Thesis (Ph. D. - Hydrology and Water Resources) - University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 214-232).

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Bioresource Engineering. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/05/14). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-102). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Geological Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Waikato, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [75]-85) Also available via the World Wide Web.

Orientador: Gustavo Garcia Manzato / Banca: Simone Andrea Furegatti / Banca: Jozrael Henriques Rezende / Resumo: Este texto apresenta uma pesquisa que propõe um modelo para calcular a Capacidade de Suporte Hídrica (CSH) de regiões urbanizadas visando o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, principal objetivo da humanidade neste século. Utilizando as Análises Estocásticas de Fronteira como ferramenta de modelagem da capacidade de suporte, juntamente com o auxílio de um sistema de informações geográficas (SIG), foi criado um método para calcular a carga antrópica no meio ambiente, ou seja, calcular a intensidade de solicitação ou estresse sobre os recursos naturais que uma dada região exerce sobre seu meio. Um estudo exploratório foi elaborado para verificar a viabilidade desta proposta e posteriormente um modelo específico foi desenvolvido, utilizando variáveis de natureza hídrica, culminando no cálculo da CSH dos municípios e das Unidades de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos (UGRHI) do estado de São Paulo. A disponibilidade hídrica superficial dos objetos de estudo, uma das variáveis hídricas que compõe o modelo, foi calculada de forma aproximada utilizando a nova proposta de regionalização de vazões para o estado de São Paulo, onde foi criado o primeiro banco de dados que agrega informações sobre as vazões Q95, Q7,10 e Qm para todos os municípios do estado.Na sequência, foram simulados três cenários abordando possíveis construções do modelo CSH, dois deles consideraram diferentes formas de agrupamento dos parâmetros e o terceiro obteve as classificações de suporte hídrico para as UGRHIs a part... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work presents a research project that proposes a model to calculate the Hydric Carrying Capacity (HCC) of urbanized areas aiming at the Sustainable Development, the main goal of humanity in this century. Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) as a modeling technique for carrying capacity along with geographic information systems (GIS), a method to calculate the anthropic load in the environment was created. In other words, the idea was to calculate the stress intensity on the natural resources that a given region produces on its environment. An exploratory study was carried out to verify the feasibility of this proposal and later a specific model was developed. Using hydric variables, the model resulted in the determination of the HCC for the municipalities and for the Water Resources Management Units (UGRHI) of the State of São Paulo. The surface water availability of the objects of study, which is one of the hydric variables that compose the model, was calculated in an approximate way using the new proposal of regionalization of flows for the state of São Paulo. This resulted in the first database that aggregates information about the flows Q95, Q7,10 and Qm for all municipalities in the state. Three scenarios were simulated, discussing possible constructions of the HCC model. Two of them considered different ways of grouping the parameters and the third one obtained the hydric support classifications for the UGRHIs from the results of the municipalities. The first scenario pointed out 5 UGRHIs and 213 municipalities in potential hydric deficit, while the second pointed to 6 UGRHIs and 180 municipalities in this same situation. The third scenario pointed out 7 UGRHIs in potential deficits in supplying water demand. From these results, regions that are under potential water stress were pointed out, that is, regions that cannot provide the... (Complete abstract electronic acess below) / Mestre

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Waste water discharge into a temporary open/closed estuary (TOCE) system introduces two main concerns namely (1) the effects on the water balance of the system (quantity) and (2) the effects on the nutrient dynamics (water quality). Changes to mouth breaching patterns can severely impact the hydrological and ecological functioning of TOCEs, while excessive nutrient loading can lead to eutrophic conditions and algal blooms. Algal blooms occur when residence times during closed mouth conditions exceed the time scale for growth of the microalgal community. The aim of this study was to formulate a model in order to predict eutrophication events using the Mhlanga Estuary as a case study. The Mhlanga Estuary is situated approximately 19 km northeast of Durban and has a small catchment «100km2 ). The Phoenix and Mhlanga waste water treatment works (WWTW) collectively discharge approximately 20MI of treated effluent into the Mhlanga River per day. A simple daily-time-step water balance model was selected to model the hydrodynamics of the system. The model included various inputs and outputs of the system, residence time, storage, breaching water levels and time for mouth closure to occur. The result of the water balance model was a daily prediction of the mouth state and volume, and an indication of the breaching frequency. Observed mouth state data and measured water levels were used to test the model. In order to predict eutrophication events and trends at the Mhlanga Estuary, it was required that the conditions at which this would occur be investigated. This included the collection of samples (physico-chemical and chlorophyll-a) on a weekly basis for three months, a period that included three breaching events. Due to the complexity required in developing a nutrient dynamics model, a simpler approach was selected. The grey water index (GWI) was formulated in order to account for nutrient loadings into the estuary. WWTW discharge data were provided by eThekwini Municipality Water and Sanitation (EMWS). Initial results showed that under ideal conditions, an algal bloom would occur approximately fourteen days following re-closure of the Mhlanga mouth. The eutrophication index (E j ) was then formulated to account for both residence time and nutrient concentrations. The Ej at which eutrophic conditions can be expected was found to be about 50 %. It is important to note that this value for Ej is expected to be site specific and only accounts for the Mhlanga Estuary, but the concept can be generalized to other similar estuaries. Water levels simulated using the water balance model and observed mouth state data produced similar levels to those measured by DWAF. Following simulations of different flow scenarios (75% and 150% increase in WWTW discharges), it was found that an increase in capping flows resulted in more frequent breaching events and longer open mouth conditions. The risk of eutrophic conditions also increased with an increase in WWTW capping flows. Algal blooms are predicted to continue despite more frequent breaching events induced by an increase in capping flows. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

Based on the determination of the zero-flux plane, a water balance procedure for large-scale experimental databases was automated to estimate the soil water balance based on soil water content distribution with depth through time. The automated procedure was verified using data from the BOREAS project obtained in three Intensive Field Campaigns during the spring and summer of 1994. The data used correspond to four tower sites measuring atmospheric fluxes above the forest canopy from the Northern and Southern Study Areas and are designated according to the predominant vegetation in the area as Old Jack Pine and Young Jack Pine. The total hydraulic head through time at these sites is determined to identify the position of the zero-flux plane, which separates that part of the soil profile in which water flow is upward from the region in which the water flow is downward. In conjunction with precipitation and soil water content data, the procedure allows estimation of the actual soil water balance, the water used from the region above the zero-flux plane being evapotranspiration, and the change in soil water content below the mean zero-flux plane being drainage. Prior to this study, no published attempt had been made to automate a water balance procedure for large-scale experimental databases based on the position of the zero-flux plane and soil water content distribution through time. / Graduation date: 1997

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1977. / Bibliography: leaves [217]-251. / Microfiche. / xiv, 251 leaves ill., maps