Thesis (Ph.D.)--Brown University, 2005. / Vita. Thesis advisor: Timothy Herbert. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-154). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph.D.)(Entomology)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-146).

Thesis (M.Sc.)(Meteorology)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-114).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1986. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [152]-161.

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Orientador: Sandra Elisa Contri Pitton / Banca: Antonio Carlos Tavares / Banca: Deise Fabiana Ely / Resumo : O presente trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar o clima da região oeste de Paraná e fazer uma relação deste com a presença do lago artificial da Usina Hidrelétrica de Itaipu, formado em 1982, bem como a percepção climática dos moradores da região em relação à presença do lago e suas influências no clima local. Isso torna-se importante visto que, em geral, o clima local é bastante influenciado por ações antrópicas; no reservatório de Itaipu houve o armazenamento de 29 bilhões de metros cúbicos de água, inundando um total de 1.350 km2 de área, atingindo 15 municípios no oeste do Paraná, e um no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, ocasionando uma grande alteração na paisagem. Para atingir o referido objetivo trabalhou-se, num primeiro momento, com dados das estações meteorológicas dos municípios lindeiros, obtidos através do banco de dados do IAPAR e do SIMEPAR, compreendendo o segmento temporal de 1983 a 2004 (este segmento foi adotado visto ser toda a série histórica existente na área); a metodologia proposta baseia-se, primeiramente, na comparação dos dados, estatisticamente, entre estações que se localizam próximas e distantes do lago, para a verificação da variabilidade ou não dos parâmetros analisados, conforme proposto e testado por GRIMM (1986), a qual obteve resultados satisfatórios para tal procedimento; após esta comparação analisam-se dados do satélite NOAA sobre os parâmetros climáticos da região. Num segundo momento, a partir dos dados meteorológicos analisados, são elaborados questionários, aplicados em entrevistas abertas com pessoas residentes na região em torno de 30 anos, tanto no meio rural quanto urbano, conforme metodologia proposta por SARTORI (2000), visando compreensão da percepção climática da sucessão dos tipos de tempo bem como em relação à presença do lago e suas influências no clima local por parte... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this work is to characterize the local weather of Parana's west region making a comparison between it and the Hydroelectric Itaipu's artificial lake presence created in 1982, as well the climatic perception of the inhabitants of the region in relation to the presence of the lake and its influence into the local weather. This becomes important considering that generally the local weather is strongly influenced by anthropic actions, there have been a caching of 29 billions cubic meters of water in the Itaipu's reservoir, flooding a total area of 1,350 km2, reaching 15 cities in the west of Parana and one in Mato Grosso do Sul, making a great alteration in the landscape.To achieve the referred objective meteorological stations data from the surrounding cities have been used, obtained from IAPAR and SIMEPAR databases, comprehending the period from 1983 to 2004(this period have been adopted because it is all the existent historical serial in the area). The methodology suggested works primary comparing the data statistically, between near to the lake stations and distant ones, to verify the variability or not of the analyzed parameters, as stated and suggested by GRIMM(1986), witch have acquired satisfactory results in such procedure; after this comparison data from the NOAA satellite about the climatic parameters of the region are analyzed. In a second moment, considering the analyzed meteorological data, surveys are made with people who have lived in the region by 30 years, both in the country side as the urban area, according to the methodology suggested by SARTORI (2000), heading to the comprehension of the climatic perception of the succession of weather types as well in relation to the presence of the lake and its influences in the local weather by the people who experiment this fact. In the analyses of the data it was not found a relation between... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

An initial study of the palaeoclimate signal contained within speleothem growth was undertaken by' investigating regional variations in speleothem Qrowth frequency. It was demonstrated that about 500 analyses in such a regional compilation were necessary to generate a statistically significant curve which did not suffer from sample bias. However, few such regions are likely to have such a larQe data set. That from north west Europe did provide a useful palaeoclimate record, giving evidence of multiple interstadial events within isotope stage 3, and a significantly low level of growth within stage Sa. An investigation was undertaken into the palaeoclimate signal contained in variations of speleothem growth rate, based on the theory derived by Dreybrodt (1981) and Buhmann and Dreybrodt (1985) from calcite precipitation kinetics. It was demonstrated that growth rate increases with increasing calcium ion concentration, temperature and water flux (drip rate for stalagmites, water film thickness for flowstones and seasonal variations in water availability for both speleothems); turbulent flow conditions and cave air pC02, which theoretically affect growth rate, were demonstrated to be Insi9nificant. If water flux, calcium concentration and temperature all increase with improving Climate, growth rate increases may reflect climatic improvement. In particular, it was demonstrated that stalagmites should be most sensitive to changes in calcium concentrations, temperature, and seasonal shut-off of the water feed, whilst flowstones would also be sensitive to changes in water film thickness. Theoretical growth rates were tested for recently forming speleothems in excavated caves and mines. For these, minimum growth rates were determined by knowing the date of excavation of the cave or mine, and the growth rate determining variables were measured over the course of a year. It was demonstrated that the theory accurately predicted growth rates for both stalagmites and flowstones within the 20' errors based on variations in calcium ion concentration and water film thickness. However, flowstones generally grew slower than that predicted by the theory, due to the seasonal shut-off of the water supply feeding these samples. For flowstones at Kent's Cavem, growth rate was observed to Increase with Increasing water availability, for stalagmites at Lower Cave, growth rate was shown to increase with increaSing drip rate. Assuming a good prediction of growth rate by the theory, applications to Quatemary speleothems were undertaken to determine past calcium ion concentration, temperature and water flux. Growth rates were determined by thermal ionisation mass spectrometric uraniumseries dating. The growth rate of one Holocene sample from Sutherland demonstrated that variations in growth rate over the last 7 ka did not depend on temperature variations, but either to changes in calcium concentrations due to vegetation change or a non-linear response to changes in water flow. Growth rates were also determined for two flowstones from Yorkshire which had grown over the last 200 ka. However, the very fast growth rates in these samples prevented a precise record from being obtained. Mass spectrometric dating also provided a record of the timing of growth commencement and cessation. This was shown to be more complex than previously considered; in particular the Holocene growth of the Sutherland stalagmite commenced 5 ka after glacier retreat in the region, the Yorkshire flowstone from Lancaster Hole had seven growth phases, each for only 1-3 ka, five of which correlated with solar insolation maxima. In contrast, another flowstone from Stump' Cross in Yorkshire was shown to grow in both interglacial, interstadial and glacial periods of the last 200 ka. An investigation was made into the use of 13C/1'C,(t>nM to determine the type of plant community at the time of speleothem formation, and whether a non-biogenic source of CO2 was present. 13C analyses of the Stump Cross flowstone gave elevated 13C not explicable by the plant communities present, nor were high enough to have a non-biogenic source. Further investigations are needed, but this evidence suggests caution in interpreting 13C records for flowstones. An annual signal of growth rate and growth rate variability was obtained from ultra-violet microscopic analysiS of luminescent banding within speleothems. Banding was demonstrated to be annual by mass spectrometric uranium-series dating, but was only preserved In 10% of a" samples. Variability of growth rate for the Holocene Sutherland stalagmite was compared to the theoretical annual variability of growth rate derived from annual variations in the growth rate determining variables observed today, and a good agreement was observed. Furthermore, for one period of growth, a 4-5 year period of rapid growth rate was demonstrated to correlate with the Hekla 3volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Global warming and climate change have been identified as strategic issues for South Africa, which as a developing country is more vulnerable to climate change and have less capacity to deal with the impact. This research investigates the contribution of the South African cement industry to greenhouse gas emission and how the Clean Development Mechanism can be used towards sustainable development and climate change mitigation measures. A review of the South African cement industry was done through documentary research. The research was directed in consultation with a network of industry experts. Data from various sources was interpolated to quantify greenhouse gas contributions. The results from a qualitative analysis of the registered cement-sector Clean Development Mechanism project portfolio were used to identify opportunities for using the mechanism in climate change mitigation initiatives. The cement industry contributes less than two percent of greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa. As this is not significant, greenhouse gas emission reduction projects and sustainable development are driven mostly by public concerns, corporate responsibility and rising cost of fossil fuels. Opportunities for Clean Development Mechanism projects lie in waste utilisation as alternative fuel and raw materials and in improved energy-efficiency by retrofitting appropriate technology. The main constraints are the lack of capacity to initiate and implement projects, restrictive legislation for project approval and transaction costs. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted