O sistema laguna-barreira da Feitoria localizado na margem oeste da célula Sul da laguna dos Patos – Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil – se assemelha geomorfologicamente, em uma escala menor, a um sistema barreira oceânico e cronologicamente ao sistema Barreira IV (Villwock e Tomazelli, 1995). Com o intuito de caracterizar a morfologia e a estratigrafia deste sistema deposicional laguna-barreira foi estudada a geologia de superfície e de subsuperfície. As características geológicas de superfície foram obtidas através da análise de aerofotografias e de imagens de satélite; de levantamentos topográficos e das análises geocronológicas por Luminescência Oticamente Estimulada em sedimentos superficiais. A geologia de subsuperfície foi caraterizada a partir da análise de perfis geofísicos registrados com sísmica rasa e de seções de georradar; junto foram integradas as análises granulométricas, palinológicas e geocronológicas (radioisótopos de 14C) coletadas em testemunhos de sondagem. Através da compilação crítica dos resultados obtidos, esta Tese apresenta evidências de que a gênese da barreira da Feitoria e da laguna na sua retaguarda, está correlacionada a topografia antecedente, marcada pela existência de um alto topográfico remanescente entre os paleovales fluviais dos rios Turuçu e Corrientes, onde este alto serviu de substrato para o início do desenvolvimento desta barreira. Também, é evidenciado que a evolução geomorfológica da barreira da Feitoria (orientação, truncamentos e tipologia dos cordões litorâneos), subdividida em nove fases de deposição, ocorreu associada as variações relativas do nível do mar a partir do Holoceno médio (8.000 anos A.P.). Observa-se também que foi influenciada diretamente pelas flutuações de alta frequência do nível de base da laguna dos Patos, causadas pela interação de três fatores: variabilidade no volume de precipitação na área da bacia de drenagem; marés meteorológicas causadas pelo vento; e alterações geomorfológicas na desembocadura da laguna dos Patos. O início da progradação dos cordões litorâneos na barreira da Feitoria ocorreu, aproximadamente, a 7.200 anos A.P., cronocorrelato ao período em que o nível relativo médio do mar ultrapassou o nível atual. A cota altimétrica da 1° crista destes cordões litorâneos encontra-se a 4,2 m acima do nível do mar atual, evidenciando a sobre-elevação do nível de base lagunar para a formação dos mesmos. A ilha da Feitoria, porção sul da barreira, teve sua formação, aproximadamente, a 5.000 anos A.P. associada ao rebaixamento do nível do mar e, consequentemente, ao afloramento do paleoalto topográfico da Feitoria. A partir deste período o controle sobre a morfologia e a orientação dos cordões litorâneos passa a ter uma maior influência associada as modificações na geomorfologia da desembocadura da laguna dos Patos (alta frequência). No entanto, as variações do nível de base lagunar (volume de precipitação e marés meteorológicas) de mais alta frequência são as responsáveis pela gênese das cristas dos cordões litorâneos. A deposição de sedimentos finos na área da laguna Pequena (retaguarda) começa antecedentemente a 7.730 anos A.P. com um aumento de influência marinha, próximo a esta idade, passando por um curto período com menor influência, retornando a aumentar a entrada de água salgada no interior da laguna dos Patos próximo a 7.000 anos A.P. A partir deste período, apesar das oscilações de alta frequência, passa a ter uma tendência de diminuir gradativamente a influência marinha no interior das lagunas dos Patos e Pequena. Esta diminuição da influência marinha pode ser correlacionada ao estreitamento do canal de ligação entre a laguna dos Patos e o oceano, assim como, o desenvolvimento da barreira da Feitoria diminuiu a comunicação entre a laguna Pequena e a laguna dos Patos. / The lagoon-barrier system of the Feitoria located on the western margin of the southern cell of the Patos lagoon - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - resembles geomorphologically, on a smaller scale, to the barrier system oceanic and chronologically to the Barrier IV system (Villwock e Tomazelli, 1995). In order to characterize the morphology and stratigraphy of this depositional lagoon-barrier system, the surface and subsurface geology were studied. The surface geological characteristics were obtained from the analysis of aerial photographs and satellite images; surveying and geochronological analyzes Optically Stimulated Luminescence of surface sediments. The subsurface geology was characterized by the analysis of geophysical profiles recorded with shallow and georadar seismic; and granulometric, palynological and geochronological analyzes (14C radioisotopes) of sedimentary records. This thesis presents evidences that the genesis of the Feitoria barrier and the Pequena lagoon is correlated with the previous topography, marked by the existence of a high topographic remnant among the fluvial paleovales of the Turuçu and Corrientes rivers, where this high served as a substrate for the beginning of the development of this barrier. Also, it is evidenced that the geomorphological evolution of the Feitoria barrier (orientation, truncations and typology of beach ridges), subdivided into 9 phases of deposition, was associated with sea level variations from the average Holocene (8,000 years Before the Present) and was also influenced directly by the high frequency fluctuations of the basal level of the Patos lagoon, caused by the interaction of three factors: variability in the volume of precipitation in the area of the drainage basin; wind tides; And geomorphological changes at the mouth of the Patos lagoon. The beginning of the development of the coastal strands in the Feitoria barrier occurred approximately 7,200 years B.P., chronologically during the period in which the average relative sea level exceeded the current level. The crest of the first ridge of these coastal strands is 4.2 m above current sea level, evidencing the over-elevation of the lagoon base level for their formation. The island of Feitoria, southern portion of the barrier, began approximately 5,000 years BP associated with the decline of sea level and the outcropping of the topographic paleoalto of Feitoria. From this period, the control over the morphology and orientation of the coastal strands will have a greater influence associated with the changes in the geomorphology of the mouth of the Patos lagoon (high frequency). However, variations in lagoon base level (volume of precipitation and wind tides) the highest frequency are responsible for the genesis of coastal beach ridges. The deposition of fine sediments in the Pequena lagoon area starts before 7,730 years BP with an increase of marine influence, near this age (palinological records), passing for a short period with less influence, returning to increase the entrance of salt water inside Patos lagoon, near to 7,000 years BP. From this period, despite the high frequency oscillations, there is a tendency gradually decrease the marine influence inside the lagoons Patos and Pequena. This decrease in the marine influence can be correlated to the narrowing of the channel connecting the Patos lagoon to the ocean, as well as the development of the Feitoria barrier, reducing the communication between the lagoons Pequena and Patos.

Os sistemas eólicos na região dos Lençóis Maranhenses no Maranhão, da costa oriental do Rio Grande do Norte e do médio Rio Branco, norte da Amazônia em Roraima, estão sob ação direta da zona de convergência intertropical (ZCIT) As variações da ZCIT controlam a intensidade dos ventos e chuvas nessas regiões, importantes forçantes na dinâmica desses sistemas eólicos, os quais são representados principalmente por campos de dunas Nos campos de dunas do Maranhão e Rio Grande do Norte, adiciona-se a ação das variações do nível relativo do mar (NRM), que afetam a disponibilidade de sedimentos e o nível freático da planície costeira, que por sua vez influenciam a construção e estabilização dunar Depósitos eólicos dunares dessas três áreas foram selecionados para investigar a ação de forçantes climáticas e do NRM na sedimentação eólica durante o Pleistoceno tardio e Holoceno Para tanto, foi utilizada datação por luminescência oticamente estimulada (optically stimulated luminescence, OSL) associada a análises sedimentológicas e geoquímicas de alta resolução em perfis de sucessão de paleodunas Isto permitiu a identificação de períodos de atividade e estabilização do sistema eólico O registro dos Lençóis Maranhenses abrange o último ciclo glacial, com sedimentos eólicos depositados de 132,20 ± 7,00 ka mil anos atrás) até 12,90 ± 0,60 ka Nele, se detecta períodos de formação de dunas durante NRM decrescente e baixo A preservação desses registros entre aproximadamente 71 a 13 ka está relacionada a períodos de maior precipitação durante os eventos Heinrich, quando houve migração persistente da ZCIT para o sul Já o registro do Rio Grande do Norte abrange o período de 78,98 ± 8,30 ka até 0,06 ± 0,01 ka e indica a formação de campos de dunas também em condições de NRM decrescente e baixo, além de campo de dunas formado sob linha de costa transgressiva e clima predominantemente úmido favorecido pela última fase de subida do NRM, entre o último máximo glacial e o Holoceno médio O estudo no Rio Grande do Norte destaca também a influência dos campos de dunas na fisiografia costeira, onde a interação fluvio-eólica proporcionou a formação de lagoas (Lagoa do Boqueirão) no Holoceno Médio Por sua vez, os depósitos eólicos de Roraima abrangem o período de 21,9 ± 1,00 ka até 1,10 ± 0,10 ka e registram o desenvolvimento de campo de dunas a partir de areias do médio Rio Branco, com maior taxa de construção dunar entre o último máximo glacial (23 ka) e o evento climático Heinrich 1 (15 ka), quando a incidência de ventos fortes e pluviosidade reduzida nas baixas latitudes do hemisfério norte estão relacionadas a persistente migração ao sul da ZCIT Os registros dos campos de dunas do MA e RN e RR produzem assim um notável arquivo do efeito das variações da ZCIT e do NRM nos sistemas eólicos das regiões nordeste e norte do Brasil durante o Pleistoceno tardio e Holoceno / Eolian sand deposits in the region of the Lençóis Maranhenses in Maranhão, the eastern coast of Rio Grande do Norte, and the Middle Branco River, north of the Amazon in Roraima, are under direct influence of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) . ITCZ fluctuations control wind intensity and rains in these regions, important forcings controlling the dynamics of eolian systems, that are mainly represented by dunefields In the coastal dunefields of Maranhão and Rio Grande do Norte, an additional forcing is the relative sea level (RSL), that affects the availability of sediments and controls the water table level of the coastal plain, that in turn influence the construction and stabilization of dunes Eolian sand deposits in these three areas were selected to investigate the effects of climate and RSL forcings on construction and stabilization of dunes during the late Pleistocene and Holocene using optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL) associated with sedimentological and geochemical analysis from high-resolution sampling of paleodune succession profiles. The Lençóis Maranhenses record encompasses the last glacial cycle, with eolian sand accumulation from 132.20 ± 7.00 ka (thousand years ago) to 12. 90 ± 0. 60 ka This paleoenvironmental archive shows periods of dune construction during falling and low RSL. The preservation of these records between approximately 71-13 ka is related to periods of greater precipitation during Heinrich events, when there were persistent southbound shifts of the ITCZ The record of the Rio Grande do Norte dunefield from 78.98 ± 8.30 to 0.06 ± 0.01 ka also indicates the formation of dunefields under falling and low RSL in addition to transgressive dunefields formed under rising RSL and wetter climate during the last phase of the deglaciation in the late Holocene. The study in Rio Grande do Norte also highlights fluvialOeolian interplay that affected coastal physiography and promoted the formation of the Boqueirão Lake in the middle Holocene In turn, the eolian sand deposits of Roraima record accumulation from 21.9 ± 1.00 to 1.10 ± 0.10 ka from Branco River reworked sands In Roraima, the highest rate of dune construction was between the last glacial maximum (23 ka) and the Heinrich 1 climate event (15 ka), at times of high winds and low rainfall at low latitudes of the northern hemisphere related to persistent southward migration the ITCZ. The dunefield record from Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte and Roraima thus provide a remarkable archive of the effects of the variations of the ITCZ and RSL in eolian deposits in the northeast and north regions of Brazil during the late Pleistocene and Holocene

A forma isomórfica predominante nos biominerais (casca de ostra, coral, madrepérola e concha) estudados foi a aragonita. Contudo, o surgimento da fase calcita deu-se à temperatura de 500°C a uma taxa de aquecimento de 10°C/s para todas as amostras; e para a amostra de coral, à temperatura de 400°C, independente da taxa de aquecimento. O elemento mais abundante nas amostras de biominerais foi o Ca na forma de CaO e para os silicatos (tremolita, diopsídio e rodonita), o Si na forma de SiO. O elemento traço mais presente nas amostras de biominerais foi o Fe. A análise de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica mostrou as linhas de Mn2+ nas amostras de coral e madrepérola, antes da irradiação. Para amostras irradiadas, os defeitos encontrados foram os radicais CO2-, CO33-, CO3-, SO2-, SO3-, e num intervalo de g entre 2,0010 e 2,0062. Na análise por absorção óptica dos biominerais foram encontradas transições devido à presença de Mn nas amostras. Foi observado um pico termoluminescente (TL) em aproximadamente 140°C para os biominerais e em 180°C para os silicatos, cuja intensidade depende diretamente da dose. Para amostras expostas a diferentes tipos de radiações, o pico TL ocorre em temperaturas mais baixas. Para as curvas dose-resposta obtidas para esses materiais, foi possível determinar um intervalo de linearidade para o qual a sua aplicação em dosimetria de doses altas se torna possível. Levando-se em consideração o tipo de radiação, dentre os biominerais e os silicatos, obteve-se a menor dose detectável (40mGy), para a radiação gama em amostra de casca de ostra utilizando-se a técnica de medição de luminescência opticamente estimulada (LOE). Para radiação beta, as amostras de tremolita e diopsídio obtiveram a menor dose detectável (60mGy). No geral, obteve-se uma boa reprodutibilidade para as amostras, utilizando-se as técnicas TL, LOE e emissão exoeletrônica termicamente estimulada (TSEE) para as radiações alfa, beta e gama. Portanto, pode-se concluir que as amostras caracterizadas neste trabalho podem ser utilizadas como detectores/dosímetros de doses altas. / The predominant isomorphous form in the biominerals studied in this work (oyster shell, coral, mother of pearl and shell) was aragonite. The appearence of the calcite phase occurred at 500°C at a heating rate of 10°C/s for all samples except for the coral sample, which was 400°C, independent of the heating rate. The most abundant element in the biominerals samples was Ca in the CaO form, and in the silicates (tremolite, diopside and rhodonite) Si in the SiO form. The most common trace element observed in the biominerals samples was Fe. The analyses of electron paramagnetic resonance showed lines of Mn2+ in the coral and mother-of-pearl samples before irradiation. In the case of the irradiated samples, the defects found were CO2-, CO33-, CO3- and SO2-, in the g range between 2.0010 and 2.0062. In the analyses by optical absorption of biominerals, transitions due to the presence of Mn in the samples were found. A thermoluminescent (TL) peak at approximately 140°C was found for the biominerals and at 180°C for silicates, which intensity depends directly on the dose. For samples exposed to different types of radiation, the TL peak occurred at lower temperatures. From the dose-response curves obtained for these materials, it was possible to determine a linear range for which their application in high dose dosimetry becomes possible. Taking into account the radiation type, among biominerals and silicates, the lowest detectable dose (40mGy) to gamma radiation was achieved for oyster shell samples using the measuring technique of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Using beta radiation, for diopside and tremolite samples the lowest detectable dose of 60mGy was obtained. For all samples, using the TL, OSL and thermally stimulated exoelectron emission (TSEE) techniques in alpha, beta and gamma radiation beans a good response reproducibility was obtained. Therefore, the samples characterized in this work are suitable to be used as high dose detectors/dosimeters.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating beach ridge sediments is one method for resolving barrier island growth at intermediate scales (decades-centuries), information that is lacking for Louisiana. This research combines OSL, GPR, aerial imagery, and cores to document temporal and spatial evolution of a Louisiana barrier island. Grand Isle is composed of beach ridges organized in distinct, unconformable sets that began forming 0.75 ka until 0.575 ka when deposition ceased, the ridges were partially eroded, and deposition resumed in a more eastward direction. The central ridges formed between 370±30 and 170±10 years ago at a rate of one ridge every 11.6 years with sand from the eroding Caminada headland that, with flanking barriers, forms the Bayou Lafourche transgressive depositional system. Grand Isle’s lithosome (92,600,000 cubic meters) requires an annual longshore transport of 128,625 cubic meters. The lithosome thickness (10 meters) and steady sediment supply stabilize the island relative to other Louisiana barriers.

Arroyos are steep-walled, entrenched, typically ephemeral streams commonly found in dryland river systems that form when streams incise into previously deposited alluvial fill. Arroyos in the southwestern U.S. have been studied extensively following the historic period of arroyo cutting in the late 1800s and early 1900s A.D. The upper Escalante River in south-central Utah similarly began incising in 1909, and records evidence for past cut and fill cycles in well-exposed walls along the now continuous arroyo. Establishing robust geochronologies of past arroyo cycles in these fluvial settings has been difficult. Recent improvements in accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating provide an opportunity to link more highly resolved fluvial records to existing paleoclimate records. This allows hypotheses regarding the causes of arroyo cycles to be tested, and for the role of climate versus intrabasinal characteristics to be examined. One major objective of this research was to examine the applicability of OSL and AMS 14C dating in the upper Escalante, as both methods have proved problematic in similar settings. In total, 37 ages were obtained, 21 OSL and 16 14C ages. The Holocene fluvial history of the upper Escalante River was reconstructed using these age results and stratigraphic relationships. The chronostratigraphic record developed in this study suggests that at least six arroyo cycles have occurred in the upper Escalante since the middle Holocene, with incision occurring ~4.4 – 4.2 ka, ~2.6 – 2.4 ka, ~1.8 – 1.5 ka, ~1.0 – 0.9 ka, ~0.5 - 0.4 ka, and during the historic period of arroyo entrenchment. While semi-synchronous arroyo cutting (indicative of a climate signal) appears to have occurred in the Paria and Escalante drainages over the last 1 ka, correlations between proximal drainages are less clear prior to 1 ka, although this may be due in part to preservation effects. Overall, linkages to specific climate regimes and correlations to regional drainages are difficult to identify, suggesting that internal geomorphic thresholds are important in determining when arroyo entrenchment occurs in individual catchments.

Late Period (<1500 >years), high-altitude (>2600 m asl) archaeological sites in northwestern Wyoming prove difficult to date with traditional methods. The presence of Intermountain Ware ceramics at these sites presents an opportunity to use single-grain optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to date vessel manufacture. These OSL ages also date site occupation as the vessels’ use-life is encapsulated within the standard error of the technique. This thesis develops a protocol to date quartz temper of Intermountain Ware sherds. Additionally, it investigates potential post-depositional thermal resetting of luminescence signals by wildfires. Ceramic sherd samples were obtained from four sites in northwestern Wyoming: Boulder Ridge, High Rise Village, Caldwell Creek, and Platt. Each site, except Caldwell Creek, has existing radiocarbon ages that provide independent age control. Additionally, all sites except Platt were impacted by past wildfires of varying intensity and consequently provide a test of the thermal resetting capabilities of wildfires.The Platt site is also the only site not located at high altitude and therefore, the sample from this site serves as a control in this study. Luminescence results demonstrate single-grain OSL dating of quartz temper from Intermountain Ware ceramics can provide improved accuracy and precision over radiocarbon dating when sherds are not adversely affected by wildfires. These results underscore the need for cultural resource managers to sample from subsurface contexts when inventorying sites impacted by high-intensity wildfires or to locate and identify sites with strong potential for high-intensity wildfires and date them prior to eventual burning. These results also validate single-grain OSL dating of ceramic temper as a valuable chronometric tool for cultural resource managers and archaeologists seeking to build and refine existing site and regional chronologies.

Ce travail de thèse présente les résultats d'études géomorphologiques sur la cinématique de failles dans le centre et l'est de l'Iran. Dans cette région, des observations géodésiques associées à l'analyse d'un réseau GPS à large maille (Vernant et al., 2004 ; Masson et al., 2007) suggèrent que le cisaillement dextre entre l'Iran Central et le bloc Afghan est d'environ 16 mm/an. Un modèle cinématique (Walker et al., 2004) propose que ce cisaillement dextre soit pris en compte depuis les 5 derniers Ma par les grands décrochements limitant le Lut à l'Ouest et à l'Est. Leur vitesse géologique est cependant mal contrainte tout comme celle de décrochements situés à l'intérieur du plateau iranien, généralement considérés peu ou non actifs. Nous démontrons l'activité de deux décrochements dextres situés sur le plateau iranien, les failles d'Anar et de Deshir, et déterminons leur vitesse de glissement moyennée sur plusieurs cycles sismiques. Pour cela, des décalages de bords d'incision de terrasses alluviales ont été mesurés et des datations par mesure de la production in-situ en isotopes cosmogéniques (10Be et 36Cl) et par luminescence stimulée optiquement (OSL) ont été effectuées. L'analyse des données de surface et de profil, obtenues par les mesures d'isotopes cosmogéniques, a permis de mettre en évidence l'existence d'un héritage variable et important du matériel composant les terrasses alluviales. Nous avons proposé une méthode pour estimer la quantité minimum d'héritage variable, dans le but de déterminer l'âge d'abandon des surfaces abandonnées puis les vitesses de glissement sur les failles. Les datations par isotopes cosmogéniques et OSL combinées aux mesures de décalages morphologiques impliquent des vitesses de glissement géologique court-terme de 0.8 mm/an pour la faille d'Anar et de 0.85 – 2 mm/an pour la faille de Deshir. Ces résultats nous permettent de discuter le rôle de ces failles dans l'accommodation de la déformation dans le centre et l'est de l'Iran, suggérant que la déformation cisaillante se répartit sur une zone plus large que le Lut et ses bordures, et est prise en compte par un plus grand nombre de failles, qu'initialement supposé. Les données géologiques et GPS disponibles sont encore en nombre insuffisant pour déterminer s'il y a ou non des incompatibilités entre déformation finie et déformation instantanée.

The aim of this current work is to analyze the behavior of OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) signals of irradiated spices with respect to time, temperature, origin and the type. Throughout the experiments, 3 different type spices from four different origins were stored at 4&deg / C and 25&deg / C for six months after irradiation. During experiments, unirradiated red pepper, thyme and cumin samples were analyzed by using OSL technique in order to determine the background OSL signal values of samples. Samples were irradiated 10 kGy by Cobalt 60 gamma source in TAEK (Turkey Atomic Energy Association). After irradiation process, OSL signal values of different samples were analyzed according to the given parameters. In order to determine the effect of temperature on OSL signal loss, temperature (4&deg / C- 25&deg / C) was set as storage temperature. The analyses were made monthly. According to the statistical analyses (ANOVA- General Linear Model), origin and type of samples were detected as significant parameters of design experiment. Time and temperature effect on OSL signal loss changed with respect to origin and type of samples. After six months storage period, OSL signal was lost for most of the origin and sample type. At the end of sixth month, an ESR analysis was performed to detect the accuracy of the OSL technique. With respect to the results of these experiments, it was seen that, due to optical fading, most of the samples was observed as unirradiated by OSL technique, however ESR analyze the samples as irradiated at the end of sixth month. Irradiation had a detrimental effect on the microbiological load of the samples and resulted 6 log reduction on the microbial population. After irradiation, no colony formation was observed in total bacteria and yeast- mold count. During six month period, no injury recovery was observed.

Luminescence is the emission of light resulting from radiative transition of an atom from an excited state to a ground state. This radiative transition yields emission of photons and the luminescence is the general name which is used to classify &ldquo / cold emission&rdquo / other than the blackbody radiation. Spectroscopy involves the measurement of intensity of emitted, absorbed or scattered electromagnetic radiation as a function of wavelength. Thus, it is a valuable tool in the study of understanding the luminescence production mechanisms. Measurement of emission spectra gives information about the energy levels of transition and structure, geometry and composition of the sample. In this study, a versatile luminescence emission spectrometer was designed and developed with the main aim of measuring Photoluminescence (PL), Thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) emission spectra of materials relevant for dosimetry. The spectrometer was constructed around a Littrow type monochromator by developing the necessary hardware, firmware and software. Wavelength calibration, measurement of spectral response and determination of resolution of the spectrometer were done using calibration lamps and a calibrated spectroradiometer. Finally the performance of the constructed spectrometer was tested by measuring the emission spectra of materials such as BeO, Al2O3 and CaF2 wherever possible the measured spectra were compared with the ones reported in the literature.

Sand ramps are widespread but understudied landforms which have the potential to provide detailed palaeoenvironmental information in dryland regions. This thesis investigates the utility of sand ramps as late Quaternary palaeoenvironmental archives by addressing two research questions: (1) What are the main controls on sand ramp formation in southern Africa? (2) What does the sand ramp record tell us about late Quaternary palaeoenvironments in southern Africa? The distribution of sand ramps in southern Africa was surveyed using Google Earth™ and 75 features were identified in southern Namibia. Ten of these sand ramps, and an additional feature from South Africa, were studied in the field. Sediments and morphology were mapped and a total of 64 OSL dates, 96 sediment samples, 10 heavy mineral assemblages and OSL sensitivity data from 8 samples were examined. The distribution of sand ramps suggests formation is dependent on (1) sediment supply, (2) accommodation space, (3) persistent unidirectional wind and (4) a variable semi-arid to arid climate. Chronologies and sediment analyses indicate individual sand ramp accumulation is locally controlled by sediment supply modulated by the availability, and nature, of the accommodation space. Comparison between the Namibian and South African sand ramps suggests considerable regional variation in the factors controlling sediment supply. The Namibian sand ramps show an affinity to local ephemeral river channels. Periods of dated sand ramp activity in multiple features are interpreted as periods of increased regional fluvial activity. Significant activity occurred at ~21-12 ka (with peaks at 21-18.5 ka and 14.5-12 ka), ~8.5-7.5 ka and ~2 ka. Some activity is also indicated at 85-65 ka and 45-35 ka. These results correspond well to regional records. Overall, this study demonstrates that sand ramps can provide palaeoclimatic information on both the local and regional scale but only if a number of caveats are taken into consideration.