Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Arid environments'
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夏江瀛 and Kong-ying Ha. "Microbial ecology of arid environments." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/193421.
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Patrick, Cecil. "Reservoir tillage for semi-arid environments." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2005. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.426071.
Full textHutton, Christopher Joseph. "Modelling watershed processes in semi-arid environments." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.529295.
Full textTorofder, Golam. "Manipulating wheat yield in semi-arid environments." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.394451.
Full textVan, der Meer Frans-Bauke Willem. "Modelling tropical soil water regimes in semi-arid environments." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2000. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/27070.
Full textRosser, Nicholas John. "The geomorphology of coarse clastic surfaces in arid environments." Thesis, Durham University, 2002. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3745/.
Full textMitchell, John Talmadge. "A Framework for Development in Rural Arid and Semi-Arid Environments in Africa: The Somalia Case." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/98224.
Full textDoctor of Philosophy
The wars and conflicts of various types in Africa have made the continent poorer and prevented development in many countries. One of the major, and seemingly intractable conflict locations, is Somalia located in the East Horn of Africa (EHA). This research provides an understanding of salient facts in Somalia's 27 years of war by examining culture and key conflict factors. The objective of this assessment is to identify potential culturally acceptable pathways that will lead to business opportunities and development as a means of conflict mitigation. The improvement of job opportunities for youth is viewed as a means to offset the current participation in the ongoing conflict. Somali and non-Somali sources were consulted to identify and verify avenues for economic growth, sustainability, and educational opportunities. Visits to Somalia and Somaliland confirmed that livestock, and related products, are key components for development and job creation. Technologies with potential to improve productive capacity and disrupt existing value chains were also evaluated. Findings from informal discussions and a pilot test of a proposed framework are presented. The framework identifies elements for development of an innovative, disruptive, and scalable business model that facilitates the implementation of renewable energy production. In addition, it targets education for the livestock and agroforestry industries, improving job and business opportunities.
Zakharova, Liubov [Verfasser]. "Modelling plant trait variability in changing arid environments / Liubov Zakharova." Göttingen : Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, 2020. http://d-nb.info/1220909432/34.
Full textDevasirvatham, Viola. "The basis of chickpea heat tolerance under semi-arid environments." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/9017.
Full textHamilton, Jeffrey Muir. "Arugula Crop Production in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Nutritional Value, Postharvest Quality, and Sustainability in Controlled Environments." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195968.
Full textJones, Arwyn Rhys. "Geomorphological mapping in arid environments using the Landsat Thematic Mapper data." Thesis, University of Reading, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.358274.
Full textKirk, Alastair James. "Relationships between sediment, moisture and soil crust characteristics in arid environments." Thesis, Durham University, 1997. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1051/.
Full textUdy, Sandra. "Assessing Amendment Treatments for Sodic Soil Reclamation in Arid Land Environments." DigitalCommons@USU, 2019. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7670.
Full textMeerkerk, André. "Rainfed orchards in semi-arid environments : retaining the water and the soil." Université catholique de Louvain, 2008. http://edoc.bib.ucl.ac.be:81/ETD-db/collection/available/BelnUcetd-08282008-005955/.
Full textJames, Alexandra Iona Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science UNSW. "Development of resource-rich patches by soil-disturbing animals in arid environments." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, 2009. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/44353.
Full textPuttock, Alan Keith. "Vegetation change and water, sediment and carbon dynamics in semi-arid environments." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/13541.
Full textMarshall, Lisa-Jane R. "Chemical analysis of archaeologically important samples from waterlogged, temperate and arid environments." Thesis, University of Reading, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.493953.
Full textAli, Sani Muhammad. "Measured and perceived conditions of indoor environmental qualities (IEQ) of university learning environments in semi-arid tropics." Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2018. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/measured-and-perceived-conditions-of-indoor-environmental-qualities-ieq-of-university-learning-environments-in-semiarid-tropics(b611ff99-e930-42bc-b254-36d29cf6de97).html.
Full textBradley, Richard G. "Modelling the growth and water use of tropical cereals in semi-arid environments." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.319604.
Full textSkirvin, Susan. "Vegetation distributions in semi-arid environments: Spatial analysis for climate and landscape characterization." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/280033.
Full textMaas, Sylvana, and n/a. "Population dynamics and control of feral goats in a semi-arid environment." University of Canberra. Resource, Environmental & Heritage Sciences, 1997. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060825.132138.
Full textBockhold, Daniel. "Application of canopy temperature for irrigation scheduling in humid environments /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 2003. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p1418005.
Full textGarg, Pradeep Kumar. "Development of a catchment scale erosion model for semi-arid environments and its implementation through remote sensing." Thesis, University of Bristol, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.303765.
Full textShanyengana, Shanyengana E. "Groundwater chemistry and supplementary sources of freshwater in Arid environments : groundwater salinisation, solar desalination & fog collection." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52870.
Full textENGLISH ABSTRACT: Freshwater is the most fundamental of all life-supporting resources that determine our social, economic and political wellbeing. It is, however, only a small percentage of the world's water resources and is also unevenly distributed. Arid regions make-up about forty percent of the world's land area and have a large proportion of the world population, however, they only have a small fraction of the freshwater compared to other areas. Conventional freshwater sources in arid environments such as surface water in rivers, lakes and dams are often seasonal, available mainly during the rainy season. Equally, only a small part of the rain (0 - 5% of rainfall) infiltrates into groundwater reserves, and even this groundwater displays high rates of salinisation such that the end-water is too saline for human consumption. The poor quality of groundwater in arid regions is generally understood, however, it is always assumed that this is mainly a problem in areas where surface water does not occur. The study investigates seasonal groundwater salinisation in ephemeral (seasonal) river sources in some parts of Namibia and aims to derive a better understanding of the nature of this problem and how it affects people in these areas. It also looks at some possible solutions to the problem with the aim of informing water managers and scientists who are responsible for formulating solutions for water supply to areas in arid regions. These solutions are designed to take advantage of available opportunities in the study areas namely; the abundant supply of solar energy, alternative sources of freshwater such as fog and general atmospheric moisture, and adaptations for water collection in animals that inhabit these regions. The results show that groundwater in shallow ephemeral river sources of the Namib Desert and the Cuvelai delta in North central Namibia display high seasonal variation in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and chemical composition. The lowest TDS values are recorded during the rainy season, mainly after the first rains in the high rainfall areas and only after flood events in the lower rainfall regions. The groundwater salinity increases during the remainder of the year and in most cases becomes too saline for drinking purposes. The investigations of possible solutions indicate that small-scale photovoltaic reverse osmosis; solar distillation and fog collection could be used to address the seasonal shortage of potable water in these areas. The low-pressure (6 bar) reverse osmosis desalination experiments show that it is possible to operate the unit on a solar-driven pump to produce enough water to cover the typical daily water demand of a village in the Namib Desert. This unit would produce about 4600 litres per day (l/day) of 500- mg/l TDS product water, which exceeds the water production of similar world-leading small-scale RO units in Australia and The Canary Islands. The results also show that the cost of solar distillation units (solar stills) can be reduced sufficiently to make them a viable option for water supply to individual households in these rural areas. The study also found that fog is a feasible alternative source of freshwater in some of the study areas. The fog water is generally of 'A' quality drinking water according to the WHO-derived Namibian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (NDWQG) and can be used directly or mixed with the saline groundwater to provide potable water. Mixing of the above-mentioned waters is particularly suitable in the Central Namib Desert because the period of high groundwater salinity coincides with that of peak fog deposition. The results also show that fog water can be collected with vanous polymeric greenhouse shade netting that can be easily obtained, and provides guidelines on the correct percentage shade coefficient and weave of possible fog collector mesh to intending users of fog collection technology in areas where the polypropylene mesh that is used in Standard Fog Collectors is not available. The investigations of surface properties of fog-harvesting beetles and experiments with various prototype collectors show that it is possible to increase water production in fog collectors existing today. The hydrophobic surface conditions as were found on the cuticles of fog-basking beetles (Onymaeris unguicularis and Onymacris bieolor) would enhance formation and runoff of large fog droplets on the collector surface. The prototype extractor-fan- and cooling system-based collectors show that it is possible to increase fog collection on polymeric meshes about three times and also that a comparable volume of atmospheric moisture can be collected even when there is no fog, up to a relative humidity of about 40%. In conclusion the study emphasizes that groundwater salinity in arid regions is at times a seasonal problem that should be considered in water supply strategies for these regions. Also that atmospheric moisture is a feasible alternative source of freshwater in some arid regions that often exceeds rainfall several times and should be considered as an important aspect of the strategies to address water problems in these areas. The study strongly recommends that scientists, engineers and water managers in these regions should always investigate the available opportunities such as climatic conditions (e.g. fog deposition) and adaptations for water collection/conservation that are found in the endemic plants and animals in order to develop sustainable solutions to this problem. They should also constantly update themselves on developments/opportunities that arise in the larger water industry that could be of benefit to water supply initiatives for remote areas in developing countries. Lastly, the study serves to better the understanding of the nature of groundwater salinity in arid environments that are dependent on seasonal surface flow for water supply as well as to contribute to the formulation of solutions to this problem in these areas, particularly in west coast hyper arid environments where conventional sources of freshwater are most inadequate. It also emphasises the role of materials science (polymers) and environmental engineering as well as that of UNESCO associated scientific institutions in the formulation of sustainable solutions to some of the current water problems in arid regions. Keywords: Arid lands, hydrochemistry, sources of freshwater, desalination, atmospheric moisture
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vars water is die mees fundamentele van aIle lewensonderhoudende natuurlike hulpbronne wat ons sosiale, ekonomiese, en politieke welstand bepaal. Dit is egter slegs 'n klein gedeelte van die totale waterbronne van die wereld, en is boonop baie oneweredig versprei. Natuurlike waterarm gebiede (woestyne en halfwoestyne) beslaan ongeveer veertig persent van die landoppervlakte van die aarde en word bewoon deur 'n relatief groot persentasie van die wereldbevolking, maar beskik oor slegs 'n klein gedeelte van die varswater in vergelyking met ander gebiede. Konvensionele bronne van varswater in waterarm gebiede, soos oppervlaktewater in riviere, mere en darnme, is dikwels seisoenaal, en slegs beskikbaar gedurende die reenseisoen. Verder beland slegs 'n klein gedeelte van die reenval (0 - 5%) in die ondergrondse waterreserwes, en selfs hierdie grondwater vertoon 'n hoe mate van versouting, sodat die eindproduk te brak is vir menslike gebruik. Die swak gehalte van grondwater in waterarm gebiede word algemeen verstaan, maar daar is tot nog toe aanvaar dat dit oor die algemeen slegs 'n probleem is in gebiede waar oppervlaktewater me voorkom nie. Hierdie studie ondersoek seisoenale grondwaterverbrakking in seisoenale rivierbronne in sekere dele van Namibie en beoog om 'n beter begrip te formuleer van die aard van die probleem en hoe dit die inwoners van hierdie gebiede raak. Daar word ook ondersoek ingestel na moontlike oplossings vir die probleem, met die doel om 'n inligtingsbron vir waterbestuurders en wetenskaplikes wat verantwoordelik is vir die formuleer van oplossings vir watervoorsiening in waterarm gebiede daar te stel. Hierdie oplossings is ontwerp om voordeel te trek uit die beskikbare geleenthede in die ondersoekgebiede, naamlik; die oorvloedige beskikbaarheid van sonenergie, altematiewe bronne van varswater soos mis (Eng. "fog") en atmosferiese vog in die algemeen en aanpassings (Eng. "adaptations") vir die opvang van water wat voorkom by diere, veral insekte, in hierdie gebiede. Die resultate toon dat grondwater in die vlak seisoenale rivierbronne van die Namibwoestyn en die Cuvelai-delta in noordsentraal Namibie hoe seisoenale variasie in totale opgeloste stowwe (TVS) en chemiese samestelling vertoon. Die laagste TVS-waardes word waargeneem tydens die reenseisoen, hoofsaaklik na die eerste reen in die hoe-reenvalgebiede en eers na vloede in die lae-reenvalgebiede, Die soutgehalte van die grondwater neem toe gedurende die res van die jaar en in die meeste gevalle verbrak die water tot ondrinkbare vlakke. Die ondersoek na moontlike oplossings dui aan dat kleinskaalse fotovoltaiesgedrewe tru-osmose, sondistillasie en die opvang van mis (Eng."fog collection") aangewend kan word om die seisoenale tekort aan drinkwater in hierdie gebiede aan te spreek. Die laedruk (6 bar) tru-osmose-ontsoutingseksperimente wys dat dit moontlik is om die eenheid met behulp van 'n sonkraggedrewe pomp te bedryf en voldoende water te lewer vir die tipiese daaglikse drinkwaterbehoeftes van 'n nedersetting in die Namibwoestyn. Hierdie eenheid sal sowat 4600 liter per dag (l/d) water, met 'n TVSwaarde van 500 mg/I, lewer. Dit is aansienlik meer as die lewering van soortgelyke eenhede in Australie en die Kanariese Eilande. Die resultate wys ook dat die koste van sondistillasie-eenhede genoegsaam verminder kan word om dit 'n lewensvatbare opsie vir watervoorsiening aan enkelhuishoudings in die plattelandse gebiede te maak. Die studie het ook bevind dat die opvang van mis 'n toepaslike alternatiewe bron van varswater is in sekere van die studiegebiede. Die miswater is oor die algemeen 'A' -gehalte drinkwater vol gens die Namibiese gehalteriglyne Vir drinkwater (gebasseer op bepalings van die Wereldgesondheidsorganisasie) en dat dit net so, of vermeng met brak grondwater, gebruik kan word as drinkwater. Vermenging is besonder geskik in die sentrale Namibwoestyn, aangesien die periode van hoe grondwaterverbrakking saamval met die piek van benutbare misneerslag. Die resultate toon ook aan dat miswater opgevang kan word met verskeie tipes polimeriese skadunet, wat maklik verkrygbaar is, en verskaf riglyne vir die optimale skadu-koeffisient en weefpatroon van moontlike misvangsnette vir voomemende gebruikers van misvangstegnologie in gebiede waar die polipropileennet wat in die standaard miskollekteerders gebruik word nie, beskikbaar is nie. Die ondersoek van oppervlakeienskappe van mis-koesterkewers (Eng. "fog harvesting beetles") en eksperimente met verskeie prototipe versamelaars toon dat dit moontlik is om die waterproduksie van bestaande kollekteerders te verhoog. Die hidrofobe oppervlaktetoestande soos gevind op die opperhuid van die mis-koesterkewers (Onymacris unguicularis en Onymacris bicolor) bevorder die vorming en afloop van groot misdruppels op die versameloppervlak. Die prototipe suigwaaier- en verkoelerstelselgebasseerde versamelaars toon dat dit moontlik is om die misvogversameling op polimeriese nette tot drie maal te verhoog en dat 'n vergelykbare volume atmosferiese vog versamel kan word, selfs in die afwesigheid van mis, tot by 'n relatiewe humiditeit van ongeveer 40%. Ten slotte benadruk die studie dat grondwatersoutgehalte in waterann gebiede soms 'n seisoenale probleem is, en dat dit in ag geneem moet word in watervoorsieningstrategiee vir sulke gebiede. Dit benadruk ook dat atmosferiese vog 'n bruikbare alternatiewe bron van varswater kan wees in sekere areas, waar dit dikwels verskeie male meer is as reenval, en gesien behoort te word as 'n belangrike aspek in strategiee om waterprobleme in hierdie gebiede aan te spreek. Die studie beveel sterk aan dat wetenskaplikes, ingenieurs en waterbestuurders in hierdie gebiede altyd die beskikbare geleenthede soos klimaatstoestande (bv. misneerslag) en aanpassings vir vogvangslbewaring wat voorkom by inheemse plante en diere sal navors om sodoende onderhoudbare oplossings vir die probleem te vind. Hulle behoort deurlopend op hoogte te bly met ontwikkelings/geleenthede wat ontstaan in die wyer waterindustrie, wat van waarde kan wees in by waterverskaffmgsinisiatiewe vir afgelee gebiede in ontwikkelende lande. Laastens dien die studie om 'n beter begrip daar te stel van die aard van grondwatersoutvlakke in waterarm gebiede wat afhanklik is van seisoenale oppervlaktevloei vir watervoorsiening sowel as om 'n bydrae te lewer tot die formuleer van oplossings tot die probleem in hierdie gebiede, veral in die hiperdroe omgewings aan die Namibiese weskus, waar konvensionele waterbronne mees onvoldoende is. Dit benadruk ook die rol van materiaalkundige wetenskappe (polimere) en omgewingsingenieurswese sowel as die UNESCO-geassosieerde wetenskaplike instellings in die formulering van volhoubare oplossings vir sommige van die huidige waterprobleme in waterann gebiede. Sleutelwoorde: Waterarm gebiede, hidrochemie, bronne van varswater, ontsouting, atmosferiese vog
Dickie, Jennifer Ann. "Relationships among the physical and chemical properties of soil, vegetation and land degradation in semi-arid environments." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/30410.
Full textFinnerty-Rae, Eileen Claire. "The Effects of Mesquite Tree Removal on Soil Microbial and Nutrient Cycling Processes in Semi-Arid Environments." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195790.
Full textDixon, Shannon A. "A Stochastic Model for Water-Vegetation Systems and the Effect of Decreasing Precipitation on Semi-Arid Environments." DigitalCommons@USU, 2017. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5995.
Full textAlchin, Mark David. "A test of landscape function theory in the semi-arid shrublands of Western Australia." Thesis, Curtin University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1498.
Full textMendez-Estrella, Romeo, Jose Romo-Leon, Alejandro Castellanos, Fabiola Gandarilla-Aizpuro, and Kyle Hartfield. "Analyzing Landscape Trends on Agriculture, Introduced Exotic Grasslands and Riparian Ecosystems in Arid Regions of Mexico." MDPI AG, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/621492.
Full textWichmann, Matthias. "Survival in changing environments : modeling the impact of climate change and land use on raptors in arid savanna /." Leipzig [u.a.] : UFZ, 2003. http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&doc_number=015383360&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA.
Full textEhsani, Amir Houshang. "Morphometric and Landscape Feature Analysis with Artificial Neural Networks and SRTM data : Applications in Humid and Arid Environments." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Miljö- och resursinformation, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-4789.
Full textAvhandlingen presenterar en halvautomatisk metod för att analysera morfometriska kännetecken och landskapselement som bygger på Self Organizing Map (SOM), en oövervakad Artificiell Neural Nätverk algoritm, i två helt skilda miljöer: 1) Man and Biosphere Reserve "Eastern Carpathians" (Centraleuropa) som är ett komplext, bergigt och humid område och 2) Lut öken, Iran, en extrem torr region som kännetecknas av återkommande vinderoderade objekt. Basen för undersökningen är det C-band SRTM digital höjd modell (DEM) med 3 bågsekunder rutnät som National Aeronautics and Space Administration släppte 2003 för ungefär 80 % av jordens yta. Dessutom används i ett mindre område X-band SRTM DEM med 1 bågsekund rutnät av den tyska rymdagenturen DLR. DEM transformerades till 90 och 30 m UTM nätet och därav genererades morfometriska parametrar av första (lutning) och andra ordning (tvärsnittböjning, största och minsta böjning). De morfometriska parametrar används sedan i en SOM för att identifiera morfometriska objekt (eller landform element) t.ex. plan yta, kanal, kam i bergsområden eller yardangs (kam) och korridorer (dalgångar) i extrem torra områden. Geomorfiska fenomen och objekt är skalberoende och kännetecken varierar med geografiska områden och upplösning. Morfometriska parametrar har härletts från 90 m DEM för nio fönsterstorlekar från 5 × 5 till 55 × 55. Resultaten representerar landform enheter för områden från 450 m till 4950 m på marken dvs. lokal till regional skala. Inflytande av två SRTM upplösningar i C och X-banden har studerats för identifikation av morfometriska objekt. Förändringsanalys visade storleken av upplösningsberoende av morfometriska objekt. Ökning av DEM upplösningen från 90 till 30 m (motsvarande X-bandet) genom interpolation resulterade i en betydande förbättring av terräng parametrar och identifiering av morfometriska objekt. Integration av morfometriska parametrar med klimatdata (t.ex. summan av aktiv temperatur över 10° C) i SOM resulterade i avgränsningen av homogena geoekologiska enheter. Dessa enheter ha används för att producera en karta av potentiell naturlig vegetation. Slutligen har vi kombinerat morfometriska parametrar och multispektrala fjärranalysdata från Landsat ETM för att identifiera och karaktärisera landskapselement. Dessa integrerade ekosystem data visar den geografiska fördelningen av morfometriska, klimatologiska och biotiska/kulturella egenskaper i östra Karpaterna. Resultaten visar att SOM är ett mycket effektivt verktyg för att analysera geomorfometriska egenskaper under skilda miljöförhållanden, i olika skalor och upplösningar. Finare upplösning och minskad fönsterstorlek visar information som är mer detaljerad. Ökad fönsterstorlek och grövre upplösning betonar mer regionala mönster. Det var också mycket framgångsrikt att integrera klimatiska och morfometriska parametrar med Landsat ETM data för landskapsanalys. Trots den stokastiska natur av SOM, är resultaten inte känsliga för slumpvisa värden i de ursprungliga viktvektorerna när många iterationer används. Detta förfarande är reproducerbart med bestående resultat.
QC 20100924
Alqaisi, Othman [Verfasser]. "Nutritional, ecological, and economic evaluation of dairy farming systems and feeding strategies in semi-arid environments / Othman Alqaisi." Kiel : Universitätsbibliothek Kiel, 2013. http://d-nb.info/1036406253/34.
Full textHosseini, Mohammad Khajeh. "The response of soybean seeds to the stresses of semi-arid environments during germination and early seedling growth." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.324912.
Full textHedrick, Kathryn. "Quantifying Age and Rate of Landscape and Paleoenvironmental Change in Arid Tectonic Environments using Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides: The Interplay of Climatic vs. Tectonic Drivers of Landscape Evolution in Arid Regions." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1504869385627475.
Full textSharaf, Adnan. "Urban sprawl in arid environments: contrasting master plans and land use changes in Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/667775.
Full textLand‐use policy and planning concerns collective decision‐making by which a society decides where, within its territory, different socioeconomic activities should take place, and establishes provisions that control the nature of such actions due to environmental, cultural or historical reasons. These controls determine features such as plot areas, their land consumption, their intensity, their density or technical standards of infrastructures. Therefore, land‐uses determine the diverse socioeconomic activities that occur in a specific area, the patterns of human behavior they produce, and their impact on the environment. Since the 1990s, with the initiation of the Land‐Use and Land‐Cover (LULC) change project of the International Geosphere‐Biosphere Program (IGBP) and the International Human Dimensions Program (IHDP), considerable advances in the field of modeling of LULC change have occurred. Monitoring LULC changes is critical to develop effective strategies for spatial management and environmental protection because human‐induced changes have affected the performance of ecosystem services and contributed to alter the biochemical cycles that control the functioning of the Earth system. In land‐use policy and planning diverse types of human actors, their relationships and the social and institutional structure influence LULC processes. Due to their geostrategic situation, located between the developed Western nations and the rising Asian economies, and world centres of oil production, cities in the Arabian Peninsula have rapidly gained significance in the global economy. In consequence, urban spaces in these cities have extended their presence far beyond the historic centres. Given the rapid development of Arab cities in recent decades, the term ‘instant city’ has been proposed to describe the way they seem to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere. In this PhD thesis the study area comprised Al Ain city, located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is an interesting medium‐sized town to analyse due to its very rapid urban development, and a strategic location on the border between UAE and Oman. It is characterized by a vast, arid desert, dominated by sand and gravel, with intermittent dry riverbeds, a rugged mountainous region (Jabel Hafeet) and an area of fertile soils and oases, with large reserves of groundwater. The thesis is structured in eight chapters with the main objective of assessing LULC trajectories of Al Ain, from 1984 to 2014, and of comparing them with the management of two master plans. To map and quantify LULC changes, a particular combination of remote sensing and GIS techniques was applied. After that, to verify the initial hypothesis about the specificity of Al Ain urban sprawl and to evaluate the consequences of LULC changes from a landscape point of view, landscape metrics of urban patterns (aggregated, linear, leapfrogging or nodal pattern) were calculated. The next step consisted in applying a statistical analysis using census data, at district scale, to improve the understanding of LULC processes, mainly those related to population, sex and origin. Later, the main driving forces of LULC changes were established based on expert knowledge and the socioenvironmental consequences of such dynamics. Finally, future growth was evaluated from the Plan Al Ain 2030. This PhD thesis represents one step beyond the knowledge about urban trajectories and forms, being an empirical contribution with an innovative used combined of tools: a particular combination of RS and GIS techniques; a comparison of real urban growth with the guidelines provided by master plans; a detailed assessment of landscape patterns; a statistical analysis using census data at district scale; and, finally, an expert knowledge approach applied to determine main driving forces and socioenvironmental consequences.
Smith, Mark William. "Overland flow resistance & flood generation in semi-arid environments : explaining the restrained draining of the rain in Spain." Thesis, Durham University, 2009. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2919/.
Full textMichelsen, Nils [Verfasser], Christoph [Akademischer Betreuer] Schüth, and Paul [Akademischer Betreuer] Königer. "Isotopic, chemical, and crowdsourcing studies of selected water cycle components in arid environments / Nils Michelsen ; Christoph Schüth, Paul Königer." Darmstadt : Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek, 2021. http://d-nb.info/1230062688/34.
Full textTrisos, Christopher. "The evolution of annuality in association with a shift to more arid environments in the daisy genera Ifloga and Tricogyne." Bachelor's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25878.
Full textStürz, Sabine [Verfasser], and Folkard [Akademischer Betreuer] Asch. "Effects of Water Management on Microclimate and Yield Physiology in Irrigated Rice in Semi-arid Environments / Sabine Stürz. Betreuer: Folkard Asch." Hohenheim : Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medienzentrum der Universität Hohenheim, 2014. http://d-nb.info/1055990267/34.
Full textGriffis, Anne. "Identifying Overwash Deposits in Arid Environments| Towards a Millennial-Scale Record of Cyclones and Makran Trench Tsunamis from Sur Lagoon, Oman." Thesis, The University of Southern Mississippi, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10751544.
Full textCoastlines along the Arabian Sea are susceptible to marine inundation from Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ) earthquakes and tropical cyclones. Sediments deposited by these forms of inundation can expand the decadal instrumental record of events to include millennial timescales in regions without rich historical records (i.e., Oman). On November 28, 1945 a 8.1 Mw MSZ earthquake generated a tsunami that inundated coastlines of the Arabian sea with wave heights as high as 13m. The stratigraphic, sedimentological, foraminiferal, and geochemical signatures of deposit were examined from a small (12 km²), microtidal lagoon in Sur, Oman. The 1945 tsunami deposit contained distinctive taphonomic assemblages of foraminifera and bivalves. Below the 41cm thick 1945 shell-rich deposit at Sur Lagoon, seven additional anomalous sand (mean grain size of 3.73&phis; ± 1.66; very fine sand) layers, ranging in thickness from 7 to 32cm, were found preserved within fine-grained lagoonal sediment (mean grain size of 4.44&phis; ± 1.66; very coarse silt). The seven inferred overwash layers have features consistent with the 1945 tsunami deposit such as fining upward trends, marine foraminifera (e.g., Amphistegina spp., planktics) and increased concentrations of calcium and strontium. By contrast, the surrounding lagoon deposits contain finer grain sizes, intertidal and nearshore foraminifera (e.g., Ammonia tepida, miliolids), and increased concentrations of titanium and magnesium. Based on these data, the seven overwash layers found below the 1945 tsunami deposit have been attributed to marine inundation. Radiocarbon dating indicated an age of 3127 to 2515 cal yr BP for the deepest stratigraphic unit.
Jebreen, Hassan [Verfasser], Stefan [Gutachter] Wohnlich, and Frank [Gutachter] Wisotzky. "Karst water management in semi-arid environments: Central West Bank, Palestine / Hassan Jebreen ; Gutachter: Stefan Wohnlich, Frank Wisotzky ; Fakultät für Geowissenschaften." Bochum : Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 2019. http://d-nb.info/1182682316/34.
Full textFarah, Mohamud. "Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) Extraction in Arid Environments: Land-use Change, Frankincense Production and the Sustainability of Boswellia sacra in Dhofar (Oman)." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/195762.
Full textMehari, Amanuel. "Growth and suitability of some tree species selected for planting in adverse environments in Eritrea and Ethiopia /." Uppsala : Dept. of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2005. http://epsilon.slu.se/200591.pdf.
Full textCzyzowska-Wisniewski, Elzbieta Halina. "Fractional snow cover estimation in complex alpine-forested environments using remotely sensed data and artificial neural networks." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/312503.
Full textConver, Joshua L. "Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) Growth and Population Dynamics in Multiple Physiographic Settings of Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1613745513093036.
Full textWhite, James Michael. "LANDUSE PATTERNING OF EARLY FORAGERS IN THE NORTHEASTERN DESERT OF MEXICO: INTERPRETATION AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL VISIBILITY." Lexington, Ky. : [University of Kentucky Libraries], 2006. http://lib.uky.edu/ETD/ukyanth2006d00410/.
Full textTitle from document title page (viewed on May 31, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xx, 499 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 481-497).
Tully, Craig David. "Holocene Mega-Droughts in the Central Atacama Desert, Chile." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1272312883.
Full textFennessy, Julian Thomas. "Ecology of desert-dwelling giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis in northwestern Namibia." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/910.
Full textFennessy, Julian Thomas. "Ecology of desert-dwelling giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis in northwestern Namibia." University of Sydney, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/910.
Full textThe population size and range of giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis have been greatly reduced in Africa in the past century, resulting in geographical isolation of local populations and some herds surviving at the edge of the species’ preferred range. Numerous factors have contributed to these declines, but historical analysis indicates that habitat loss and fragmentation, human encroachment, disease and poaching are the main threatening processes. These processes can be expected to continue to impact on giraffe populations, particularly as human populations grow and needs for land and resources increase. This study used field data and laboratory analyses to investigate the taxonomy, behaviour and ecology of desert-dwelling giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis in the northern Namib Desert. This population resides at the extreme of the giraffe’s range. My research also complements the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) program of the Namibian government, and provides baseline data on the current population status and structure of giraffe in the Kunene Region. The field data, genetic, habitat and forage samples used in this study were collected by myself and a number of research assistants over a period of two years (2001 to 2003), following preliminary research that I undertook between 1999 and 2001. Laboratory analysis of genetic samples was conducted by Dr R. Brenneman and his team at Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NB., as well as by Mr D. Brown at UCLA, CA. Mr W. Gawa!nab and his team at the agricultural laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs, Namibia, conducted chemical analyses on plant samples that form part of the giraffe’s diet. The genetic architecture of Namibian giraffe was investigated, including the samples from the desert-dwelling giraffe of the northern Namib Desert and giraffe from Etosha National Park. The results were compared with genetic profiles of giraffe subspecies throughout Africa, but in particular with G. c. giraffa which is the currently-accepted nomenclature of the Namibian giraffe. Results indicated that the Namibian giraffe has five unique haplotypes and is genetically distinct from G. c. giraffa or any other extant subspecies; it is considered here, tentatively, to represent G. c. angolensis. Furthermore, the Namibian Abstract iv giraffe has been separated from other populations for an extended period. Some gene flow has occurred between the desert-dwelling and Etosha NP giraffe population, and can be attributed to recent translocations between these regions. Within the study region, a sharing of haplotypes between three studied subpopulations indicated gene flow among giraffe throughout the northern Namib Desert, and this was confirmed by field-based monitoring. Taken together, these findings suggest that Namibian giraffe should be viewed as important for the conservation of overall genetic variation within Giraffa camelopardalis, although further investigation into the taxonomy of the Namibian form is warranted. Following these findings, I then investigated the behaviour and ecology of the desert-dwelling giraffe. As no previous study has been published on the ecology of G. c. angolensis, there is an information gap in our knowledge of this subspecies. One hundred and fifty six giraffe were identified individually using field-based identification methods and digital imagery. An assessment of the population structure and dynamics indicated marked variation in numbers, sex and age structure, herd structure and densities between three study areas. These variations possibly arose from differences in study area size, aridity, availability of forage and human impacts. I also investigated levels of associations between giraffe within the population using a simple ratio technique, and observed that increased association occurred in smaller populations; there appeared to be a matrilineal social structure. In one bull-biased population, a higher degree of association between bulls was observed compared to bulls in the other two populations. To gain further insight into the distribution and range of giraffe, I collected GPS locations from a combination of field-based monitoring and GPS satellite collars. The GPS satellite collars were the first trial of this technology on giraffe in Africa. Using Range Manager, a MapInfo animal location analysis extension program, I estimated 100% and 95% minimum convex polygon for daily, monthly and annual home range sizes of giraffe in the northern Namib Desert. Giraffe were observed to have large home ranges, with the largest individual range for a bull, Africa-wide, being recorded in this study. Large home ranges correlated with low population density, reduced diversity of forage and, in bulls, increased search areas for receptive cows. Giraffe movements occurred predominantly along riparian woodlands, although seasonal use of other habitats was recorded. Observations Abstract v Abstract vi and data from four GPS satellite-collared giraffe provided high-resolution data on daily movements, and indicated a pattern of highly biphasic movement behaviour that correlated with ambient temperatures. Diurnal activity budgets varied between the sexes, with cows spending more time feeding and resting, while bulls walked and ruminated more frequently. Juveniles rested more often than other giraffe. Seasonal variation in activity budgets was evident, perhaps reflecting use of an energy maximiser strategy for cows and an energy minimiser strategy for bulls. The establishment of artificial water points in the Hoanib River during the study period appeared to alter the seeming independence of giraffe on water in the northern Namib Desert, and also resulted in small-scale shifts in use of the riparian woodland by elephant. To investigate the diet of giraffe, I observed animals feeding in the field and also carried out laboratory analyses of the chemical content of preferred plant species. Seasonal changes in the abundance, moisture and protein content of available food plants correlated with shifts in the diet of giraffe. Giraffe impacted on their preferred forage source, Faidherbia albida, causing distinct structural changes in the individual plants and the F. albida population. This impact, combined with elephant damage and seasonal flood events, has resulted in a shift in the age structure and dynamics of the F. albida population over the past two decades. Finally, I present a brief overview on the history of conservation and management in the Kunene Region. The established CBNRM program provides a baseline for future wildlife conservation and management, of which the desert-dwelling giraffe could be an integral component for non-consumptive tourism. Long-term research on the population’s status, range, behaviour, social structure, habitat requirements, and ecology would help to provide a better understanding of the giraffe’s adaptation to the arid environment, while focussed legislation would enable increased control of communal lands and continue to benefit community-based conservancies.
Archibald, Sally. "The adaptive geometrey {i.e. geometry} of savanna trees : a comparative study of the architecture and life history of Acacia karroo Hayne. in savanna, forest, and arid karoo shrubland environments." Bachelor's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24400.
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