This dissertation reconstructs a history of the greater Qacha’s Nek district of Lesotho, southern Africa from 1880 when farmers first settled the area, until 1965 on the eve of independence from Great Britain. This place-based study speaks to broader questions. How have people incorporated new and often foreign ideas into existing beliefs and practices? How did a person’s social position affect how they interacted with new ideas? How have people applied knowledge to make and remake environments such as in gardens and fields? This study is based on field research in Lesotho, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The author examined archival materials including colonial records, agricultural reports and surveys, national council proceedings, and vernacular newspapers. During four months of rural fieldwork in Lesotho the author collected oral histories, took photographs, and participated in village life. The approach focuses on colonial government interventions into agriculture and pastoralism. These interventions serve as sites for examining historical changes in how Basotho people engaged with the non-human world. In so doing, the study makes three main interventions. First, the claims are situated within scholarly conversations about local knowledge, science, and environment under colonialism. Second, the stories of chiefs, farmers, and government employees told here extend the literature on Lesotho’s political and economic history by highlighting the nuance of local politics, ecology, and agency. Finally, to contribute to the environmental historiography on Africa and rural places in general, the study probes the interplay of culture and nature. To do this, it narrates how people deployed eclectic knowledge to build, rebuild, and redefine environments. The dissertation argues that the compilation of environmental knowledge must be understood as a historical process that encapsulates the meanings that people have imbued the landscape with, for example, by building homesteads, along with how people have understood the landscape as a system of resources to be used economically for subsistence and market purposes. These aspects of knowing are part of a single process that has unfolded, and continues to unfold, along a temporal trajectory that has varied across different social groups, such as men and women and chiefs and commoners.

abstract: Numerous studies have examined the interplay of climate, tectonics, biota and erosion and found that these variables are intertwined in a complicated system of feedbacks and as a result, some of these factors are often oversimplified or simply neglected. To understand the interplay of these factors one must understand the processes that transport or inhibit transport of soil. This study uses the short-lived, fallout-derived, radionuclides 137Cs and 210Pb to identify soil transport processes and to quantify soil transport using the profile distribution model for 137Cs. Using five field sites in the San Gabriel Mountains of California, I address four questions: (1) Is there a process transition between high and low gradient slopes observable with short-lived isotopes? (2) Do convex hilltops reflect short-term equilibrium erosion rates? (3) Do linear transects of pits accurately characterize hillslope averaged erosion rates? and (4) What role does fire play on short-term soil transport and isotope distribution? I find no evidence supporting a process transition from low gradient to high gradient slopes but also find that significant spatial variability of erosion rates exist. This spatial variability is the result of sensitivity of the method to small scale variations in isotopes and indicates that small scale processes may dominate broader scale trends. I find that short-term erosion rates are not at equilibrium on a convex hilltop and suggest the possibility of a headward incision signal. Data from a post-fire landscape indicates that fires may create complications in 137Cs and 210Pb distribution that current models for erosion calculation do not account for. I also find that across all my field sites soil transport processes can be identified and quantified using short-lived isotopes and I suggest high resolution grid sampling be used instead of linear transects so that small scale variability can be averaged out. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Geological Sciences 2011

Proposed thesis is focused on the role of soil microbial crusts in the extreme environmental conditions of high-elevation cold desert of W Himalaya. Despite the importance of microbial soil crusts in arid soils, the biodiversity of their microbial communities, their role and function are still unclear. Our knowledge about functioning of these outlying ecosystems in this part of the world is still very insufficient in general. The area of Ladakh is perfect place for studying the microbial soil crust arid climate and extreme elevation aroud 6000 m a.s.l. represents unique condition for well-developed soil crusts communities. The whole region is unaffected by human activities or plant invasions, so we can study soil crusts in pristine natural condition. Our investigations is focused on soil microbial community of BSCc in Ladakh region. It combines range of aspects connected with BSCs such as taxonomical composition, changes of diversity and activity in relation to environmental condition. The thesis is the first compilation of studies concerned on microbial communities in area of Ladakh and one of the first work investigating the ecophysiology of BCSs in cold desert.

Title: Analysis of activities of the Mountain Rescue Service in selected mountains in the Czech Republic. Objectives: The objective of this thesis is to analyse the activities of areas of the Mountain Rescue Service and then compare the collected information. Another objective is to create a comprehensive overview of the history, activities and areas of the Mountain Rescue Service, and its cooperation with other rescue services. Methods: The methods used in this thesis are content analysis and data collection from available sources. Furthermore, methods of qualitative research, mainly a semistructured interview with chiefs of the Mountain Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. The data obtained are presented through a transcript of interviews and descriptive statistics of interviewed and Mountain Rescue Service statistics. These statistics are processed into tables and graphs that are described, compared and evaluated. Results: The result of this diploma thesis is an overview of the Mountain Rescue Service, its activities, its activities and its powers. Moreover, another result is an analysis of activities in selected areas where the Mountain Rescue Service operates on the basis of interviews with Mountain Rescue Service chiefs. Last but not least, this thesis presents a comparison of intervention...

Various dendrochronological methods for avalanche reconstructions was applied on tree-ring records of dominant Norway spruce (Picea abies) in the Giant Mountains National Park. The individual growth chronologies from studied avalanche paths (Pramenný důl, Navorská jáma, Pančavská stěna, Velká Studniční jáma and Úpská jáma) proved that climate is the main driving factor of intra-annual variation of tree growth. Traumatic resin ducts are formed with delay up to 5 years. Combination of two and more tree-ring characteristics is suitable for reconstruction of avalanche events. I achieved to reconstruct undocumented avalanches. I conclude that dendrochronology is suitable tool for avalanche reconstruction; however, high pollutant emission highly reduced the potential of gained results.

This thesis deals with morphological analysis of the Novohradské Mountains. A part of the data necessary for this task was found out by means of field exploration. Results of measuring of joint system were compiled and rose-diagrams were created.

abstract: ABSTRACT The accretion of juvenile island-arc lithosphere by convergent tectonism during the Paleoproterozoic, in conjunction with felsic volcanism, resulted in the assembly, ductile to partial brittle deformation, uplift, and northwest-directed thrusting of rocks in the McDowell Mountains region and adjacent areas in the Mazatzal Orogenic belt. Utilizing lithologic characteristics and petrographic analysis of the Proterozoic bedrock, a correlation to the Alder series was established, revising the stratigraphic sequences described by earlier works. The central fold belt, composed of an open, asymmetric syncline and an overturned, isoclinal anticline, is cut by an axial-plane parallel reactivated thrust zone that is intruded by a deformed Paleoproterozoic mafic dike. Finite strain analyses of fold geometries, shear fabrics, foliations, fold vergence, and strained clasts point to Paleoproterozoic northwest-directed thrusting associated with the Mazatzal orogen at approximately 1650 million years ago. Previous studies constrained the regional P-T conditions to at least the upper andalusite-kyanite boundary at peak metamorphic conditions, which ranged from 4-6 kilobars and 350-450⁰ Celsius, although the plasticity of deformation in a large anticlinal core suggests that this represents the low end of the P-T conditions. Subsequent to deformation, the rocks were intruded by several granitoid plutons, likely of Mesoproterozoic age (1300-1400 Ma). A detailed analysis of Proterozoic strain solidly places the structure of the McDowell Mountains within the confines of the Mazatzal Orogeny, pending any contradictory geochronological data. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Geological Sciences 2012

Orographically enhanced precipitation played a major role in the flooding event in August 2002 in the Eastern Erzgebirge mountains. Both global and mesoscale models underestimated local intensities even with the correct position of the associated large-scale front. The limited area model LM of the DWD has been used in a sensitivity study of orographic precipitation involving an idealized bell-shaped orography. The dependence of precipitation on different determining parameters is investigated, with special emphasis on layer stability and wind structure. With the operational horizontal grid spacing of about 7 km, the LM simulations reproduce common distributions of vertical velocity and precipitation for uniformly stratified flows of varying stability. Highest rates are computed for stratiform cases with decreasing stability at higher levels and for convective environments. Both situations differ from the wave-like appearance of the uniformly stratified flows. Several vertical profiles of horizontal wind velocity structure are found to significantly influence magnitude and vertical decay of upward motion. Simplified profiles of the Eastern Erzgebirge mountain range and atmospheric conditions comparable to that of the flooding event are introduced to estimate the orographically-induced precipitation in a homogeneous flow. These numerical simulations are compared with values computed by the diagnostic maximum precipitation model MAXRR. Due to the relatively coarse grid in LM, small-scale differences through enhanced orographic lift cannot be resolved. Nevertheless, the amounts observed in this flooding case are reproduced with the high-resolution diagnostic model. / Orografisch verstärkter Niederschlag im Bereich des Osterzgebirges spielte eine große Rolle bei der Entstehung des Elbehochwassers im August 2002. Sowohl globale als auch mesoskalige Vorhersagemodelle unterschätzten die lokalen Niederschlagsintensitäten trotz richtiger Positionierung des synoptisch-skaligen Frontenzuges. Zur Untersuchung der Gründe wurde das Lokalmodell des DWD für eine Sensitivitätsstudie bezüglich orografisch beeinflussten Niederschlags im Bereich eines idealisierten Glockenberges verwendet. Die Abhängigkeit des Niederschlags von verschiedenen Kontrollparametern wurde untersucht, mit besonderer Beachtung von Schichtungsstabilität und Horizontalwindstruktur. Bei Verwendung der operationellen Gitterweite von 7 km reproduzieren die Simulationen mit dem LM die bekannten Verteilungen von Vertikalwind und Niederschlag für unterschiedliche Schichtungen mit höhenkonstanten Temperaturgradienten. Die höchsten Niederschlagsraten ergeben sich jedoch für stratiforme Aufgleitprozesse im Fall von abnehmender Stabilität in mittleren und hohen Bereichen der Troposphäre sowie für konvektive Umgebungen, in beiden Fällen mit signifikanter Änderung des Vertikalwindfeldes verglichen mit der zuvor erwähnten Strömung. Der Einfluss des Vertikalprofils des horizontalen Windes auf Stärke und vertikale Abschwächung der Aufwärtsbewegung muss beachtet werden. Schließlich wurden die Sensitivitätsstudien ausgedehnt auf ein vereinfachtes Höhenprofil des Osterzgebirges. Als Ausgangssituation wurden dabei die atmosphärischen Bedingungen verwendet, die mit denen des Hochwasserereignisses vergleichbar sind. Diese numerischen Simulationen wurden mit Werten des einfachen diagnostischen Maximalniederschlagsmodells MAXRR verglichen. Entsprechend der relativ groben Gitterweite des LM können kleinräumige Unterschiede durch verstärkte orografische Hebung nicht wider gegeben werden, wogegen die beobachteten Niederschlagsmengen des Hochwasserereignisses mithilfe des hoch aufgelösten diagnostischen Modells erreicht werden.

Uplift of the Al Hajar Mountains in Oman has been related to either Late Cretaceous ophiolite obduction or the Neogene Zagros collision. To test these hypotheses, the cooling of the central Al Hajar Mountains is constrained by 10 apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe), 15 fission track (AFT), and four zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) sample ages. These data show differential cooling between the two major structural culminations of the mountains. In the 3km high Jabal Akhdar culmination AHe single-grain ages range between 392 Ma and 101 Ma (2 sigma errors), AFT ages range from 518 Ma to 324 Ma, and ZHe single-grain ages range from 62 +/- 3Ma to 39 +/- 2 Ma. In the 2 km high Saih Hatat culmination AHe ages range from 26 +/- 4 to 12 +/- 4 Ma, AFT ages from 73 +/- 19Ma to 57 +/- 8 Ma, and ZHe single-grain ages from 81 +/- 4 Ma to 58 +/- 3 Ma. Thermal modeling demonstrates that cooling associated with uplift and erosion initiated at 40 Ma, indicating that uplift occurred 30 Myr after ophiolite obduction and at least 10 Myr before the Zagros collision. Therefore, this uplift cannot be related to either event. We propose that crustal thickening supporting the topography of the Al Hajar Mountains was caused by a slowdown of Makran subduction and that north Oman took up the residual fraction of N-S convergence between Arabia and Eurasia.

The spatial variability of snow cover characteristics (depth, density, and snow water equivalent [SWE]) has paramount importance for the management of water resources in mountain environments. Passive microwave (PM) inference of SWE from space-borne instrumentation is increasingly used but the reliability of this technique remains limited in mountainous areas. Complex topography and the transition between forest and alpine tundra vegetation zones create large spatial heterogeneities in the snowpack in such environments. A better understanding of the factors that control these heterogeneities is therefore needed to improve and extend the use of PM-derived SWE estimation to mountain settings. In this study, two seasonally snow-covered sub-Arctic mountain catchments at comparable latitudes, one in Hemavan, northern Sweden and the other in Wolf Creek, Yukon, Canada, were investigated to evaluate the relative influence of climate vs. landscape factors on the variability of snow cover characteristics. Field measurements of snowpack stratigraphy and SWE were performed at the approximate time of late winter snow depth maximum using various in situ methodologies. Regression analysis was then employed to identify possible relationships between snow depth, density and SWE, and landscape properties (altitude, slope angle and aspect) at both sites, both within and between different vegetation zones. Snow depth, density and SWE were found to be greatest in the alpine tundra zone of both catchments, and were largest in Hemavan, probably on account of the relatively warmer and wetter winter climate of northern Sweden compared to that of the Yukon. Elevation was the only quantifiable landscape property found to show a positive and significant relationship with SWE in both catchments. Notable differences in the spatial variability of snowpack properties were also found between the two study sites. The local variability of snow depth was greatest in the forest-alpine transition zone at Hemavan, but greatest in the alpine zone at Wolf Creek. Differences in the vegetation cover type between the two catchments (coniferous vs. deciduous in the forest zone) is suspected to exert an important influence on spatial patterns of snow depth, density and SWE, likely because of differences in the efficiency of snow interception. Further investigations of how different vegetation characteristics (e.g. leaf area index) influence snowpack properties over the course of the winter are recommended in order to improve and extend the use of PM-based SWE retrievals in high-latitude mountain environments.