Volume 60, No. 1, Spring/Summer 2022

ASSESSING DIFFERENCES IN AVERAGE WINTERTIME PRECIPITATION FOR

NEUTRAL, EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA YEARS IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AND

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: 1970 TO 2020

(p. 1-12)

Richard S. Courtney

Department of Geography

Kutztown University

Abstract

While the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate event born in the equatorial

Pacific Ocean, its effects on weather can be far-reaching. The continents of

Australia and South America, and the Indian subcontinent are often dramatically

affected. North America is also subject to the influences of ENSO. Research has suggested

that wintertime precipitation is greater for the Gulf Coast states during El Niño

episodes, and similar findings have been found for Baltimore, Maryland, which is in

the Middle Atlantic region. This study employs the use of parametric tests to assess differences

in average wintertime precipitation for Neutral, El Niño, and La Niña years

in Baltimore, Maryland and Tallahassee, Florida over the 1970 to 2020 time frame.

Generally, insignificant differences were found among Neutral and El Niño years, but

significant differences exist with La Niña years.

KEEPING THOSE TEETH CLEAN: EXAMINING GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCE IN

ACCESS TO DENTAL OFFICES FOR OLDER ADULTS IN PENNSYLVANIA

(p. 13-27)

Moira Conway

Department of Geography

Kutztown University

Abstract

Dental care is an essential public health need, as oral health impacts many other aspects

of human health. However, accessibility to dental care varies greatly depending

on geographic location, socioeconomic background, and transportation options. This

project seeks to spatially analyze the availability of dental care to residents in urban,

suburban, and rural areas, using case study locations in the state of Pennsylvania.

While research on dental accessibility is limited, much existing research focuses on

children. This project seeks to focus on older adults, using selected counties in each of

the three geographies. The method employed to determine accessibility of dental offices

is GIS suitability modeling. By examining the differences in access between geographic

locations of varying densities, variation in dental care availability can be determined,

and policy recommendations can be developed to improve dental care options. This

project builds on a growing body of literature using GIS methods to explore public

health issues.

FOLKLIFE AS GEONARRATIVE: THE FLUVIAL LIFEWORLD CONFLUENCES

OF THE LOWER ABRA RIVER-DELTA AND THE TOWN OF SANTA

(p. 28-53)

Dominique Sasha Amorsolo

Department of Geography

University of the Philippines Diliman

Abstract

Santa is a low-lying community situated along the lower Abra River and its delta

off the coast of Ilocos Sur province in the northwest Philippines. Both the town and

the river are subjected to heavy rains and flooding due to tropical cyclones that traverse

the country. Based on historical records, Santa has changed its location multiple

times, in relation to river morphology changes and/or associated floods. Using historical

maps, satellite images, archival documents, and interviews, this study seeks

to re-analyze and integrate these data to make a river-town geonarrative and create

countermapped outputs that represent the “new folklife” geonarratives using GIS.

Based on the outcome, a “confluence” prevails between the river’s natural behavior

and people’s socio-cultural experiences, economic needs, and Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management (DRRM) practices. The c onvergence o f b oth l ifeworlds i nfluences

the “long-ago,” the “ongoing,” and the “yet to come” river-tales that depict the “new

folklife” geonarratives of a Philippine fluvialscape.

AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF CHILDREN’S ASTHMA IN PENNSYLVANIA

(p. 54-69)

Robert C. Ziegenfus

Department of Geography

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

At the author’s request, the Pennsylvania Department of Health provided a

dataset of children’s asthma by county for the school years 2013-14 through

2019-20. Additional data were extracted from two national surveys: the Behavioral

Risk Factor Surveillance Survey and the National Health Interview

Survey. Although asthma rates have declined slowly, Pennsylvania rates were

still higher than national rates. Regionally, eastern and southeastern counties

had the highest rates. Statewide, metropolitan counties had the highest rates.

Perhaps unique to Pennsylvania, at the county level, there was no statistically

significant correlation between asthma rates and educational attainment. All

but five counties had a decrease in their asthma rates over the seven years.