Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-223).

Within the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) area of responsibility, tropical deep convection that is not associated with tropical cyclones can cause significant impacts to operations. In this study, convective indices calculated from five sites in the central and western tropical North Pacific are examined with respect to their ability to predict the onset and intensity of deep convection. Two predictands are utilized: measures of convection derived from surface weather observations and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Blended Rainrate estimates, which are derived from infrared and microwave satellite observations and interpolated to the five sites. Eighteen indices derived from rawinsondes are ranked by predictive skill for specific locations and seasons. Indices that exhibit significant skill are used in a discriminant analysis to define a multivariate experimental tropical convective index, which is then evaluated for each region and season. The multivariate index was not able to discriminate between convective and non-convective environments over the central North Pacific. Although the multivariate index exhibited skill for sites in the tropical western North Pacific during summer, it did not perform better than the highest-ranked single indices. For many of the locations and seasons evaluated, the Severe Weather Threat (SWEAT) Index exhibited the most skill.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1996. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaf 26.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Geography." Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-225).

Faculty of Science School of Physics[Science Education] 0305541n mososloaneR@science.pg.wist.ac.za / This research report is based on a study that investigated South African Grade-10 learners’ conceptions about day and night, and the seasons, after instruction in these topics. The study was motivated by examiners’ reports that learners perform poorly in physical science, and by alternative conceptions that learners have about scientific concepts, as reported in the literature. A motive for conducting the study in South Africa is that relatively little has been published about South African learners’ conceptions about day and night, and the seasons. An open-ended diagnostic questionnaire was used to probe learners’ conceptions about day and night, and the seasons. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were checked by the researchers’ supervisor and colleagues. The questionnaire was piloted in a secondary school in the same township as the school that was later used to collect the main study data. Learners in the pilot study were asked to state problems encountered while answering the questionnaire. This resulted in minor modifications on the questionnaire. The modified questionnaire was then administered to the main study group, and open coding was used to analyze the results. The results show that the majority of learners lacked scientifically acceptable conceptions about day and night, and the seasons, e.g. they did not understand the combined rotation of the Earth about its axis, and the revolution of the Earth about the Sun. The results also show that learners could not properly interpret diagrams, and to effectively use diagrams to clarify their answers. Learners lack scientifically acceptable conceptions despite detailed explanations given in their textbooks, which imply that the books were not used effectively in the learning process. Some recommendations made, following these results, are that learners’ attention should be drawn to rich information presented in their textbooks, and that some 3-dimensional objects should be used when teaching the topic.

No description available.

The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) has been associated with extreme precipitation events in western North America. However, the mechanisms for, and predictability of, these associations are not clear. We have examined the influence of the MJO on North Pacific - North America (NPNA) circulation and precipitation anomalies during the boreal winter. We constructed composites of MJO events during 1979-2005 determined from the Wheeler RMM1/RMM2 index of MJO activity. Our analyses of NPNA anomalies were based primarily on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalysis data set. We focused our investigations on the impacts on NPNA circulation and precipitation of: (1) the location and amplitude of the convective and subsidence components of the MJO; (2) the season of MJO occurrence; and (3) concurrent El Nino (EN) or La Nina (LN) events. We found that the NPNA response to the MJO is sensitive to the location of both the convective and subsidence components of the MJO, the season of MJO occurrence, and to the existence of concurrent EN or LN events. EN or LN events affect the extratropical response to the MJO by altering the equatorial Rossby-Kelvin wave response to the components of the MJO. This in turn affects the anomalous extratropical wave trains initiated by the MJO, and alters the strength and location of the resulting NPNA precipitation anomalies. Our results have allowed us to identify characteristic patterns associated with the MJO that can be related to the location and intensity of extreme NPNA precipitation. MJO events are relatively persistent phenomena. Thus, increased understanding of the mechanisms by which they impact the extratropics has the potential to improve extratropical extended range forecasting. Our results provide a substantial foundation for improving forecasts of NPNA circulation and precipitation.

This paper will first focus on the theoretical definition of the term "atmospherics" and its elements. This will continue with the definition of seasonal influences. These parts will then serve as basis for concrete evaluation of atmospherics in hypermarket retail units Tesco and Globus. After that, the two units will be compared and contrasted and eventual suggestions for improvement will be offered. Responsible employees of the two units will then react to the evaluations and suggestions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Rong Fu. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-131).