Photometry and spectroscopy of Ⅱ Peg,IM Peg and UX Ari

V band photometry of three RS CVn stars, II Peg, IM Peg and UX Ari, is carried out to study the physical properties of these variables. We verified the significant and regular optical photometric variability to be present in all three stars. The strong photometric variability and emission of Hα and Ca II H K using high resolution optical spectroscopy with the Hanle Echelle Spectrograph(HESP),which operates in conjunction with the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, verify the strong chromospheric activity which is present in RS CVn stars. The photometric studies of II Peg, UX Ari and IM Peg were subjected to light curve analysis for spot parameters using a two-starspot model.     

Astronomical site survey report on dust measurement,wind profile,optical turbulence,and their correlation with seeing over IAO-Hanle

The present work discusses astronomical site survey reports on dust content, vertical distribution of atmospheric turbulence, precipitable water vapor (PWV), surface and upper-air data, and their effects on seeing over the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) Hanle. Using Laser Particulate Counter, ambient dust measurements at various sizes (0.3 μm to 25 μm) were performed at various locations at the site during November 2015. Estimated volume concentration for the particle size at 0.5 μm was around 10,000 per cubic foot, which is equivalent to ten thousand class of clean room standard protocol. During the measurement, surface wind speed varied from 0-20 m s ^?1, while estimated aerosol optical depth (AOD) using Sky radiometer (Prede) varied from 0.02-0.04 at 500 nm, which indicates the site is fairly clean. The two independent measurements of dust content and aerosol concentrations at the site agreed well. The turbulence or wind gust at the site was studied with wind profiles at three different heights above the ground. The strength of the wind gust varies with time and altitude. Nocturnal temperature across seasons varied with a moderate at summer (6?8 ^°C) and lower in winter (4?5 ^°C). However, the contrast between the two is significantly small due to cold and extremely dry typical climatic conditions of the site. The present study also examined the effects of surface and upper-air data along with Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) dynamics with seeing measurement over the site. Further, a comparative study of such observed parameters was conducted with other high altitude astronomical observatories across the globe.     

大别造山带北缘后碰撞富钾火山岩：地球化学与岩石成因

大别造山带北缘晚中生代富钾火山岩分布在磨子潭-晓天断裂以北的上叠式火山盆地中，主要为一套以钾玄岩-粗安岩-安粗岩-粗面岩为主体的中偏碱性岩石组合，晚期出现少量碱性火山岩。化学成分上具有富碱、富钾、贫钛、氧化系数较高等特点。岩石的Rb、Ba、Th、Pb等大离子亲石元素含量高，富轻稀土，La/Nb、Ba/Nb及LREE/HREE比值高，并且有显著的Nb、Ti负异常和Pb正异常，而铕异常则不明显。富钾火山岩的Isr值较高（=0.70872-0.70895）,εNd(t)值显著偏低（=-14.62--18.51）。根据对岩石产出动力地质背景及地球化学特征的综合分析，结合同位素组成的混合模拟，表明本区富钾火山岩最可能起源于受俯冲陆壳析出流体交代作用所形成的富集地幔（EM I）的部分熔融。     

Spectroscopic survey of ASAS eclipsing variables: search for chromospherically active eclipsing binary stars – I

We have started a spectroscopic survey to identify new chromospherically active components and low-mass pre-main sequence (PMS) stars in recently discovered All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) eclipsing binaries. In this paper, we briefly describe our scientific motivation, the observing tools and the results obtained from the first phase of this survey. Using the available observing facilities in India, the spectroscopic observations of a sample of 180 candidate eclipsing binary stars selected from ASAS-I&II releases were carried out during 2004–2006. The strength of Hα emission was used to characterize the level of chromospheric activity. Our spectroscopic survey reveals that out of 180 stars about 36 binary systems show excess Hα emission. One of the objects in our sample, ASAS 081700-4243.8, displays very strong Hα emission. Follow-up high-resolution spectroscopic observations reveal that this object is indeed very interesting and most likely a classical Be-type system with K0III companion.     

龙镇地区花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素及地质意义

龙镇地区花岗岩位于大、小兴安岭的结合部,属于兴安地块与松嫩地块中的A-I型花岗岩带;该区各岩体岩石类型基本相同,主要为花岗闪长岩和二长花岗岩,地球化学特征显示为高钾钙碱性系列的I型花岗岩。花岗岩中锆石的LA-ICP-MSU-Pb年代学分析结果表明,正达山岩体形成于320～315Ma,模拉布山岩体形成于169±3Ma,朝阳林场岩体形成于187～171Ma。这些花岗质岩浆的就位分别与古生代时期古亚洲洋闭合过程中的块体拼合作用及中生代古太平洋的构造演化有关。Hf同位素成分特征表明,两期花岗岩的源岩均为新元古代-显生宙期间亏损地幔来源的火成岩。结合已发表的Sr-Nd-Hf同位素资料,本文认为兴安地块大陆地壳增生的时间主要为新元古代-显生宙,这与松嫩地块一致,而明显晚于额尔古纳地块的地壳增生时间(中-新元古代),从而揭示了它们不同的地壳演化历史。     

X-ray crystallography and mineral chemistry of bastnaesite from Kanigiri granite,Prakasam district,Andhra Pradesh,India

The authors report the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and geochemical studies on bastnaesites (lanthanum cerium fluoro-carbonate) hosted in alkali Kanigiri Granite of the Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The XRD pattern of the investigated bastnaesite displays sharply-defined reflections. The observed d-spacings of the bastnaesite are in very close agreement with those published for bastnaesite standard in International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) Card No. 11–340. The calculated unit cell parameters (a _o ; c _o ) and unit cell volume (V) of the studied bastnaesite (a _o 7.1301–7.1413 Å, c _o 9.7643–9.7902Å and V 429.8940–432.3875 ų) are almost equal to values published for bastnaesite standard (c _o 7.1290 Å, c _o 9.7744 Å and V 430.19 ų) in the relevant data card. Geochemical data of bastnaesite reveals high content of Ce (mean 27.22%) followed by La (mean 16.82%), Nd (mean 6.12%) and Pr (mean 1.91%). Compared to light REE (LREE) content (mean 437165 ppm), heavy REE (HREE) content (mean 5867 ppm) is drastically low, with unusually high LREE/HREE ratio (mean 80). The chondrite-normalised plot also exhibits drastic enrichment of LREE relative to HREE with pronounced negative Euanomaly (mean Eu/Eu* = 0.15). High (LREE) _N / (HREE) _N , (La/Lu) _N , (La/Yb) _N and (Ce/Yb) _N ratios reveal higher fractionation of LREE relative to HREE. The rare earth element (REE) contents of the studied bastnaesite are very close to REE contents of bastnaesite hosted in alkali syenite from Madagascar. The presence of bastnaesite in Kanigiri Granite and soils derived from it enhances the scope of further exploration for bastnaesite in several bodies of alkaline rocks and alkali granitoids present along the eastern margins of the Cuddapah basin, Andhra Pradesh.     

Tea acreage estimation and condition assessment using satellite data in nilgiri district,tamilnadu

In the present study an attempt has been made to estimate acreage and condition of tea plantations by using satellite based digital remotely sensed data in visible, near infra-red and middle infra-red spectral regions, in the Nilgiri district of Tamilnadu state. Landsat MSS and TM data, acquired on Dec. 26, 1990 were used in the analysis, Different spectral band combinations, Landsat MSS (1234), TM (1234), TM (2345) and TM (123457) were used for identification of tea plantations. District-boundary-overlaying approach with complete enumeration of digital data was used for estimation of tea acreages. Condition assessment of tea plantations is based on the Greenness Index. Use of Landsat MSS data resulted in an underestimation of area under tea whereas the acreages estimated by using TM spectral band combinations 1234 and 2345 compared closely with the estimates of Department of Horticulture (DOH). The distribution pattern of various condition classes of tea plantations compared well with the prevailing ground conditions as observed during post-classification field survey in September 1992 in the district.     

Mapping of Cropping System for the Indo-Gangetic Plain Using Multi-Date SPOT NDVI-VGT Data

The present study has been carried out to delineate the existing cropping systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) using 10 day composite SPOT VEGETATION (VGT) NDVI data acquired over a crop year (June–May). Results showed that it is feasible to identify the major crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane, potato, and cotton in the dominant growing areas with good accuracy. Double cropping pattern is the most prevalent. Rice-wheat, sugarcane based, cotton-wheat, rice-potato, rice-rice, maize/millet-wheat are some of the major rotations followed. Rice-wheat is the dominant rotation accounting for around 40% of the net sown area. Triple crop rotations was less than 5% of the area and observed in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Single crop rotation of rice-fallow is significant only in West Bengal.     

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) over Terrestrial Biosphere of India Using NOAA-AVHRR Based GloPEM Model

The monitoring of terrestrial carbon dynamics is important in studies related with global climate change. This paper presents results of the inter-annual variability of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) from 1981 to 2000 derived using observations from NOAA-AVHRR data using Global Production Efficiency Model (GloPEM). The GloPEM model is based on physiological principles and uses the production efficiency concept, in which the canopy absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) is used with a conversion “efficiency” to estimate Gross Primary Production (GPP). NPP derived from GloPEM model over India showed maximum NPP about 3,000 gCm⁻²year⁻¹ in west Bengal and lowest up to 500 gCm⁻²year⁻¹ in Rajasthan. The India averaged NPP varied from 1,084.7 gCm⁻²year⁻¹ to 1,390.8 gCm⁻²year⁻¹ in the corresponding years of 1983 and 1998 respectively. The regression analysis of the 20 year NPP variability showed significant increase in NPP over India (r = 0.7, F = 17.53, p < 0.001). The mean rate of increase was observed as 10.43 gCm⁻²year⁻¹. Carbon fixation ability of terrestrial ecosystem of India is increasing with rate of 34.3 TgC annually (t = 4.18, p < 0.001). The estimated net carbon fixation over Indian landmass ranged from 3.56 PgC (in 1983) to 4.57 PgC (in 1998). Grid level temporal correlation analysis showed that agricultural regions are the source of increase in terrestrial NPP of India. Parts of forest regions (Himalayan in Nepal, north east India) are relatively less influenced over the study period and showed lower or negative correlation (trend). Finding of the study would provide valuable input in understanding the global change associated with vegetation activities as a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide.     

Impact of Climate Change on Runoff of the Major River Basins of India Using Global Circulation Model (HadCM3) Projected Data

The effects of climate change on hydrological regimes have become a priority area for water and catchment management strategies. The terrestrial hydrology driven by monsoon rainfall plays a crucial role in shaping the agriculture, surface and ground water scenario in India. Thus, it is imperative to assess the impact of the changing climatic scenario projected under various climate change scenario towards the hydrological aspects for India. Runoff is one of the key parameters used as an indicator of hydrological process. A study was taken up to analyse the climate change impact on the runoff of river basins of India. The global circulation model output of Hadley centre (HADCM3) projected climate change data was used. Scenario for 2080 (A2 scenario indicating more industrial growth) was selected. The runoff was modeled using the curve number method in spatial domain using satellite derived current landuse/cover map. The derived runoff was compared with the runoff using normal climatic data (1951–1980). The results showed that there is a decline in the future climatic runoff in most of the river basins of India compared to normal climatic runoff. However, significant reduction was observed for the river basins in the eastern region viz: lower part of Ganga, Bahamani-Baitrani, Subarnrekha and upper parts of the Mahanadi. The mean projected runoff reduction during monsoon season (June–September) were 18 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM), 3.2 BCM, 3.5 BCM and 5.9 BCM for Brahmaputra-Barak Subarnrekha, Subarnarekha and Brahmini-Baitrani basin, respectively in comparison to normal climatic runoff. Overall reduction in seasonal runoff was high for Subarnrekha basin (54.1%). Rainfall to runoff conversion was high for Brahmaputra-Barak basin (72%), whereas coefficient of variation for runoff was more for Mahanadi basin (1.88) considering the monsoon season. Study indicates that eastern India agriculture may be affected due to shortage of surface water availability.