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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
171

Hur påverkas kransalgen Chara globularis, vattengråsugga, Asellus aquaticus och påväxtalger av kalkning i en eutrof sjö? / How are stonewort Chara globularis, asellota Asellus aquaticus and periphyton affected by liming in a eutrophic lake?

Forsman, Hanna January 2018 (has links)
Grunda, näringsrika sjöar förekommer i två stadier: antingen ett med grumligt vatten och hög biomassa av växtplankton, eller ett med klart vatten och riklig undervattensvegetation. Det klara stadiet är eftersträvansvärt eftersom det skapar goda förutsättningar för en rad ekosystemtjänster, inklusive vattenkvalitet, rekreation och förutsättningar för biodiversitet. Vid eutrofiering, d v s ökat tillskott av näringsämnen, kvarstår det klara stadiet tills näringsbelastningen blir så hög att sjön övergår till ett grumligt stadium. Sjön Tåkern, i Östergötland, har under de senaste åren blivit alltmer eutrofierad och kalkning av vattnet har diskuterats som en möjlig åtgärd för att bevara det klara stadiet som sjön numera befinner sig i. Undersökningar om kalkning av eutrofierade sjöar har gjorts tidigare, men det har varit få studier av effekterna av kalkning på undervattensvegetation, substratlevande djur och påväxtalger. För att undersöka detta, gjordes ett fält- och ett laboratorieexperiment inriktade på effekter på överlevnad av vattengråsugga, Asellus aquaticus, fysiologisk status (halten klorofyll a) i kransalgen Chara globularis och tillväxt av nyetablerade påväxtalger i sjön Tåkern. Resultaten visar att A. aquaticus hade lägre överlevnad efter kalkning till pH 10 i laboratorieexperiment, men i fältförsöket hade kalkning till detta pH inte någon inverkan. C. globularis hade en högre halt klorofyll a efter kalkning till pH 10 i laboratorieexperimentet, men i fältexperimentet hade kalkning ingen effekt på halten klorofyll a. Påväxtalger hade en lägre tillväxthastighet efter kalkning i fältexperimentet. Slutsatsen är att kalkning kan vara en metod för att motverka eutrofiering av sjön Tåkern. Några inkonsekvenser mellan mesokosm- och laborationsresultaten tyder på att fler studier behövs göras för att undersöka hur kalkning till pH 10 påverkar bentiska organismer. / Shallow, nutrient-rich lakes can occur in two alternative states: either a turbid water state with high biomass of phytoplankton, or a clear water state with abundant submerged vegetation. The clear water state is worth striving for because it creates good conditions for a range of ecosystem services and biodiversity. Lake Tåkern, Östergötland, has in recent years become increasingly eutrophic and liming has been discussed as a method to reduce the phosphorus level and maintain, or trigger a shift to, the clear water state. Investigations regarding the effects of liming of eutrophic lakes on phosphorus level and plankton have been performed in the past, but few studies have examined the effects on submerged vegetation, benthic invertebrates and periphyton. To study this, a field and a laboratory experiment were performed to examine how liming to pH 10 affects survival of the benthic invertebrate Asellus aquaticus, the chlorophyll a content in the stonewort Chara globularis and growth of periphyton. Survival of A. aquaticus was not affected in a field mesocosm experiment in Lake Tåkern, but decreased after liming in a laboratory experiment. The chlorophyll a content of C. globularis was not affected in the field experiment but higher than in the controls in the laboratory experiment. Growth of periphyton was reduced in the field experiment. Based on the field experiment, effects on A. aquaticus and C. globularis were negligible, but the laboratory experiment indicate that liming to pH 10 may under certain conditions affect benthic organisms. The conclusion is, however, that liming can be a suitable method to counteract the eutrophication of Lake Tåkern. Some inconsistencies between the field and laboratory results suggest that more studies needs to be made to see how liming to pH 10 affect benthic organisms.
172

An Evaluation of the Water Lifting Limit of a Manually Operated Suction Pump: Model Estimation and Laboratory Assessment

Marshall, Katherine C. 27 October 2017 (has links)
With 663 million people still without access to an improved drinking water source, there is no room for complacency in the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 6.1: “universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all” by 2030 (WHO, 2017). All of the current efforts related to water supply service delivery will require continued enthusiasm in diligent implementation and thoughtful evaluation. This cannot be over-emphasized in relation to rural inhabitants of low-income countries (LICs), as they represent the largest percentage of those still reliant on unimproved drinking water sources. In that lies the motivation and value of this thesis research- improving water supply service delivery in LICs. Manually operated suction pumps, being relatively robust, low cost, and feasible to manufacture locally, are an important technology in providing access to improved drinking water sources in LICs, especially in the context of Self-supply. It seems widely accepted that the water-lifting limit of suction pumps as reported in practice is approximately seven meters. However, some observations by our research group of manually operated suction pumps lifting water upwards of nine meters brought this “general rule of thumb” limit into question. Therefore, a focused investigation on the capabilities of a manually operated suction pump (a Pitcher Pump) was conducted in an attempt to address these discrepancies, and in so doing, contribute to the understanding of this technology with the intent of providing results with practical relevance to its potential; that is, provide evidence that can inform the use of these pumps for water supply. In this research, a simple model based on commonly used engineering approaches employing empirical equations to describe head loss in a pump system was used to estimate the suction lift limit under presumed system parameters. Fundamentally based on the energy equation applied to incompressible flow in pipes, the empirically derived Darcy-Weisbach equation and Hydraulic Institute Standards acceleration head equation were used to estimate frictional and acceleration head losses. Considering the theoretical maximum suction lift is limited to the height of a column of water that would be supported by atmospheric pressure, reduced only by the vapor pressure of water, subtracting from this the model was used to predict the suction lift limit, also referred to herein as the practical theoretical limit, assuming a low (4 L/min) and high (11 L/min) flow rate for three systems: 1) one using 1.25-inch internal diameter GI pipes, 2) one using 1.25-inch internal diameter PVC pipes, and 3) one using 2-inch internal diameter PVC pipes. In all considered cases, with an elevation equal to sea level, the suction lift limit was estimated to be over nine meters. At a minimum, the suction lift limit was estimated to be approximately 9.4 meters for systems using 1.25-inch internal diameter pipe and 9.8 meters for systems using 2-inch internal diameter pipe, with essentially no discernable effects noticed between pipe material or pipe age. Additionally, laboratory (field) trials using a Simmons Manufacturing Picher Pump and each of the aforementioned pipe specifications were conducted at the University of South Florida (Tampa, FL, USA) to determine the practical pumping limit for these systems. Results from the pumping trials indicated that the practical pumping limit- the greatest height at which a reasonable pumping rate could be consistently sustained with only modest effort, as perceived by the person pumping- for a Pitcher Pump is around nine meters (9 meters when using 1.25-inch internal diameter GI or PVC pipe and 9.4 meters when using 2-inch internal diameter PVC pipe). Therefore, results from this research present two pieces of evidence which suggest that the practical water-lifting limit of manually operated suction pumps is somewhere around nine meters (at sea level), implying that reconsideration of the seven-meter suction lift limit commonly reported in the field might be warranted.
173

Effects of warming and browning on benthic and pelagic ecosystem components in shallow lakes

Vasconcelos, Francisco Rivera January 2017 (has links)
The majority of lakes on Earth are shallow, unproductive and located at high latitudes. These lakes are experiencing big changes due to climate change, where two environmental drivers operate simultaneously, browning and warming. How they affect lake ecosystems is not well understood. Here, I addressed this issue by using a theoretical and an experimental approach. In particular, I generated model predictions and compared them with the results of a realistic large-scale experiment, where browning and warming were manipulated in a factorial design. In addition, model outcomes were compared with data from 12 unproductive lakes sampled along a gradient of browning. Another novelty of my thesis is that it integrates benthic and pelagic food web components in the model and experimental approaches. I found that browning affected the resources availability for benthic and pelagic producers in the model and in the experiment. With browning, benthic primary producers became increasingly light limited and declined, while pelagic producers became less nutrient limited and increased. Pelagic nutrient limitation was alleviated by two non-exclusive mechanisms. Browning directly enriched the water with nutrients, and browning indirectly increased the nutrient flowing from the sediment to the pelagic habitat via suppression of benthic producers. To tease apart these two mechanisms I applied structural equation modeling (SEM). The indirect evidence by SEM suggests that both mechanisms contributed equally to the pelagic nutrient concentration in the experiment. Interestingly, a model food web with only primary producers shows similar qualitative behavior as a food web with grazers and carnivores included. This happens because carnivorous fish exert strong top-down control in the more productive habitat, which relaxes grazing pressure on primary producers and increases resource limitation in the adjacent habitat. Biomass of benthic and pelagic consumers followed the same pattern as their resources. The lake data were largely congruent with model expectations and supported the findings of the experiment. Furthermore, the model also predicted a negative relationship between total phosphorus and both primary and fish production, which was observed across the 12 lakes. Warming effects were more complex. The model predicts that warming effects should depend on browning and are expected to be strongest in the more productive of the two (benthic and pelagic) habitats. For example, at low levels of browning the biomasses of benthic algae and fish are expected to decline with warming, which was observed in the experiment. In contrast, observed warming effects at high levels of browning deviated from model expectations. The mechanisms by which browning and warming interactively affect lake food webs are still poorly understood. This thesis offers a conceptual foundation for their further study through the integration of within- and between-habitat interactions.
174

Investigation of factors governing the stability of stope panels in hard rock mines in order to define a suitable design methodology for shallow mining operations

Swart, Abraham Hendrik 07 June 2005 (has links)
Instability in stope panels in shallow mines manifests itself as rockfalls from the hangingwall. Rockfalls from unstable stope panels vary in size from rockfalls between support units, to rockfalls spanning between pillars or solid abutments, to rockfalls bridging several panels and pillars. A suitable and reliable design methodology for stable stope panels at shallow depths is therefore required. This methodology must consider all manifestations of instability in stope panels and take account of the factors governing the stability. Very few mines design stope panels according to a systematic design procedure or methodology. Rock mass characterisation, estimation of rock mass properties, identification of potential failure modes, appropriate stability analyses and other elements of the rock engineering design process are often neglected. Instead, panel lengths are often dictated by the equipment in use and by previous experience under similar conditions. Consequently, unplanned stope panel collapses occur on most near-surface and shallow mines. Although these incidents often occur during blasting, they pose a major threat to the safety of underground workers and the economic extraction of orebodies. Hence, a rock engineering design methodology for the design of stable stope panels between pillars is of vital importance for optimum safety and production in shallow mining operations. Using the proposed design methodology, rock mechanics practitioners and mine planners should be able to identify and quantify the critical factors influencing the stability of stope panels. The critical factors should then be used as input to the design of stable stope panels that will provide the necessary safe environment for underground personnel working in stopes. It is concluded that the design of stable stope panels should be a process of defining the means of creating stable stope panels for the safety of underground workers and optimum extraction of the orebody. Therefore, a method is required whereby all rock properties, their variability, and an understanding of all rock mechanisms affecting the stability of stope spans are used as a fundamental base. A procedure for identifying the mechanisms and rock properties relevant to the specific problem is then required. In this way, existing knowledge should be used in an optimal way to design site specific stable stope spans. Hence, it is proposed that the design methodology for stable stope panels is a process consisting of the following steps: 1. Define objective. 2. Rock mass characterisation. 3. Estimation of in situ rock mass properties. 4. Consider an “ideal” stope panel. 5. Identification of potential failure modes. 6. Stability analyses. 7. Identify all significant hazards and assess the significant risks. 8. Geometric optimisation. 9. Determination of support requirements. 10. Design of support. 11. Evaluation. 12. Recommendation and implementation. 13. Monitoring of excavation and support behaviour to validate design and permit modifications. / Dissertation (MEng (Mining))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Mining Engineering / unrestricted
175

Deformation mechanisms beneath shallow foundations

McMahon, Brendan January 2013 (has links)
Shallow foundations can provide the most economical solution for supporting small-scale structures. The design approach is quite simple considering the ultimate bearing capacity and working-load settlement. Research has shown that settlement calculations, determined using a linear-elastic approach, usually govern the design but this approach is inappropriate because soil is highly non-linear, even at small strains. The result is that signifi cant discrepancies are observed between predicted and actual settlements. This uncertainty has seen the development of settlement-based approaches such as Mobilisable Strength Design (MSD). MSD uses an assumed undrained mechanism and accounts for soil non-linearity by scaling a triaxial stress-strain curve to make direct predictions of footing load-settlement behaviour. Centrifuge experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanisms governing the settlement of shallow circular foundations on clay and saturated sand models. Clay model tests were performed on soft or rm kaolin beds, depending on its pre-consolidation. Sand model tests were performed on relatively loose Hostun sand saturated with methyl-cellulose to slow consolidation. One-dimensional actuators were developed to apply footing loads through dead-weight or pneumatic loading. A Perspex window in the centrifuge package allowed digital images to be captured of a central cross-section, during and after footing loading. These were used to deduce soil displacements by Particle Image Velocimetry which were consistent with footing settlements measured directly. Deformation mechanisms are presented for undrained penetration, consolidation due to transient flow, as measured by pore pressure transducers, and creep. A technique was developed for discriminating consolidation settlements from the varying rates of short and long-term creep of clay models. Using MSD, a method for predicting the undrained penetration of a spread foundation on clay was proposed, using database results alone, which then provided estimates of creep and consolidation settlements that follow. The importance of the undrained penetration necessitated further investigation by using the observed undrained mechanism as the basis of an ellipsoidal cavity expansion model. An upper-bound energy approach was used to determine the load-settlement behaviour of circular shallow foundations on linear-elastic and non-linear clays, with yield defined using the von Mises' yield criterion. Linear-elastic soil results were consistent with those obtained from nite element analyses. The non-linear model, as described by a power-law, showed good agreement with both centrifuge experiment results and some real case histories. The single design curve developed through this model for normalised footing pressure and settlement could be used by practising engineers based on existing soil correlations or site investigations.
176

Application of Factor Analysis in the Identification of a Geochemical Signature of Buried Kimberlites in Near-surface Groundwaters in the Attawapiskat Area of the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, Canada

Drouin, Marc January 2012 (has links)
In the James Bay Lowlands of northern Ontario, kimberlite pipes are concealed by peat, thick layers of till, and Tyrell sea sediments. Studies have shown that buried ore bodies produce geochemical signatures in surface media. This thesis explores the geochemistry of near-surface groundwater above concealed kimberlite pipes using factor analysis to determine whether (1) a factor analysis can reveal an underlying structure (factors) in a multivariate groundwater geochemical dataset, and whether (2) those factors are related to the presence of concealed kimberlite. Factor analysis was performed on two datasets of nearsurface groundwater, collected at 0.2 m and 1.1 m below ground surface in peat. Results revealed that (1) there is a significant difference in the behaviour of elements in groundwater near the surface compared to those in deeper groundwater, which is sheltered from the effects of the atmosphere; (2) for both datasets, the first factor is dominated by elements known to be enriched in kimberlite, notably rare earth elements (REE), U, Th, Ti – the composition of factor one is consistent with their derivation from kimberlite in a limestone background where such elements are in very low concentration; (3) high-valence and lowvalence kimberlite indicator elements (KIE) are found separated into distinct factors suggesting that once released from the kimberlite after weathering, KIE are subjected to various geochemical processes to be differentiated as they migrate upward to the surface; and (4) Fe and Mn load on a factor distinct from other metals, suggesting that in this environment Fe-Mn-O-OH is not a significant controller of metal mobility in groundwater. Overall, this research has further highlighted the multivariate nature of geochemical processes in groundwater. Compared with previous work in geochemical exploration where often only univariate or bivariate statistics or single element profiles over concealed ore bodies were used, this thesis has shown that factor analysis, as a multivariate data analysis technique, is a robust exploration tool, able to shed light on relevant geochemical processes hidden within geochemical datasets. This thesis shows that high-valence KIE, notably U,V, Th, Ti and the REE, as a group, are better indicators of the presence of kimberlites than other well-known KIE. Single element concentration profiles such as Ni or Cr (known KIE) show similar anomalies over a concealed kimberlite as a factor score profile for factor one (U, V, Th, Ti, REE, Ni) would; however, it is the peculiar assemblage of elements in factor one that makes it unique to kimberlites, a feature that can be used in future exploration work for concealed kimberlites in similar surficial environments, such as the Siberian wetlands. The results suggest that future geochemical exploration work involving groundwater should focus on the more stable groundwater located below the zone of oxidation, sheltered from the effects of the atmosphere.
177

Nonmodal Analysis of Temporal Transverse Shear Instabilities in Shallow Flows

Tun, Yarzar January 2017 (has links)
Shallow flows are those whose width is significantly larger than their depth. In these types of flows, two dimensional coherent structures can be generated and can influence the flow greatly by the lateral transfer of mass and momentum. The development of coherent structures as a result of flow instabilities has been a topic of interest for environmental fluid mechanics for decades. Studies on the use of linear modal stability analysis is commonly found in literature. However, the relatively recent development in the field of hydrodynamic stability suggests that the traditional linear modal stability analysis does not describe the behaviour of the perturbations in finite time. The discrepancy between asymptotic behaviour and finite time behaviour is particularly large in shear driven flows and it is most likely to be the case for shallow flows. This study aims to provide a better understanding of finite time growth of perturbation energy in shallow flows. The three cases of shallow flows evaluated are the mixing layer, jet and wake. The critical cases are obtained through the linear modal analysis and nonmodal analysis was conducted to show the transient behaviour in finite time for what is so-called marginally stable. Finally, the thesis concludes by generalizing the finite time energy growth in the S-k space.
178

Sedimentological re-interpretation of the early cretaceous oil reservoir in the Northern Bredasdorp Basin, offshore South Africa

Asiashu, Mudau January 2015 (has links)
>Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study was aimed at determining the sedimentary environment, its evolution and facies areal distribution of the Upper Shallow Marine (USM, Late Valanginian). The study was conducted in wells E-S1, F-AH4 and E-W1 in the Bredasdorp basin between E-M and F-AH fields, located in a basinwards transect roughly transverse to the palaeocoast. The wells were studied by logging all the cores in detail between the chosen intervals, followed by facies analysis. Each core log was tied with its respective gamma ray and resistivity well logs. The logs were then correlated based on their log signatures, trends and facies interpretation. The Gamma ray logs show a fining-upwards and coarsening-upwards trend (“hour-glass shape”) in E-S1 and F-AH4 while in E-W1 it shows more accommodation space. These trends are believed to have been influenced by relative sea level changes, such as transgression and regression. Facies analysis identified seven facies in the study area: Facies A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Facies A, B and C were interpreted as fair-weather and storm deposits of the offshore-transition zone, shoreface and foreshore respectively. Facies D was considered as lagoonal mud deposits, while Facies E and F were interpreted as tidal channel and tidal bar deposits respectively. Finally Facies G was considered as fluvial channel deposits. The facies inferred that the sedimentary environment of the study area is a wave-dominated estuary or an Island-bar lagoon system. This led to the production of a conceptual model showing the possible locations for the three wells in the Island bar-lagoon system. The conceptual model inferred the previous findings from PGS (1999) report, that the Upper Shallow Marine beds were deposited in a tidal/estuarine to shoreface setting. This model also supports the findings of Magobiyane (2014), which proposed a wave-dominated estuary for the Upper Shallow Marine reservoir between E-M and F-AH fields, located west of the study area.
179

Sediment Dynamics of a Shallow Hypereutrophic lake: Lake Jesup, Florida, USA

Nielsen, Shauna 08 November 2011 (has links)
Improved knowledge of sediment dynamics within a lake system is important for understanding lake water quality. This research was focused on an assessment of the vertical sediment flux in Lake Jesup, a shallow (1.3 m average depth) hypereutrophic lake of central Florida. Sediment dynamics were assessed at varying time scales (daily to weekly) to understand the transport of sediments from external forces; wind, waves, precipitation and/or runoff. Four stations were selected within the lake on the basis of water depth and the thicknesses of unconsolidated (floc) and consolidated sediments. At each of these stations, a 10:1 (length to diameter) high aspect ratio trap (STHA) was deployed to collect particulate matter for a one to two week period. The water and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for total carbon (TC), total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). Mass accumulation rates (MAR) collected by the traps varied from 77 to 418 g m-2 d-1 over seven deployments. TN, TP and TC sediment concentrations collected by the traps were consistently higher than the sediments collected by coring the lake bottom and is most likely associated with water column biomass. A yearly nutrient budget was determined from August 2009 to August 2010 with flux calculated as 2,033,882 mt yr-1.
180

Animação de fluidos em imagens digitais / Fluid animating in digital images

Marcos Aurélio Batista 26 August 2011 (has links)
Esta tese apresenta uma nova metodologia para animação de objetos líquidos em imagens. Contrariamente às técnicas existentes, este método é baseado em um modelo físico, o que proporciona efeitos realísticos. A perspectiva da imagem é obtida com a intervenção do usuário, por um esquema simples de calibração da câmera, o qual permite a projeção da camada da imagem a ser animada sobre um plano horizontal no espaço tridimensional. As equações de águas rasas conduzem a simulação e as informações de altura são projetadas de volta ao espaço da imagem utilizando traçado de raios. Além disso, efeitos de refração e iluminação são aplicados durante este estágio, resultando em animações realísticas e convincentes / This work presents a new methodology for animating liquid objects depicted in a still image. In contrast to existing techniques, the proposed method relies on a physical model to accomplish the animation, resulting in realistic effects. Image perspective is handled through a simple user assisted camera calibration scheme which allows one to project the image layers to be animated onto the horizontal plane in the three-dimensional space. Shallow-Water equations drive the simulation and the resulting height field is projected back to the image space via ray-tracing. Refraction and lighting effects are also accomplished during the ray-tracing stage, resulting in realistic and convincing animations

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