Delineating spatial patterns of precipitation isotopes (“isoscapes”) is important for studies including the hydrology of terrestrial systems, present and past interpretations of climate, and tracer-aided hydrological modelling, among others. However, the extent to which precipitation isoscapes can be predicted across Canada has not been fully articulated. This thesis combines isotopes in precipitation (δ18Oppt) observations from two regional and one global network to create long term and time series precipitation isoscapes for Canada and the northern United States. Multi-linear regressions of a small suite of geographic and climate variables generate the best performing long-term and seasonal models of δ18Oppt. These models are used to develop long term isoscapes for Canada, which capture the general spatial and seasonal trends in δ18Oppt, showing an improvement upon results from previous studies using global models. Building upon long-term δ18Oppt prediction, δ18Oppt observations alongside climatological and geographic predictors are used to create empirical time series prediction models. Five regionalization approaches are used to separate the study domain into isotope zones to explore the effect of spatial grouping on simulations. Generally, the models capture the timing and magnitude of intra-annual (seasonal) δ18Oppt cycles across the study domain while simulating moderate inter-annual variation; however often fail to capture the anomalies in observed δ18Oppt. Uncertainty in predictions is quantified spatially and temporally, and the Köppen-Geiger (Kpn) regionalization is selected as the preferred regionalization scheme for future applications due to adequate model performance and lack of border issues at regional boundaries. Finally, estimates of monthly δ18Oppt from Kpn models, long term annual averages, and daily REMOiso output are used to force an isotope-enabled hydrological model, isoWATFLOOD, in the Fort Simpson Basin, NWT, Canada. Results show streamflow simulations are not significantly impacted by choice of δ18Oppt input; however, oxygen-18 in streamflow and the internal apportionment of water (and model parameterizations) are impacted, particularly during large precipitation and snowmelt events. This work shows how isoWATFLOOD can be used in regions with limited δ18Oppt observations, and that the model can be of value in such regions. This study reinforces that a tracer-aided modelling approach works towards diagnosing issues surrounding model equifinality. / February 2017

To evaluate the niche of coastal fish populations in the Beaufort Sea, stable isotopes (SI) and fatty acids (FA) were used to characterize species-specific niches, niche overlaps and resource partitioning (nicheROVER) of the Shingle Point fish populations. Fishes were grouped into three isotopic groups: marine, coastal, and freshwater (Ward’s clustering analysis), and five dietary groupings (using FA), where benthic feeding strategies were prevalent (correspondence analysis). Niche metrics were used to evaluate if total mercury (THg) could contribute complementary trophic information (residual permutation procedure (RPP)). Three THg groups (high, intermediate, low) were identified (boxplot analysis). High THg was identified in high trophic and benthic feeders, high THg ranges were observed in species with large niche sizes, high trophic feeding, and freshwater influences (RPP). The bioavailability of freshwater introduced THg to marine biota was assessed, however further research needs to be performed. Combining dietary indicators SI, FA, and THg, allowed for the characterization of the diet and habitat use of coastal fish populations, better understanding of the niches of these species, and developed baseline information for future monitoring in an MPA, as climate change continues to effect the Beaufort coastal environment. / February 2017

No description available.

Capelin (Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776)) is an important marine forage fish species that typically inhabits sub-Arctic and temperate circumpolar waters. Capelin have recently been reported in greater abundance in Arctic regions, and are considered an indicator for warming climate in the northern marine ecosystem. The goal of this thesis is to examine intrinsic factors among capelin populations, and whether niche overlap among sympatric capelin and Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida (Lepechin, 1774)) will affect the abundance and persistence of capelin in the Arctic as temperatures continue to rise. Life history comparisons of capelin from two Arctic regions (Western Beaufort Sea, Cumberland Sound) relative to a sub-Arctic population (Newfoundland) show that body size, body condition, growth rate and age-at-maturity vary among these regions. Life history characteristics that are adapted to northern environments and increasing temperatures will allow the presence and persistence of this species to increase in the Arctic. The consequence of increased abundance of capelin in the Arctic environment could be competition between capelin and Arctic cod, an Arctic species within a similar dietary niche. Stomach contents indicated that both species feed primarily on calanoid copepods and this result was corroborated with high dietary overlap in isotopic bivariate space (carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes). The occurrence of capelin is expected to increase in the Arctic with rising temperatures, thus adaptation in life history traits in capelin specific to each region may facilitate increased abundance and persistence, and possibly contribute to competitive pressure on Arctic cod. Potential competition will be particularly important in nearshore and shelf habitats where shifts in availability of intermediate trophic level taxa will influence diet and distribution of key predators such as beluga, sea birds, and anadromous fishes. As the Arctic environment changes with climate shifts, newly adapted or dispersed species from sub-Arctic systems are expected to drive shifts in ecosystem structure and function in the marine environment. / October 2016

Changes in monsoon patterns not only affect ecosystems and societies but also the global climate system in terms of heat energy and humidity transfer from the equator to higher latitudes. However, understanding the mechanisms that drive monsoon variability on longer timescales remains a challenge, partly due to sparse paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic data. This thesis, which contributes new hydroclimate data sets for the Asian monsoon region, seeks to advance our understanding of the mechanisms that contributed to Southeast Asian summer monsoon variability in the past. Moreover, it explores how past climatic conditions may have impacted societies and ecosystems. In this study lake sediment and peat sequences from northeastern and southern Thailand have been investigated using organic geochemistry, and more specifically the stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition of specific biomarkers (n-alkanes, botryococcenes, and highly branched isoprenoids). The hydrogen isotopic composition of leaf waxes (δDwax) in Thailand was shown to relate to the amount of precipitation and the extent of the El Niño Southern Oscillation.  Higher values of δDwax can be interpreted as reflecting relatively dry climatic conditions, whereas lower values relate to wetter conditions. The hydroclimate reconstruction for northeastern Thailand, based on the sedimentary record of Lake Kumphawapi, suggests higher moisture availability between ca. 10,700 cal. BP and ca. 7,000 cal. BP likely related to a strengthened early Holocene summer monsoon. Moisture availability decreased during the mid-Holocene, but seems to have increased again around 2,000 years ago and has fluctuated since. The high-resolution Lake Pa Kho peat sequence, which allows for a sub-centennial reconstruction of moisture availability, indicates that the wettest period occurred between ca. 700 and ca. 1000 CE whereas driest intervals were from ca. 50 BCE to ca. 700 CE and from ca. 1300 to ca. 1500 CE. Hydroclimate comparison of Pa Kho’s δDwax record with other paleoclimate records from the Asian-Pacific region suggests that El Niño-like conditions led to Northeastern Thailand being wetter, whereas La Niña-like conditions led to drier conditions. Regional hydroclimate variability also greatly influenced the Angkor Civilization, which flourished between ca. 845 and ca. 1450 CE. The shift from drier to wetter conditions coincided in time with the rise of the Angkor Civilization and likely favored the intense agriculture needed to sustain the empire. The gradual decline in moisture availability, which started after ca. 1000 years CE, could have stretched the hydrological capacity of Angkor to its limit. It is suggested that Angkor’s population resorted to unconventional water sources, such as wetlands, as population growth continued, but summer monsoon rains weakened. The 150-year long record of Lake Nong Thale Prong in southern Thailand offers insights into decadal-scale hydroclimatic changes that can be connected to the instrumental record. δDwax-based hydroclimate was drier from ~1857 to 1916 CE and ~1970 to 2010 CE and wetter from ~1916 to 1969 CE. Drier climatic conditions between ~1857 and 1916 CE coincided with oligotrophic lake waters and a dominance of the green algae Botryococcus braunii. Higher rainfall between ~1916 and 1969 CE concurred with an increase in diatom blooms while eutrophic lake water conditions were established between ~1970–2010 CE. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Manuscript.</p> / Monsoon project

Summary: Throughout the world there are many places with a high concentration of arsenic in water. In the Czech Republic is such a place the area of Mokrsko, where arsenic in groundwater reaches the values, which are well above recommended limits for drinking water. On the studied locality arsenic is bound to secondary minerals containing iron; however, in the reducing conditions of the fluvial sediments arsenic is bound to newly-formed realgar accumulations associated with organic matter. Aim of this diploma thesis was to characterize realgar from this locality and try to determine the way and conditions of its origin. For the purpose of research, realgar and pore- water have been sampled, using lysimeters and rhizon samplers. Specimen of realgar was characterized by numerous standard techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM, chemical and isotopic composition). Water samples have been analysed for As, F and S species. Analysis of realgar using XRD, SEM and TEM techniques confirmed the presence of nanocrystalline realgar, forming clusters and needle like aggregates. Domination of divalent iron and reduced form of As3+ (4,3-7,3 mg/L) in similar concentrations has been observed within the pore- water samples. The concentration of dissolved sulfide was very low (cca 30 µg/L), on the other hand, content of sulphate was always...

Nkana smelter belonged to the main sources of contamination by trace elements (especially Cu and Co) in the area of African city Kitwe (Copperbelt, Zambia). The main objective of this study was to compare elemental and isotopic composition of Zambian soils and tree rings, and to investigate biogeochemical processes between plants and soils in contaminated and uncontaminated environment. Elemental composition (Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg and Tl) and isotopic composition of Cu (63 Cu/65 Cu) were determined in soils and tree rings of pine trees (Pinus latteri, Pinus kesiya) using ICP-MS , AMA and MC ICP-MS. Our results demonstrated that soils and tree rings were both affected by mining and metallurgical activity. Increasing content of elements with depth is the result of the mobility of the elements in uncontaminated soil profile. Soil from contaminated site had the highest metal contents especially in the upper part of the soil profile as a result of continuous contribution of metallurgical components during long-term smelter operation. Fractionations of Cu isotopes in soils were caused primarily by interactions with plants. Concentration changes that some elements showed in the individual tree rings could be the effect of variable intensity of pollution in the area. In the case of Cu, however,...

This thesis is dedicated to reasearch in radiolabeling bile pigment bilirubin. Minority bilirubin present in the body the form unconjugated. In this work, it was crucial synthesize radiolabeled bilirubin which could be monitored by detector in vitro experiments. A possible further applications, such bilirubin would be detectable in vivo experiments using µ-PET/SPECT (micro- positron emission tomography/single photon emission computed tomography) . The aim of this thesis propose variation for possible signs of bilirubin radioisotopes and synthesis of bilirubin derivates suitable for radioactive labeling. Another objektive of this work is the synthesis and study of the well-known derivative ranarubin called bilirubin, which could potentially have very simile characteristics, such as bilirubin and therefore would be a good candidate for radioisotope labeling and study of biological systems.

M.Phil. (Energy Studies) / Nodal diffusion methods are often used to calculate the distribution of neutrons in a nuclear reactor core. They require few-group homogenized neutron cross sections for every heterogeneous sub-region of the core. The homogenized cross sections are pre-calculated at various reactor states and represented in a way that facilitates the reconstruction of cross sections at other possible states. In this study a number of such representations were built for the homogenized cross sections of a MOX (mixed oxide) fuel assembly via hierarchical Lagrange interpolation on Clenshaw-Curtis sparse grids. These cross sections were represented as a function of various thermal hydraulic and material composition parameters of a pressurized water reactor core (i.e. burnup, soluble boron concentration, fuel temperature, moderator temperature and moderator density), which are generally referred to as state parameters. Representations were produced for the homogenized cross sections of a number of individual isotopes, as well as the e ective (lumped) cross section of all the materials in the assembly. This was done for both two and six energy groups. Additionally, two sets of state parameter intervals were considered for each of the group structures. The first set of intervals was chosen to correspond to conditions that may be encountered during day-to-day reactor operations. The second set of intervals was chosen to be applicable to the simulation of accident scenarios and therefore have wider ranges for fuel temperature, moderator temperature and moderator density.

Les nitrates, largement dérivés des activités anthropiques posent un réel problème pour la santé et l'environnement lorsqu'ils se retrouvent dans le milieu naturel, en particulier lorsque la ressource est destinée à la production d'eau potable. Déterminer l'origine de ces nitrates est alors une première étape indispensable pour assurer ensuite une meilleure gestion de ces ressources en eau. C'est dans ce but, qu'une approche multi-traceurs originale a été développée sur la source karstique du Marseillon, située dans le Sud-Ouest de la France et exploitée pour l'eau potable. Une stratégie d'échantillonnage a été menée entre octobre 2010 et janvier 2013 à différentes échelles spatiales (du régional à l'étude du forage) et temporelles (du suivi mensuel au suivi horaire). Les outils hydrodynamiques et géochimiques ont mis en évidence une contribution importante d'une eau pauvre en nitrate à l'alimentation de la source. Les outils isotopiques (?15N-NO3, ?18O-NO3 et ?11B) et microbiologiques ont permis d'identifier une connexion hydraulique entre les eaux de surface et la source du Marseillon, favorisée pendant les épisodes de crues de surface. Les outils de datation ont permis d'estimer une contribution d'environ 80% d'une eau de 1980 et de 20 % d'une eau rechargée au cours de l'année de la mesure (2011) caractérisée par des nitrates d'origine organique et des contaminations fécales humaines et animales. Les résultats obtenus ainsi que la démarche développée dans cette thèse ont permis de dresser les grandes lignes d'un guide méthodologique, accessible aux plus grand nombre d'acteurs de l'eau, pour la détermination de l'origine des nitrates dans les eaux souterraines. / Nitrate is widely derived from anthropogenic activities. When it reaches groundwater bodies, it becomes an environmental issue especially when the resource is used for drinking water supply. The determination of nitrate sources is thus the first step in water restoration and preservation management. An innovative multi-indicators approach has been used in Marseillon karstic spring (Southwest of France) which is considered as a strategic resource for drinking water supply. A spatial and temporal multi-scale sampling plan has been carried out in surface waters and groundwater. Hydrodynamic and geochemical tools helped to highlight an important contribution of deep water origin (i.e.: low nitrate concentration) in spring alimentation. Isotopic (?15N-NO3, ?18O-NO3 and ?11B) and microbiological tools have allowed identifying a hydraulic connection between surface water and the spring. This connection seems to be more important during the river?s flood events. Water dating shows a heterogeneous recharge of Marseillon spring with old water (<1940) mixed with current water characterized by nitrate derived from organic sources and fecal contamination originated from both human and animal wastes. This original multi-tracers approach developed in this thesis improves the knowledge on the nitrate origin determination and can be seen as a methodological guide for drinking water management.