Arctic worlds and the geography of imagination

The intent of this paper is to contribute to a larger discussion of the history of geographical thought and its consequences by gently drawing attention to the Arctic as a place where alternative visions of nature, home and horizon persist; by contrasting many of our unchallenged geographical assumptions with what might be the logical consequence had we started in a different place, under different conditions and with a different perspective. It is never easy to comprehend the perspective of another and it is unwise to presume that one has indeed done so. For this reason, while this paper explores the dichotomy between the geographic perspectives of the Arctic, particularly those of the Inuit who know it best, and those of the Western Europeans who have literally laid claim to the Arctic geography, it does not purport to be anthropological or ethnographical. Rather it is an attempt to sketch the intellectual landscapes implicit in the contrast between Inuit and European approaches to the Arctic.     

On the origin of fore-arc basins: new evidence of formation by rifting from the Jurassic of Alexander Island, Antarctica

The Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Fossil Bluff Group of Alexander Island, Antarctica represents the fill of a fore-arc basin unconformably overlying an accretionary complex. Like most fore-arc basins, this example had been considered to have a passive origin, as a topographic hollow between the arc and the trench-slope break. Recent discoveries of igneous rock coeval with sedimentation have altered this view. Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian basaltic and rhyolitic sills and lava flows are found in a restricted area at the north of the basin, within a single formation. Chemically, most basalts are high-Nb types, which cannot have originated in a supra-subduction zone setting. Since the age of emplacement of these rocks coincides with a gap in the record of plutonism in the Antarctic Peninsula volcanic arc, it is concluded that a late Jurassic pause in subduction led to active rifting to form the fore-arc basin.     

Socio-economic and management implications of range-shifting species in marine systems

Climate change is leading to a redistribution of marine species, altering ecosystem dynamics as species extend or shift their geographic ranges polewards with warming waters. In marine systems, range shifts have been observed in a wide diversity of species and ecosystems and are predicted to become more prevalent as environmental conditions continue to change. Large-scale shifts in the ranges of marine species will likely have dramatic socio-economic and management implications. Australia provides a unique setting in which to examine the range of consequences of climate-induced range shifts because it encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, spanning tropical to temperate systems, within a single nation and is home to global sea surface temperature change ‘hotspots’ (where range shifts are particularly likely to occur). We draw on global examples with a particular emphasis on Australian cases to evaluate these consequences. We show that in Australia, range shifts span a variety of ecosystem types, trophic levels, and perceived outcomes (i.e., negative versus positive). The effect(s) of range shifts on socio-economic change variables are rarely reviewed, yet have the potential to have positive and/or negative effects on economic activities, human health and ecosystem services. Even less information exists about potential management responses to range-shifting species. However, synthesis of these diverse examples provides some initial guidance for selecting effective adaptive response strategies and management tools in the face of continuing climate-mediated range shifts.     

Organizing accountability: co-production of technoscientific and social worlds in a nanoscience laboratory

Nanotechnology exemplifies the intensification of policy concerns both with relations between science and innovation, and with the public authority of scientific knowledge. This paper focuses on the negotiation of accountability by a nanoscience laboratory both to the state for public funds and to wider society for the social aspects of nanotechnology. This paper argues that geographical approaches can address questions of accountability by paying attention to the laboratory as a site for the co-production of scientific, technological and social orders. In particular, this paper focuses on how concepts of innovation and citizenship are configured through particular moments of laboratory accounting.     

Post-survey Likert constructions: an adaptive method for generalizing perceptions of environmental variability

GeoJournal - Environmental perceptions are inherently based on an individual’s existing knowledge, experiences, and future expectations. Methods for measuring environmental perception,...