Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / This study analyses public participation in the formulation of the Integrated Development Planning in the Beaufort West Municipality. The aim of the study is to examine the nature and extent of public involvement in the formulation of the IDP document through the lens of legislative mandatory processes and public views. It looked at the extent to which the public’s view was considered and also focused on the quality of this engagement with citizens.

The Karoo has been receiving considerable attention since the early 1970’s when uranium mining was at its peak, with numerous research studies being instigated to look at all aspects of uranium mining. It has recently been observed that there seems to be resurgence in uranium exploration in and around the town of Beaufort West. A study on the transport mechanisms of uranium and thorium in fractured-rock aquifers, initiated in the hope of understanding the actual processes controlling radionuclide mobilisation, is reported here. Hydrochemical investigations of the various boreholes were sampled for water quality in June, 2009. The hydrochemical description is typical of shallow fresh groundwater, changing composition to a more sulphate hydrochemical facies along the flow path. While the geochemistry of groundwater in the study area seems to have minimal effects on uranium concentrations, the low levels of uranium in boreholes sampled suggest the importance of hydrological and lithological variability on the measured concentrations. Nevertheless, the uranium concentration is within the recommended levels as specified in the US-EPA, WHO and SA water quality guidelines and thus poses no immediate threat to the general public. Analysis of pumping and tracer tests, reveals that the fractured-rock aquifer can be highly transmissive and that transport can take place via multiple flow paths having different hydraulic properties. Tracer diffusing into stagnant water zones within fracture asperities and the rock matrix are seen as an important retardation mechanism, that has implications for remediation should the aquifer be contaminated by radionuclides. In terms of conceptualising flow at a local scale, aperture sizes ranging from (563-828ìm) along with high flow velocities (1.90E-03m/s), points to the importance of bedding-plane fractures as conduits of groundwater flow. The groundwater flow has been influenced by dolerite dykes creating compartments isolated from each other, suggesting a highly complex aquifer system. Based on the conceptual model, it is shown that these structures can create unique, site specific flow conditions. The integration of all available data into the conceptual model provides an effective research tool that can be built upon as a basis for further research. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Geology / unrestricted

Résumé : Au-delà de tous débats scientifiques actuels, un constat unanime est certainement la réduction du couvert de glace dans l’océan Arctique, associé au réchauffement planétaire. La réduction du couvert de glace aura sans doute des impacts encore imprévisibles sur le milieu marin. Nous avons, dans ce contexte, traité des données satellitaires et des données de mesures de réalité de terrain de campagnes océanographiques dans la portion sud-est de la mer de Beaufort afin d’étudier les variabilités spatiale et temporelle de la biomasse phytoplanctonique et tenter de les relier aux processus physiques existants dans ce milieu. La mer de Beaufort étant fortement influencée par les eaux douces du fleuve Mackenzie, il était probable que les algorithmes de couleur de l’eau opérationnels actuels ne permettaient pas une estimation juste de la concentration de la chlorophylle-a (chl-a) et, par conséquent, de la production primaire qui est à la base de la chaîne alimentaire marine. L’analyse des données bio-optiques a confirmé cette hypothèse montrant une surestimation de la chl-a in situ par un facteur variant entre 3 et 5. La forte contribution de la matière organique colorée dissoute et des particules non-algales à l’absorption de la lumière apparaît comme la source principale de cette surestimation. Nous avons donc proposé des algorithmes adaptés ainsi que de nouveaux algorithmes utilisant deux rapports de bandes spectrales permettant une estimation plus précise de la chl-a dans le sud-est de la mer de Beaufort. Une comparaison entre des données de réalité de terrain et des images satellitaires a aussi montré que la réflectance normalisée à la surface de l’eau, de même que le rapport bleu-vert, étaient plus précis à l’aide des données du capteur SeaWiFS que de celles des capteurs MODIS et MERIS. Nous avons procédé à une analyse des patrons de chl-a et de température de surface pour cinq sous-régions géographiques dans la mer de Beaufort à l’aide de sept années de données satellitaires SeaWiFS et AVHRR (1998-2004). Les résultats ont montré que les variabilités spatiale, temporelle et interannuelle de la biomasse phytoplanctonique sont régies par plusieurs facteurs environnementaux affectant la stratification de la colonne d’eau, soit le forçage du vent, la dynamique de la glace, la température de l’air, l’ensoleillement et les courants marins. Une approche statistique basée sur le concept de provinces non statiques a permis de partitionner la mer de Beaufort en quatre provinces biophysiques distinctes, apportant un nouvel éclairage sur les propriétés biophysiques de cette mer. L'analyse des données a aussi permis de détecter une tendance à l'augmentation de la chl-a dans deux secteurs de la mer de Beaufort : le plateau du Mackenzie et la partie sud du golfe d'Amundsen. Finalement, une analyse de gradients spatiaux, effectuée à partir d’images de température de surface de l’eau a permis de détecter des fronts thermiques récurrents. Ces structures spatiales jouent un rôle majeur dans l’écosystème marin, en particulier en raison de leur impact sur le développement de la biomasse phytoplanctonique. Nous avons mis en évidence des nouvelles structures frontales sur le plateau du Mackenzie et dans la région de la polynie du cap Bathurst. Les nouveaux fronts détectés sont principalement reliés à des particularités bathymétriques de la région, à la présence du panache du fleuve Mackenzie ainsi qu’à la gyre de Beaufort. En conclusion, la réalisation de cette étude a permis de générer de nouvelles informations sur les interactions entre les processus physiques et biologiques, permettant ainsi de mieux appréhender les conséquences biogéochimiques et écologiques résultant des modifications climatiques dans la mer de Beaufort. // Abstract : The Arctic Ocean ecosystem is experiencing significant changes such as a drastic reduction in seasonal sea-ice cover linked to global warming. These changes are likely to modify the physics, biogeochemistry and ecology of this unique environment in ways that are yet to be understood. In this context, we processed satellite data and in situ measurements in the southeastern Beaufort Sea to explore the spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton biomass and link it to existing physical processes in this region. The optical properties of the Beaufort Sea being under the influence of the Mackenzie River plume, it was likely that operational ocean color algorithms did not allow an accurate estimate of chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) that is a key indicator of phytoplankton biomass and marine productivity. Analysis of bio-optical data confirmed this hypothesis showing an overestimation of Chl-a in situ by a factor of three to five. High contribution of colored dissolved organic matter and non algal particles to the blue light absorption appears as the source of that poor performance. We propose regionally adapted and new algorithms using ratio of two spectral bands allowing better accuracy estimation of Chl-a in the southeastern Beaufort Sea. A match-up analysis of coincident in situ data and satellite overpass showed that the normalized water-leaving reflectance and the blue-to-green ratio retrieval were more accurate for SeaWiFS data than for MODIS and MERIS data. We investigated temporal and spatial linkages between physical and biological parameters to infer the boundaries of biophysical areas in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. Monthly sea surface temperature (AVHRR) data and chlorophyll a data from SeaWiFS were collected over seven years in five geographical sub-regions in the Beaufort Sea (1998-2004). Results showed that the spatial, temporal and inter-annual variability of phytoplankton biomass are driven by several environmental factors affecting the stratification of the water column : wind forcing, ice dynamics, air temperature, irradiance and currents. A cluster analysis based on the concept of non-static provinces was used to define four biophysical provinces in this sea. Positive temporal trends were detected for Chl-a over two regions of the Beaufort Sea : the Mackenzie Shelf and the southern portion of Amundsen Gulf. Finally, an analysis of spatial gradients, using 11 years of sea surface temperature images, allowed the detection of recurrent thermal fronts. These spatial structures play a major role in the marine ecosystem, particularly because of their impact on the development of phytoplankton biomass. We highlighted new frontal structures on the Mackenzie Shelf and in the Cape Bathurst polynya area. These identified new fronts are mainly related to bathymetric features of the region, the presence of the Mackenzie River plume and the Beaufort Gyre. In conclusion, this study has generated new information on the interactions between physical and biological processes to better understand the biogeochemical and ecological consequences of climate change in the Beaufort Sea.

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2006-2007 / Les pergélisols nordiques contiennent une quantité significative de carbone organique. Or, son utilisation par les microorganismes dans les rivières et l’océan Arctique est peu connue. Au cours de l’Arctic River-Delta Experiment (ARDEX), des variables environnementales et microbiologiques furent mesurées le long d’un transect de 300 km entre le fleuve Mackenzie et la mer de Beaufort (juillet-août 2004). Nous voulions étudier les gradients fluviaux et estuariens de la structure et de l’activité de la communauté microbienne et évaluer l’influence des UV et de l’approvisionnement en carbone sur les processus bactériens. La communauté microbienne a changé le long du transect et les bactéries attachées aux particules jouaient un rôle majeur dans le fleuve et la zone de transition. Le métabolisme bactérien était limité par la disponibilité du carbone dans le fleuve Mackenzie. La photodégradation a augmenté la labilité du carbone organique dans le fleuve, mais l’a diminuée dans la mer de Beaufort. / Globally significant quantities of organic carbon are stored in northern permafrost soils, but little is known about how this carbon is processed by microbial communities once it enters rivers and is transported to the coastal Arctic Ocean. As part of the Arctic River-Delta Experiment (ARDEX), we measured environmental and microbiological variables along a 300 km transect across the Mackenzie River and coastal Beaufort Sea in July-August 2004 to investigate the river and estuarine gradients in microbial community structure and activity, and to evaluate the influence of UV exposure and carbon supply on bacterial processes in these ecosystems. Microbial community structure changed along the transect and the contribution of particle-attached bacteria was significantly higher in riverine and transition zone stations. Experimental results showed that bacterial metabolism was carbon limited in the Mackenzie River. Photodegradation increased organic carbon biolability in the Mackenzie River and decreased it in the Beaufort Sea.

At present the Karoo Basin covers approximately 20 000 km2. It is a large intracratonic basin which, from Carboniferous to Jurassic times, was infilled with a succession of sediments ranging from glacial deposits to those deposited in warm, equable conditions. The Beaufort Group forms part of this succession, and was deposited in a terrestrial, river dominated environment. The dominant lithologies exposed in the Estcourt region in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands belong to the lower and middle Beaufort divided by the PermoTriassic boundary. The Permo-Triassic palaeoenvironment in this region is reconstructed using sedimentary profiles combined with the study of the fossil remains discovered in the area, including plant, body, and trace fossils. The lower Beaufort sediments in this region belong to the Estcourt Formation, and the Middle Beaufort sediments to the Belmont Formation. The Estcourt Formation is dominated by a succession of alternating sandstones, siltstones and mudstones, which are interpreted as representing sediments deposited in a fluvial-floodplain environment, which can be divided into two sub-environments. The first is dominated by sediments that were deposited by meandering rivers on a semi-arid floodplain, and the second sub-environment is represented by those sediments deposited in lacustrine environments. Both of these subenvironments are closely linked and alternate in the rock record indicating many episodes of transgressive-regressive lacustrine episodes. The Estcourt Formation can be closely correlated with the lower Beaufort sediments mapped in other regions of the Karoo Basin, indicating similar climatic and environmental controls throughout the Karoo Basin of southern Africa. The Estcourt Formation also contains a wide variety of body and trace fossils. The PermoTriassic boundary can be traced along the western border of Estcourt by using the distribution pattern of the two mammal-like reptiles Dicynodon and Lystrosaurus. There is evidence of an overlap in the distribution between these to mammal-like reptiles, which together with palaeoflora evidence, indicates that Lystrosaurus evolved during the Late Permian and not Early Triassic as previously thought. The first Triassic sediments are represented in the Estcourt region by a series of maroon shales which can be correlated with the Palingkloof Member. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1997.

Here we report vertical profiles of dissolved (0.2 um filtered) Aluminum (Al) for eight stations in the Beaufort Sea in the Canadian Arctic, six of which are along a transect extending from the coastal shelf northeast of the Mackenzie River delta out to the Beaufort Sea. Sampling was performed aboard the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier in September 2007 and all analyses were performed in a Class 100 clean space at the University of Victoria. Vertical profiles of dissolved Al in the water column displayed surface maxima, subsurface minima and a general increase in concentration with depth as is characteristic of a “scavenged” trace element in seawater. Concentrations of dissolved Al for the upper 1000 m were generally low ranging from the < 1 nmol kg-1 observed in the sub-surface minimum corresponding to the Pacific inflow layer and increasing to ~6-10 nmol kg-1 with depth. The surface maxima at stations for Al was associated with relatively fresh surface water (26-30 PSS) that is believed to be the result of seasonal sea-ice melt. This correlation suggests that the melting of sea-ice with entrained sediments may be an important mechanism for the delivery of Al and associated trace metals to the water column of the Beaufort Sea. We also report measurements of “total Al” (unfiltered and acidified to pH 1.7 for two year prior to analysis) for the Arctic Ocean which indicate that a significant proportion of Al in the water column is present in the > 0.2 um fraction. These measurements and the hydrographic data along the transect indicate the transport of a cold, saline, metal enriched water mass off of the continental shelf into the Canada Basin. This water mass appears to reflect the return of cold, high salinity slope water originally emplaced on the shelf by upwelling favourable winds. Alternatively, this water mass may be the product of brine exclusion from sea-ice formation during the previous winter that was unable to vacate the shelf due to the persistent upwelling observed throughout 2007. This finding suggests that the convection of cold, dense shelf water may be a mechanism for supplying the deep waters of the Arctic with an injection of water containing a significant Al content. In addition, a low volume sequential injection analysis (SIA) method is proposed for determination of elevated concentrations of Al, like those typically observed in coastal and river waters. A thorough optimization of the chemistry and instrumental parameters was performed along with an extensive investigation into potential interferents. The method was found to be largely free of interferents at environmentally relevant concentrations and was determined to have a detection limit of 24 nM. The precision of the method was reported to be 2% at 75 nmol kg-1 and analysis of the SLRS-4 certified reference material validated the accuracy of the method. Analysis of several samples that were previously analyzed via flow injection analysis (FIA) and standardized with consensus values of an open ocean reference material indicated the method returned comparable values for the Al concentration in the samples. Development and optimization of the SIA has resulted in an accurate and precise low-cost method of analysis that is both sensitive and relatively free from interference for the detection of nano-molar levels of Al in coastal and natural waters.

High Arctic permafrosted soils represent a massive sink in the global carbon cycle, accounting for twice as much carbon as what is currently stored as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, with current warming trends this sink is in danger of thawing and potentially releasing large amounts of carbon as both carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. It is difficult to make predictions about the future of this sink without knowing how it has reacted to past temperature and climate changes. This dissertation summarizes the results of the first study to look at long term, fine scale organic carbon delivery by the high-Arctic Colville River into Simpson’s Lagoon in the near-shore Beaufort Sea. Modern delivery of organic carbon to the Lagoon was determined to come from a variety of sources through the use of a three end-member mixing model and sediment biomarker concentrations. These sources include the Colville River in the western area of the Lagoon near the river mouth, marine sources in areas of the Lagoon without protective barrier islands, and coastal erosional sources and the Mackenzie River in the eastern area of the Lagoon. Downcore organic carbon delivery was measured on two cores in the Lagoon, one taken near the mouth of the Colville River (spans about 1800 years of history) and one taken on the eastern end of the Lagoon (spans about 600 years of history). Bulk organic parameters and biomarkers were measured in both cores and analyzed with Principle Component Analysis to determine long-term trends in organic carbon delivery. It was shown that at various times in the past, highly degraded organic carbon inputs of what is likely soil and peat carbon were delivered to the Lagoon. At other times, inputs of fresher, non-degraded, terrestrially-derived organic carbon inputs of what are likely higher amounts of plant and vegetative material was delivered to the Lagoon. Inputs of degraded soil carbon were also shown to correspond to higher temperatures on the North Slope of Alaska, likely indicating that warmer temperatures lead to a thawing of permafrost and in turn organic carbon mobilization to the coastal Beaufort Sea.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / BACKGROUND: The application of dental sealants is a recommended procedure to prevent and control dental caries. However, despite strong evidence for the safety and effectiveness of dental sealants, their use still remains low, especially among children from lower socioeconomic communities. The World Health Organization (WHO), Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) strongly endorse the implementation of school based dental sealant programmes as a community-based preventive strategy to increase sealant use and reduce dental caries. However, in the WHO African Region, oral health is seen as a very low priority and this is compounded by limited technical and managerial resources. The availability of human resources and equipment are crucial for the successful placement of dental sealants. A gap in the research literature was identified for determining the effectiveness of fissure sealants placed under field conditions. AIM: To evaluate the caries preventive effect as well as retention status of a resin-based fissure sealant that was placed under field conditions as part of a school based sealant programme. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at two primary schools in close proximity of each other in the same low socio-economic area in Beaufort West, South Africa. The study population consisted of grade two children between the ages of 7-9 years who had fully erupted first permanent molar teeth. The case group consisted of 100 learners who received dental sealants on caries-free first permanent molar teeth 12 months earlier. The control group consisted of a random selection of the same number of learners from the adjacent school. Dental caries on the occlusal surfaces of the first permanent molar teeth was detected by making use of the decayed (D) portion of the decayed, missing and filled tooth (DMFT) score, while a separate diagnosis distinguished between cavitated and non-cavitated lesions. Sealant retention was determined by a calibrated examiner who was not involved in the placement of the sealants. RESULTS: The response rate of the study was 80.0% (n=100) and 78.9% (n=356) of the fissure sealants that were originally placed were evaluated. When the sealants were placed in 2013, 52.0% of the children were female and at the 12 month follow-up, 51.3% were female. The average age of the female children at follow-up was 8 years and 4 months (99.9 months) and 8 years and 5 months (101.8 months) for the males. The standard deviation of the gender profiles differed by 1 month only and implies an equal distribution of age between female and male children throughout the study. Just less than ten per cent (7.8%) of the sealants were fully intact at the 12 month follow-up examination and 91% were totally lost, which is a higher sealant loss rate than what is generally reported on in the literature. Of the 7.8% fully retained sealants, a statistically significant proportion (p=0.044) were found on the mandibular molar teeth. The caries incidence rate in the sealed group was 7.1% versus 9.1% in the control group. Relative risk (RR) calculations was slightly lower for the sealed (RR=0.79) than the unsealed (RR=1.02) teeth. CONCLUSION: The study showed a 2% lower caries prevalence rate on the occlusal surfaces of the sealed versus the unsealed teeth. However, this does not represent a statistically significant finding (P=0.39). The study also showed a low retention rate for the resin-based sealants placed under field conditions (12 month retention rate of 7.8%). The results from this study has therefore shown that resin-based fissure sealants placed on grade 1 learners under field conditions appear to be not ideal in preventing the onset of dental caries on the occlusal surfaces of the first permanent molar teeth.

Pregnant polar bears (Ursus maritimus) construct maternal dens out of snow in the autumn where they give birth to and raise altricial young. In recent years, there has been a decrease in polar sea ice extent and thickness, which has led to changes in denning behavior. One such change in the southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) is that polar bears are selecting maternal den sites on land, rather than on unstable sea ice. This change, coupled with expanding petroleum exploration along Alaska's North Slope, heightens the likelihood of bear-human interactions at maternal den sites. The purpose of this research was to 1) describe polar bears' post-den emergence behavior, establishing a benchmark for comparison to identify behavioral changes associated with climate change and disturbance, and 2) explore factors influencing the efficacy of a currently used den detection method, forward-looking infrared (FLIR). Maternal den sites were observed along Alaska's North Slope from March to April of 2009 and 2010. The mean length of stay at den sites post-emergence was 11.3 ± 7.5 d. The mean date of den emergence was 14 March; abandonment 26 March. Adult females were generally inactive (58.4% out-of-den time) with standing being the most prevalent activity (49.9%). Cubs were generally active (76.7%), playing more than any other activity (45.3%). Bears spent the majority of their time in the den (97.3% for adult females and 99% for cubs) with short bouts of intermittent activity (× = 7 min 42 s). We documented the death of one member of a triplet polar bear litter at its den site. All three cubs showed low activity levels relative to other cubs observed, and one died within one week of den emergence. Necropsy confirmed that the dead cub had a low body weight and was malnourished. Capture later confirmed that the two surviving cubs were also undersized. Triplet litters are often smaller and suffer higher mortality rates than singletons and twins. This cub was not only a triplet but also born following 2 y of record minimum sea ice extent, both of which may have played a role in this cub's death. Concurrent with the den emergence portion of this work, we conducted a separate study to identify limitations and optimal conditions for locating dens using FLIR. We took handheld FLIR images of three artificial dens under varied conditions. We tested variables hypothesized to influence detectability with linear models using a zero-inflated negative binomial distribution. Solar radiation, wind speed, and den wall thickness reduced the likelihood of detecting dens. The negative effect of wind speed on detectability increased with increasing distance. To maximize the efficacy of hand-held FLIR, den surveys should be conducted when solar radiation is <16 w/m2 (night) and when wind speed is <10 km/h (6 mph). Adherence to these guidelines will maximize the protection FLIR can afford to denning bears.

Ce travail permet grâce aux résultats de la pétrologie, géochimie et l'étude structurale de ce massif de déterminer les ensembles suivants qui sont d'est en ouest : - le complexe blastomylonitique : ancienne série sédimentaire : arkose, grès schistes à laquelle sont associées des roches basiques - le complexe leptyno-amphibolique : aux leptynites et amphibolites, il convient d'ajouter des gneiss à biotite et gneiss amphibolites - la série verte - la série satinée externe Un schéma synthétique de l'évolution du socle de Belledonne est proposé.