.

scholarly journals Finescale Assessment of Mobile Home Tornado Vulnerability in the Central and Southeast United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 797-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Strader ◽  
Walker S. Ashley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mobile Home ◽  
Socioeconomic Vulnerability ◽  
Mobile Homes ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Disaster Potential ◽  
Social Vulnerabilities

Abstract Research has illustrated that tornado disaster potential and impact severity are controlled by hazard risk and underlying physical and social vulnerabilities. Previous vulnerability studies have suggested that an important driver of disaster consequence is the type of housing affected by tornadic winds. This study employs a Monte Carlo tornado simulation tool; mobile home location information derived from finescale, land-parcel data; and census enumerations of socioeconomic vulnerability factors to assess the tornado impact probability for one of the most wind hazard–susceptible demographics in the United States: mobile home residents. Comparative analyses between Alabama and Kansas are employed to highlight regional (i.e., Southeast vs Great Plains) differences in mobile home tornado risk, exposure, and vulnerability. Tornado impact potential on mobile homes is 4.5 times (350%) greater in Alabama than in Kansas because Alabama, in comparison to Kansas, is represented by 1) a greater number of mobile homes and 2) a more sprawling mobile home distribution. Findings reveal that the Southeast’s mobile home residents are one of the most socioeconomically and demographically marginalized populations in the United States and are more susceptible to tornado impact and death than illustrated in prior research. Policy makers, engineers, and members of integrated warning teams (i.e., National Weather Service, media, emergency managers, and first responders) should use these findings to initiate a dialogue and construct interdisciplinary actions aimed at improving societal and individual resilience before, during, and after hazardous weather events.

Abstract 16822: Dust Storms in the United States are Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Mortality

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
James L Crooks ◽  
Wayne Cascio ◽  
Madelyn Percy ◽  
Jeanette Reyes ◽  
Lucas Neas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Cardiovascular Mortality ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Ambient Particulate Matter ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
The U.S

Introduction: Extreme weather events such as dust storms are predicted to become more frequent as the global climate warms through the 21st century. Studies of Asian, Saharan, Arabian, and Australian dust storms have found associations with cardiovascular and total non-accidental mortality and hospitalizations for stroke. However, the only population-level epidemiological work on dust storms in the United States was focused on a single small metropolitan area (Spokane, WA), and it is uncertain whether its null results are representative of the country as a whole. Hypothesis: Dust storms in the United States are associated with daily cardiovascular mortality. Methods: Dust storm incidence data (N=141), including date and approximate location, as well as meteorological station observations, were taken from the U.S. National Weather Service. County-level mortality data for the years 1993-2005 were acquired from the National Center for Health Statistics. Ambient particulate matter monitor concentrations were obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Inference was performed used conditional logistic regression models under a case-crossover design while accounting for the nonlinear effect of temperature. Results: We found a 9.5% increase in cardiovascular mortality at a two-day lag (95% CI: [0.31%,19.5%], p = 0.042). The results were robust to adjusting for heat waves and ambient particulate matter concentrations. Analysis of storms occurring only on days with <0.1 inches of precipitation strengthened these results and in addition yielded a mean daily increase of 4.0% across lags 0-5 (95% CI: [0.07%,20.8%], p = 0.046). In Arizona, the U.S. state with the largest number of storms, we observed a 13.0% increase at a three-day lag (CI: [0.40%,27.1%], p = 0.043). Conclusions: Dust storms in the U.S. are associated with increases in lagged cardiovascular mortality. This has implications for the development of public health advisories and suggests that further public health interventions may be needed. Disclaimer: This work does not represent official U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy.

Paddlefish Management, Propagation, and Conservation in the 21st Century

2009 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fish Production ◽  
Single Source ◽  
Spawning Habitat ◽  
Domestic Consumption ◽  
Central United States ◽  
History Of ◽  
Food Fish ◽  
Aquaculture Production

<em>Abstract</em>.—Paddlefish <em>Polyodon spathula </em>populations in North America have long been exploited commercially for meat and roe; however, the history of paddlefish propagation and culture is more recent. Early efforts to artificially propagate and culture paddlefish were motivated by conservation following the construction of dams and destruction of spawning habitat on major rivers of the central United States. From these beginnings, paddlefish propagation and the species itself have spread from native U.S. waters to other countries, including Russia and China. In the United States, conservation is still an important aspect of paddlefish culture, although sport fishing and aquaculture production have been added to the mix. However, in those countries where paddlefish have been introduced, the motivation has been the perceived potential for producing food for domestic consumption and valuable products for export, including one of the most exotic and expensive food products in today’s world—caviar. The collective efforts of state and federal hatchery personnel in the United States, along with university researchers from the United States and worldwide have resulted in a more complete body of information on paddlefish propagation and culture. Included in this collection are methods for handling broodstock, induced spawning, and nursery stages of production, along with cryopreservation of milt and manipulation of sex ratios in the hatchery to produce a preponderance of female fish. We have assembled this collection here to provide a single source reference and have added information concerning hatchery design, regulations, and the grow-out stages of aquaculture food fish production.

scholarly journals Performance of Landscape Roses Grown with Minimal Input in the North-central, Central, and South-central United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 718-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Zlesak ◽  
Randy Nelson ◽  
Derald Harp ◽  
Barbara Villarreal ◽  
Nick Howell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
National Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
The South ◽  
Flower Number ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
South Central ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Plant Hardiness

Landscape roses (Rosa sp.) are popular flowering shrubs. Consumers are less willing or able to maintain landscape beds than in years past and require plants that are not only attractive, but well-adapted to regional climatic conditions, soil types, and disease and pest pressures. Marketing and distribution of rose cultivars occurs on a national level; therefore, it is difficult for U.S. consumers in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 5 to identify well-adapted, cold-hardy cultivars. Identifying suitable cultivars that have strong genetic resistance to pests and disease and that will tolerate temperature extremes without winter protection in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 5 is of tremendous value to consumers and retailers in northern states. Twenty landscape rose cultivars, primarily developed in north-central North America, were evaluated at five locations in the United States (three in the north-central United States, one in the central United States, and one in the south-central United States) using the low-input, multiyear Earth-Kind® methodology. Six roses had ≥75% plant survival at the end of the study and were in the top 50% of performers for overall mean horticultural rating at each of the three north-central U.S. sites: ‘Lena’, ‘Frontenac’, ‘Ole’, ‘Polar Joy’, ‘Sunrise Sunset’, and ‘Sven’. Five of these six roses met the same criteria at the central United States (exception ‘Lena’) and the south-central United States (exception ‘Polar Joy’) sites. Cultivar, rating time, and their interaction were highly significant, and block effects were not significant for horticultural rating for all single-site analyses of variance. Significant positive correlations were found between sites for flower number, flower diameter, and overall horticultural rating. Significant negative correlations were found between flower number and diameter within each site and also between black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) lesion size from a previous study and overall horticultural rating for three of the five sites. Cane survival ratings were not significantly correlated with overall horticultural rating, suggesting some cultivars can experience severe winter cane dieback, yet recover and perform well. Data from this study benefit multiple stakeholders, including nurseries, landscapers, and consumers, with evidence-based regional cultivar recommendations and breeders desiring to identify regionally adapted parents.

scholarly journals Upright Convection in Extratropical Cyclones: A Survey Using Ground‐Based Radar Data Over the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeyavinoth Jeyaratnam ◽  
James F. Booth ◽  
Catherine M. Naud ◽  
Z. Johnny Luo ◽  
Cameron R. Homeyer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Extratropical Cyclones

Knockdown Resistance-Associated Mutations Dominate Populations of the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Across the South Central United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1678-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey G Holleman ◽  
Grant A Robison ◽  
Ian J Bellovich ◽  
Warren Booth
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Insecticide Resistance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Knockdown Resistance ◽  
The South ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Old World ◽  
Bed Bug ◽  
South Central ◽  
Central United States

Abstract Despite awareness of the mutations conferring insecticide resistance in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), within the United States few studies address the distribution and frequency of these. Within the United States, studies have focused on collections made along the East Coast and Midwest, documenting the occurrence of two mutations (V419L and L925I) within the voltage-gated sodium channel α-subunit gene shown to be associated with knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids. Here, the distribution and frequency of the V419L and L925I site variants is reported from infestations sampled within Oklahoma and its immediately adjacent states. Additionally, the presence of a mutation previously undocumented in the United States (I935F) is noted. While novel in the United States, this mutation has previously been reported in Australian and Old World populations. No infestations were found to harbor wild-type individuals, and hence susceptible, at each of the three sites. Instead, ~21% were found to possess the resistant mutation at the L925I site (haplotype B), ~77% had mutations at both the V419L and L925I sites (haplotype C), and 2% possessed the mutation at the L936F site (haplotype Ab). The high frequency of haplotype C corresponds to previous studies in the United States, and contrasts dramatically with those of the Old World and Australia. The data presented here provide insight into the contemporary occurrence of kdr-associated insecticide resistance in the South Central United States, a region for which data have previously been absent. These data suggest that New World and Old World/Australian infestations are likely to have originated from different origins.

Investigating the Relationship between the Evaporative Stress Index and Land Surface Conditions in the Contiguous United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1469-1484
Author(s):  
Yafang Zhong ◽  
Jason A. Otkin ◽  
Martha C. Anderson ◽  
Christopher Hain
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Reference Network ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central United States

AbstractDespite the key importance of soil moisture–evapotranspiration (ET) coupling in the climate system, limited availability of soil moisture and ET observations poses a major impediment for investigation of this coupling regarding spatiotemporal characteristics and potential modifications under climate change. To better understand and quantify soil moisture–ET coupling and relevant processes, this study takes advantage of in situ soil moisture observations from the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) for the time period of 2010–17 and a satellite-derived version of the evapotranspiration stress index (ESI), which represents anomalies in a normalized ratio of actual to reference ET. The analyses reveal strong seasonality and regional characteristics of the ESI–land surface interactions across the United States, with the strongest control of soil moisture on the ESI found in the southern Great Plains during spring, and in the north-central United States, the northern Great Plains, and the Pacific Northwest during summer. In drier climate regions such as the northern Great Plains and north-central United States, soil moisture control on the ESI is confined to surface soil layers, with subsurface soil moisture passively responding to changes in the ESI. The soil moisture–ESI interaction is more uniform between surface and subsurface soils in wetter regions with higher vegetation cover. These results provide a benchmark for simulation of soil moisture–ET coupling and are useful for projection of associated climate processes in the future.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document