abstract: Biological soil crusts (BSCs) dominate the soil surface of drylands in the western United States and possess properties thought to influence local hydrology. Little agreement exists, however, on the effects of BSCs on runoff, infiltration, and evaporative rates. This study aims to improve the predictive capability of an ecohydrology model in order to understand how BSCs affect the storage, retention, and infiltration of water into soils characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. A set of soil moisture measurements obtained at a climate manipulation experiment near Moab, Utah, are used for model development and testing. Over five years, different rainfall treatments over experimental plots resulted in the development of BSC cover with different properties that influence soil moisture differently. This study used numerical simulations to isolate the relative roles of different BSC properties on the hydrologic response at the plot-scale. On-site meteorological, soil texture and vegetation property datasets are utilized as inputs into a ecohydrology model, modified to include local processes: (1) temperature-dependent precipitation partitioning, snow accumulation and melt, (2) seasonally-variable potential evapotranspiration, (3) plant species-specific transpiration factors, and (4) a new module to account for the water balance of the BSC. Soil, BSC and vegetation parameters were determined from field measurements or through model calibration to the soil moisture observations using the Shuffled Complex Evolution algorithm. Model performance is assessed against five years of soil moisture measurements at each experimental site, representing a wide range of crust cover properties. Simulation experiments were then carried out using the calibrated ecohydrology model in which BSC parameters were varied according to the level of development of the BSC, as represented by the BSC roughness. These results indicate that BSCs act to both buffer against evaporative soil moisture losses by enhancing BSC moisture evaporation and significantly alter the rates of soil water infiltration by reducing moisture storage and increasing conductivity in the BSC. The simulation results for soil water infiltration, storage and retention across a wide range of meteorological events help explain the conflicting hydrologic outcomes present in the literature on BSCs. In addition, identifying how BSCs mediate infiltration and evaporation processes has implications for dryland ecosystem function in the western United States. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Geological Sciences 2015

Le livre de Ruth conte un récit qu’il situe dès son premier verset à l’époque des Juges. Sa place dans le canon biblique hébraïque, qui le positionne dans le sous-groupe des Écrits (Ketuvim), ainsi que certains traits de la langue utilisée, ont pu faire penser à une rédaction postexilique tardive. L’objectif de ce travail de recherche est d’étudier la formation et l’évolution du rouleau de Ruth et ainsi, ses messages à caractère politique et les mœurs qu’il a su décrire. Le modèle qui se dégage de cette étude montre une formation et une évolution complexes, en plusieurs strates de rédactions, et avec plusieurs auteurs. Par sa taille assez courte, le livre de Ruth permet de faire cette analyse dans des conditions de laboratoire. On peut y observer des styles de langue distants entre eux de plusieurs siècles, avec des tournures caractéristiques d’une langue paléo-hébraïque jouxtant des expressions influencées par l’araméen, des incohérences logiques dans le texte, et enfin des réminiscences d’un culte polythéiste. De cette façon, ce travail nous fait faire un voyage à travers le temps qui débute par une histoire populaire, celle d’une moabite en terre de Judée, datant vraisemblablement du début de la royauté vers l’an -1000 avant notre ère. Ce voyage fait ensuite une halte vers les septième ou sixième siècles avec une première mise par écrit. Il se conclut finalement au cinquième ou quatrième siècle, après le retour de l’exil de Babylone, période où la version du livre de Ruth que nous possédons actuellement avec le texte massorétique est probablement rédigée. / According to the initial verse of the Book of Ruth, the story takes place during the period of the Judges. However, its place in the Hebrew Bible canon, where it is revealed in Writings (Ketuvim), as well as linguistic aspects of the text, has led scholars to believe that the book was composed during a late post-exilic period. The purpose of this study is to learn the development of the Book of Ruth and in particular, the political messages and customs of that precise period. Thanks to the conciseness of the story, an analysis in a laboratory-like environment is possible. The model that results from this study displays a very complex textual construction of several layers of writings and multiple authors. In turn, it enables one to observe various language styles scattered over a period of several centuries. Some of the language expressions are characteristic of Paleo-Hebrew and some are influenced by Talmudic Aramaic. There also appear to be logical inconsistencies within the narrative and reminders of a polytheistic cult. This research takes us on a journey through time that begins as a folktale of a Moabite woman in the land of Judea, probably from the turn of Royalty around the year 1000 BC. The journey halts unexpectedly during the seventh or sixth century BC, as its first writings appear during this period. It finally concludes during the fifth or fourth century BC, with the return to Zion from exile in Babylon, a period in which the Masoretic version of the Book of Ruth was likely written.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T19:30:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antonio Carvalho Costa.pdf: 1354540 bytes, checksum: 97b3841aef4ee9474f0fab1d77c09497 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-06 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work is about the process of forming identities in Ivaporunduva (Eldorado-SP) as a result of their struggle and recognition them as a remnant of Quilombo. In early 1990, communities in the Ribeira Valley (SP / PR) faced with the 'Article 68' ADCT as a possibility to stop the advancement of the interests that sought to install hydroelectric projects in the course of the Rio Ribeira de Iguape. Ivaporunduva starts composing his quilombola (maroon) identity as it articulated their struggle to oppose to the dams and in recognition of its territory through the Grupo de Mulheres de Eldorado (Women's Eldorado Group), Movimento dos Ameaçados por Barragens MOAB, (Movement of People Affected by Dams) and Associação Quilombola (maroon association). This movement mobilized universities, government agents and non-governmetal organization with the same purpose. With the work development, we tried to emphasize the new social roles that emerged within the community Ivaporunduva, as well as the readings from residents about the process that culminated in the public record of its Quilombola territory in 2010 / Disserta-se sobre o processo de constituição de identidades em Ivaporunduva (Eldorado-SP) em decorrência de suas lutas e reconhecimento como remanescente de quilombo. No início dos anos de 1990, as comunidades do Vale do Ribeira (SP/PR) se depararam com o artigo 68 do ADCT como uma possibilidade de frear o avanço dos interesses que visavam instalar empreendimentos hidroelétricos no curso do Rio Ribeira de Iguape. Ivaporunduva passa a compor sua identidade quilombola na medida em que articulava sua luta de oposição às barragens e pelo reconhecimento de seu território através do Grupo de Mulheres de Eldorado, Movimento dos Ameaçados por Barragens (MOAB) e associação quilombola. Esse movimento mobilizou universidades, agentes do poder público e organizações não governamentais com o mesmo propósito. Com o desenvolvimento do trabalho, procurou-se dar ênfase aos novos papéis sociais surgidos no interior da comunidade de Ivaporunduva, bem como às leituras dos moradores acerca do processo que culminou com o registro cartorial de seu território quilombola em 2010

Our perception, of the Omrid kings of the Kingdom oflsrael in the ninth century BCE, is based on the Books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Hebrew Bible. The Biblical author's concentration, on Omrid apostasy rather than on their abilities and accomplishments, has robbed these competant monarchs of the prominence allotted to kings like David and Solomon. Recent archaeological excavations, in conjunction with extra-Biblical sources, have however projected a different image. Excavations at the royal Omrid cities of Samaria, and especially Jezreel, have indicated that Omri, and his son Ahab, had erected immense and grandiose structures. These edifices bear testimony to periods of peace, stability and great economic prosperity. The Omrids deserve new assessments as to their accomplishments, and therefore, by means of visible and tangible structural remains, I wish to promote the persuasion of archaeology as vindication of Omrid grandeur and achievement at Samaria and Jezreel. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

The paper is concerned with the synchronic analysis of two ancient texts, i. e. 2 Kings 3, and the Mesha´s stele. Both of them mention an Israelite-Moabite conflict, and it is said they contain two different reports of the same event. The purpose of this thesis is to reconsider this assertion. Both texts were analyzed and their respective literary genres were determined. Then the texts were compared with regard to the aforementioned conflict. At the end of the paper the author concludes, it is neither possible to affirm with any certainty, that both texts reflect the same historical event, nor to disprove it.

Our perception, of the Omrid kings of the Kingdom oflsrael in the ninth century BCE, is based on the Books of 1 and 2 Kings in the Hebrew Bible. The Biblical author's concentration, on Omrid apostasy rather than on their abilities and accomplishments, has robbed these competant monarchs of the prominence allotted to kings like David and Solomon. Recent archaeological excavations, in conjunction with extra-Biblical sources, have however projected a different image. Excavations at the royal Omrid cities of Samaria, and especially Jezreel, have indicated that Omri, and his son Ahab, had erected immense and grandiose structures. These edifices bear testimony to periods of peace, stability and great economic prosperity. The Omrids deserve new assessments as to their accomplishments, and therefore, by means of visible and tangible structural remains, I wish to promote the persuasion of archaeology as vindication of Omrid grandeur and achievement at Samaria and Jezreel. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Biblical Studies)

In the absence of national leadership on climate policy, municipalities are adopting resolutions to reduce their carbon footprint and transition to clean energy. However, what leads to successful adoption of these resolutions and how to effectively implement climate goals at the community level needs further exploration. To investigate these questions, this thesis examines the resolutions adopted in Salt Lake City, Park City, and Moab, Utah to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2032. Data was collected through documents, such as city reports and newspapers, and interviews with government officials, city staff, and community members involved with the resolution process. A time series analysis and thematic analysis were used to determine casual events and identify fundamental themes within the data. Each city’s plan for resolution execution was compared to the approaches and techniques outlined in the community-based social marketing framework and the theory of diffusion of innovations. These findings deliver a transferable five-step framework to assist other cities in adopting similar resolutions and strategies to engage community members with practices that will help cities achieve these ambitious resolutions.

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