The condition of the rural road network in South Africa is in a severe state of deterioration and remains a matter of concern for inhabitants of rural areas. Apart from heavy use, the main problem is that road development is often neglected and the main focus is placed on the geomorphic environment. The objective of this study is to identify the nature of the geomorphic constraints of vehicular access on unarmoured roads in the rural areas of KwaZulu Natal and the Limpopo Province of South Africa, and to gain a better understanding of how these function. It is hoped that some of the insights gained can then be used to inform policy decisions regarding the location and design of rural roads in the future. In this study, a number of unarmoured roads were studied in detail to identify the possible environmental constraints on vehicular access. A number of soil physical and chemical properties were used to examine the state of road degradation. These properties included particle size analysis, soil strength, Cation Exchangeable Capacity and Exchangeable Sodium Percentage. The results of the investigation of soil properties have shown that they play a significant role in road degradation. The major geomorphic factors involved in road deterioration include soil type, soil erosion and precipitation characteristics, mass movements, slope conditions and human activity. The physical characteristics, especially the soil and slope conditions, make the access roads in all study areas susceptible to soil loss. Factors such as geology, drainage and friable soils vulnerable to mass movements have been identified as seriously constraining vehicular access. Soil erosion problems in the study area are largely the result of physical and chemical properties of soils combined with steep gradients and have been identified as the primary cause of road degradation. It was further found that the socio-economic conditions, together with the anthropogenic influences such as the construction of rural access roads on vulnerable slopes, population density and the removal of vegetation cover in all the study areas have significantly enhanced road deterioration. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Ciliwung Watershed is the most developed area in Indonesia. However, development needs have caused overexploitation of the available resources, which have eventually caused deterioration of the environment of this watershed, and caused several areas to be more prone to natural hazards. This study develops certain Geographic Information System models to identify the physical-environmental characteristics of the watershed, in an attempt to avoid further improper resources utilization. These models yield the soil erosion critical areas, landslide potential areas, the spread of sea water intrusion, land subsidence potential areas, surface runoff characteristic, natural hazards prone areas, and groundwater recharge area.Based on these yielded characteristics, the general physical capability of this watershed can be delineated, which consists of five capability zones : Zone I, the flood prone area that also occupies by seawater intrusion and potential land subsidence areas; Zone II, the area that is affected by excessive groundwater withdrawal, which has sea water intrusion areas and prone to land subsidence; Zone III, the groundwater recharge area for Jakarta Plain; Zone IV, the most capable area for physical development; and Zone V, upper part of the watershed which has landslide potential areas, soil erosion critical areas, and volcanic eruption prone areas. / Department of Natural Resources

MERIS data and Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Detritus (NPZD) ecosystem model coupled with the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), were used to investigate seasonal variations in surface chlorophyll distributions and their controlling factors to clarify phytoplankton dynamics in the upper Gulf of Thailand. Chlorophyll maps were produced by application on MERIS Level 2 data an empirical algorithm derived from the regression analysis of the relationship between chlorophyll-a concentration and remote sensing reflectance ratio. The results indicated that the patterns of seasonal chlorophyll distributions corresponded to local wind and water circulations. The model simulation highlighted the importance of river water as a significant nutrient source, and its movement after discharge into the sea is controlled by seasonal circulations. High chlorophyll concentration located along the western coast following the direction of counter-clockwise circulation, forced by the northeast winds, while chlorophyll accumulation was observed in the northeastern corner of the gulf due to clockwise circulation, driven by the southwest winds. These key simulated results are consistent with those of field observations and satellite images captured in the same periods of time, and also described seasonal shifting of blooming areas previously reported. Sensitivity analysis of simulated chlorophyll distributions suggested that not only nutrients but also wind-induced vertical movement plays a significant role in controlling phytoplankton growth. Plankton blooms occur in zones of upwelling or where vertical diffusivities are low. Increasing nutrients in the water column due to river loads leads to increasing potential for severe plankton blooms when other photosynthetic factors, such as water stability and light, are optimized. The knowledge of seasonal patterns of blooming can be used to construct environmental risk maps which are very useful for planning to mitigate the eutrophic problems. Effective measures need to be applied to control amount of nutrients released into natural water in order to minimize severity of red tides.

No description available.

Popular geography magazines like National Geographic (NG) provide readers with a lens of the world around them. Yet sadly they often only serve a limited utilitarian purpose as dust collectors on coffee tables of hospital waiting rooms or doctors’ practices. It should be of little surprise then that the relative importance of geographic magazines as a representational forum has been underestimated historically. The importance of geographic magazines as an outlet for creating and disseminating preconceived visions of what may be termed ‘popular geographies’ has only become the subject of scrutiny in the last two decades. Authors including Lutz and Collins (1993) and Rothenberg (1994, 2007) have reflected critically upon the place of NG as a powerful ideological institution for legitimating particular visions of the world in the wider corpus of the discipline of geography. Yet while there has been a substantial volume of work dedicated to unravelling the situated lens of NG there has been no research devoted to deciphering the lenses of other geography magazines such as Canadian Geographic (CG), Australian Geographic (AG) or New Zealand Geographic (NZG). These magazines also embody the ideals of adventure, discovery and nature made famous by NG but purvey geography through distinctively national narratives. Through discourse analysis the thesis examines these three magazines in order to unravel geographic imaginations of nationalism in CG, AG and NZG and in the process challenge divergent conceptions of geography itself as both an academic discipline and popular subject.

MERIS data and Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Detritus (NPZD) ecosystem model coupled with the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), were used to investigate seasonal variations in surface chlorophyll distributions and their controlling factors to clarify phytoplankton dynamics in the upper Gulf of Thailand. Chlorophyll maps were produced by application on MERIS Level 2 data an empirical algorithm derived from the regression analysis of the relationship between chlorophyll-a concentration and remote sensing reflectance ratio. The results indicated that the patterns of seasonal chlorophyll distributions corresponded to local wind and water circulations. The model simulation highlighted the importance of river water as a significant nutrient source, and its movement after discharge into the sea is controlled by seasonal circulations. High chlorophyll concentration located along the western coast following the direction of counter-clockwise circulation, forced by the northeast winds, while chlorophyll accumulation was observed in the northeastern corner of the gulf due to clockwise circulation, driven by the southwest winds. These key simulated results are consistent with those of field observations and satellite images captured in the same periods of time, and also described seasonal shifting of blooming areas previously reported. Sensitivity analysis of simulated chlorophyll distributions suggested that not only nutrients but also wind-induced vertical movement plays a significant role in controlling phytoplankton growth. Plankton blooms occur in zones of upwelling or where vertical diffusivities are low. Increasing nutrients in the water column due to river loads leads to increasing potential for severe plankton blooms when other photosynthetic factors, such as water stability and light, are optimized. The knowledge of seasonal patterns of blooming can be used to construct environmental risk maps which are very useful for planning to mitigate the eutrophic problems. Effective measures need to be applied to control amount of nutrients released into natural water in order to minimize severity of red tides.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-17T16:51:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-10-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-05-17T16:55:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000864745.pdf: 3734422 bytes, checksum: b19dd72b587f6afb49435c4148a65409 (MD5) / Os ambientes costeiros são notadamente dinâmicos respondendo a alterações numa velocidade muito maior que outras unidades ambientais no interior do continente. Desta forma, são sensíveis às modificações provocadas pelo homem, podendo levar a consequências indesejadas. Uma das formas de evitar efeitos negativos é através do planejamento e da gestão costeira. Para otimizar os resultados, a gestão deve ser desenvolvida sob uma ótica participativa e considerar as características da dinâmica ambiental local. A área de estudos compreende a praia de Macapá, no município de Luís Correia, estado do Piauí, que pertence à Microrregião do Baixo Parnaíba Piauiense. Assim, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo geral apresentar propostas para elaboração de plano de gestão. Para essa finalidade foi necessário compreender a dinâmica natural, além de consultar a população por meio de questionários. As técnicas de pesquisa permitiram avaliar a qualidade ambiental e dos equipamentos de infraestrutura, além de auxiliar na identificação de potencialidades e limitações de uso, bem como identificar problemas de ordem socioambiental / The coastal environments are remarkably dynamic responding to changes in a much greater speed than other environmental units within the continent, thus, they are sensible to changes caused by humans leading to unwanted consequences. One of the ways to avoid negative impacts is through planning and coastal management that to optimize the results should be developed in a participatory perspective and consider the dynamic characteristics of the local environment. The study area includes the Macapá beach in the city of Luis Correia, state of Piaui, which belongs to the Microregion of the lower Parnaíba. Thus the present study aims to develop a participatory management plan appropriate to the peculiarities of local natural dynamics. For this purpose, we attempted to understand the natural dynamics by making use of the systemic approach, aided techniques by the Australian School of Oceanography. The consultation was carried out to the population through questionnaires, In order to assess the environmental quality and equipment of infrastructure, and allows identification of strengths and limitations of use, and social order problems and environmental

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-17T16:51:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-11-03. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-05-17T16:55:37Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000864222.pdf: 10851749 bytes, checksum: 54a0b767b228a3fd06917a8d12227bbd (MD5) / Nas áreas urbanas, a cobertura vegetal se constitui num elemento importante, na medida em que proporciona benefícios a este ambiente dinâmico e intensamente alterado pela ocupação antrópica. No entanto, ao longo do tempo, o processo de crescimento das cidades ocorreu com a diminuição ou a supressão total das áreas de matas e florestas, estas já muito alteradas pelo avanço das fronteiras agrícolas em períodos pretéritos ao processo de urbanização. Desta forma, o objetivo fundamental desta pesquisa foi avaliar a expansão da cidade e os reflexos na distribuição e na concentração da cobertura vegetal arbórea e arbustiva no município de Americana-SP, através da análise de mosaicos de imagens aerofotogramétricas dos cenários de 1977, 1996 e 2008. Para tal, foi realizado o mapeamento desta cobertura vegetal e dos diferentes usos do solo urbano nos três cenários. O mapeamento foi efetuado por meio de fotointerpretação dos mosaicos em tela de computador, através da vetorização manual das feições de interesse, no software ArcGIS 10.0. Ao mesmo tempo, foi consultada a legislação referente à proteção ambiental e à expansão urbana no município para os períodos em questão, possibilitando compreender sua consequência na realidade encontrada em cada cenário. Desta forma, observou-se o aumento da cobertura vegetal arbórea e arbustiva ao longo do tempo, onde, em 1977, sua ocupação correspondia a 8,8% da área de estudo, passando, em 2008, a ocupar 14,3%, ou seja, um aumento de 62,5%. No entanto, apesar da melhora em razão das políticas pautadas no aparato legislativo, verificou-se que essa não refletiu diretamente em benefício à população local, já que a oferta desta cobertura vegetal presente em parques e praças, estes dedicados ao lazer, se manteve baixa ao longo dos cenários. Além disso, mais de 50% da referida cobertura vegetal, em todos os cenários, encontra-se fora da área densamente urbanizada... / In urban areas the vegetation cover is an important element, in the degree that it provides with benefits this dynamic and, extremely altered by anthropic occupation environment. However, in a long time, the development of cities happened with the partial or complete suppression of woods and forests. These woods and forests had already been altered by the advancement of the agricultural areas previously to the urbanization process. Hence, the main objective of this research was to evaluate the expansion of the city and its results in the concentration and distribution of the shrubby and arboreal vegetation covering in Americana, São Paulo, through the analyses of aerophotogrammetric images from the area in 1977, 1996 and 2008. In order to achieve it, a mapping was developed showing this vegetation cover and the different usages of the land in the three periods established. The mapping was made through photointerpretation of the images in a computer screen, through the manual vectorization of the features of interest in the software ArcGIS 10.0. At the same time the legislations concerning environmental protection and urbanization from the same periods were consulted making it possible to understand its consequences in the reality found for each of the researched scenarios. This way, it was possible to observe an increase in the shrubby and arboreal vegetation covering, that in 1977 was 8.8% of the analyzed area and in 2008 came to cover 14.3% of the analyzed area, representing an increase of 62.5%. However, despite the improvement brought by the politics based on the legislative apparatus, this increase did not bring any benefits to the population since the supply of vegetation cover in leisure areas like parks and squares was always low throughout all times. Besides, more than 50% of this vegetation cover in all periods can only be found outside densely populated areas, being present mostly in the way of riparian forests. Because...

Orientador: Darlene Aparecida de Oliveira Ferreira / Banca: Silvia Aparecida Guarniere Ortigoza / Banca: Ana Rute do Vale / Resumo: A expansão da ocupação e uso do solo em Teresina-PI, sem distinção de poderes (público e particular), tem sido desordenada e inadequada. Isso se deve a fatores bastante comuns aos grandes centros urbanos, tais como a ocupação de áreas de risco. A área estudada, localizada na confluência dos rios Poti e Parnaíba, nos bairros da zona norte da referida cidade: Olarias, Poti Velho, Alto Alegre, São Francisco e Vila Mocambinho, tem sido alvo dessas ocupações irregulares. Diante desse contexto, este trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o processo de urbanização e ocupação irregular em áreas de risco de enchentes nos bairros da referida cidade, uma vez que a mesma encontra-se com nível de degradação socioeconômico e ambiental avançado, confirmado pelos indicadores de desenvolvimento humano ali presentes. A metodologia utilizada neste trabalho consistiu em: levantamento de material bibliográfico, documental e cartográfico; levantamentos de campo, com visitas técnicas; levantamento fotográfico; aplicação de formulários com os moradores dos bairros; análise de impactos pluviais na área urbana da cidade. Os resultados encontrados apontam um meio físico, socioeconômico e ambiental vulnerável ao evento de enchentes e inundações, necessitando de novo reordenamento e disciplinamento do espaço urbano / Abstract: The expansion of occupation and land use in Teresina, Piauí, without discrimination of power (public or private), has been chaotic and inadequate. This is due to factors quite common to large urban centers such as the occupation of risk areas. In this context, it is perceived that the study area, located at the confluence of Poti and Parnaíba in the northern districts of that city: Potteries, Poti Velho, Alto Alegre, San Francisco and Vila Mocambinho are targets of many of these illegal occupations. Given this context, it appears that this work has the general objective: To understand the process of urbanization and illegal occupation in areas at risk of flooding in the neighborhoods of that city, since it meets the level of degradation socio - economic - environmental Advanced confirmed by human development indicators present there. The methodology used in this study consisted of: Survey of bibliographic material, documentary and Cartography; Field surveys, with technical visits, photographic survey and application forms with the residents of communities, analysis of stormwater impacts in the urban area. As the findings point was a physical and socio-economic-environmental vulnerable to flooding and flood event, requiring a new reordering of urban space and discipline / Mestre

Orientador: João Osvaldo Rodrigues Nunes / Banca: José Tadeu Garcia Tommaselli / Banca: Sandra Baptista da Cunha / Resumo: Uma vez que é mais freqüente a cada dia o direcionamento de fortes investimentos para o resgate das potencialidades dos ambientes naturais, devido constantes agressões disseminadas pelo modelo de desenvolvimento adotado nos últimos séculos, este trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo dos aspectos físicos e a dinâmica dos agentes sociais que atuam na área da bacia hidrográfica do ribeirão Palmito, localizada no município de Três Lagoas (MS). Assim, o presente trabalho visa à busca de uma leitura dinâmica da paisagem através das características estruturais e ecológicas da bacia, da leitura espaço-sazonal de alguns componentes do regime hidrológico e hidrossedimentológico, além da caracterização do uso do solo ocupação do relevo. As investigações realizadas e a avaliação da existência ou não de desequilíbrios na paisagem da bacia estudada considerou as características naturais por meio da dinâmica do canal fluvial, assim como os fatores geomorfológicos, geo-pedológicos e hidrológicos da bacia, baseado principalmente no fato de que os materiais podem ser facilmente erodidos em função dos solos frágeis e bastantes espessos da região. Além disso, os fatores que transformam a paisagem através dos tipos de utilização ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: A time that is more frequent to each day the aiming of strong investments for the rescue of the potentialities of natural environments, had constant aggressions spread for the model of development adopted in the last centuries, this research has as objective the study of the physical aspects and the dynamics of the social agents that act in the area of the hydrographic basin of the Palmito stream, located in the Três Lagoas city (MS). Thus, the present work aims at to the search of a dynamic reading of the landscape through the structural and ecological characteristics of the basin, of the reading space-seasonably of some components of the hydrologic and hydrossedimentologic regimen, beyond the characterization of the use of the ground and occupation of the relief. The investigations realized and the evaluation of the existence or not of disequilibria in the landscape of the studied basin did not consider the natural characteristics by means of the dynamics of the fluvial canal, as well as the geomorphologics factors, geopedologics and hydrologics of the basin, based mainly on the fact of that the materials can easily be eroded in function of the fragile grounds and sufficiently thick. Moreover, the factors that transform the landscape ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre