Article Database

Reprisal, Retribution and Requital: Investigating Customer Retaliation

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Customers, regardless of context or culture, will go to any extreme to retaliate against an offending service provider. Retaliation is an action taken in return for an injury or offense [Huefner, J.C. and H.K. Hunt, “Consumer retaliation as a response to dissatisfaction,” J Consum Satisf Dissatisfaction Complaining Behav, (2000); 13, 61–82.]. To date, research has had only a limited discussion of customer’s use of anti-consumption behaviors as an expression of retaliation. This study uses qualitative methods to demonstrate that the motivations for retaliation extend beyond simply “getting even,” customers retaliate to teach the service provider a lesson or to save others from the same fate. The research identifies specific roles taken by customers as they retaliate, the emotions of customers and store issues that are at the root of these behaviors. In addition, the authors categorize a range of retaliatory behaviors as follows: cost/loss; consumption prevention; voice, exit and betrayal; and boycotting.

An Analysis of Key Stakeholders’ Attitudes and Beliefs About Barriers and Facilitating Factors in the Development of a Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in South Africa

Abstract:

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women. Each year there are approximately 250,000 deaths; most of which occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. The purpose of this report is to examine key stakeholders experience and knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer, examine their experiences with the current cervical cancer screening and treatment policy, and identify barriers and facilitating factors to vaccine implementation and uptake. Fifteen indepth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. The interviews revealed several key findings including: 1) knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer varied across participants, 2) knowledge about cervical cancer was also mixed while knowledge about the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer was low among participants. Our findings indicate that key stakeholders are concerned about women’s health and wellbeing. In addition, they believe that the government, families, and the media need to play a prominent role in prevention efforts.

Effect of Urbanization on the Diurnal Rainfall Pattern in Houston

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Data from 19 raingauges located within and nearby Houston were analysed to quantify the impact of urbanization of the Houston metropolitan area on the local diurnal rainfall pattern. The average annual and warm‐season diurnal rainfall patterns were determined for one time period when Houston was relatively small and likely would not have had a significant effect on meteorological processes (1940–58) and for a second, more recent, time period after Houston had become a major metropolitan area (1984–99). The diurnal rainfall patterns within the hypothesized urban‐affected region and an upwind control region were compared for the pre‐ and post‐urban time periods. Results indicated that the diurnal rainfall distribution in the urban area is much different than that found for the upwind and downwind adjacent regions for the 1984 to 1999 time period. For an average warm season from 1984 to 1999, the urban area and downwind urban‐impacted region registered 59% and 30% respectively greater rainfall amounts from noon to midnight than an upwind control region. Moreover, the urban area had approximately 80% more recorded rainfall occurrences between noon and midnight during the warm season than surrounding areas. Comparison of the pre‐ and post‐urban rainfall patterns indicated that the diurnal rainfall distribution has changed in southeast Texas. The changes are most significant in the urban area, especially for the afternoon time increments during the warm season. The average warm‐season rainfall amount registered in the urban area increased by 25% from the pre‐ to the post‐urban time period, while the amount in the upwind control region decreased by 8%. The majority of the increase was observed for the noon to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. time increments. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evidence of Urban-Induced Precipitation Variability in Arid Climate Regimes

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The study employs a 108-year precipitation historical data record, global climate observing network observations and satellite data to identify possible anomalies in rainfall in and around two major arid urban areas, Phoenix, Arizona and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The analysis reveals that during the monsoon season, locations in northeastern suburbs and exurbs of the Phoenix metropolitan area have experienced statistically significant increases in mean precipitation of 12–14% from a pre-urban (1895–1949) to post-urban (1950–2003) period. Further analysis of satellite-based rainfall rates suggests the existence of the anomaly region (AR) over a 7-year period. The anomaly cannot simply be attributed to maximum topographic relief and is hypothesized to be related to urban-topographic interactions and possibly irrigation moisture. Temperature records suggest that Riyadh has experienced an adjustment in mean temperature in response to the growth of urban surfaces (e.g. the so-called urban heat island effect). While ground-based precipitation records also indicate an upward trend in mean and total precipitation in and around Riyadh in the last 10–15 years, it is difficult to attribute the increase to urbanization because other less urbanized stations in Saudi Arabia also show a similar increase. Recent satellite-based precipitation estimates indicate an AR 50–100 km north of Riyadh, but this study is not robust enough to conclusively link it to urbanization although certain climate-regime attributes suggests that it might be.

International Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Program and Mission: An Overview

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The purpose of the International Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Program is to develop a next-generation space-based measuring system which can fulfill the requirements for frequent, global, and accurate precipitation measurements. The associated GPM Mission is being developed as an international collaboration of space agencies, weather and hydrometeorological forecast services, research institutions, and individual scientists. The design and development of the GPM Mission is an outgrowth of valuable knowledge and published findings enabled by the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM). From the TRMM experience, it was recognized that the GPM Mission must consist of a mixed nonsunsynchronous and sunsynchronous orbiting satellite constellation in order to have the capability to provide physically based retrievals on a global basis, with ~3-h sampling assured at any given Earth coordinate ~90% of the time. The heart of the GPM constellation is the Core satellite, under joint development by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which will carry a dual frequency Ku/Kaband precipitation radar (PR) and a high-resolution, multichannel passive microwave (PMW) rain radiometer. The core is required to serve as the calibration reference system and the fundamental microphysics probe to enable an integrated measuring system made up of additional constellation support satellites, each carrying at a minimum some type of PMW radiometer. In this article the bac

Urbanization Signature in the Observed Heavy Rainfall Climatology Over India

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We assess the urbanization impacts on the heavy rainfall climatology during the Indian summer monsoon. While a number of studies have identified the impact of urbanization on local precipitation, a large‐scale assessment has been lacking. This relation between urbanization and Indian monsoon rainfall changes is investigated by analyzing in situ and satellite‐based precipitation and population datasets. Using a long‐term daily rainfall dataset and high‐resolution gridded analysis of human population, this study showed a significantly increasing trend in the frequency of heavy rainfall climatology over urban regions of India during the monsoon season. Urban regions experience less occurrences of light rainfall and significantly higher occurrences of intense precipitation compared to nonurban regions. Very heavy and extreme rainfall events showed increased trends over both urban and rural areas, but the trends over urban areas were larger and statistically more significant. Our analysis suggests that there is adequate statistical basis to conclude that the observed increasing trend in the frequency of heavy rainfall events over Indian monsoon region is more likely to be over regions where the pace of urbanization is faster. Moreover, rainfall measurements from satellites also indicate that urban areas are more (less) likely to experience heavier (lighter) precipitation rates compared to those in nonurban areas. While the mechanisms causing this enhancement in rainfall remain to be studied, the results provide the evidence that the increase in the heavy rainfall climatology over the Indian monsoon region is a signature of urban‐induced rainfall anomaly. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society

Global Urban Land-Use Trends and Climate Impacts

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Detection of Urban-Induced Rainfall Anomalies in a Major Coastal City

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There is increasing evidence that large coastal cities, like Houston, Texas, can influence weather through complex urban land use–weather–climate feedbacks. Recent work in the literature establishes the existence of enhanced lightning activity over and downwind of Houston. Since lightning is a signature of convection in the atmosphere, it would seem reasonable that urbanized Houston would also impact the distribution of rainfall. This paper presents results using data from the world’s first satellite-based precipitation radar (PR) aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and ground-based rain gauges to quantify rainfall anomalies that we hypothesize to be linked to extensive urbanization in the Houston area. It is one of the first rigorous efforts to quantify an urban-induced rainfall anomaly near a major U.S. coastal city and one of the first applications of space-borne radar data to the problem. Quantitative results reveal the presence of annual and warm season rainfall anomalies over and downwind of Houston. Several hypotheses have surfaced to explain how the sea breeze, coastline curvature, or urbanized Houston environment interacts with the atmospheric system to impact rainfall. This paper presents evidence that the urban heat island’s influence is of primary significance in causing the observed precipitation anomalies. Precipitation is a key link in the global water cycle and a proper understanding of its temporal and spatial character will have broad implications in ongoing climate diagnostics and prediction, Global Water and Energy Cycle (GWEC) analysis and modeling, weather forecasting, freshwater resource management, and land–atmosphere–ocean interface processes.

Rainfall Modification by Major Urban Areas: Observations from Spaceborne Rain Radar on the TRMM Satellite

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Data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite’s precipitation radar (PR) were employed to identify warm-season rainfall (1998–2000) patterns around Atlanta, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; and San Antonio, Waco, and Dallas, Texas. Results reveal an average increase of about 28% in monthly rainfall rates within 30–60 km downwind of the metropolis, with a modest increase of 5.6% over the metropolis. Portions of the downwind area exhibit increases as high as 51%. The percentage changes are relative to an upwind control area. It was also found that maximum rainfall rates in the downwind impact area exceeded the mean value in the upwind control area by 48%–116%. The maximum value was generally found at an average distance of 39 km from the edge of the urban center or 64 km from the center of the city. Results are consistent with the Metropolitan Meteorological Experiment (METROMEX) studies of St. Louis, Missouri, almost two decades ago and with more recent studies near Atlanta. The study establishes the possibility of utilizing satellite-based rainfall estimates for examining rainfall modification by urban areas on global scales and over longer time periods. Such research has implications for weather forecasting, urban planning, water resource management, and understanding human impact on the environment and climate.

A Review of Current Investigations of Urban-Induced Rainfall and Recommendations for the Future

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Precipitation is a key link in the global water cycle and a proxy for changing climate; therefore, proper assessment of the urban environment’s impact on precipitation (land use, aerosols, thermal properties) will be increasingly important in ongoing climate diagnostics and prediction, Global Water and Energy Cycle (GWEC) analysis and modeling, weather forecasting, freshwater resource management, urban planning–design, and land–atmosphere–ocean interface processes. These facts are particularly critical if current projections for global urban growth are accurate.

The goal of this paper is to provide a concise review of recent (1990–present) studies related to how the urban environment affects precipitation. In addition to providing a synopsis of current work, recent findings are placed in context with historical investigations such as Metropolitan Meteorological Experiment (METROMEX) studies. Both observational and modeling studies of urban-induced rainfall are discussed. Additionally, a discussion of the relative roles of urban dynamic and microphysical (e.g., aerosol) processes is presented. The paper closes with a set of recommendations for what observations and capabilities are needed in the future to advance our understanding of the processes.