GEOGRAPHERS IN GOVERNMENT

Geographers are working in federal, state, and local government agencies in many diverse positions. Historically and presently, geographers have held key policy positions in government agencies. In recent years the employment base for geographers in government has been broadened. Geographers working in government generally must have a pragmattic outlook that enables them to do the tasks assigned regardless of how geographical those assignments may be.     

GEOGRAPHERS IN GOVERNMENT

Geographers are working in federal, state, and local government agencies in many diverse positions. Historically and presently, geographers have held key policy positions in government agencies. In recent years the employment base for geographers in government has been broadened. Geographers working in government generally must have a pragmattic outlook that enables them to do the tasks assigned regardless of how geographical those assignments may be.     

BIOGEOGRAPHY: RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR GEOGRAPHERS

The authors of this paper suggest several themes in biogeography worthy of increased research attention by geographers: human impacts on biota, disturbance ecology, and certain aspects of biota-environment interactions. Researchers must gain a firmer command of biological as well as geographical concepts and approaches if biogeography is to join geomorphology and climatology in developing a true geography of environments.     

A SYNOPTIC CLIMATOLOGY OF TORNADOES IN VIRGINIA

Although tornadoes are microscale meteorological features, their occurrence is linked to the larger synoptic-scale environment. Most conceptual models of synoptic situations that give rise to tornadoes are based on conditions prevalent in the Great Plains of the United States. However, tornadoes develop in many different synoptic environments, particularly when they form beyond the boundaries of “Tornado Alley.”

Tornado occurrences in the state of Virginia are identified from 1951 through 1992. Using upper air data for the nearest site and observation time, a synoptic classification is produced via application of principal components analysis and cluster analysis. The five resulting synoptic classes each exhibit distinctive thermodynamic and flow conditions that serve as air-mass paradigms for tornado occurrence in Virginia. The groups include thermodynamic/northwest flow air masses, a mixed thermodynamic/dynamic category, a polar front jet situation, cool season midlatitude cyclone events, and Great Plains type tornadic air masses. A sixth type, tornadoes spawned by tropical systems, is defined separately.

A variety of indices have been developed by forecasters to provide information about the likelihood of severe weather and tornadic activity. The lifted index, K-index, Showalter index, SWEAT, Totals index, and a wind shear index are calculated for each tornado event. Analysis of variance indicates that most of these indices are statistically different between synoptic classes.

These results suggest that the synoptic-scale mechanisms responsible for tornado occurrence in the mid-Atlantic states are quite variable. Enhanced predictive capability could be gained by considering the prevailing synoptic conditions associated with individual storms. [Key words: synoptic climatology, tornadoes, Virginia, classification, severe weather.]     

GEOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE IN JAPAN

This is the third in a series of reports on Japanese geographic research prepared in cooperation with the Association of Japanese Geographers (AJG). Like the two previous reports, which appeared in the August and November issues, it has been modified for the English-speaking readership of THE PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER. However, unlike the previous articles, each of which aimed at providing data regarding Japanese research on specific geographic topics, this paper is intended to supply the reader with an inventory of those materials that will be needed for the conduct of research in Japan. —H. Jesse Walker, Member, U.S. National Committee, IGU.