title: Wave dissipation by flexible vegetation

authors: Riffe, Kassi C.

subjects: wave

abstract: Dissipation of waves propagating through natural salt marsh vegetation was about half the dissipation expected for rigid vegetation. This low dissipation was predicted by a theoretical model that accounts for bending of vegetation by wave motions. A transect of 3 pulse-coherent Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers recorded water velocity and pressure (at 8 Hz) within the dense (650 stems/m²) canopy of semi-flexible single-stem vegetation (Schoenoplectus americanus). Most wave energy (56 - 81%) was dissipated within 19 m of the marsh edge. Two dissipation models, the first assuming rigid vegetation, and the second simulating wave-forced vegetation motion using the theory for bending of linearly-elastic beams, were tested. After choosing optimal drag coefficients, both models yielded a good fit to the observed dissipation (skill score = 0.95 - 0.99). However, fitted drag coefficients for the rigid model (0.58 - 0.78) were below the range (0.98 - 2.2) expected for the observed Reynolds numbers (13 - 450) and canopy densities (accounting for interactions between stem wakes), whereas drag coefficients for the flexible model (0.97 - 1.6) were nearer the expected range, indicating that prediction of wave dissipation was improved by simulating vegetation motion.

text: Wave dissipation by flexible vegetation Dissipation of waves propagating through natural salt marsh vegetation was about half the dissipation expected for rigid vegetation. This low dissipation was predicted by a theoretical model that accounts for bending of vegetation by wave motions. A transect of 3 pulse-coherent Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers recorded water velocity and pressure (at 8 Hz) within the dense (650 stems/m²) canopy of semi-flexible single-stem vegetation (Schoenoplectus americanus). Most wave energy (56 - 81%) was dissipated within 19 m of the marsh edge. Two dissipation models, the first assuming rigid vegetation, and the second simulating wave-forced vegetation motion using the theory for bending of linearly-elastic beams, were tested. After choosing optimal drag coefficients, both models yielded a good fit to the observed dissipation (skill score = 0.95 - 0.99). However, fitted drag coefficients for the rigid model (0.58 - 0.78) were below the range (0.98 - 2.2) expected for the observed Reynolds numbers (13 - 450) and canopy densities (accounting for interactions between stem wakes), whereas drag coefficients for the flexible model (0.97 - 1.6) were nearer the expected range, indicating that prediction of wave dissipation was improved by simulating vegetation motion.

year: 2011

title: Representations of Domestic Violence in Pakistani Television News and Activist Campaigns: Perspectives from Journalists, Women's Rights Campaigners, and Audiences

authors: Nasir, Omer Bin

subjects: Representations of Domestic Violence in Pakistani Television News and Activist Campaigns

abstract: This thesis offers an in-depth examination of the representation of domestic violence news on television channels and in activists’ campaigns in Pakistan from the perspective of journalists, women’s rights activists, and audiences. It is a compilation of five studies; three investigate the perspectives of Pakistani television news journalists regarding representation, professional ethics, and journalistic imperatives involved in domestic violence news reporting. The fourth study examines the viewpoints of Pakistani women’s rights activists regarding domestic violence news coverage and how activist campaigns represent the issue in their efforts to highlight and prevent this kind of violence. The fifth study is centred on Pakistani audiences’ responses to news media reporting of domestic violence and materials designed to draw attention to women’s rights issues including campaigns against domestic violence. Together, these studies provide important insights into the as yet largely unexamined issue of how domestic violence is portrayed in television news and activists’ campaign materials in Pakistan. Research for this thesis was conducted using qualitative methodological approaches. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with television news journalists and women’s rights activists, and four focus groups with Pakistani television news audiences. Eleven experienced Pakistani television news journalists were interviewed to explore: how Pakistani television news media represent domestic violence; how reporting is perceived to reflect ethical practices; and which journalistic imperatives are involved in the selection of news. Five Pakistani women’s rights activists were interviewed to explore their views about domestic violence reporting in mainstream media and how they address domestic violence violence in the course of their activism. To understand audience responses to domestic violence reporting on television news and women’s rights activists’ campaigns, 22 participants (11 females and 11 males) constituting focus groups representing higher, middle, and lower socioeconomic backgrounds were recruited. All four focus groups were conducted in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The research findings demonstrate how socio-cultural factors and ethical practices shape Pakistani journalists, activists, and audience understanding of domestic violence. Even though domestic violence has been criminalised in Pakistan, television news channels do not prioritise it in primetime reporting unless the incident is particularly horrific or involves well known named individuals. The coverage is predominantly incident-based and relies on limited sources. The research findings highlighted that there are no written guidelines or training for the coverage of domestic violence. At most, journalists do not disclose the victim’s identity, though this is not consistently practised. Consent is also often bypassed and data gathering practices can be unethical. Pakistani activists and audiences were of the view that coverage of domestic violence provided by television news is limited and sensational, while Pakistani audiences expressed appreciation for women’s rights campaign materials initiating educated and transformative debate about the endemic and structural social nature of women subjugation. Women’s rights activists cited patriarchal cultural practices and an unresponsive state as factors that contribute towards the widespread abuse of women in the country, and perceive the news media to be only interested in generating controversy and ratings. This thesis identifies an urgent need to develop comprehensive ethical guidelines and training programmes for responsible reporting of domestic violence on television news channels in Pakistan. Dialogue between decision makers in television news organisations and women’s rights activists should be initiated to shift the focus of the news agenda towards promoting better awareness and understanding of the causes and consequences of domestic violence in Pakistan.

text: Representations of Domestic Violence in Pakistani Television News and Activist Campaigns: Perspectives from Journalists, Women's Rights Campaigners, and Audiences This thesis offers an in-depth examination of the representation of domestic violence news on television channels and in activists’ campaigns in Pakistan from the perspective of journalists, women’s rights activists, and audiences. It is a compilation of five studies; three investigate the perspectives of Pakistani television news journalists regarding representation, professional ethics, and journalistic imperatives involved in domestic violence news reporting. The fourth study examines the viewpoints of Pakistani women’s rights activists regarding domestic violence news coverage and how activist campaigns represent the issue in their efforts to highlight and prevent this kind of violence. The fifth study is centred on Pakistani audiences’ responses to news media reporting of domestic violence and materials designed to draw attention to women’s rights issues including campaigns against domestic violence. Together, these studies provide important insights into the as yet largely unexamined issue of how domestic violence is portrayed in television news and activists’ campaign materials in Pakistan. Research for this thesis was conducted using qualitative methodological approaches. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with television news journalists and women’s rights activists, and four focus groups with Pakistani television news audiences. Eleven experienced Pakistani television news journalists were interviewed to explore: how Pakistani television news media represent domestic violence; how reporting is perceived to reflect ethical practices; and which journalistic imperatives are involved in the selection of news. Five Pakistani women’s rights activists were interviewed to explore their views about domestic violence reporting in mainstream media and how they address domestic violence violence in the course of their activism. To understand audience responses to domestic violence reporting on television news and women’s rights activists’ campaigns, 22 participants (11 females and 11 males) constituting focus groups representing higher, middle, and lower socioeconomic backgrounds were recruited. All four focus groups were conducted in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The research findings demonstrate how socio-cultural factors and ethical practices shape Pakistani journalists, activists, and audience understanding of domestic violence. Even though domestic violence has been criminalised in Pakistan, television news channels do not prioritise it in primetime reporting unless the incident is particularly horrific or involves well known named individuals. The coverage is predominantly incident-based and relies on limited sources. The research findings highlighted that there are no written guidelines or training for the coverage of domestic violence. At most, journalists do not disclose the victim’s identity, though this is not consistently practised. Consent is also often bypassed and data gathering practices can be unethical. Pakistani activists and audiences were of the view that coverage of domestic violence provided by television news is limited and sensational, while Pakistani audiences expressed appreciation for women’s rights campaign materials initiating educated and transformative debate about the endemic and structural social nature of women subjugation. Women’s rights activists cited patriarchal cultural practices and an unresponsive state as factors that contribute towards the widespread abuse of women in the country, and perceive the news media to be only interested in generating controversy and ratings. This thesis identifies an urgent need to develop comprehensive ethical guidelines and training programmes for responsible reporting of domestic violence on television news channels in Pakistan. Dialogue between decision makers in television news organisations and women’s rights activists should be initiated to shift the focus of the news agenda towards promoting better awareness and understanding of the causes and consequences of domestic violence in Pakistan.

year: 2024

title: The use of functionalised biochar to enhance phosphorus removal in woodchip bioreactors. The integration of mātauranga Māori to enhance the cultural aspects of woodchip bioreactors.

authors: Taoho, Brandon

subjects: Woodchip bioreactor

abstract: Nutrient pollution, resulting from excessive releases of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) into waterways, poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Elevated nutrient levels can result in eutrophication, which can have detrimental effects on the health of waterbodies and their biota. Woodchip bioreactors are effective, edge-of-field technologies that can help mitigate nutrient pollution by lowering nutrient concentrations in agricultural drainage systems known to carry leached N and P into waterways. However, one limitation to their design is their ineffectiveness at removing P. The inclusion of functionalised biochar is one potential solution to enhance P removal in woodchip bioreactors. There is a growing need to mitigate nutrient pollution in New Zealand that does not depend on a western-centric perspective only. Integration of mātauranga Māori and western science into the design and operations of a woodchip bioreactor is one approach to incorporate both knowledge systems to the goal of mitigating nutrient pollution. In this dissertation, a column experiment was used to compare the P removal efficiencies of two treatments of functionalised biochar, and one treatment of woodchips when subjected to stream water spiked with P. Subsequently, a single phosphate extraction was done to determine the phosphate absorption capacities of each treatment. The results showed that the two functionalised biochar treatments had the highest efficacy in reducing P concentrations in the P-spiked stream water compared to the woodchip-only treatment. Both treatments also showed higher P absorption, evidenced from the Fe-P/Feox ratio, within the phosphate extraction experiment. A wānanga was organised at Matahuru Marae, Lake Waikare, to share mātauranga Māori on how to culturally enhance woodchip bioreactors from a Te Ao Māori perspective. Participants recommended that native woodchips be incorporated into woodchip bioreactors because of their inherent association to the land and people. Overall, the results implied that functionalised biochar is an effective solution to enhance P removal in woodchip bioreactors due to their biophysical properties to absorb and retain P. Secondly, incorporating native woodchips into woodchip bioreactors systems potentially offers a sustainable and culturally respected alternative to conventional wood chips, aligning with Māori values and tikanga

text: The use of functionalised biochar to enhance phosphorus removal in woodchip bioreactors. The integration of mātauranga Māori to enhance the cultural aspects of woodchip bioreactors. Nutrient pollution, resulting from excessive releases of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) into waterways, poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Elevated nutrient levels can result in eutrophication, which can have detrimental effects on the health of waterbodies and their biota. Woodchip bioreactors are effective, edge-of-field technologies that can help mitigate nutrient pollution by lowering nutrient concentrations in agricultural drainage systems known to carry leached N and P into waterways. However, one limitation to their design is their ineffectiveness at removing P. The inclusion of functionalised biochar is one potential solution to enhance P removal in woodchip bioreactors. There is a growing need to mitigate nutrient pollution in New Zealand that does not depend on a western-centric perspective only. Integration of mātauranga Māori and western science into the design and operations of a woodchip bioreactor is one approach to incorporate both knowledge systems to the goal of mitigating nutrient pollution. In this dissertation, a column experiment was used to compare the P removal efficiencies of two treatments of functionalised biochar, and one treatment of woodchips when subjected to stream water spiked with P. Subsequently, a single phosphate extraction was done to determine the phosphate absorption capacities of each treatment. The results showed that the two functionalised biochar treatments had the highest efficacy in reducing P concentrations in the P-spiked stream water compared to the woodchip-only treatment. Both treatments also showed higher P absorption, evidenced from the Fe-P/Feox ratio, within the phosphate extraction experiment. A wānanga was organised at Matahuru Marae, Lake Waikare, to share mātauranga Māori on how to culturally enhance woodchip bioreactors from a Te Ao Māori perspective. Participants recommended that native woodchips be incorporated into woodchip bioreactors because of their inherent association to the land and people. Overall, the results implied that functionalised biochar is an effective solution to enhance P removal in woodchip bioreactors due to their biophysical properties to absorb and retain P. Secondly, incorporating native woodchips into woodchip bioreactors systems potentially offers a sustainable and culturally respected alternative to conventional wood chips, aligning with Māori values and tikanga

year: 2023