Thermal convection instability of liquid metals in magneto-hydrodynamics

The problem of thermal convection instability of a horizontal layer of magnetized fluid has been studied to occur crystal growing under the effect of horizontal temperature gradient. In the study, the problem has been reduced to an eigen-value problem for a stream function. The dispersion relations for low viscosity fluid and high viscosity fluid respectively have been discussed analytically and some numerical results have been obtained. It is shown that the critical Rayleigh number and other its related constants for low viscosity fluid (i.e., mercury) are much differ than the high viscosity fluid (i.e., glycerol).     

Solar cycle model for oscillating transient X-ray sources

The oscillations observed recently in the transient X-ray source A1118-61 are attributed to variations in the magnetic activity of a rotating white dwarf similar to the 11-year solar activity cycle. The transient nature, in analogy with the sun, is attributed to the variation in the strength of the cycle.Paper presented at the COSPAR Symposium on Fast Transients in X- and Gamma-Rays, held at Varna, Bulgaria, 29–31 May, 1975.     

Modelling for prediction of global deforestation based on the growth of human population

Deforestation due to ever-increasing activities of the growing human population has been an issue of major concern for the global environment. It has been especially serious in the last several decades in the developing countries. A population-deforestation model has been developed by the authors to relate the population density with the cumulative forest loss, which is defined and computed as the total forest loss until 1990 since prior to human civilisation. NOAA-AVHRR-based land cover map and the FAO forest statistics have been used for 1990 land cover. A simulated land cover map, based on climatic data, is used for computing the natural land cover before the human impacts. With the 1990 land cover map as base and using the projected population growth, predictions are then made for deforestation until 2025 and 2050 in both spatial and statistical forms.     

The lateritic iron ores,itabiritic quartzites and epidiorites of the Kemmangundi area,Bababudan hills,Mysore state,India

Epidiorites forming the basement and occurring also as bands in ferruginous quartzites in Kemmangundi in the Bababudan Hills of Mysore State are described in regard to their structure, mineralogy, petrography, and the petrochemistry of the epidiorites and their role in the formation of the two types of iron ores in the area. The ferruginous quartzites, itabiritic iron ores, and epidiorites strike NW-SE and were simultaneously structurally deformed. They may be considered as eugeosynclinal formations. The data collected do not suggest any genetic relation between the itabiritic ores and the epidiorites. The lateritic iron ores on the other hand, were formed by the alteration of the ferruginous quartzites (itabiritic ores).

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Zusammenfassung Itabiritische Quarzite und Epidiorite aus Kemmangundi in den Bababudan-Hügeln des Staates Mysore wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Struktur, ihres Mineralbestandes und ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung untersucht. Insbesondere wird der Zusammenhang mit den beiden Typen von Eisenlagerstätten in der Gegend beleuchtet: Die itabiritischen Quarzite haben sich nicht aus den Epidioriten gebildet; dagegen sind die lateritischen Eisenerze als Verwitterungsprodukte der Eisenquarzite zu betrachten.

     

The dust grains in the coma of Comet West

The observed variation of reddening as function of the heliocentric distance and the spatial variation of reddening within the coma of Comet West in the visual wavelength range have been considered to infer the properties of the cometary dust grains. The relevant model incorporates the variation in the size distribution function as well as the composition of the spherical grains. The real part of the complex index of refraction (m = m – im) is chosen such thatm = 1.6. The imaginary part is required to vary from m = 0.2 to 0.05 over the wavelength range 0.4 to 0.7 m. This choice of refractive index corresponds to dirty silicate grains. As a by-product, the model also satisfies the observed polarization and albedo for the Comet West.     

Geomorphological study of sundarban deltaic estuary

Study of landforms in Sundarbans deltaic estuary is necessary in regular basis due to its importance and impact on ecology, climate and economy. Remote sensing has proved as an important tool to study this. Multi-temporal satellite data helps to delineate the various geomorphic classes in different time domain and also provide inputs to study the coastal erosion and accretion. Finer spatial and better temporal resolution will be an added adventure for this kind of study.     

Spectral angle mapper and object-based classification combined with hyperspectral remote sensing imagery for obtaining land use/cover mapping in a Mediterranean region

In this study, we test the potential of two different classification algorithms, namely the spectral angle mapper (SAM) and object-based classifier for mapping the land use/cover characteristics using a Hyperion imagery. We chose a study region that represents a typical Mediterranean setting in terms of landscape structure, composition and heterogeneous land cover classes. Accuracy assessment of the land cover classes was performed based on the error matrix statistics. Validation points were derived from visual interpretation of multispectral high resolution QuickBird-2 satellite imagery. Results from both the classifiers yielded more than 70% classification accuracy. However, the object-based classification clearly outperformed the SAM by 7.91% overall accuracy (OA) and a relatively high kappa coefficient. Similar results were observed in the classification of the individual classes. Our results highlight the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing data as well as object-based classification approach for mapping heterogeneous land use/cover in a typical Mediterranean setting.     

Long-Term Variability of Nutrients and Chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay: A Retrospective Analysis, 1985–2008

A retrospective analysis of freshwater discharge, riverine dissolved nutrient loads, dissolved nutrients, and chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay from 1985 to 2008 is presented. It is evident that each field displays an interannual variability averaged over the Bay. The N and P loads peaked in 1997 and have fluctuated with a decreasing trend since early 2004. Dissolved nutrient concentrations in the Bay appear to be largely controlled by riverine nutrient loads. The temporal variability of chlorophyll is positively correlated with nutrient loads and concentrations. Over the study period, N:P (DIN:DIP) molar ratios were consistently higher than the Redfield ratio (N:P?=?16:1) and strongly correlated with river discharge (R ²?=?0.68, p??16:1), and N is the limiting nutrient in summer and early autumn (N:P?4 from anoxic sediments. Long-term climate indices, such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), appear to exert only a moderate control over the riverine discharge to the Bay or over the ecosystem response in terms of chlorophyll in the Bay. While not all related mechanisms can be inferred from available data, this analysis should help in determining future data needs for monitoring water quality and human and climate influence on the health of the Bay.     

Hydrogeomorphological studies by remote sensing application in niva river basin, chittoor district, andhra pradesh

To evaluate the hydrogeomorphological conditions of Niva river basin Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, geological, hydrogeological and geomorphological studies were carried out. through visual interpretation of Landsat 5, FCC with adequate ground truth. The study shows that the Niva river basin is occupied by granites and gneisses of Archaean age with intrusive bodies of dolerites. The recent alluvium deposits are present along the stream courses. The study area is traversed by various directional fractures/lineaments and most of them are NESW, ENE-WSW and EW directions. Groundwater potential of geomorphological units viz. Denudational hill, Residual hill, Pediment, Pediplain and Valley fill is discussed.