The anomalous increase of the astronomical unit, the mysterious secular increase of the lunar eccentricity and the flyby anomaly are important issues of modern astronomy. This study aims to determine the effect of earthquakes on the origin of these anomalies. Based on conventional physics, we found the existence of earthquake-induced gravitational weakening within the earth-moon-sun system and beyond. New equations of gravitation, including time dilation, are introduced that can explain the anomalous increase of the astronomical unit and the lunar orbit. A modified equation that includes the effect of massive quakes also explains the anomalous increase of the lunar eccentricity. Furthermore, the results of the present study can explain the flyby and Pioneer anomalies experienced by spacecraft during gravity assisted maneuvers. A modification of the 3rd Law of Kepler is also presented. Implications on the elliptic orbit of the earth, its reduced velocity and the occurrence of leap years are also discussed. Using the seismic-induced gravitational weakening model, probable trigger mechanisms of the faint young sun paradox and the Allais effect are also presented. An estimate of the age of the earth based on the observed values of the Hubble parameter and the USGS earthquake data for the past century is also presented. A new model of the seismic-driven expanding universe and a new equation to determine the expansion rate of galaxies and the universe is also proposed. The sudden earth’s retreat due to gravitational weakening and its implication on anomalous astronomical refraction and flight risk at night especially near the equatorial region, and its effect on the abrupt satellite orbital decay, spin and drift are also discussed. This study may also shed light on the occurrence of sinkholes and massive landslides. Finally, this study proposes a new equation that can explain the observed changes in the fine structure constant.

A common approach in modeling the generation and propagation of tsunami is based on the assumption of a kinematic vertical displacement of ocean water that is analogous to the ocean bottom displacement during a submarine earthquake and the use of a non-dispersive long-wave model to simulate its physical transformation as it radiates outward from the source region. In this study, a new generation mechanism and the use of a highly-dispersive wave model to simulate tsunami inception, propagation and transformation are proposed. The new generation model assumes that transient ground motion during the earthquake can accelerate horizontal currents with opposing directions near the fault line whose successive convergence and divergence generate a series of potentially destructive oceanic waves. The new dynamic model incorporates the effects of earthquake moment magnitude, ocean compressibility through the buoyancy frequency, the effects of focal and water depths, and the orientation of ruptured fault line in the tsunami magnitude and directivity. For tsunami wave simulation, the nonlinear momentum-based wave model includes important wave propagation and transformation mechanisms such as refraction, diffraction, shoaling, partial reflection and transmission, back-scattering, frequency dispersion, and resonant wave-wave interaction. Using this model and a coarse-resolution bathymetry, the new mechanism is tested for the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004. A new flooding and drying algorithm that consider waves coming from every direction is also proposed for simulation of inundation of low-lying coastal regions. It is shown in the present study that with the proposed generation model, the observed features of the Asian tsunami such as the initial drying of areas east of the source region and the initial flooding of western coasts are correctly simulated. The formation of a series of tsunami waves with periods and lengths comparable to observations are also well simulated with the new generation model. Furthermore, the shoaling behavior of the tsunami waves during flooding of dry land was also simulated by the new run-up algorithm. Finally, the new generation and propagation models can explain the combined and independent effects of various factors in tsunami generation and transformation taking into consideration the properties of the ocean and the geologic disturbance.

Abstract:In a two-year study ten commercial date palm varieties were evaluated. The varieties showed varying response to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv; some varieties suffered heavy infestation while others indicated tolerance against R. ferrugineus. The most tolerant varieties with less infestation percentage against R. ferrugineus were Muzawati (8%) followed by Pathri (12%), Thothar (15%), Khar and Shakri (16%) respectively. The varieties which suffered high infestation rate were Karbalain, Dhedhi, Fasli, Aseel and Eidan Shah. To control the R. ferrugineus infestation pheromone trapping system was used. Significantly more R. ferrugineus (18-21) adults were captured during the 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd week of July and 2 nd week of June. The studies conducted will be helpful in survey and control of R. ferrugineus infestation in Khairpur District of Sindh province.

A new model of galaxy rotation based on the cyclostrophic model of vortices found in nature is developed. The model is tested using the SPARC dataset of 175 galaxies and a smaller dataset comprising of 60 galaxies. Analysis of the datasets showed that galactic rotation can be adequately described using the observed surface brightness of galaxies and the newly developed cyclostrophic velocity model. The use of the luminosity and the inverse mass-to-light ratio in lieu of the surface brightness, also yield a very good fit of the observed and computed galaxy rotation velocity. Evidently, galactic rotation greatly depends on the cyclostrophic balance of the pressure gradient and the centrifugal forces and the seismic-induced radial expansion occurring in various stars. This is the most probable origin of the action of a single force law that has been overlooked in previous studies. Therefore, the need for a super-massive black hole at the center of galaxies or hidden dark matter can be eliminated. Attractive gravitational force can occur even without a massive black hole at the center of galaxies. There appears to be a pressure gradient force between the center and the outer parts of galaxies that sustains attraction. The cyclostrophic model appears to be the physical basis of the Tully-Fisher relation. Furthermore, the missing mass problem associated with galactic rotation can be attributed to the orbital expansion of celestial objects perturbed by seismic-induced forces. In addition, massive tremors or starquakes may create a domino effect in perturbing nearby stars along the axis of the seismic-induced force and this could result in the formation of elliptical galaxies as the orbits of seismic-perturbed neighboring stars become larger.

The research work presented in this thesis is the result of a cooperation between Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU) and the International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE) both in the Netherlands, and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) and Department of Meteorology and Oceanography (DMO) both in the Philippines. Written in the context of the project "Cooperation in Environmental Ecotechnology with Developing Countries (CEEDC)", this work was completed with the help of a number of persons to whom I am very grateful. Firstly, I thank Prof. dr. Lambertus Lijklema and Prof. dr. Wim Van Vierssen not only for initiating this project but also for their continued support and guidance throughout the course of my studies. Secondly, I am indebted to Ir. Gerard Blom for his untiring efforts to supervise the field research and to Dr. Erik de Ruijter for constantly coordinating every important activity within the project. I would like here to acknowledge also the good cooperation that Jaco Friedrich, Etienne LeJeune and Rob Ruiter showed while doing their practical period in the Philippines. Thirdly, I am grateful to Dr. Jorge de las Alas for motivating me in this important endeavor, to Dr. Mike Fortes for his persistent support especially during my stay at the UPMSI, to Dr. Josefina Argete whose kind efforts made the meteorological observations possible in Cape Bolinao, and to Dr. Mariano Estoque for helping us acquire some important equipment.