Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/93217136717
Harry Larbalestier
My name is Harry Larbalestier and I am in the class of 2028. I am from Arlington, VA and play on the Men’s Lacrosse team. I am an Economics Major and a Data Analysis Minor.
Abstract: Central Appalachia has one of the most distinct regional identities in the United States, shaped by decades of coal mining, natural gas extraction, and deep cultural ties to extractive industries. This study examines county-level climate change attitudes across approximately 240 counties in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Specifically, this project examines whether actual environmental conditions or attitudes toward fossil fuel expansion better predict a counties belief that global warming is causing floods. Drought severity (PDSI) shows virtually no relationship with flood attribution (R-squared = 0.002), while support for offshore drilling expansion is a strong negative predictor, explaining 68% of the variance (Beta = −1.267, p < 0.001). Adding precipitation and drought severity raises explained variance to 74%. This aligns with the regions strong conviction and historic sociocultural beliefs, showing that experienced-climate events do not influence climate change attribution, and it is more of an economic and cultural phenomenon.
QAC201_Poster_HarryL-1