Microwave radiation from young solar type stars observed with the Very Large Array in Socorro

Four very young (0.25 GYr) dwarf stars were observed at 4.9, 8.4, and 15.0 GHz for a total of 29 hours spread over 10 days during June, July, and August 1993. The Very Large Array in Socorro, New Mexico, was used in C configuration with the maximum antenna separation of 3.4 km. Analysis of observational data so far reveal a flux of 0.226 mJy at 4.9 GHz and 0.093 mJy at 8.4 GHz from HD39587, and 0.041 mJy at 4.9 GHz from HD72905. Upper limits for flux were established for HD72905 (0.017 mJy @ 8.4 GHz) , HD115383 (0.053 mJy @ 4.9 GHz, and 0.055 mJy @ 8.4 GHz), and HD206860 (0.042 mJy @ 4.9 GHz, and 0.045 mJy @ 8.4 GHz). Preliminary results from 15.0 GHz observations are also included.     

Evaluating pedogenesis and soil Atterberg limits for inducing landslides in the Western Ghats,Idukki District of Kerala,South India

Natural Hazards - In the Western Ghats of India, the soil properties, particularly Atterberg limits, are of relevance to the landslides. Pedogenic processes in the Western Ghats and plateaus on it...     

Low CodaQcin the Epicentral Region of the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake ofMw7.7

On 26 January, 2001 (03:46:55,UT) a devastating intraplate earthquake of M_w 7.7 occurred in a region about 5 km NW of Bhachau, Gujarat (23.42°N, 70.23°E). The epicentral distribution of aftershocks defines a marked concentration along an E-W trending and southerly dipping (45°) zone covering an area of (60 × 40) km². The presence of high seismicity including two earthquakes of magnitudes exceeding 7.7 in the 200 years is presumed to have caused a higher level of shallow crustal heterogeneity in the Kutch area; a site lying in the seismic zone V (zone of the highest seismicity for potentially M8 earthquakes) on the seismic zoning map of India. Attenuation property of the medium around the epicentral area of the Bhuj earthquake covering a circular area of 61,500 km² with a radius of 140 km is studied by estimating the coda-Q_c from 200 local earthquakes of magnitudes varying from 3.0–4.6. The estimated Q₀ values at locations in the aftershock zone (high seismicity) are found to be low in comparison to areas at a distance from it. This can be attributed to the fact that seismic waves are highly scattered for paths through the seismically active and fractured zone but they are well behaved outside the aftershock zone. Distribution of Q₀ values suggests that the local variation in Q₀ values is probably controlled by local geology. The estimated Q₀ values at different stations suggest a low value of Q=(102 ± 0.80)^*f^{(0.98 ± 0.02)} indicating an attenuative crust beneath the entire region. The frequency-dependent relation indicates a relatively low Q_c at lower frequencies (1–3 Hz) that can be attributed to the loss of energy due to scattering attenuation associated with heterogeneities and/or intrinsic attenuation due to fluid movement in the fault zone and fluid-filled cracks. The large Q_c at higher frequencies may be related to the propagation of backscattered body waves through deeper parts of the lithosphere where less heterogeneity is expected. Based on the attenuation curve estimated for Q₀=102, the ground acceleration at 240 km distance is 13% of 1 g i.e., 0.13 g agreeing well with the ground acceleration recorded by an accelerograph at Ahmedabad (0.11 g). Hence, it is inferred that the Q₀ value obtained from this study seems to be apt for prediction of ground motion for the region.     

Post failure behaviour of a rock mass under the influence of triaxial and true triaxial confinement

In this paper results of triaxial and true triaxial testing conducted on physical models of a rock mass are used to describe its post failure behaviour. The specimens comprised of three continuous joint sets and were prepared from blocks of sand lime model material. The testing was performed using a True Triaxial System (TTS) developed by the authors. The results show strain hardening, strain softening and plastic behaviour in the simulated rock mass specimens depending upon joint geometry and stress state. Expressions are suggested to estimate post peak modulus in triaxial and true triaxial stress conditions. Finally, a zonation table is proposed to assess the strain hardening, softening and plasticity behaviour of a rock mass material with the help of joint geometry and confining stress conditions at site.     

Delineation of Subtrappean Mesozoic Sediments in Deccan Syneclise, India, Using Travel-Time Inversion of Seismic Refraction and Wide-Angle Reflection Data

2-D shallow velocity structure is derived by travel-time inversion of the first arrival seismic refraction and wide-angle reflection data along the E–W trending Narayanpur–Nandurbar and N–S Kothar–Sakri profiles, located in the Narmada–Tapti region of the Deccan syneclise. Deccan volcanic (Trap) rocks are exposed along the two profiles. Inversion of seismic data reveals two layered velocity structures above the basement along the two profiles. The first layer with a P-wave velocity of 5.15–5.25 km s^?1 and thickness varying from 0.7–1.5 km represents the Deccan Trap formation along the Narayanpur–Nandurbar profile. The Trap layer velocity ranges from 4.5 to 5.20 km s^?1 and the thickness varies from 0.95 to 1.5 km along the Kothar–Sakri profile. The second layer represents the low velocity Mesozoic sediments with a P-wave velocity of 3.5 km s^?1 and thickness ranging from about 0.70 to 1.6 km and 0.55 to 1.1 km along the E–W and N–S profiles, respectively. Presence of a low-velocity zone (LVZ) below the volcanic rocks in the study area is inferred from the travel-time ‘skip’ and amplitude decay of the first arrival refraction data together with the prominent wide-angle reflection phase immediately after the first arrivals from the Deccan Trap formation. The basement with a P-wave velocity of 5.8–6.05 km s^?1 lies at a depth ranging from 1.5 to 2.45 km along the profiles. The velocity models of the profiles are similar to each other at the intersection point. The results indicate the existence of a Mesozoic basin in the Narmada–Tapti region of the Deccan syneclise.     

Semi-regularities in the photospheric magnetic fields

Using Stanford large-scale magnetic field synoptic charts of rotation 1676 to 1739 and by delineating LLUMR, i.e., long-lived unipolar magnetic regions of both polarities surviving at least for four solar rotations, the semi-regular nature of their photospheric magnetic field pattern and their rotational properties have been examined. The investigation demonstrates the existence of regularities in the background field patterns as shown from the regular patterns of LLUMR rows and streams. This confirms the results of Bumba and Howard concerning regularities in large-scale photospheric magnetic field patterns. LLUMR streams seem to be arranged in a wave pattern of alternating polarities. Coronal holes and associated sections of photospheric field patterns suffer differential rotation. The rotation rates of the background field patterns which are not associated with the coronal holes are different from those which are.     

Evaluating the performance of climate models in reproducing the hydrological characteristics of rainfall events

ABSTRACT

Rainfall events largely control hydrological processes occurring on and in the ground, but the performance of climate models in reproducing rainfall events has not been investigated enough to guide selection among the models when making hydrological projections. We proposed to compare the durations, intensities, and pause periods, as well as depths of rainfall events when assessing the accuracy of general circulation models (GCMs) in reproducing the hydrological characteristics of observed rainfall. We also compared the sizes of design storm events and the frequency and severity of drought to demonstrate the consequences of GCM selection. The results show that rainfall and extreme hydrological event projections could significantly vary depending on climate model selection and weather stations, suggesting the need for a careful and comprehensive evaluation of GCM in the hydrological analysis of climate change. The proposed methods are expected to help to improve the accuracy of future hydrological projections for water resources planning.     

Effect of Compressive Load on Uplift Capacity of Cast-Insitu Bored Piles

Field tests were conducted to study the effect of compressive loading on the uplift capacity of single piles embedded in silty sand. The test program consists of four instrumented cast in situ axial pile load tests in compression, pure tension and tension with 25 and 50% of compressive load of ultimate capacity in compression. The experimental results indicate that the net ultimate uplift capacity of single pile decreases with increase in compressive load. The shaft friction is non linear in nature. It observed that as the compressive load increases the shaft friction along the length of pile decreases.