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Background: Little is known about the effect of meteorological conditions and geographical location on bacterial colonization rates particularly of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. We aimed to evaluate the effect of season, meteorological factors, and geographic location on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization., Methods: The prospective cohort included all adults admitted to 20 geographically-dispersed ICUs across the US from September 1, 2011 to October 4, 2012. Nasal and perianal swabs were collected at admission and tested for MRSA and VRE colonization respectively. Poisson regression models using monthly aggregated colonization counts as the outcome and mean temperature, relative humidity, total precipitation, season, and/or latitude as predictors were constructed for each pathogen., Results: A total of 24,704 ICU-admitted patients were tested for MRSA and 24,468 for VRE. On admission, 10% of patients were colonized with MRSA and 12% with VRE. For MRSA and VRE, a 10% increase in relative humidity was associated with approximately a 9% increase in prevalence rate. Southerly latitudes in the US were associated with higher MRSA colonization, while northerly latitudes were associated with higher VRE colonization. In contrast to MRSA, the association between VRE colonization and latitude was observed only after adjusting for relative humidity, which demonstrates how this effect is highly driven by this meteorological factor., Conclusions: To our knowledge, we are the first to study the effect of meteorological factors and geographical location/latitude on MRSA and VRE colonization in adults. Increasing humidity was associated with greater MRSA and VRE colonization. Southerly latitudes in the US were associated with greater MRSA and less VRE. The effect of these factors on MRSA and VRE rates has the potential not only to inform patient management and treatment, but also infection prevention interventions.

The geosciences consist of multiple disciplines including geology, oceanography, and atmospheric science. Significant work expended to understand spatial thinking skills important to teaching and learning geology has advanced our ability to support students in geology courses and to achieve increased student success, retention, and diversity in geology programs. However, as we investigate teaching and learning broadly, including oceanography and atmospheric science, an important question is how well spatial thinking frameworks previously used in geoscience education research (GER) map onto these disciplines. A cross-disciplinary exploration of spatial thinking reveals multiple frameworks that classify spatial thinking skills from different perspectives. The spatial sciences, including geographic information systems and cartography, employ frameworks that emphasize geospatial thinking related to maps and navigation. In contrast, GER highlights key spatial skills such as those necessary to visualize landforms from topographic maps, or interpret folded and overturned rock units. Intelligence theorists develop taxonomies based on measurable human intelligence factors, while some cognitive scientists distinguish between object and spatial visualizers. New typologies support categorization of spatial thinking skills by intrinsic-extrinsic and static-dynamic relationships, and recently, a heuristic framework synthesizes spatial factor literature in support of STEM education. In this commentary we recognize the landscape of spatial thinking perspectives, review various frameworks potentially applicable to thinking and learning in multiple geoscience disciplines, raise questions intended to drive forward spatial thinking research across geoscience disciplines, and reflect on how different approaches at the forefront of the field may serve to address related GER Grand Challenges.

The steep learning curve associated with computer programming can be a daunting prospect, particularly for those not well aligned with this way of logical thinking. However, programming is a skill that is becoming increasingly important. Geography graduates entering careers in atmospheric science are one example of a particularly diverse group who often require a better knowledge and understanding of computing. Critically, there is a necessity in the field for people with a diverse range of data analysis and modelling abilities. This article outlines the module design and evaluation of an introductory programming course for non-computer scientists within a UK geography department.

The authors introduced polar science in a fourth-grade classroom by means of 3 hands-on activities that addressed (1) the melting of glaciers and ice, (2) the differences between the North and the South Pole, and (3) the geography and landforms of Antarctica. An assessment 4 months after the original activity showed that students remembered the concepts well. The material also applies to places other than the poles and has applications in physics, meteorology, and geography. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

The benefits of weather forecasting contests within geography departments are reaffirmed. The greatly increased ease of conducting such contests in the new millennium is stressed. Some of the specifics of the forecasting contest at Salisbury University are discussed. In addition, the advantages of a departmental contest over a national contest are presented, and suggestions for future research are listed.

Urges increased geographic and meteorologic training for television weather reporters. Suggests using television weather reports to promote knowledge of place names and physical geography. Discusses a survey of television news departments in 48 states. Reports findings on the lengths of weather reports and the training of weather reporters. (DK)

Discusses an analysis of the relationship of soil temperatures at 3 depths to various climatic variables along a 200-kilometer transect in west-central Oklahoma. Reports that temperature readings increased from east to west. Concludes that temperature variations were explained by a combination of spatial, temporal, and biophysical factors. (SG)

Describes a study of temperature variations over different surfaces in an urban campus setting. Explains that researchers sampled temperatures over grass, bare soil, gravel, concrete, and blacktop. Reports that grassy areas registered the highest morning temperatures and lowest afternoon temperatures. (SG)

Background information and six activities on predicting weather are provided. Each activity includes an objective, list of materials needed, recommended age level(s), subject area(s), and instructional strategies. Also included are several ready-to-copy worksheets. (JN)

Discusses the establishment and goals of the World Meteorological Organization and the World Meteorological Day (WMD). Includes teaching objectives for upper elementary and lower secondary school teachers and provides activities which integrate the study of meteorology with language, history, geography, mathematics, science, physical education, and extra-curricular activities. (GEA)

The uses of NASA's Landsat in the areas of cartography, flood control, agricultural inventory, land use mapping, water runoff, urban planning, erosion, geology, and water quality monitoring are illustrated. (BB)

Presents results of research designed to assess and predict the storm-related hazards of living on the coast. Findings suggest that certain sections of coastline are more vulnerable than others to storm damage. (WB)

Current federal policy towards barrier islands is ambivalent, both favoring and regulating development. Alternate policies are presently being examined by Congress and the Department of Interior. Several of these options are discussed in this article. (WB)

The chronology and effects of a 1978 blizzard on Indianapolis' air pollution levels (ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide) are used as a case study for geography classes. Photographs, graphs, and maps are provided as examples of meteorological data collection and interpretation. (AM)

Discusses use of computers in various areas of geography. These include: geography instruction; an information retrieval; systems analysis; computer simulation; entering of data to be represented graphically and in map form; and experimental research. Such potential future uses as creating models to analyze effects of meteorological changes are also considered. (JN)

Summary: Due to rapid urbanization and climate change, cities face hidden drought risks. A single drought index may inadequately reflect urban meteorological drought. The indicator weight combination method does not fully consider index correlation and weight. This study constructed an urban meteorological drought evaluation index system and developed the Composite Fuzzy Matter Element Meteorological drought Comprehensive Index (CFEMCI) by combining the moment estimation weighting model. Analyzing Zhengzhou City from 2000 to 2019, CFEMCI effectively captured meteorological drought events, with a probability of detection (POD) > 0.78, critical success index (CSI) > 0.70, false alarm rate (FAR)

The article focuses on providing useful information for studying meteorological extremes on the Bureau of Meteorology's website, emphasizing basic considerations for context when teaching about extremes, including spatial variation, the dynamic nature of climate over time, and the impact of climate change on meteorological variables.

There’s strong relationship between tourism and climate. It’s important to adress climatic comfort while talking about the tourism potential of a place. In this study, it’s aimed to evaluate climatic comfort conditions in terms of tourism in the Giresun province, which is located in the Eastern Black Sea Section of the Black Sea Region. While making the evaluation, the TCI (Tourism Climatic Index) method was used. Climate data needed for method were obtained from Giresun Meteorology Directorate. ArcGIS 10.8 GIS program was used in map production. According to TCI results for Giresun, the annual average TCI value is 47, it’s TCI scores varying between 62 and 34. January, February, December, which are in "good" category, are seen as the most suitable months for tourism. March, April, May, June, July, August, September, November are included in "borderline" category and are slightly below the average, October is in "Unfavorable" category and isn’t suitable for tourism. Cultural tourism, which can be realized in winter months, can be brought to rather than sea-sand-sun tourism for Giresun. In the spring and summer months when the weather is relatively less rainy, directing tourists to mountain, plateau and alternative tourism types will be appropriate for development of tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a significant public health concern worldwide and in the United States. Despite the far-reaching impact of suicide, risk factors are still not well understood and efforts to accurately assess risk have fallen short. Current research has highlighted how potentially modifiable environmental exposures (i.e., meteorological, pollution, and geographic exposures) can affect suicide risk. A scoping review was conducted to evaluate the strength of the historical and current literature on the environment's effect on suicide and suicide risk. Three databases (i.e., Medline, Embase, and PsychInfo) were reviewed to identify relevant studies and two authors independently reviewed studies considering pre-determined inclusion criteria. A total of 46 meteorological studies were included as well as 23 pollution studies and 12 geographic studies. Descriptive statistics, including counts, percentages, review of studies' sample size (minimum, maximum, median, and interquartile range), were calculated using Excel and SAS 9.4. Overall, strong evidence supports that exposure to sunlight, temperature, air pollution, pesticides, and high altitude increases suicide risk, although effect sizes range from very small to small.

During the first fifteen years of the twentieth century, Oxford-based Scottish geographer Andrew Herbertson constructed a framework for comprehending and categorising climate and its interrelations: natural regions. Along with a large circle of students and collaborators, Herbertson promoted natural regions as the conceptual keystone for geographical teaching and research. This article shows how natural regions theory conceived of climate as an object that was differently defined in different academic disciplines. Geography's climate, according to Herbertson and his supporters, was defined by its relations with other spatially distributed phenomena rather than being the quantifiable and isolable entity of modern climatology. Building on recent work in the history of cartography foregrounding map use and reception, the article also argues that natural regions were products of particular modes of map reading, comparison, and synthesis. Although maps were arguably the most influential medium for communicating natural regions, they also proved limited as bearers of the multiscalar version of climate that Herbertson and his successors sought to convey. Finally, the article explains how natural regions and associated conceptions of climate came to be sidelined in the mid-twentieth century as geographers foregrounded human agency in region formation and adopted climatology's definitions and analytical tools. Revisiting the life and death of theories of natural regions illuminates the contested significance of climate in the discipline of geography, and contributes to ongoing efforts to pluralise the history of climate sciences. • Climate was a mutable concept in British geography in the early twentieth century. • Maps were key tools for conceptualising and communicating what climate is and does. • Geographical research and teaching conceived of climate differently to modern climate science. • Pluralising past sciences of climate is a significant task for geographers in the Anthropocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visualization of spatial knowledge is so common today that we rarely give it a second thought. But it depends upon the fairly recent recognition that maps are not just representations of the landscape, but also tools of analysis. By the end of the eighteenth century, Americans and Europeans began to use maps and other graphic tools to harvest data about the natural world. In the United States, this experimentation was prompted by political independence and the attendant need to govern the population, master the natural environment, facilitate white settler expansion, and establish agricultural self-sufficiency. To navigate this volatility, individuals began to experiment with visual and spatial representation from 1790 to the 1810s, and when considered together their efforts suggest a new era of visual thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses atmospheric phenomena and multisensory weather experiences as depicted by John Tyndall in "The Glaciers of the Alps" and "Hours of Exercise in the Alps." It mentions hybrid character of these travel reports which typical for that time for juxtapose scientific observation, aesthetic evaluations, and metaphysical speculations on nature. It also mentions metamorphotic scape anticipates the present philosophy of space and non-human agency. It discusses unity of consciousness can be excellently examined.

After completing Serbian Orthodox Gimnasium in 1889, in Novi Sad, Pavle M. Vujević, he has been studied geography in Vienna, where in 1904 he defended doctoral disertation. He improved his knowledge in climarology and meteorology in Berlin and Postdam. For full professor of University of Belgrade he was scelected in 1921. He has written more than 150 scientific articles from climatology, meteorology, hydrology and geography.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly used for extrapolation, or predicting suitable regions for species under new geographic or temporal scenarios. However, SDM predictions may be prone to errors if species are not at equilibrium with climatic conditions in the current range and if training samples are not representative. Here the controversial "Pleistocene rewilding" proposal was used as a novel example to address some of the challenges of extrapolating modeled species-climate relationships outside of current ranges. Climatic suitability for three proposed proxy species (Asian elephant, African cheetah and African lion) was extrapolated to the American southwest and Great Plains using Maxent, a machine-learning species distribution model. Similar models were fit for Oryx gazella, a species native to Africa that has naturalized in North America, to test model predictions. To overcome biases introduced by contracted modern ranges and limited occurrence data, random pseudo-presence points generated from modern and historical ranges were used for model training. For all species except the oryx, models of climatic suitability fit to training data from historical ranges produced larger areas of predicted suitability in North America than models fit to training data from modern ranges. Four naturalized oryx populations in the American southwest were correctly predicted with a generous model threshold, but none of these locations were predicted with a more stringent threshold. In general, the northern Great Plains had low climatic suitability for all focal species and scenarios considered, while portions of the southern Great Plains and American southwest had low to intermediate suitability for some species in some scenarios. The results suggest that the use of historical, in addition to modern, range information and randomly sampled pseudo-presence points may improve model accuracy. This has implications for modeling range shifts of organisms in response to climate change.