Geography 7 Assignment 7

The Station fire was the largest, recorded fire in the history of the Angeles National Forest. Over 160,577 acres had burned from August 26, 2009 to September 11, 2009. Structures and homes in the fire’s path burned without hesitation, and out of all the people that helped contain the fire, two people died and 22 were injured. 

The fire broke out on August 26 near the Angeles Crest Highway and continued to spread over the next couple of days towards higher elevation and outwardly to other parts of the mountain. The terrain near Angeles Crest Highway was rugged and steep with mature mixed chaparral vegetation. We will be addressing the chaparral vegetation of the Angeles National Forest and how it can contribute to wildfires.

CA Vegetation

The Angeles National Forest spans 4,000 square miles of which 47% of it is mountainous and the majority of it is covered with chaparral. Before we begin to discuss how chaparral affects wildfires, what is chaparral? Chaparral is a “shrubby” vegetation on the coastal and inland hillsides. Chaparral has two major classifications: soft chaparral (coastal sage shrub) or taller, hard chaparral. It is dominated by evergreen and can range from 1-15 feet tall. Chaparral vegetation tends to grow in dry climates, which is why it is found in the Angeles National Forest. Why does having chaparral vegetation contribute to potential wildfires, such as the Station fire in 2009?

Chaparral’s ability to withstand dry climates comes from their tough, leathery leaves, which help them retain moisture during droughts. Unfortunately, chaparral plant species also contain volatile oils that increase their flammability. The volatile oils may be a preparation for the periodic burning that occurs in chaparral vegetation. Periodic burning is an integral part of chaparral vegetation because the fire will burn dense areas of old chaparral plants allowing new plants to grow. This serves as a problem in the Angeles National Forest because many communities lie in these areas. In the case of the Station fire, communities and dense chaparral vegetation inhibited the burn areas, which were major factors that contributed to the difficulty of containing it. There is not much that can be done once a fire begins, but there are some preventative measures that have been proposed by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

In the areas that have been burned, volunteers have gone around the areas and cleaned up any debris and weeds that could lead to potential fires. The LAFD has fire management measures to help prevent wildfires as well, such as mechanical brush removal, biological control, and hand clearing. These are precisely the types of projects we need in the Angeles National Forest because of the chaparral communities. We want the chaparral vegetation to grow and evolve, but all we want is to be able to contain it so that it does not go out of hand. 

References

"A year after Station Fire, botanist, volunteers protect changing forest ecology." Southern California Public Radio. KPCC, Pasadena. 25 Aug. 2010.

Bloomekatz, Ari B. "Station fire is largest in L.A. County's modern history." Los Angeles Times 2 Sep. 2009. 16 Nov. 2010 <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/station-fire-is-largest-in-la-county-history.html>.

"Forestry Vegetation Management." County of Los Angeles Fire Department. 2010. 20 Nov. 2010. <www.fire.lacounty.gov/Forestry/VegetationManagement.asp>.

Kerr, David. "Fire and Management: Station Fire Initial Attack Review." Rev. Of Book, 13 Nov. 2009: 1-72. <http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/station_fire_report.pdf>.

"Station Fire." 10 Nov 2009. http://inciweb.org/incident/1856/ (accessed Nov 19, 2010).

Geography 7 Assignment 6

The lab assignment asked us to download digital elevation model (DEM) data for the purpose of creating maps on ArcMap and ArcScene. The types of maps we created include a shaded relief model, slope map, aspect map, and 3D model of the DEM. I chose a location in Death Valley National Park. Death Valley National Park had a wide variety of elevations and slopes, which made it a prime location for the DEM I was going to create. The extent information in decimal degrees is as follows: top: 36.88722 (north), bottom: 36.76499 (south), left: -117.83611 (west), right: -117.62444 (east). The spatial reference for this DEM data was the GCS North American 1983. Each map below shows a particular aspect of the data I had acquired.

Map 1: Shaded Relief Model

Map 2: Slope Map

Map 3: Aspect Map

Map 4: 3D image of location

Geography 7 Assignment 5

The equator spans 360.05 degrees.

The prime meridian spans 180.52 degrees.

The equator represents the biggest latitude line, and the prime meridian is the biggest longitudinal line.

The measured distance of Washington D.C. to Kabul on the Spherical GCS Model was 6,935.96 miles.

Map projections are used to transform the 3D world into a 2D map. There are many ways to perform this task because the extensive amounts of mathematical conversions and shapes allow you to create a map that can preserve a certain quality. The three categories of projections we usually encounter are conformal, equal area, and equidistant map projections. A conformal map preserves the shapes and angles, while an equal area map will preserve the proportionality between the areas of the world. Lastly, an equidistant map projection will maintain the distance of places with respect to the center of the map. These projections can also vary in their developable surfaces since there are different types such as the plane, the cone, and the cylinder. With all this variation, there is no wonder why discrepancies arise.

In any case, map projections still have their advantages, and for a conformal map, the preservation of the angles and shapes come in handy when we fly or sail. The conformal map projections I used were the Mercator and Miller Cylindrical projections. The distance of Washington D.C. to Kabul on the Mercator projections was 10,117.62 miles. In the Miller Cylindrical projection, I measured the distance, the map read 10,225.50 miles. Although the map preserves angles and shapes, there is still a difference in the distance, which goes to show us that even within the same projection family the developable surface can distort a map.

For the equal area maps, I used the Cylindrical Equal Area and Bonne projections. Even though the areas are preserved in these two maps, the distances still varied. The Cylindrical Equal Area projection measured a distance of 10,114.45 miles from Washington D.C. to Kabul, which was closer to the Mercator projection than the Bonne projection which measured 6,739.75 miles. The equidistant maps had a similar map projection when it came to comparing the distances of Washington D.C. to Kabul. The Equidistant Conic projection was measured to be 6,986.08 miles, while the Equidistant Cylinder at 5,057.55 miles. Even as close as these projections were, there was still an inconsistency.

As we began to dive deeper into ArcGIS and the process of map making, the frustration levels start to rise, especially when we refer to the projections. Each projection is great in the sense that it can preserve a certain quality of the world when it is being transformed to the 2D surface. However, we tend to lose out no matter what the projection is. This goes to show how difficult it is to transform our 3D world to a simple 2D map. What that being said, how do we know which map projection is the best? There is no “best” projection, rather each particular projections gives the user the ability to extract the right information. For example, pilots and sailors would use the Mercator projection because that is the best representation of Earth that allows them to understand where they are during travel. With that being said, we should always be mindful of the maps we use because each map is different and unique and is distorted for a particular purpose. In some ways, this frustrates me because there are so many projections that I don’t have a clue what they are so I can’t use them. On the other hand, it is nice to see the world in the different perspectives. I just hope that one day map projections will combine and become one single representation of the world so that it can ease my mind when reading it.

Geography 7 Assignment 4

ArcGIS was a useful tool, but the software was too complex. With that being said, I found the ArcMap tutorial to be one of the best supplements to the ArcMap program. The step-by-step instruction helped ease the user into the program, allowing him/her to master the basics. However, the tutorial gave some freedom to design and personalize the visualizations, which was a fun little exercise. What made the experience so interesting was the fact that ArcGIS has a vast amount of information compacted into one program. When I went through the tutorial, I noticed the attribute table was filled with information about a specific area that I had never seen before. In addition to the information, I loved the way the information was organized. The table format made it easier to locate the information, and you can use ArcGIS to make calculations for you! I believe the best part of the experience was being able to use the information within ArcGIS to create visualizations, such as the population density or school data frame. I believe the visualizations are an important part of ArcGIS, which is why I love how you can design a map or table to fit your specific needs. In addition, being able to see the final product in maps and tables is much easier than listing the information.

On the other hand, ArcMap program of ArcGIS was too complicated. There were so many buttons and functions that I felt frustrated. There were many times throughout the tutorial where I spent searching for a button or a file. Although the buttons highlighted their names, there were too many options on each toolbar, as well as, too many toolbars. I understand that all the tools help make a clear and interesting visualization, but the multiple tools, toolbars, and tabs can get confusing after using thirty different tools in one exercise. A large part of my frustration was a result of having to search for the correct file in the correct folder. Although the lab instruction mentions the specific file needed, it was not clear when it came to the tutorial. Another area of frustration arose when I was trying to save my work. I was instructed to use ArcCatalog when saving files and transferring them to other devices or else some of my information would not transfer. This extra step became tedious because I had to constantly save the file on the computer and my flash drive. That might be something ArcGIS programmers can work on for future ArcGIS programs.

I love how ArcGIS is more than just data storage; it brings a multi-faceted world into one, convenient program for usage. I believe it is an interactive tool that allows you to pick and choose the information you want to present in a visual. It is a tool for decision-making! This feature makes it easier for lawmakers, or anybody who makes important decision, to see the cause and/or effects of certain laws or rules and determine its effectiveness. I also enjoy the fact that ArcGIS can provide a vast amount of information, but simplify and address the important information. ArcGIS serves as this "equalizer" by providing the same information to everyone. It is straightforward and provides an area of analysis. Of course, the one thing we all take for granted about ArcGIS is that all the information is accurate, which makes ArcGIS a more reliable source.

Some of the pitfalls of ArcGIS are the fact that it is expensive and rigid. Although ArcGIS is accessible for everyone, the cost might deter people from using it. I believe ArcGIS is a useful tool, but if only a select few are able to use it, then ArcGIS is not fulfilling its duty. I describe ArcGIS as being rigid because the user may only use the information within ArcGIS. Especially in this technological age where new technology arises everyday, it is important to include or develop new programs that include the technology. Although ArcGIS contains extensive amounts of information, there is a possibility that the user can manipulate the information to exclude or include important material, which is why we, the consumer, must be cautious. As with any type of information, we must be cautious of its source and the motive behind it all. However, ArcGIS has proved to be an exciting and innovative tool that brings simplicity and ease to a complicated world. With that being said, I have come to the conclusion that the program was not as bad as I had originally thought. In fact, I am glad I was able to get my hands on a $10,000 program and understand its purpose.