MA, Kent State University, 2011, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Geography

Lightning is a natural hazard occurring frequently within the United States causing injury, damage, and death. To avoid this hazard, citizens need to self mitigate their risk by taking action. To determine if citizens have the tools to mitigate their risk, the level of lightning safety knowledge must be known. No studies have previously explored the status of lightning safety knowledge. Lightning safety information is readily available throughout the country in many forms; however different modes of educating about lightning have never been tested for level of efficacy. Therefore, we are unaware if citizens understand their risk, have the knowledge to mitigate their risk, or if current safety programs are effectively educating citizens. This study distributed surveys to college students in three states with variable risk, Florida, Ohio, and Colorado. Following the pre-mode survey, students were shown videos, given brochures, or both with lightning safety information. A follow-up survey was then distributed. Chi-square analysis was used to analyze the data. This study provides a current status of lightning safety knowledge, discusses the most misunderstood areas of lightning safety, analyzes the relationship between past deaths and current knowledge as well as variable risk and the presence of lightning safety education programs, explores several lightning education modes as well as the role of gender, and finally, determines vulnerabilities for the study areas.

Committee: Thomas Schmidlin (Advisor); Scott Sheridan (Committee Member); Rebecca Parylak (Committee Member) Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheric Sciences; Educational Psychology; Educational Tests and Measurements; Geography; Physical Geography

PHD, Kent State University, 2016, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Geography

Natural hazard education research has received minimal attention. Researchers in the area of natural hazards have focused primarily on database management and safety recommendations. Best practices for natural hazard education and their modes have been overlooked. Current research has postulated that natural hazard education may be more efficacious when delivered to school children since school children disseminate the information to family and friends. Research on the most effective method to educate school children or the general public on natural hazards has seen very little attention, except for a recent lightning safety survey, which illustrated the need for further research, especially regarding school children. This study surveyed school children's safety knowledge in the state of Ohio on two types of natural hazards with variable exposure rates, hurricanes and lightning. Following the survey, three education modes were administered: video, workbook, and presentation. Post-mode and delayed post-mode surveys followed. The results answer numerous study questions regarding sources of hazard information in school children, the current knowledge of lightning and hurricane safety, the most effective mode for natural hazard education and retention, and lightning safety education of school children versus college students. School children receive the majority of their natural hazard safety information at school. The current knowledge of lightning and hurricane safety in school children is encouraging. Education modes affect the efficacy of lightning and hurricane safety knowledge learning and retention in school children. Presentation was the best mode for educating school children about lightning safety and lightning safety education retention. The best mode for hurricane safety education, learning retention, and best mode for natural hazards safety learning and retention was not determined. Gender disparities exist in current knowledge, which were se (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Thomas Schmidlin Ph.D. (Advisor); Scott Sheridan Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jacqueline Curtis Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kathleen Sherman-Morris Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jocelyn Folk Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography; Meteorology; Physical Geography; Science Education

MA, Kent State University, 2018, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Geography

Lightning is one of the most widespread and deadly hazards in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has among the highest death rates of any country. The main objective of this study is to analyze the people's perception to investigate the potential misconceptions and myths on lightning. This paper addresses present safety knowledge and awareness among people, the spatial variation of lightning strikes from 1998 to 2013 and spatial variation of lightning deaths from 2011 to 2015 in Bangladesh. People's perception on lightning has been analyzed using field surveys and the spatial variation of lightning strikes and deaths has been analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS). The results of this paper revealed that there are some misconceptions, myths, and misunderstanding among the different demographic group of people in Bangladesh. Analysis of annual spatial variation of lightning density suggests that the northern and northeastern part of Bangladesh have the highest lightning flash rate density. Pre-monsoon season experiences the highest rate of flash density among all seasons. Analysis of spatial variation of lightning deaths suggests that Chapai-Nawabganj district of Bangladesh is in the top of the lightning death rates per million people per district over years 2011 to 2015. It was found that the main reasons behind this large number of deaths are lack of lightning safety knowledge and awareness, lack of shelters, and lack of lightning safety precaution training. To improve this situation and minimize the loss of lives and property, a comprehensive plan and policy should be developed.

Committee: Thomas Schmidlin (Advisor); Scott Sheridan (Committee Member); Jacqueline Curtis (Committee Member) Subjects: Geography

Bachelor of Sciences, Ohio University, 2018, Geography

Lightning is a common and often deadly occurrence in South Florida; therefore, there is an increased need to issue public alerts with respect to excessive lightning production. Recent research has proven that thunderstorm severity is correlated with total flash rates and lightning jumps, making lightning a key variable to use in National Weather Service (NWS) warning operations. Along with continued integration of dual-polarization (DP) radar and Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) data, forecasters have additional information to understand the charge separation process. One of these MRMS variables, Vertically Integrated Ice (VII), can potentially offer a unique insight by correlating a qualitative conceptual model of charge separation to known quantitative thresholds. This study examines over 50 cases of isolated summertime convection in South Florida that occurred in May, June, and July of 2017. Box and whisker plots of multiple DP radar, MRMS, and lightning data variables were created and assessed in relation to thunderstorm severity and time to first strike. Preliminary findings show utility in using variables such as the VII maximum value of 7 kg m-2, and the areal coverage of VII values greater than 1 kg m-2 in excess of 50 sq. km, as key discriminators to lightning potential and severity. Predictive equations using regression analysis have also been developed for total possible cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning and time to the first CG strike, in addition to a Principal Component Analysis for understanding the impact of the selected MRMS and DP variables on CG lightning production.

Committee: Jana Houser PhD (Advisor); Ryan Fogt PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Atmospheric Sciences; Geography; Meteorology; Physical Geography