Thesis advisor: Tara Pisani Gareau / Salt marshes provide important ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration. Permanently inundated ponds are prominent features in the marsh landscape, encompassing up to 60% of the total marsh area, but they are rarely considered in biogeochemical assessments. I investigated two ponds in Plum Island Estuary, MA to measure and analyze their metabolism. The ponds varied in size and vegetation cover. Oxygen concentrations and pH values were recorded in 15-minute intervals during the entire study period. The ponds regularly become hypoxic or anoxic during night. This is a problem for the estimation of respiration rates which are based on nighttime measurements. To investigate this potential underestimation, several approaches to estimate respiration were used. First, additional measurements of surface water concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon were made. A comparison of respiration estimates based on oxygen and DIC changes during tidal isolation revealed a reasonable agreement for the most time but not during periods of high productivity during the day or late at night. At this point, oxygen concentrations are so depleted that a change in concentration – the indicator of respiration – is barely detectable. However, DIC based respiration rates indicate that respiration is occurring under these hypoxic/anoxic conditions. This saturation changes during periods of tidal inundation, when a nighttime peak in oxygen concentrations indicates that the flood water is relatively enriched in oxygen compared to the pond water. On three days, it was tested whether under these conditions the oxygen-based respiration rate was higher than under hypoxic conditions (i.e., during tidal isolation). The rates were indeed higher than those under tidal isolation but still not in the range of DIC-based rates. Overall, metabolic rates differed between the two ponds in magnitude, which is likely caused by different vegetation cover, but may be influenced by size, sampling period, and duration as well. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.

by David Luke Cronin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-156). / Investigation into The Dynamics of Waste Air Dispersal from High-Rise Residences --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Contents --- p.iv / List of Illustrations --- p.viii / Preface / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- The Development of Building Technology in Response to the Forces of Wind and Water --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Roman concrete --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- Requirement for a stronger mortar --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.3. --- Discovery of an improved mortar --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2. --- Development of Wind Engineering --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3. --- Computational Wind Engineering --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4. --- Development of Building Regulations concerning Ventilation and Light in Hong Kong --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- First building regulations --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- Chadwick's enquiry --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- First requirement for windows in rooms --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.4. --- Public Health Ordinance --- p.19 / Chapter 1.4.5. --- Building Ordinance --- p.20 / Chapter 1.4.6. --- Plot ratio regulations and natural ventilation --- p.22 / Chapter 1.5. --- Plot Ratio and Site Coverage --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Gross Floor Area (GFA) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Cruciform tower --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Re-entrant --- p.30 / Chapter 1.6. --- Summary --- p.35 / Chapter 2. --- VENTILATION OF RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS AND THE REMOVAL OF AIRBORNE WASTES --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1. --- High-rise Buildings in Hong Kong and Ventilation --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2. --- "Climatic Conditions in Hong Kong, and the Requirement for Air-conditioning" --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3. --- Typical Practice in Hong Kong High-rises --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4. --- Source Ventilation --- p.42 / Chapter 2.5. --- Traditional Recommendations for a Tropical Climate --- p.42 / Chapter 2.6. --- Building Regulations Concerning Ventilation of Residences --- p.43 / Chapter 2.6.1. --- Hong Kong Government building regulations --- p.43 / Chapter 2.6.2. --- UK building regulations --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.3. --- US building regulations --- p.46 / Chapter 2.7. --- Summary --- p.47 / Chapter 3. --- MODELLING OF WIND FLOW AROUND BUILDINGS --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1. --- Summary of CFD Methods for Air Flow around Buildings --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Validation of the k-ε model for wind pressures on buildings --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2. --- Atmospheric Boundary Layer --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3. --- Use of Wind Tunnels to Predict Wind Effects on Tall Buildings --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Local wind climate --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Pressure study --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- Aeroelastic study --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.4. --- Wind environment study --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4. --- Architectural Aerodynamics --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4.1. --- Reynolds number --- p.55 / Chapter 3.4.2. --- Pressure coefficient --- p.56 / Chapter 4. --- PREDICTION OF OUTDOOR POLLUTION AND AIR QUALITY --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1. --- Computer Modelling of Pollution Dispersion --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2. --- Exhaust Dispersion from Buildings - Distance Dilution Model --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.1. --- Wall exhaust discharges in residential ventilation --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.2. --- Acceptable levels of kitchen exhaust in the outside air --- p.62 / Chapter 4.2.3. --- Distance dilution model with corrections for building size --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3. --- Gaussian Plume Model --- p.63 / Chapter 4.4. --- Wind Tunnel Models of Pollution Dispersion in a Built-up Area --- p.65 / Chapter 5. --- INDOOR AIR QUALITY - COOKING FUMES --- p.67 / Chapter 5.1. --- Local Exhaust Ventilation and Efficiency of Pollutant Capture --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2. --- Indoor Pollution due to Cooking Stove Smoke --- p.68 / Chapter 5.3. --- Cooking Oil Detected in Hong Kong Air --- p.69 / Chapter 6. --- THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: RELEVANT ASPECTS OF CFD USED IN THIS STUDY --- p.71 / Chapter 6.1. --- Mathematical Model --- p.71 / Chapter 6.2. --- Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes Equations --- p.71 / Chapter 6.3. --- SIMPLE method --- p.74 / Chapter 6.4. --- Wall Shear Stress Calculations --- p.75 / Chapter 6.5. --- Wall Boundary Conditions for k and ε --- p.77 / Chapter 6.6. --- Species Calculations --- p.77 / Chapter 6.7. --- Thermal Transfer --- p.78 / Chapter 6.8. --- Grid System and Boundary Conditions --- p.81 / Chapter 6.8.1. --- Geometry and grid --- p.81 / Chapter 6.8.2. --- Boundary conditions --- p.85 / Chapter 6.9. --- Natural Convection Flows --- p.85 / Chapter 7. --- MODELLING PROCEDURE --- p.87 / Chapter 7.1. --- Dispersal of Exhaust Air from Kitchens --- p.87 / Chapter 7.1.1. --- Kitchen range hood exhaust rates --- p.87 / Chapter 7.1.2. --- Exhaust air release rates modelled --- p.88 / Chapter 7.1.3. --- Initial approximation of dilution in the re-entrant --- p.89 / Chapter 7.2. --- Modelling of Waste Heat Dispersal from Air-conditioning Units --- p.90 / Chapter 7.2.1. --- Typical air-conditioner energy figures --- p.90 / Chapter 7.2.2. --- Representation of condenser heat in a CFD model --- p.92 / Chapter 7.2.3. --- Approximation of temperature increase --- p.94 / Chapter 7.3. --- Representation of the High-rise Tower --- p.94 / Chapter 7.4. --- Power-law Profile: Increasing Wind Speed with Height --- p.95 / Chapter 7.5. --- Wind Tunnel Verification --- p.97 / Chapter 7.5.1. --- Wind velocities and pressures --- p.97 / Chapter 7.5.2. --- Wind tunnel prediction of contaminant dilution --- p.98 / Chapter 7.6. --- Summary of Simulations --- p.99 / Chapter 7.6.1. --- Kitchen exhaust air dispersal --- p.100 / Chapter 7.6.2. --- Air-conditioner waste heat dispersal --- p.100 / Chapter 8. --- DISCUSSION OF RESULTS --- p.102 / Chapter 8.1. --- Wind Patterns in the Re-entrant --- p.103 / Chapter 8.1.1. --- Wind into re-entrant --- p.104 / Chapter 8.1.2. --- Wind at 90° to the re-entrant --- p.104 / Chapter 8.1.3. --- Re-entrant on the leeward side of the building --- p.105 / Chapter 8.2. --- Exhaust Air Concentration --- p.112 / Chapter 8.2.1. --- Wind into re-entrant --- p.113 / Chapter 8.2.2. --- Wind at 90° to the re-entrant --- p.113 / Chapter 8.2.3. --- Re-entrant on the leeward side --- p.114 / Chapter 8.3. --- Temperature Increase in the Re-entrant --- p.121 / Chapter 8.3.1. --- Wind into the re-entrant --- p.122 / Chapter 8.3.2. --- Wind at 90° to the re-entrant --- p.123 / Chapter 8.3.3. --- Re-entrant on leeward side --- p.123 / Chapter 8.4. --- Summary of Findings --- p.130 / Chapter 9. --- NATURAL CONVECTION MODELLING --- p.132 / Chapter 10. --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.136 / Chapter 10.1. --- Waste Air --- p.136 / Chapter 10.2. --- Waste Heat --- p.138 / Chapter 10.3. --- Implications --- p.139 / Chapter 10.4. --- Suggestions --- p.140 / APPENDIX A: SIMULATION CASE DEFINITIONS / Chapter A.1 --- Definitions used for all simulations --- p.142 / Chapter A.1.1 --- Boundary Conditions used in all simulations --- p.145 / Chapter A. 1.2 --- Equations used in all simulations --- p.145 / Chapter A.2 --- Simulation of Wind Flow around the Building --- p.145 / Chapter A.3 --- Air-conditioner Waste Heat Dispersal Simulations --- p.146 / Chapter A.1.1 --- Additional boundary conditions used to represent air-conditioners --- p.146 / Chapter A. 1.2 --- Additional equations used --- p.146 / Chapter A.4 --- Exhaust Air Dispersal from Kitchens --- p.147 / Chapter A.1.1 --- Additional boundary conditions used to represent air-conditioners --- p.147 / Chapter A. 1.2 --- Additional equations used --- p.147 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.149 / Books --- p.148 / Papers --- p.149 / Other Sources --- p.152 / Notes --- p.153

Floodplain fens represent an important component of the global carbon cycle through their role in carbon sequestration. Peat development depends upon rate of production exceeding rate of decomposition, yet there is little understanding of the effects of sea-level rise on these processes in lowland environments. This thesis investigates the impacts of projected sea-level rise from climate change on carbon storage in floodplain fens, using a combination of field, laboratory and simulation modelling techniques. A gradient of saline influence was determined for the Broads, UK, based on analysis of water chemistry and published water level data, allowing for the application of a space-for-time substitution technique. Increased water level had a positive effect on above-ground production of Phragmites australis (cav.) Trin. Ex Steud. (1841) - perhaps because water stress limits important photosynthetic processes. An increase in salinity had a negative effect on the growth of P. australis, probably due in part to osmotic stress. Previous management practice significantly impacted on production - as uncut vegetation became less productive with time. There was evidence to suggest that sea-level rise may lead to faster decay rates, but this will be partially offset by litter quality. Saline influenced sites had lower carbon accumulation potentials. Radiometric dating confirmed that these sites have lower carbon sequestration rates - probably as a result of increased mineral deposition in floodwaters. Carbon stock ranged between 33 and 144 kt C but depended greatly on peat depth and bulk density. Results from both field data and the model indicated that peat accretion in the Broads would not offset projected sea-level rise. Floodplain fen development under the influence of sea-level rise will be dependent on the majority of assimilate being allocated to above-ground vegetation.

Tongatapu coastal zone vulnerability assessment study was conducted to examine the degree of current and future risks of projected climate change and sea level rise on the coastal zone of the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga-Tongatapu. Inundation, and flooding hazards generated by tropical cyclone storm surges are the common threats to Tongatapu coastal towns and villages because of their low-lying settings. Flooding problems are exacerbated by the social trends of population growth and migration from the outer islands of the Kingdom, to Tongatapu the main island where the capital town of the Kingdom, Nuku'alofa is located. Other threats include beach erosion, saltwater intrusion, and seawater spraying of coastal vegetations and properties. A survey of the local people of Tongatapu, mapping of vulnerable areas with GIS, and using my local knowledge of the island coastal zone were the three methods were used to conduct this study. The main objective of this research was to assess the vulnerability of the coastal zone of Tongatapu to local impacts of inundation and flooding hazards associated with climate and sea-level rise related risks. The results of the survey indicated that more than 95% of the respondents agreed that the coastal zone of Tongatapu is vulnerable to inundation and flooding risks generated by tropical cyclones that visit Tongatapu coastal water every year, based on their recollection, knowledge, and experienced of the past storm events that hit Tongatapu. GIS work showed that those coastal towns and villages of Tongatapu that are located in areas less than 5 meter above sea level are vulnerable to the local impacts of inundation and flooding hazards. It is concluded that the yearly visited tropical cyclones to Tonga that are actually hit Tongatapu coastal zone had increasing the vulnerability of the coastal towns and villages of Tongatapu that are located in areas below 5 meters above sea level to inundation and flooding hazards associated with climate change and sea level rise related risks. Other possible cause might be the gradual uplifted of the south coast of Tongatapu due to ongoing earthquake activities in Tonga since the last 200 years. But in facts more research it has to be done to confirm this argument. The response to the local impacts of inundation and flooding hazards in the coastal zone of Tongatapu should be focused on adaptation, risk and hazard management.

This thesis aims to investigate the relationship between the provision of spatial order and perceived sense of community in high-rise housing developments in Korea from a socio-spatial and architectural perspective. It also considers relationships between the perception of neighbourhood, provision of facilities, design aspects, and socio-economic characteristics and sense of community. The study uses a questionnaire survey as the main research instrument conducted across four case studies in Bundang new town, in metropolitan Seoul, Korea. Two of the cases were selected as having a high provision of spatial order and the other two low provision according to the concepts of Altman (1975) and Newman (1972, 1975). Quantitative analysis is carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis/Mann-Whitney test and Spearman???s rank correlation to identify differences and correlations between cases. The results indicate that there is no clear evidence that a sense of community has a direct relationship with the provision of spatial order in the selected cases. However, in the high provision cases outdoor common spaces appear to have a role in contributing to social interaction. Among Buckner???s (1988) three sub-variables of his concept of neighbourhood cohesion, ???neighbouring??? appears to be more associated with the provision of spatial order rather than ???attraction-to-neighbourhood??? or ???psychological sense of community.??? A greater number of opportunities for social interactions occur in an intermediate space located between private dwelling units and public open space in cases with a high provision of spatial order. However, this is likely to be due to the location of shared facilities and their frequency of use. In terms of the relationship between design and a sense of community, ???landscaping??? was found to be the most important variable, followed by the ???design of streets/footpath??? and ???facilities for children???, ???parking???, and ???recreational activities???. Despite the lack of a clear relationship between design and a sense of community, a strong demand was found for improved outdoor amenity and greater provision of facilities. Socio-economic status appears not to be a significant factor directly influencing the sense of community however, age and the existence of children are associated with the perception of neighbourhood.

This thesis is concerned with the idea of the rise of the moral political economy. Whilst Aristotle did not invent the word 'economics' he came closer than many think. This thesis is an exploration in the field of the history of ideas. It views the origins of distant economic-like thinking as having a moral and political bases of existence. / PhD Doctorate

China obtains the best security environment ever as the Cold War ended. Its economy continues to grow. China¡¦s rise becomes a reality. Along with China's enhancement on economy and military strengths, Beijing shows more confidence in dealing with international affairs. Zhongnanhai leaders keep stressing that China will strive for an international environment in favor of peace and development, and expressing to the U.S. that China is willing to be cooperative on regional and international issues, which wins praise from President Bush. China and the U.S. both carry on some strategic adjustment. Moreover, President Bush becomes the first U.S. president who visited China three times in its two tenures in office. President Bush and Hu Jintao have gradually established personal friendship. Chinese leaders have long regarded the pursuing of country¡¦s unification as the most important and prior political goal. In China's leadership, both reformists and hardliners take ¡§Taiwan issue" as sovereignty matter, the core interest of China¡¦s national security. Jiang Zemin used to emphasize that ¡§Taiwan issue is the most sensitive and most crucial issue in Sino-U.S. relations.¡¨ Every time when Hu Jintao met with President Bush, Hu applauded the U.S.¡¦s commitments on ¡§One-China¡¨ policy, three Joint Communiques, and ¡§opposition¡¨ of Taiwan independence. Bush administration¡¦s policies toward Taiwan Strait security have also shifted from strategic ambiguity to strategic clarity gradually. China-U.S. relationship has been promoted to its best status in second half of 2003 due to the intensification of international anti-terrorism cooperation and Beijing¡¦s role in hosting Six Party Talks. The atmosphere of Taiwan-U.S. relationship, however, has been not so good since President Chen Shui-bian¡¦s second term because Taiwan repeatedly pushes Washington D.C.¡¦s bottom lines. Bush administration made several friendly decisions toward Taiwan in its early stage after resuming powers, including providing better treatments for Taiwan senior leaders when they visited or transited the U.S. But when President Bush said he would do ¡§whatever it takes to defend Taiwan¡¨ in early 2001, the White House and U.S. State Department quickly repeated that the U.S. policies remain unchanged. It shows that the risks for military conflict in Taiwan Strait are high and that the U.S. does not want Taiwan to have too much expectation. Washington, D.C. would avoid getting into military conflicts in Taiwan Strait for its own interests. In addition, Bush administration continues to aware Taiwan that the U.S. and Taiwan could cooperate in some security affairs, but the U.S., out of its strategy consideration and moral responsibility, would be the sole country which could assist democratic Taiwan. This dissertation would mainly explore China¡¦s rise, and in this presupposition, the Bush Administration¡¦s Policies on Cross-Strait Relations. The dissertation comprises 7 chapters. Besides introduction and conclusion in the first and the seventh chapter respectively, the second chapter would study China¡¦s rise and its challenges to the U.S. and the U.S.¡¦s security strategies in Asia-Pacific region, while the third chapter discussing Bush administration¡¦s policies toward China, the fourth chapter analyzing China¡¦s policies toward Bush administration, the fifth chapter looking into the U.S. factors in China¡¦s policies toward Taiwan, and the sixth chapter reviewing cross-strait relations during Bush administration. To sum up, Bush administration emphasizes stability across the Taiwan Strait. Neither side of the Taiwan Strait can take unilateral actions to change the status quo, which is defined by the U.S., and the solution of cross-strait issues must be through peaceful ways. To respond of China¡¦s rise, the U.S. continues to underline its relationship with allies in Asia-Pacific. At the same time, Bush administration makes more concrete steps in strengthening U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation, while U.S.-China military exchanges in progress but with limitation.

This thesis aimed to investigate how a rising sea level would affect the livable area of the island Fongafale, Tuvalu. Through the IPCC stabilization scenarios it was examined which areas of the island that would be affected by flooding. The local population’s perceptions of the effects of climate change were studied to see how the consequences of a world-wide problem such as global warming affect people's lives. The paper clarified the Tuvaluans place in the discussion of climate refugees, explained IPCC's work and described the results of previous studies concerning people in Fongafales perceptions and concerns about climate-related changes. The result shows already flooded areas with important buildings, such as airport and government buildings and that with a rising sea level, an increasing part of the island will suffer. The survey shows a stronger tendency to concern for lack of water and work than for a climate-related sea level rise, and that the main reason for a possible emigration would primarily be work-related.

More frequent and harsh storms coupled with sea level rise are affecting Canada’s sensitive coastlines. This research studies Isle Madame in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia which has been designated by Natural Resource Canada as a sea level rise vulnerable coastal community in Canada. The research models the spatial and temporal impacts of sea level rise from storm surge by focusing on identifying vulnerable areas in the community via geographical information systems (GIS) using ArcGIS, as well as modeling dynamic coastal damage via system dynamics using STELLA. The research evaluates the impacts in terms of the environmental, social, cultural, economic pillars that profile the coastal community for a series of modelled Storm Scenarios. This research synthesizes information from a variety of sources including the coastal ecology and natural resources, as well as human society and socioeconomic indicators included in the four mentioned pillars. The objective of the research is to determine vulnerable areas on Isle Madame susceptible to storm damage, and consequently, to improve local community knowledge and preparedness to more frequent harsh storms. This research therefore presents a dynamic model for the evaluation of storm impacts in Isle Madame designed with the goal to help the community ultimately to plan and implement a strategy to adapt to pending environmental change.

More frequent and harsh storms coupled with sea level rise are affecting Canada’s sensitive coastlines. This research studies Isle Madame in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia which has been designated by Natural Resource Canada as a sea level rise vulnerable coastal community in Canada. The research models the spatial and temporal impacts of sea level rise from storm surge by focusing on identifying vulnerable areas in the community via geographical information systems (GIS) using ArcGIS, as well as modeling dynamic coastal damage via system dynamics using STELLA. The research evaluates the impacts in terms of the environmental, social, cultural, economic pillars that profile the coastal community for a series of modelled Storm Scenarios. This research synthesizes information from a variety of sources including the coastal ecology and natural resources, as well as human society and socioeconomic indicators included in the four mentioned pillars. The objective of the research is to determine vulnerable areas on Isle Madame susceptible to storm damage, and consequently, to improve local community knowledge and preparedness to more frequent harsh storms. This research therefore presents a dynamic model for the evaluation of storm impacts in Isle Madame designed with the goal to help the community ultimately to plan and implement a strategy to adapt to pending environmental change.