Orientador: Cenira Maria Lupinacci / Banca: Leandro de Souza Pinheiro / Banca: Salvador Carpi Junior / Banca: Sérgio dos Anjos Ferreira Pinto / Banca: Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição / Resumo: Dentre os recursos naturais que o homem necessita para sobreviver, o solo se insere na lista dos mais importantes, sendo um dos suportes da produção agrícola, a fim de abastecer as populações. Contudo, pesquisadores do mundo todo têm alertado que devido à pressão de uso e ocupação da terra, os solos tendem a se modificarem pela força da água e dos ventos o que ocasionará a formação de desertos. Assim, visando contribuir com estudos que buscam a preservação e conservação dos solos para fins agrícolas, a presente pesquisa tem por objetivo colaborar com o aprimoramento de modelo preditivo de erosão (EUPS), visando uma melhor aproximação entre os dados de estimativa de perda de solo obtidos com o modelo e os dados registrados em campo. Para atingir os objetivos propostos e avaliar as hipóteses formuladas, a Equação Universal de Perdas de Solo, EUPS, foi aplicada na bacia hidrográfica do ribeirão Alam Grei, na escala de 1:10.000, utilizando três diferentes técnicas de obtenção dos valores referentes ao fator topográfico da EUPS. Tais resultados foram comparados com os dados obtidos em duas vertentes selecionadas dessa bacia na escala de detalhe de 1:1.000, a fim de verificar como a escala interfere nos resultados obtidos com o referido modelo. Os resultados mostraram que a escala de maior detalhe favorece a obtenção de dados de melhor qualidade, a fim de apresentar valores finais de EPS mais reais, já que permite a obtenção de dados menos generalizados. Além disso, os valores de e... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Among the natural resources that man needs to survive, the soil is included in the list of the most important, since without it the agricultural production, in order to supply the populations, becomes unfeasible. However, researchers around the world have warned that due to improper exploitation, the world's soils tend to change by force of water and wind, which will lead to the formation of uninhabitable deserts. Thus, in order to contribute to studies that seek the preservation and conservation of soils for agricultural purposes, this research aims to collaborate with the improvement of the predictive model of erosion (EUPS), aiming at a better approximation between the data of estimation of soil losses obtained with the model and the data registered in the field. In order to reach the proposed objectives and to evaluate the hypotheses formulated, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (EUPS) was applied in the Alam Grei river basin, in the scale of 1: 10,000, using three different techniques to obtain the values referring to the topographic factor of the EUPS. These results were compared with the data obtained in two selected slopes of this basin in the detail scale of 1: 1,000, in order to verify how the scale interferes in the results obtained with said model. The results showed that the scale of detail favors the obtaining of data of better quality, in order to present final values of more real EPS, since it allows obtaining data less generalized. In addition, the soil loss e... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

L’objectif de cette thèse est l’étude des caractéristiques d’émission des aérosols terrigènes ou poussières minérales avec les conditions aérodynamiques en zone source. Ces particules de poussière sont produites par érosion mécanique des sols sous l’action du vent dans les environnements désertiques et semi-désertiques. Ils sont un vecteur important de nutriments (N, P, Fer..) entre les écosystèmes terrestres et marins et influencent le bilan climatique global de par leur aptitude à diffuser et/ou absorber les rayonnements solaires et telluriques lorsqu’ils sont en suspension dans l’atmosphère. Ce travail s’est déroulé en deux étapes avec dans un premier temps des mesures expérimentales en conditions naturelles dans un champ de mil au Niger lors de deux campagnes du programme de l’Analyse Multidisciplinaire de la Mousson Africaine (AMMA) en été 2006 et 2007. Dans un second temps ces mesures ont été confrontées au modèle de production de poussière minérale le DPM (Dust Production Model) développé au LISA à partir de considérations théoriques et d’études en soufflerie. Durant les deux campagnes de mesures, trois événements érosifs dont deux modérés de type ‘mousson’ et un très énergique de type système convectif, contraints au maximum ont pu être étudiés de manière détaillée. Les mesures expérimentales confirment d’une part que le sandblasting est bien le moteur de la génération des aérosols terrigènes. Et, d’autre part comme cela avait été montré par les études en soufflerie, les flux d’émission d’aérosols terrigènes sont enrichis en particules de plus en plus fines lorsque la contrainte exercée par le vent au niveau du sol augmente. Nos résultats expérimentaux ont par la suite été comparés aux prédictions du DPM qui reproduit d’une manière plutôt satisfaisante les flux totaux en masse à condition de réduire les énergies de cohésions, déduites des mesures en soufflerie, et liant les particules fines entre elles. En revanche, lorsqu’on regarde les flux résolu en tailles, le modèle a tendance à surestimer les populations de particules les plus grossières. Ceci a nécessité de développer une nouvelle paramétrisation des flux d’émission avec les conditions aérodynamiques. Cette dernière a été testée avec satisfaction sur un événement d’érosion indépendant de ceux utilisés pour établir la paramétrisation / The aim of this work is to link quantitatively the characteristics (intensity and sizedistribution) of the flux of fine mineral particles produced by wind-erosion in a Sahelian zone with the aerodynamic conditions prevailing during the erosion events. Achieving this goal is a prerequisite for quantifying accurately 1) the transfer of soil nutrients (N, P, Fe…) from the source areas to the deposition zones located downwind, and 2) the impact on climate of air-suspended mineral particles which are able to scatter and absorb solar and terrestrial radiation. An important part of this work has been dedicated to the collection of experimental data during the 2006 and 2007 summer campaigns of the « Analyse Multidisciplinaire de la Mousson Africaine » (AMMA) experiment. Measurements were carried out at Banizoumbou (60km east of Niamey, Niger) on a sandy agricultural field representative of the Sahelian wind erodible surfaces. After describing the original experimental set-up and associated methodology, a complete study of all the types of events monitored during the field campaigns is made. Very few transport cases accompanied by significant deposition were observed (only two over the whole measuring period), but many erosion cases were recorded. The latter could result either from the temporal strengthening of the south western monsoon winds prevailing in this season (‘monsoon events’) or to the passage of convective systems accompanied by strong surface winds and often followed by rain (‘convective events’). After rigorous cross examination of the quality of the data set 2 events of the monsoon type and one of the convective type are retained for the rest of the study. In good agreement with previous wind tunnel experiments, comparing the size distributions measured during the events confirms that the emission flux is richer in very fine particles during the energetic convective event than during the less violent monsoon ones. Then, these results are compared with the predictions of the Dust Production Model (DPM) based on the previous wind-tunnel studies. It is found that the DPM is able to simulate correctly the intensity of the emission mass flux provided adequate values are selected for the binding energies of the fine particle populations identified in the laboratory experiments. However, a more detailed analysis of the size-resolved fluxes reveals that the DPM tends to overestimate the production of particles larger than 10µm and underestimate the flux of particles with sizes between 2 and 8µm. This leads us to propose a new parameterization based on a detailed study of the 3 events selected previously. This parameterization allows prediction of the changes in emission flux intensity and sizedistribution with aerodynamic conditions. In a final step, the parameterization is tested successfully on an independent erosion event

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. / In the progress of Boston University's geological mapping program in the Rangeley Lake region of northwestern Maine the occurrence of conspicuously level areas at varying, yet definite elevations was noted. Essentially horizontal or but slightly inclined areas, independent of structure and lithology, are found typically as breaks in slope on mountain flanks; others occur ar summit elevations of ridges or constitute the floors of certain basins and valleys. The striking occurrence of these levels of "terraces" was a stimulus toward the undertaking of the present studies which include the mapping of persistent levels and an attempt to explain their origin. The region under consideration is covered by the following quadrangle maps: Phillips, Rangeley, Stratton, Kennebago Lake, Oquossoc, and cupsuptic, Maine. The area includes the major part of the Blue Mountains, comprising isolated peaks and ranges which continue in general the northeasterly trend of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Several peaks reach above 4000 feet elevation, such as Sugarloaf Mountain (4237 ft.), Bigelow Mountain(4150 ft.), Mount Abraham (4049 ft.), Saddleback Mountain (4116 ft.). There are many peaks reaching elevations of 3000 feet or more. Relief is highly variable, ranging from a few hundred feet to 3000 feet, owing to the irregular distribution of mountains. The region is maturely dissected, with major drainage to the east, southeast, and south, into the Kennebee and Androsooggin Rivers. [Truncated.]

Bibliography: pages 122-129. / Soil erosion is regarded as a serious problem throughout the world. Erosion is caused by both water and wind. Although the two usually occur together, wind erosion has received little attention with the exception of the problems associated with croplands. Wind erosion can, however, also be a serious problem in natural grazing lands. In this research project an attempt is made to determine the areas of potential wind erosion in the Cape Province through the use of two different models. The models used were developed and applied in semi-arid areas and thus were considered to be applicable in South Africa. The models used are: The Wind Erosion Equation developed by Chepil, Woodruff and Siddoway in the United States; and Lynch and Edward's Model for the Analysis of Limited Climatic Data, developed in Australia. There are two aspects to soil erosion by wind - the erodibility of the soil as determined by moisture, grains size, aggregates, plant cover and surface topography; and soil erosivity as determined by wind strength and duration. Methods to control wind erosion are based on decreasing erosivity through the establishment of shelterbelts and by decreasing erodibility through improving plant cover, aggregate stability and moisture retention properties. Efforts at wind erosion measurement are generally ineffective. A number of models have been developed to overcome these difficulties and to allow for prediction of soil loss. Two of these models are applied to conditions in the Cape Province. This area covers a wind range of climatic, soil and agricultural conditions and as such provides an appropriate area for their application. It is, however, concluded that neither of these models can be directly applied to conditions in the Cape Province. The seasonal rainfall distribution and the uneven distribution of the data points contribute to the ineffectiveness of the models. The greatest problem, however, is the importance of management in determining whether or not wind erosion occurs. As a result, although the models illustrate the general climatic trends affecting the susceptibility of an area to wind erosion, the lack of a management factor accounts for the lack of detail.

Seepage barriers have been used extensively to mitigate seepage problems in dams and levees. Although the designs of many of these dams and levees have been based on intact seepage barriers, seepage barriers have been shown to be susceptible to deformation and cracking when high differential hydraulic pressures act across the barrier. Cracking and deformation have also been observed due to thermal expansion and contraction during seepage barrier curing. Under certain conditions, a crack can lead to serious seepage problems, which could potentially lead to the development of a low-resistance seepage pathway. Three scenarios have been identified where there is potential for erosion to occur adjacent to a crack in a barrier: 1) erosion at the interface between a fine-grained soil and a course-grained soil, 2) erosion of overlying soil due to flow along a joint in bedrock, and 3) erosion of the barrier material itself. Previous studies have investigated the first mode of erosion and studies are underway to look into the second mode. The objective of this study is to investigate the third mode of erosion and to identify the conditions under which serious seepage problems can develop. The question considered was whether the combination of highly permeable material adjacent to a crack in a seepage barrier and a large differential head across the barrier combine to develop a velocity within the crack that is erosive to the seepage barrier material. Laboratory tests have been performed on a variety of seepage barrier materials to assess the potential for cracks to develop a preferred seepage path leading to a serious seepage problem. The results of this study will be useful in risk assessment studies of dams and levees with existing seepage barriers as well as in the design of new seepage barriers. Having knowledge of the conditions under which problems may occur will aid in the selection of seepage barrier types for new barriers, placement of instrumentation to monitor new and existing barriers, and mitigation of existing barriers where problems have been identified. The data provided will assist engineers in quantitatively assessing the potential for the propagation of critical seepage problems from cracks in seepage barriers.

Storm surge above the levee crest elevation combined with levee wave overtopping can place large shear stresses on the levee landward slope face. Previous research has examined overtopping flow conditions, but the resulting shear stress has not been thoroughly analyzed. The purpose of this thesis is to examine multiple combinations of overtopping flow conditions and the resultant shear stress along the levee’s landward slope. This thesis presents measurements of depth, velocity, discharge, and wave height, and it estimates shear stress using data collected from a scaled physical model. Shear stress is estimated using three equations including a version of Saint-Venant equations that accounts for unsteady, non-uniform flow. The objective of this thesis is to develop shear stress estimates on the landward slope of a levee during combined wave and surge overtopping for conditions and dimensions typical to levees along the Gulf coast of the United States.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the local and regional processes causing the shoreline recession of an eroding beach/berm/wetland system on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. The analysis was then used to evaluate different technologies which could meld to create a holistic shoreline protection design to fortify the entire spectrum of the shoreline. Wind waves are the major erosional force causing a bi-directional, but southerly dominated, longshore transport and an erosional cross-shore transport during large wave events. Erosion mitigation technologies which promote ecological integrity are presented and include: oyster shell breakwaters, SAV establishment, intertidal grass plantings, and tree and shrub plantings. By combining these technologies, a plan which mitigates erosion as well as greatly increases the health of the local ecosystem can be formed. By fortifying in this manner the shoreline and its communities can be more resilient and prepared for future climatological changes and conditions.

No description available.

A literature survey was conducted on the erosion and sedimentation process and techniques for control. Erosion and sediment control techniques were found to be very site specific. Several techniques are analyzed for their maintenance and operation requirements, construction costs, and effectiveness in quantity and quality control. Once technique, namely swale blocks or berms was designed and constructed to illustrate cost and effectiveness. Design aids were developed for various berm heights and highway slopes as a function of berm spacing for typical highway cross-sections to aid in the design of swale blocks. Construction costs were estimated for the berms and retention/detention facilities. The berms were constructed in swales along a roadway on the campus of the University of Central Florida to determine their hydraulic and pollution control effectiveness for this particular design. During storm events, the swale block system was monitored by collecting grab samples which were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS). Also, rainfall and runoff volumes were measured. During the time of investigation, there was no runoff recorded over the berms; therefore, for the storms sampled, the swale blocks are considered to be one-hundred percent efficient for runoff and sediment control.