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Investigating the North American Monsoon in Arizona and Teaching Climate Science on the Tohono O'odham Nation

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Investigating the North American Monsoon in Arizona and Teaching Climate Science on the Tohono O'odham Nation Southwest Climate Research and Education: Investigating the North American Monsoon in Arizona and Teaching Climate Science on the Tohono O'odham Nation Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Kahn-Thornbrugh, Casey Curtiss Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 03/10/2021 18:44:36 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/301701 SOUTHWEST CLIMATE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION: INVESTIGATING THE NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON IN ARIZONA AND TEACHING CLIMATE SCIENCE ON THE TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION By Casey Curtiss Kahn-Thornbrugh ________________________ Copyright © Casey Curtiss Thornbrugh 2013 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY AND DEVELOPMENT In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2013 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Dissertation Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Casey C. Kahn-Thornbrugh entitled Southwest Climate Research and Education: Investigating the North American Monsoon in Arizona and Teaching Climate Science on the Tohono O’odham Nation and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. _______________________________________________________ Date: 3/29/2013 Dr. Andrew C. Comrie _______________________________________________________ Date: 3/29/2013 Dr. Joseph G. Hiller _______________________________________________________ Date: 3/29/2013 Dr. Stuart E. Marsh _______________________________________________________ Date: 3/29/2013 Dr. Nancy J. Parezo _______________________________________________________ Date: 3/29/2013 Dr. Stephen R. Yool Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. _______________________________________________________ Date: 3/29/2013 Dissertation Director: Dr. Andrew C. Comrie 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: Casey Curtiss Kahn-Thornbrugh 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many who deserve a proper acknowledgement for their assistance and support as I have completed this journey through my doctoral program and in the completion of this dissertation. I would first and foremost, like to extend a special gratitude to my advisor Dr. Andrew Comrie for his support, advice, and guidance along the way. Dr. Comrie has supported me through the dissertation process and a project that deals with somewhat disparate topics. Although the human and societal aspects have been considered for quite some time in climate science, bringing in the historical experiences of Indigenous peoples with education, academic research, and considering their unique epistemologies while doing the climate science is a formidable challenge. Dr. Comrie has stood by my side along the path less traveled. I would also like to thank Dr. Selso Villegas (Tohono O’odham Nation Water Resources Department), a Tohono O’odham mentor of mine and a role model for myself and other Native students in science who must balance our tribal values, epistemologies, and Indigenous knowledge with our training, expertise, and knowledge in Western science. I am also grateful to the other members of my committee – Dr. Joseph Hiller (American Indian Studies) for his support and for keeping me grounded while at the same time challenging me to make a positive impact in Native communities and in the tribal colleges, Dr. Steve Yool and Dr. Stuart Marsh (School of Geography & Development) for their enthusiasm for the curriculum project in this dissertation, and for being role models to me as they are both very thoughtful and dynamic instructors of physical geography, and to Dr. Nancy Parezo (American Indian Studies) for sharing her knowledge of American Indian history and education as well as her perspectives and all her recommedations for strengthening this dissertation. For the North American Monsoon System aspect of this dissertation I am grateful to Dr. Stephen Bieda and the other co-authors on the North American Monsoon paper – Dr. Andrew Comrie, Dr. David Adams, Dr. Michael Crimmins, Lee Byerle, and John “JJ” Brost. I am especially grateful to Dr. Bieda for keeping me intellectually active in the monsoon research world: working with you has been both a privilege and a pleasure. 5 I must thank the community advisory board members, other community members, and educators who have guided me along in the curriculum development aspect of this dissertation. Special thanks go to Eugene Enis, Felicia Nuñez, and Tony Burrell from the San Xavier District, Andrea Ahmed and Teresa Vavages from the Sells District, Derrick Patten and Francisco Jose from the Schuk Toak District, Jana Montana from the San Lucy District, and Carol Lyons from the San Lucy District Education Center. I am grateful to all of you for your enthusiasm for the project, volunteering your time to meet with me, and your constant support and encouragement of the Tohono O’odham college students who also participated in the curriculum development project. A special thank you to the Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) faculty and students who also assisted with the curriculum and its activities: TOCC Tohono O’odham history, culture and language instructors Phillip Miguel, Ron Geronimo, and the late Danny Lopez; TOCC student interns Duran Andrews, Sara Francisco, Hilario Pio-Martinez, and Matthew Saraficio. Also, a special thanks to Dr. Ofelia Zepeda for welcoming me in her Tohono O’odham language class, and for assisting me with O’odham language terms. Finally I must thank all those who contributed resources for the “activities” integrated into this dissertation research – a TOCC student internship and weather and climate workshops offered on the Tohono O’odham Nation. I would like to give special thanks to Susan Brew, Dr. Barron Orr, Chandra Holifield Collins, and the University of Arizona NASA Space Grant Office staff for supporting a University of Arizona and TOCC partnership and supporting the TOCC student internship. I would also like to thank Dr. Rajul Pandya and the Sparks program staff at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) for their support of the TOCC student internship and their recognition of the need for more educational opportunities for Native students. I would like to thank Dr. Katy Garmany and the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) staff for always welcoming my students and me, and her effort to remind those visiting the observatory that they are on a mountain held sacred by the Tohono O’odham. I also want to thank Dr. Maria Teresa Velez, Donna Treloar, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Indigenous Graduate Partnership students for supporting me throughout my doctoral program. 6 DEDICATIONS To my wife Carmella Kahn-Thornbrugh for keeping my life in balance throughout my doctoral program: You are my best friend and partner in science and keeping our tribal traditions and knowledge alive. I would not have completed this journey without you. To my parents, Cheryl and Curtiss, and my sisters Shawna and Lisa, for supporting my scientific interests as a child and teaching me the values of patience and respect. To my Dad and Uncle Thomas for grilling me with practice questions on my dissertation. To my Uncle Chuckie (Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Natural Resources Department) in Mashpee for sharing his wisdom on our Wampanoag history and stories, and for keeping me connected to “home.” To my late Uncle Laurie, you will always be remembered. To my other family, my in-laws: thank you to my mother-in-law, Lorraine for supporting me with wisdom, laughter, and happiness these past few years. To Belin and Leona Tsinnajinnie: thank you for many years of friendship, intellectual growth, and joy. And lastly, thank you to the members of the Pumpkin Vyne Singers drum group who have given me much peace of mind and friendship while I have lived in Tucson during my program. No matter where life should lead me, know I will always be a part of your family. 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………...12 ABSTRACT……………………………………………………...……….…………...…13 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION………………...…………………….………………15 Explanation of the Issue……...………………………………………..……..……….15 Approach……………………………...………………………………………………29 Organization of the Dissertation…….……………………………………..…………34 CHAPTER 2 – PRESENT STUDY……………………………………………………...38 Interannual Variability of the NAMS and Climate Change………………...……...…38 Climate-based Research in Indigenous Communities………….…….………...…….40
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