Assessment of groundwater quality with special reference to arsenic in Nawalparasi district,Nepal using multivariate statistical techniques

Groundwater is a precious resource for humankind not only in Nepal but also across the globe due to its diverse functions. A total of 48 groundwater samples were collected from three villages of Nawalparasi district, Nepal, during pre-monsoon and monsoon to estimate the overall groundwater quality and to identify the sources of contamination with emphasis on arsenic (As). The average concentrations of all tested groundwater quality parameters (temp., pH, EC, ORP, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^?, F^?,SO₄ ^2?, PO₄ ^3?, HCO₃ ^?, NO₃ ^?, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Zn, Cr, and As) were well within permissible limits of WHO for drinking water, except for Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, and As. Concentration of As ranged from 60 to 3,100 μg L^?1 and 155 to 1,338 μg L^?1 in pre-monsoon and monsoon, respectively. The Piper diagram of the groundwater chemistry showed groundwater of Nawalparasi belongs to Ca–Mg–HCO₃ and Mg–HCO₃ water type with HCO₃ ^? as dominant ions. As content in the study area was negatively correlated with Fe in pre-monsoon, while it was positively correlated in monsoon. Furthermore, As was negatively correlated with oxidation reduction potential suggesting reducing condition of groundwater. Principal component analysis revealed seven major factors that explained 81.996 and 83.763 % of total variance in water quality in pre-monsoon and monsoon, respectively. The variance of water quality was related mainly with the degree of water–rock interaction, mineralization, and anthropogenic inputs.     

Electrical resistivity imaging over natural (in situ) geological samples using physical model studies

To understand the characteristic responses of natural geological samples, viz., black granite, green marble, and graphite sheet, and to have “an a priori” knowledge of their physical property through electrical resistivity imaging, the physical model laboratory setup has been established to conduct scale model studies over targets of finite dimensions and resistivities. The present experiment involves IRIS make SYSCAL Pro-96 measuring system using 48 electrodes with 2-cm interelectrode separation in the laboratory model tank. In the present communication, we have presented the 2D cross section images using Wenner, Wenner–Schlumberger, and dipole–dipole array configurations over the resistive (granite, marble) and conductive (graphite) sheets. In the case of resistive target (black granite sheet, green marble), the combined usage of dipole–dipole and Wenner–Schlumberger arrays provided more accurate measures on target parameters, i.e., the combined usage of both the arrays is preferable in searching high-resistive targets beneath the low-resistive ones over burden. The shape of the resistive target (green marble sheet) is inappropriate when the thickness of the target is greater than one half of the minimum array separation. As the thickness of the target increases, the signatures of the target become feeble, and hence, the shape of the resistive target is not properly reflected in the corresponding tomogram. The response over graphite sheet indicates that the true parameters of the target are not reflected in the cross section, and the existence of the low-resistive (high-conductive) target in the host medium (water) deviates the resistivity of the medium. The target parameters from the cross section using dipole–dipole array are somewhat correlated with true parameters in the case of thin targets at shallow depths. In the case of the sequence of layers of gravel–marble gravel–sand gravel simulated in a small model tank in the physical model laboratory, the thickness of the high-resistive marble layer beneath the low-resistive gravel layer is enhanced conspicuously because of the significant resistivity contrast between gravel and marble.     

Multi-temporal annual soil loss risk mapping employing Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model in Nun Nadi Watershed, Uttrakhand (India)

The present comparative study is multi-temporal in nature. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), remote sensing, and GIS were used to model the soil loss estimation for soil conservation and vegetation rehabilitation in Nun Nadi watershed for the years 2000 and 2009. The estimated mean soil loss for the year 2000 and 2009 is 3,283.11 and 1,419.39 Mg?ha^?1 year^?1, respectively. The study finds that about 80 % area has low or least risk of erosion and about 7 % is exposed to high or very high risk which indicates the improvement in terms of soil loss if we compare the data of both the time periods. The findings show that the rainfall, LULC change, and elevation are the main responsible factors for the soil loss in Nun Nadi watershed. Conservation measures have been adopted; however, the problem still remains serious and demands urgent attention.     

Geomagnetic field variation during winter storm at localized southern and northern high latitude

This paper presents the effect of geomagnetic storm on geomagnetic field components at Southern (Maitri) and Northern (Kiruna) Hemispheres. The Indian Antarctic Station Maitri is located at geom. long. 66.03° S; 53.21° E whereas Kiruna is located at geom. long. 67.52° N; 23.38° E. We have studied all the geomagnetic storms that occurred during winter season of the year 2004–2005. We observed that at Southern Hemisphere the variation is large as compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Geomagnetic field components vary when the interplanetary magnetic field is oriented in southward direction. Geomagnetic field components vary in the main phase of the ring current. Due to southward orientation of vertical component of IMF reconnection takes place all across the dayside that transports plasma and magnetic flux which create the geomagnetic field variation.     

Effect of interplanetary magnetic field and disturb storm time on H component

A fluxgate digital magnetometer is used to study the variation of magnitude of H component during geomagnetic storm events of April, July and November 2004 at southern subauroral localized region at “MAITRI” (geom. lat. 62°S, long. 52.8°E). We also study the effect of vertical component of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the variation of the magnitude of H component during storm time of April, July and November 2004. Results show that before sudden storm commencement (SSC) time magnitude of H component and IMF show smooth variation but after SSC of first storm of 22 July 2004, the magnitude of the H component shows fluctuations and at 09:00 UT it increases, but during second storm of 24 July 2004, the magnitude of H component indicates large fluctuations and it increases rapidly at 04:00 UT.     

Geochemical characterization of source rock from the north bank area,upper Assam basin

The study area is confined to a part of upper Assam basin, north of river Brahmaputra (north bank). Seven exploratory wells have been drilled in this part of the basin in order to probe the hydrocarbon prospects of the area. The exploratory efforts did not indicate significant hydrocarbon prospects in the north bank. Since the presence of source rock is an important component of the petroleum system, a detailed systematic study of source rock potential was carried out by analysing known source rock intervals in these seven wells. In the present study, Rock-Eval pyrolysis combined with specific geochemical analyses like GC and TLCFID has been used to characterise the source rocks, their distribution and thermal maturity of the organic matter. The source rocks in the area show mainly Type III, land-plant derived organic matter along with some Type II organic matter. They are predominantly gas prone in nature, although mixed and oil-prone source rocks are occasionally present. Although source rock intervals have been identified in the Langpar, Sylhet limestone and Kopili formations, the Barail Group and the Tipam sandstone Formation, the bulk of the source rock occurs within the Kopili Formation. Geochemical analyses of the cores indicate oil signatures at certain depths, although no commercial oil was discovered. The hydrocarbon generation potential of these source rocks are constrained by low maturity at the presently drilled depths.     

Differential behaviour of a Lesser Himalayan watershed in extreme rainfall regimes

Climatic extremes including precipitation are bound to intensify in the global warming environment. The present study intends to understand the response of the Tons sub-watershed in Lesser Himalaya, in 3 years with entirely different hydrological conditions (July 2008–June 2011) in terms of discharge, sediment flux and denudation rates. Within an uncertainty limit of ±20%, the mean interannual discharge (5.74 ± 1.44 m ³ s ^?1) (±SE), was found highly variable (CV: 151%; 0.8–38 m ³ s ^?1). In a normal rainfall year (2008–2009; ～1550 mm), the discharge was 5.12 ± 1.75 m ³ s ^?1, whereas in a drought year (2009–2010), it reduced by 30% with the reduction in ～23% rainfall (CV: 85%). In an excessive rainfall year (once-in-a-century event) (2010–2011; ～3050 mm), discharge as well as total solid load was ～200% higher. Monsoon months (July–September) accounted for more than 90% of the annual solid load transport. The ratio of dissolved to suspended solid (C/P ratio) was consistently low (<1) during monsoon months and higher (1–7) during the rest of the dry period. C/P ratio was inversely (R ²=0.49), but significantly (P <0.001) related to the rainfall. The average mechanical erosion rate in the three different rainfall years was 0.24, 0.19 and 1.03 mmyr ^?1, whereas the chemical erosion was estimated at 0.12, 0.11 and 0.46 mmyr ^?1, respectively. Thus, the average denudation rate of the Tons sub-watershed has been estimated at 0.33 mmyr ^?1 (excluding extreme rainfall year: 1.5 mmyr ^?1). Our results have implications to understand the hydrological behaviour of the Lesser Himalayan watersheds and will be valuable for the proposed and several upcoming small hydropower plants in the region in the context of regional ecology and natural resource management.     

Seasonal variations and trophic ecology of microzooplankton in the southeastern Arabian Sea

The seasonal ecological response of microzooplankton in the southeastern Arabian Sea is presented. During the spring intermonsoon period, stratification and depletion of nitrate in the surface waters (nitracline was at 60 m depth) cause low integrated chlorophyll a (av. 19±11.3 mg m⁻²) and primary production (av. 164±91 mgC m⁻² d⁻¹). On the other hand, nutrient enrichment associated with coastal upwelling and river influx during the onset and peak summer monsoon resulted in high integrated chlorophyll a (av. 21±6 mg m⁻² and av. 29±21 mg m⁻², respectively) and primary production (av. 255±94 mgC m⁻² d⁻¹ and av. 335±278 mgC m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively). During all three periods, diazotropic cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum dominated in the nutrient depleted surface waters. A general increase in abundance of larger diatoms was evident in the surface waters of the inshore region during monsoon periods. The microzooplankton abundance was found to be significantly higher during the spring intermonsoon (av.241±113×10³ ind m⁻²) as compared to onset of summer monsoon (av. 105±89×10³ ind m⁻²) and peak summer monsoon (av.185±175×10³ ind m⁻²). Microzooplankton community during the spring intermonsoon was numerically dominated by ciliates while heterotrophic dinoflagellate was the dominant ones during the monsoon periods. The high abundance of ciliates during the spring intermonsoon could be attributed to the stratified environmental condition prevailed in the study area which favors high abundance of smaller phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, the most preferred food of ciliates. On the other hand, the dominance of heterotrophic dinoflagellates during the monsoon periods could be linked to their ability to graze larger diatoms which were abundant during the monsoon periods. The overall results show low abundance of microzooplankton in the eastern Arabian Sea during the monsoon periods mainly due to a decline in ciliates abundance. This decline during the monsoon periods could be the result of (a) low abundance of smaller phytoplankton and (b) high stock of mesozooplankton predators (av. 245 ml 100 m⁻³).     

Bianchi type-V anisotropic cosmological models in certain theories of gravitation with perfect fluid distribution

Exact Bianchi type-V cosmological models are presented in Einstein’s theory of gravitation with cosmological constant Λ in case of perfect fluid distribution. Also obtained Bianchi type-V cosmological models in a scalar-tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (1986) in case of perfect fluid distribution using and without using negative constant deceleration parameter. Some physical and geometrical properties of the models are also discussed.