Jeffrey B. Davis
Pennsylvania State University
The Production of a Tourism Enclave: The Grand Canyon Railway and Williams, Arizona
When a corporate tourist attraction is built in a small town the expectations of the community are often high. The corporation, however, may attempt to maximize profits by creating an enclave that aim to restrict tourists to its property. The landscape surrounding the tourism development comes to bear the imprint of the unequal economic and power relations between the company and town. The space that is produced becomes an active agent in the reproduction of these social relations. Due to this process, a community may find the economic benefits of hosting a tourism development are not as great as expected. The Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Arizona was studied to illustrate this phenomenon.

Andrew Eckhoff
Bloomsburg University
GIS Utilization in Large Scale Health Studies and Surveys: Pennsylvania’s West Nile Virus Surveillance Program
Effectively dealing with the rapid evolution and diffusion of modern viruses and diseases requires the implementation of large-scale health surveys and studies. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allow for the efficient monitoring and tracking of viruses and diseases throughout large geographic areas. A GIS can be instructed to automatically perform various data analyses to generate information important for enhanced surveillance and, if needed, virus or disease control. This paper details the advantages of using a GIS in large-scale medical surveys through a review of Pennsylvania’s West Nile Virus Surveillance Program. Current and future applications of GIS related to this mosquito-borne pathogen are among the issues discussed. These applications demonstrate the capability of GIS beyond computerized mapping. As a set of spatial analysis tools, a GIS can be utilized for important medical-related decision making.

William Emanuel, Holly Hosford, Greg Zirkle
Shippensburg University
Periglacial Origin of South Mountain's Lewis Rocks, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Lewis Rocks form a series of conspicuous bedrock monoliths separated by deep, intersecting, narrow passages along the crest of South Mountain in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The goal of this preliminary study, completed as part of the requirements for our undergraduate Geomorphology course, is to determine the probable origin of Lewis Rocks. Our methods included an extensive literature review, topographic map analysis, and limited field investigation. The latter included reconnaissance mapping of a representative section of the feature, including measurements of block and passageway height, width, length, and orientation. We also recorded the presence of lichens and surficial weathering on block faces, as well as the size and growth patterns of trees associated with the various blocks. Our data indicate that passageway orientations are consistent with the overall fracture pattern, and likely formed by intensive weathering along joint sets. The extensive lichen coverage and general absence of freshly exposed surfaces indicate that hydrofracturing is not significant under present climatic conditions, at least within the lifespan of significant lichen growth (100-250 years; Middlekauf, 1991). Clark and others (1993) report abundant evidence for periglacial conditions on South Mountain during the Pleistocene, however, providing a climatic regime conducive to hydrofracturing and passageway development. Features similar to Lewis Rocks have been described in the literature as "Rock Cities" (Smith, 1953), and many have been attributed to periglacial processes. On all these bases, we conclude that the Lewis Rocks feature is best interpreted as a Rock City formed chiefly from relict periglacial processes.

Karen M. Erstfeld
Richard Stockton College
Land Use/Land Cover Characteristics and Non-point Source Chemical Loading into Barnegat Bay Watershed
In this study, we will investigate how land use/land cover affect water quality of the Barnegat Bay Watershed. This will be accomplished by determining the relationship between land-use classifications based on GIS technology (i.e.: urban and residential land, agricultural land, forest land, wetlands/grasslands) and nonpoint source loading of the Barnegat Bay Watershed. Land-use/land-cover types will be classified using a Geographic Information System in order to assess the relationship between land use. Data on land-use/land-cover are analyzed using ARC-VIEW, developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). Water samples will be analyzed for selected chemical and physical properties and will allow us to assess how land-use activities influence water quality of the Watershed. The information generated could potentially be used by local land managers in the formulations of plans for watershed management practices and could lead to longer term monitoring to benefit the Barnegat Bay Watershed. Lastly, it is hoped that a development of a model to predict nonpoint source nitrate concentration will allow for the estimation of water quality based on land-use/land cover.

Gregory E. Faiers
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Lightning Hazard in Pennsylvania: Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Lightning-Induced Casualties
While Pennsylvania ranks first nationally in lightning damage, it is also considered to be one of the top five states in terms of lightning-induced fatalities. This paper utilizes information from the NCDC publication Storm Data to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of lightning casualties in Pennsylvania for the time period of 1959-1999. During this time span, there were 116 fatalities and 596 injuries, or an average of 2.8 deaths and 14.5 injuries per year. Eighty two percent of all casualties were male. The greatest number of fatalities per county was seven reported in Allegheny, Butler and Chester counties. Crawford County had the largest number of injuries with 84, 77 of which were related to a single event. Temporally there is no evident trend to injuries, however fatalities have tended to decline over the course of the study period. Limitations of the data are also described in the paper.

Daniel J. Falvo
Rutgers University
Polyvarietal Planting and Rice Blast Control in Philippine Uplands
I have employed what I call molecular biogeography in a case study of an upland ricefield in the Philippines in order to explain why outbreaks of rice blast disease are more prevalent in fields composed of a single rice variety than in ricefields composed of mixtures of multiple varieties. According to molecular biogeography, distributions of organisms and interactions among biota across space and over time are causally connected to genotype by environment (GxE) and signal transduction pathway by environment (STPxE) interactions. I have observed that planting mixtures of multiple rice genotypes results in a form of rice blast control that I call intrafield gene deployment in which polyvarietal planting increases the potential number of different GxE and STPxE interactions and hence the potential number of different expressions of blast resistance by each rice plant, which thus reduces the efficiency of blast dispersal within a ricefield across space and over time.

Kelly M. Frothingham
Buffalo State College
Morphologic and Hydraulic Variability in Pools and Riffles in an Agricultural Stream in East Central Illinois: Relations to Aquatic Habitat
Past research has shown that the major limiting factor for aquatic ecosystems in human-modified streams is the availability of suitable physical habitat. Planform-scale research in meandering and channelized reaches of an East Central Illinois agricultural stream has shown that the meandering reach has greater morphological and hydrodynamic variability, both over time and over space, than the channelized reach. The meandering reach also contains more fish species and larger individual fish than the channelized reach. This relation suggests that ecological conditions in human-modified streams are dependent on geomorphological variability. The exact relation, however, between geomorphological form and function and ecological conditions is still poorly understood for most human-modified stream systems. The objective of this research is to explore the influence of geomorphological variability in pools and riffles on ecological conditions in an unmodified meandering reach. Geomorphological and ecological data were collected in six pools and riffles in an unmodified meandering reach of the Embarras River, IL. Results indicate that pools in the meandering reach generally have asymmetrical cross section shape, are twice as large as riffles in terms of area, and substrate in the pools is finer than that found in riffles. Three-dimensional flow data indicates that flow decelerates in pools and accelerates in riffles due to changes in cross-sectional area. However, while there are geomorphological differences between pools and riffles, fish abundance in pools is not significantly different from riffles in the meandering reach. These results suggest that both pools and riffles are important habitat elements in agricultural streams.

David Fyfe
State University of New York, College at Oneonta
The Impact of Baseball-Related Tourism on Main Street Cooperstown
Cooperstown, NY is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This presentation will focus on the changes that have occurred on Main Street in the Village of Cooperstown due to the growth of baseball-related tourism. This expansion has caused many changes within the village. Such changes include a substantial increase in land and property value, an increase in the amount of tourist-related businesses, and an increase in parking problems. This presentation will evaluate the costs and benefits of baseball-related tourism in Cooperstown.

John Hasse
Rutgers University
Race to Save the Garden: NJ’s Urban and Open Space Future
This paper examines the current urban growth patterns in the State of New Jersey and the unprecedented initiative to preserve 1 million acres of open space within the next 10 years. If the current annual growth rate of nearly 20,000 acres of new development continue, New Jersey will become the first state to reach build-out sometime within the middle of the 21st century. The implications of this build-out are vast. Urban growth patterns are explored state-wide and trends examined. Also the multi-tiered and grass-roots effort to save open space is explored to give possible build-out conditions.

Keith G. Henderson
Villanova University
Autumn Precipitation Trends in the Northeast United States
One of the more interesting climate trends in the northeastern United States over the last century has been the significant increase in precipitation during the autumn season. Precipitation in the Northeast is evenly distributed among the seasons with a slight maximum in summer. Autumn precipitation totals average about ten inches throughout most of the region. However, more than two-thirds of the climate divisions in the Northeast, including all of Pennsylvania, experienced a significant rise in autumn precipitation between 1900-1999. Linear trends fitted to these increases demonstrate that the increase has been as much as three inches. This paper provides an overview of the spatial and temporal patterns of autumn precipitation trends. Additionally, preliminary investigations into the causes of the increases and some of their impacts on water resources will be discussed.

Sara Henke
Shippensburg University
Heart Break Ridge: Waiting Times for Organ Transplantation
In order to get a transplant people must be put on the waiting list. There is a definite dispersion time between organs, blood types and states. In order to view this dispersion between wait times, a Geographic Information Systems project was created. Not only does it display differences between wait times but also displays the location of transplant hospitals. The project shows the differences between centers and states in the amount and kind of organs transplanted. An application as to the amount of pediatric transplants can also be viewed. Geographic Information Systems has a usage in viewing the spatial components of wait times, hospitals, and transplants.

Lawrence M. Hess
West Chester University
Exploratory Spatial Analysis of Breast Cancer Incidence Rates and Well Depths in the Octoraro Watershed
The Octoraro watershed contains large areas of agricultural land use which is collaterally connected to pesticide application. The connectivity between environmental factors such as pesticides and the synergism of component causes of cancer in human tissue is a national and local health concern which initiated the exploratory spatial analysis. Is the spatial distribution of breast cancer incidence rates in the Octoraro watershed random?, is the initial research question. The spatial statistic software, DMAP (disease mapping and analysis program) is used to determine disease rates normalized for female population and the results are displayed in a GIS. The spatial distribution of breast cancer incidence rates in the study area are not random and factors such as age, underlying aquifer contamination, public or on-lot well water supply are important for future analysis. Atrazine, a widely used pesticide and a known mammary carcinogen, has been detected in on-lot well systems and public water supplies in the study area. A hypothesis is that a relationship will exist between shallow well depths and breast cancer incidence rates. Spatial statistic software and GIS are enabling tools used to explore geographic patterns of disease incidence and can aid health experts in forming new hypothesis and develop studies which explore the synergism of environmental factors of cancer and the concomitance to geographic patterns of disease incidence.

Robert L. Hockersmith
Shippensburg University
Nutrient Management Modeling for Sustainable Non-Conventional Croplands
The use of soil surveys as an aid for preparation of small-scale nutrient management plan models have limitations in slope, depth, and area. Many organic farm sites are examples of non-conventional croplands which could benefit by a method that incorporates depth, slope, and small scale into a nutrient management plan. This study tests cation exchange capacity and leaching of essential plant nutrients at systematic depths, slopes and soil types for use as part of a sustainable management plan. A GIS program extension will show areas that are deficient or excessive in nutrients from a three dimensional perspective. The study seeks a possible correlation between nutrient flow patterns on a slope and Darcy’s Law. The resultant method can be used in accordance with the Nutrient Management Act and also by crop managers that seek sustainable land use practices.

Briavel Holcomb
Rutgers University
Golden Geese or White Elephants? New Art Galleries in British Cities
The new millenium has seen the flowering of visual arts in Britain with the opening of significant new galleries in London, Salford, Wallsall, Gateshead, and Manchester, among other places. Many received Millenium Commission funding designed to revitalize cities, perhaps hoping to emulate Bilbao's success. An initial assessment of the implications of this policy of capital investment in the fine arts for both urban regeneration and the arts in offered.

Holly Hosford
Shippensburg University
The Effect of Sunlight Exposure on Vegetation in Selected Sloped Areas of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
A biogeographic study relating to plant population and percent ground coverage was completed on two slopes with different sun exposure in Grand Canyon, Arizona, during October 1999. A Brunton™ compass was used to determine slope, aspect and sky view factor, and desert field guides assisted with identification of vegetation. The two slopes were chosen to maximize differences in sunlight exposure and aspect and minimize complicating factors such as percent slope, elevation, geology, and human disturbance. The study site encompasses both sides of a northwest-southeast trending ridge, which separates the site into two slopes, one facing northeastward and the other southwestward. The site is located immediately adjacent to the South Kaibab Trail, between 945 and 976 meters elevation, in the red Hakatai Shale formation of the Grand Canyon Series. Data indicate that the northeastward-facing site contains larger, more densely distributed plants with a higher occurrence of desert grasses, presumably due to less direct solar radiation resulting in greater moisture retention. The southwestward-facing site yields smaller, more sparsely distributed plants due to greater evaporation rates as a result of more intensive heating, as well as more desert flowers. Plants on the northeastward-facing slope are 50% larger and collectively cover 8% more area than those on the southwestern slope. The northeastward-facing slope showed less variety of species than the southwestward-facing slope, presumably because plants on the northeastward -facing slope were larger. All these data indicate that slope aspect and sunlight exposure are important factors in determining vegetation patterns within this part of the Grand Canyon.

Kenneth Johnson
SUNY Oneonta
The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe
The events of the last 12 years in Eastern Europe have been of a magnitude that could rightly be called earth-shaking. Many scholars of Europe have observed changes that we never expected to see in our lifetimes. This paper will investigate the key forces which began the overthrow of communism in Eastern Europe. Then the analysis will focus upon the factors which contributed to the spread of the anti-communist revolutions throughout most of Eastern Europe. Finally, this paper will examine the status of communism in Eastern Europe today and its prospects for the future.

Ibipo Johnston-Anumonwo
State University of New York, College at Cortland
The Role of Race, Gender, and Immigration Status on the Labor Market Experiences of Miami Workers
A vast literature exists on pronounced racial and gender disparities in urban labor markets. There are relatively fewer studies that examine the additional influence of immigration status on differentiating the employment situations of urban residents. Because it is a city that has experienced recent large-scale immigration, Miami Florida is used as a case study to compare the employment of immigrant Hispanic, black and white men and women with non-immigrant counterparts. The findings on locational and demographic differences are consistent with nation-wide race and sex segregated urban labor markets. Furthermore, the results underscore the additional constraints that foreign-born black women experience in their social and spatial accessibility to jobs in Miami in 1990.

Jim Ketchum
Syracuse University
The Tales of Durito: Rewriting Revolution in Mexico
For more than six years, the Zapatista movement in Chiapas has engaged in an ongoing and improbable struggle against the Mexican government. Despite crushing odds-which include the spatial isolation imposed by being surrounded by the Mexican military-the movement continues to maintain its vitality. This paper focuses on the Zapatistas’ efforts to forge ties with people throughout Mexico and around the world despite limitations both physical and cultural. From within thousands of pages of text sent by the Zapatistas as communiques from deep within the Lacondon jungle, 24 short stories have appeared. These have come to be called the “Tales of Durito.” Yet, these stories are not simply a more entertaining way to transmit political messages. Instead, the ingenious form of these stories is critical to the cultural politics that form the foundation of this struggle, and reveal the Zapatistas’ sophisticated understanding of spatial scale as a weapon in this revolution.

William B. Kory
University of Pittsburg at Johnstown
Liberia in the Aftermath of its Civil War
The Republic of Liberia, located in West Africa, was ravaged by a bloody civil war between 1990 and 1997. In a nation of some two and one half million people, it has been estimates that over one-fourth of the population was either killed or wounded during the conflict. Thousands of others found themselves without homes and many still live in exile in the surrounding nations. Liberia is the oldest Republic on the continent of Africa with close ties to the United States. It was established by freed slaves from America and has been independent since 1847. The presentation will focus on the demographic structure of the nation, the tribal composition of the population, and the future prospects for the country.

William B. Kory, Diane Stanitski-Martin
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Shippensburg University
Careers in Geography
A panel featuring a number of former students, with degrees in geography, will share their experiences in the job market. Discussion to follow.

Mark Lawrence
Northwest Missouri State University
Inside the wire: The meanings of land reform in contemporary Zimbabwe
Like many of its neighbours in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe continues to struggle with a legacy of agricultural land unequally distributed by race. However, current land reforms focus on maintenance of one-party rule by a regime unwilling to share power with an emerging opposition pushing for increased democratization. The arbitrary approach to reform, and the violence that has resulted, threaten to destabilize the most important sector of the economy. Inasmuch as other regional powers face similar circumstances with regard to land distribution, there is a need to appreciate the consequences Zimbabwe might confront if it continues to follow its current path to development. To assist such a project, this paper examines the impacts of the current situation as they are felt on three white-owned commercial farms in Mashonaland West and Central provinces.

Robin M. Leichenko, Julie Silva, and Bernie Jamroz
Rutgers University
A Profile and Investigation of Economic Conditions on Native American Tribal Lands
American Indians are frequently referred to as the nation's most rural minority. For Indians living on tribal lands, this is, indeed, the case. More than three-quarters of all recognized tribal lands in the continental United States are located in nonmetro counties. Persistent poverty is also a key characteristic of tribal areas: poverty rates on tribal lands are three times higher than the national average. This connection between rural location and Indian poverty motivates the current investigation. Using a unique database, we first present a profile of current economic conditions on tribal lands located in the continental United States. We then conduct a cross-sectional regression analysis of the determinants of variation in income levels across tribal areas. Results of the analysis indicate that key factors accounting for variation income levels include isolation from markets, location in a “low cost” region, and labor quality.

James Lewandowski
West Chester University
Linder confounded: the intrafirm bias in intra-industry trade
This paper takes advantage of newly released data on trade within US multinational corporations to respecify and re-test the Linder Hypothesis: that countries of similar income characteristics share similar product demand characteristics, thus generating trade of similar yet differentiated industrial products between them. Earlier tests did not adjust for the volume of US MNC intrafirm trade, which is determined by US MNC global production arrangements rather than by consumer demand, counted in aggregate intra-industry trade data. Thus previous tests of the Linder Hypothesis are biased by the volume of US MNC intrafirm trade and the geographical distribution of US MNCs' global production. A standard "Linder Model" is respecified and a standard cross-section test applied. Results indicate little support for the Linder Hypothesis.

Elizabeth Garber Lewis
Donegal Middle School
Material Culture Displays in the K-12 Classroom
(WORKSHOP)
Participants will interpret photographs from "The Material World" series of posters to compare life in developed, developing, and undeveloped nations. Participants will receive a lesson plan that includes worksheets, charts, assessments, and grading sheets. This unit could be used with middle school and high school students.

Ray Lougeay
State University of New York at Geneseo
New York's Urban-Rural Temperature Patterns
This project investigates urban/rural temperature patterns in humid New York State using the tools of satellite digital image processing. It was anticipated that surface water and soil moisture conditions associated with rainfall preceding the time of image acquisition would make analysis in this environment more complicated than in arid environments. Procedures to rectify these problems are presented. Landsat thematic mapper digital satellite image data were used to produce an unsupervised classified map of water surfaces. A separate vegetation index map of biomass and a map of soil moisture were also developed. Classification of water surfaces was done with an unsupervised bayesian classifier. Vegetation indexes were derived using the normalized vegetation index and the greenness index of the tasseled cap transformation. Soil moisture was approximated from the wetness index of a tasseled camp transformation. A statistical overlay of surface temperature maps with the evapotranspirative surface map revealed the degree to which surface moisture comprises the independent variable controlling intraurban near-surface temperature patterns. This investigator’s past work has shown that much of the thermal variation of a city surface can be explained by the presence of moisture for evapotranspiration. The more evapotranspiration that takes place, the cooler the neighborhood. Thus, irrigated parkland, open pools of water, and irrigated residential lawn and shrubbery reduce surface and near-surface temperatures. In arid regions, urban environmental managers can literally trade water for electricity by controlling the land cover characteristics of a neighborhood. Thus, they control the energy demand for summer air conditioning. However, in this humid region of New York, results were much more inconclusive.

Michael Madsen
Syracuse University
The Mormon Influence on the Political Geography of the West
The vast colonization efforts of the Mormons in the nineteenth century had a profound impact on the population, culture, economy, and environment of much of the American West. This paper outlines the political geographic influence of the Mormons in that region. The original organization of the Mexican Cession at the hands of Congress in 1850 was drastically influenced by Mormon settlement. From this initial territorial organization in 1850 to the early years of the twentieth century, the boundaries several Western states were significantly influenced by two key factors: The Mormon presence in certain areas, and the strained relationship between Congress and the Mormon Church. Two hypothetical scenarios that serve to further illustrate the impact of the Mormons on the political geography of the West are presented. In the first scenario, the author hypothesizes as to how the West might look today had the Mormons not settled there. In the second, a West is envisioned in which the relationship between the Mormons and Congress was not adversarial.

Patricia N. Miller
Shippensburg University
Climatic Changes and the resurgence of Infectious Diseases: Is there a relationship?
According to the 1996 Report of the World Health Organization the globe has slipped into a kind of “fatal complacency” ignoring the fact that “infectious diseases are the world’s leading cause of death, killing at least 17 million people-most of them young children.” The global devastation of the AIDS virus has been well documented, but what about other infectious diseases? Scientists from many disciplines believe there has been an increase in or resurgence of diseases thought to be eradicated or in decline. Some believe there is a definite correlation between this rise in disease rate and climatic changes, caused by ENSO and La Nina events, as they have become more extreme. This study will address the possible relationship between these events and look at the possible ramifications if a correlation can be established.

James E. Mills
SUNY - College at Oneonta
The Struggle Over a Sense of Place: Tourism and Social Identity in Cooperstown, New York
A dramatic increase in tourism-related development has been taking place in and around Cooperstown. Most of this development is related to Cooperstown’s association with baseball and its appeal as the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The area has long experienced baseball and other types of tourism. However, there has been a sharp increase in new developments in the last several years. Recent and proposed developments involve extensive changes in the surrounding landscapes and communities, and particularly in the Highway 28 corridor south of the village. Such changes have proven to be controversial, and the issues are polarizing local communities. This case study goes beyond the host/visitor dynamic. Class and length of residence are also key dimensions. Different groups have developed very different visions of what the landscapes of the region should be like.

Wendy A. Mitteager
Rutgers University
Nature-based tourism in urban coastal environments along the New Jersey shoreline
Nature-based tourism in an urban coastal environment can facilitate education and allow for the appreciation of nature in highly developed areas. As population pressures increase on the New Jersey shore, it is important to restore the images and concept of nature to tourists and the local community. Providing educational opportunities about the benefits of a dynamic beach environment may aid restoration and protection of natural areas and landforms. The availability and content of nature-oriented educational information is compared between an estuarine beach, a beach with a restored dune environment, and a flat, raked beach. Tours, educational signs, planning documents, and tourist information are reviewed in each beach environment. Natural areas and landforms may enhance the tourist experience and are measured and characterized for their educational potential.

Karen Nichols
SUNY Geneseo
Environmental Justice Revisited: Recovery of a River, Decline of an Economy in Dunsmuir, California
In 1991, when a derailed Southern Pacific train dumped 19,000 gallons of insecticide into the Sacramento River, numerous small towns in Northern California’s Siskiyou County were devastated by the ecological damage. A study of spill responses found philosophical divisions between those who lost their immediate sources of income (largely fishing tour operators) and incoming retirement/middle class populations. The former favored immediate fish restocking of the river, while the later favored “natural” recovery (also supported by the state environmental agencies). This paper revisits Dunsmuir a decade later. It suggests that initial philosophical divisions have deepened, in part as a result of the natural recovery strategy, which slowed recreational tourism’s return. Demographic data (1990/2000) will be presented to support the argument that a particular vision of “environmental justice” for the river has resulted in economic injustice for the most economically vulnerable groups. This suggests a more complex view of environmental justice.

Thomas Owusu, Monica Nyamwange, Philip Thuiri
William Paterson University
A Comparative Study of Migration and Settlement Patterns of Kenyan and Ghanaian Immigrants in America
Using information collected in a questionnaire survey, this paper examines the migration and settlement patterns of Ghanians in Canada and Kenyans in the U.S. This comparative study seeks to illustrate similarities and differentials in adaptive strategies and experiences among two groups of African immigrants, within two different national contexts, and to explore the economic, social, and cultural factors influencing their settlement strategies. Specific aspects of the settlement experiences and adaptation to be examined include migration patterns, residential location and housing choices at the urban level, housing tenure patterns, and ties and commitments to the homeland.

Pennsylvania Geographic Alliance Teacher Consultant
Geography Awareness Week (GAW) 2000
(WORKSHOP)
National Geography Awareness Week is November 12-18, 2000, and the theme is “Here Today, Here Tomorrow-A Geographic Focus on Conservation.” Participants will explore lesson plans available in print and via the Worldwide Web that are tailored to this theme on the topics of population, fresh water, energy, biodiversity and the oceans. An introduction to The National Geographic Society’s Website and resources for addressing the GAW theme from the Pennsylvania Department of Resources and Conservation are included.

John S. Pipkin
SUNY - University at Albany
Glances from the Shore: Thoreau and the Material Landscape of Cape Cod
Material culture - accessible, visible, durable, and partially detachable from vexed issues of meaning and value - afforded several generations of American cultural geographers unproblematic entree into study of the human landscape. This approach leant toward the visual, the rural, the antiquarian and the male, and recent criticism finds it to be very far from neutral. We are now apt to read material landscapes in symbolic, ideological, textual, or critical terms. Nearly a century earlier, Thoreau interrogated and inscribed landscapes in apparently similar registers of the visual, the rural, and the historical. This paper explores the rhetorical paths to and from the material landscape in his Cape Cod. This volume in exceptional among his works. Elsewhere his landscape scrutiny purports to be exhaustive. In Cape Cod he symbolically turns his back on the land and focuses on the sea and its margin. The selective nature of his glances to the land render them all the more revealing.

Arlene Rengert, Charles Young
West Chester University, Bodine School for International Affairs
The AP Human Geography Course in an Inner City School
This fall the Bodine School for International Affairs, a public, magnet, high school in Philadelphia, is offering the AP Geography course. Students who take it will have already had one course in World Geography (a course required of all Bodine students). West Chester University is providing assistance in course resources and development. Some of the challenges and successes of this experience are presented here, with some observations on the differences that may result from the unique circumstances of this school and its population.

William C. Rense
Shippensburg University
Elements of Nature and Geography in Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen
Richard Wagner’s great series of four operas, Der Ring des Nibelungen, constitutes one of the outstanding artistic endeavors in Western culture. Wagner wrote the “Ring” to focus on complex psychological and philosophical questions. He even referred to his work as “music drama,” not as opera. Intellectually deep, the “Ring” is at times enigmatic with multiple interpretations of meaning. Wagner himself re-wrote the conclusion at least five times. Influenced by both Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, elements of these 19th Century philosophers are present in the “Ring.” Because of the “Ring’s” depth and profundity, as well as its enigmatic nature, many scholarly interpretations have been devised during the last 100 years. These range from George Bernard Shaw’s view of the ring as a critique of modern capitalism, to psychological interpretations of power, racism and sexism. However, there is a strong theme of “nature” and geography that runs throughout this massive work and the purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze those themes or events that relate to the natural world or geographic matters. These will be illustrated with examples from the music itself.

Jean-Paul Rodrigue
Hofstra University
Transportation, Logistics, and Space: A Conceptual Overview
The processes of globalization have created a production system that is much less spatially constrained, mostly regional in scale, but also continental in scope. In turn, this has expanded the demand on freight distribution systems and put supplementary pressures on transportation infrastructures, modes, and terminals. As this demand expanded, the needs for the organization and management of physical distribution systems - logistics - became even more acute. Logistics are nw perceived as a core issue in contemporary transport systems, but little is known about the spatial structure created by its massive application. This presentation investigates the geographical consequences of logistics, from the location of transport terminals to the organization of supporting activities such as warehousing and freight consolidation. A particular emphasis is placed on the issue of e-commerce and the resulting geography of intermodal/multimodal freight transportation.

Wesley S. Roehl
Temple University
RVs: The Production and Consumption of a Tourism Product
Developing a better understanding of the economic geography of tourism is a key task (Ioannides, 1995). This study used data from the Census Bureau’s 1997 Economic Census to investigate the geography of production and consumption of recreational vehicle (RV) camping in the United States. Production data included manufacturing (NAICS 336213, motor home manufacturing and NAICS 336214, travel trailer and camper manufacturing), distribution (NAICS 44121, recreational vehicle dealers), and provision of camping opportunity (NAICS 721211, RV parks and campgrounds). Consumption was measured using data on RV dealer sales, RV park and campground receipts, and state total income. Manufacturing is centered in the Midwestern US; Indiana alone accounts for 46% of the US total value of motor home shipments and 34% of the shipped value of travel trailers and campers. The geography of RV dealer sales shows considerable regional variation with sales highest in California, Florida, and Texas. Furthermore, there is also considerable regional variation in the size of these establishments. Similar scale differences were observed for RV parks and campgrounds. Turning to consumption, regression results indicated that 61% of the variation in RV dealer sales were explained by variation in state income while 47% of the variation in RV park and campground receipts were explained by income. This analysis suggests that RV campground operators may differ in their economic orientation, regional preferences for RV camping vary, and states that are important in some aspects of the production system may be less important in others.

Mika Roinila
SUNY at New Paltz
The Sauna in the American Hospitality Industry
The Finnish sauna was brought to North America by the earliest Finnish immigrants, ca. 1638 Delaware Colony of New Sweden. Since that time and into the 21st century, the sauna and its importance as a cultural icon amongst the people of Finland and her emigrant population has been poorly understood. This paper examines the impact the Finnish sauna culture has made to the American way of life, as experienced within the hospitality industry. Once a poorly known cultural practice, the popularity of the healthy practice has become part of the American popular culture, encountered across the country in most hotel and motel chains. This paper looks at the distribution of this phenomena and suggests some reasons for its success in various regions of the country.

Mary Sacavage
Alvernia College
Geography Awareness Week (GAW) 2000
(WORKSHOP)
This workshop will focus on the activities for Geography Awarness Week 2000, November 12 - 18.

Grant Saff
Hofstra University
Wall Street West: Enterprise Zones and the "new" Jersey City
In 1983 the NJ Urban Enterprise Act was enacted with the aim of providing a wide range of incentives to facilitate business relocation into depressed New Jersey cities. Jersey City, an early beneficiary of this legislation, has been touted as the most successful urban enterprise zone (UEZ) in the State. Since the mid-1980s, Jersey City has staged a remarkable comeback, with the bulk of all NJ's 1990s employment gains occurring there. Most of this boom has been due to corporations relocating back-office facilities from New York. There has also been noticeable gentrification of the downtown area. Nevertheless, this boom has been very unevenly shared, with incomes for most of the city's residents remaining well below the mean for the State. My paper critically evaluates the role that the UEZ has played in promoting the redevelopment of Jersey City, and also the costs and benefits of using UEZs as a redevelopment tool.

Dona Schneider
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The Whisper of the Ax: Homicide by Cultural Area in Pre-industrial New Jersey
Violent crime, especially homicide, presents in predictable spatial patterns. Over the 20th Century, the New England cultural area maintained low homicide rates. Reasons suggested for this pattern are a New England cultural predisposition against personal violence, a longer settlement period, and removal from the instability of the frontier. As the northern part of the Middle West is a zone of secondary New England cultural expansion, the predisposition against personal violence explanation may also hold for the low homicide rates there. To examine whether the explanation of a New England cultural predisposition against personal violence existed in the pre-industrial period, the cultural areas of New Jersey are compared for homicide incidents through the use of historical records. Specifically, the New England settled areas of New Jersey are compared to areas settled predominantly by other cultures.

George A. Schnell
State University of New York at New Paltz
Recent Age-Selective Return Migration: The Case of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Migration has long been recognized as an age-selective process, becoming more or less likely as one reaches various moments in the life cycle. Two age groups, young adults and retirees, display perhaps the greatest propensity to migrate and, for that reason, are the subjects here. In the case of young adults, the end (or an interruption) to formal education (high school, college, graduate or professional school) and entry into the labor force generally provides the impetus given the geographic inequalities in opportunities to gain suitable employment. As for the aged, retirement provides the opportunity for a more foot-loose life style, and one that could foster migration. This study examines migration of young adults (those 18-25 in 1990) and two retired cohorts (55-62 and 63-70, both in 1990). Findings are quite interesting, especially for Schuylkill County where losses of inhabitants and economic declines were nearly continuous for more than six decades. Although net-migration among young adults during the 1990s produced a loss, an elite group, identified in a year-long newspaper series (the Pottsville Republican's "Defying Out-Migration") returned home. A survey of retired in-migrants revealed that 43 percent of the sample were returnees. Both groups cited family ties and residential amenities as the leading attractions.

Michael S. Scott, Michael E. Folkoff, Daniel W. Harris, X. Mara Chen
Salisbury State University
Planning, Politics, Possibilities, and Potential Pitfalls: The Intersection of Academic Geography and the Real World of Regional Public Transportation
On August 22, 1996, President Clinton signed into law “The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act,” a comprehensive bipartisan welfare reform plan. Welfare reform has brought about significant changes in social services delivery, including an increased focus on transportation. On the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, the spatial mismatch between potential workers and employment opportunities is particularly acute. Fortunately, the regional nature of the problem was recognized early on, leading to a yearlong regional planning process. This presentation will focus on the procedures undertaken to support that regional transportation planning process, including the creation of an extensive regional GIS database and a survey to determine the needs of potential users. Using the GIS and address-matching, survey respondents were mapped by residence and spatially analyzed. Also, non-governmental agencies’ transportation routes were mapped to uncover service duplication. Most importantly, this presentation will highlight the importance of academic geographers getting involved in local problem-solving while outlining potential pitfalls that often occur in highly-charged political situations.

A. G. Seela, Ram Alagan
West Virginia University
A struggle for space: political and historical perspective on social conflict in Sri Lanka
There is general consensus that inequity has led to struggles for space. Sri Lanka has experienced a long regional conflict due to favoritism in decision-making and resource allocation. In addition, the lack of compromise and misunderstandings between ethnic groups has increased the tension contributing to a conflict which has claimed thousands of lives. Both pre-colonization and post-colonization regional economic development policies contributed to a “struggle for space” between the major ethnic groups. These events also contributed to a freezing of ethnic boundaries in space. The distinct regional ethnic segregation increased between the groups in terms of separation in language, cultural values, and religion. To explore these dilemmas this paper investigates three major contributing factors: a) colonial impacts; b) contemporary regional development policies, c) political strategies. Finally, it suggests that regional development as a policy process should promote equal opportunity for all regions, and as a planning process it should help to build national unity on the basis of local capability.

John I. Sharp
SUNY-New Paltz
The Contested Political Geography of Gambling in the Midwest
The rapid expansion of gambling during the nineteen eighties and nineties has received a lot of attention from economists, sociologists and psychologists but little attention from geographers. Yet geography offers a unique perspective to scholars looking to explore issues involving relative location and scale within the gambling industry itself as well as the accompanying political process. This paper explores how the casino industry uses its unique position as a legislated monopoly to leverage one location against another and how it is able to jump scales in order to achieve its political and economic aims. Focusing on the gambling industry in the Midwest, and Illinois in particular, this paper examines how the industry has managed to gain a foothold in state and local politics and how it has maintained its presence despite growing political opposition.

Ruth I. Shirey
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Standards for Geography
(WORKSHOP)
Proposed Academic Standards for Geography were posted on the Worldwide Web in April 2000. This session explores the areas covered in the geography standards in four areas: 1) Basic Geographic Literacy; 2) The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions; 3) The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions; and 4) The Interactions Between People and Places. Participants will have an opportunity to review and discuss the proposed standards. Sources of model lessons for implementing the proposed standards in the classroom will be provided.

Sherman E. Silverman
Prince George’s Community College
The Catoctin Valley of Maryland: An Example of a Micro-Region
Between South and Catoctin Mountains in Maryland’s Blue Ridge Province lies the Catoctin Valley, a hilly landscape above pre-Cambrian granitic gneiss. The Potomac River and the ridges of South and Catoctin Mountains form the natural boundaries defining the valley as a micro-region within Appalachia. The agricultural frontier passed across the valley in the early 18th century as German settlers made their way from Southeastern Pennsylvania towards the Shenandoah Valley in colonial Virginia. While groups of settlers used the convenient mountain gaps to cross the valley, others were induced to settle by generous terms made possible through Tidewater planters and speculators. Throughout the 19th century the valley was a tidy landscape of farms growing wheat and corn as well as raising dairy and beef cattle. Small settlements such as Burkettsville, Middletown, and Myersville were located a strategic crossroads were linkage through the valley intersected with local roads. Industrialization made its appearance in the early 20th century when the B. & O. Railroad acquired the C. & O. Canal and converted the village of Berlin into a major rail yard and locomotive maintenance facility. Renaming the village Brunswick, the town became the major central place in the valley and persisted as such until construction of interstate highways. Although the electric interurban railroad, precursor to the automobile, stimulated early suburbanization, it has been the automobile that has transformed the valley from a rural to an exurban landscape. Studying landscape evolution in the Catoctin Valley presents an opportunity to amplify the attributes of geography as a synthetic discipline.

William Solecki, Miyuki Kawada, Patricia Campora, and Vera Lazar
Montclair State University
The Hackensack Meadowlands Region - A Landscape in Transition
The objective of this paper is to examine the processes behind the changing landscape of the Hackensack Meadowlands region in northeastern New Jersey. This wetlands region has been dramatically altered. Among the forces driving the construction of the landscape are institution changes, the siting of LULUs, and regional and global economic shifts. The interaction between these factors is analyzed. Additional forces are emerging that will further transform the region. These include increased environmental protection of the remaining wetlands, the potential for brownfields redevelopment, and the impact of increased sea level rise, associated with potential climate change. The potential influence of each factor is assessed. The results indicate that the region will continue to be dynamic yet sea level rise and associated storm surge will likely necessitate significant regional adaptations.

Benjamin Stabler
University of Akron
Western Washington University Off-Campus Student Residential Locations
The main goal of this study was to generate information that would assist students in finding off-campus housing easier and more efficiently. In an effort to bring forth patterns of residential location, crime, and rent costs, the city of Bellingham, Washington was divided into 35 city neighborhoods. Through the use of student housing data provided by the registrar, rental unit listings from various sources, and the city’s crime lab, this project was made possible. There was a weak correlation between the variables used in this analysis. Only, 0.26, the R squared value for neighborhood distance from the center of campus versus the 1999 student population was significant. While the results of the analysis were weak, the determination of average neighborhood rental prices and safety are extremely useful, and are being distributed on campus by “Students Returning After Time Away” (STRATA).

John M. Stavash, Stacy O'Lear, Patty Ramasukumal, Ted Pilas, Akiko Saito
Montclair State University
A High Resolution Study of Acid Precipitation in Northern New Jersey - Geographic Distribution of Acid Precipitation: Rainwater collection, Analyses, and Comparison with State Agency Data
Based upon air pollutants from both industrial activity and high vehicle exhaust emissions, the Northern New Jersey region is at risk for damage due to acid rain. A cause-effect relationship has been commonly known to exist between nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, the by-products of industrial activity and auto exhaust emissions, and acid rain. However, a significant statistical correlation between ambient air pollutants, including dissolved solids, and rainwater analyses could not be determined in this study. The sampling results did reveal that acid rain does occur in the regional Northern New Jersey area, with wind direction proving to be the major factor in the depositional location of acid rain. It is proposed that airborne salt particles found near marine environments serve to buffer acid rain fallout by increasing rainwater pH. Highest pH values were found closest to the Atlantic Ocean (pH>6.0).

Rolf Sternberg
Montclair State University
The Latinamericanization of Electricity in South America
Electricity was introduced to South America as a part of technological diffusion from outside the region. Initially most electricity systems were thermal in kind essentially free of “transmission-decay,” of long distance power lines. Most systems served urban needs before industrial demand acquired standing. It was foreign firms that gave direction to early generating systems as well as the energy source use, coal. A decline in service in the growing energy market led to the alienation between electricity users and providers. Economic nationalism invigorated by this changed relationship propelled the governments to become actively involved in the electricity sector. While nationalization ended the reign of foreign power firms, it failed to end the electricity shortages with commensurate speed. This ended the first phase of the Latinamericanization of the electricity systems in South America. Next came the pursuit for electricity autarchy. Technology had advanced by this time to the point where previous technical constraints of transmission distance limitations had been significantly reduced. Exploration and exploitation of domestic hydro resources opened the next phase of change in the electricity sector. National energy policies focused on hydropower and state operated electricity systems were planned, built, and managed. By 1999 the sovereign states in the study region derived 50% to nearly 100% of their electricity needs from hydroelectric systems. Electricity has become a dominant energy source in the study region, fostered by increased urbanization (78% in 1999) and industrialization throughout. Hydroelectricity is an “energy bridge” to another future energy source. For the time being, states will have to depend upon their domestic hydroelectric potential to serve domestic electricity demand as few alternatives to hydropower exist in this environment conscious and sensitive era.

Tao Tang
State University of New York, College at Buffalo
Hillslope Survey on Steep-Sided Tower Karst in Guilin, Southern China
Dissolution of limestone bedrock in tropical and subtropical humid southern China created residual hills with steep slopes, which is referred as tower karst. Two types of tower karst landform feature, "fenglin" or "peak forest" and "fengcong" or "peak cluster" were identified by Chinese researchers. The former is individual isolated residual hills rising from flood plains. The "peak cluster" comprises a group of residual hills emerging from a common bedrock basement and incorporating closed depressions between the clusters of peaks. Through detailed field survey of slope forms on tower karst in Guilin, Southern China, it was found that the mean slope angle of the towers is very high (62.4°) and ranges from 60 degrees to 75 degrees. There is no significant difference in mean slope angle and slope angle distribution between towers in the peak cluster basin and peak forest floodplain areas. Mean slope angle increases with intensified fluvial dissection.

Ben Uhler, Michael Hanawalt, Ryan Joswick, Sam Spencer, Christopher Woltemade, Diane Stanitski-Martin
Shippensburg University
Accuracy of Nexrad Precipitation Estimates in a Mountainous Southcentral Pennsylvania Watershed
This study evaluates the accuracy of precipitation estimates based on “NEXRAD” Doppler radar and routinely provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. A network of 20 rain gauges was established throughout the 20.5 square mile Burd Run watershed, Cumberland County, southcentral Pennsylvania. Gauge sites represent elevations ranging from less than 700 feet in the Cumberland Valley to approximately 2000 feet atop South Mountain. Over 35 precipitation events in spring, summer, and fall 2000 were evaluated, with precipitation gauge values compared to NEXRAD estimates. Results indicate that the accuracy of NEXRAD estimates is highly variable, with total precipitation estimates highly accurate for some events but greatly inaccurate for others. While inaccuracy is sometimes explained by meteorologic conditions (e.g. freezing conditions aloft), this does not explain all of the inaccuracy. The data collected also illustrate that the spatial variability of many rain events greatly limits the use of a single gauge location to represent surrounding areas.

Levi C. Uzozie
Medgar Evers College/CUNY
Agricultural Decision Making in Traditional African Societies: The Example of the Igbo of Southern Nigeria
Normative economic models and all other models based on them are saddled with questionable assumptions which limit their use in the analysis and actual events in space. Most of them do not take into account non-economic factors which in traditional societies may have overriding influence in decision making. This paper examines agricultural decision making among the Igbo-speaking peoples of Southern Nigeria using a behavioral model which incorporates Simon's idea of non-optimal behavior, imperfect knowledge, socially dictate constraints and other psychological variable neglected by normative economic models. The study reveals that cognition underlies Igbo agricultural decision making. The choice of crops, their associations and areas allocated to each crop are functions of the farmers' perception of many variables including selves. Non-economic factors rank very high in decision making and combine in varying ways to give character to the agricultural landscape.

Anthony J. Vega
Clarion University
The Impact (?) of El Nino on Pennsylvania Precipitation
Due to the significance of recent El Nino/La Nina events, there has been much speculation as to the impact of these events on the climate of the Northeast US, especially Pennsylvania. This is especially true concerning precipitation as the greatest documented El Nino influence is on polar jet stream variations. As the jet forces virtually all cool season and much of the warm season precipitation in the state, speculation centers on the role of El Nino events on the precipitation climatology of the state. This study identified trends in both statewide and intrastate regional precipitation. Precipitation has significantly increased in the state over the past century with the western areas of the state experiencing the greatest increases. These increases have been limited to the winter and spring seasons which fuels conjecture concerning possible El Nino forcing. However, such conjecture is unfounded as no relationships were found between El Nino and Pennsylvania precipitation on any temporal or spatial scale.

Jean C. Walker, John E. Biegel III, Kristin C. Dobinson, Eric J. Giessler, Schenine R. Mitchell
Montclair State University
Surface Weathering and Erosion of Marble Tombstones in Northeastern New Jersey
Acidic deposition is responsible for some of the deterioration of fine grained, white marble tombstones emplaced in burial grounds throughout Northeastern New Jersey between the years 1810-1890. The destructive effects of acidic deposition have been well studied and patterns have been verified on the global and continental scale. This more localized study of weathering surveys and out resultant data analysis reflects a higher resolution to the know acidic deposition patterns, thereby enhancing our understanding of the spatial distribution of acidic depositional effects. 113 tombstones were measured by a simple technique comparing thickness at 20cm increments to produce a surface recession rate of mm 100 yrs. From this, degradational effects were compared from site to site. Higher erosion rates were found in the industrial pockets of northwestern Hudson and Passaic Counties (1.71-2.53 m 100ys) and decreased in the more pristine areas of New Jersey suburbs (0.52-1.48 mm 100ys).

Christopher J. Woltemade, William L. Blewett
Shippensburg University
Enhancing Undergraduate Education: The Burd Run Interdisciplinary Watershed Research Laboratory
Shippensburg University was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to establish the “Burd Run Interdisciplinary Watershed Research Laboratory.” This project strengthens undergraduate field and laboratory experiences while developing interdisciplinary links between courses, departments, students, and faculty. Students have acquired extensive field data and developed a GIS database to support integrated analysis of watershed hydrology, geology, groundwater, geomorphology, soils, vegetation, land use, water quality, and aquatic biology. The watershed database forms the basis of an effort to integrate learning across the science curriculum and build environmental analysis skills over several semesters. The Burd Run watershed is an ideal setting for an environmental laboratory due to its proximity to campus, its manageable scale, and its diverse physical characteristics. Because similar opportunities exist at many campuses, the Burd Run project serves as a useful conceptual model for improving water resources curricula nationally.

Catherine H. Yansa
University of Wisconsin-Madison
A Re-Interpretation of Postglacial Vegetation in the Northern Great Plains of Canada
Recent plant macrofossil analyses and 14C age determinations of sediments collected at four sites in southern Saskatchewan has allowed for a re-assessment of the vegetation history of the Canadian prairie region following deglaciation. Data from the Andrews (50°20' N,105°52' W), Kyle (50°53’N,107°50’W), Beechy (50°55’N,107°40’W), and Neufeld (50°19' N,107°42' W) sites indicate that a belt of open white spruce forest colonized newly deglaciated terrain at ca. 10,300 14C yr B.P. After ca. 10,200 14C yr B.P., the spruce forest was replaced by a deciduous parkland of poplars and birches, which existed until 8,790 14C yr B.P. Subsequently, open grassland became established on the Canadian plains with the onset of arid conditions, and continues to this day. This new interpretation differs from the commonly held view of the vegetation history of the Canadian plains, which is based upon plant fossil analyses conducted in southern Saskatchewan during the 1960s.

Chester Zimolzak
Rowan University
Stages in the Relocation of a Business District: Nanticoke, Pa.
Central place theory could never successfully explain the evolution of urban business districts within densely populated, poly-nuclear urban regions like the Pennsylvania anthracite fields. Virtually all theoretical urban research models that might apply in other areas do not seem to apply in mining districts, where corporate considerations negated, or at least heavily modified, any patterns of urban function and service that might have arisen in a more standard and open entrepreneurial system. Neither can simplistic analyses, based solely on the advent and proliferation of automobiles and suburbs, explain the demise of established downtowns in this (or any other) area, or the commensurate relocation of shopping and service facilities within the larger urban region. This study explores the changing location of urban goods and service functions in and around Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, over a 100 year period. It examines the role of changing population patterns, the distribution of employment opportunities, and changes in both the routes and modes of transportation as they exert influence on the location and relocation of urban functions.