Lateritization cycles and their relation to the formation and quality of kaolin deposits in south Kerala, India

Laterite occurs extensively over the crystalline and sedimentary rocks in the midland and lowland areas of south Kerala, India. Two lateritization cycles are identified in this area. Large, good-quality kaolin deposits, composed mostly of kaolinite, are characteristic of the sedimentary sequence in south Kerala. These deposits were formed on deposition of the weathering materials of the khondalites towards the first cycle of lateritization. After deposition and uplift of the sedimentary rocks, another lateritization cycle affected these, as well as the khondalites during pre-Quaternary times with the formation of a planation surface at 25–125 m above sea level having thick laterite profiles. The laterite profiles over the kaolin deposits show higher concentration of Fe-oxides (mostly in the form of hematite) and titania, compared to their concentration in the kaolins. Higher contents of Cr and Ni are also characteristic of the laterite over kaolin deposits. Recrystallization of the kaolinite, appearance of Al, Fe and Si amorphous phases in the kaolin clays and partial removal of Fe and Ti from them are attributed to the second lateritization cycle.     

Occurrence of well-crystallized nontronite in the gas vesicles of a megaporphyritic basalt flow near Nighoj, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

Occurrence of well crystallized nontronite in a megaporphyritic basalt flow from Nighoj area, Maharashtra, India is reported. Thin section studies of the vesicles from periphery to the centre reveal the presence of greenish palagonite, probably indicating the stages of devitrification of glass and the weathering of palagonite to the formation of nontronite. The centre of the vesicles is marked by the presence of dark greenish-brown, radiating and fibrous sheets of nontronite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals the dominant presence of smectite (nontronite) as the major phase with traces of pyroxene. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) shows well developed sheets of nontronite within the gas vesicles of the megaporphyritic basalt flows. In the present investigation, the nontronite within the gas vesicles of the megaporphyritic basalts at Nighoj was formed in-situ due to the devitrification of glass containing palagonite. Palagonite is an intermediate step in the alteration that may be accomplished by the steam generated in quenching of the lava. Weathering of palagonite under conditions of poor drainage is essential to the genesis of nontronite as has been suggested by Victor and Vernon (1946).     

Quantitative precipitation forecasting over Narmada Catchment

Quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF) has been attempted over the Narmada Catchment following a statistical approach. The catchment has been divided into five sub-regions for the development of QPF models with a maximum lead-time of 24 hours. For this purpose the data of daily rainfall from 56 raingauge stations, twice daily observations on different surface meteorological parameters from 28 meteorological observatories and upper air data from 11 aerological stations for the nine monsoon seasons of 1972–1980 have been utilized. The horizontal divergence, relative vorticity, vertical velocity and moisture divergence are computed using the kinematic method at different pressure levels and used as independent variables along with the rainfall and surface meteorological parameters. Multiple linear regression equations have been developed using the stepwise procedure separately with actual and square root and log-transformed rainfall using 8-year data (1972–1979). When these equations were verified with an independent data for the monsoon season of 1980, it was found that the transformed rainfall equations fared much better compared to the actual rainfall equations. The performance of the forecasts of QPF model compared to the climatological and persistence forecasts has been assessed by computing the verification scores using the forecasts for the monsoon season of 1980.     

Hydroclimatic fluctuations of the Upper Narmada catchment and its association with break-monsoon days over India

In this paper, hydroclimatic fluctuations of the Upper Narmada catchment (upto Narmadasagar damsite) have been studied by examining the time series (1901–80) of (i) 1-to 10-day annual extreme rainfall; (ii) seasonal total rainfall between May and October; (iii) the precipitation concentration index (PCI); (iv) a modified version of PCI(MPCI); and (v) parameters of the periods contributing specified percentages of rainfall to annual total. Most of these parameters followed the normal distribution and did not show any significant long-term trend. However, some dominant long period oscillations have been noticed in extreme rainfall, seasonal rainfall, PCI and MPCI series. Influence of break-monsoon days over India during July and August on the rainfall activities of the Upper Narmada catchment has also been investigated and salient findings discussed.     

Geology of the area around Katta,sindhudurg district,Maharashtra. Based on aerospace data

Geological studies of the area around Katta, in the southern part of the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, were carried out with the help of visual remote sensing techniques using LANDSAT imageries on 1:250,000 scale and aerial photographs on 1:60,000 scale. The major stratigraphic units represented in the area under study are the Archean Complex, Kaladgi Supergroup, Deccan Trap, Laterite and Alluvium. The Kaladgis unconformably overlie the Archean metasediments and also at places exhibit faulted contacts with the latter. The major part of the area is covered by a thick evergreen vegetation. The interpretation followed by field work and laboratory work revealed the following:

1. The different lithologic units could be delineated on the aerial photographs.
2. Different lineaments marked on the imagery were found to be due either to faults or fracture zones. Some of the older faults appear to have been rejuvenated after the formation of the laterites.
3. Some of the lithologic horizons can be identified on the Landsat imagery by virtue of their spatial signatures.

These studies indicate that even in the area covered with thick vegetation, aerospace imagery in appropriate band and data scale can provide significant geological information.     

Estimation of probable maximum precipitation for a 2-day duration: Part 2 — north Indian region

Summary In a previous study the authors have estimated the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) for a 2-day duration using Hershfield's formulaX _PMP =X _n +k _{m n} for stations in the southern Indian region. In this paper, the study is extended to estimate the PMP for stations in the north Indian region, north of 20°N. Maximum annual 2-day rainfall data for an 80-year period, from 1901, were obtained for 286 stations in the region. A mathematical relationship between the frequency factor (k _m ) and the mean annual extreme rainfall (X _n ) was developed to bek _m = 18.15 exp (–0.0448X _n ). This equation was used to obtaink _m for different values ofX _n and, subsequently, to estimate 2-day PMP values for the 286 stations. Using these PMP estimates, a generalised chart was prepared, showing the spatial distribution of 2-day PMP. It was found that 2-day PMP over the north Indian region varied from 60 cm to 130 cm, and the average ratio of the 2-day PMP to the highest observed 2-day rainfall was found to be 1.91. The results show that there have been instances when almost 2-day point PMP have occurred at some of the stations in the region. These results indicate that the statistically estimated PMP rainall are not therefore, mere theoretical estimates, but they can occur under optimum meteorological conditions.With 4 Figures     

Sensitivity of a GCM Simulation of two Contrasting Indian Monsoons to SST Anomaly Distributions

Summary  One of the major forcings for the interannual variability of the Asian Summer Monsoon is the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) distribution in the tropical Pacific Ocean. El Ni?o years are characterized by a negative Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and decreased monsoon rainfall over India leading to drought conditions. On the other hand, La Nina years are characterized by a positive SOI and generally good monsoon conditions over India. The monsoon ENSO relation is not a consistent one. The monsoons of 1991 and 1994 are good examples. The spring SOI was the same (−1.3) during both years. However, the All India Summer Monsoon Rainfall (AISMR) was 91.4% of normal in 1991 and 110% in 1994. Though the SOI was same during the spring of both years, the spatial distribution of SSTs was different. In the present study, the impacts of different SST distributions in the tropical Pacific Ocean, on the monsoons of 1991 and 1994 have been examined, to assess the UKMO-unified model’s sensitivity of SST. It is observed that the simulated monsoon was much stronger in 1994 than in 1991, in terms of precipitation and circulation. The wind and the Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) simulated by the model are compared with NCEP/NCAR reanalyses data, while precipitation is compared with Xie-Arkin merged rainfall data. Received November 26, 1998     

Probable maximum precipitation for a 2-day duration over the Indian Peninsula

Summary For the purpose of providing information to hydrologists for designing costly and large hydraulic structures, estimates of probable maximum precipitation (PMP) for a 2-day duration for stations in the Indian Peninsula lying between 8° N to 20° N were calculated using the Hershfield statistical techniqe. Maximum annual 2-day rainfall data of 80 years from 1901 for 131 stations in the region were used. In order to obtain values of PMP, an enveloping frequency factor (k _m ) curve based on the actual rainfall data of stations in the region was developed. The enveloping curve was then utilised to estimate 2-day PMP values of all the 131 stations. Based on these PMP estimates, a generalised chart showing the spatial distribution of 2-day PMP was prepared. It was found that 2-day PMP estimates over the Indian peninsula varied from 40 to 95 cm and the average ratio of 2-day PMP to the highest observed 2-day rainfall was found to be 1.76.With 2 Figures     

Origin and depositional environment of the china clay deposits of south Kerala

Results of petrographic, mineralogic and granulometric studies of the sedimentary china clay deposits of Trivandrum district in south Kerala are discussed in terms of their origin and depositional environment. While mineralogic data indicate a khondalitic source for the kaolins as against the hitherto postulated leptynitic source, petrographic evidences suggest that most of the kaolinite were transported from the weathering crust and deposited. Granulometric data and SEM scanning of sand grains from the clays indicate their deposition in a fluvial/low energy littoral environment under conditions of subaqueous agitation.     

All India summer monsoon rainfall prediction using an artificial neural network

The prediction of Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) on a seasonal time scales has been attempted by various research groups using different techniques including artificial neural networks. The prediction of ISMR on monthly and seasonal time scales is not only scientifically challenging but is also important for planning and devising agricultural strategies. This article describes the artificial neural network (ANN) technique with error- back-propagation algorithm to provide prediction (hindcast) of ISMR on monthly and seasonal time scales. The ANN technique is applied to the five time series of June, July, August, September monthly means and seasonal mean (June + July + August + September) rainfall from 1871 to 1994 based on Parthasarathy data set. The previous five years values from all the five time-series were used to train the ANN to predict for the next year. The details of the models used are discussed. Various statistics are calculated to examine the performance of the models and it is found that the models could be used as a forecasting tool on seasonal and monthly time scales. It is observed by various researchers that with the passage of time the relationships between various predictors and Indian monsoon are changing, leading to changes in monsoon predictability. This issue is discussed and it is found that the monsoon system inherently has a decadal scale variation in predictability. Received: 13 March 1999 / Accepted: 31 August 1999