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Spotřeba vody z veřejných vodovodů / Water demand in water supply systemsPikal, Martin January 2014 (has links)
Within this diploma thesis were evaluated factors, affecting consumption of drinking water from water supply system. Evaluation of time series of water consumption and chosen factors was performed using tools of mathematical statistics. In the last step was performed a dependence analysis of water consumption using artificial neuron network ANN. Diploma thesis was solved in cooperation with company Vodárenská akciová společnost, PLC and Severomoravské vodovody a kanalizace Ostrava, PCL.
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Computational study of low index surface of an anatase TiO2 doped with ruthenium (Ru) and strontium (sr) for application in Dye sensitized solar cellsNemudzivhadi, Hulisani 18 May 2019 (has links)
MSc (Physics) / Department of Physics / Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is considered to be an ideal semiconductor for photocatalysis because of its high stability, low cost and safety towards both humans and the environment. Doping TiO2 with different elements has attracted much attention as the most important way of enhancing the visible light absorption, in order to improve the efficiency of the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, first principle density functional theory was used to investigate electronic and optical properties of bulk anatase TiO2, undoped, and ruthenium (Ru) and strontium (Sr) doped anatase TiO2 (1 0 0) surface. Two different doping approaches i.e., substitutional and adsorption mechanisms were considered in this study. The results showed that absorption band edges of Ru and Sr-doped anatase TiO2 (1 0 0) surface shift to the long wavelength region compared to the bulk anatase TiO2 and undoped anatase TiO2 (1 0 0) surface. Also, the results revealed that the band gap values and the carrier mobility in the valence band, conduction band and impurity energy levels have a synergetic influence on the visible-light absorption and photocatalytic activity of the doped anatase TiO2 (1 0 0) surface. Furthermore, according to the calculated results, we propose the optical transition mechanisms of Ru and Sr-doped anatase TiO2 (1 0 0) surface. Thus, we conclude that the visible light response of TiO2 can be modulated by doping with both Ru and Sr. However, Sr-doped system shows higher photocatalytic activity than the Ru-doped system. The study has successfully probed the interesting optical response mechanism of TiO2 (1 0 0) surface. / NRF
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Probabilistic solar power forecasting using partially linear additive quantile regression models: an application to South African dataMpfumali, Phathutshedzo 18 May 2019 (has links)
MSc (Statistics) / Department of Statistics / This study discusses an application of partially linear additive quantile regression
models in predicting medium-term global solar irradiance using data
from Tellerie radiometric station in South Africa for the period August 2009
to April 2010. Variables are selected using a least absolute shrinkage and
selection operator (Lasso) via hierarchical interactions and the parameters
of the developed models are estimated using the Barrodale and Roberts's
algorithm. The best models are selected based on the Akaike information
criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), adjusted R squared
(AdjR2) and generalised cross validation (GCV). The accuracy of the forecasts
is evaluated using mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square
errors (RMSE). To improve the accuracy of forecasts, a convex forecast combination
algorithm where the average loss su ered by the models is based
on the pinball loss function is used. A second forecast combination method
which is quantile regression averaging (QRA) is also used. The best set
of forecasts is selected based on the prediction interval coverage probability
(PICP), prediction interval normalised average width (PINAW) and prediction
interval normalised average deviation (PINAD). The results show that
QRA is the best model since it produces robust prediction intervals than
other models. The percentage improvement is calculated and the results
demonstrate that QRA model over GAM with interactions yields a small
improvement whereas QRA over a convex forecast combination model yields
a higher percentage improvement. A major contribution of this dissertation
is the inclusion of a non-linear trend variable and the extension of forecast
combination models to include the QRA. / NRF
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Assessment of soil erosion hazard around the abandoned mine in formerly Mutale Municipality, Limpopo Province, South AfricaBvindi, Abidence 18 May 2019 (has links)
MENVSC (Geography) / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences / Environmental degradation is a quite familiar factor of the mining industry that has been associated with South African mining industry from the beginning. The decommissioning of abandoned mines before the environment legislation, The National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 and the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 23 of 2002, was introduced is of great concern as the abandonment of mines without appropriate remediation and pollution monitoring was the result.
Soil erosion has been recognised as an environmental hazard that emanates from abandoned mines. This study seeks to assess the soil erosion hazard around Nyala abandoned mine. The modified method of Soil Loss Estimation Model for Southern Africa (SLEMSA), for assessing soil erosion hazard, was used to estimate the spatial variation of erosion to achieve the goal of the study. Parameters that were considered for the model include relief (Slope steepness, S & slope length, L), soil erodibility (Fb), vegetation cover (C) and rainfall erosivity (E). Soil samples were collected from the field and; sieve and hydrometer analysis was conducted to determine the erodibility factor value of the study area. The model was run in a GIS environment (ArcGIS) and the parameters were multiplied to generate a soil erosion hazard map for the abandoned Nyala mine area.
Results from the study indicated that 74.3 % of the watershed experiences low to moderate erosion hazard, with an estimated annual soil loss of 2.76 tons/ha/yr. The low rates of soil erosion in most parts of the watershed are associated with the low topographic ratio and low rainfall erosivity. The research demonstrated that the modified SLEMSA model used within GIS is a very useful tool as it enhances the capacity to assess and model the spatial variation of soil erosion hazard in a timeously and affordable manner. / NRF
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The effects of weather variability on growth potential of Afrikaner cattle in a semi-arid region in ZimbabweChipfupa, Lukas 11 1900 (has links)
Only part of the abstract could be included due to the rest having renderable text / The abiotic environment plays an important role in cattle production. Key abiotic elements evaluated in this study are rainfall and temperature. This study was carried out to assess the effect and contribution of rainfall and temperature, amid other factors, on pre- and post-weaning growth traits of Afrikaner cattle at Matopos Research Institute from 1958 to 1997.
Historical data generated from a genotype x environment interaction study at Matopos Research Institute was used to identify factors associated with the average daily weight gain of calves of Afrikaner cattle breed. A total of 10 700 records were retrieved comprising of birth weight (BW), 90 day weight, 205 day weight and early post-weaning weight as well as additional corresponding rainfall and temperature data from 1958 to 1997. The rainfall and temperature data was computed asrainfall and temperature variability. The data was corrected for heteroscedasticity using the generalized least squares approach (GLS) before running an ordinary least square regression (OLS) analysis to determine the association between growth rate and potential explanatory factors for average daily weight gain, pre-weaning weight gain and early post-weaning weight gain. / Agriculture and Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)
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Model Analysis of the Hydrologic Response to Climate Change in the Upper Deschutes Basin, OregonWaibel, Michael Scott 01 January 2010 (has links)
Considerable interest lies in understanding the hydrologic response to climate change in the upper Deschutes Basin, particularly as it relates to groundwater fed streams. Much of the precipitation occurring in the recharge zone falls as snow. Consequently, the timing of runoff and recharge depend on accumulation and melting of the snowpack. Numerical modeling can provide insights into evolving hydrologic system response for resource management consideration. A daily mass and energy balance model known as the Deep Percolation Model (DPM) was developed for the basin in the 1990s. This model uses spatially distributed data and is driven with daily climate data to calculate both daily and monthly mass and energy balance for the major components of the hydrologic budget across the basin. Previously historical daily climate data from weather stations in the basin was used to drive the model. Now we use the University of Washington Climate Impact Group's 1/16th degree daily downscaled climate data to drive the DPM for forecasting until the end of the 21st century. The downscaled climate data is comprised from the mean of eight GCM simulations well suited to the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, there are low emission and high emission scenarios associated with each ensemble member leading to two distinct means. For the entire basin progressing into the 21st century, output from the DPM using both emission scenarios as a forcing show changes in the timing of runoff and recharge as well as significant reductions in snowpack. Although the DPM calculated amounts of recharge and runoff varies between the emission scenario of the ensemble under consideration, all model output shows loss of the spring snowmelt runoff / recharge peak as time progresses. The response of the groundwater system to changing in the time and amount of recharge varies spatially. Short flow paths in the upper part of the basin are potentially more sensitive to the change in seasonality. However, geologic controls on the system cause this signal to attenuate as it propagates into the lower portions of the basin. This scale-dependent variation to the response of the groundwater system to changes in seasonality and magnitude of recharge is explored by applying DPM calculated recharge to an existing regional groundwater flow model.
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Evaluating Sea-Level Rise Hazards on Coastal Archaeological Sites, Trinity Bay, TexasElliott, Patrick 05 1900 (has links)
This study uses the predictive modeling program Sea-Levels Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) to evaluate sea-level rise hazards, such as erosion and inundation, on coastal archaeological sites with a vertical rise of sea level of .98 meters from 2006 to 2100. In total 177 archaeological site locations were collected and georeferenced over GIS outputs maps of wetlands, erosion presence, surface elevation, and accretion. Wetlands data can provide useful information about characteristics of the wetland classes, which make a difference in the ability for coastal archaeological sites to combat sea level rise. Additionally, the study evaluated predicted erosion of archaeological sites by presence or absence of active erosion on a cell-by-cell basis. Elevation map outputs relative to mean tide level allowed for a calculation of individual archaeological site datums to use NOAA tidal databases to identify the potential for their inundation. Accretion maps acquired from the SLAMM run determined the potential for the archaeological site locations to combat rising sea levels and potentially provide protection from wave effects. Results show that the most significant hazard predicted to affect coastal archaeological sites is inundation. Approximately 54% of the total archaeological sites are predicted to be inundated at least half the time by 2100. The hazard of erosion, meanwhile, is expected to affect 33% of all archaeological sites by the end of the century. Although difficult to predict, the study assumes that accretion will not be able to keep pace with sea-level rise. Such findings of hazards prove that SLAMM is a useful tool for predicting potential effects of sea-level rise on coastal archaeological sites. With its ability to customize and as it is complementary, it provides itself not only an economical choice but also one that is adaptable to many scenarios.
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Acclimation effects on thermal tolerance in ameronothrid mites at sub-Antarctic Marion IslandDeere, Jacques Andries 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Evidence for widespread ecological impacts due to rapid climate change is on the
increase, with further warming predicted over the next century. This increase in warming
has lead to organisms adjusting their distribution range and where this is not possible
organisms must cope with the stressful environments in a different way. One potential way
to handle environmental stress is via a mechanism known as phenotypic plasticity, which
allows an organism to express different phenotypes depending on the biotic or abiotic
environment in a way that may alter that organism's fitness. Acclimation temperatures can
potentially cause plastic (reversible and irreversible) changes in the response of individuals
to stressful experimental conditions that could increase their survival. The issue of whether
this acclimation will be beneficial to the organism or not remains contentious, with support
offered both for and against the idea of beneficial acclimation. The aims of the
investigation were to determine the thermal limits of five ameronothrid mite species
(Halozetes marinus, H marionensis, H belgicae, H. fulvus and Podacarus auberti) from
varying terrestrial habitats and to test whether there is beneficial acclimation on the thermal
traits. Along with the beneficial acclimation hypothesis several alternative hypotheses were
also tested. In addition, locomotor performance was determined as it has been suggested
that locomotion performance is a reliable and practical measure of potential fitness of
animals. The same hypotheses testing the effects of acclimation temperature on the thermal
limits were tested on three performance traits; performance breadth, optimum speed and
optimum temperature. Support for beneficial acclimation was found in the performance
breadth and optimum speed traits for all species except for Halozetes marinus. For the
optimum temperature trait the prediction for the compensation hypothesis was met and that
of the beneficial acclimation hypothesis rejected, with the only exception again being that
of H marinus. In the case of the locomotor performance traits the prediction for the beneficial acclimation hypothesis in the performance breadth and optimum speed traits are
the same for that of the compensation hypothesis, therefore the overall response of the
more terrestrial mite species is one of compensation. However, support for beneficial
acclimation was not found in the thermal limit traits of all five species, with the higher
acclimation temperatures (specifically 150 C) resulting in negative responses in LLT in H.
marinus and H. belgicae, and in ULT in H. fulvus. Phenotypic flexibility varied between
marine and terrestrial species. The less variable marine environment showed lower
flexibility than that of terrestrial species in the performance breadth trait and optimum
temperature trait, but there was a lack of variation between the marine and terrestrial
species in the temperature tolerance traits. These results show that the effects of
acclimation on various traits, especially fitness related traits, are complex and require more
attention if the consequences are to be fully explained. This study therefore provides
insight into the effects of acclimation on performance traits and thermal limit traits and has
implications for the evolution of plastic responses in terrestrial arthropods. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bewys vir wye ekologiese impakte as gevolg van vinnige klimaatsverandering is aan
die toeneem, met verdere verwarming wat voorspel word gedurende die volgende eeu. Dié
toename in verwarming het alreeds veroorsaak dat organismes hulle verspreidings
verander, of waar dit nie moontlik is nie, moet hulle stresvolle omgewingstoestande op 'n
ander wyse hanteer. Een moontlike manier om omgewingsstres te hanteer is deur gebruik te
maak van 'n meganisme wat bekend staan as fenotipiese plastisiteit, wat dit vir 'n
organisme moontlik maak om ander fenotipes te toon afhangende van die biotiese of
abiotiese omgewing in 'n wyse wat die organisme se fiksheid beinvloed. Temperatuur
akklimasie kan moontlik plastisiteit (omkeerbaar of onomkeerbaar) veranderinge in die
reaksie van individue tot stresvolle eksperimentele toestande tot gevolg hé, wat gevolglik
hulle oorlewing kan verhoog. Die kwessie of hierdie akklimasie wel voordelig vir die
organisme is of nie is steeds betwisbaar, met beide steun vir en teen die idee van voordelige
akklimasie. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om vas te stel wat die termiese limiete van
vyf ameronothrid myt spesies (Halozetes marinus, H marionensis, H belgicae, H fulvus
en Podacarus auberti) van verskeie terrestriële habitatte is, en om te toets of daar
voordelige akklimasie in die termiese eienskappe voorkom. Tesame met die voordelige
akklimasie hipotese is daar verskeie alternatiewe hipoteses ook getoets. Verder, is
bewegings prestasie vasgestelomdat dit al voorgestel is dat bewegings prestasie 'n
betroubare en praktiese mate van die potensiële fiksheid van 'n dier aantoon. Dieselfde
hipotese wat die effek van akklimasie temperatuur op die termiese limiete toets, is op drie
prestasie eienskappe getoets; prestasie wydte, optimale spoed en optimale temperatuur.
Bewyse vir voordelige akklimasie is gevind in die prestasie wydte en optimale spoed
eienskappe vir alle spesies behalwe Halozetes marinus. Vir die optimale temperatuur
eienskap was die voorspelling vir die kompensasie hipotese korrek maar dié van die voordelige akklimasie verkeerd, met H. marin us die enigste uitsondering. In die geval van
die bewegings prestasie eienskappe is die voorspelling vir die voordelige akklimasie
hipotese in die prestasie wydte en optimale spoed eienskappe die selfde as vir die
kompensasie hipotese. Daarom is die algemene reaksie vir die meer terrestriële spesies een
van kompensasie. Bewyse vir voordelige akklimasie is egter nie gevind in die termiese
limiet eienskappe van die vyf spesies nie, met die hoér akklimasie temperature (spesifiek
15° C) wat 'n negatiewe reaksie in LLT in H. marin us en H. belgicae, en in UL T in H.
fulvus veroorsaak het. Fenotipiese buigsaamheid het verskil tussen mariene en terrestriële
spesies. Die minder variërende mariene omgewing het 'n laer buigsaamheid in die prestasie
wydte en optimale temperatuur eienskappe getoon as die van terrestriële spesies, maar daar
was geen variasie tussen mariene en terrestriële spesies in die temperatuur toleransie
eienskappe nie. Die resultate wat hier voorgelê word wys dat die gevolge van akklimasie
op verskeie eienskappe, veral fiksheids verwante eienskappe, ingewikkeld is en vereis meer
aandag om die gevolge volledig te verduidelik. Hierdie studie verskaf dus insig in die
gevolge van akklimasie vir prestasie eienskappe en termiese limiet eienskappe en het
gevolge vir die evolusie van plastiese reaksies in terrestriële arthropoda.
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The Climatic Response in the Partitioning of the Stable Isotopes of Carbon in Juniper Trees from ArizonaArnold, Larry David January 1979 (has links)
Juniper trees (Juniperus osteosperma, J. monosperma, J. deppeana and J. scopulorum) grow under widely varying climatic and edaphic conditions throughout the American southwest. This study is chiefly concerned with a test of the climatic response in the partitioning of the stable isotopes of carbon in such trees. The relationships developed here, for example, might be used to extract paleoclimatic information from ancient juniper samples preserved in cave middens. In order to test for a climatic response in the leaf cellulose δ¹³C values, leaves from a total of 29 trees were sampled in the immediate vicinity of 9 meteorological stations across the state of Arizona. Care was taken to insure that 22 of the trees experienced only the temperature and precipitation values reflected by their site meteorological stations. As a cross-check, 7 trees exposed to temperature and/or precipitation levels clearly deviant from their site averages were also sampled. In general, each tree was sampled at four places, approximately 2 m above the ground. All leaf samples were reduced to cellulose (holocellulose) before combustion and analysis for their δ¹³C value. The δ¹³C value for each site was derived from an average of 2 to 4 trees per site, the value of each tree being the average of its individual samples. The one sigma 13C variation found between trees at any given site is ±0.38‰; within a single tree, ±0.36‰; and for repeat combustions, ±0.20‰. The δ¹³C values of the juniper sites were regressed against the temperature and precipitation of the individual months and running averages of months across the year using polynomial, multiple regression analysis. Temperature and precipitation were entered as separate variables in a general multiple regression model and also as a combined, single variable (T /P) in a more specific approach. The pattern formed by the multiple correlation coefficients, when plotted by months across the year, closely follows the seasonal variations in photosynthetic activity. Cellulose δ¹³C values have minimum correlation with temperature and precipitation (considered jointly) during summer months and maximum correlation during spring months. For an individual month, the temperature and precipitation (jointly) of April correlated at the highest level with a multiple adj. R = 0.994 and an F = 166; for a maximum seasonal response, March-May reached a multiple adj. R = 0.985, F = 66. The results using the combined, single variable (T /P) were nearly equivalent for the same months: April's adj. R = 0.957, F = 45; March-May's adj. R = 0.985 with an F = 132. The ability of T and P as independent predictors is considerably less than their ability in combination; e.g., 13C g(T) for March-May has an adj. R = 0.80 and 6 13C = h(P) has an adj. R = -0.67 compared to their in- concert adj. R value of 0.985. The results of this study, therefore, strongly support a high degree of climatic sensitivity in the partitioning of the stable isotopes of carbon in juniper leaf cellulose: the correlation coefficients and their F statistics are sufficiently high to consider temperature and precipitation (acting jointly) as accurate predictors of cellulose δ¹³C values in the system studied.
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Psychological barriers that limit climate-friendly food choices in a South African contextTheron, Elzarie 01 1900 (has links)
By following a climate-friendly diet, consumers have the potential to reduce climate change. However, despite the growing awareness of the climate-friendly food options that are available, consumers still choose foods with a high carbon footprint. Following a survey design, this study aimed to determine the extent to which four psychological processes (denial, conflicting goals and aspirations, tokenism, and interpersonal influence) limit consumers’ climate-friendly food choices in South Africa. Data were collected from 151 participants using the Climate-friendly Food Choices Scale and the Psychological Barriers Scale. Regression analysis indicated that conflicting goals and aspirations and denial were the two main psychological barriers to climate-friendly food choices. Overall the barriers were negatively associated with climate-friendly food choices. Gender did not produce a significant effect in the study. Different age groups varied with regards to the extent to which they experienced the psychological barriers, but they did not differ significantly with regards to how often they made climate-friendly food choices. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)
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