Benthic fluxes in a tropical Estuary and their role in the ecosystem

In-situ measurements of benthic fluxes of oxygen and nutrients were made in the subtidal region of the Mandovi estuary during premonsoon and monsoon seasons to understand the role of sediment–water exchange processes in the estuarine ecosystem. The Mandovi estuary is a shallow, highly dynamic, macrotidal estuary which experiences marine condition in the premonsoon season and nearly fresh water condition in the monsoon season. The benthic flux of nutrients exhibited strong seasonality, being higher in the premonsoon compared to the monsoon season which explains the higher ecosystem productivity in the dry season in spite of negligible riverine nutrient input. NH₄⁺ was the major form of released N comprising 70–100% of DIN flux. The benthic respiration rate varied from −98.91 to −35.13 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, NH₄⁺ flux from 5.15 to 0.836 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻ from 0.06 to −1.06 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, DIP from 0.12 to 0.23 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ and SiO₄⁴⁻ from 5.78 to 0.41 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ between premonsoon to monsoon period. The estuarine sediment acted as a net source of DIN in the premonsoon season, but changed to a net sink in the monsoon season. Variation in salinity seemed to control NH₄⁺ flux considerably. Macrofaunal activities, especially bioturbation, enhanced the fluxes 2–25 times. The estuarine sediment was observed to be a huge reservoir of NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻ and SiO₄⁴⁻ and acted as a net sink of combined N because of the high rate of benthic denitrification as it could remove 22% of riverine DIN influx thereby protecting the eco system from eutrophication and consequent degradation. The estuarine sediment was responsible for ∼30–50% of the total community respiration in the estuary. The benthic supply of DIN, PO₄³⁻ and SiO₄⁴⁻ can potentially meet 49%, 25% and 55% of algal N, P and Si demand, respectively, in the estuary. Based on these observations we hypothesize that it is mainly benthic NH₄⁺ efflux that sustains high estuarine productivity in the NO₃⁻ depleted dry season.     

Morphology of pockmarks along the western continental margin of India: Employing multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data

This study addresses the morphology of pockmarks along the western continental margin of India using multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data. Here, for the first time we have utilized the application of ArcGIS (Geographical Information System) for understanding the morphology of pockmarks from the western continental margin of India. The pockmarks observed in water depths of 145–330 m are circular, elliptical or elongated in plan-view, with an average length and width of 157 (±72) m and 83 (±19) m respectively. The average pockmark relief and perimeter are 1.9 (±0.9) m and 412 (±181) m, respectively. The pockmarks have average areas and volumes of 10 759 m² and 15 315 m³ respectively. Spatial separation that coincides with 210 m isobath divides the pockmarks into two groups with differing distributions and morphologies. These pockmarks originated from seepages of biogenic or thermogenic gas or from pore fluids from deeper sources, migrated vertically along the faults. Besides a possible structural control, the pockmark morphologies are also affected by bottom currents and/or by submarine slumping. The average acoustic backscatter strength from pockmark centre is higher (−35 dB) than the average backscatter of the total area (−40 dB), which suggests their possible linkage to the precipitation of diagenitic minerals from biodegradation of seepage material.     

Algal blooms: a perspective from the coasts of India

Algal blooms have been documented along the west and east coasts of India. A review of bloom occurrences in Indian waters from 1908 to 2009 points out that a total of 101 cases have been reported. A comparison of the bloom cases reported before and after the 1950s reveals that there is an increase in the number of bloom occurrences. The reports of algal blooms indicate their predominance along the west coast of India especially the southern part. Majority of the blooms reported along the west coast of India are caused by dinoflagellates, whereas diatom blooms prevail along the east coast. There have been 39 causative species responsible for blooms, of which Noctiluca scintillans and Trichodesmium erythraeum are the most common. Reporting of massive fish mortality in Indian waters has been associated with the blooming of Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Karenia brevis, Karenia mikimotoi, N. scintillans, T. erythraeum, Trichodesmium thiebautii and Chattonella marina. Most of the blooms occurred during withdrawal of the south-west monsoon and pre-monsoon period. In Indian waters, this process is mainly influenced by seasonal upwelling and monsoonal forcing that causes high riverine discharge resulting in nutrient-enriched waters that provides a competitive edge for blooming of phytoplankton species.     

Study of simultaneous presence of DD and PP electric fields during the geomagnetic storm of November 7–8, 2004 and resultant TEC variation over the Indian Region

During very intense geomagnetic storm of November 7–8, 2004 simultaneous presence of storm time disturbance dynamo and eastward and westward directed prompt penetration electric fields inferred from the ground based magnetometer data in the 75^° E sector is presented. Magnetometer observations show that, on the whole, average ΔH variation on 8 November remains below the night time level compared to its quiet day variation. A number of upward and downward excursions have been observed between 0130 UT and 0800 UT in the ΔH variation on 8 November. These excursions in ΔH have been attributed to the episodes of eastward and westward prompt penetrating electric fields. Ionospheric response in the equatorial ionization anomaly region along 75^° E has also been studied using the total electron content data recorded at five GPS stations, namely Udaipur, Bengaluru (IISC), Hyderabad (HYDE), Maldives (MALD) and Diego Garcia (DGAR). Observation of markedly suppressed EIA, in conjunction with ΔH variation which was m negative during the daytime on 8 November, indicates the presence of an external field of opposite polarity (the disturbance dynamo electric field) that either undermined, or overshadowed the daytime ambient (eastward) electric field to the extent that the equatorial plasma fountain could not become effective.     

Reconstruction of Antarctic climate change using ice core proxy records from the coastal Dronning Maud Land,East Antarctica

Antarctic ice core records have provided unprecedented information on past climatic changes and forcing factors on decadal to millennial timescales. The glaciochemical and stable isotope records of a shallow ice core from the coastal Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica) were used here to reconstruct the coastal Antarctic environmental variability during the past ∼470 years. Sea salt ion data indicate a significant additional contribution of chloride ions compared to sea water values, possibly through atmospheric scavenging. The nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) profile exhibit significant temporal shifts than that of the sulphate (SO₄ ²⁻), with a major shift around 1750 AD. The changes in NO₃ ⁻ record are synchronous with the proxy record of solar activity (¹⁰Be profile from a South Pole ice core), suggesting enhanced NO₃ ⁻ values during periods of reduced solar activity like the Dalton Minimum (∼1790–1830 AD) and Maunder Minimum (∼1640–1710 AD). The δ¹⁸O records reveal that the more negative δ¹⁸O values were coeval with several events of increased NO₃ ⁻ concentrations, suggesting enhanced preservation of NO₃ ⁻ during periods of reduced air temperatures. The δ¹⁸O and δD records of the core also suggest significant short-term and long-tem variability with more negative values indicating relatively lower air temperatures prior to 1715 AD. The δ¹⁸O records also revealed a significant warming of 2.7°C for the past 470 years, with a warming of ∼0.6°C per century.     

Reconstruction of Physicochemical Environment of Hydrothermal Mineralization at Malanjkhand Copper Deposit,Central India: Constraints from Sulfur Isotope Ratios in Pyrite,Molybdenite and Chalcopyrite

δ³⁴S values of pyrite, molybdenite and chalcopyrite were determined from the Malanjkhand copper deposit. These minerals constitute the primary sulfide phases that were deposited after the initial magnetite deposition in the main orebody and host granitoid. Pyrite exhibits a depleted range of values (?2.63 to ?0.56‰), chalcopyrite, a very narrow range of values around zero (?0.039 to 0.201‰) and molybdenite furnishes a range of enriched values (0.68 to 1.98‰). On back calculation of the δ³⁴S values of H₂S in the fluid from which the minerals were likely to have precipitated, using standard expressions for equilibrium fractionation at the temperature range obtained from fluid inclusion and mineral fluid equilibria, it is observed that H₂S in the fluid at pyrite deposition was depleted and gradually became enriched towards molybdenite and chalcopyrite deposition. This trend is best explained as being due to inorganic reduction of SO₄^2? in the fluid and is very much in agreement with the paragenetic sequence indicating increasing activity of H₂S in the fluid. The very restricted range in the δ³⁴S values of sulfide minerals in the fluid does indicate a single, possibly magmatic, source of sulfur that also agrees well with the earlier deduced model of genesis of the deposit as an ancient geothermal system associated with granitic magmatism.     

Fine-grained volatile components ubiquitous in solar nebula: Corroboration from scoriaceous cosmic spherules

The scoriaceous cosmic spherules (CSs) that make up to a few percent (for sizes >150 μm size) of total micrometeorite flux are ubiquitous and have remained enigmatic. The present work provides in-depth study of 81 scoriaceous CSs, from observed ~4000 CSs, collected from Antarctica (South Pole water well) and deep-sea sediments (Indian Ocean) that will allow us to analyze the nature of these particles. The fine-grained texture and the chemical composition of scoriaceous particles suggest that they are formed from matrix materials that are enriched in volatiles. The volatile components such as water, sulfide, Na, K, etc. have vanished due to partial evaporation and degassing during Earth's atmospheric entry leaving behind the vesicular features, yet largely preserving the elemental composition. The elemental ratios (Ca/Si, Mg/Si, Al/Si, Fe/Si, and Ni/Si) of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are compatible with the scoriaceous CSs, which in turn are indistinguishable from the matrices of CI and CM chondrites signifying similarities in the nature of the sources. Furthermore, the texture of cometary particles bears resemblance to the texture of the scoriaceous particles. The compilation of petrographic texture, chemical, and trace element composition of scoriaceous CSs presents a strong case for matrix components from hydrated and volatile-rich bodies, such as CI and CM chondrites, rather than chondrules. We conclude that the fine-grained scoriaceous CSs, the matrix materials of hydrated chondrites, IDPs, and cometary particles that overlap compositionally were widespread, indicating a dominant component in the early solar nebula.     

Near-infrared observations of the novae V2491 Cygni and V597 Puppis

We present results obtained from near-infrared JHK spectroscopic observations of novae V2491 Cygni and V597 Puppis in the early declining phases of their 2007 and 2008 outbursts, respectively. In both objects, the spectra displayed emission lines of H  i , O  i , He  i and N  i . In V597 Pup, the He  i lines were found to strengthen rapidly with time. Based on the observed spectral characteristics, both objects are classified as He/N novae. We have investigated the possibility of V2491 Cyg being a recurrent nova as has been suggested. By studying the temporal evolution of the linewidths in V2491 Cyg, it appears unlikely that the binary companion is a giant star with heavy wind as in recurrent novae of the RS Oph type. Significant deviations from that of recombination case B conditions are observed in the strengths of the H  i lines. This indicates that the H  i lines, in both novae, are optically thick during the span of our observations. The slope of the continuum spectra in both cases was found to have a  λ^−(3−3.5)  dependence which deviates from a Rayleigh–Jeans spectral distribution. Both novae were detected in the post-outburst supersoft X-ray phase; V2491 Cyg being very bright in X-rays has been the target of several observations. We discuss and correlate our infrared observations with the observed X-ray properties of these novae.     

The economics of mining seabed manganese nodules: A case study of the Indian Ocean nodule field

Abstract

Because of ever-growing demand for strategic metals, the focus of the international community has fallen on deep sea manganese nodules occurring at a water depth of more than 4500?m. We present an economic appraisal and strategy for mining of nodules from the Indian Ocean Nodule Field- one of the four economically potential areas in the world oceans. In contrast to the prevailing perception of non-viability of nodule mining, our analysis indicates a fair degree of economic feasibility and commercial sustainability to mine the deep-sea manganese nodules.