Numerical simulation of upwelling off Visakhapatnam on east coast of India during pre-monsoon months

A three-dimensional numerical model of the type described by Johns and coworkers (1992), hereafter referred to as model (J), is applied to study the response of a coastal ocean to pure wind-stress forcing. Conservation equations are applied for mass, momentum, temperature, salinity and turbulence energy. Experiments are performed to investigate the evolution of the thermal structure and upwelling processes along the east coast of India during the pre-monsoon season. A comparison between the computed results and the limited observations on the thermal structure and alongshore currents over the inner-shelf off Visakhapatnam is presented.     

Metal pollution in coarse sediments of Tuticorin coast,Southeast coast of India

Indian coastal waters are subjected to considerable pressure from sewage and industrial wastes, which are responsible for the contamination of the coastal sediments with consequent loss in biosphere. The present investigation attempts to study the significance of coarse material (Sand fraction) in the distribution of metals in polluted marine sediments. The study revealed that coarse Sand component contains a relatively significant proportion of the anthropogenic metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) and therefore it cannot be neglected in metal pollution studies of coastal sediments. Further, the distribution of anthropogenic metals in both Silt + Clay and Sand fraction follow the same suit indicating similar pollution sources. From the total sediment type (Silt + Clay and Sand fraction) all anthropogenic metals had a noticeable amount (>50%) in the acid extractable (and potentially bio-available) fraction. This article stresses the importance of coarse fraction in metal pollution studies in Indian coastal system.     

Numerical storm surge model for India and Pakistan

The northeastern sector of the Arabian Sea, which covers the Gujarat coast of India and western coast of Pakistan, is a region vulnerable to extreme sea levels associated with tropical cyclones (TCs). Although the frequency of tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea is not high, the coastal regions of India and Pakistan suffer in terms of loss of life and property caused by the surges. In view of this a location-specific fine resolution model is developed for the Gujarat coast of India and adjoining Pakistan coast. The east–west and north–south grid distance is about 3.0 km. Using this model, numerical experiments are carried out to simulate the surges generated by 1999 and 2001 cyclones which struck the Pakistan coast. The model computed surges are in agreement with the available observational estimates.     

Numerical simulation of typhoon surges along the coast of Taiwan

A numerical model has been designed to study the storm surge induced by typhoon along the coast of Taiwan. The governing equations have been expressed in spherical coordinate system, and a finite difference method has been used to solve them. In the system of hydrodynamical equations, the nonlinear advection and lateral eddy viscosity terms are prominent in shallow coastal waters. Air pressure gradient and wind stresses are the driving forces in the model of typhoon surge. The model has been verified with storm surges induced by Typhoons Herb in 1996, and by typhoons Kai-Tak and Bilis in 2000.     

Natural radioactivity measurements in beach sand along southern coast of Orissa,eastern India

The beach placer deposits in the southern coastal Orissa, India may have significant levels of radiation due to the presence of Th and U bearing minerals such as monazite and zircon. In this study, Gopalpur and Rushikulya beach regions were selected to study the ambient radiation environment. The average activity concentrations of radioactive elements such as ²³²Th, ²³⁸U and ⁴⁰K of beach sand samples were measured by γ-ray spectrometry using a HPGe detector, and found to be much higher than the internationally accepted values. The cross plots of eTh/eU and eTh/K inferred that the sand samples of Gopalpur and Rushikulya beach placer deposit were deposited in leached uranium and an oxidising environment. The absorbed γ dose rate levels of the study areas are similar to other monazite sand-bearing HBRAs of southern and southwestern coastal regions of India and of world. Different radiation hazard indices were estimated for the present study area and were found to be much higher than the internationally accepted values. Hence, Gopalpur and Rushikulya beach placer region can be considered as a high background radiation area and a potential zone for radiogenic heavy mineral exploration.     

渤海湾西岸QX02孔Ⅱ海的识别及OSL年龄

以渤海湾沿海低地的QX02孔为研究对象,进行了沉积岩石学分析和底栖有孔虫统计,结合加速器质谱~(14)C测年和光释光(optically stimulated luminescence,OSL)测年,探讨了该孔记录的第Ⅱ海相层埋深和形成时代。第Ⅱ海相层厚度11.4m,记录相对海面高度-26.83~-15.43m。AMS~(14)C年龄表明,Ⅱ海形成于MIS 3早期、甚至更早。OSL年代学研究显示,Ⅱ海样品等效剂量离散度较高,并且主要集中在2个区间,计算得到新、老2个年龄阶段。基于OSL测年原理的常规判断,认为较老的83.5~62.6ka阶段系受曝光不充分组分的影响,通常采用较年轻的51.9~39.9ka阶段为QX02孔的Ⅱ海沉积年龄。但是,较老的一组年龄从新的视角,暗示了可能的原始沉积过程及相应的海侵发生时间,因而具有重要的年代学和沉积学意义。     

Heavy Mineral Placer Sand Deposits of Kontiagarh Area,Ganjam District,Orissa, India

The Kontiagarh placer deposit in the Ganjam district, Orissa, India extends in northeast direction having a width of 700–1000 m. A total of 187 samples were collected meterwise from 55 bore holes in a grid pattern from beach, frontal, intermediate and back dunes covering an area of approximately 1 km². Light minerals decrease in size from the beach to the back dunes, whereas the size distribution of heavy minerals in the beach and dunes is more or less uniform. The average heavy mineral content in the beach and dunes vary from 9.38% to 24.20%. The heavy minerals are ilmenite, garnet, sillimanite, rutile, monazite, and zircon with trace amounts of magnetite, hornblende, diopside, sphene, tourmaline, and epidote. Heavy minerals are mostly less than 350 µm in size, with a peak distribution in the range between 180 and 125 µm. Ilmenite shows exsolution intergrowth with hematite. Mineral chemistry of ilmenite, hematite, leucoxene, magnetite, monazite and sillimanite are examined by EPMA. Leucoxene is lower in Fe and higher in Ti, Al, Cr and V than ilmenite. The litho‐units of the Precambrian Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, comprising primarily khondalite, charnockite, calc‐silicate granulite and gneiss, are the source of heavy minerals for this deposit. The bulk sample has 7.30% ilmenite, 5.24% sillimanite, 9.16% garnet, 0.18% rutile, 0.14% monazite, 0.06% zircon and 0.52% other heavy minerals. The deposit has good potential for economic exploitation of ilmenite, rutile, sillimanite, monazite, zircon and garnet.     

Evaluation of trace-metal enrichments from the 26 December 2004 tsunami sediments along the Southeast coast of India

The tsunami sediments deposited after the December 2004 tsunami were sampled immediately in the coastal environment of Tamil Nadu State on the southeast coast of India. Fifty-four sediment samples were collected and 14 representative samples were selected to identify the level of metal contamination in tsunami sediments. The results indicate that the sediments are mainly of fine to medium-grained sand and contain significantly high contents of dissolved salts in sediments (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺², Mg⁺², Cl⁻) in water-soluble fraction due to seawater deposition and evaporation. Correlation of acid leachable trace metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn) indicate that Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides might play an important role in controlling their association between them. Enrichment of trace metals is observed in all the locations with reference to the background samples. High values of trace metals in the southern part of the study area are due to the large-scale industries along the coast, and they are probably anthropogenic in nature and of marine origin, which could cause serious environmental problems.     

Numerical Modelling of Storm Surge in the Head Bay of Bengal Using Location Specific Model

The head Bay of Bengal region, which covers part of Orissa and west Bengal in India as well as Bangladesh, is one of the most vulnerable regions of extreme sea levels associated with severe tropical cyclones which cause extensive damage. There has been extensive loss of life and property due to extreme events in this region. Shallow nature of the Bay, presence of Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna deltaic system and high tidal range are responsible for storm surges in this region. In view of this a location specific fine resolution numerical modelis developed for the simulation of storm surges. To represent mostof the islands and rivers in this region a 3km grid resolution is adopted. Several numerical experiments are carried out to compute the storm surges using the wind stress forcings representative of 1974, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994 and 1999 cyclones, which crossed this region. The model computed surges are in good agreement with the available observations/estimates.     

On the impossibility of the co-existence of monsoons and severe storm surges in the Bay of Bengal

The problem of storm surges is introduced briefly. The utility of passive microwave observations to study this phenomenon is pointed out. The reasons for the nonoccurrence of severe surges in the Bay of Bengal, during monsoon regimes, is discussed in this paper. It was demonstrated that the predominant reason for lack of severe surges over the Bay of Bengal coast is due to the absence of weak wind shear during monsoon seasons.Atmospheric Environment Service, Ice Center, Environment Canada, 373 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OH3.     

Mean monthly wind driven climatological circulation model of the Bay of Bengal

A special feature of the Bay of Bengal circulation is its seasonal variation in response to the monsoonal winds. In the case of the Bay of Bengal, observationally very little is known about the large scale circulation. Theoretically, the problem of driving the circulation in the Bay of Bengal is more complex than that in other basins because of the presence of large quantities of fresh water discharge from Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems, and also because the atmospheric driving forces even within a season are highly variable with frequent occurrences of tropical disturbances. Exploring the nature of the circulation in the Bay of Bengal is a problem of great importance in itself as well as for the critical role this region plays in the genesis of tropical disturbances which are the main source of large scale rainfall over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The surface circulation of the Bay of Bengal may, therefore, help in understanding the variation of rainfall over time scales ranging from the subseasonal to the interannual. Keeping this in view, an attempt was made towards the development of an oceanic climatological circulation model for the Bay of Bengal, which explains the seasonal variability of the currents. The model is fully non-linear and vertically integrated, with realistic basin geometry. The treatment of coastal boundaries involves a procedure leading to a realistic curvilinear representation of the western and eastern sides of the Bay of Bengal. This coastal representation has the advantage of taking into account the finer resolution in the shallow regions of the northern Bay. The model is forced by the monthly mean wind stress derived from 30 years (1950–79) of Comprehensive Oceanographic Atmospheric Data Sets (COADS). Special emphasis is given to the southern open boundary condition for the model. For this purpose, sensitivity experiments have been performed with six open boundary conditions and a comparative study of the results has been made. These sensitivity tests for the open boundary condition will help the development of a suitable coupled ocean-atmosphere model for this region. The model-generated main features are in general agreement with the known climatological circulation of the Bay of Bengal.     

Detrital iron-ore deposits in the Iron Ore Group of rocks,northern Orissa,eastern India

Detrital iron deposits (DID) are located adjacent to the Precambrian bedded iron deposit (BID) of Joda near the eastern limb of the horseshoe-shaped synclinorium, in the Bonai–Keonjhar belt of Orissa. The detrital ores overlie the Dhanjori Group sandstone as two isolated orebodies (Chamakpur and Inganjharan) near the eastern and western banks of the Baitarani River, respectively. The DID occur as pebble/cobble conglomerates containing iron-rich clasts cemented by goethite. Mineralogy, chemistry and lamination of these clasts are similar to that found in the nearby BID ores. Enrichment of trace and rare-earth elements in the DID relative to the BID is attributed to their concentration during the precipitation of cementing material. The detrital iron orebodies formed when Proterozoic weathering processes eroded pre-existing BID outcrops located on the Joda Ranges, and the resulting detritus accumulated in the paleochannels. In situ dissolution in association with abundant organic material produced Fe-saturated groundwater, which re-precipitated as goethite within the aggraded channel to cement the detritals. Growth of microplaty hematite in the goethite matrix suggests some level of subsequent burial metamorphism.     

Climatology of landfalling tropical cyclones in Bangladesh 1877–2003

Bangladesh is highly susceptible to tropical cyclones. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of climatological studies on the tropical cyclones of Bangladesh. The Global Tropical Cyclone Climatic Atlas (GTCCA) lists historical storm track information for all the seven tropical cyclone ocean basins including the North Indian Ocean. Using GIS, tropical cyclones that made landfall in Bangladesh during 1877–2003 are identified and examined from the climatological perspective. For the convenience of study, the coast of Bangladesh is divided into five segments and comparisons are made among the coastal segments in terms of cyclone landfall and vulnerability. There is a large variability in the year-to-year occurrence of landfalling tropical cyclones in Bangladesh. Most of the tropical cyclones (70%) hit in the months of May–June and October–November generally show the well-known pattern of pre- and post-monsoon cyclone seasons in that region.     

Wind waves and sediment transport regime off the south-central Kerala coast,India

Wind waves in the innershelf of the south-central Kerala coast, south-west India were measured at four locations during different seasons. Simultaneously, numerical models were developed to simulate the wave and sediment transport regime of the innershelf. Strong monsoonal influence is seen in the wave characteristics with greater amplitudes, lower periods and switch-over from SW to SWW–W direction. The net annual longshore sediment transport is southerly in the innershelf and northerly in the surf zone. These counter-directional transports are linked by seasonally reversing the cross-shore transports. In the locations where the transports in the longshore and cross-shore directions are balanced, stable beaches prevail. Erosion/accretion tendency prevails in locations where these transports are not balanced. The southern and northern parts of the coast where onshore transports are predominant could be accreting zones. The erosion/accretion pattern deduced from the sediment transport model corresponds well with the long-term erosion/accretion trend for this coast.     

渤海湾西岸风暴潮:叠加地质因素的新探讨

通过对渤海湾西岸1895年以来11次风暴潮高水位的厘定,证实并确定了50年、100年、200年直至10000年一遇的风暴潮高水位值。定量评估了风增水与波浪对风暴潮高水位的贡献。进一步从地学角度讨论了21世纪10年间隔的海面上升量、地面下沉与围海造陆共同作用、海面上升引发的净增水效应及河口增水效应。根据上述各类参数,预测了至2050年的10年间隔、50~10000年不同重现期的极端水位,并讨论了地面下沉对风暴潮测量准确性的影响。认为当前的防潮堤(海垱)高度可抵御50~100年一遇的风暴潮的侵袭,但据所讨论的综合因素的影响,建议2020年防潮堤的高度应达到+4.8m,2030年达到+5.1m(85高程)。     

渤海湾西岸全新世再搬运贝壳驻留时间效应初探

以渤海湾西岸大港区穿港路采土场内贝壳堆积层中的闭合贝壳、单瓣贝壳和贝壳碎屑为对象,开展全新世再搬运贝壳的驻留时间效应研究。通过对5个剖面(剖面2、4~7)、3个层位的15个贝壳测年样品(闭壳合、单瓣壳和贝壳碎屑)AMS14C年龄对比,初步获得研究区单瓣贝壳(或腹足类)的驻留时间经验值为440a、贝壳碎屑的驻留时间经验值为650a。     

渤海湾西岸全新世沉积速率对河流供给的响应

渤海湾西岸由北向南获取了3个钻孔,以全新世海相岩心为研究对象,采用AMS14C(Accelerator Mass Spectrometry14C,加速器质谱14C)测年方法建立年代框架并计算平均沉积速率,结合沉积物粒度组成及沿岸古河流三角洲发育历史,探讨了沉积速率对沿岸河流供给变化的时空响应。结果表明,早全新世—中全新世初期(11~6ka),渤海湾西岸整体沉积速率偏低,仅0.03~0.07cm/a,沉积物粒度较粗;中全新世6.43~4.97ka cal BP期间,NP3孔平均沉积速率为0.60~0.93cm/a,高于同期沿岸南部的CH110孔和BT113孔。沉积物组成以粉砂为主,粘土含量低,向上逐渐变粗,具三角洲反粒序特征。该时段的高沉积速率系渤海湾西北岸对潮白河、永定河及滦河沉积物供给的响应;中全新世晚期3.68~2.67ka cal BP期间,BT113孔沉积速率为0.27~1.4cm/a,高于同期沿岸北部CH110孔和NP3孔,沉积物组成以粉砂为主,粘土含量较NP3孔高,向上逐渐变粗,具三角洲反粒序特征。该时段的高沉积速率系渤海湾西岸南部对黄河沉积物供给的响应;晚全新世2.29~0.24ka cal BP期间,沿岸中部CH110孔沉积速率为0.55~0.91cm/a,高于同期沿岸南部的BT113孔和北部的NP3孔,该高沉积速率为渤海湾西岸中部对黄河和海河供给沉积的先后响应。     

Mode of Occurrence and Characteristics of Mn-ore Bodies in Iron Ore Group of Rocks, North Orissa, India and Its Significance in Resource Evaluation

Abstract. Several meso‐scale manganese ore bodies, scattered within Jone's horse‐shoe shaped synclinorium, in Bonai‐Keonjhar region of north Orissa are well known in the mineral map of India. Different grades of manganese ores are being exploited from this region by various agencies over a few decades. However, deceptive nature of ore bodies and complexity in control of mineralisation greatly confuse the exploration geologists for evaluation of these resources. In a recent study, the authors have classified Mn‐ore bodies of this region into three broad categories such as stratiform, stratabound (‐replacement) and lateritoid types based on mode of occurrence and their other chemical characteristics. Mn‐ore bands occur in close association with BIF and iron ores. Volcaniclastic shale in large geographic extension encloses these ore bodies. In the stratiform category of ore bodies (BMnF, analogous of BIF), manganese and shale bands, in variables thickness, alternate with each other and extend to a great depth. Such ore bodies generally constitute marginal to low‐grade ores, are characterised by low Mn/Fe ratio (～2) and have relatively lower abundance of trace (1500 to 2500 ppm) and relatively higher REE constituents. The stratabound‐replacement types of ore bodies are of intra‐stratal nature, occurring within tuffaceous shale. These are mostly shear‐controlled ore bodies extending along a zone of certain width. Increase in average Mn/Fe ratio (～6) and trace content (5000 to 8500 ppm) by 5 to 2.5 order of magnitude respectively or more above stratiform category are characteristic of these deposits. The lateritoid ore bodies have limited depth persistency. Such deposits are usually very low in Mn/Fe ratio (<1), trace (<2000 ppm) and REE contents. Different methods of exploration techniques are suggested for various categories of Mn‐ore bodies. In this context, the above findings would be the database for the exploration geologists to evaluate the potential of newer/existing Mn‐ore resources in this part of north Orissa.     

广东沿海陆地地质灾害系统与灾害动力学

依据地质灾害发生的动力学机制以及对地表的影响深度和灾害载体的运动特征，将广东陆地地质灾害划分为三类灾害系，即表层灾害系、表－浅层灾害系和表－深层灾害系，其影响因素和动力源是大气圈、水圈、岩石圈、生物圈及人文圈（人类活动）。五大圈造成了地质灾害系的形成、演化和发展，又反过来影响这五大圈的变化。灾害系的能量源归属于三大类：日地系统、地球系统和人类系统。文中指出人类系统的能量源在地质环境和地质灾害的形成、演化中占有越来越重要的地位。     

莱州湾南岸滨海平原晚更新世以来古环境演变的孢粉记录

依据莱州湾南岸A1钻孔孢粉分析，结合14C、热释光测年、沉积物粒度、岩性等资料，对A1钻孔自下而上划分为7个孢粉组合带，并概括它们的主要特征。利用孢粉组合，探讨了120 ka BP 以来莱州湾南岸咸水入侵区的植被发展以及气候的冷暖、干湿交替变化。在85～76 ka BP、50～24 ka BP和10～4 ka BP出现三次暖湿期，分别对应于“羊口海侵”、“广饶海侵”和“垦利海侵”。在三次暖湿期中发生海陆交互相滨岸沼泽或湖泊相沉积，植被类型为落叶阔叶林或针阔叶混交林滨岸草原。在76～50 ka BP和24～10 ka BP两次冷干期为陆相沉积环境，前者出现以针叶林为主的草原植被类型，后者出现干冷的针叶林干旱草原或荒漠草原植被类型，它们分别对应于早大理亚冰期和晚大理亚冰期。孢粉组合所反映的莱州湾南岸晚更新世以来的环境演化同全球性的气候事件及渤海沿岸环境变化具有很好的可比性。