Waterways have been geomorphically altered or disturbed by development, mining, agriculture and other human activities for many years. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act determined that these impacts to our waterways must be mitigated for channel alterations. Stream restoration has been one method to mitigate for these impacts to our water resources. Stream restoration is considered to be a measurable improvement to the channel stability, water quality, habitat or overall function of a degraded stream system. Practices of stream restoration have changed in the last 10 to 20 years with the introduction of natural channel design methods. Natural channel design involves rebuilding a stream channel with the appropriate channel dimensions, slope, and planform to accommodate water and sediment inputs from its drainage basin without excessively aggrading or degrading. Dimensions of restored stream channels are based on a stage that is termed bankfull. The bankfull discharge is the flow that fills the channel just to the tops of its banks to the incipient point of flooding. Design dimensions used in natural channel design are based on bankfull stage and discharge because practitioners believe it is responsible for the average morphology of a stream channel. Practitioners of stream restoration use two tools to aid in the determination of these stable channel conditions: they are 1) regional channel geometry and discharge relations to drainage area (regional curves) and 2) reference reach derived dimensionless bankfull channel geometry ratios. These tools are developed for ecoregions that have similar climates, topography, geology, soils, hydrology and vegetation because these are also the features that dictate stream channel form. Regional curves and reference reach dimensionless ratios were developed for the Level III Ecoregion 67 Ridge and Valley, Tennessee. The regional power function equations of bankfull cross sectional area, width, mean depth, and discharge to drainage, and the dimensionless bankfull channel geometry ratios of reference reaches will help determine the bankfull channel dimensions used in natural channel design.

This study presents a theoretical GIS model to investigate the relative impacts of geomorphic and environmental factors that govern the occurrence of landslides on the slopes of Mount Cameroon and its surrounding areas. The study area is located along the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL), a major structural feature that originates from the south Atlantic and continues into the continental landmass. The quite frequent seismic activity, geologic character, humid tropical climate and high human pressure on hill slopes are the major factors behind the occurrence of landslides in Mount Cameroon. This paper, therefore, underscores the necessity of in-depth follow-up studies concerned with landslides prevention and management based on the relevance of sufficient reliable field methods in landform geomorphology and interpretation. As much is yet to be done to acquire data for structural and surface geology, hydrology, geomorphic processes and physiography of Mount Cameroon, it is difficult at this point in time to considerably apply suitable methods using GIS that would enable identifying and delineating the landslide-prone areas. In addition, the application of environmental surface monitoring instruments will not be meaningful without a clear presentation of which areas are a cause for concern (given that the employment of any slope stability monitoring and rehabilitation efforts will be only possible after appropriate problem-area identification has been done). Consequently, based on the writer’s previous work in the Mount Cameroon area and available related literature, a methodology using GIS is proposed, which provides the capability to demonstrate how the impact of individual or collective geomorphologic site-specific factors on landslides occurrence could be justified. Considering that digital data may not be readily available, a procedure for the creation of data and analysis of themes is proposed and illustrated. The factors analysis approach in landslides analysis may be cheaper and easier to employ in Mount Cameroon and similar problem regions in developing countries (given that there may be problems of limited financial resources and available expertise in GIS technology and applications). The study underscores and recommends the necessity for a later practical implementation with the availability of adequate resources.

Submitted by Claudia Rocha (claudia.rocha@udesc.br) on 2018-03-23T16:50:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS15DA035.pdf: 8233837 bytes, checksum: 2bf2d66cbb50bb2bfe83751d86a81f26 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-23T16:50:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS15DA035.pdf: 8233837 bytes, checksum: 2bf2d66cbb50bb2bfe83751d86a81f26 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-25 / Capes / The sustainable use of natural resources, with emphasis on soil exploration in conservation base, demand for detailed information on their characteristics and properties, as an indication of its quality, to recommend the correct land use and the best management system. The study aimed to characterization of the nature and properties of the main soils in the southwestern region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil, establishing relationships between the physical and chemical attributes with your mineralogical constitution, and researching the causes of the variability of soil classes resultant from the dynamics of the processes considering the lithological variation and modeled of topographic surface. The area studied is situated in the Basin of Santa Maria River in Rosario do Sul County located at latitude 30°15'28" south and longitude 54°54'50" west, with an average altitude of 132 m, humid mesothermal climate, average annual temperature near to 20°C, and a rainfall in the range of 1300 mm. The cartographic base consisted of topographic charts, geological map, satellite imagery, digital elevation models, and support from global positioning system receivers and geographic information system. Geomorphometric variables maps were used for the correlation of the geomorphic surfaces with pedogenesis applying classic models to the compartmentalization of slopes. Topolithosequence were defined as from soil developed with lithology of the Pirambóia, Sanga-of-Cabral and Guará geological formations, choosing to the soil profiles based on types of source material, variations in relief and altitude. It was proceeded a general and morphological description of soil profiles and a horizons sampling collection for chemical, physical, mineralogical and sedimentological analysis, aiming to study the influence of relief forms and the different source materials in the genesis and mineralogical composition of the soil, as well as to understand and describe the main pedogenic processes actants in their evolution. It was observed that soils developed in the same geological formation, in function to lithological variations of the sedimentary package, can have different chemical and mineralogical composition. Furthermore, the differences between the soils also are due to the strong interaction of the source material to the type and intensity of pedogenic processes, influenced by the position they hold in the landscape, conditioned by the flow of water in the soil, as presumably have evolved under the same preterit climatic conditions / O uso sustentável dos recursos naturais, com ênfase na exploração do solo em base conservacionista, demanda por informações pormenorizadas das suas características e propriedades, como um indicativo da sua qualidade, para recomendar o uso correto do solo e o melhor sistema de manejo. O estudo teve como objetivo geral a caracterização da natureza e das propriedades dos principais solos da região sudoeste do RS, estabelecendo relações entre os atributos físicos e químicos com sua constituição mineralógica, e investigando as causas da variabilidade das classes de solos decorrentes da dinâmica dos processos, considerando a variação litológica e o modelado da superfície topográfica. A área de estudo está situada na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Santa Maria na cidade de Rosário do Sul-RS localizada a 30° 15′ 28″S e 54° 54′ 50″W, altitude média de 132 m, clima tipo Cfa, temperatura média anual próxima a 20 °C e índice pluviométrico médio de 1300 mm. A base cartográfica básica consistiu de cartas topográficas, mapa geológico, imagens de satélite, modelos digitais de elevação e apoio de receptores GPS e de SIG’s. Mapas de variáveis geomorfométricas foram utilizados para a correlação das superfícies geomórficas com a pedogênese aplicando-se modelos clássicos de compartimentação de vertentes. Foram definidas topolitossequências a partir de solos desenvolvidos de litologias das formações geológicas Pirambóia, Sangado- Cabral e Guará, escolhendo-se os perfis de solos com base em tipos de materiais de origem, variações no relevo e na altitude. Procedeu-se à descrição geral e morfológica dos perfis e a coleta de amostras de solo deformadas em cada um dos horizontes para análises químicas, físicas, mineralógicas e sedimentológicas, visando estudar a influência das formas de relevo e dos diferentes materiais de origem na gênese e na composição mineralógica dos solos, assim como compreender e descrever os principais processos pedogenéticos atuantes na sua evolução. Observou-se que solos desenvolvidos da mesma formação geológica, em função de variações litológicas do pacote sedimentar, apresentam composição química e mineralógica diferente. Além disso, as diferenças entre os solos também se devem à forte interação do material de origem com o tipo e intensidade dos processos pedogênicos, influenciados pela posição que ocupam na paisagem, condicionados pelos fluxos de água no solo, já que supostamente evoluíram sob as mesmas condições climáticas pretéritas

Les ruisseaux sont d’importants sites de transformations chimiques dû au taux de contact élevé entre l’eau du chenal et leurs sédiments biogéochimiquement réactifs. L’urbanisation entraîne généralement une charge en nutriments et en carbone plus élevée vers les ruisseaux à partir du bassin versant et la modification des formes du chenal se traduisant par une augmentation du débit et réduisant ainsi les transformations biogéochimiques intra-sédiments et contribuant à l’augmentation des exports vers l’aval. Toutefois, il y a peu d’information disponible sur l’influence d’une pression d’urbanisation modérée sur le traitement de l’azote, du phosphore et du carbone dans les ruisseaux ainsi que sur l’importance relative des changements des caractéristiques du bassin versant et du chenal sur le flux de ces éléments. Dans cette étude, nous avons effectué des bilans de masse sur différentes espèces de carbone (C), d’azote (N) et de phosphore (P) dans plusieurs tronçons de ruisseaux ayant différentes utilisations du territoire et caractéristiques géomorphologiques (composition en mouilles, seuils ou courses) afin d’élucider comment ces traits influencent les flux d’éléments au sein d’un ruisseau vierge et d’un ruisseau modérément urbanisé. L’azote s’est avéré être l’élément le plus sensible, avec des concentrations de nitrates 3.5 fois plus élevées dans le ruisseau péri-urbain. Les concentrations de carbone organique dissous étaient légèrement plus élevées dans les sites péri-urbains alors que les niveaux de P total ne différaient pas significativement entre les deux ruisseaux. En termes de flux, les nitrates étaient la forme chimique la plus réactive résultant en une rétention nette dans la majorité des tronçons en contexte vierge alors qu’un export net fût observé dans tous les tronçons en contexte péri-urbain. Nous avons observé une baisse en concentrations de nitrates avec une augmentation d’excès de deutérium de l’eau du chenal, indiquant ainsi une capacité de rétention de l’eau notable au sein du bassin versant favorisant l’élimination d’azote. Au sein des ruisseaux, la présence de mouilles et d’une pente de chenal peu prononcée, traits contribuant aussi à l’augmentation du temps de résidence, ont également favorisés la perte d’azote. Globalement, les nitrates furent les formes chimiques les plus réactives à de faibles pressions d’urbanisation, ce qui suggère que les efforts de restauration visant à augmenter le temps de résidence de l’eau afin de favoriser les pertes par la dénitrification devraient être implémentés autant au sein du bassin versant qu’au sein du chenal des ruisseaux. / Streams are important sites of elemental transformations due to the relatively high contact rates between flowing water and biogeochemically reactive sediments. Increased urbanization typically results in higher nutrient and carbon (C) inputs to streams from their watersheds and increased flow rates due to modification in channel form, reducing within stream net retention and increasing downstream exports. However, less is known on how moderate urbanization might influence the joint processing of C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in streams or the relative influence of changes in watershed and stream features on their fluxes. In this study, we performed mass-balances of different C, N, and P species in multiple reaches with contrasting land use land cover and geomorphic features (pools, riffles, runs) to determine the effects of geomorphology versus human influence on elemental fluxes in a pristine and a semi-urban stream. N was the most responsive of all elements, where nitrate concentrations were 3.5-fold higher in the peri-urban stream. Dissolved organic carbon was only slightly higher in the peri-urban site whereas total P not significantly different between streams. In terms of fluxes, nitrate behaved differently between the streams with net retention occurring in the majority of the reaches of the pristine site, whereas net export was observed in all of the reaches of the semi-urban one. We found a decrease in nitrate concentrations with an increase in excess deuterium of the water (d-excess), an indicator of how overall water retention capacity of the watershed favored N loss. Within the stream, the presence of pools, and reduced channel slope, which also increase water retention time, again favored N loss. Overall, nitrate was the most sensitive nutrient to slight urbanization, where higher export to stream was influenced by land use, but where geomorphic features were more important in driving retention capacity.

L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de tirer de données LiDAR de télédétection à très haute résolution afin d’extraire une partie du traces tectono-géomorphiques imprimées dans la morphologie de grands tremblements de terre préhistoriques. Les informations consultées dans ces traces constituent l'historique des glissements cumulés de grands tremblements paléoséismique successifs le long d'une faille donnée. L'historique des glissements permet de déterminer le nombre d'événements et les glissements les plus importants produits par ces événements. La connaissance des plus grandes glissades produites par des grands séismes historiques et préhistoriques permettra de déduire l'ampleur potentielle des événements futurs. La caractérisation de la distribution du glissement superficiel fournit des informations importantes sur la mécanique des failles, les contrôles de la propagation de la rupture et la répétabilité de la rupture à certains points le long de la faille. Cependant, la caractérisation et la mesure correctes de la distribution des glissements à partir de formes de relief géomorphologiques déplacées par tectonisme sont accompagnées d'incertitudes considérables, résultant principalement de processus d'érosion et de dépôt. Ces incertitudes pourraient entraîner à la fois une sous-estimation et une surestimation du glissement, ainsi que des résultats contradictoires issus d'enquêtes différentes sur le même défaut. Par conséquent, nous avons développé une nouvelle technique basée sur MATLAB, 3D_Fault_Offsets, pour caractériser mathématiquement, et donc automatiquement, la géométrie 3D de marqueurs géomorphiques décalés (définie par 9 entités géométriques situées de part et d'autre de la faille), puis calculer composants latéraux et verticaux du glissement. Nous estimons que les incertitudes générées par cette technique définissent mieux la gamme des "véritables" compensations potentielles par rapport aux incertitudes plus libérales proposées dans d’autres études, pourtant ils se révèlent assez volumineux. Après vérification de l'efficacité du code en mesurant à nouveau 3 ensembles de données paléosismiques, nous avons l’appliqué à une faille de décrochement qui était historiquement capable d'un séisme de chute de contrainte importante (MW ~ 8,2 en 1855), la faille de Wairarapa. Nous avons identifié et analysé un total d'environ 700 marqueurs géomorphiques déplacés le long d'une zone de données LiDAR de 70 km, ce qui en fait l'un des ensembles de données paléosismiques les plus vastes et les plus denses. Les décalages latéraux mesurés vont de quelques mètres à environ 800 m, mais la majorité d'entre eux sont inférieurs à 80 m, ce qui permet d'examiner les plus récents glissements de faille latéraux. Les décalages verticaux varient entre 0 et ~ 30 m et suggèrent des rapports de glissement vertical / latéral généralement compris entre 10 et 20%. Nous avons effectué les analyses statistiques de la collection dense de décalages mesurés séparément le long des principaux segments successifs qui constituent l'étendue de la faille étudiée. Dans la plupart des segments, cette analyse a révélé la présence de 6 à 7 amas décalés dans la plage allant de 0 à 80 m, suggérant la rupture de la faille de Wairarapa lors de 6 à 7 grands séismes précédents. Les plus grandes glissades que nous déduisons pour ces tremblements de terre passés sont importantes, la plupart dans la plage 7-15 m. Chaque glissement sismique semble varier le long de la faille et généralement plus grand dans sa partie sud. La faille de Wairarapa a ainsi provoqué à plusieurs reprises d'importants séismes dus à la chute de contraintes au cours de la période préhistorique, ce qui souligne le risque sismique élevé qu'elle pose dans le sud de la Nouvelle-Zélande. Par conséquent, l'utilisation de notre nouveau code 3D_Fault_Offsets avec des données topographiques à haute résolution telles que LIDAR peut permettre de mieux évaluer le comportement futur des failles sismogènes. / The main scope of this PhD thesis is to utilize very high-resolution remote sensing LiDAR data to extract some of the tectono-geomorphic traces imprinted in the morphology from large prehistoric earthquakes. The information that is accessed in these traces is the cumulative slip history of successive large paleoearthquakes along a given fault. The slip history allows the determination of the number of events and the largest slips produced by those respective events. The knowledge of the largest slips produced by historic and prehistoric large earthquakes will enable some inference into the potential magnitude of future events. Characterizing the distribution of surface slip provides important insights into fault mechanics, controls on rupture propagation, and repeatability of rupture at certain points along the fault. However, properly characterizing and measuring the slip distribution from tectonically-displaced geomorphic landforms comes with considerable uncertainties mostly resulting from erosion and depositional processes. These uncertainties could lead to both underestimation and overestimation of the slip, and to conflicting results from different surveys of the same fault. Therefore, we have developed a new MATLAB-based technique, 3D_Fault_Offsets, to mathematically, and hence automatically, characterize the 3D geometry of offset geomorphic markers (defined by 9 geometric features either side of the fault), and then calculate the lateral and vertical components of slip. We believe that the uncertainties obtained from this technique better define the range of potential ‘true’ offsets compared to more liberal uncertainties offered in other studies, yet they reveal to be fairly large. Upon verification of the code efficacy by successfully re-measuring 3 paleoseismic datasets, we applied it to a strike-slip fault in New Zealand that was historically capable of a large stress drop earthquake (MW~8.2 in 1855), the Wairarapa fault. We identified and analyzed a total of ~700 displaced geomorphic markers along a 70-km stretch of LiDAR data, making this one of the largest and densest paleoseismic datasets. Measured lateral offsets range from a few meters to about 800 m, but the majority are lower than 80 m, providing the means to examine the most recent lateral fault slips. The vertical offsets range between 0 and ~30 m, and suggest vertical to lateral slip ratios commonly in the range 10-20%. We conducted the statistical analyses of the dense collection of measured offsets separately along the successive major segments that form the investigated fault stretch. In most segments, this analysis revealed 6-7 offset clusters in the range 0-80 m, suggesting the Wairarapa fault ruptured in 6-7 previous large earthquakes. The largest slips we infer for these past earthquakes are large, most in the range 7-15 m. Each earthquake slip seems to vary along the fault length, and be generally greater in its southern part. The Wairarapa fault has thus repeatedly produced large stress drop earthquakes in prehistoric time, which emphasizes the elevated seismic hazard it poses in Southern New Zealand. Therefore, the use of our new code 3D_Fault_Offsets with high resolution topographic data such as LIDAR can lead to better assessments of future behavior of seismogenic faults.

Wetlands within South Africa are an important source of water and nutrients necessary for biological productivity and often the survival of the local people. In a country where the rural communities depend on wetlands for their day to day provision of water, food and materials it has become necessary to understand the functions within wetland systems, so that proper conservation measures can be applied in order to protect and ensure the sustainable use of wetlands. Due to the fact that South Africa has a semi arid climate, thereby affecting the availability of water it is sensible that studies are under-taken in which, more is explored about the water resources, the protection as well as the sustainable use of the wetlands within the region. Despite the fact that the total area which wetlands cover in South Africa is relatively small, the functions which they provide is of fundamental magnitude not only to wildlife but also as an essential part of the human life support system. Wetlands have the ability to regulate regional flow regimes and are often situated in areas of impeded drainage, which may contribute to the regulation of water. It is thus plausible that if headwater/palustrine wetlands are destroyed, many of the streams and rivers which under normal circumstance are perennial, would not only become non- perennial but the consequence of a drought would be far more severe, as well as increasing the risk in flood damage further down the river. In Giants Castle Game Reserve, situated in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, several palustrine wetlands where studied to identify the geomorphic attributes which contribute to the origin and maintenance of these wetlands. An added motive for the study was the fact that, according to Ramsar, one of the reasons for conserving the Drakensberg wetlands is to ensure the maintenance and production of water quality to KwaZulu-Natal. Seven wetlands within the Boesmans river upper catchment were identified and studied. Soil investigations were undertaken in an effort to determine the driving forces behind the origin and maintenance, as well as to improve the understanding relating to the functioning of the wetlands. The geomorphic attributes which were identified as being important to the genesis and maintenance of wetlands were found to be the following: low relief, soil piping within wetlands, sediment trapping ability of wetlands, the surface roughness of wetlands, channeling within wetlands, organic matter accumulation as well as geological barriers within wetland system. The adaptability of Longmore’s (2001) Hydro-Geomorphic classification to different catchment areas was also tested and was found suitable for these wetlands, although the influence of piping on wetlands evidently requires further investigation and incorporation into classifications. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA / Unrestricted

A basin analysis was conducted at the Conway Flat coast (Marlborough Fault Zone, South Island, New Zealand) to investigate the interaction of regional and local structure in a transpressional plate boundary and its control on basin formation. A multi-tiered approach has been employed involving: (i) detailed analysis of sedimentary deposits; (ii) geomorphic mapping of terraces, fault traces and lineaments; (iii) dating of deposits by 14C and OSL and (iv) the integration of data to form a basin-synthesis in a sequence stratigraphy framework. A complex thrust fault zone (the Hawkswood Thrust Fault Zone), originating at the hinge of the thrust-cored Hawkswood anticline, is interpreted to be a result of west-dipping thrust faults joining at depth with the Hundalee Fault and propagating eastwards. The faults uplift and dissect alluvial fans to form terraces along the Conway Flat coast that provide the necessary relief to form the fan deltas. These terrace/fan surfaces are ~9 km long and ~3 km wide, composite features, with their upper parts representing sub-aerial alluvial fans. These grade into delta plains of Quaternary Gilbert-style fan deltas. Uplift and incision have created excellent 3D views of the underlying Gilbert-style fan delta complexes from topsets to prodelta deposits. Erosive contacts between the Medina, Rafa, Ngaroma and modern Conway fan delta deposits, coupled with changes in terrace elevations allow an understanding of the development of multiple inset terraces along the Conway Flat coast. These terraces are divided into five stages of evolution based on variations in sedimentary facies and geomorphic mapping: Stage I involves the uplift of the Hawkswood Range and subsequent increased sedimentation rate such that alluvial fans prograded to the sea to form the Medina fan delta Terrace. Stage II began with a period of incision, from lowering sea level or changes in the uplift and sedimentation rate and continued with the deposition of the Dawn and Upham fan deltas. Stage III starts with the incision of the Rafa Terrace and deposition of aggradational terraces in the upper reaches. Stage IV initiated by a period of incision followed by deposition of estuarine facies at ~8ka and Stage V began with a period of incision and continues today with the infilling of the incised valley by the modern fan delta of the Conway River and its continued progradation. New dates from within the Gilbert-type fan deltas along the Conway Flat coast are presented, using OSL and 14C dating techniques. Faulting at the Conway Flat coast began ~ 94 ka, based on the development of the Medina Terrace fan delta with uplift rates ~1.38~1.42 m/ka. The interplay of tectonics and sea level fluctuations continued as the ~79 ka Rafa Terrace fan deltas were created, with uplift rates calculated at ~1.39 m/ka. Detailed 14C ages from paleoforest (~8.4-~6.4 ka) in the Ngaroma Terrace and from the mouths of smaller streams have established uplift rates during the Holocene ~1-3 m/ka, depending on sea level.

On-going population growth and urbanization increasingly force people to occupy environments where natural processes intensely affect the landscape, by way of potentially hazardous natural events. Tectonic plate boundaries, active volcanic regions and rapidly uplifting mountain ranges are prominent examples of geomorphically hazardous areas which today accommodate some of the world’s largest cities. These areas are often affected by more than one hazard such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, floods, storms and wildfires, which frequently interact with each other increasing the total impact on communities. Despite progress in natural hazards research over the last two decades, the increasing losses from natural disasters highlight the limitations of existing methodologies to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of natural hazards. A major limitation is the lack of effective hazard and risk assessments incorporating hazard interactions and cascade effects. Most commonly, the assessment of risks related to different hazards is carried out through independent analyses, adopting different procedures and time-space resolutions. Such approaches make the comparison of risks from different hazard sources extremely difficult, and the implicit assumption of independence of the risk sources leads to neglect of possible interactions among hazard processes. As a result the full hazard potential is likely to be underestimated and lead to inadequate mitigation measures or land-use planning. Therefore there is a pressing need to improve hazard and risk assessments and mitigation strategies especially in highly dynamic environments affected by multiple hazards. A prominent example of such an environment is the western Southern Alps of New Zealand. The region is located along an actively deforming plate boundary and is subject to high rates of uplift, erosion and orographically-enhanced precipitation that drive a range of interrelated geomorphic processes and consequent hazards. Furthermore, the region is an increasingly popular tourist destination with growing visitor numbers and the prospect for future development, significantly increasing societal vulnerability and the likelihood of serious impacts from potential hazards. Therefore the mountainous landscape of the western Southern Alps is an ideal area for studying the interaction between a range of interrelated geomorphic hazards and human activity. In an effort to address these issues this research has developed an approach for the analysis of geomorphic hazards in highly dynamic environments with particular focus on tectonically-active mountains using the western Southern Alps as a study area. The approach aims to provide a framework comprising the stages required to perform multi-hazard and risk analyses and inform land-use planning. This aim was approached through four main objectives integrating quantitative geomorphology, hazard assessments and GIS. The first objective was to identify the dominant geomorphic processes, their spatial distribution and interrelationships and explore their implications in hazard assessment and modelling. This was achieved through regional geomorphic analysis focusing on catchment morphometry and the structure of the drainage networks. This analysis revealed the strong influence and interactions between frequent landslides / debris-flows, glaciers, orographic precipitation and spatially-variable uplift rates on the landscape evolution of the western Southern Alps, which supports the need for hazard assessment approaches incorporating the interrelationships between different processes and accounting for potential event cascades. The second and third objectives were to assess the regional susceptibility to rainfall-generated shallow landslides and river floods respectively, as these phenomena are most often responsible for extensive damage to property and infrastructure, injury, and loss of lives in mountainous environments. To achieve these objectives a series of GIS-based models was developed, applied and evaluated in the western Southern Alps. Evaluation results based on historical records indicated that the susceptibility assessment of shallow landslides and river floods using the proposed GIS-based models is feasible. The output from the landslide model delineates the regional spatial variation of shallow landslide susceptibility and potential runout zones while the results from the flood modelling illustrate the hydrologic response of major ungauged catchments in the study area and identify flood-prone areas. Both outputs provide critical insights for land-use planning. Finally, a multi-hazard analysis approach was developed by combining the findings from the previous objectives based on the concepts of interaction and emergent properties (cascade effects) inherent in complex systems. The integrated analysis of shallow landslides, river floods and expected ground shaking from a M8 plate-boundary fault (Alpine fault) earthquake revealed the areas with the highest and lowest total susceptibilities. Areas characterized by the highest total susceptibility require to be prioritized in terms of hazard mitigation, and areas with very low total susceptibility may be suitable locations for future development. This doctoral research project contributes to the field of hazard research, and particularly to geomorphic hazard analyses in highly dynamic environments such as tectonically active mountains, aiming to inform land-use planning in the context of sustainable hazard mitigation.

This thesis provides the measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates, 210Pb deposition rates and excess 210Pb inventories for locations in and around Ranger Uranium Mine and Jabiru located within Kakadu National Park, Australia. Radon-222 is part of the natural 238U series decay chain and the only gas to be found in the series under normal conditions. Part of the natural redistribution of 222Rn in the environment is a portion exhales from the ground and disperses into the atmosphere. Here it decays via a series of short-lived progeny, that attach themselves to aerosol particles, to the long lived isotope 210Pb (T1/2 = 22.3 y). Attached and unattached 210Pb is removed from the atmosphere through wet and dry deposition and deposited on the surface of the earth, the fraction deposited on soils is gradually transported through the soil and can create a depth profile of 210Pb. Here it decays to the stable isotope 206Pb completing the 238U series. Measurements of 222Rn exhalation rates and 210Pb deposition rates were performed over complete seasonal cycles, August 2002 - July 2003 and May 2003 - May 2004 respectively. The area is categorised as wet and dry tropics and it experiences two distinct seasonal patterns, a dry season (May-October) with little or no precipitation events and a wet season (December-March) with almost daily precipitation and monsoonal troughs. November and April are regarded as transitional months. As the natural processes of 222Rn exhalation and 210Pb deposition are heavily influenced by soil moisture and precipitation respectively, seasonal variations in the exhalation and deposition rates were expected. It was observed that 222Rn exhalation rates decreased throughout the wet season when the increase in soil moisture retarded exhalation. Lead-210 deposition peaked throughout the wet season as precipitation is the major scavenging process of this isotope from the atmosphere. Radon-222 is influenced by other parameters such as 226Ra activity concentration and distribution, soil porosity and grain size. With the removal of the influence of soil moisture during the dry season it was possible to examine the effect of these other variables in a more comprehensive manner. This resulted in categorisation of geomorphic landscapes from which the 222Rn exhalation rate to 226Ra activity concentration ratios were similar during the dry season. These results can be extended to estimate dry season 222Rn exhalation rates from tropical locations from a measurement of 226Ra activity concentration. Through modelling the 210Pb budget on local and regional scales it was observed that there is a net loss of 210Pb from the region, the majority of which occurs during the dry season. This has been attributed to the fact that 210Pb attached to aerosols is transported great distance with the prevailing trade winds created by a Hadley Circulation cell predominant during the dry season (winter) months. By including the influence of factors such as water inundation and natural 210Pb redistribution in the soil wet season budgeting of 210Pb on local and regional scales gave very good results.

In this study Bradford’s (2008) approach for setting ecological flow and water level targets is tested and refined through application within the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s (LSRCA) subwatershed of Lover’s Creek. A method for defining subwatershed objectives and identifying habitat specialists through expert input is proposed and tested. The natural regime of each streamflow and wetland site is characterized along with the hydrological alteration at each site. Potential ecological responses to the hydrologic alterations are then hypothesized for the different types of changes calculated at each site. Methods for setting overall ecosystem health and specific ecological objective flow targets are proposed and tested. These targets are integrated into a flow regime for each site and a process for using this information for decision making is suggested. Flow magnitude quantification is attempted using hydraulic modelling and sediment transport equations, however the data used were found to be inadequate for this application. The accuracy of the targets developed using the method presented in this paper is mainly limited by the accuracy of the hydrological model and quantified flow magnitudes. Recommendations for improving these components of the assessment are made. The unique approach and recommendations presented in this paper provide explicit steps for developing flow targets for subwatersheds within the LSRCA. This research contributes toward the advancement of EFA within the LSRCA, which provides opportunity for enhanced protection and restoration of ecosystem health across the watershed. / Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority