Casey D. Allen

Practicing physical geography: An actor-network view of physical geography exemplified by the rock art stability index

This paper explores the use of a new pedagogy, the rock art stability index (RASI), to engender deeper understanding of weathering science concepts by students. Owing to its dynamic nature, RASI represents a quintessential actor network for weathering science, because it links task in the landscape with an active material practice and an alternative materialistic world-view recently called for in positivistic science, to create place. Using concept maps as an assessment tool, 571 college undergraduate students and 13 junior high school integrated science students (ages 12—13) were evaluated for increased learning potential between pre- and post-field experiences. Further, this article demonstrates that when students use RASI to learn the fundamental complex science of weathering they make in-depth connections between weathering form and process not achieved through traditional, positivistic weathering pedagogy. We argue that RASI draws upon inherent actor networks which allow students to link weathering form and process to an animate conceptualization of landscape. Conceptualizing landscape as sentient actor networks removes weathering science disciplinary connections and their inherent pedagogic practices. Our focus in this paper is not to challenge weathering ontology and epistemology, but rather to argue that there is a need for a pedagogical paradigm shift in weathering science.

The Rock Art Stability Index: A New Strategy for Maximizing the Sustainability of Rock Art

Abstract In order to identify those petroglyph and pictograph panels most susceptible to damage, we propose a field-friendly index that incorporates elements of existing strategies to characterize the stability of stone. The Rock Art Stability Index (RASI) has six general categories: Site Setting (geological factors); Weakness of the Rock Art Panel; Evidence of Large Erosion Events On and Below the Panel; Evidence of Small Erosion Events on the Panel; Rock Coatings on the Panel; and Highlighting Vandalism. Initial testing reveals that training of individuals with no prior background in rock decay can be conducted within a two-day period and yield reproducible results. RASI’s use as a tool to promote cultural resource sustainability includes the use of a Geographic Information System to store, display and analyze rock art. Abstract Para identificar los paneles del arte rupestre pintado y engrabados más vulnerables a daños, proponemos un fácil-por-el-campo indexo que incorporan elementos de estrategia que existen para la estabilidad de piedras. El Indexo de Estabilidad de Arte Rupestre (RASI) tiene seis categorías en general: el disposición de sitio (factores geológicos); debilidad del panel de arte rupestre; evidencia de grandes episodios de erosión en y debajo del panel; evidencia de pequeños episodios de erosión en el panel; capas de rocas en el panel; y el punto culminante de vandalismo. Exámenes iniciales revelan que personas con no bases anterior en desmoronamiento de roca formara en dos días con resultados reproducibles. Como una herramienta de la sostenibilidad de recursos culturales, RASI se incluyen una pieza de Sistema de Información Geográfica para amontonar, manifestar, y analizar arte de roca.

Defining tafoni: Re-examining terminological ambiguity for cavernous rock decay phenomena

Cavernous rock decay processes represent a global phenomenon, ubiquitous to all environments, with the viewable-in-landscape form usually being the final descriptor (e.g. “alveoli”), sometimes alluding to the specific decay process (e.g. “pitting”), other times not (e.g. “honeycombing”). Yet, definitive terminology remains inconsistent, usually owing to variability in dimension, morphometry, distribution, and/or academic lineage. This lack of an established lexicon limits scientific collaboration and can generate scientific bias. With no official consensus on appropriate distinctions, researchers and scientists must either be familiar with all the possible terminology, or know the apparent distinction between “forms”—which can seem arbitrary and, even more frustrating, often differs from researcher to researcher, scientist to scientist. This article reviews the historical and contemporary progression of scientific inquiry into this decay—and, arguably, erosional—feature to identify lexical inconsistencies and promote a singular unifying term for future scholars. Ultimately, the authors support using “tafoni” (singular: “tafone”) as the non-scalar universal term—the form created by numerous processes involved in cavernous decay features—and strongly suggest researchers adopt the same vernacular in order to promote collaboration.

Monitoring environmental impact in the Upper Sonoran Lifestyle: a new tool for rapid ecological assessment.

Characterized by expensive housing, high socioeconomic status, and topographic relief, Upper Sonoran Lifestyle communities are found primarily along the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Communities like these sprawl into the wildlands in the United States Southwest, creating a distinct urban fringe. This article, through locational comparison, introduces and evaluates a new field assessment tool for monitoring anthropogenic impact on soil–vegetation interactions along the well-maintained multi-use recreational trails in Upper Sonoran Lifestyle region. Comparing data from randomly selected transects along other multi-use trails with data from a control site revealed three key indicators of anthropogenic disturbances on soil–vegetation interactions: soil disturbance, vegetation disturbance, and vegetation density. Soil and vegetation disturbance displayed an average distance decay exponent factor of −0.60, while vegetation density displayed a reverse decay average of 0.60. Other important indicators of disturbance included vegetation type, biological soil crusts, and soil bulk density. The predictive ability of this new field tool enhances its applicability, offering a powerful rapid ecological assessment method for monitoring long-term anthropogenic impact in the Upper Sonoran Lifestyle, and other sprawling cities along the WUI.

Chapter 2 – Why Fieldwork?

For centuries, fieldwork has been geomorphology’s heart, entwined with observation and imagination, bound to its place in space by practitioners. Yet nowadays fieldwork often gets tossed along the wayside as a reason for holiday (or similar experience), especially when advanced GIScience and new laboratory applications/techniques are readily available. However, as this chapter outlines, fieldwork – as a concept and endeavor – continues to enliven geomorphology as a discipline and should be incorporated into pedagogical strategies, lest it become forgotten. Fieldwork remains a valuable commodity in geomorphology, just as fieldwork practitioners remain important components of the discipline (and science more generally). Fieldwork helps verify data/hypotheses, enhances sense of place, generates excitement for the discipline in upcoming generations, functions as a bridge between/across disciplines, and helps challenge established paradigms. It should remain at the forefront of geomorphology.

Geologic and Tectonic Background of the Lesser Antilles

A case study of the geomorphology of the Lesser Antilles island arc reveals, in its entirety, the influence of numerous geological forces and events. Most notably, these include the products of plate tectonics, volcanism, and carbonate marine reef formation. North of Dominica the island arc splits into two separate chains. The easternmost archipelago of these chains is largely comprised of extinct volcanoes that have since become the core of carbonate reef growth. The westernmost archipelago of the island arc and the southern half of the overall Lesser Antilles are still active volcanic complexes formed due to partial melting of subducting oceanic crust. Orogenic uplift due to transform plate tectonics and thrust faulting is observable in the southern Leeward Antilles.

Geography by Rail®: a new twist on a romantic concept

Abstract Based on William Morris Davis’ great Transcontinental Excursion of 1912, this article assesses and reviews the Geography by Rail® program (GbR) – a unique, short-term, field-based study abroad experience that takes an uncommon-in-the-US approach to international exploration and fieldwork, incorporating on-the-ground, regional geography-based learning experiences. Though it could be used as such, this is not intended as a “how-to” article, but instead, an examination of how the program’s alternative approach to short-term, field-based learning increases student engagement, enlivens the discipline of geography by championing the regional geography approach, and bridges the physical-human divide in geography. Examples are given of assessment techniques, relevant skills gained by student participants, student feedback received, and potential limitations of such a program. Our main goal rests in demonstrating that by being in the landscape, practicing in it, students often gain a perspective not achievable in the traditional classroom setting. In the regional and romantic geography sense, favoring breadth of learning over depth, we further argue that GbR represents a novel way to accomplish this important-yet-not-often-fostered and, oddly and unfortunately, difficult-to-find-in-geography concept.

Huêpac revisited: Cultural remapping of a Sonoran townscape

So recounts geographer Leslie Hewes, who visited the Sonoran village in 1931. Small, remote, and largely self-sufficient, Huépac was typical of many towns of La Serrana, Sonora’s eastern uplands and valleys that were the frontier of colonial settlement in this northwestern corner of historic New Spain, now Mexico (Dunbier 1968: 126–31; West 1993: 1). Today, Huépac remains one of a handful of pueblos that dot the fertile Sonora River valley, north and east of the capital city, Hermosillo, and south and east of the historic mining town of Cananea near the border with the United States. While Huépac persists as a tranquil village compared to Sonora’s thriving western desert cities, it is not exactly

Landscapes and Landforms of the Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles comprises three main island groups: Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, and Leeward Antilles. Stretching from the Virgin Islands in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south and encompassing Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao to the east, the Lesser Antilles remain a geomorphologically and anthorpogenically diverse region. While this chapter introduces offers the reader a (very) brief overview of this fascinating and under-studied world region, its main focus rests in explaining this volume’s structure and function, including notes regarding vernacular, historical accuracy, and the splendid cartography.

Small Islands, Intriguing Landscapes

The Lesser Antilles comprises three main island groups: Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, and Leeward Antilles. Stretching from the Virgin Islands in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south and encompassing Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao to the east, the Lesser Antilles remain a geomorphologically and anthorpogenically diverse region. While this chapter introduces offers the reader a (very) brief overview of this fascinating and under-studied world region, its main focus rests in explaining this volume’s structure and function, including notes regarding vernacular, historical accuracy, and the splendid cartography.