Date of Award
4-2006
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Geography
First Advisor
Dr. Kathleen M. Baker
Second Advisor
Dr. James Biles
Third Advisor
Dr. Elen Cutrim
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Lightning strike point data, collected by the National Lightning Detection Network™ in June, July, and August of 1993, was used in conjunction with geographic information systems (GIS) to examine the distribution of lightning strikes within and among landcover and geologic classes in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
Quadrat analysis results showed that the lightning strike pattern did not follow a random distribution and exhibited a tendency for clustering when mapped with kernel density. A chi-square analysis showed there was a statistically significant relationship among landcovers, geology, and lightning strikes. Two t-tests were used to evaluate the data, one that corrected for location uncertainty in the data and one that did not. The location corrected t-test revealed that only Urban landcovers possessed a significant relationship with lightning strikes and received a fewer number than expected.
Recommended Citation
Newton, Zachary J., "The Relationship between Landcover and Cloud-To-Ground Lightning Strikes in Kalamazoo, County, Michigan" (2006). Masters Theses. 4255.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4255