Modelling of tidal hydrodynamics for a tropical ecosystem with implications for pollutant dispersion (Cohin Estuary, Southwest India)

Tidal circulation in the Cochin Estuary, a moderately polluted estuary along the southwest coast of India, was studied using a 2D hydrodynamic model. The predicted tides and currents showed very good agreement with measured tides. Particle trajectories and residual currents computed from the model have been used to classify the study region into three zones: northern estuary, central estuary, and southern estuary. The central estuary is dynamic, whereas the other two zones are relatively weak. An amplification of measured tides in the south estuary during March indicates the presence of standing waves caused by the hydraulic barrier at Thanneermukkom. Model results suggest that the northern and southern zones are sensitive to environmental pollution. The present level of pollution in the northern estuary is due to the direct release of industrial effluents into the river Periyar, which can be minimized if they are brought down to central estuary for disposal. The concept of different zones in the estuary will be useful to planners in protecting the vulnerable regions of this productive ecosystem from human interventions.     

Adjustment of a Formulated Sediment for Sediment Testing with Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda)

The OECD soil, which is standardised for use in the sediment toxicity with the midge Chironomus riparius revealed inhibition of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in body growth length and egg production of 41.0% and 84%, respectively. 18 formulated sediments were tested to optimise the sediment composition for growth and reproduction of C. elegans. Their components were chosen to simulate native sediments, whereby different quantities and different clay minerals were tested. The mixture that we found to be optimal in our experiments consisted of 5% sphagnum peat, 70% calcitic sand, 0.5% dolomite limestone, 4.5% iron(III) oxide, and a clay combination of 1.5% chlorite and 18.5% aluminium(III) oxide. When applying this mixture to C. riparius, the new formulated sediment improved also growth in comparison to the OECD sediment.     

Modelling of Strong Ground Motions from 1991 Uttarkashi,India, Earthquake Using a Hybrid Technique

We present a simple and efficient hybrid technique for simulating earthquake strong ground motion. This procedure is the combination of the techniques of envelope function (Midorikawa et al. Tectonophysics 218:287–295, 1993) and composite source model (Zeng et al. Geophys Res Lett 21:725–728, 1994). The first step of the technique is based on the construction of the envelope function of the large earthquake by superposition of envelope functions for smaller earthquakes. The smaller earthquakes (sub-events) of varying sizes are distributed randomly, instead of uniform distribution of same size sub-events, on the fault plane. The accelerogram of large event is then obtained by combining the envelope function with a band-limited white noise. The low-cut frequency of the band-limited white noise is chosen to correspond to the corner frequency for the target earthquake magnitude and the high-cut to the Boore’s f _max or a desired frequency for the simulation. Below the low-cut frequency, the fall-off slope is 2 in accordance with the ω² earthquake source model. The technique requires the parameters such as fault area, orientation of the fault, hypocenter, size of the sub-events, stress drop, rupture velocity, duration, source–site distance and attenuation parameter. The fidelity of the technique has been demonstrated by successful modeling of the 1991 Uttarkashi, Himalaya earthquake (Ms 7). The acceptable locations of the sub-events on the fault plane have been determined using a genetic algorithm. The main characteristics of the simulated accelerograms, comprised of the duration of strong ground shaking, peak ground acceleration and Fourier and response spectra, are, in general, in good agreement with those observed at most of the sites. At some of the sites the simulated accelerograms differ from observed ones by a factor of 2–3. The local site geology and topography may cause such a difference, as these effects have not been considered in the present technique. The advantage of the technique lies in the fact that detailed parameters such as velocity-Q structures and empirical Green’s functions are not required or the records of the actual time history from the past earthquakes are not available. This method may find its application in preparing a wide range of scenarios based on simulation. This provides information that is complementary to the information available in probabilistic hazard maps.     

Spectral wave modeling of tsunami waves in Pohang New Harbor (South Korea) and Paradip Port (India)

Ocean Dynamics - A coupled numerical model is developed based on the spectral element method (SEM) and boundary element method (BEM) to predict the characteristics of tsunami wave response on...     

Limnological studies on parambikulam Aliyar-project-I Aliyar Reservoir (Madras State), India

Summary The limnology of a softwater impoundment has been studied. The deep reservoir did not exhibit stable thermal stratification though biochemical stratification was quite usual. Oxygen supersaturations were rare but mostly the surface water was over 50% saturated. Oxygen deficits were noticed but they were not severe. Anoxic bottom condition was noted only once. Low alkalinity, low hardness, low chloride, calcium, silicate were characteristic of this water. nitrate was not detected, but on some days phosphates were recorded. Oxygen absorbed from permanganate was fairly high. Though chemical parameters indicate its oligotrophic nature, plankton composition gives the contrary impression. Blue-greens especiallyMicrocystis aeruginosa occurred almost round the year. Diatoms also occurred throughout the year with two exceptions. Primary production values varied but were high during diatom abundance and restricted by low nutrient levels, low carbondioxide and lower plankton numbers. Vertical and diurnal changes in alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and pH values point to a moderately eutrophic tendency.     

Evaluation of an over-used coastal aquifer (Orissa,India) using statistical approaches

Abstract

This study evaluates an over-exploited aquifer (Balasor, India) and also explores the possibilities of sustainable management using several statistical approaches. First, bootstrap analysis indicates that groundwater pumping has resulted in the reduction of mean cultivated area as the average irrigation capacity per bore well dropped from 3.74 ha to 1.5 ha within a period of 10 years of operation. However, modelling the groundwater levels using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) procedure showed no evidence of large-scale groundwater withdrawals. The derived models can be used for water table forecasting and also for infilling the missing observations. The empirical relationship among pumping test results indicated that well depth and aquifer thickness significantly influence the discharge from the aquifer. This discharge may have encouraged the resource-rich farmers to exploit the lower aquifer. Based on a contour plot, the zone of groundwater exploitation was estimated to vary from 25 to 60 m below the surface. Therefore, a uniform aquifer exploitation policy needs to be implemented to curb the vertical competition in exploiting the aquifer and to develop sustainable management of the groundwater.

Citation Panda, D. K. & Kumar, A. (2011) Evaluation of an over-used coastal aquifer (Orissa, India) using statistical approaches. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(3), 486–497.     

International Journal of Sediment Research(IJSR)-Order Form(2019)

正Editing Board address:IRTCES, 20 West Chegongzhuang Rd., Beijing 100048, China IJSR is the journal of THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SEDIMENTATION AND EROSION RESEARCH (WASER) and is edited by the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES).Main topics:Fluvial and estuarine processes     

Modelling the growth of cyanobacteria (GrowSCUM)

Toxic cyanobacteria have become a common nuisance in freshwater lakes and reservoirs throughout the world, sometimes resulting in the closure of sites with high amenity value. Cyanobacteria are able to regulate their buoyancy state in response to changing photosynthetic rates. Additionally, the cyanobacteria are liable to become entrained within wind-induced near-surface turbulent currents, resulting in mixing and mass transport. These movement processes have been modelled. A mathematical function is presented which describes light- and nutrient-limited cyanobacterial growth. The growth model is integrated with a previous movement model (SCUM: simulation of cyanobacterial underwater movement) as movement patterns and wind-induced lake mixing strongly affect the intensity and duration of light received by the cyanobacteria and thereby determine the photosynthetic potential. Results of the model suggest that cyanobacteria are resistant to periods of lake mixing and continue to increase their biomass, but at a depressed rate. Growth is most rapid under calm conditions. The results agree well with field-based findings, confirming the validity of the growth function.     

Evaluation of chemical composition changes of surface water in Boguchan Reservoir (Siberia,Russia)

Abstract

Mathematical transformation models of TDS (total dissolved salts) and organic substance concentration as BOD₅ (biochemical oxygen demand) in water of the Angara River and the proposed Boguchan Reservoir have been developed. Having filled the reservoir to a water level of 208 m, in an average year it is shown that increase in surface water mineralization is expected in the cross-section of Boguchan Hydroelectric Power Station giving TDS of up to 20–40 mg/dm³, and values of BOD₅ will increase to 2.0–3.9 mgO₂/dm³. In a low-water year the value of BOD₅ may be as great as 5 mgO₂/dm³; mineralization, in contrast, decreases. Several years after reservoir filling, the values of BOD₅ would decrease, but water quality of the upper part of the reservoir would still depend on the degree of treatment of wastewater discharged to it.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Savichev, O.G. and Matveenko, I.A., 2013. Evaluation of chemical composition changes of surface water in Boguchan Reservoir (Siberia, Russia). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (3), 706–715.     

Attenuation and source parameters at Deception Island (South Shetland Islands,Antarctica)

Deception Island is the most active volcano of the South Shetland Islands-Antarctic Peninsula group, experiencing eruptions in 1967, 1969 and 1970. Local attenuation derived from coda analysis and source parameters derived from Brune's model, for well located seismic events, have been studied in order to complement the available geophysical information. Results show abnormally lowQ ₀ values and an abnormally high frequency dependence, as well as large dispersion. These factors are strongly dependent on the path travelled by the seismic wave. Retrieved values of the source parameters (stress drop, seismic moment and source radius), are again abnormally low compared to world-wide average values, for example, those obtained for the Oroville, California aftershock series between June and September, 1976. These results are consistent with some aspects of the geology of Deception Island, such as the very high degree of fracturing and faulting, and the existence of a strong hydrothermal alteration affecting most of the subaerial volcanic rocks. Moreover, the pattern defined for the lateral variations ofQ ₀ shows minimum values in the inner bay of the island, close to the most recent eruption vents. A large reduction in spectral amplitudes over a particular frequency range occurs in several observations, corresponding to the path crossing the zone of highest attenuation. This observation suggests the existence of a hot magmatic intrusion produced during the most recent eruption, and coincides with the superficial low density mass distribution obtained from the gravimetric model and the long wave magnetic field component obtained from magnetic surveys. The width of this intrusion is estimated to be about 200 m, in agreement with the previous results obtained analyzing residuals of the location of seismic events.     

Long term variations in the mesospheric mean flow observed at Grahamstown (South Africa) and Adelaide (Australia)

The seasonal and interannual behaviour of monthly mean winds at a height of 90 km recorded at Grahamstown (33.3°S, 26.5°E) and Adelaide (34.5°S, 138.5°E) between 1987 and 1994 are compared. The zonal wind is found to be consistently stronger at Grahamstown and is always eastward, whereas at Adelaide it sometimes reverses. Maxima tend to occur near the solstices, the primary maximum during summer at Grahamstown, in agreement with satellite results, and during winter at Adelaide. The meridional wind also tends to be stronger at Grahamstown, but at both stations is predominantly northward with a maximum in summer and generally not as strong as the zonal component. This seasonal behaviour is reasonably well understood in terms of the interaction of the mean flow with gravity waves propagating up from below, with coriolis forces also playing an important role in the case of the meridional wind. Satellite observations do not generally support the idea that longitudinal differences between the stations could be attributed to the presence of a tropospheric/stratospheric stationary wave. It is suggested that these differences are more probably associated with local effects. Interannual zonal wind patterns at the two sites are similar over the summer months but are less well correlated during the rest of the year. The underlying causes of this variability are not well understood but are most probably global in nature, at least during the summer.     

Magnetic Evidence for Volcanism at Eastern Continental Margin of India: Juxtaposition with Elan Bank (Southern Indian Ocean)

The rifted Eastern Continental Margin of India (ECMI) has evolved as a result of breakup of East Gondwanaland. Previous geophysical studies of the continental margin have not elucidated upon its volcanic nature. Magnetics plays a useful role in the study of continental margins, particularly in identifying the volcanic units. The aeromagnetic map of the offshore Mahanadi basin of ECMI displays a conspicuous linear anomaly along the continental shelf. A comprehensive study of the published aeromagnetic, marine magnetic and gravity data of the offshore Mahanadi basin reveals the existence of a seaward dipping volcanic unit in the offshore Mahanadi basin bordering the Hinge zone. This inference suggests that the ECMI is a volcanic rifted margin. The study further indicates the deepening of the basement towards the sea. In addition, the existing geological studies on the ECMI demarcated the probable limit of the continental crust by studying the basement detached tectonic style of the sedimentation in sub-surface configuration of the East coast basins of India. The probable continental crustal limit, the Hinge zone, and the inner edge of the presently inferred volcanic unit conform to one another spatially in the offshore Mahanadi region. These features characterize the inferred volcanic body as seaward dipping reflectors (SDRs) that usually occur at the rifted continental margins. The deepening of the basement towards the sea and the presence of the volcanic body on the continental margin are indicative of the transitional nature of the crust. It is generally accepted that Antarctica and India were juxtaposed before the breakup of Gondwanaland. But the microcontinents in the southern Indian Ocean are neglected in the reconstruction of Gondwanaland continents. The recent studies of the discovery of continental crust within the Elan Bank (EB) microcontinent show that the EB was contiguous with the East coast of India before the breakup of Gondwanaland. Moreover, it is reported that the upper igneous crust of the EB consists of a 2–3 km thick layer of accumulated lava flows originating from the Kerguelen hotspot. An estimate shows that the total volume of volcanic and plutonic component of the Elan Bank is about 0.3 million cubic kilometers. The present inference of a volcanic body from the offshore Mahanadi basin is in agreement with the above observations of the juxtaposition of EB with ECMI.     

The Coherent Pixels Technique (CPT): An Advanced DInSAR Technique for Nonlinear Deformation Monitoring

This paper shows the potential applicability of orbital Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Differential Interferometry (DInSAR) with multiple images for terrain deformation episodes monitoring. This paper is focused on the Coherent Pixels Technique (CPT) developed at the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSLab) of the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC). CPT is able to extract from a stack of differential interferograms the deformation evolution over vast areas during wide spans of time. The former is achieved thanks to the coverage provided by current SAR satellites, like ESA’s ERS or ENVISAT, while the latter due to the large archive of images acquired since 1992. An interferogram is formed by the complex product of two SAR images (one complex conjugate) and its phase contains information relative to topography, terrain deformation and atmospheric conditions among others. The goal of differential interferometric processing is to retrieve and separate the different contributions. The processing scheme is composed of three main steps: firstly, the generation of the best interferogram set among all the available images of the zone under study; secondly, the selection of the pixels with reliable phase within the employed interferograms and, thirdly, their phase analysis to calculate, as the main result, their deformation time series within the observation period. In this paper, the Coherent Pixels Technique (CPT) is presented in detail as well as the result of its application in different scenarios. Results reveal its practical utility for detecting and reproducing deformation episodes, providing a valuable tool to the scientific community for the understanding of considerable geological process and to monitor the impact of underground human activity.     

Weather Radar Data for Hydrological Modelling: An Application for South of Primorye Region,Russia

Water Resources - This paper describes the experience of using weather radar data to simulate a catastrophic flood caused by intense rains that occurred in the period from August 5 to 8, 2017 in...     

A continuous record of artificial tritium fallout at the South Pole (1954–1978)

Snow samples were taken from a 5-m-deep pit located near the South Pole station in January 1975 and continuous deuterium, tritium and β activity profiles have been obtained from them. These three measurements and the stratigraphic observations allow us to deduce a precise chronology of the pit from 1950 to 1975, providing a continuous record of artificial tritium fallout in the southern hemisphere; this record has been extended to 1978 using samples from a second pit taken this last year. Taking advantage of the unusual 1957–1958 stable isotope content in the snow, we have demonstrated that an important part of the isotopic signal in the precipitation is retained in the snow in spite of the low accumulation rate (8.2 g cm^?2 yr^?1).The first artificial tritium, due to the 1952 Ivy experiments was detected during 1954. A two-year delay between explosions and fallout is well established and allows us to relate the tritium fallout to the main nuclear tests from 1952 to 1960. This delay appears longer for the large 1961–1962 devices. A stratospheric half residence time equal to 20 months is deduced from the fallout decrease occurring after the 1966 peak. For the French southern hemisphere experiments, it is about one year. A sharp tritium decrease is observed after a high 1973 peak, providing a new tritium reference level for future glaciological studies in Antarctica.The β and tritium peaks occur respectively during the Antarctic summer and the Antarctic winter, showing different injection mechanisms. This winter input and the high tritium values registered at the South Pole indicate a preferential tritium transfer over the pole area. Two mechanisms, stratospheric-tropospheric exchange and direct stratospheric cloud precipitation could account for this injection.     

Modelling the impact of a hypothetical sub-Plinian eruption at La Soufrière of Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles)

This paper describes the development and application of an impact model for a future hypothetical sub-Plinian eruption of La Soufrière of Guadeloupe. The model was designed to assess the impact from either a single or multiple eruption scenarios, each defined in terms of a map of the intensity of three volcanic hazards; volcanogenic earthquake, tephra fallout and pyroclastic density currents. The impact from the three hazards can be assessed independently or alternatively the joint impact of the three hazards can be assessed. The outputs that are produced from the model are; the number of buildings with collapsed roofs, and the number of fatal and non-fatal casualties.     

Sediment connectivity: a framework for understanding sediment transfer at multiple scales

A major challenge for geomorphologists is to scale up small‐magnitude processes to produce landscape form, yet existing approaches have been found to be severely limited. New ways to scale erosion and transfer of sediment are thus needed. This paper evaluates the concept of sediment connectivity as a framework for understanding processes involved in sediment transfer across multiple scales. We propose that the concept of sediment connectivity can be used to explain the connected transfer of sediment from a source to a sink in a catchment, and movement of sediment between different zones within a catchment: over hillslopes, between hillslopes and channels, and within channels. Using fluvial systems as an example we explore four scenarios of sediment connectivity which represent end‐members of behaviour from fully linked to fully unlinked hydrological and sediment connectivity. Sediment‐travel distance – when combined with an entrainment parameter reflecting the frequency–magnitude response of the system – maps onto these end‐members, providing a coherent conceptual model for the upscaling of erosion predictions. This conceptual model could be readily expanded to other process domains to provide a more comprehensive underpinning of landscape‐evolution models. Thus, further research on the controls and dynamics of travel distances under different modes of transport is fundamental. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

全球降水计划多卫星降水联合反演IMERG卫星降水产品在中国大陆地区的多尺度精度评估

以中国气象局逐小时地面降水数据集为参考基准,采用8种统计评价指标综合评估对比了美国NASA研发的全球降水计划（GPM）多卫星降水联合反演IMERG（Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM）卫星降水产品的三个不同版本的Final数据,分析了三套卫星降水在中国大陆地区多时空尺度下的反演精度,探讨了IMERG最新版本V5数据的改进情况及反演中仍然存在的问题.结果表明：IMERG数据能够准确地捕捉到中国大陆地区的降水区域特征,但是在中国西北部地面站点稀疏地区误差较大,精度较低,难以精确估测该地区的实际降水值.最新版本V5数据精度整体上优于先前的V3和V4数据,V5与地面观测数据的相关系数为0.75,均方根误差为7.03 mm/d,较V3、V4有明显提高,改善了V3、V4在中国西北部出现的降水低估问题;但是V5在冬季表现较差且没有解决前期版本存在的高估问题,整体上相对实际降水仍处于高估状态;同时V5在对高雨强事件的捕捉监测能力方面还存在一定的不足,因此建议在强降雨事件监测中需谨慎使用卫星降水IMERG数据集.目前V5系统中的校正算法还存在部分缺陷：为消除全球降水系统性低估问题,目前的校正算法整体性抬升了卫星降水值,从而导致卫星降水反演在中国地区高雨强事件下出现高误报以及高估问题,进而影响到IMERG数据回推以及后续再生数据的精度.     

Moment Magnitude (M W) and Local Magnitude (M L) Relationship for Earthquakes in Northeast India

An attempt has been made to examine an empirical relationship between moment magnitude (M _W) and local magnitude (M _L) for the earthquakes in the northeast Indian region. Some 364 earthquakes that were recorded during 1950–2009 are used in this study. Focal mechanism solutions of these earthquakes include 189 Harvard-CMT solutions (M _W?≥?4.0) for the period 1976–2009, 61 published solutions and 114 solutions obtained for the local earthquakes (2.0?≤?M _L?≤?5.0) recorded by a 27-station permanent broadband network during 2001–2009 in the region. The M _W–M _L relationships in seven selected zones of the region are determined by linear regression analysis. A significant variation in the M _W–M _L relationship and its zone specific dependence are reported here. It is found that M _W is equivalent to M _L with an average uncertainty of about 0.13 magnitude units. A single relationship is, however, not adequate to scale the entire northeast Indian region because of heterogeneous geologic and geotectonic environments where earthquakes occur due to collisions, subduction and complex intra-plate tectonics.