Philip L. Chaney

Role of aquaculture pond sediments in sequestration of annual global carbon emissions

Aquaculture ponds sequester about 16.6MTyr(-1) of organic carbon worldwide representing around 0.21% of annual, global carbon emissions.

The Vulnerability of Mobile Home Residents in Tornado Disasters: The 2008 Super Tuesday Tornado in Macon County, Tennessee

Abstract Mobile home residents are known to be highly vulnerable to tornadoes and account for a considerable portion of tornado-related fatalities. The problem is partially related to the limited protection provided by the structure; however, shortcomings in preparedness and response to warnings may also play a role. This study investigated mobile home resident preparedness and responses to warnings for identifying areas where they might be more vulnerable than permanent home residents (brick and wood-frame houses). The study site was Macon County, Tennessee, which reported the highest number of fatalities during the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. A post-disaster survey was conducted within days of the disaster, and the study group included 127 local residents: 35% mobile home (MH) residents, 61% permanent home (PH) residents, and 4% other. An unconditional exact test was used to test for statistical significance (0.05 level) because the sample was nonrandom. The MH residents were less prepared than...

Household Preparedness for Tornado Hazards: The 2011 Disaster in DeKalb County, Alabama

AbstractThis paper contributes to existing knowledge on factors that influence adoption of hazards adjustments for tornadoes. The Protective Action Decision Model provides the theoretical basis for the study, which was conducted after the 2011 disaster in DeKalb County, Alabama. Most of the 124 survey participants had received public safety information on how to prepare for a tornado, understood the definition of a tornado warning, had participated in a tornado drill, and had a plan for seeking shelter. Few owned a NOAA weather radio or had a tornado-resistant shelter on the premises. Demographic analysis found that older residents (60+ yr) and households without children were significantly less likely to have participated in a tornado drill, lower income residents were significantly less likely to have a tornado-resistant shelter on the premises or a plan for seeking shelter, and mobile home residents were significantly less likely to have a plan for seeking shelter. Locus of control and past experience ...

Storm Overwash and the Knickpoint Effect: Northwest Florida Coast, USA

Abstract Storm overwash is a critical issue in coastal management efforts to mitigate damage to infrastructure. This paper contributes to those efforts by documenting the findings of a field survey at the Perdido Key, Florida, section of Gulf Islands National Seashore following the landfall of tropical cyclone Isidore in September 2002. The poststorm survey of overwash sites detected scouring along the northern edge of an access road that faced away from the Gulf of Mexico and the oncoming storm surge. Most sites experienced removal of minor amounts of sand and roadbed material, which left the edge of the overlying asphalt road surface unsupported. However, more severe scouring at one site caused the overlying asphalt road surface to fracture and collapse. An extreme example of this process was observed following the landfall of Hurricane Opal at Pensacola Beach, Florida, in 1995. The scouring process and its effects were consistent with a process recognized in fluvial systems as knickpoint development. Related scouring processes known as hydraulic jump and dam overtopping are also discussed. Coastal management options for mitigating this problem include reducing overwash and increasing resistance to scour. Methods to protect dams from overtopping offer potential solutions to this problem. An alternative solution is proposed that would offer protection against minor overwash events; however, it is unlikely that any of the methods discussed herein would be highly effective against an extreme event like Hurricane Opal.

Previous Experience and Tornado Preparedness in DeKalb County, Alabama

Previous experience with hazards influences peoples perceptions about hazards in a variety of ways. This article investigates the influence of past experiences with tornadoes on preparedness for a tornado. A questionnaire survey study was conducted immediately following the April 2011 tornado disaster in DeKalb County, Alabama. Past experience characteristics included number of tornadoes, time (years) elapsed, seeing or hearing the tornado, seeking shelter, and experiencing damage. Tornado preparedness included owning a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio, participating in a tornado drill, having a tornado-resistant shelter on the premises (basement, underground shelter, or safe room), and having a plan for seeking shelter. The results will help emergency mangers in developing education programs in communities recently impacted by a tornado. The findings will also provide insight into aspects of household preparedness that would likely receive greater support from local residents in efforts to build resilience following a tornado disaster.

A Preliminary Assessment of Land-to-Water Surface Area Ratios (LWR) for Sustainable Land Use in Aquaculture

ABSTRACT Several organizations have developed eco-label certification programs with standards to conserve resources and reduce negative environmental impacts of fish and shrimp production. Production by pond aquaculture is reported on a water surface area basis, but additional land for embankments, roads, storage areas, and so on, is required. Thus, data on total land use by aquaculture farms are needed for formulating land use standards. Preliminary investigation of land-to-water surface area ratios (LWRs) based on analysis of 100 aquaculture farms (2,783 ponds) in twenty-six countries using satellite imagery (Google Earth Pro) was conducted. The LWR declined with increasing pond size to around 5.0 ha before stabilizing at 1.25. Average LWR was 1.48. Variations in LWR were noted among climate zones and continents. Jenks optimization revealed five LWR classes, and most LWR values were below 1.89. Results of this study could be helpful in developing land use standards for aquaculture ecolabel certification.