Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo principal de caracterizar a estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica, no espaço e no tempo e relacioná-la às variações climatológicas e hidrológicas, em sistema de áreas alagáveis, da planície de inundação do rio Jacupiranguinha. As coletas foram realizadas durante quatro épocas do ano, em 3 dias alternados e 11 estações de amostragem (estações 1 e 2, no rio Jacupiranguinha; estação 3, no córrego Serrana e estações 4 a 11, no sistema de áreas alagáveis). Esta pesquisa contemplou a análise de variáveis climatológicas (precipitação e radiação solar fotossinteticamente ativa, por exemplo) e hidrológicas como, formas de carbono, sólidos em suspensão, nutrientes, biovolume, freqüência específica, dominância e diversidade específicas da comunidade fitoplanctônica.O sistema de áreas alagáveis estudado foi regulado pelo regime hidrológico anual do rio Jacupiranguinha. Em período chuvoso, os pulsos de inundação foram responsáveis por intensas modificações nestes ambientes. A entrada de sedimento e o aumento dos níveis hidrométricos estão entre os distúrbios ocasionados pela entrada de água lateral. A comunidade fitoplanctônica respondeu a estas variações com suas estratégias de sobrevivência. Uma das características importantes observadas neste estudo foi que nas estações próximas ao rio, as maiores concentrações de sólidos suspensos coincidiram com o período chuvoso. Na estação 4, próxima à estação 2 (rio Jacupiranguinha), as maiores concentrações de sólidos suspensos inorgânicos (168,0 mg/L) e orgânicos (150,0 mg/L) foram verificadas neste período. O mesmo pode ser observado na estação 11, próxima a outro acesso ao rio Jacupiranguinha (68,0 mg/L, sólidos suspensos inorgânicos e 22,0 mg/L, sólidos suspensos orgânicos). O índice de dominância atingiu o valor máximo (1,0) em várias estações e houve semelhança entre as comunidades fitoplanctônicas do rio Jacupiranguinha e das estações próximas ao rio, quando as concentrações de sólidos suspensos foram maiores. As espécies dominantes, em época de cheia, no sistema de áreas alagáveis foram Cyanobium parvum (cianobactéria) e Trachelomonas volvocina (euglenofícea). A comunidade fitoplanctônica também apresentou variação espacial e temporal, com predomínio de Cyanobacteria em três das quatro épocas do ano, principalmente, nas estações localizadas dentro do sistema de áreas alagáveis. A classe Euglenophyceae se destacou, assim como as Cyanobacteria, por serem adaptadas a sobreviverem em ambientes com baixa penetração de luz. Bacillariophyceae estiveram presentes, principalmente, nas estações com maior mistura (rio Jacupiranguinha - estações 1 e 2). Os resultados sugerem que as alterações hidrológicas provocadas pelos pulsos de inundação, como o aumento na concentração de sólidos suspensos, diminuição da zona eufótica, diluição da água, entre outros; e a densa cobertura de macrófitas aquáticas sobre algumas estações, tendo como conseqüência a redução da penetração de radiação solar fotossinteticamente ativa na água, foram os principais fatores determinantes da estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica deste sistema. / This study aimed at characterizing the spatial and temporal structure of the phytoplanktonic community and relating them to climatological and hydrological variations in the floodplain of Jacupiranguinha river. The samples were taken four times in the year, once in each season, on 3 alternating days at 11 sample stations, two of which are positioned in the river itself (stations 1 and 2), one in the stream Serrana (station 3) and eight distributed in the mentioned wetland (stations 4 to 11). This research considered the analysis of the climatological variables, e.g., photosynthetically active solar radiation and rain, as well as the hydrological ones, as there are types of carbon, suspended particles, nutrients, biovolume, specific frequency, dominance and specific diversity of phytoplanktonic community. The respective wetland was controlled by the yearly hydrological cycle of Jacupiranguinha river. In rainy season, this environment suffered intensive modifications caused by frequent flooding. Lateral water currents are responsible for incoming sediments and the increase of water levels. The response of the phytoplanktonic community to these changes was found in its survival strategies, i.e. flagellum and reduction of cellular density. The fact that the sample stations close to the river showed the highest concentrations of suspended solids in the rainy season was one of the most important points observed in this study. The highest concentrations of inorganic suspended solids (168,0 mg/L) and organic suspended solids (150 mg/L) were found in this period at station 4, close to station 2. The same phenomenon could be seen at station 11, close to the other access to the Jacupiranguinha river (68 mg/L of inorganic suspended solids and 22 mg/L of organic suspended solids). The dominance index reached its highest value (1,0) at different stations. In general, there has been a similarity between the phytoplanktonic communities of Jacupiranguinha river and the stations close to it at the periods which concentrations of suspended solids were the highest. In the studied wetland, predominant species, during rainy season, were Cyanobium parvum (Cyanobacteria) and Trachelomonas volvocina (Euglenophyceae). The phytoplanktonic community also presented spatial and temporal variation, with predominance of Cyanobacteria in three of the four seasons and mainly at the stations inside the wetland system. Euglenophyceae stood out as well as the one of Cyanobateria due to their adaptation and survival in low-light environments. Bacillariophyceae were present mainly at the stations 1 and 2 which showed a higher stir of water. The results suggest that the hydrological alterations provoked by the flooding were the principal determining factors of the phytoplanktonic community of the system. These factors were e.g. an increase in suspended solids concentrations, decrease of euphotic zone and dilution of water. Other effects could be found in the dense cover of aquatic macrophytes on some stations, resulting in reduction of photosynthesis caused by less penetration of solar radiation.

This thesis improves the understanding of adaptive water governance in the policy process, and draws lessons of policy relevance for flood management. Scholars using the concept of adaptive water governance posit that factors influencing the governing activities of social actors are of critical importance to improve society’s capacity to better respond to the on-going water crisis. They developed a set of principles for adaptive water governance, in particular the need for polycentric forms of governance, where power over decision-making is not held by a single social actor but distributed across society, and the use of participatory processes, promoting collective action and enhancing collective reflection. Empirical evidence on the validity of these principles remains sparse, in particular in public policy processes.The thesis uses established research on the policy process to better conceptualise the governance of complex water problems. It examines empirically the emergence of integrated, ecosystem-based flood management in Scotland, a typical Western democracy though characterised by an interesting history of institutional design and flood policy dynamics. First, factors influencing the formulation and integration of the approach in national environmental policies are identified, drawing on an inductive, thematic and historical analysis of documents and interviews with key policy actors. Second, factors influencing the implementation of the approach, in particular the role of policy instruments and public participation, are then identified in the Eddleston and Bowmont-Glen catchments. A combination of documentary analysis, interviews with local actors, and Q Methodology are used. The thesis supports the general principle that polycentric governance can improve the adaptability of governance systems. Horizontally, multiple actors with decision-making power may encourage greater reflexivity in the policy process. Having multiple policy regimes may also foster innovative interventions. Vertically, significant autonomy between governance levels may help better adapt policies to the appropriate scale of intervention. The devolution of legislative powers from the British to the Scottish level is presented as an example. At a more local level, providing greater autonomy to implementers can enhance their capacity to enforce policies. The thesis also provides evidence for critics of polycentric governance. In particular, polycentric governance may result in a lack of coherence between policy regimes, heterogeneous implementation, and potentially status-quo, rather than change. The thesis supports the idea that a strong participatory approach may help overcome the limitations of polycentric governance. Findings indicate that critical factors for success are the institutional context in which it occurs, its inclusive nature, adequate resourcing, time available, and the willingness of participants to reach compromise and learn. Individual entrepreneurship is clearly fundamental to increase the adaptability of governance systems.Overall, the thesis shows that attention to the public policy process is an important analytical approach to the study of adaptive governance. Past research on the policy process provides constructive theories to explore principles of adaptive governance in an empirical context. Main policy recommendations, for Scotland and beyond, include, amongst others, a call for strong governance arrangements to accompany the work of multi-actor groups for policy integration, the use of instrument mixes across policy regimes to influence land managers, and greater support for non-governmental catchment organisations to foster local collaboration and improve policy implementation.

Este trabalho investigou o comportamento dos resíduos sólidos ao longo de soleiras laterais de reservatórios de detenção urbanos (piscinões). Esses reservatórios foram projetados segundo uma abordagem puramente hidráulica, que consiste no armazenamento de água de chuva, resultando em amortecimento de pico de cheias e minimizando a questão das inundações, porém um impacto não considerado é o grande acúmulo de resíduos sólidos no interior dessas estruturas. Para estudar o fenômeno e na tentativa de quantificação do montante que se acumula nos reservatórios em relação aos resíduos veiculados pelos rios, foi construído um modelo físico representativo de um córrego urbano, provido de um vertedor lateral que dá acesso a um piscinão. Realizaram-se simulações, que consistiram no lançamento de resíduos no canal e na observação do seu comportamento na passagem pela soleira lateral. Algumas alternativas de direcionamento dos resíduos também foram testadas, através da implantação de vigas defletoras, cujos resultados comprovaram a sua eficiência no direcionamento dos resíduos para o piscinão ou canal. Por fim, as investigações realizadas resultaram em contribuições importantes para a gestão dos sistemas de contenção de cheias das grandes cidades. / The present research investigates the mechanisms of silting in detention reservoirs use for control of urban flooding caused by garbage, debris and rejects transported by urban runoff. Unfortunately the design of this reservoirs was based in hydraulics only, and the transport of siltation material by rivers was not considered. To study the phenomenon and in order to quantify the amount of accumulated waste according to total waste carried by rivers, a representative pilot scale model was built, provided with a lateral channel-shaped spillway that access the detention reservoir. Simulations have been ran, and the analysis method was to obtain a correlation between the waste entrainment rate from the side weir and the hydraulics variables. Some alternatives regarding the aiming of the waste were also tested by the implantation of deflector beams, whose efficiency in the aiming of waste to the reservoir or canal was proved. Finally, the inquires generated in the present research resulted in important contributions regarding the management of flood containment systems in big cities.

Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo principal de caracterizar a estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica, no espaço e no tempo e relacioná-la às variações climatológicas e hidrológicas, em sistema de áreas alagáveis, da planície de inundação do rio Jacupiranguinha. As coletas foram realizadas durante quatro épocas do ano, em 3 dias alternados e 11 estações de amostragem (estações 1 e 2, no rio Jacupiranguinha; estação 3, no córrego Serrana e estações 4 a 11, no sistema de áreas alagáveis). Esta pesquisa contemplou a análise de variáveis climatológicas (precipitação e radiação solar fotossinteticamente ativa, por exemplo) e hidrológicas como, formas de carbono, sólidos em suspensão, nutrientes, biovolume, freqüência específica, dominância e diversidade específicas da comunidade fitoplanctônica.O sistema de áreas alagáveis estudado foi regulado pelo regime hidrológico anual do rio Jacupiranguinha. Em período chuvoso, os pulsos de inundação foram responsáveis por intensas modificações nestes ambientes. A entrada de sedimento e o aumento dos níveis hidrométricos estão entre os distúrbios ocasionados pela entrada de água lateral. A comunidade fitoplanctônica respondeu a estas variações com suas estratégias de sobrevivência. Uma das características importantes observadas neste estudo foi que nas estações próximas ao rio, as maiores concentrações de sólidos suspensos coincidiram com o período chuvoso. Na estação 4, próxima à estação 2 (rio Jacupiranguinha), as maiores concentrações de sólidos suspensos inorgânicos (168,0 mg/L) e orgânicos (150,0 mg/L) foram verificadas neste período. O mesmo pode ser observado na estação 11, próxima a outro acesso ao rio Jacupiranguinha (68,0 mg/L, sólidos suspensos inorgânicos e 22,0 mg/L, sólidos suspensos orgânicos). O índice de dominância atingiu o valor máximo (1,0) em várias estações e houve semelhança entre as comunidades fitoplanctônicas do rio Jacupiranguinha e das estações próximas ao rio, quando as concentrações de sólidos suspensos foram maiores. As espécies dominantes, em época de cheia, no sistema de áreas alagáveis foram Cyanobium parvum (cianobactéria) e Trachelomonas volvocina (euglenofícea). A comunidade fitoplanctônica também apresentou variação espacial e temporal, com predomínio de Cyanobacteria em três das quatro épocas do ano, principalmente, nas estações localizadas dentro do sistema de áreas alagáveis. A classe Euglenophyceae se destacou, assim como as Cyanobacteria, por serem adaptadas a sobreviverem em ambientes com baixa penetração de luz. Bacillariophyceae estiveram presentes, principalmente, nas estações com maior mistura (rio Jacupiranguinha - estações 1 e 2). Os resultados sugerem que as alterações hidrológicas provocadas pelos pulsos de inundação, como o aumento na concentração de sólidos suspensos, diminuição da zona eufótica, diluição da água, entre outros; e a densa cobertura de macrófitas aquáticas sobre algumas estações, tendo como conseqüência a redução da penetração de radiação solar fotossinteticamente ativa na água, foram os principais fatores determinantes da estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica deste sistema. / This study aimed at characterizing the spatial and temporal structure of the phytoplanktonic community and relating them to climatological and hydrological variations in the floodplain of Jacupiranguinha river. The samples were taken four times in the year, once in each season, on 3 alternating days at 11 sample stations, two of which are positioned in the river itself (stations 1 and 2), one in the stream Serrana (station 3) and eight distributed in the mentioned wetland (stations 4 to 11). This research considered the analysis of the climatological variables, e.g., photosynthetically active solar radiation and rain, as well as the hydrological ones, as there are types of carbon, suspended particles, nutrients, biovolume, specific frequency, dominance and specific diversity of phytoplanktonic community. The respective wetland was controlled by the yearly hydrological cycle of Jacupiranguinha river. In rainy season, this environment suffered intensive modifications caused by frequent flooding. Lateral water currents are responsible for incoming sediments and the increase of water levels. The response of the phytoplanktonic community to these changes was found in its survival strategies, i.e. flagellum and reduction of cellular density. The fact that the sample stations close to the river showed the highest concentrations of suspended solids in the rainy season was one of the most important points observed in this study. The highest concentrations of inorganic suspended solids (168,0 mg/L) and organic suspended solids (150 mg/L) were found in this period at station 4, close to station 2. The same phenomenon could be seen at station 11, close to the other access to the Jacupiranguinha river (68 mg/L of inorganic suspended solids and 22 mg/L of organic suspended solids). The dominance index reached its highest value (1,0) at different stations. In general, there has been a similarity between the phytoplanktonic communities of Jacupiranguinha river and the stations close to it at the periods which concentrations of suspended solids were the highest. In the studied wetland, predominant species, during rainy season, were Cyanobium parvum (Cyanobacteria) and Trachelomonas volvocina (Euglenophyceae). The phytoplanktonic community also presented spatial and temporal variation, with predominance of Cyanobacteria in three of the four seasons and mainly at the stations inside the wetland system. Euglenophyceae stood out as well as the one of Cyanobateria due to their adaptation and survival in low-light environments. Bacillariophyceae were present mainly at the stations 1 and 2 which showed a higher stir of water. The results suggest that the hydrological alterations provoked by the flooding were the principal determining factors of the phytoplanktonic community of the system. These factors were e.g. an increase in suspended solids concentrations, decrease of euphotic zone and dilution of water. Other effects could be found in the dense cover of aquatic macrophytes on some stations, resulting in reduction of photosynthesis caused by less penetration of solar radiation.

In order to reduce flooding, communities often try to control runoff with a storm sewer network, detention basins, low impact developments, and upstream storage to reduce stream overflow. Numerical models can help predict the effect these strategies will have before expensive construction projects are underway. A coupled 1D/2D hydraulic model using XPSWMM was created for the town of Kalona, IA, to test different strategies for flood reduction. XPSWMM utilizes one dimensional and two dimensional St. Venant equations to model flow in streams and pipes, or overland flow on the surface, respectively. The town of Kalona, upstream highlands, and the downstream floodplains were modeled utilizing a 4 meter cell-size unstructured grid. The model was neither calibrated nor validated, but its performance was comparable to a previously built MIKE 11/21 model of the same area when given the same inputs. The city drains into Salvesen Creek, the Central Drainage Ditch, and the East Drainage Ditch, with Salvesen Creek having the largest drainage area. 14 agricultural detention ponds upstream of the town were modeled to determine their effectiveness in reducing stream overflow, while modifications to the storm sewer network and in situ detention provided relief from local runoff. The detention ponds and modifications were modeled both separately and together and compared to a base model using the 10 year, 25 year, 50 year, 100 year, and 500 year, 3 hour storms. The different methods were compared using three index points: City Hall, Pleasant View Circle, and in a softball practice area. The upstream agricultural detention ponds provided a peak reduction of 2%, 13%, and 9%, respectively, while the in situ modifications reduced flooding by 0%, 44%, and 18%, respectively, for the 10 year storm. The combined techniques reduced flooding by 2%, 44%, and 20%, respectively. During the 100 year storm, the detention ponds, modifications, and combined techniques reduced peak flood depths by 17%, 24%, and 14%; 2%, 3%, and 22%; and 17%, 55%, and 23%, respectively. This demonstrated that the in situ modifications were more effective during low flood events while ponds were more effective at high flood events. The combined approach was most effective when the two methods complemented each other. Future work might determine areas throughout the town where reduced flow and in situ modifications together would be most effective and design approaches to maximize flood reduction. Additional features to be modeled include pumps to increase capacity in the storm sewer network, levees, and supplementary drainage channels.

In Washington, DC, historical data are used to adequately size for rainfall events, and efforts to increase stormwater management requirements are fought against by internal stakeholders. In urban planning, extreme rainfall events, that may occur more frequently than expected, are often not a consideration when designing for green infrastructure facilities. The purpose of this case study was to explore how internal and external stakeholders influence stormwater management policies related to extreme rainfall events in Washington, DC. The power and politics organization theory, which focuses on how individuals obtain influence, and the resource dependency theory, which explores how organizations benefit from sustainability, were used as the theoretical framework in this study. The case study analysis was conducted via phone interviews; through phone interviews, data were collected from 4 policymakers (i.e., external stakeholders), 5 real estate developers (i.e., internal stakeholders) and 3 internal team members (i.e., internal stakeholders) and analyzed thematically. All the stakeholders believed that it is not necessary to design the green infrastructure systems to the extreme rainfall event; however, the developers said that they would design their green infrastructure systems larger if required by policy. The results of the study showed that each group'€™s effect works in a cyclic fashion to each other. Recommendations for future studies include to expand and increase stakeholder participation. This collaboration and better communication can help in developing more efficient stormwater management policies for a better city, which is an implication for positive social change.

Overabundance and scarcity of water are global concerns. Across the world’s low-lying coastal plains, flooding brought on by sea level rise acts as an existential threat for a multitude of people and cultures while in desert (and increasingly non-desert) regions intensifying drought cycles do the same. In the decades to come, how people manage these threats will have important implications not only for individual and cultural survival, but also for questions of justice. Recent research on flooding and flood management probes the histories of survival, and adaptation in flood threatened regions for insights into emergent flood-related crises. However, scholars have thus far overemphasized the technical aspects of how engineered flood control systems functioned, overlooking both the specific social, political, and economic contexts within which past practices emerged and the social worlds that they helped create. This dissertation examines the social, economic, and political histories of flood control projects in the South American country of Guyana in order to understand the long lasting social, political, and environmental impacts of colonial-era projects. To do this, I utilized archival data collected from the National Archives in London, UK, historical newspaper articles collected through online newspaper databases, press release statements from Guyana’s major political parties, and unstructured and semi-structured interviews with residents from coastal Guyana. These data were imported and analyzed using qualitative data analysis software in order to make connections across spatial and temporal scales. The key finding of the dissertation is that, in Guyana, flood control engineering has historically played multiple social, political, and economic roles beyond the functional explanations assumed in many present environmental management discourses. Colonial engineering projects served as a way to protect colonizers from economic crises and social upheaval and were not just a means for protecting the coast from flooding. Additionally, the dissertation found that these projects were key to creating the racial geographies that helped to protect colonialism in its final years and which continue to shape coastal life today. Finally, the dissertation found that, after the end of colonialism, flood engineering projects were incorporated into larger projects of racialized regime survival.

Root exudates include important chelating compounds and can change the rhizosphere pH by several units. These changes are essential for nutrient uptake and can also alter solubility of soil contaminants and increase plant uptake. Mild root-zone stress may increase exudation and more severe stress can damage membranes and increase root turnover, all of which increase root-zone carbon. Increased carbon from this rhizodeposition can increase microbial activity, which might help degrade contaminants. We studied the effect of three types of stress on root exudation of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum): low K+, drought, and flooding. These stresses were compared to two types of controls: 100% NO3- and high NH4+:NO3- ratio. We developed an improved axenic system to keep plants microbe-free for 70 days while analyzing exudates for total organic carbon (TOC) and organic acids. Axenic conditions were confirmed by plate counts of the leachate and microscopic observations of the leachate and roots. Optimal conditions for plant growth were maintained by monitoring temperature, light, humidity, water, O2, CO2, nutrient availability, and root-zone pH. Plants were grown in Ottawa sand that was layered by size to optimize water availability. Total organic carbon released over the 70-day growth period in mg per gram dry plant was 2.6 in the control, 2.3 in the NH4+ treatment, 3.7 in the flood and K+ stress treatments, and 4.4 in the drought treatment, which was the only treatment significantly higher than controls (p = 0.05). TOC and organic acid levels in the exudates peaked before the end of the study. The peak TOC levels, expressed as mg TOC per gram new dry plant mass, were 1.9 in the control, 3.0 in the NH4+ treatment, 2.9 in the flood, and 5.8 in the drought and K+ stress treatments. Organic acids were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Malic acid was the predominant organic acid, and accounted for the majority of the TOC in the drought treatment. Oxalic, succinic, fumaric, and malonic acids accounted for less than 10% of the TOC. These data indicate that stress may enhance phytoremediation by changing root-zone exudate composition.

Hillsborough County, Florida is subject to a variety of natural and technological hazards, which have the potential to threaten both the population and the built environment. This research focuses on several natural hazards (coastal flooding, sink hole, and hurricane) and technological hazards (toxic transportation spills and toxic release from fixed storage facilities) and the population that is potentially exposed to these hazards. Social vulnerability for this population was determined using racial composition, gender, age and household rental/ownership status. Both social vulnerability and exposure to hazardous conditions occur as a continuum across geographical space. The determination of who is exposed; the extent of exposure; and the hazardousness of their environment; requires converting this continuum into discreet values. There is little agreement on how this should be accomplished. The goal of this project is to improve on this situation by developing a multiple hazard map and a social vulnerability map using the best available data with a focus on data integration. The resulting maps were used to determine the extent that the community of Hillsborough County is exposed to hazardous conditions and the social vulnerability of that exposed community. The impact of hazard analysis is dependant on the creation of the hazard map. The hazard map can be affected by application of weighting factors to the individual or groups of hazards. Weighted linear combinations were used to examine how the exposed population changes when different hazard models are used. A technique of cumulative frequency mapping was used to examine how the composition of the exposed population changed as the hazard scores increased. This was useful in visualizing that different vulnerable communities were not exposed to hazards equally. This technique will be useful for future vulnerability/hazard assessments. The results of this research show that the most vulnerable populations in Hillsborough County, Florida are not exposed to the most extreme hazards. Instead the preponderance of the population is moderately vulnerable and is exposed to moderate hazards. It is important to focus on this population to help prepare for and respond to hazardous events and to work toward diminishing their social vulnerability.

An interdisciplinary approach at the interface between geodesy and geophysics has recently resolved several Earth science problems at regional and global scales. I use the term “geophysical geodesy” to distinguish the technical and theoretical aspect of geodesy from geophysical applications of geodetic techniques. Using a wide range of Earth observation data, I study the spatio-temporal characteristics of Earth surface deformation in the United States associated with several geophysical processes, including natural and anthropogenic subsidence and uplift, regional relative sea-level rise, and continental hydrological loading. The theoretical portion of this dissertation applies loading theory and develops a new hybrid method to improve the estimate of hydrologically-induced vertical deformation at time scales from sub-annual to multi-annual. The application part of this dissertation benefits from GPS and other geodetic and geologic data sets to study and model Earth’s surface uplift due to CO2 injection at an oil reservoir in coastal Texas, and coastal subsidence and nuisance flooding along the Mississippi River Delta and eastern seaboard of the United States.