http://hdl.handle.net/1957/1723 Search the Channel search http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/jspui/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/1957/12613 Title: Land Suitability Analysis: Wallowa County<br/><br/>Authors: Paulekas, Robyn; Collver, Jason; Thomas, Samuel<br/><br/>Abstract: The Wallowa County Land Suitability Analysis (LSA) and Technical Manual in this document utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for evaluating the relative suitability of land for development in Wallowa County, Oregon. It was developed as part of Geosciences 453/553 Resource Evaluation Methods, a Service Learning class offered at Oregon State University. The project was intended to contribute to two synchronistic goals, providing “real world” applications of the concepts of land-use planning to the students in the class while also providing Wallowa County with tools for furthering county planning efforts.<br/><br/>Description: Graduation date: 2009 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:59:14 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/12612 Title: The Problem of Population & Planning: Assessing the Reliability of Past and Current Population Projections and Filling in the Seasonal Gaps in Wallowa County<br/><br/>Authors: Latta, Brian; Ewing, Amy; Summer, Kyle<br/><br/>Abstract: Planners face innumerable challenges as they look to the future of their communities. At the most basic level planners must attempt to understand the needs, values, and opinions of the community. The triple-bottom line of the environment, economy, and social demands must be balanced with sustainability to ensure that decisions made today will meet current needs without compromising future needs. One of the biggest challenges for planners is to try and see into the future and make informed decisions that will affect a changing population composition. Understanding the multiple population estimates, projections, and forecasts can be a challenging task. To help facilitate understanding, the following basic definitions are provided. A Population Estimate is an educated guess about the population at any point in the present or the past based on non-census, non-survey data. An estimate might be measured from voter rolls. A Population Projection seeks to describe future populations based on present data if a certain set of chosen current trends continue, reverse, or remain the same. A Population Forecast also seeks to describe future populations based on present data but does so based on a prediction of how current trends will change in the future. The forecast differs from the projection in that it is based on an assumption that something will or will not happen. The projection only suggests how population may change if some certain trends remain or change, such as amenity migration, or economic recessions. With a better understanding of the methodology behind estimates, projections, and forecasts and an analysis of how past estimates, projections, and forecasts have fared, planners can make more informed choices when thinking about the future of their communities. The purpose of this paper is to assist planners in Wallowa County, Oregon to fill gaps in knowledge of demography. As Wallowa County considers updating its Comprehensive Plan, this knowledge will inform planners as to the reliability of currently available projections and forecasts. Part I includes a discussion of current projection methodologies and assumptions, abrief annotated bibliography of population projections, as well as analyses of past population projections for two similar counties. Part II includes a discussion on seasonal population flux and is an examination of the challenges of measuring and planning for seasonal populations. At the end of this section is seasonal population data and a discussion of basic trends. Part III provides a summary and conclusion. References and Appendices follow. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:57:01 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/12091 Title: OSU 360 : developing a virtual tour mapping infrastructure for Oregon State University<br/><br/>Authors: Waggoner, Scott<br/><br/>Abstract: Details the development of the OSU 360 virtual tour system (www.oregonstate.edu/osu360) from May 2008 to May 2009. OSU 360 is a collaboration between the Department of Geosciences, University Housing and Dining Services, Central Web Services, Web Communications, and Admissions/Enrollment. This article details the project development from determining goals, distinguishing locations, developing location photography and details, database development, and finally web publishing. Nearly 160 locations are included with future plans for extension of available locations, available campuses, and content for each location as multimedia allows. Details are presented by the project lead, Scott Waggoner, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science within the Geography Program.<br/><br/>Description: Graduation date: 2009 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1957/11967 Title: Meteorological conditions associated with rain-related periglacial debris flows on Mount Hood, Oregon and Mount Rainier, Washington<br/><br/>Authors: Parker, Lauren E.<br/><br/>Abstract: In November of 2006 an intense rainstorm of tropical origin, known colloquially as the "Pineapple Express," inundated the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, initiating numerous periglacial debris flows on several of thestratovolcanoes in the Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington. These debris flows rapidly aggrade channels, deposit thick sediments in their path, and severely damage infrastructure. Consequently, this work seeks to understand the potentialmeteorological triggering mechanisms of these flow events.Here we focus on Mount Hood, Oregon and Mount Rainier, Washington in the investigation of the meteorological conditions associated with rain-related periglacial debris flow events and the variability of these conditions over time. The objectives ofthis research are to assess the correlation between "Pineapple Express" and "Atmospheric River" events and rain-related debris flows, and to explore the meteorological conditions associated with debris flow events based on 5 parameters: storm track based on geostrophic flow patterns, temperature, precipitation andorographic enhancement, integrated atmospheric moisture transport, and antecedent snow water equivalent (SWE).Dates for the debris flow events for each mountain were linked with corresponding Pineapple Express circulation and Atmospheric River events. Analysis from this work suggests that there is not a strong correlation between the occurrence of debris flows and the occurrence of Pineapple Express or Atmospheric River eventsas they are presently defined in the literature. NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data were used to determine geostrophic flow from500h-Pa heights. Radiosonde data from Salem, Oregon and Quillayute, Washington were used to examine freezing altitudes. Precipitation data from Government Camp and Paradise meteorological stations were used to determine total rainfall amounts for rain events, and these data were compared with precipitation data from coupled lower elevation sites (Three Lynx and Longmire, respectively) to determine orographicenhancement values for each event. Reanalysis data were again used to determine the strength and direction of atmospheric moisture transport. Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) data were used to examine the antecedent snowpack conditions for each debris flow event. Debris flows on both Mount Hood and Mount Rainier were found to be associated with both meridional and zonal flow regimes, variable precipitation, and unimpressive orographic enhancement values. However, the debris flow eventsvirtually all experienced significantly high freezing altitudes and little or negligible antecedent SWE. Further, nearly all debris flow events were coupled with plumes of atmospheric moisture transport with high values relative to the surrounding region, implying Atmospheric River-like conditions. This finding evokes a potential need to re-examine the metrics used to classify or characterize Atmospheric Rivers, particularly through the lens of their relationship to natural hazards.This research suggests that given the complexity of debris flow mechanics, the dynamic nature of the atmospheric system, and the small sample of data presented here, definitive conclusions cannot yet be made concerning the correlation between specific meteorological parameters and the occurrence of periglacial debris flows in the Cascades.<br/><br/>Description: Graduation date: 2010 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:45:14 GMT