Santa Barbara County Research Articles

Hoperanchite, (NH4)2(S2O3), a new mineral from an active vent in a burning bituminous shale

Abstract Hoperanchite (IMA2024-017), (NH4)2(S2O3), is a newly approved mineral species from an active vent in a burning bituminous shale at Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara County, California, U.S.A. Hoperanchite occurs as tabular crystals up to about 0.3 mm in diameter. Tablets are flattened on {001} and exhibit the forms {100}, {010}, {0-10}, {110}, and {-1-10}. The mineral is colorless and transparent with vitreous luster and white streak. The Mohs hardness is ~2½. The mineral has brittle tenacity, irregular fracture, and one good cleavage on {001}. The measured density is 1.68(2) g·cm−3. The mineral dissolves instantly in room temperature H2O. The mineral is optically biaxial (+), α = 1.602(2), β = 1.616(2), γ = 1.634(2) (white light); 2Vmeas = 84(2)°; orientation Y = b, X ^ a = 20° in obtuse β; nonpleochroic. Electron microprobe analysis provided the empirical formula N1.89H7.40S1.97O3. Hoperanchite is monoclinic, C2, a = 10.2313(5), b = 6.4998(3), c = 8.8098(6) Å, β = 94.611(7)°, V = 583.97(6) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure (R1 = 0.0325 for 1176 I > 2σI reflections) is the same as that of synthetic (NH4)2(S2O3). Hoperanchite is the first thiosulfate mineral that does not contain essential Pb.

Integrating hydrological parameters in wildfire risk assessment: a machine learning approach for mapping wildfire probability

Abstract The increasing occurrence of catastrophic wildfire across the globe threatens public health, community safety, ecosystem functioning, and biodiversity resilience. Wildfire risk is closely connected to shifting climatic trends and their impacts on fuel availability and flammability. Although previous research has explored the connection between meteorological conditions and wildfire probabilities, there remains a substantial gap in understanding the influence of hydrologic drivers, such as groundwater recharge, on wildfire dynamics. Both short- and long-term variations in these variables are crucial in shaping fuel conditions, and significant changes can create environments more prone to severe wildfires. This study focuses on Santa Barbara County to examine the connection between wildfire probability and various environmental factors, including meteorological and hydrological data from 1994 to 2021, topography, vegetation, and proximity to road. Using a random forest (RF) machine learning model and fine-scale data (270 m resolution) we achieved high predictive accuracy in identifying wildfire probability. Our findings confirm the important roles of short-term meteorological conditions, such as mean precipitation 12 months and relative humidity 1 month before a wildfire event, in predicting wildfire occurrence. In addition, our results emphasize the critical contribution of long-term hydrological components, such as mean deviation from the historical normal in actual evapotranspiration and recharge in the years preceding the fire, in influencing wildfire probability. Partial dependence plots from our RF model revealed that both positive and negative deviations of these hydrological variables can increase the likelihood of wildfire by controlling fuel water availability and productivity. These findings are particularly relevant given the increasing extreme weather patterns in southern California, significantly affecting water availability and fuel conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between wildfire occurrence and hydrometeorological conditions. Additionally, the resulting wildfire probability map, can aid in identifying high-risk areas, contributing to enhanced mitigation planning and prevention strategies.

Will there be water? Climate change, housing needs, and future water demand in California

Climate change in California is expected to alter future water availability, impacting water supplies needed to support future housing growth and agriculture demand. In groundwater-dependent regions like California's Central Coast, new land-use related water demand and decreasing recharge is already stressing depleted groundwater basins. We developed a spatially explicit state-and-transition simulation model that integrates climate, land-use change, water demand, and groundwater gain-loss to examine the impact of future climate and land use change on groundwater balance and water demand in five counties along the Central Coast from 2010 to 2060. The model incorporated downscaled groundwater recharge projections based on a Warm/Wet and a Hot/Dry climate future from a spatially explicit hydrological process-based model. Two urbanization projections from a parcel-based, regional urban growth model representing 1) recent historical and 2) state-mandated housing growth projections were used as alternative spatial targets for future urban growth. Agricultural projections were based on recent historical trends from remote sensing data. Annual projected changes in groundwater balance were calculated as the difference between land-use related water demand, based on historical estimates, and climate-driven recharge plus agriculture return flows. Results indicate that future changes in climate-driven groundwater recharge, coupled with cumulative increases in agricultural water demand, result in overall declines in future groundwater balance, with a Hot/Dry future resulting in cumulative groundwater decline in all but Santa Cruz County. Cumulative declines by 2060 are especially prominent in San Luis Obispo (−2.9 to −5.1 Bm3) and Monterey counties (−6.5 to −8.7 Bm3), despite limited changes in agricultural water demand over the model period. These two counties show declining groundwater reserves in a Warm/Wet future as well, while San Benito and Santa Barbara County barely reach equilibrium. These results suggest future groundwater supplies may not be able to keep pace with regional demand and declining climate-driven recharge, resulting in a potential reduction in water security in the region. However, our county-scale projections showed new housing and associated water demand does not conflict with California's groundwater sustainability goals. Rather, future climate coupled with increasing agricultural groundwater demand may reduce water security in some counties, potentially limiting available groundwater supplies for new housing.

Sundowner Winds at Montecito during the Sundowner Winds Experiment

This study investigates the predictability of downslope windstorms located in Santa Barbara County, California, locally referred to as Sundowner winds, from both observed relationships and a high-resolution, operational numerical weather prediction model. We focus on April 2022, during which the Sundowner Winds Experiment (SWEX) was conducted. We further refine our study area to the Montecito region owing to some of the highest wind measurements occurring at or near surface station MTIC1, situated on the coast-facing slope overlooking the area. Fires are not uncommon in this area, and the difficulty of egress makes the population particularly vulnerable. Area forecasters often use the sea-level pressure difference (ΔSLP) between Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) and locations to the north such as Bakersfield (KBFL) to predict Sundowner windstorm occurrence. Our analysis indicates that ΔSLP by itself is prone to high false alarm rates and offers little information regarding downslope wind onset, duration, or magnitude. Additionally, our analysis shows that the high-resolution rapid refresh (HRRR) model has limited predictive skill overall for forecasting winds in the Montecito area. The HRRR, however, skillfully predicts KSBA-KBFL ΔSLP, as does GraphCast, a machine learning weather prediction model. Using a logistic regression model we were able to predict the occurrence of winds exceeding 9 m s−1 with a high probability of detection while minimizing false alarm rates compared to other methods analyzed. This provides a refined and easily computed algorithm for operational applications.

Inter-individual variability in developmental traits in tadpoles of the Baja California chorus frog (Pseudacris hypochondriaca) in response to temperature

Phenotypic plasticity is the intraspecific expression of different phenotypes in response to environmental conditions. Inter-individual variability refers to the range of phenotypes produced between conspecifics within a population, and such variability is ubiquitously observed among animals. Investigating inter-individual variability can help develop a more comprehensive understanding of how phenotypes respond to environmental change. The Baja California chorus frog ( Pseudacris hypochondriaca) is found in a variety of ecosystems that differ in temperature and elevation throughout its latitudinal range (∼1400 km) from Santa Barbara County, California to Baja California, Mexico. The chorus frog experiences a variable thermal environment across its life history and males initiate mating calls at a wide range of water temperatures, between 4 and 20°C. Embryos develop successfully between 8 and 29°C, and tadpoles between 0 and 33°C. We have previously observed inter-individual variability in developmental traits, such as development rate and metabolic rate, and therefore aimed to investigate this variability within and between temperatures more closely. Chorus frog eggs were collected from a wetland on the CSUSM campus the day after being laid, and incubated at 15°C or 22°C. Once tadpoles reached the target stage (Gosner Stage 33; hind limb toe differentiation), oxygen consumption rate (Vȯ2) was measured using intermittent respirometry, and body length, wet mass and dry gut-free masses were measured. We also investigated the effect of temperature on swimming speed and time to exhaustion. Average time to stage, wet mass, dry gut-free mass and body length all decreased at 22°C, while mass-specific Vȯ2 increased. We observed decreased variability at 22°C compared to 15°C in time to reach stage (days from first to last tadpole to reach stage: 30.2 ± 2.7 days at 15°C, 15.4 ± 1.1 at 22°C), wet mass (wet mass range: 148.8 ± 14.2 mg at 15°C, 105.1 ± 11.3 mg at 22°C), and dry gut-free mass (dry gut-free mass range: 14.2 ± 1.2 mg at 15°C, 7.3 ± 0.7 mg at 22°C). Variability in body length did not differ between temperatures (total length range: 7.7 ± 0.4 mm at 15°C, 6.4 ± 0.5 mm at 22°C). In contrast to other traits, variability in mass-specific Vȯ2 increased at 22°C compared to 15°C (mass-specific Vȯ2 range: 0.61 ± 0.07 μl h−1 mg−1 at 15°C, 1.63 ± 0.21 μl h−1 mg−1 at 22°C). Overall, there is a correlation between the average effect of temperature and the inter-individual variability of phenotypic traits, with higher temperature resulting in less inter-individual variability in development rate and morphological characteristics, which are faster and smaller at higher temperature, while variability in mass-specific Vȯ2 increased with temperature, reflecting the increase in average Vȯ2 that occurs at higher temperature. CS supported by a Beckman Scholarship. CAM supported by a CSUSM Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Grant. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Big Players Pivot in Response to Regulatory Pressures

_ Early January brought with it significant changes in the environmental side of the oil and gas industry. ExxonMobil and Chevron, the two largest US oil producers, announced they will exit California, and the Biden administration froze LNG export approvals. After 50 years of producing oil in California, ExxonMobil will take a $2.5 billion writedown of the value of some of its California properties to be recorded in its fourth-quarter earnings. The company said the decision is primarily related to its Santa Ynez operations off the coast of Santa Barbara. Its US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing said, “While the Corporation is progressing efforts to enable a restart of production, continuing challenges in the state regulatory environment have impeded progress in restoring operations.” After the Refugio oil spill in May 2015 (approximately 100,000 gal), resulting from a leak from a pipeline owned by Plains All American Pipeline, ExxonMobil acquired the damaged asset in October 2015. Just a few months before the purchase, the Santa Barbara County Board denied ExxonMobil’s request to truck its oil produced off the coast of Gaviota to its Las Flores Canyon processing facility and on to refiners located in Pentland, California. Seeking an alternative, ExxonMobil planned to replace two stretches of the 112-mile corroded pipeline for transit of its oil. Met with opposition to replace the damaged pipeline and denied permission to repair and restart production at the site (halted since 2015), ExxonMobil is now selling the Santa Ynez operation to Sable Offshore, a blank-check company created in 2020. The company will loan Sable the money for the purchase of its three offshore production platforms, pipeline, and onshore processing facility. Sable’s agreement with ExxonMobil requires production to be started by early 2026 or the assets and liabilities revert to ExxonMobil. Chevron, headquartered in San Ramon, California, will write down $3.5 billion to $4 billion in assets, citing its home state’s regulations that “have resulted in lower anticipated future investment levels.” The company intends to continue operating its oil fields and related assets. In the SEC filing, Chevron wrote it also will incur fourth-quarter charges related to decommissioning of US Gulf of Mexico assets that have reached the end of their productive lives. The company sold some of those assets, but US law stipulates that previous owners may be responsible for those costs if the current owner declares bankruptcy. Chevron wrote it’s “probable” that it may see such costs. January closed with another unexpected announcement on 26 January. The Biden administration paused decisions on permits to export LNG to non-free trade agreement countries to review current projects seeking approvals. US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stated, “We must review export applications using the most comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the economic, environmental, and national security considerations.” She added that this was not a ban on exports and would not affect already authorized exports, which when combined with existing plants, total 48 Bcf/D. “Within this decade another 12 Bcf/D of US export capacity already authorized and under construction will come online,” Granholm said. While environmental impact (greenhouse gas emissions including CO2 and methane) was one of the reasons for the decision, along with market, economic, national security, and energy security, Granholm pointed out that facilities totaling 22 Bcf/D of capacity have been approved but have not yet started construction. This capacity, combined with existing infrastructure, is “more than enough to make the US a ‘behemoth’ in the LNG field,” according to Holland & Knight in an analysis dated 29 January. The international law firm said this raises the question of whether further development of LNG facilities could hurt US citizens as higher percentages of produced gas are exported. “This line of thinking follows the historical rhetoric on this issue as domestic users of natural gas want to ensure their feedstock price is stable. To support those claims, recent studies have concluded that ‘higher LNG exports create a tighter domestic natural gas market (all else held equal), increasing domestic natural gas prices.’” Could unintended consequences of these recent announcements rear up in the future? And could they be a behemoth for the US or global markets? For Further Reading Growth in 2022 US LNG Liquefaction Capacity Hits Top of the Charts by Pat Davis Szymczak, SPE Oil and Gas Facilities.

Cleaning Up California Culture History: The Malaga Cove Leaf Projectile Point Type

ABSTRACT The Malaga Cove Leaf projectile point was originally defined based on three specimens from CA-LAN-138, the Malaga Cove Site, and nine from other sites in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The point’s time range was somewhat ambiguous, and it showed a wide range of sizes and weights. A larger sample of 151 points, including the original Malaga Cove specimens along with points from two single-component sites in San Luis Obispo County (CA-SLO-9 and CA-SLO-239), one ethnographic village (CA-SLO-51/H), and two multi-component sites (CA-SLO-2 and CA-SLO-585) was evaluated here. Based on measurements (weights and the Hildebrandt-King Index), we show that the Malaga Cove Leaf can be divided into two size-based subtypes: a smaller variant associated with bow and arrow and dating ca. 600–120 cal BP, and a larger subtype used with a different pre-arrow weapon system, dating ca. 1,700–560 cal BP.

Conservation Genetics of the Endangered Lompoc Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon capitatum Eastw., Namaceae), including Phylogenomic Insights into the Evolution of Eriodictyon.

Eriodictyon capitatum (Namaceae) is a narrowly distributed shrub endemic to western Santa Barbara County, where it is known from only 10 extant California Natural Diversity Database element occurrences (EOs). Owing to low numbers of plants in nature, a limited overall extent, and multiple current threats, E. capitatum is listed as Endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act and as Rare under the California Native Plant Protection Act. In the present study, high-throughput DNA sequence data were analyzed to investigate genetic diversity within and among all accessible EOs; to determine the extent of genetic isolation among EOs; to examine clonality within EOs; and to examine the taxonomic circumscriptions of E. capitatum, E. altissimum, E. angustifolium, and E. californicum through phylogenomic analysis. Population genetic analyses of E. capitatum reveal a pattern of strong genetic differentiation by location/EO. The clonality assessment shows that certain small EOs may support relatively few multilocus genotypes. The phylogenomic analyses strongly support the present-day taxonomic circumscriptions of both E. altissimum and E. capitatum, showing them to be reciprocally monophyletic and sister with strong support. Taken together, these results paint a picture of an evolutionarily and morphologically distinct species known from relatively few, genetically isolated stations.

Description of a common stauromedusa on the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada, Haliclystus sanjuanensis new species (Cnidaria: Staurozoa).

Haliclystus "sanjuanensis" nomen nudum is the most common staurozoan on the west coast of the United States and Canada. This species was described in the M.S. Thesis by Gellermann (1926) and although that name has been in use nearly continuously since that time, no published description exists. Furthermore, the most popular operative name for this species has varied between several related species names over time, resulting in confusion. Herein, we provide a detailed description and synonymy of Haliclystus sanjuanensis n. sp., whose distribution is verified from Unalaska Island in the Aleutians (53.4° N, 166.8° W) in the northwest, to Santa Barbara County, California, just north of Point Conception (34.5° N, 120.5° W), in the south. Haliclystus sanjuanensis n. sp. is compared with the twelve other described species of Haliclystus and illustrations of both macroscopic and microscopic anatomy are provided. Haliclystus sanjuanensis n. sp. is unique among species of Haliclystus in the arrangement of the bright-white nematocyst spots in its calyx and the pattern of dark stripes running the length of the stalk and up the outside of the calyx.

Wildfire, evacuation, and cardiovascular events: A spatial exposure approach

Increasingly, adverse health effects from wildfire exposure are not limited to select populations in the wildland-urban interface. As wildfires continue to grow in frequency and intensity, they are also continuing to encroach on urban areas, putting larger and larger populations at risk. In this study we develop an innovative research design in the wildfire and health literature, and report results for a small scale implementation on California's central coast. Instead of focusing on smoke exposure and PM 2.5 or PM 10 as the primary physiological pathway linking wildfire and adverse cardiovascular health outcomes, we draw on a stress pathway as a potential link between stress and heart health. We use a novel spatiotemporal definition of wildfire exposure that is directly measurable at the individual level and acutely stressful: evacuation orders. Combining longitudinal health data from the dominant local hospital system in southern Santa Barbara County, California, we directly determine exposure to an evacuation order and smoke plumes from three large fires in the 2017–2019 wildfire period. Controlling for additional known risk factors, such as diabetes status and smoking status, we model the risk of secondary cardiovascular events (CVE) for 2411 patients with existing cardiovascular disease. Roughly 16.2% of patients (n = 391) were exposed to an evacuation order. We found evacuation order exposure was not significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiac events for the CVD population, but estimates hovered between 12.5 and 16.3% over un-evacuated cohorts. Smoke exposures were not significantly associated with CVE risk in models adjusted for evacuation orders nor unadjusted models, and estimates of effects varied widely. Both the method and the findings have implications for public health departments, clinicians and wildfire researchers.

Status of Lompoc Yerba Santa Eriodictyon capitatum (Namaceae): an Endangered Plant in Santa Barbara County, Southern California

Lompoc yerba santa Eriodictyon capitatum (Namaceae) is an evergreen shrub endemic to west Santa Barbara County in coastal southern Calif. The species was listed as rare under the Calif. Endangered Species Act in 1979 and as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2000. At Federal listing in 2000, Lompoc yerba santa was known from four locations (five occurrences) in three geographic areas. In 2022, the species is known from 11 occurrences in four geographic populations of which 10 occurrences are considered extant and 1 occurrence likely extirpated: Orcutt Oil Field in the Solomon Hills, 2 occurrences; Burton Mesa on Vandenberg Space Force Base North, 6 occurrences; La Salle Canyon on Vandenberg Space Force Base South, 1 occurrence; and Santa Ynez Mountains, 2 occurrences. Lompoc yerba santa occurs mostly in chaparral and bishop pine (Pinus muricata) forest, and most occurrences are in sandy soil. The species stands up to 5 m tall and with vertical stems up to 10 cm diameter. Much of its reproduction appears to be vegetative by rhizome production, suggesting low dispersal ability, and it is a habitat specialist with apparent dependence on substrate disturbance and fire. Using all available information and international standards with a precautionary but realistic attitude to uncertainty, Lompoc yerba santa in 2022 meets IUCN criteria for endangered status: the small extent of occurrence is 433 km2 (<5,000 km2) and the small area of occupancy is 2.30 km2 (<10 km2), along with the geographic range being severely fragmented, and the quality of habitat is observed/inferred/projected to be in continuing decline (altered fire regime/fire management practices, climate change with severe drought and increased temperatures).

TAXONOMIC IDENTITY OF A RECENTLY NATURALIZED SENECIO SPECIES IN CALIFORNIA

A species of the diverse genus Senecio (Asteraceae), originally identified as the Australian S. quadridentatus Labill. and reported naturalized in Orange and San Diego counties, California, was determined to be correctly identified as the South African Senecio angustifolius (Thunb.) Willd. True Senecio quadridentatus is confirmed to be naturalized in southern California in Santa Barbara County, both in mainland coastal regions and on Santa Rosa Island. The two species differ in plant habit (perennial herb in S. quadridentatus, shrub in S. angustifolius), leaf length (60–130 mm in S. quadridentatus, 10–35 mm in S. angustifolius), head type (disciform in S. quadridentatus, discoid in S. angustifolius), and head shape and size (involucre narrowly cylindric and 6.5–10 mm in S. quadridentatus, involucre widely cylindric and 5–6 mm in S. angustifolius). Evidence for these determinations, a description for Senecio angustifolius, and a revision to the key to Senecio in California are presented. The eradication of these exotics in natural habitats of southern California is ongoing, but further monitoring is required.

Revision of Microasydates, New Nearctic Genus of Soft-Winged Flower Beetles (Coleoptera: Melyridae: Dasytinae: Listrini)

A group of four North American dasytine species is carved from the genus Trichochrous Motschulsky, 1860. The genus Microasydates Gimmel and Mayor, new genus (type species: Pristoscelis umbratus LeConte, 1866) is created for these species. This new genus is clearly defined based on several adult male characters, including the presence of a field of coarse black setae concentrated medially on abdominal ventrite 4, slender tibial spurs in combination with the head not distinctly enlarged, lack of a basal strut on abdominal sternite VIII, tegmen membranous apically, and ventral teeth on the median lobe of the aedeagus. Species are distinguished primarily by characters of pronotal shape, setation, female pygidium, and the median lobe of the male aedeagus. Previously described are Microasydates punctipennis (LeConte, 1866), new combination and Microasydates umbratus (LeConte, 1866), new combination. Newly described are Microasydates sanclemente Gimmel and Mayor, new species and Microasydates santabarbara Gimmel and Mayor, new species. The only widespread mainland species is M. umbratus, which occurs almost throughout California across the Great Basin into Utah, while the remainder of the diversity is in the California Channel Islands and Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County. Upon examination of type material, Trichochrous indigens Casey, 1895, Trichochrous nubilatus Casey, 1895, Trichochrous separatus Casey, 1895, Trichochrous suffusus Casey, 1895, Trichochrous testaceus Casey, 1895, and Trichochrous pratensis Blaisdell, 1924 are all considered new junior subjective synonyms of M. umbratus. Trichochrous fulvovestitus Casey, 1895, status restored, and its junior synonym, Trichochrous propinquus Casey, 1895, are removed from synonymy with M. umbratus and retained in the genus Trichochrous. Adults of Microasydates are active during mid to late summer, and aggregate, often in large numbers, on the flowers of a wide variety of mostly perennial plants, where they mate and apparently feed on pollen, nectar, and occasionally small arthropods. Seasonality data and known host plant associations are provided along with species treatments.

Efficient Tracing of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants in Santa Barbara County Using a Rapid Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR Assay.

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in 2021 is associated with a global surge of cases in late 2021 and early 2022. Identifying the introduction of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants to a population is imperative to inform decisions by clinicians and public health officials. Here, we describe a quantitative reverse transcription PCR-based assay (RT-qPCR) targeting unique mutations in the Omicron BA.1/BA1.1 and BA.2 viral genomes. This assay accurately and precisely detect the presence of these Omicron variants in patient samples in less than four hours. Using this assay, we tested 270 clinical samples and detected the introduction of Omicron BA.1/BA1.1 and BA.2 in the Santa Barbara County (SBC) population in December 2021 and February 2022, respectively. Identifying Omicron variants using this RT-qPCR assay showed complete concordance with whole viral genome sequencing; both assays indicated that Omicron was the dominant variant in SB County. Our data substantiate that RT-qPCR-based virus detection assays offer a fast and inexpensive alternative to NGS for virus variant-specific detection approach, which allows streamlining the detection of Omicron variants in patient samples.

A Field Guide to Oil in Santa Barbara: Pedagogy and Practice for Environmental Media Studies

During fall 2018, a multidisciplinary cohort of graduate students participated in a course conducted by professors Javiera Barandiarán and Mona Damluji as part of the Mellon Sawyer Seminar on Energy Justice in Global Perspective at the University of California, Santa Barbara. For their final project, the students worked in groups to conduct place-based, site-specific research on the history and politics of oil in Santa Barbara County. Each group led a tour of a site significant to the history of oil in the region and produced a digital portfolio that contained contemporary and archival images, scans of archival documents, and observational site descriptions. The digital portfolios they compiled were then used to create the multimedia narrative and map A Field Guide to Oil in Santa Barbara. This essay contextualizes the Field Guide within the dominant narratives of oil in the Santa Barbara region, which attempt to contain oil as a naturally occurring substance of the past and not an ongoing part of the area’s role in global systems of oil extraction and capital. This collaboratively written introductory essay is at once a pedagogical reflection and a critical assessment of the field guide as a form of practice in environmental media studies. Over the past decade, field guides of various kinds have emerged across the humanities as hybrid artistic/academic projects, as outcomes of activist scholarship, and as provocations for site-responsive knowledge production. Field guides have also been used by governments and extractive industries to survey, categorize, and lay claim to resources. While acknowledging its experimental nature, this essay explores how the Field Guide is a model for interdisciplinary pedagogy and practice in environmental media studies.

Biliary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolite Equivalents Measured in Fish and Subtidal Invertebrates Following the Refugio Beach Oil Spill.

Monterey formation crude oil spilled from an onshore pipeline and entered the surf zone near Refugio State Beach, Santa Barbara County, CA, USA on 19 May 2015. Exposure to nearshore fish was evaluated by measuring biliary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolite concentrations in surfperch (Embiotocidae), collected near the release point, at a lesser oiled area, Gaviota State Beach, and near the Coal Oil Point oil seep, Campus Point, at both four days and approximately one year after the oil spill. Three to four weeks after the spill, fish, invertebrates, and kelp were collected near the same three sites for PAH analysis of edible tissues to support the fishery closure assessment. Additionally, thirteen days after the spill, vegetation, and invertebrate tissue samples from the seafloor near Refugio State Beach were analyzed for PAHs. In surfperch bile, mean naphthalene, phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene metabolite equivalents were significantly higher at Refugio State Beach, compared to Gaviota State Beach or Campus Point in 2015. One year later, there was no significant difference between the three sites. Spatial and depth zone patterns of PAH tissue concentrations from composited invertebrate, vegetation and fish showed highest concentrations were measured in invertebrates collected near Refugio State Beach. Overall, results show elevated PAH levels in nearshore organisms and provide a useful reference for potential PAH exposures in fish and subtidal invertebrates following a large nearshore oil spill.

Mesoscale patterns associated with two distinct heatwave events in coastal Santa Barbara, California, and their impact on local fire risk conditions

This study investigates mesoscale mechanisms associated with two extreme heatwaves affecting Santa Barbara County (SBC), southern California, and their implication for severe fire weather. We examine these issues using a database consisting of surface stations, radiosoundings, and 1 km grid spacing simulations with the Weather Research & Forecasting (WRF), including a climatology spanning 32 years. During the first heatwave event, synoptic conditions induced downslope winds on the southern-facing slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains (SYM) on July 6, 2018. One surface station hit an all-time record, and nine surface stations exceeded 99.9th percentiles of surface temperatures. A wildfire (the Holiday Fire) erupted on the slopes of the SYM driven by high temperatures, low relative humidity, and strong winds. The nearby radiosonde registered temperatures at 850 hPa that exceeded the 95th percentile historical records (62 yrs). WRF simulations indicated that mountain wave activity contributed to the excessive surface temperatures on the south-facing slopes of the SYM, and explained the late evening timing for the maximum daily temperatures. The second heatwave broke all-time temperature records at 10 surface stations across SBC on September 6, 2020. Maximum temperatures for most of the SBC occurred during mid-afternoon, the highest observed temperature at the surface was 48.3 °C (118.9∘F), and the 850 hPa temperatures exceeded the 99th percentile. The September 2020 event occurred under weaker synoptic forcing (pressure gradients) than the July 2018 event, resulting in weaker winds in coastal Santa Barbara (including the slopes of the SYM) and Santa Ynez Valley. Nonetheless, the extreme heat and low relative humidity increased the Fosberg Fire Weather Index (FFWI) at critical values for a few hours in some sites when winds were moderate. To evaluate the relative importance of these extreme events in the historical context and to assess the region’s wildfire risk we propose a novel diagram based on the joint behavior of winds, temperature, humidity and FFWI. While no wildfires have broken out during the September 2020 heatwave, our analysis suggests that a combination of extreme heat with stronger winds would lead to unprecedented fire danger. These extreme conditions may become more common in a warming planet.

Power-building Partnerships for Health: Lessons From Santa Barbara About Building Power to Protect Farmworker Health and Advance Health Equity.

The distribution of power in society is "upstream of the upstream" social determinants of health, and community organizers redistribute power to change social and political systems that shape health. Power-building Partnerships for Health (PPH) was launched in 2018 and pairs local public health departments and community organizing groups to support transformational health equity work, prioritizing trust and relationship building as precursors for action. Through PPH, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department partnered with 2 grassroots organizations, CAUSE and MICOP. This partnership led to their launching a Latinx Indigenous Migrant Health COVID-19 Task Force and to the passing of a first-of-its-kind Health Officer Order on safety in farmworker housing. This practice brief discusses the importance of relationship building and key activities within PPH, and the roles of both the health department and community organizers in taking action to advance health equity in Santa Barbara County during the pandemic.

Spatial and temporal pattern of cannabis use disorder in California 2010-2019

As cannabis use is being legalized in an increasing number of states, it is important to understand the changing dynamic of the risk in cannabis use disorder (CUD). Shape-based time-series clustering was used to identify ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) with similar changing pattern in CUD over time. We conducted a cross-sectional logistic regression analysis to investigate the most recent ZCTA socio-demographic characteristics in relation to the changing CUD rates. The emergency discharge rates generally increased during 2010-2016. Increase during 2017-2019 was found in Sacramento and Santa Barbara County. Approximately 13% of ZCTAs showed an increasing trend of hospitalization discharge during 2017-2019. Males and non-Hispanic Black had larger increase than other groups during 2017-2019. The recent growing trend was found associated with greater racial diversity and rural ZCTAs. The findings from this study hold promise for local public health officials to adjust the cannabis intervention strategies in target districts and improve overall health outcomes.

A NEW COMBINATION IN SANICULA CRASSICAULIS (APIACEAE)

During the course of a floristic study of the Cal Poly Swanton Pacific Ranch, in Santa Cruz County, we observed and collected several specimens that keyed to Sanicula crassicaulis Poepp. ex. D.C. but were notably distinct from other S. crassicaulis that we collected in the area. On further investigation, we found that these plants match the type specimen of S. nudicaulis Hook & Arn., described in 1839 and later synonymized with S. crassicaulis. This taxon is distinguished primarily by its long, sinuate marginal leaf trichomes, in contrast to the short, straight marginal trichomes of S. crassicaulis. Additionally, the length of the most proximal prickles on the schizocarps is about the same as the length of the most distal rather than the distal prickles being much longer as in S. crassicaulis and the angle of attachment of the prickles is more or less perpendicular as opposed to acute in S. crassicaulis. The known range of this taxon is between the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara County, generally near the coast. Here we recognize this taxon as a variety in S. crassicaulis. We provide a diagnosis, a map of the known range of the taxon and a key to the varieties of S. crassicaulis in California.