The thesis examines the process of state formation of the only surviving federal state in the Arab world: the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It tries to answer questions related to the historical circumstances leading to the federation; the respective role of the British officials and the local rulers in it; and the methods and strategies employed by the rulers of these Emirates during the negotiations leading to the formation of the federation to preserve their local status and power while bridging the gaps between them and establishing a viable state. It argues that, of the main sets of political players at the time (the British officials and the local rulers), it was the interaction among the rulers that led to the successful outcome of announcing the new state. Even during the successive negotiations to establish unions, the rulers of the Emirates did not differ over the forming of a larger state; however they did disagree on their influence over decision-making institutions within the new state. Therefore, it was the recognition by the rulers of each other’s power and the value of their potential contribution to the future union that determined the issue of the negotiations and the inclusion or exclusion of a particular ruler from the union. The ambition of this research is to contribute to the literature on federal state formation in the post-colonial world, with a particular emphasis on the process, the forces, and the avenues leading to the merging of various components into one political entity. It relies on newly-released British official documents and the increasing availability of personal accounts (books, articles and memoirs) by individuals who participated in the negotiations, giving new tools to investigate various aspects of the social, economic and political factors associated with the formation of the state on the Coast of Oman.

Until recently, there has been very limited academic palynological study of South Africa’s offshore west coast Cretaceous sequences. For this thesis, an in-depth study of the palynological sequence as well as a combination of other disciplines was undertaken for Offshore Sites C-B1 and O-A1, situated off the west coast of Cape Town. The study has yielded copius amounts of mostly well-preserved palynomorphs (trilete spores, pollen, diniflagellate cysts and foraminiferal test linings) ranging from Early to Late Cretaceous in age. Both Offshore Sites consist mostly of sandstone and siltstone lithologies but it was the carbonaceous mudstone-rich intervals that were targeted for palynomorph extraction. The Petroleum Agency, SA (previously SOEKOR) has identified ten time periods (nine in the Cretaceous and one in the Tertiary) from these lithologies but for this study, only eight of these time periods that span the Barremian to the Campanian stages of the Cretaceous were utilized.. Over 550 samples that include cuttings, sidewall and core samples, have been provided by the Petroleum Agency, SA representing offshore Cretaceous sedimentary strata from the west coast of South Africa. All of these samples have been analysed palynologically. A wide variety of palynomorphs have been described from these samples and are fully illustrated. These include angiosperms, gymnosperms, spores of known and unknown botanical affinity, four species of algae and one species of fungi. These palynomorphs are compared with published descriptions and illustrations to aid and effect identifications. Several new palynomorphs were found, however formal naming will only be undertaken at a later stage. Palynological data indicates that the gymnosperms and ferns dominated the plant groups during both the Early and Late Cretaceous intervals of both Offshore Sites. Angiosperms only really became a significant part of the vegetation during the Late Cretaceous. Gymnosperms found at both Offshore Sites are dominated by the genera Classopollis, Podocarpidites, Zonalapollenites, Balmeiopsis and Exesipollenites. Cyathedites, Gleicheniidites and other trilete schizeaceous types dominated the spore population. The information gained from the identification of the microfossils present in these two Offshore Sites contributes not only to amplifying the biostratigraphy of this part of the geologic column but also to reconstruct the Cretaceous palaeoflora and palaeo-environment. The age ranges of the palynomorphs present have provided a general Cretaceous age bracket for these two Offshore Sites, supporting the Petroleum SA’s findings. However these palynomorphs do not always age-define the level they were found in and on more than one occasion Tertiary palynomorphs were located at the base of the Cenomanian and Turonian stages (Late Cretaceous Period). The pollen and spore assemblage include many species that are known from both northern and southern hemispheres, although the northern hemisphere representatives are usually represented by only a few individuals. There is a noticeable difference between the Early and Late Cretaceous floras. Early Cretaceous floras are dominated by gymnosperms and fern spores with only a few angiosperm pollen grains present. Late Cretaceous flora is much richer in angiosperm pollen and in Tertiary flora. Botanical affinities were used to reconstruct the palaeoflora of both Offshore Sites. The forests that existed during the Cretaceous were probably cool, moist and temperate, located in the highlands of a slowly developing rift valley. The dominant trees in these forests produced palynomorphs attributable to Podocarpaceae, Microcachryidites, Balmeiopsis and Exesipollenites. The lowland woodlands consisted primarily of cheirolepideacean conifers with the undergrowth including varieties of ferns and bryophytes. Results of the pollen and spore analysis suggest that neither west coast sites fits into any established pollen zonation. Therefore new pollen zones were established for this thesis and will hopefully contribute to the understanding of the palaeoflora of this part of the southern hemisphere. Zones are used to designate each Offshore Site into divisions that characterize the essential changes in the vegetational history as well as divide the history of the palaeoflora in the Cape Basin. Offshore Site C-B1 consists of 5 zones (CI, CII, CIII, CIV and CV) and four subzones namely Subzone CI-A, CI-B, CV–A & CV–B. Offshore Site O-A1 is comprised of 5 zones namely OI, OII, OIII, OIV and OV. Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions were deduced by studying the palaeoflora and palynodebris in each zone / facies of each Offshore Site. The Early Cretaceous was tropical, humid and warm with palaeoflora indicators such as Classopollis and Ephedripites suggesting the start of a shift towards warmer more semi-arid conditions. In comparison, the beginning of the Late Cretaceous assemblages suggested a shift to hotter, humid and then semi arid conditions. By the end of the Late Cretaceous the environment had once again reverted back to warm, wet and humid conditions. Using the core depth as scale, the relative frequencies of the organic matter types in Offshore Sites C-B1 and O-A1 were plotted using CONISS – the distance cluster analysis program which identified four main groups of samples in each core (Facies CB- D1 to D4 and OA – D1 to D4) on the basis of their organic content. These eight palynofacies assemblages (Facies CB- D1 to D4 and OA – D1 to D4) show the gradual and immediate changes in palynodebris and could reflect environmental and geological changes. The palynodebris component for both Offshore Sites supports the origin of the sediments deposited into the Cape Basin as continent-derived and transported into the Cape Basin via fresh water sources. The presence of sporomorphs and resins in the palynodebris reflects a great diversity of hinterland vegetation. Plant and cuticle palynodebris found at both Offshore Sites suggest stable dry conditions terrestrially and near shore deposition. Amorphous organic material and the presence of green algae throughout both Offshore Sites indicate a terrigenous source associated with shallow fresh to brackish water of lagoons and swamps. The presence of marine palynomorphs supports deposition in a marine or saline esturine marsh environment.

Overfishing in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) resulted in degradation of the ecosystem. This study used the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) indicator framework to determine whether the ecosystem is now recovering. Indicator trends were analysed using various data sources that included government institutions and intergovernmental institutions. The results showed that the overall effect of Driver indicators was negative. This was mainly because of socio-economic pressure such as the need to create more jobs in light of rising national unemployment and the declining contribution of the fisheries sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition to scientific advice, socio-economic factors also influenced the determination of Total Allowable Catches (TACs). The overall trend of Pressure indicators was positively influenced by the effect of TACs. The TACs reduced the quotas allocated for commercial fishing. Environmental factors did not seem to play a significant role in this study. State indicators had mixed results with the indicators assessed almost split in the middle between those showing a positive trend and those showing a negative trend. On the other hand, Impact and Response indicators showed overall positive results. Therefore, the conclusion of the study was that the degradation of the BCLME has slowed down and there are some signs of recovery. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Science)

Enhanced adaptive capacity is increasingly being pursued as an objective of agricultural development interventions due to the perceived vulnerability of smallholder farming communities to a range of shocks and stresses. This research used two case studies of agricultural development interventions in Northern Ghana to examine diverse understandings of adaptive capacity, potential indicators of enhanced adaptive capacity, and the implications of this for sustainable agricultural livelihoods. The thesis reviews relevant theoretical literature to situate the study among complex adaptive systems thinking and sustainability discourses. Associated policy documentation is reviewed to set the context in which, and identify why, development interventions seek to enhance adaptive capacity. The primary methods of data collection were interviews, focus groups, and ethnography, as well as secondary data in the form of documentation from the case studies. Multiple understandings of adaptive capacity were identified in both case studies, including ‘formal' understandings of the projects' funders and management, and ‘informal' understandings of field staff and participating farmers. The findings contribute to theory, policy and practice through explicit recognition of the diversity of understandings of adaptive capacity, which has not been appreciated or analysed previously. Indicators of enhanced adaptive capacity emerged from the findings. Findings show how features of social capital were integral to enhanced adaptive capacity and played a dominant role in beneficial outcomes, even when not the priority of the interventions. This implies a set of indicators of enhanced adaptive capacity that can inform theoretical discourse, policy and programme planning, and monitoring and evaluation in practice. Finally, this research identified the role of social capital in contributing to enhanced adaptive capacity, which supports sustainable agricultural livelihoods. These findings contribute lessons for similar ongoing and future agricultural development interventions and recommend a focus on features of social capital rather than physical and technological capital.

The development of a new N-Line model, which provides a practical tool for simulating regional beach changes induced by short and long-term processes, is described in this thesis. The new N-Line model consists of four main modules that together describe the hydrodynamic and morphological responses. The four constituent modules have been integrated based on a wide range of research including the utility and function of commercial or freeware models. They are RCPWAVE wave module, time-averaged and depth-integrated current module, sediment transport module based on Bailard (1981) and contour change morphological module. Two different time-scales and two staggered grid systems for hydrodynamic and morphological simulations were adopted alternatively. For short-term 2D profile changes, new N-Line model applicability has been examined using data from the laboratory to the field. For ideal beaches, new N-Line can simulate an offshore storm bar generation or an onshore accretion due to high or low energy waves. For SUPERTANK large-scale flume data, the predicted profile matched the measured profile well, especially the bar height and position. For beach profile data from the Gold Coast, storm-induced variations of barred profiles were reasonably modelled. The new N-Line model compared well with other commonly used cross-shore models such as SBEACH and UNIBEST. A new schematisation for a non-monotonic profile and DUNED inclusion were introduced. Sensitivity tests on cross-shore sediment coefficient (Kq), smoothing parameter (??s) and water level fluctuations were performed. For long-term 3D beach changes, the new N-Line model applicability has been tested with various boundary conditions using idealized and real field data. Two periods, 17 and 16 months, of beach changes before and after a major bypass plant commenced operation in 2001 at Letitia Spit were simulated. The profile and shoreline changes were predicted reasonably well. Empirical model parameters were determined after a range of sensitivity and calibration testing. The new N-Line model showed its better performance compared to one-line models. It can handle various boundary conditions, especially bypass conditions. The N-Line model is not only capable of modelling planform variations but also cross-shore profile changes.

No description available.

Graduation date: 1986

Graduation date: 1984

Graduation date: 1966

Heavy minerals can contain potentially economic amounts of metals as both matrix and trace constituents. Such minerals appear as unconsolidated black sands on the continental shelf off southwest Oregon and along the Oregon coast. Two diverse energies are considered in this investigation. Environmental energy of the depositional regimen, Part I; energy involved in crystallization of transition metals from a magma, Part III. In Part II, an analytical scheme for the evaluation of opaque oxides is proposed, and an examination of the results as applied to two samples is presented. Part I The unconsolidated black sands on the Oregon continental margin have been profoundly affected by tectonic uplift aid by cyclic erosive transgression and regression. Progressive enrichment in heavy minerals from the Klamath Mountains has apparently occurred during each glacio-eustatic regression of the Pleistocene seas, each regression a period of intensified erosion and sediment transport. Subsequent erosive transgressions selectively sort and redistribute these heavy minerals into paralic beach and nearshore deposits. Uplift of the coast and shelf implies that the heavy minerals were reworked during the Holocene transgression into concentrations of greater extent and higher ore tenor than relict deposits of earlier transgressions in upraised Pleistocene terraces. Extrapolation of ore reserve values from the terraces by "Mirror Image" concepts might seriously underestimate the potential of offshore deposits. Offshore heavy mineral concentrations should be coincident with observed submarine terraces. Part II An analytic scheme was developed to investigate opaque oxides in two samples; one from the Pleistocene terraces; the other from near the present shelf edge. Analyses involving X-ray diffraction techniques, atomic absorption and neutron activation established the mineralogy and elemental distribution in magnetically separated diagnostic splits. Chrome spinel, ilmenite and magnetite comprise the opaque oxide fraction in both samples. Correlation studies of these analyses suggest: (1) Chromium is a matrix metal of chrome spinel and is diadochic into magnetite. (2) Iron appears in all opaque oxides and in increasing amounts with increasing magnetic susceptibility. (3) Titanium is a matrix metal in ilmenite, and diadochic into chrome spinel and magnetite. (4) Nickel and ruthenium are diadochic into and correlated to the spinel structure; i.e. to chrome spinel and magnetite. (5) Osmium appears to be correlated to chromium. (6) Zinc is limited to spinel in these samples. Part III Goldschmidt's and Ringwood's criteria for diadochy often fail to explain the distribution of the transition metals because crystal field effects are not considered. Favored d[superscript n] configurations, e.g. octahedrally coordinated, low spin d⁶ cations in the spinel minerals, result in shortened interatomic distance and significantly strengthened cation-ligand bonds, possibly affecting the distribution of such metal cations. The octahedral site preference energy parameter (OSPE) has been used to explain distributional behavior of the first (3d) transition series metals. OSPE calculations for four low spin d⁶ cations - Co(III), Ru(II), Rh(III), and Pt(IV) - give significantly high values for this parameter. High OSPE valued transition metal cations possibly form stable proto-mineral oxide complexes in the magma which persist through crystallization. These associations predetermine the enrichment of transition metals in oxide minerals and act as nuclei during cooling and solidification. Subduction of oxidized and hydrolyzed near-surface rocks down a Benioff zone provides progressively higher Eh in the magma, a variety of cation oxidation states, and water for sepentinization of ultramafic rocks. The distribution of the platinum metals in a strongly reducing magma environment should be different than in the oxidizing magma proposed for the Klamath ultramafics. The OSPE parameter offers an explanation for the observed distribution of platinum group metals in spinel minerals from this investigation, in chromites from Uralian dunitic massifs and the Stillwater complex; and of iridium from the Great Lake Doleritic Sheet, Tasmania. Chrome spinel from Oregon had twice the concentration of ruthenium, and one-third the amount of osmium as similar Uralian chromite deposits. The first significant concentration of ruthenium in magnetite is herein reported recommending continued research into the platinum metal distribution in southwest Oregon. / Graduation date: 1972