New paleomagnetic results on $$\sim $$2367 Ma Dharwar giant dyke swarm,Dharwar craton,southern India: implications for Paleoproterozoic continental reconstruction

Here we report new paleomagnetic results and precise paleopole position of the extensional study on \(\sim \)2367 Ma mafic giant radiating dyke swarm in the Dharwar craton, southern India. We have sampled 29 sites on 12 dykes from NE–SW Karimnagar–Hyderabad dykes and Dhone–Gooty sector dykes, eastern Dharwar craton to provide unambiguous paleomagnetism evidence on the spectacular radiating dyke swarm and thereby strengthening the presence of single magmatic event at \(\sim \)2367 Ma. A total of 158 samples were subjected to detailed alternating field and thermal demagnetization techniques and the results are presented here along with previously reported data on the same dyke swarm. The remanent magnetic directions are showing two components, viz., seven sites representing four dykes show component (A) with mean declination of \(94{{}^{\circ }}\) and mean inclination of \(-\,70{{}^{\circ }}\) (\(\hbox {k}=87\), \(\upalpha _{95}=10{{}^{\circ }}\)) and corresponding paleopole at \(16{{}^{\circ }}\hbox {N}\), \(41{{}^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) (\(\hbox {dp}=15{{}^{\circ }}\) and \(\hbox {dm}=17{{}^{\circ }}\)) and 22 sites representing 8 dykes yielded a component (B) with mean declination of \(41{{}^{\circ }}\) and mean inclination of \(-\,21{{}^{\circ }}\) (\(\hbox {k}=41\), \(\upalpha _{95}=9{{}^{\circ }}\)) with a paleopole at \(41{{}^{\circ }}\hbox {N}\), \(200{{}^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) (\(\hbox {dp}=5{{}^{\circ }}\) and \(\hbox {dm}=10{{}^{\circ }}\)). Component (A) results are similar to the previously reported directions from the \(\sim \)2367 Ma dyke swarm, which have been confirmed fairly reliably to be of primary origin. The component (B) directions appear to be strongly overprinted by the 2080 Ma event. The grand mean for the primary component (A) combined with earlier reported studies gives mean declination of \(97{{}^{\circ }}\) and mean inclination of \(-\,79{{}^{\circ }}\) (\(\hbox {k}=55\), \(\upalpha _{95}=3{{}^{\circ }}\)) with a paleopole at \(15{{}^{\circ }}\hbox {N}\), \(57{{}^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) (\(\hbox {dp}=5{{}^{\circ }}\), \(\hbox {dm}=6{{}^{\circ }}\)). Paleogeographical position for the Dharwar craton at \(\sim \)2367 Ma suggests that there may be a chance to possible spatial link between Dharwar dykes of Dharwar craton (India), Widgemooltha and Erayinia dykes of Yilgarn craton (Australia), Sebanga Poort Dykes of Zimbabwe craton (Africa) and Karelian dykes of Kola-Karelia craton (Baltica Shield).     

Characteristics of surface ozone in Agra,a sub-urban site in Indo-Gangetic Plain

In the present study, measurements of surface ozone (\(\hbox {O}_{3}\)) and its precursors (NO and \(\hbox {NO}_{2}\)) were carried out at a sub-urban site of Agra (\(27{^{\circ }}10'\hbox {N}\), \(78{^{\circ }}05'\hbox {E}\)), India during May 2012–May 2013. During the study period, average concentrations of \(\hbox {O}_{3}\), NO, and \(\hbox {NO}_{2}\) were \(39.6 \pm 25.3\), \(0.8 \pm 0.8\) and \(9.1 \pm 6.6 \, \hbox {ppb}\), respectively. \(\hbox {O}_{3}\) showed distinct seasonal variation in peak value of diurnal variation: summer \({>}\) post-monsoon \({>}\) winter \({>}\) monsoon. However, \(\hbox {NO}_{2}\) showed highest levels in winter and lowest in monsoon. The average positive rate of change of \(\hbox {O}_{3}\) (08:00–11:00 hr) was highest in April (16.3 ppb/hr) and lowest in August (1.1 ppb/hr), while average negative rate of change of \(\hbox {O}_{3}\) (17:00–19:00 hr) was highest in December (–13.2 ppb/hr) and lowest in July (–1.1 ppb/hr). An attempt was made to identify the \(\hbox {VOC--NO}_{\mathrm{x}}\) sensitivity of the site using \(\hbox {O}_{3}/\hbox {HNO}_{3}\) ratio as photochemical indicator. Most of the days this ratio was above the threshold value (12–16), which suggests \(\hbox {NO}_{\mathrm{x}}\) sensitivity of the site. The episodic event of ozone was characterized through meteorological parameters and precursors concentration. Fine particles (\(\hbox {PM}_{2.5}\)) cause loss of ozone through heterogeneous reactions on their surface and reduction in solar radiation. In the study, statistical analyses were used to estimate the amount of ozone loss.     

Effect of solar flare on the equatorial electrojet in eastern Brazil region

The effect of solar flare, sudden commencement of magnetic storm and of the disturbances ring current on the equatorial electrojet in the Eastern Brazil region, where the ground magnetic declination is as large as \(20^{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}\) is studied based on geomagnetic data with one minute resolution from Bacabal during November–December 1990. It is shown that the mean diurnal vector of the horizontal field was aligned along \(2{^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) of north at Huancayo and \(30{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}\) of north at Bacabal during the month of December 1990. Number of solar flares that occurred on 30 December 1990 indicated the direction of solar flare related \(\Delta H\) vector to be aligned along \(5{^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) of north at Huancayo and \(28{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}\) of north at Bacabal. This is expected as the solar flare effects are due to the enhanced conductivity in the ionosphere. The SC at 2230 UT on 26 November 1990 produced a positive impulse in \(\Delta X\) and negative impulse in \(\Delta Y\) at Bacabal with \(\Delta H\) vector aligned along \(27{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}\) of north. At Huancayo the \(\Delta H\) vector associated with SC is aligned along \(8{^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) of north, few degrees east to the alignment of the diurnal vector of H. The magnetic storm that followed the SC had a minimum Dst index of –150 nT. The corresponding storm time disturbance in \(\Delta X\) at Huancayo as well as at Bacabal were about –250 nT but \(\Delta Y\) at Bacabal was about +70 nT and very small at Huancayo, that give the alignment of the H vector due to ring current about \(16{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}\) of north at Bacabal and almost along N–S at Huancayo. Thus alignment of the \(\Delta H\) vector due to ring current at Bacabal is \(14{^{\circ }}\hbox {E}\) of the mean direction of \(\Delta H\) vector during December 1990. This is consistent with the direction of ring current dependent on the dipole declination at the ring current altitude which is about \(5{^{\circ }}\hbox {W}\) of north over Bacabal and the deviation of declination due to the ring current during disturbed period given by the angle (\(\psi \)-D).     

Near InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph (NIRIS) for ground-based mesospheric OH(6-2) and $$\hbox {O}_{2}$$(0-1) intensity and temperature measurements

This paper describes the development of a new Near InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph (NIRIS) which is capable of simultaneous measurements of OH(6-2) Meinel and \(\hbox {O}_{2}\)(0-1) atmospheric band nightglow emission intensities. In this spectrographic technique, rotational line ratios are obtained to derive temperatures corresponding to the emission altitudes of 87 and 94 km. NIRIS has been commissioned for continuous operation from optical aeronomy observatory, Gurushikhar, Mount Abu (\(24.6^{\circ }\hbox {N}\), \(72.8^{\circ }\hbox {E}\)) since January 2013. NIRIS uses a diffraction grating of 1200 lines \(\hbox {mm}^{-1}\) and 1024\(\times \)1024 pixels thermoelectrically cooled CCD camera and has a large field-of-view (FOV) of \(80^{\circ }\) along the slit orientation. The data analysis methodology adopted for the derivation of mesospheric temperatures is also described in detail. The observed NIRIS temperatures show good correspondence with satellite (SABER) derived temperatures and exhibit both tidal and gravity waves (GW) like features. From the time taken for phase propagation in the emission intensities between these two altitudes, vertical phase speed of gravity waves, \(c_{z}\), is calculated and along with the coherent GW time period ‘\(\tau \)’, the vertical wavelength, \(\lambda _{z}\), is obtained. Using large FOV observations from NIRIS, the meridional wavelengths, \(\lambda _{y}\), are also calculated. We have used one year of data to study the possible cause(s) for the occurrences of mesospheric temperature inversions (MTIs). From the statistics obtained for 234 nights, it appears that in situ chemical heating is mainly responsible for the observed MTIs than the vertical propagation of the waves. Thus, this paper describes a novel near infrared imaging spectrograph, its working principle, data analysis method for deriving OH and \(\hbox {O}_{2}\) emission intensities and the corresponding rotational temperatures at these altitudes, derivation of gravity wave parameters (\(\tau \), \(c_{z}\), \(\lambda _{z}\), and \(\lambda _{y})\), and results on the statistical study of MTIs that exist in the earth’s mesospheric altitudes.     

Semi-empirical model for retrieval of soil moisture using RISAT-1 C-Band SAR data over a sub-tropical semi-arid area of Rewari district,Haryana (India)

We have estimated soil moisture (SM) by using circular horizontal polarization backscattering coefficient (\(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\)), differences of circular vertical and horizontal \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}} \, (\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RV}} {-} \sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}})\) from FRS-1 data of Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) and surface roughness in terms of RMS height (\({\hbox {RMS}}_{\mathrm{height}}\)). We examined the performance of FRS-1 in retrieving SM under wheat crop at tillering stage. Results revealed that it is possible to develop a good semi-empirical model (SEM) to estimate SM of the upper soil layer using RISAT-1 SAR data rather than using existing empirical model based on only single parameter, i.e., \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}\). Near surface SM measurements were related to \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\), \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RV}} {-} \sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\) derived using 5.35 GHz (C-band) image of RISAT-1 and \({\hbox {RMS}}_{\mathrm{height}}\). The roughness component derived in terms of \({\hbox {RMS}}_{\mathrm{height}}\) showed a good positive correlation with \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RV}} {-} \sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}} \, (R^{2} = 0.65)\). By considering all the major influencing factors (\(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\), \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RV}} {-} \sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\), and \({\hbox {RMS}}_{\mathrm{height}}\)), an SEM was developed where SM (volumetric) predicted values depend on \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\), \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RV}} {-} \sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}_{\mathrm{RH}}\), and \({\hbox {RMS}}_{\mathrm{height}}\). This SEM showed \(R^{2}\) of 0.87 and adjusted \(R^{2}\) of 0.85, multiple R=0.94 and with standard error of 0.05 at 95% confidence level. Validation of the SM derived from semi-empirical model with observed measurement (\({\hbox {SM}}_{\mathrm{Observed}}\)) showed root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.06, relative-RMSE (R-RMSE) = 0.18, mean absolute error (MAE) = 0.04, normalized RMSE (NRMSE) = 0.17, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) = 0.91 (\({\approx } 1\)), index of agreement (d) = 1, coefficient of determination \((R^{2}) = 0.87\), mean bias error (MBE) = 0.04, standard error of estimate (SEE) = 0.10, volume error (VE) = 0.15, variance of the distribution of differences \(({\hbox {S}}_{\mathrm{d}}^{2}) = 0.004\). The developed SEM showed better performance in estimating SM than Topp empirical model which is based only on \(\sigma ^{\mathrm{o}}\). By using the developed SEM, top soil SM can be estimated with low mean absolute percent error (MAPE) = 1.39 and can be used for operational applications.     

Effect of uncertainty in $$V_{\mathrm{S}}{-}N$$ correlations on seismic site response analysis

This paper studies the reliability of the calculated shear-wave velocity (\(V_{\mathrm{S}}\)) from different available \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\) and SPT-N correlations in terms of seismic site response analysis. In the present study, various \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\)–N correlations developed for different regions around the globe have been used to calculate the bound of \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\) variations with depth at three different sites in Kolkata city. This bound has later been used to generate the random \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\) profiles using the Monte Carlo simulation. Equivalent linear site response analysis has been performed to study the response of those generated profiles under different input motion excitations. Strong-to-weak ground motion records have been used for this purpose. The amplification spectra of the generated \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\) profiles using all soil types and specific soil-type \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\)–N correlations show significant variations. The study also shows that the \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\)–N correlation may result in quite different \(V_{\mathrm{S},30}\) values and subsequently it may lead to the different site classes according to the NEHRP 2003 classification. So, the random choice of the \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\)–N correlation, where the direct measurement of \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\) is not available, may affect the outcome of seismic hazard analysis significantly. The study points out the need for accurate estimation of the \(V_{\mathrm{S}}\) profile either from in-situ determination or using site-specific correlation.     

Synthesis of monticellite–forsterite and merwinite–forsterite symplectites in the CaO–MgO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> model system: influence of temperature and water content on microstructure evolution

Homogeneous single crystals of synthetic monticellite with the composition \({\text{Ca}}_{0.88}{\text{Mg}}_{1.12}{\text{SiO}}_4\) (Mtc I) were annealed in a piston-cylinder apparatus at temperatures between 1000 and \(1200\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}\), pressures of 1.0–1.4 GPa, for run durations from 10 min to 24 h and applying bulk water contents ranging from 0.0 to 0.5 wt% of the total charge. At these conditions, Mtc I breaks down to a fine-grained, symplectic intergrowth. Thereby, two types of symplectites are produced: a first symplectite type (Sy I) is represented by an aggregate of rod-shaped forsterite immersed in a matrix of monticellite with end-member composition (Mtc II), and a second symplectite type (Sy II) takes the form of a lamellar merwinite–forsterite intergrowth. Both symplectites may form simultaneously, where the formation of Sy I is favoured by the presence of water. Sy I is metastable with respect to Sy II and is successively replaced by the latter. For both symplectite types, the characteristic spacing of the symplectite phases is independent of run duration and is only weeakly influenced by the water content, but it is strongly temperature dependent. It varies from about 400 nm at \(1000\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) to 1200 nm at \(1100\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) in Sy I, and from 300 nm at \(1000\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) to 700 nm at \(1200\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) in Sy II. A thermodynamic analysis reveals that the temperature dependence of the characteristic spacing of the symplectite phases is due to a relatively high activation energy for chemical segregation by diffusion within the reaction front as compared to the activation energy for interface reactions at the reaction front. The temperature dependence of the characteristic lamellar spacing and the temperature-time dependence of overall reaction progress have potential for applications in geo-thermometry and geo-speedometry.     

Characterisation of a garnet population from the Sikkim Himalaya: insights into the rates and mechanisms of porphyroblast crystallisation

The compositional zoning of a garnet population contained within a garnet-grade metapelitic schist from the Lesser Himalayan Sequence of Sikkim (India) provides insight into the rates and kinetic controls of metamorphism, and the extent of chemical equilibration during porphyroblast crystallisation in the sample. Compositional profiles across centrally sectioned garnet crystals representative of the observed crystal size distribution indicate a strong correlation between garnet crystal size and core composition with respect to major end-member components. Systematic steepening of compositional gradients observed from large to small grains is interpreted to reflect a progressive decrease in the growth rate of relatively late-nucleated garnet as a result of an increase in interfacial energies during progressive crystallisation. Numerical simulation of garnet nucleation and growth using an equilibrium approach accounting for chemical fractionation associated with garnet crystallisation reproduces both the observed crystal size distribution and the chemical zoning of the entire garnet population. Simulation of multicomponent intracrystalline diffusion within the population indicates rapid heating along the pressure–temperature path, in excess of 100 \(^{\circ }\)C Myr\(^{-1}\). Radial garnet growth is correspondingly rapid, with minimum rates of 1.4 mm Myr\(^{-1}\). As a consequence of such rapid crystallisation, the sample analysed in this study provides a close to primary record of the integrated history of garnet nucleation and growth. Our model suggests that nucleation of garnet occurred continuously between incipient garnet crystallisation at \(\sim\)520 \(^{\circ }\)C, 4.5 kbar and peak metamorphic conditions at \(\sim\)565 \(^{\circ }\)C, 5.6 kbar. The good fit between the observed and predicted garnet growth zoning suggests that the departure from equilibrium associated with garnet nucleation and growth was negligible, despite the particularly fast rates of metamorphic heating. Consequently, rates of major element diffusion in the intergranular medium during garnet crystallisation are interpreted to have been correspondingly rapid. It is, therefore, possible to simulate the prograde metamorphic history of our sample as a succession of equilibrium states of a chemical system modified by chemical fractionation associated with garnet crystallisation.     

Ionic conductivity in gem-quality single-crystal alkali feldspar from the Eifel: temperature,orientation and composition dependence

We measured the ion conductivity of single-crystal alkali feldspar originating from two different locations in the Eifel/Germany, named Volkesfeld and Rockeskyller sanidine and having potassium site fractions \(C_\mathrm{K}\) of 0.83 and 0.71, respectively. The dc conductivities resulting from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy over the temperature range of 300–900 \(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) show a weak composition dependence but pronounced differences between the b-direction [\(\perp (010)\)] and \(c^{*}\)-direction [\(\perp (001)\)] of the monoclinic feldspar structure. Conductivity activation energies obtained from the observed linear Arrhenius plots are close to 1.2 eV in all cases, which is closely similar to the activation energies of the \(^{22}\mathrm{Na}\) tracer diffusivity in the same crystals. Taking into account literature data on K tracer diffusion and diffusion correlation effects, the present results point to a predominance of the interstitialcy mechanism over the vacancy mechanism in mass and charge transport on the alkali sublattice in potassium-rich alkali feldspar.     

Indian summer monsoon forcing on the deglacial polar cold reversals

The deglacial transition from the last glacial maximum at \(\sim \)20 kiloyears before present (ka) to the Holocene (11.7 ka to Present) was interrupted by millennial-scale cold reversals, viz., Antarctic Cold Reversal (\(\sim \)14.5–12.8 ka) and Greenland Younger Dryas (\(\sim \)12.8–11.8 ka) which had different timings and extent of cooling in each hemisphere. The cause of this synchronously initiated, but different hemispheric cooling during these cold reversals (Antarctic Cold Reversal \(\sim \)3\(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) and Younger Dryas \(\sim \)10\(^{\circ }\hbox {C}\)) is elusive because \(\hbox {CO}_{2}\), the fundamental forcing for deglaciation, and Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, the driver of antiphased bipolar climate response, both fail to explain this asymmetry. We use centennial-resolution records of the local surface water \(\delta ^{18}\hbox {O}\) of the Eastern Arabian Sea, which constitutes a proxy for the precipitation associated with the Indian Summer Monsoon, and other tropical precipitation records to deduce the role of tropical forcing in the polar cold reversals. We hypothesize a mechanism for tropical forcing, via the Indian Summer Monsoons, of the polar cold reversals by migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and the associated cross-equatorial heat transport.     

Comparison of AMSR-2 wind speed and sea surface temperature with moored buoy observations over the Northern Indian Ocean

The Northern Indian Ocean (NIO) is unique due to seasonal reversal of wind patterns, the formation of vortices and eddies which make satellite observations arduous. The veracity of sea surface wind (SSW) and sea surface temperature (SST) products of sun-synchronous AMSR-2 satellite are compared with high-temporal moored buoy observations over the NIO. The two year-long (2013–2014) comparisons reveal that the root-mean-square-error (RMSE) of AMSR-2 SST and SSW is \(<0.4{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}\) and \(<1.5\hbox { ms}^{-1}\), respectively, which are within the error range prescribed for the AMSR-2 satellite (\(\pm 0.8{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}\), \(\pm 1.5\hbox { ms}^{-1})\). The SST–wind relation is analyzed using data both from the buoy and satellite. As a result, the low-SST is associated with low-wind condition (positive slope) in the northern part of the Bay of Bengal (BoB), while low SST values are associated with high wind conditions (negative slope) over the southern BoB. Moreover, the AMSR-2 displayed larger slope for SST–wind relation and could be mainly due to overestimation of SST and underestimation of wind as compared to the buoy. The AMSR-2 SSW exhibited higher error during post-monsoon followed by monsoon season and could be attributed to the high wind conditions associated with intense oceanic vortices. The study suggests that the AMSR-2 products are reliable and can be used in tropical air–sea interactions, meso-scale features, and weather and climate studies.     

The high-pressure stability of chlorite and other hydrates in subduction mélanges: experiments in the system Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–MgO–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The solubility of chromium in chlorite as a function of pressure, temperature, and bulk composition was investigated in the system Cr₂O₃–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O, and its effect on phase relations evaluated. Three different compositions with X _Cr = Cr/(Cr + Al) = 0.075, 0.25, and 0.5 respectively, were investigated at 1.5–6.5 GPa, 650–900 °C. Cr-chlorite only occurs in the bulk composition with X _Cr = 0.075; otherwise, spinel and garnet are the major aluminous phases. In the experiments, Cr-chlorite coexists with enstatite up to 3.5 GPa, 800–850 °C, and with forsterite, pyrope, and spinel at higher pressure. At P > 5 GPa other hydrates occur: a Cr-bearing phase-HAPY (Mg_2.2Al_1.5Cr_0.1Si_1.1O₆(OH)₂) is stable in assemblage with pyrope, forsterite, and spinel; Mg-sursassite coexists at 6.0 GPa, 650 °C with forsterite and spinel and a new Cr-bearing phase, named 11.5 Å phase (Mg:Al:Si = 6.3:1.2:2.4) after the first diffraction peak observed in high-resolution X-ray diffraction pattern. Cr affects the stability of chlorite by shifting its breakdown reactions toward higher temperature, but Cr solubility at high pressure is reduced compared with the solubility observed in low-pressure occurrences in hydrothermal environments. Chromium partitions generally according to \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{spinel}}\) ? \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{opx}}\) > \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{chlorite}}\) ≥ \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{HAPY}}\) > \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{garnet}}\). At 5 GPa, 750 °C (bulk with X _Cr = 0.075) equilibrium values are \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{spinel}}\) = 0.27, \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{chlorite}}\) = 0.08, \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{garnet}}\) = 0.05; at 5.4 GPa, 720 °C \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{spinel}}\) = 0.33, \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{HAPY}}\) = 0.06, and \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{garnet}}\) = 0.04; and at 3.5 GPa, 850 °C \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{opx}}\) = 0.12 and \(X_{\text{Cr}}^{\text{chlorite}}\) = 0.07. Results on Cr–Al partitioning between spinel and garnet suggest that at low temperature the spinel- to garnet-peridotite transition has a negative slope of 0.5 GPa/100 °C. The formation of phase-HAPY, in assemblage with garnet and spinel, at pressures above chlorite breakdown, provides a viable mechanism to promote H₂O transport in metasomatized ultramafic mélanges of subduction channels.     

The Numba ductile deformation zone (northwest Cameroon): A geometric analysis of folds based on the Fold Profiler method

The Numba ductile deformation zone (NDDZ) is characterised by folds recorded during the three deformation phases that affected the banded amphibole gneiss. Fold-shape analyses using the program Fold Profiler with the aim to show the importance of folding events in the structural analysis of the NDDZ and its contribution to the Pan-African orogeny in central Africa have been made. Classical field method, conic sections method and Ramsay’s fold classification method were applied to (i) have the general orientation of folds, (ii) analyze the fold shapes and (iii) classify the geometry of the folded bands. Fold axes in banded amphibole gneiss plunge moderately (\(<\)15\(^{\circ }\)) towards the NNE or SSW. The morphology of F\(_{1}\), F\(_{2}\) and F\(_{3}\) folds in the study area clearly points to (i) Z-shape folds with SE vergence and (ii) a dextral sense of shear motion. Conic section method reveals two dominant families: F\(_{1}\) and F\(_{3}\) folds belong to parabolic shape folds, while F\(_{2}\) folds belong to parabolic shape and hyperbolic shape folds. Ramsay’s scheme emphasizes class 1C (for F\(_{1}\), F\(_{2}\) and F\(_{3}\) folds) and class 3 (for F\(_{2}\) folds) as main fold classes. The co-existence of the various fold shapes can be explained by (i) the structuration of the banded gneiss, (ii) the folding mechanisms that associate shear with a non-least compressive or flattening component in a ductile shear zone and (iii) the change in rheological properties of the band during the period of fold formation. These data allow us to conclude that the Numba region underwent ductile dextral shear and can be integrated (i) in a correlation model with the Central Cameroon Shear Zone (CCSZ) and associated syn-kinematic intrusions and (ii) into the tectonic model of Pan-African belt of central Africa in Cameroon.     

The effect of liquid composition on the partitioning of Ni between olivine and silicate melt

We report the results of experiments designed to separate the effects of temperature and pressure from liquid composition on the partitioning of Ni between olivine and liquid, \(D_{\text{Ni}}^{\text{ol/liq}}\). Experiments were performed from 1300 to 1600 °C and 1 atm to 3.0 GPa, using mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) glass surrounded by powdered olivine in graphite–Pt double capsules at high pressure and powdered MORB in crucibles fabricated from single crystals of San Carlos olivine at one atmosphere. In these experiments, pressure and temperature were varied in such a way that we produced a series of liquids, each with an approximately constant composition (~12, ~15, and ~21 wt% MgO). Previously, we used a similar approach to show that \(D_{\text{Ni}}^{\text{ol/liq}}\) for a liquid with ~18 wt% MgO is a strong function of temperature. Combining the new data presented here with our previous results allows us to separate the effects of temperature from composition. We fit our data based on a Ni–Mg exchange reaction, which yields \(\ln \left( {D_{\text{Ni}}^{\text{molar}} } \right) = \frac{{ -\Delta _{r(1)} H_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } }}{RT} + \frac{{\Delta _{r(1)} S_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } }}{R} - \ln \left( {\frac{{X_{\text{MgO}}^{\text{liq}} }}{{X_{{{\text{MgSi}}_{ 0. 5} {\text{O}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{ol}} }}} \right).\) Each subset of constant composition experiments displays roughly the same temperature dependence of \(D_{\text{Ni}}^{\text{ol/liq}}\) (i.e.,\(-\Delta _{r(1)} H_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } /R\)) as previously reported for liquids with ~18 wt% MgO. Fitting new data presented here (15 experiments) in conjunction with our 13 previously published experiments (those with ~18 wt% MgO in the silicate liquid) to the above expression gives \(-\Delta _{r(1)} H_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } /R\) = 3641 ± 396 (K) and \(\Delta _{r(1)} S_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } /R\) = ? 1.597 ± 0.229. Adding data from the literature yields \(-\Delta _{r(1)} H_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } /R\) = 4505 ± 196 (K) and \(\Delta _{r(1)} S_{{T_{\text{ref}} ,P_{\text{ref}} }}^{ \circ } /R\) = ? 2.075 ± 0.120, a set of coefficients that leads to a predictive equation for \(D_{\text{Ni}}^{\text{ol/liq}}\) applicable to a wide range of melt compositions. We use the results of our work to model the melting of peridotite beneath lithosphere of varying thickness and show that: (1) a positive correlation between NiO in magnesian olivine phenocrysts and lithospheric thickness is expected given a temperature-dependent \(D_{\text{Ni}}^{\text{ol/liq}} ,\) and (2) the magnitude of the slope for natural samples is consistent with our experimentally determined temperature dependence. Alternative processes to generate the positive correlation between NiO in magnesian olivines and lithospheric thickness, such as the melting of olivine-free pyroxenite, are possible, but they are not required to explain the observed correlation of NiO concentration in initially crystallizing olivine with lithospheric thickness.     

Strain responses of frozen clay with thermal gradient under triaxial creep

Thermal gradient is one of the main features for the temperature distribution in artificial frozen shaft lining (FSL). The time-dependent strain responses and the corresponding heterogeneity characteristics of frozen soils with thermal gradient are of potential significance for stability assessment and prediction of FSL, especially of the FSL embedded in thick alluvium. A series of triaxial creep tests were carried out on frozen saturated clay under various thermal gradients and creep stresses. The experimental results indicated that the triaxial creep curves for frozen clay with thermal gradient exhibit viscous characteristics, and the creep rate \(\Delta \varepsilon_{\text{a}} /\Delta t\) decreases with the increase in creep time \(t\) and decrease in thermal gradient. The stress–strain curve under different \(t\) showed that the creep stress has a marked growth when axial strain \(\varepsilon_{\text{a}} \le 1\,\%\). However, when \(\varepsilon_{\text{a}} \ge 1\,\%\), the growth rate decreases gradually. The deviation between measured radial strain \(\varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{m}}\) under the middle specimen section height SSH and the calculated radial strain \(\varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{c}}\) from the volumetric strain increases following a unified equation with the increase in axial strain. The radial strain \(\varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{f}}\) for frozen clay with thermal gradient after experiment increases with the increase in SSH, and the slope of \( \varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{f}} - {\text{SSH}} \) curve is significantly dependent on the thermal gradient and creep stress. The variation of \(\varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{m}} - \varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{c }}\) during experiment and \(\varepsilon_{\text{r}}^{\text{f}}\) distribution after experiment are the macro-responses of internal micro-heterogeneities in frozen soils induced from thermal gradient, and are closely related to strain rate and its variation. These observations and findings provide an insight into the creep mechanism and the estimation method of creep deformation for frozen soils with thermal gradient.     

Competing effects of crystal chemistry and silicate melt composition on trace element behavior in magmatic systems: insights from crystal/silicate melt partitioning of the REE,HFSE, Sn,In, Ga,Ba, Pt and Rh

We present new partition coefficients for the REE, HFSE, Sn, In, Ga, Ba, Pt and Rh between clinopyroxene, olivine and basaltic melt as a function of crystal chemistry and melt composition at temperatures of 1190–1300 °C and 1-bar pressure. Two components, namely \(\mathrm {Al_2O_3}\) and \(\mathrm {Na_2O}\), were chosen to be investigated since they are known to affect the structure of silicate melts and especially clinopyroxene crystal chemistry. The amount of \(^{[4]}\mathrm{Al}\) in clinopyroxene will result in an increase of \(D_i^\mathrm{{cpx/melt}}\) even after applying a correction factor to account for the effect of melt polymerization. Moreover, the positive correlation between \(^{[4]}\mathrm{Al}\) and \(D_i^\mathrm{{cpx/melt}}\) is not restricted to the REE, but also applies for Sn, Ga, In, and Ba. The addition of up to 2.6 wt% \(\mathrm {Na_2O}\) to the silicate melt universally increases the \(D_i^\mathrm{{cpx/melt}}\) without any concomitant change in crystal chemistry or a significant effect in melt polymerization. This compositional effect is likely due to the ability of Na to break REE–Al complexes in the melt. Our results emphasize the importance of considering all variables that affect the behavior of trace elements in magmatic systems before applying the lattice strain model and derive meaningful results for the changes in the parameters of the crystallographic sites.     

Comparison of earthquake source characteristics in the Kachchh Rift Basin and Saurashtra horst,Deccan Volcanic Province,western India

Seismic source parameters of small to moderate sized intraplate earthquakes that occurred during 2002–2009 in the tectonic blocks of Kachchh Rift Basin (KRB) and the Saurashtra Horst (SH), in the stable continental region of western peninsular India, are studied through spectral analysis of shear waves. The data of aftershock sequence of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake (\(M_{w}\) 7.7) in the KRB and the 2007 Talala earthquake (\(M_{w}\) 5.0) in the SH are used for this study. In the SH, the seismic moment (\(M_{o})\), corner frequency \((f_{c})\), stress drop (\(\varDelta \sigma \)) and source radius (r) vary from \(7.8\times 10^{11}\) to \(4.0\times \)10\(^{16}\) N-m, 1.0–8.9 Hz, 4.8–10.2 MPa and 195–1480 m, respectively. While in the KRB, these parameters vary from \(M_{o} \sim 1.24 \,\times \, 10^{11}\) to \(4.1 \times 10^{16}\) N-m, \(f_{c }\sim \) 1.6 to 13.1 Hz, \(\varDelta \sigma \sim 0.06\) to 16.62 MPa and \(r \sim 100\) to 840 m. The kappa (K) value in the KRB (0.025–0.03) is slightly larger than that in the SH region (0.02), probably due to thick sedimentary layers. The estimated stress drops of earthquakes in the KRB are relatively higher than those in SH, due to large crustal stress concentration associated with mafic/ultramafic rocks at the hypocentral depths. The results also suggest that the stress drop value of intraplate earthquakes is larger than the interplate earthquakes. In addition, it is observed that the strike-slip events in the SH have lower stress drops, compared to the thrust and strike-slip events.     

Mineral shock signatures in rocks from Dhala (Mohar) impact structure,Shivpuri district,Madhya Pradesh,India

A concrete study combining optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry, was carried out on subsurface samples of basement granite and melt breccia from Mohar (Dhala) impact structure, Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, India. Optical microscopy reveals aberrations in the optical properties of quartz and feldspar in the form of planar deformation feature-like structures, lowered birefringence and mosaics in quartz, toasting, planar fractures and ladder texture in alkali feldspar and near-isotropism in bytownite. It also brings to light incidence of parisite, a radioactive rare mineral in shocked granite. Raman spectral pattern, peak positions, peak widths and multiplicity of peak groups of all minerals, suggest subtle structural/crystallographic deviations. XRD data further reveals minute deviations of unit cell parameters of quartz, alkali feldspar and plagioclase, with respect to standard \({\upalpha }\)-quartz, high- and low albite and microcline. Reduced cell volumes in these minerals indicate compression due to pressure. The \(\hbox {c}_{0}/\hbox {a}_{0}\) values indicate an inter-tetrahedral angle roughly between \(120^{\mathrm{o}}\) and \(144^{\mathrm{o}}\), further pointing to a possible pressure maxima of around 12 GPa. The observed unit cell aberration of minerals may indicate an intermediate stage between crystalline and amorphous stages, thereby, signifying possible overprinting of decompression signatures over shock compression effects, from a shock recovery process.     

Modelling of streamflow in snow dominated Budhigandaki catchment in Nepal

This study has been envisaged to model streamflow runoff-contributed mostly by snowmelt from Budhigandaki catchment in Nepal. Available hydro-meteorological data have been collected from the Department of Hydrology and Metrology, Nepal. The MODIS Aqua (MYD10A2) and Terra (MOD10A2) 8 day maximum snow cover extent product have been used to derive the snow cover area (SCA) in the basin. The modeling of streamflow has been carried out using HEC-HMS and SRM models. The performance of these models have been evaluated by using three well known evaluation criteria NSE, \({R}^{2}\) and PEV (percentage error in volume). The values of NSE, \({R}^{2}\) and PEV were found to be 0.944, 0.944 and \(-0.3\%\) for SRM and 0.778, 0.785 and \(-1.83\%\) for HEC-HMS, respectively. Similarly, in validation period the average values of NSE, \({R}^{2}\) and PEV were found to be 0.811, 0.816 and 2.01% for SRM model and 0.773, 0.777 and 3.5% for HEC-HMS, respectively. Sensitivity analysis of the models revealed that constant loss rate is very sensitive parameters for HEC-HMS model, whereas runoff coefficient is found to be most sensitive parameters for SRM model. In comparison between two models SRM model has given slightly better simulation results compared to HEC-HMS model.     

Application of environmental isotopes and hydrochemistry in the identification of source of seepage and likely connection with lake water in Lesser Himalaya,Uttarakhand, India

Oxygen (\({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\)) and hydrogen (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\) and \(^{3}\hbox {H}\)) isotopes of water, along with their hydrochemistry, were used to identify the source of a newly emerged seepage water in the downstream of Lake Nainital, located in the Lesser Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. A total of 57 samples of water from 19 different sites, in and around the seepage site, were collected. Samples were analysed for chemical tracers like \(\hbox {Ca}^{++}\), \(\hbox {Mg}^{++}\), \(\hbox {Na}^{+}\), \(\hbox {K}^{+}\), \({\hbox {SO}_{4}}^{--}\) and \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}\) using an Ion Chromatograph (Dionex IC-5000). A Dual Inlet Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (DIIRMS) and an Ultra-Low Level Liquid Scintillation Counter (ULLSC), were used in measurements of stable isotopes (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\) and \({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\)) and a radioisotope (\(^{3}\hbox {H}\)), respectively. Results obtained in this study repudiate the possibility of any likely connection between seepage water and the lake water, and indicate that the source of seepage water is mainly due to locally recharged groundwater. The study suggests that environmental isotopes (\({\updelta }^{2}\hbox {H}\), \({\updelta }^{18}\hbox {O}\) and \(^{3}\hbox {H}\)) can effectively be used as ‘tracers’ in the detection of the source of seepage water in conjunction with other hydrochemical tracers, and can help in water resource management and planning.