This thesis is a case study of the impact of culture on the management of water resources and the conflict over their usage by opposing riparian entities in the Jordan River Basin. It provides an overview of the historical background to the resource conflict in the area and continues on to examine the development of management institutions. In particular, it examines the impact of Islamic law on the development of water laws and management, paying particular attention to the affect of Islamic law on water usage in Jordan and how in turn this affect is seen in its relations with neighboring states. Its purpose is to create an understanding, through cultural awareness, of the reasons behind the actions of particular states in reference to the cultural differences affecting their actions.

No description available.

The parallel development of archaeology and Quaternary geology in several regions of the world is reviewed, and common problems in dating and correlating alluvial sequences are discussed. Buried archaeological remains and radiometric dates provide a chronological framework for the sequence of Late Quaternary alluvial deposits in the central Jordan Rift. While previous studies emphasized a simple, two-stage model of Late Quaternary alluvial deposition, regional comparisons of the geomorphological contexts of archaeological sites of different ages indicate complex, multiple depositional and erosional cycles. These cycles were influenced by tectonism, climatic changes, human land use, and natural geomorphic thresholds, sometimes in combination. The stratigraphy and chronology of early agricultural settlements in the valley are summarized, and investigations at a protohistoric agricultural town are described. Major regional shifts in prehistoric and protohistoric patterns of agriculture and settlement are interpreted in terms of the impacts of changes in alluvial regimes. These correlations have implications for models of agricultural origins, and the stability and resilience of sedentary settlements in dry lands.

The Hasbani and Orontes Rivers are two main transboundary rivers of Lebanon. These waters are a critical resource for the future water security of the co-riparians. This dissertation analyses results of a water resources planning and hydrologic model under a new participatory framework by studying hydro-political aspects and the vulnerability of water resources in the Hasbani basin of Lebanon and the city of Amman under a changing climate pattern and growing water demands. Water policies suggested by the stakeholders were analyzed and the most sustainable solution was presented to the water resources authorities in the basins. Moreover, because of the political situation in the region, field data such as rainfall and evapotranspiration are very difficult to obtain making the use of remote sensing and Geographic Information System very useful to present a complete description of the hydrology of the watersheds and study water availability in the Orontes and Jordan River Basins. The approach used in this research integrates recently compiled data derived from satellite imagery (evapotranspiration, rainfall, and digital elevation model) into a transboundary geospatial database and hydrologic model to measure the contribution of each riparian country to the total available water in the basin. Finally, a mathematical method called the Orontes water allocation optimization method is used based on the nine factors of the UN Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Use of International Water Courses to allocate water equitably between the co-riparians. The optimization results show that Turkey and Lebanon could benefit from additional water if new negotiations are initiated. Once a multilateral agreement occurs, the findings of this research would provide a useful guide to the co-riparians for policy formulation, decision making and dispute resolution. Cooperation between the riparian countries may be improved by building a GIS database that provides access to accurate data for hydrological analysis, facilitate and standardize data sharing to evaluate future policy alternatives.

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the relationship between the impacts of climate change and transboundary water management (TWM) mechanisms. The thesis does so through a case study of the transboundary water agreements between Israel, Palestine and Jordan – states that share the transboundary waters in the Jordan River Basin (JRB), a basin that lies in a region of high political tensions and decreasing precipitation. By using empirical climate data on precipitation, temperature and general climate change projections for the basin, the author seeks to understand how these environmental changes will challenge TWM in the JRB. By using qualitative methods to examine the water agreements through the method of process tracing, the thesis seeks to understand how the water agreements are constructed to handle changes in waterflow due to climate change. The results show that the transboundary mechanisms, the water agreements and Joint Water Committees (JWC), managing the transboundary waters in the JRB, possess weak mechanisms to manage changes in waterflow. As a consequence, the whole basin might experience increasing political pressures in the future over the fulfilment of water allocation provisions. The thesis further suggests that the TWM structures in the case lack awareness and mechanisms to handle climate change impacts. On the other hand, the JWCs have an institutional capacity, expertise, and mandate in managing these potential risks in the future. However, incidents in the past, manifest that decreased waterflow leads to increasing political tensions and conflicts between the states in the basin due to the lack of conflict resolution mechanisms in the TWM structures. In order to establish a sustainable TWM in the JRB, the suggested recommendation is that climate change impacts ought to be embedded into the water agreements by incorporating flexible mechanisms for water allocation. In addition, the conflict resolution mechanisms should be strengthened.

This thesis is a multi-disciplinary survey of the Central Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age (1500-1200 BC) illustrated with an abundant use of maps and tables. The purpose is to determine how the Jordan Valley functioned as an economic unit during the Late Bronze Age. This thesis surveys the geographical, historical and archaeological records related to the Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. A chapter is devoted to each field, geography (physical and human), history (Egyptian and Hebrew Bible) and archaeology. The data from each discipline is used to individually answer two questions: 1) was the Jordan Valley a single geographic/economic unit in the Late Bronze Age? 2) to what extent was the Jordan Valley integrated/interacting with the east-west highlands and the larger region in the Late Bronze Age? The primary objectives are to 1) explore and model a historical geographic hermeneutic for understanding the human experience of the Ancient Near East; and 2) lay a foundation for understanding the role of the Jordan Valley in affecting the Biblical periods of the Israelite monarchy to the Roman period.The answers from each chapter are then synthesized into a single geographic historical archaeological picture of the Central Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. The Central Jordan Valley was divided into two sections: a fertile, populated, well connected north-central section and an isolated, sparsely populated southern section with limited agricultural zones. Trade with and between the eastern and western highlands is well represented by artifactual parallels in and through the Jordan Valley, the north-central section on a regional and international scale and the southern section on a more local scale. The thesis concludes that there are more artifactual points of connection between the Jordan Valley and the eastern highlands than with the western highlands. An ‘early conquest’ model of the Hebrew Bible is plausible within the historical records of the Egyptian 18th and 19th Dynasties and the geographical and archaeological records of the Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. / Old Testament & Ancient Near Eastern Studies

This thesis is a multi-disciplinary survey of the Central Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age (1500-1200 BC) illustrated with an abundant use of maps and tables. The purpose is to determine how the Jordan Valley functioned as an economic unit during the Late Bronze Age. This thesis surveys the geographical, historical and archaeological records related to the Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. A chapter is devoted to each field, geography (physical and human), history (Egyptian and Hebrew Bible) and archaeology. The data from each discipline is used to individually answer two questions: 1) was the Jordan Valley a single geographic/economic unit in the Late Bronze Age? 2) to what extent was the Jordan Valley integrated/interacting with the east-west highlands and the larger region in the Late Bronze Age? The primary objectives are to 1) explore and model a historical geographic hermeneutic for understanding the human experience of the Ancient Near East; and 2) lay a foundation for understanding the role of the Jordan Valley in affecting the Biblical periods of the Israelite monarchy to the Roman period.The answers from each chapter are then synthesized into a single geographic historical archaeological picture of the Central Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. The Central Jordan Valley was divided into two sections: a fertile, populated, well connected north-central section and an isolated, sparsely populated southern section with limited agricultural zones. Trade with and between the eastern and western highlands is well represented by artifactual parallels in and through the Jordan Valley, the north-central section on a regional and international scale and the southern section on a more local scale. The thesis concludes that there are more artifactual points of connection between the Jordan Valley and the eastern highlands than with the western highlands. An ‘early conquest’ model of the Hebrew Bible is plausible within the historical records of the Egyptian 18th and 19th Dynasties and the geographical and archaeological records of the Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. / Biblical and Ancient Studies

Em suas várias nuanças a geografia se apresenta como uma ciência interdisciplinar, com interface em muitos segmentos do conhecimento. As ramificações geográficas fazem com que esta ciência seja plural na tradicionalidade acadêmica, nos permitindo trabalhar questões cronológicas, biológicas, humanas e da natureza, como será apresentado nesta tese. A questão que fundamenta este trabalho pauta-se na necessidade de compreender os fatores externos e internos que alteram a vida do ser humano no ecossistema manguezal do Rio Jordão sob a hipótese de que, a ausência de políticas públicas gera problemas ambientais e sociais. O que será realizado ao detectar da comunidade suas correlações com o manguezal em cena. A ação degradadora do homem vai aniquilando aos poucos o ecossistema do manguezal, isso nos faz perceber que as peculiaridades inerentes ao povo vivente desta comunidade também perde sua especificidade. Consequentemente, a atividade pesqueira perde força porque a comunidade local vai sendo removida, comprometendo assim a conservação de sua cultura. O pescador passa para a condição de cidadão, usuário urbano, um simples morador a somar-se ao sistema vicioso da cultura uniformizada, característica dos centros urbanos. O eixo da tese trata inicialmente de compreender a localização da área de pesquisa e da ocupação territorial do estado envolvendo o tema; tem consequência com a realização da caracterização do manguezal em questão e do ser humano nele habitante; apresentação da análise bibliográfica; justificativas, finalidades, metodologia do trabalho, identificar as externalidades e internalidades relacionadas ao ecossistema em questão e as alterações que os moradores do manguezal em estudo sofrem/causam. Com a caracterização da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Jordão, não foi apenas delimitada a área de estudo, mas interpretou-se também a dinâmica no sistema de bacia, neste caso, possibilitou-se conhecer melhor o entorno do rio, o manguezal e focar-se especificadamente nas questões relacionadas com as comunidades quando detectamos a correlação em que os moradores percebem entre o ecossistema do manguezal e suas próprias vidas. Contudo, os capítulos desta tese expressam uma vontade, a de trazer da população habitante da bacia do rio Jordão, informações tributárias a este ecossistema. / Geography, presented here as an interdisciplinary science, with interface in a lot of segments of the knowledge. Its branches make this science a plural science in the academic traditionalism. It allows us to work issues on chronologic, biologic, human and nature as it will be presented in this study. A question that bases this work line is the theory of the necessity to understand the external and internal factors that change lives of the people and the mangrove ecosystems of Jordan River that can be detected from the community and its correlations with the mangrove. The degenerating action of the man is destroying the mangrove ecosystem and this makes us realize that the inherent peculiarities of those people also lose their individualization. Consequently the fish activity loses the strength because the local community is forced to change their life styles, committing the upkeeping of their culture. The fisherman becomes a city citizen, a urban user, an ordinary person who comes to add to the vicious cycle of the unifying culture, what is a characteristic of the urban centres. The main idea of this study is to deal initially with the understanding the location of the area in study, and the territorial occupation of the state involving this subject. It has consequence with the practice of the mangrove characteristics and its inhabitants. A presentation of a bibliographic analysis, justification, purpose, methodology of the study, identification of the internal and external factors related to the ecosystem and the changes that the inhabitants from the mangrove have to deal with. With the characterization of hydrographical basin of the Jordan river, it wasnt only marked the area of study but it was also interpreted the dynamics of the basin system and in this case, the possibility of knowing the river better and to focus on questions connected with community when we detected the correlation between the inhabitants and the ecosystem and the mangrove, and their own existence. However, the chapters of study express a strong will of bringing to the population who live in the Jordan River basin, information about this ecosystem.

Em suas várias nuanças a geografia se apresenta como uma ciência interdisciplinar, com interface em muitos segmentos do conhecimento. As ramificações geográficas fazem com que esta ciência seja plural na tradicionalidade acadêmica, nos permitindo trabalhar questões cronológicas, biológicas, humanas e da natureza, como será apresentado nesta tese. A questão que fundamenta este trabalho pauta-se na necessidade de compreender os fatores externos e internos que alteram a vida do ser humano no ecossistema manguezal do Rio Jordão sob a hipótese de que, a ausência de políticas públicas gera problemas ambientais e sociais. O que será realizado ao detectar da comunidade suas correlações com o manguezal em cena. A ação degradadora do homem vai aniquilando aos poucos o ecossistema do manguezal, isso nos faz perceber que as peculiaridades inerentes ao povo vivente desta comunidade também perde sua especificidade. Consequentemente, a atividade pesqueira perde força porque a comunidade local vai sendo removida, comprometendo assim a conservação de sua cultura. O pescador passa para a condição de cidadão, usuário urbano, um simples morador a somar-se ao sistema vicioso da cultura uniformizada, característica dos centros urbanos. O eixo da tese trata inicialmente de compreender a localização da área de pesquisa e da ocupação territorial do estado envolvendo o tema; tem consequência com a realização da caracterização do manguezal em questão e do ser humano nele habitante; apresentação da análise bibliográfica; justificativas, finalidades, metodologia do trabalho, identificar as externalidades e internalidades relacionadas ao ecossistema em questão e as alterações que os moradores do manguezal em estudo sofrem/causam. Com a caracterização da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Jordão, não foi apenas delimitada a área de estudo, mas interpretou-se também a dinâmica no sistema de bacia, neste caso, possibilitou-se conhecer melhor o entorno do rio, o manguezal e focar-se especificadamente nas questões relacionadas com as comunidades quando detectamos a correlação em que os moradores percebem entre o ecossistema do manguezal e suas próprias vidas. Contudo, os capítulos desta tese expressam uma vontade, a de trazer da população habitante da bacia do rio Jordão, informações tributárias a este ecossistema. / Geography, presented here as an interdisciplinary science, with interface in a lot of segments of the knowledge. Its branches make this science a plural science in the academic traditionalism. It allows us to work issues on chronologic, biologic, human and nature as it will be presented in this study. A question that bases this work line is the theory of the necessity to understand the external and internal factors that change lives of the people and the mangrove ecosystems of Jordan River that can be detected from the community and its correlations with the mangrove. The degenerating action of the man is destroying the mangrove ecosystem and this makes us realize that the inherent peculiarities of those people also lose their individualization. Consequently the fish activity loses the strength because the local community is forced to change their life styles, committing the upkeeping of their culture. The fisherman becomes a city citizen, a urban user, an ordinary person who comes to add to the vicious cycle of the unifying culture, what is a characteristic of the urban centres. The main idea of this study is to deal initially with the understanding the location of the area in study, and the territorial occupation of the state involving this subject. It has consequence with the practice of the mangrove characteristics and its inhabitants. A presentation of a bibliographic analysis, justification, purpose, methodology of the study, identification of the internal and external factors related to the ecosystem and the changes that the inhabitants from the mangrove have to deal with. With the characterization of hydrographical basin of the Jordan river, it wasnt only marked the area of study but it was also interpreted the dynamics of the basin system and in this case, the possibility of knowing the river better and to focus on questions connected with community when we detected the correlation between the inhabitants and the ecosystem and the mangrove, and their own existence. However, the chapters of study express a strong will of bringing to the population who live in the Jordan River basin, information about this ecosystem.

Historically, water, energy and agricultural resources have been naturally scarce in Jordan, but current economic, demographic, geopolitical and environmental conditions are aggravating the situation. The influxes of refugees are increasing the already high natural population growth; better economic conditions and living standards are changing consumption and production patterns; surrounding conflicts affect the supply of resources; and negative effects associated to climate change can be noticed already. Therefore, nexus thinking as a basis for integrated and cross-sectorial natural resources management is essential to achieve water, energy and food security, and eventually to move towards a sustainable development of the country. To that end, understanding the existing nexus interlinkages is crucial. This document constitutes a first nexus approach focused on water, energy and agriculture (WEA) sectors in Jordan. The research has adopted a case study method based on literature review to consider different contextual factors, and three levels of study were regarded: national level, Lower Jordan River Basin within Jordanian borders level, and As-Samra WWTP level, which has constituted the case study. Based on an extensive literature review that has resulted in an updated analysis of the current Jordanian context, the main WEA nexus interlinkages have been identified at every level of study. Thirteen future alternative pathways have been proposed, their potential impacts on WEA nexus sectors have been investigated, and related indicators to evaluate these impacts have been suggested. Additionally, three combined pathways have been analyzed in detail. In general, results show that interdependencies between WEA sectors at all levels are strong and projected to intensify in the future, and highlight the critical situation of Jordan in terms of resource management. Inefficiencies and unsustainable uses of natural resources stand out as decisive problems that urge to be solved, and future pathways appear to be potentially harmful for the Jordanian system unless they are included in an integrated nexus-based planning. / Historiskt sett har vatten-, energi- och jordbruksresurser varit naturligt begränsade i Jordanien, men de nuvarande ekonomiska, demografiska, geopolitiska och miljöbetingade förhållandena förvärrar situationen. Inkommande flyktningar ökar den redan höga populationsökningen; bättre ekonomiska förutsättningar och levnadsstandarder ändrar konsumtion- och produktionsmönster; kringliggande konflikter påverkar utbudet av resurser; och negativa effekter associerade med klimatförändringar är redan tydliga. På denna grund så är Nexus en god grund för integrerad och tvärsektoriell förvaltning av naturresurs och vital för att säkerställa resurser för vatten, energi och mat och eventuellt gå mot en hållbar utveckling inom landet. För att åstadkomma det ovannämnda så är förståelse för nuvarande nexus samband avgörande. Denna studie utgör ett tillvägagångssätt för en nexus studie med fokus på vatten, energi och jordbruk (WEA) sektorerna i Jordanien. Arbetet utgår från en fallstudie och baseras på en litteraturstudie som är gjord på tre olika nivåer: nationell, Lower Jordan River Basin inom gränserna av Jordanien och As-Samra vattenreningsverk, sistnämnda utgör fallstudien. Baserat på en omfattande litteraturstudie som resulterat i en uppdaterad analys av Jordaniens situation, så har de huvudsakliga WEA nexus sambanden identifierats för varje nivå. Tretton framtida alternativa utfall har föreslagits, deras potentiella påverkan på WEA sektorerna har undersökts och relaterade indikatorer har föreslagits för att utvärdera deras påverkan. Vidare, tre kombinerade utfall har utvärderats i detalj. Överlag så visar resultaten på starkt ömsesidigt beroende mellan WEA sektorerna på alla nivåer och är beräknad att intensifieras i framtiden, vilket betonar den kritiska situationen Jordanien befinner sig i med avseende på naturresurshantering. Ineffektivt och ohållbart utnyttjande av naturresurser står ut som ett stort problem som kräver en lösning, och framtida utfall tycks vara potentiellt skadliga för Jordanien om de inte inkluderas i en integrerad planering baserat på ett nexus tillvägagångssätt.