Climate warming has the potential to alter the structure and function of Arctic ecosystems in ways that are not fully understood. Polygonal terrain is a widespread permafrost feature of Arctic landscapes that is likely to be impacted by warming ground temperatures. This is of particular relevance in the uplands in the Mackenzie Delta region, where high-centre ice wedge polygon fields comprise 10% of the terrestrial landscape, and mean annual ground temperatures have increased between 1 and 2°C over the last 40 years (Burn and Kokelj 2009). I used broad-scale airphoto analysis and fine-scale field studies to investigate the impacts and possible trajectories of ice wedge degradation in the upland tundra north of Inuvik, NWT. Field investigations were undertaken to characterize biotic and abiotic conditions and feedbacks in stable and degrading high-centre polygons. Field surveys were conducted along transects which crossed three polygon micropositions (centres, edges and troughs) and targeted a degradation sequence from stable troughs to ice wedge melt ponds. I measured surface microtopography, active layer depth, water depth, plant community composition, soil gravimetric moisture, late winter snow depth, and shallow annual ground temperatures. Field data showed that ice wedge degradation drove increases in soil moisture, standing water depth, ground surface collapse, ground temperature, and active layer thaw and snow pack compared to stable troughs. These changing abiotic conditions drove the shift from mesic upland tundra plant communities to unvegetated melt ponds. Interactions between abiotic and biotic factors in degrading troughs increase ground temperature and contribute to positive feedbacks for ice wedge degradation. Analysis of broad-scale factors affecting ice wedge degradation involved the mapping of high-centre polygon distribution across the study area and the distribution of ice wedge melt ponds using high-resolution aerial photographs from 2004. Recent changes in melt pond area were also mapped using imagery dating from 1972. Thermokarst activity in polygonal terrain adjacent to anthropogenic disturbances was also assessed. Polygon fields were more abundant and larger in the northern part of the study area, where ground temperature conditions were most favourable for ice wedge formation. Spatial variation in polygonal terrain density was also related to topography, drainage, and the distribution of lacustrine sediments. Melt pond mapping and assessment of thermokarst at anthropogenic disturbances showed that ice wedges at higher latitudes are more susceptible to degradation primarily because these areas are underlain by larger and more abundant ice wedges. Melt pond mapping confirmed that the polygonal fields north of 69.4°N have shown both large increases and decreases in area, and that polygons in the south have been relatively stable in recent decades. The increased thaw sensitivity of polygonal terrain at higher latitudes has implications for soil carbon dynamics, terrestrial ecosystems, and the planning and maintenance of infrastructure as air and ground temperatures continue to increase. / Graduate / 0329 / 0372 / 0388

Recognition and classification of patterned ground polygons from remote sensing data Abstract The main objective of this thesis has been to prove the possibility of using object based image analysis classification for identification of the ice-wedge polygons and to find general method for their classification. The thesis contains a comparison of the object based and pixel based classification of the subject. The three classification rulesets for OBIA were developed on three test sites on Mars captured by HiRISE sensor. As a result, the general classification approach is suggested. The manually collected datasets, which are common in geomorphological research, were used as the reference sample. The OBIA classification provided better results in all three cases, whereas the pixel classification was valid in only one case. Another objective has been the automatization of the process of gaining information about morphometric characteristics of the ice-wedge polygons and the subsequent classification of the polygons. Within the scope of the process were developed methods for creating polygonal network and specified parameters of those methods. Several toolboxes for the ArcGIS software were prepared and they are part of the results of the thesis. Keywords: patterned ground, ice-wedge polygons, remote sensing,...

A classic problem Computational Geometry is finding all euclidean shortest paths in a simple polygon from a given source vertex to every other vertex in the boundary. In this text, we give a detailed description of the Visibility Graph and Shortest Path Tree structures that solve this problem and also present the Shortest Path Map structure that extends the solution to shortest paths to every point inside the polygon. / Um problema clássico em Geometria Computacional é: encontrar todos os caminhos mínimos euclidianos dentro de um polígono simples a partir de um dado vértice fonte para todos os outros vértices da borda. Neste texto, apresentamos detalhadamente as estruturas de Grafo de Visibilidade e Árvore de Caminhos Mínimos que resolvem este problema e descrevemos também a estrutura Mapa de Caminhos Mínimos que estende a solução para todos os pontos contidos dentro do polígono.

Ce travail porte sur la modélisation micromécanique des élastomères chargés. On cherche principalement à d'une part identifier l'influence des propriétés des différentes phases (morphologie et comportement) sur la réponse macroscopique, et d'autre part explorer les mécanismes d'interactions qui peuvent avoir lieu au sein de la micro-structure. Pour ce faire, on a mené une étude à deux échelles d'observations et ce à l'aide de simulations numériques basées sur l'homogénéisation. Le premier niveau correspond à une échelle mésoscopique pour laquelle on considère un Volume Élémentaire Représentatif (VER) bi-phasique, constitué d'un agglomérat de charge dissipatif, noyé dans une matrice hyperélastique. Le second niveau consiste, à une plus petite échelle, à explorer le comportement d'un agglomérat idéalisé, constitué de particules de charges infiniment rigides liées entre elles par une mince couche de gomme. Cette micro-structure est générée de manière aléatoire par un tirage de polygones de Voronoï. Des calculs éléments finis sont réalisés en élasticité linéaire et non-linéaire dans un contexte d'homogénéisation numérique en utilisant diverses techniques de localisation. Les différentes analyses menées montrent notamment que l'hypothèse d'affinité n'est pas adaptée à ce type de micro-structures et que le caractère incompressible de la gomme ainsi que son confinement jouent un rôle prépondérant sur le comportement mécanique de l'agglomérat. / This work focuses on the micro mechanical modeling of filled elastomers. The major question to be identified: firstly the influence of the properties of different phases (morphology and behavior) on the macroscopic response, and also to explore the mechanisms of interactions that take place within the micro-structure. To do this, we conducted a study at two scales of observations and using the numerical simulations based on homogenization. The first level corresponds to a mesoscopic scale for which we consider a representative elementary volume (REV), biphasic, consisting of a homogeneous dissipative inclusion (agglomerate) embedded in a hyperelastic matrix. The second level is at a smaller scale, to explore the behavior of an idealized agglomerate, consisting of infinitely rigid filler particles bounded together by a thin layer of rubber. This micro-structure is randomly generated by a random Voronoï polygons. Finite element calculations are performed in linear elasticity and nonlinear in the context of numerical homogenization using various localization techniques. The results show in particular that the assumption of affinity is not suitable for this type of micro-structures and the incompressibility of the rubber and its containment play an important role on the mechanical behavior of the agglomerate.

The development and numerical implementation of a three-dimensional Particle-In-Cell (PIC) methodology on unstructured Voronoi-Delauney tetrahedral grids is presented. Charge assignment and field interpolation weighting schemes of zero- and first-order are formulated based on the theory of long-range constraints for three-dimensional unstructured grids. The algorithms for particle motion, particle tracing, particle injection, and loading are discussed. Solution to Poisson's equation is based on a finite-volume formulation that takes advantage of the Voronoi-Delauney dual. The PIC methodology and code are validated by application to the problem of current collection by cylindrical Langmuir probes in stationary and moving collisionless plasmas. Numerical results are compared favorably with previous numerical and analytical solutions for a wide range of probe radius to Debye length ratios, probe potentials, and electron to ion temperature ratios. A methodology for evaluation of the heating, slowing-down and deflection times in 3D PIC simulations is presented. An extensive parametric evaluation is performed and the effects of the number of computational particles per cell, the ratio of cell-edge to Debye length, and timestep are investigated. The unstructured PIC code is applied to the simulation of Field Emission Array (FEA) cathodes. Electron injection conditions are obtained from a Field Emission microtip model and the simulation domain includes the FEA cathode and anode. Currents collected by the electrodes are compared to theoretical values. Simulations show the formation of the virtual cathode and three-dimensional effects under certain injection conditions. The unstructured PIC code is also applied to the simulation of a micro-Retarding Potential Analyzer. For simple cases the current at the collector plate is compared favorably with theoretical predictions. The simulations show the complex structure of the potential inside the segmented microchannel, the phase space of plasma species and the space-charge effects not captured by the theory.

Este trabalho de pesquisa investigou o processo de aprendizagem de geometria em uma turma do sexto ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola da rede municipal de Porto Alegre. Durante dois meses do ano de 2016, foram desenvolvidos os conceitos de quadriláteros, triângulos e de Transformações Geométricas (translação, rotação e reflexão) sob a perspectiva da Investigação Matemática em sala de aula, metodologia de ensino que possui potencial para desencadear o processo de construção do conhecimento. Durante este período, os estudantes realizaram a investigação de quadriláteros e de triângulos, utilizando o software GeoGebra como recurso das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TIC). Os alunos construíram estes polígonos no GeoGebra, através de orientações passo-a-passo que foram disponibilizadas através de formulários online. Ao longo destas construções, os estudantes responderam a questionamentos também contidos nestes formulários online, de forma a identificar as propriedades contidas em cada construção, referentes a cada figura geométrica. Posteriormente, registraram as propriedades de cada polígono em uma tabela de características, de forma a organizar as propriedades de cada quadrilátero e de cada triângulo estudado. Para a investigação das Transformações Geométricas, desenvolveu-se um trabalho fazendo-se uso de tesselações no plano (coberturas para o plano). Para esta etapa da investigação, utilizou-se o applet “Design a Tessellation”, que é um recurso online e gratuito no qual o usuário pode criar diferentes coberturas para o plano através de uma unidade de tesselação quadrada. Os alunos fizeram uso de formulários online para responder aos questionamentos sobre as Transformações Geométricas estudadas, assim como folhas com atividades e malhas impressas para a criação de tesselações. Para a análise do processo de aprendizagem dos estudantes, foi utilizada a perspectiva dos níveis de Van Hiele, que classifica os níveis de pensamento geométrico, utilizando também uma abordagem que admite a existência de níveis intermediários. Além disso, este trabalho também formulou uma complementação para os níveis de Van Hiele quanto às Transformações Geométricas, de forma a analisar os dados obtidos com a pesquisa de uma maneira mais detalhada. Com a pesquisa finalizada, conclui-se que houve progresso dos níveis de Van Hiele para os estudantes analisados. / This research investigated the learning process of geometry in a class of the sixth grade of Elementary School, of a municipal school in Porto Alegre. During two months of 2016, the concepts of quadrilaterals, triangles and Geometric Transformations (translation, rotation and reflection) were developed from the perspective of Math Investigation in the classroom, teaching methodology which has the potential to develop the process of knowledge construction. During this period, students performed the investigation of quadrilaterals and triangles, using GeoGebra software as a resource of Information and Communication Technologies (TIC). The students constructed these polygons in GeoGebra, through step-by-step guidelines, which were made available through online forms. Throughout these constructions, the students answered the questions also contained in these online forms, in order to identify the properties contained in each construction, referring to each geometric figure. Later, they registered the properties of each polygon in a table of characteristics, in order to organize the properties of each quadrilateral and of each triangle studied. For the investigation of the Geometric Transformations, a work was developed making use of tessellations in the plane (covers for the plane). For this stage of the research, the "Design a Tessellation" applet was used, which is an online and free resource, where the user can create different covers for the plane, through a square tessellation unit. Students used online forms to answer questions about Geometric Transformations studied, as well as sheets with activities, and printed meshes for the creation of tessellations. For the analysis of the students' learning process, the Van Hiele levels perspective was also used, which classifies the levels of geometric thinking, using an approach that admits the existence of intermediate levels. In addition, this work also formulated a complementation for the Van Hiele levels, regarding Geometric Transformations, in order to analyze the data obtained with the research in a more detailed way. With the research completed, it is concluded that there was progress of the levels of Van Hiele for the analyzed students.

In this thesis, we study the expected mean of the torsion angle of an n-stepequilateral random walk in 3D. We consider the random walk is generated within a confining sphere or without a confining sphere: given three consecutive vectors →e1 , →e2 , and →e3 of the random walk then the vectors →e1 and →e2 define a plane and the vectors →e2 and →e3 define a second plane. The angle between the two planes is called the torsion angle of the three vectors. Algorithms are described to generate random walks which are used in a particular space (both without and with confinement). The torsion angle is expressed as a function of six variables for a random walk in both cases: without confinement and with confinement, respectively. Then we find the probability density functions of these six variables of a random walk and demonstrate an explicit integral expression for the expected mean torsion value. Finally, we conclude that the expected torsion angle obtained by the integral agrees with the numerical average torsion obtained by a simulation of random walks with confinement.

In this thesis, we study the expected mean of the torsion angle of an n-stepequilateral random walk in 3D. We consider the random walk is generated within a confining sphere or without a confining sphere: given three consecutive vectors →e1 , →e2 , and →e3 of the random walk then the vectors →e1 and →e2 define a plane and the vectors →e2 and →e3 define a second plane. The angle between the two planes is called the torsion angle of the three vectors. Algorithms are described to generate random walks which are used in a particular space (both without and with confinement). The torsion angle is expressed as a function of six variables for a random walk in both cases: without confinement and with confinement, respectively. Then we find the probability density functions of these six variables of a random walk and demonstrate an explicit integral expression for the expected mean torsion value. Finally, we conclude that the expected torsion angle obtained by the integral agrees with the numerical average torsion obtained by a simulation of random walks with confinement.

Newton polygons are constructions over the p-adic numbers used to find information about the roots of a polynomial or power series. In this the- sis, we will first investigate the construction of the field Qp on the p-adic numbers. Then, we will use theorems such as Eisenstein’s Irreducibility Criterion, Newton’s Method, Hensel’s Lemma, and Strassman’s Theorem to build and justify Newton polygons.

Η παρούσα διπλωματική αναφέρεται σε ελλειπτικά προβλήματα συνοριακών συνθηκών σε κανονικά πολύγωνα, εστιάζοντας στην αρκετά γενική εξίσωση Helmholtz. Θα εφαρμοσθούν οι γνωστές υπολογιστικές μέθοδοι επίλυσης ελλειπτικών προβλημάτων (όπως η παρεμβολή με τμηματικά κυβικά πολυώνυμα) και θα αναπτυχθούν και μέθοδοι που προκύπτουν από νέες μαθηματικές αναλύσεις του προβλήματος. / In this work we deal with elliptic boundary value problems which are defined in regular polygons. The numerical results presented in the defence are derived using well established methods, such as the finite differemces and the 2d collocation, as well as a new method introduced recently which appears to yield nice results.