Geostatistical analysis of arsenic concentration in the groundwater of Malda district of West Bengal, India

The problem of arsenic (As) poisoning in the upper deltaic plain of the Ganga-Bhagirathi river system in the Bengal Basin of West Bengal, India is an alarming issue. Four blocks (Kaliachak-1, 2, 3 and English Bazar) of Malda district, West Bengal were critically studied. Geomorphologically, the area exhibits three terraces: the present Youngest terrace (T₀-terrace), the Older Shaugaon Surface (T₁-terrace) and the Oldest Baikunthapur Surface (T₂-terrace). On the basis of numerous measurements, including As-content, pH, DO, specific conductivity and salinity, it was observed that maximum As-content beyond the permissible limit (0.05 mg/L, Indian standard) occurs within a depth range of 10–30 m with a non-linear distribution pattern. Variance test also found that a block effect was highly significant in an As-distribution pattern. Mean arsenic level of Kaliachak block-1 is 0.2253 mg/L, followed by Kaliachak-2 with arsenic level 0.1923, Kaliachak-3 with arsenic level 0.1755 and English Bazar with arsenic level 0.1324. The arsenious belt lies mainly within the Older terrace (T₁). The very recent flood plain deposits of silvery white, fine sands lying very close to the Ganga River margin do not contain significant amounts of As. Elevated As-concentration in the ground water was observed in alluvial sands, grayish white to brownish in color and occurring away from the Ganga margin. The Oldest terrace (T2) further away from the Ganga margin (e.g. English Bazar) and Barind surface contains less arsenic. Barind surface acts as a hard capping with ferruginous sands and lateritic concretions-chocolate, mottled and purple brown in color-occurring northeast of the studied area. Arsenic content of ground water in the same locality within a radius of ∼ 20 m varies within wide limits. Thus, it poses problem to delineate its distribution pattern. Such a patchy occurrence possibly could not be explained satisfactorily solely by geomorphology. Chemical analysis of aquifer clay samples of the cores shows a maximum Ascontent of up to 3 mg/kg, whereas the bulk samples (sandclay mixture) of the cores contain a maximum of 17 mg/kg As-value. Therefore, it is not always true that clay contains elevated As-value.     

Developing a high-resolution climatology for the Central California coastal region

This work presents a procedure for developing a high-resolution, regional climatology estimate, named RClimo, off the coast of central California. This high-resolution climatology may provide an alternative way to initialize numerical nowcast/forecast exercises in coastal regions. The methodology includes two primary steps: (1) averaging available data on a high-resolution grid and (2) objective interpolating the resulting average profiles onto a regular grid. The first step involves the computation of averages over density layers in the vertical and allowing for data gaps in the horizontal if data are unavailable at a high resolution. The OA in the second step uses anisotropic correlation length scales derived from the data themselves and an averaging radius to preserve the scales and variability of the synoptic fields.     

Simulation Of Salt-Water Encroachment In A Multi-Layer Groundwater System,Bangkok, Thailand

Salt-water encroachment in the multi-layer groundwater system underlying the Bangkok metropolitan area was simulated with a quasi-three-dimensional flow and solute-transport model. The quasi-three-dimensional model used in this study is based on the model SUTRA. Accurate conceptualization of the initial state of the system with regard to the distribution of salt-water concentration is very important for modeling, especially in areas where localized zones of high salt concentration exist in the groundwater. Data adequacy and model results were evaluated by a geostatistical analysis. The model is capable of simulating the regional trend of potentiometric levels and salt concentration. However, lack of monitoring data in areas where localized zones of high salt concentration exist resulted in large model residuals. RÉSUMÉ: L'empiétement des eaux salées dans le système hydrologique multi-couche sous-jacent la zone métropolitaine de Bangkok a été simulé à l'aide d'un modèle quasi-tridimensionnel représentant l'écoulement des eaux et le transport d'éléments en solution. Le modèle quasi-tridimensionnel utilisé dans cette étude est basé sur le modèle SUTRA. Une conceptualisation exacte de l'état initial du système en ce qui concerne la répartition de la concentration des eaux salines est très important, particulièrement dans les endroits localisés où l'eau souterraine presente une forte concentration en sel. La qualité des donnés et des résultats a été estimée à l'aide d'une analyse géostatistique. Le modèle est capable de simuler la tendance régionale des niveaux potentiométriques et de la concentration en sel. Cependant, le manque de données de contrôle dans les endroits à forte concentration a donné lieu à des résiduels importants. RESUMEN: La intrusión de agua salina en el sistema multicapa bajo el área metropolitana de Bangkok se simuló mediante un modelo de flujo y transporte de solutos casi-tridimensional, basado en el modelo SUTRA. La conceptualizacián precisa de la distribución inicial de concentraciones de agua salina es muy importante para el modelo, especialmente en áreas donde existen zonas locales de alta concentración salina en el agua subterránea. La exactitud de los datos y del modelo se evaluaron mediante un análisis geoestadístico. El modelo permite simular la tendencia regional de los niveles piezométricos y la concentración de sales. Sin embargo, la falta de datos de muestreo en las zonas locales de alta salinidad resultaron en valores altos de los residuos calculados por el modelo.     

Detecting anomalous CO2 flux using space borne spectroscopy

Over the time-scale, earth's atmospheric CO₂ concentration has varied and that is mostly determined by balance among the geochemical processes including burial of organic carbon in sediments, silicate rock weathering and volcanic activity. The best recorded atmospheric CO₂ variability is derived from Vostok ice core that records last four glacial/interglacial cycles. The present CO₂ concentration of earth's atmosphere has exceeded far that it was predicted from the ice core data. Other than rapid industrialization and urbanization since last century, geo-natural hazards such as volcanic activity, leakage from hydrocarbon reservoirs and spontaneous combustion of coal contribute a considerable amount of CO₂ to the atmosphere. Spontaneous combustion of coal is common occurrence in most coal producing countries and sometimes it could be in an enormous scale. Remote sensing has already proved to be a significant tool in coalfire identification and monitoring studies. However, coalfire related CO₂ quantification from remote sensing data has not endeavoured yet by scientific communities because of low spectral resolution of commercially available remote sensing data and relatively sparse CO₂ plume than other geological hazards like volcanic activity. The present research has attempted two methods to identify the CO₂ flux emitted from coalfires in a coalmining region in north China. Firstly, a band rationing method was used for column atmospheric retrieval of CO₂ and secondly atmospheric models were simulated in fast atmospheric signature code (FASCOD) to understand the local radiation transport and then the model was implemented with the inputs from hyperspectral remote sensing data. It was observed that retrieval of columnar abundance of CO₂ with the band rationing method is faster as less simulation required in FASCOD. Alternatively, the inversion model could retrieve CO₂ concentration from a (certain) source because it excludes the uncertainties in the higher altitude.     

Characterizing wetland dynamics: a post-classification change detection analysis of the East Kolkata Wetlands using open source satellite data

The East Kolkata Wetlands is a unique resource recovery system. The Ramsar Convention recognized it as a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ in August 2002. However, the long-term resource exploitation and land use changes in the dynamic ecosystem have resulted in non-linear environmental responses. This is an attempt using open source remote sensing datasets to capture the spatio-temporal transformation of the wetland resulting from various anthropogenic activities. Landsat MSS and TM imageries of 1973, 1980, 1989, 2001 and 2010 were classified using Maximum Likelihood Classifier to monitor the wetland change; however, to study wetland dynamics, the post-classification wetland change detection maps have been generated for two temporal phases, i.e. 1973–1989 and 1989–2010. This study finds that the area under wetlands has reduced comprehensively in the past 40 years due to the conversion of wetlands into various other uses such as urban expansion of the Kolkata metropolitan city.     

Rice Husk Ash as a Low Cost Adsorbent for the Removal of Methylene Blue and Congo Red in Aqueous Phases

Adsorption is of significant importance for effluent treatment, especially for the treatment of colored effluent generated from the dyeing and bleaching industries. Low cost adsorbents have gained attention over the decades as a means of achieving very high removal efficiencies to meet effluent discharge standards. The present article reports on batch investigations for color removal from aqueous solutions of Methylene Blue (MB) and Congo Red (CR) using Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as an alternative low cost adsorbent. The performance analysis was carried out as a function of various operating parameters, such as initial concentration of dye, adsorbent dose, contact time, shaker speed, interruption of shaking and ionic concentration. Performance studies revealed that a very high percentage removal of color was achievable for both dyes. The maximum percentage removal of MB was 99.939%, while 98.835% removal was observed for CR. These percentage removals were better than existing systems. Detailed data analysis indicated that adsorption of MB followed the Temkin isotherm, while CR followed the Freundlich isotherm. These isotherms were feasible within the framework of experimentation. Batch kinetic data, on the other hand, indicated that pseudo second order kinetics governed adsorption in both cases. Sensitivity analysis further indicated that the effects of initial dye concentration, shaker speed, pH and ionic strength had no noticeable effect on the percentage dye removal at equilibrium. Batch desorption studies revealed that 50% acetone solution was optimum for CR, while desorption of MB varied directly with acetone concentration.     

Structural characteristics of the rocks of the Delhi Supergroup with special reference to interference patterns: An appraisal with some examples from Central Rajasthan

The rocks of the Delhi Supergroup, which occur around Barr-Sendra and Phulad-Deogarh regions in Central Rajasthan, show three phases of deformational episodes: (i) phase D₁—tight-to-long limbed isoclinal fold (F₁); phase D₂—open, asymmetric fold (F ₂) controlling the map pattern of the formational boundaries; and (iii) phase D₃—major warps (F₃). Interference between nearly coaxial F₁ and F₂ on northerly axes produced hook-shaped and crescent patterns whereas superimposition of easterly trending F₃ on F₂ produced dome-and-basin patterns. The thermal peak was achieved during the second phase of deformation when the rocks were constructively metamorphozed and granites (850−750 m.y.), late synkinematic with respect to second phase of deformation, were emplaced. The sequence of deformation and the structural pattern of the rocks of the Delhi Supergroup in Central Rajasthan strikingly resemble those in northeastern Rajasthan. Structurally the characteristics of the Delhi Supergroup as verified in the entire region from NE to Central Rajasthan are: (a) the same sequence of development of folds, F₁, F₂ and F₃, interspersed with nearly identical phases of recrystallization, (b) hook-shaped interference pattern due to near-coaxial refolding of F₁ by F₂, and (c) variation in axial plunge of F₂ resulting in culminations and depressions. Lastly, phases of the recrystallization history indicates little time gap between F₁ and F₂, and a considerable gap between F₂ and F₃.