Tag: Poster 144

Heavier Snowfall and Snow Distribution Patterns as a Result of Global Warming

Presenter(s): Isabella Cao − Journalism

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 144

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

Low temperatures and the presence of moisture are conditions that allow for snowfall. When parcels of warm air containing moisture rise and cool, the water vapor condenses to form clouds. These clouds form precipitation, in the form of either water droplets or tiny ice crystals depending on surrounding air temperature. Precipitation and snowfall are a normal part of the hydrological cycle; however, global warming has changed the hydrological cycle and thus affects patterns of snowfall. A 4% increase in atmospheric moisture has been observed (warmer atmospheres holding 7% more moisture per 1°C). Many studies have been done on global warming’s contribution to dwindling snowpacks and high rates of snowmelt, however, few have studied heavy snowfall as an effect of climate change. Here I show patterns of decreased and increased snowfall in various regions. I found that warming of ocean surfaces and other water supplies can result in patterns of heavier snowfall. Japan predicts decreases in total winter snowfall, as well as an unusual heavy snowfall occurrence every 10 years. Further, I found that while most regions experience an overall decrease in snow, the distribution pattern changes significantly, with some places having much less or more more than usual. Climate change does not always result in immediate depletion of snow, but rather a continuous changing pattern that shows decreasing over time. This report could instigate more accurate portrayals of snowfall patterns, leading to more accurate studies. These findings will be useful in better utilizing water resources that rely on snowfall.

Contextual Influences on Shape Perception

Presenter(s): Elise Garmon

Faculty Mentor(s): Kelly Edwards, Dr. Margaret Sereno & Margaret Sereno

Poster 144

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Visual context influences the ability to process object shape (shape constancy) but can also hinder performance on tasks that require judgments of apparent object shape where an individual must rely on the retinal image of a target. Participants completed a shape judgment task including judgments of projective (apparent) and objective (actual) shape for figures with varying amounts of context, defined as inclusion of 3-D information in the form of additional sides of a polyhedron. In the first study, participants completed judgments on figures with three levels of context: context-absent (only the target face present), context-partial (target face and a portion of additional top and side faces visible), and context-full (complete 3-D shape). In the second study, objective and projective judgments were completed on the same context-absent and context-full figures as well as two additional sets of images where one face of a complete polyhedral shape was missing. Shape judgments were less accurate when projective decisions were made in conditions including context (partial, single face missing, and full context) and when objective decisions were made in conditions lacking full context (absent, partial, single face missing). As the amount of context decreased, errors increased in objective judgments but decreased in projective judgments. Degree of rotation moderates the effects of context such that overall error increases with greater rotation of the target face and illustrates the important influence of level of context on shape judgment, where the most accurate judgments of actual shape require complete 3-D context while this same level of context distorts apparent judgments which benefit from an absence of context. This research can be applied in making real-world judgements about common tasks such as how to successfully grab an object, to how to put away groceries, and pack things in the dishwasher. This study informs able to accurately create the 3-D world on a 2-D medium which would hinder or aide someone in artistic future endeavors and have real-world applicability to interacting with objects and manipulating objects in our everyday world.