The aeolian threshold condition is identified as defining the critical state between a static sediment bed and active aeolian transport. Disparities in reported mean threshold shear velocities (U*T) are attributed to variation in: (a) flow regimes; (b) entrainment criteria; (c) particle characteristics and exposures; and (d) techniques for measurement of 1*T The relative significance of these factors is assessed for strips and beds of ballotini, aeolian sand, salt crystals and sugar crystals using the controlled, reproducible flow conditions of the developing boundary layer over a flat plate. Such a plate was covered with a non-erosive layer of grains to simulate a flat sediment bed and was positioned in a wind tunnel. values were calculated using the momentum integral method. In a separate study, threshold conditions on impervious and permeable beds were compared directly. Analysis of entrainment from strips and beds on the plate shows that the threshold condition is principally determined by a critical degree of overlap between the probability distributions of local shear velocity, P ( U ), and of grain threshold shear velocity, P(U*T). Characteristic P(U*T) distributions for test materials were determined and two objective definitions of U*T were devised. Experimental *T values agree well with published data and are used to resolve the data scatter associated with both 'restricted' and 'universal' threshold curves. Rates of aeolian entrainment over a range of values are found to be an inverse exponential function of time and wind speed. Different erosion rates were found to result from skewness of P(U) and degree of overlap between P(U) and P(U*T). Fluid sweeps in the turbulent bursting cycle are considered to be the primary entrainment mechanism. Medium/high-speed cine film gave insight into initiation processes. Grain oscillation due to vortex shedding and initial motion characterized by a progressive rolling and bouncing were observed. Bed permeability was not found to affect aeolian threshold values.

No description available.

O objetivo principal desta dissertação é elaborar um arcabouço faciológico e estratigráfico para os depósitos flúvio-eólicos da Formação Pirambóia, Permo-Triássico da Bacia do Paraná, no bloco oeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O entendimento dos processos controladores da sedimentação e a relação entre os depósitos fluviais e eólicos foram fundamentais para estabelecer um modelo estratigráfico de alta resolução. A análise faciológica determinou 10 litofácies que foram agrupadas em seis associações de fácies: canais fluviais efêmeros, canais fluviais entrelaçados, lençóis arenosos eólicos, interdunas eólicas, dunas eólicas e depósitos eólicos deformados. A parte basal (metade inferior) da Formação Pirambóia é caracterizada por apresentar maior frequência e espessura de depósitos de lençóis arenosos eólicos e interdunas em comparação com estratos de dunas eólicas. Na metade superior da unidade predominam depósitos de dunas eólicas, enquanto os lençóis arenosos eólicos e interdunas diminuem de espessura. A relação flúvio-eólica revelou que os fluviais efêmeros coexistiram com o sistema eólico, as incursões fluviais ocorrendo preferencialmente ao longo dos corredores interligados de interdunas. Os fluviais entrelaçados não apresentaram vínculo com o sistema eólico, marcando uma interrupção da sedimentação eólica na área. Os depósitos fluviais entrelaçados e efêmeros ocorrem na base e no topo da unidade. A análise da sucessão estratigráfica indicou que a Formação Pirambóia representa um sistema eólico úmido. Entretanto as distintas características da metade inferior e superior mostram uma tendência de drying-upward, ou seja, condições climáticas relativamente mais áridas em direção ao topo da unidade. / The main aim of this dissertation is provide a facies and stratigraphic framework for fluvial-aeolian deposits of the Pirambóia Formation, Permian- Triassic of the Paraná Basin, west region of Rio Grande do Sul State. The recognition of the sedimentation controlling processes and the interaction between fluvial and aeolian deposits were essential to present a high-resolution stratigraphic framework. Facies analyses determined 10 litofacies that were grouped into six facies associations: fluvial ephemeral channels, fluvial braided channels, aeolian sand sheets, aeolian interdunes, aeolian dunes and deformed aeolian deposits. The basal portion (lower section) of Pirambóia Formation is characterized by thicker, more frequent aeolian sand sheets and interdunes deposits in relation to aeolian dunes strata. In the top portion (upper section) of the unit, aeolian dunes deposits dominate, while aeolian sand sheets and interdunes display reduced thickness. The fluvial-aeolian relationship revealed that fluvial ephemeral and eolian deposition coexisted, the fluvial incursions occurring preferentially along interconnected interdune corridors. Braided fluvial channels did not show any link with the aeolian system, marking an interruption of aeolian sedimentation in the area. The braided and ephemeral fluvials happen both at the base and top of the unit. An analysis of the stratigraphic succession indicated that the Pirambóia Formation represent a wet aeolian system. However, different characteristics in the lower and upper sections show a drying-upward trend, meaning that climatic conditions became relatively more arid towards the top of the unit.

O objetivo principal desta dissertação é elaborar um arcabouço faciológico e estratigráfico para os depósitos flúvio-eólicos da Formação Pirambóia, Permo-Triássico da Bacia do Paraná, no bloco oeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O entendimento dos processos controladores da sedimentação e a relação entre os depósitos fluviais e eólicos foram fundamentais para estabelecer um modelo estratigráfico de alta resolução. A análise faciológica determinou 10 litofácies que foram agrupadas em seis associações de fácies: canais fluviais efêmeros, canais fluviais entrelaçados, lençóis arenosos eólicos, interdunas eólicas, dunas eólicas e depósitos eólicos deformados. A parte basal (metade inferior) da Formação Pirambóia é caracterizada por apresentar maior frequência e espessura de depósitos de lençóis arenosos eólicos e interdunas em comparação com estratos de dunas eólicas. Na metade superior da unidade predominam depósitos de dunas eólicas, enquanto os lençóis arenosos eólicos e interdunas diminuem de espessura. A relação flúvio-eólica revelou que os fluviais efêmeros coexistiram com o sistema eólico, as incursões fluviais ocorrendo preferencialmente ao longo dos corredores interligados de interdunas. Os fluviais entrelaçados não apresentaram vínculo com o sistema eólico, marcando uma interrupção da sedimentação eólica na área. Os depósitos fluviais entrelaçados e efêmeros ocorrem na base e no topo da unidade. A análise da sucessão estratigráfica indicou que a Formação Pirambóia representa um sistema eólico úmido. Entretanto as distintas características da metade inferior e superior mostram uma tendência de drying-upward, ou seja, condições climáticas relativamente mais áridas em direção ao topo da unidade. / The main aim of this dissertation is provide a facies and stratigraphic framework for fluvial-aeolian deposits of the Pirambóia Formation, Permian- Triassic of the Paraná Basin, west region of Rio Grande do Sul State. The recognition of the sedimentation controlling processes and the interaction between fluvial and aeolian deposits were essential to present a high-resolution stratigraphic framework. Facies analyses determined 10 litofacies that were grouped into six facies associations: fluvial ephemeral channels, fluvial braided channels, aeolian sand sheets, aeolian interdunes, aeolian dunes and deformed aeolian deposits. The basal portion (lower section) of Pirambóia Formation is characterized by thicker, more frequent aeolian sand sheets and interdunes deposits in relation to aeolian dunes strata. In the top portion (upper section) of the unit, aeolian dunes deposits dominate, while aeolian sand sheets and interdunes display reduced thickness. The fluvial-aeolian relationship revealed that fluvial ephemeral and eolian deposition coexisted, the fluvial incursions occurring preferentially along interconnected interdune corridors. Braided fluvial channels did not show any link with the aeolian system, marking an interruption of aeolian sedimentation in the area. The braided and ephemeral fluvials happen both at the base and top of the unit. An analysis of the stratigraphic succession indicated that the Pirambóia Formation represent a wet aeolian system. However, different characteristics in the lower and upper sections show a drying-upward trend, meaning that climatic conditions became relatively more arid towards the top of the unit.

O objetivo principal desta dissertação é elaborar um arcabouço faciológico e estratigráfico para os depósitos flúvio-eólicos da Formação Pirambóia, Permo-Triássico da Bacia do Paraná, no bloco oeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O entendimento dos processos controladores da sedimentação e a relação entre os depósitos fluviais e eólicos foram fundamentais para estabelecer um modelo estratigráfico de alta resolução. A análise faciológica determinou 10 litofácies que foram agrupadas em seis associações de fácies: canais fluviais efêmeros, canais fluviais entrelaçados, lençóis arenosos eólicos, interdunas eólicas, dunas eólicas e depósitos eólicos deformados. A parte basal (metade inferior) da Formação Pirambóia é caracterizada por apresentar maior frequência e espessura de depósitos de lençóis arenosos eólicos e interdunas em comparação com estratos de dunas eólicas. Na metade superior da unidade predominam depósitos de dunas eólicas, enquanto os lençóis arenosos eólicos e interdunas diminuem de espessura. A relação flúvio-eólica revelou que os fluviais efêmeros coexistiram com o sistema eólico, as incursões fluviais ocorrendo preferencialmente ao longo dos corredores interligados de interdunas. Os fluviais entrelaçados não apresentaram vínculo com o sistema eólico, marcando uma interrupção da sedimentação eólica na área. Os depósitos fluviais entrelaçados e efêmeros ocorrem na base e no topo da unidade. A análise da sucessão estratigráfica indicou que a Formação Pirambóia representa um sistema eólico úmido. Entretanto as distintas características da metade inferior e superior mostram uma tendência de drying-upward, ou seja, condições climáticas relativamente mais áridas em direção ao topo da unidade. / The main aim of this dissertation is provide a facies and stratigraphic framework for fluvial-aeolian deposits of the Pirambóia Formation, Permian- Triassic of the Paraná Basin, west region of Rio Grande do Sul State. The recognition of the sedimentation controlling processes and the interaction between fluvial and aeolian deposits were essential to present a high-resolution stratigraphic framework. Facies analyses determined 10 litofacies that were grouped into six facies associations: fluvial ephemeral channels, fluvial braided channels, aeolian sand sheets, aeolian interdunes, aeolian dunes and deformed aeolian deposits. The basal portion (lower section) of Pirambóia Formation is characterized by thicker, more frequent aeolian sand sheets and interdunes deposits in relation to aeolian dunes strata. In the top portion (upper section) of the unit, aeolian dunes deposits dominate, while aeolian sand sheets and interdunes display reduced thickness. The fluvial-aeolian relationship revealed that fluvial ephemeral and eolian deposition coexisted, the fluvial incursions occurring preferentially along interconnected interdune corridors. Braided fluvial channels did not show any link with the aeolian system, marking an interruption of aeolian sedimentation in the area. The braided and ephemeral fluvials happen both at the base and top of the unit. An analysis of the stratigraphic succession indicated that the Pirambóia Formation represent a wet aeolian system. However, different characteristics in the lower and upper sections show a drying-upward trend, meaning that climatic conditions became relatively more arid towards the top of the unit.

<p>The complex nature and composition of regolith cover in Southern Africa is a major challenge to geochemical mapping for concealed mineralization. Some of the setbacks to successful geochemical exploration may be ascribed to the use of various partial extraction techniques,without a profound understanding of the regolith components and their composition. This investigation therefore focuses on the use of hydroxylamine partial extraction geochemistry for geochemical mapping in regolith over two contrasting environments viz / aeolian sand-calcrete regolith over Au mineralization at Amalia Blue Dot Mine in South Africa and lateritic regolith covering the Ni-Cu deposit at Kabanga Main and Luhuma in Tanzania. Regolith samples from the above areas were sieved and extracted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution and analyzed for multi-element by AAS and ICP-MS techniques. A stepwise optimization of the hydroxylamine extraction technique of samples from both areas was carried out and incorporated into the analytical programme (in a pilot study). Results of hydroxylamine partial extraction generally gave better anomaly contrast and reflection of bedrock mineralization than the conventional aqua regia techniques that were previously used in the region. The results however show that lateritic regolith may be best extracted using 0.25M hydroxylamine while 0.1M concentration appears most suitable for extraction of aeolian-calcrete regolith. The above results are corroborated by principal component analysis of the analytical data that show various element associations, e.g. with Fe-Mn oxides while others possibly belong to the loosely adsorbed or exchangeable group. The&nbsp / gochemical maps in the pilot study areas at Amalia, Kabanga and Luhuma show elevated element contents or clusters of anomalies of diverse elements associated with Fe-Mn oxides. Geochemical mapping at Kabanga with deeply concealed mineralization however shows variability of subdued element patterns over mineralized areas. Geochemical signatures associated with hydroxylamine hydrochloride partial leach are therefore characterized by a lower geochemical background than that using conventional aqua regia leach. This study leads recommending for further investigations into partial extraction of the exchangeable group of elements, possibly using ammonium acetate.</p>

Aeolian sand transport models, widely employed by coastal scientists and managers, assume temporal and spatial homogeneity within the saltation field. This research questions that assumption by demonstrating that the saltation field is event-driven, therefore indicating that the saltation field is not temporally steady. The findings from this research may explain a portion of the conclusions from previous studies that indicated inequalities between model-estimated and field-measured aeolian sand transport. The relationship between unsteadiness in a turbulent wind field and pulses in a sand transport field was investigated on a beach near Shoalhaven Heads, New South Wales, Australia. Microphone-based saltation sensors, “miniphones,” and thermal anemometers (both instruments constructed exclusively for this field experiment) were co-located (0.02 m separation on center) and deployed between 0.01 and 0.0225 m above the bed, and sampled at 6000 Hz. Average grain size at the field site was 0.30 mm. Five runs totaling 2050 seconds of wind and saltation data were analyzed. The continuous wavelet transform, using the Morlet wavelet base, was the principle method for analyzing the wind and saltation records. The cross continuous wavelet transform was used to analyze the wind and saltation time series concurrently. Wind, saltation, and cross events were discerned by selecting wavelet power coefficients between wavelet scales of 0.4 and 3.0 seconds and with coefficients exceeding the 95% confidence interval. Average event spacing was 6.10, 6.50, and 6.73 seconds for the wind, saltation, and cross events, respectively. The average event spacing measured in this research was compared to the empirical-based model presented by Rao, Narashimha, and Narayanan (1971). The correspondence between the model and this research strongly suggests that bursting-type coherent structures were present. The durations of average wind, saltation, and cross events were 1.87, 2.10, and 1.73 seconds, respectively. Integral time scales, calculated using normalized auto correlation and power spectral density analysis, were approximately two seconds for the wind and saltation systems. The temporal coincidence of the integral time scale estimations and the event durations for the wind and saltation system strongly suggests that wind events are driving sand transport events.

No description available.

<p>The complex nature and composition of regolith cover in Southern Africa is a major challenge to geochemical mapping for concealed mineralization. Some of the setbacks to successful geochemical exploration may be ascribed to the use of various partial extraction techniques,without a profound understanding of the regolith components and their composition. This investigation therefore focuses on the use of hydroxylamine partial extraction geochemistry for geochemical mapping in regolith over two contrasting environments viz / aeolian sand-calcrete regolith over Au mineralization at Amalia Blue Dot Mine in South Africa and lateritic regolith covering the Ni-Cu deposit at Kabanga Main and Luhuma in Tanzania. Regolith samples from the above areas were sieved and extracted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution and analyzed for multi-element by AAS and ICP-MS techniques. A stepwise optimization of the hydroxylamine extraction technique of samples from both areas was carried out and incorporated into the analytical programme (in a pilot study). Results of hydroxylamine partial extraction generally gave better anomaly contrast and reflection of bedrock mineralization than the conventional aqua regia techniques that were previously used in the region. The results however show that lateritic regolith may be best extracted using 0.25M hydroxylamine while 0.1M concentration appears most suitable for extraction of aeolian-calcrete regolith. The above results are corroborated by principal component analysis of the analytical data that show various element associations, e.g. with Fe-Mn oxides while others possibly belong to the loosely adsorbed or exchangeable group. The&nbsp / gochemical maps in the pilot study areas at Amalia, Kabanga and Luhuma show elevated element contents or clusters of anomalies of diverse elements associated with Fe-Mn oxides. Geochemical mapping at Kabanga with deeply concealed mineralization however shows variability of subdued element patterns over mineralized areas. Geochemical signatures associated with hydroxylamine hydrochloride partial leach are therefore characterized by a lower geochemical background than that using conventional aqua regia leach. This study leads recommending for further investigations into partial extraction of the exchangeable group of elements, possibly using ammonium acetate.</p>

This thesis presents results from spatial-temporal and volumetric change analysis of blowouts on the Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS) landscape in Massachusetts, USA. The purpose of this study is to use methods of analysing areal and volumetric changes in coastal dunes, specifically blowouts, and to detect patterns of change in order to contribute to the knowledge and literature on blowout evolution. In Chapter 2.0, the quantitative analysis of blowout change patterns in CCNS was examined at a landscape scale using Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Moving Polygons (STAMP). STAMP runs as an ArcGIS plugin and uses neighbouring year polygon layers of our digitized blowouts from sequential air photo and LiDAR data (1985, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2011, and 2012 for 30 erosional features, and 1998, 2000, 2007, and 2010 for 10 depositional features). The results from STAMP and the additional computations provided the following information on the evolution of blowouts: (1) both geometric and movement events occur on CCNS; (2) generation of blowouts in CCNS is greatest in 1985 and is potentially related to vegetation planting campaigns by the Park; (3) features are expanding towards dominant winds from the North West and the South West; (5) the erosional and depositional features are becoming more circular as they develop, (6) the evolution of CCNS blowouts follows a similar pattern to Gares and Nordstrom’s (1995) model with two additional stages: merging or dividing, and re-activation. In Chapter 3.0, the quantitative analysis of volumetric and areal change of 10 blowouts in CCNS at a landscape scale is examined using airborne LiDAR and air photos. The DEMs of neighbouring years (1998, 2000, 2007, and 2010) were differenced using Geomorphic Change Detection (GCD) software. Areal change was detected by differencing the area of polygons that were manually digitized in ArcGIS. The changes in wind data and vegetation cover were also examined. The results from the GCD and areal change analysis provide the following information on blowout evolution: (1) blowouts generate/initiate; (2) multiple blowouts can merge into an often larger blowout; (3) and blowouts can experience volumetric change with minimal aerial change and vice versa. From the analyzes of hourly Provincetown wind data (1998-2010), it was evident that blowouts developed within all three time intervals. The percentages of comparable winds (above 9.6 m s-1) were highest in 1998, 1999, 2007 and 2010. It is speculated that tropical storms and nor'easters are important drivers in the development of CCNS blowouts. In addition, supervised classifications were run on sequential air photos (1985 to 2009) to analyze vegetation cover. The results indicated an increase in vegetation cover and decrease of active sands over time. Two potential explanations that link increased vegetation to blowout development are: (1) sparse vegetation creates a more conducive environment for the initiation of blowouts by providing stability for the lateral walls, and (2) high wind events (e.g. hurricanes and nor'easters) could cause vegetation removal, allowing for areas of exposed sand for blowout initiation and development. / Graduate / 0799 / 0368 / kimia.abhar@gmail.com