2-D deformation of two welded half-spaces due to a blind dip-slip fault

The solution of two-dimensional problem of an interface breaking long inclined dip-slip fault in two welded half-spaces is well known. The purpose of this note is to obtain the corresponding solution for a blind fault. The solution is valid for arbitrary values of the fault-depth and the dip angle. Graphs showing the variation of the displacement field with the distance from the fault, for different values of fault depth and dip angle are presented. Contour maps showing the stress field around a long dip-slip fault are also obtained     

Palaeomagnetism of metadolerite dykes and sills from Proterozoic Shillong basin,NE India: Implications related to the age and magmatism

The basement gneiss of the Shillong plateau and the overlying rocks of the Shillong basin have been dissected by a number of mafic dyke swarms represented by older Proterozoic dolerite dykes and sills named as Khasi greenstone and the younger set of Cretaceous dykes. The older dolerites dykes of Shillong basin are partly metamorphosed and have undergone low-grade metamorphism compared to the fresh unmetamorphosed Cretaceous dykes dominantly exposed in the BGC of West Garo hills region. The Khasi greenstones are tholeiitic in composition and range from basalt to basaltic andesite. Most of the metamorphosed mafic dykes indicate continental nature with some amount of overlapping oceanic tectonic setting. Palaeomagnetic study of the metadolerite dykes show a direction of magnetization of Dm=29, Im=38 (α₉₅ = 28.84; k = 48.33; N = 2) with a palaeolatitude of 21.3° N to the Indian sub-continent that clearly support the Proterozoic dyke/dyke swarm emplacement in the region. The magnetic carrier as inferred from IRM studies is magnetite in the range of psuedosingle to multi domain (MD) states with minor contribution from hematite.     

Performance of image classification on hyperspectral imagery for lithological mapping

SVM and SAM classifiers for the lithological mapping using Hyperion data in parts of Gadag schist belt of western Dharwar craton, Karnataka, India were used. The main objective of the present study is to assess and compare the potential use of Hyperion data set for lithological mapping. Accuracy assessment of the derived thematic maps was based on the analysis of the confusion matrix statistics computed for each classification map. For consistency, the same set of validation points were used in evaluating the accuracy of the lithological thematic maps produced. On the basis of the accuracy assessment results, it appears that SVM generally outperformed the SAM classifier in both OA accuracy and individual classes’ accuracies. OA accuracy and Kc for SVM is 96.93% and 0.9655, whereas for SAM it is 74.02% and 0.7085 respectively. SVM classification is the best in describing the spatial distribution and the cover density of each lithology, as was also indicated from the statistics of the individual class results. The individual class accuracy were also analyzed for the SVM and the result show that PA ranges from 87% to 100% and UA ranges from 91% to 100%, whereas for SAM ranges from 15% to 95%, and from 31% to 100% respectively. The SVM method could effectively classify and improve on the existing geological map for the Gadag schist belt (GSB) using hyperspectral data. The results could be validated through field visits. Therefore, it is concluded that hyperspectral remote sensing data can be efficiently used to improve existing maps, especially in areas where same rock types show variable degree of alteration over smaller spatial scales.     

Sorption of Cesium on Clay Colloids: Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies

Sorption of radionuclides onto stable colloids can significantly enhance their transport in groundwater. Batch adsorption studies were performed to evaluate the influence of various experimental parameters like initial pH, contact time, temperature and concentration of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions on the sorption of Cs on clay. The sorption process is dependent on pH of the solution with distribution coefficient (K _d) found to increase with increase in pH. The kinetic experiments were carried out at different temperatures, and the results have shown that the sorption process fits well into a pseudo-second-order mechanism with apparent activation energy of 45.7?kJ/mol. The rate constant was found to decrease with increase in temperature. The thermodynamic parameters such as ?G ⁰, ?H ⁰ and ?S ⁰ were calculated. The negative value of ?H ⁰ indicates that the reaction is exothermic. The negative values obtained for ?G ⁰ indicated that the sorption of cesium on clay was spontaneous at all studied concentrations. The distribution coefficient was found to decrease with increasing concentration of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. The cesium sorption data were fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherms. The values of Langmuir separation factor (R _L) indicate a favorable Cs adsorption. The values of mean free energy of sorption (E) at various temperatures ranged from 10.5 to 11.1?kJ/mol, which indicates that the sorption process follows chemisorption.     

Influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on UV Index variations – a study over tropical urban region using ground based observations and satellite data

Measurements of total ozone column and solar UV radiation under different atmospheric conditions are needed to define variations of both UV and ozone and to study the impact of ozone depletion at the Earth’s surface. In this study, spectral and broadband measurements of UV-B irradiance were obtained along with total ozone observations and aerosol optical depth measurements in the tropical urban region of Hyderabad, south India. We specifically used an Ultra-Violet Multifilter Rotating Shadow band Radiometer (UVMFR-SR), to measure UV irradiance in time and space. To assess the aerosol and O₃ effects on ground-reaching UV irradiance, we used measurements from a Microtops II sun photometer in addition to the Tropospheric Ultraviolet Visible radiation (TUV) model. We also assessed the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program – Operational Line Scanner (DMSP-OLS) night time satellite data for inferring biomass burning fires during the study period. Results clearly suggested a negative correlation between the DMSP-OLS satellite derived fire count data and UVMFR-SR data suggesting that aerosols from biomass burning are directly attenuating UV irradiance in the study region. Also, correlation analysis between UV index and ozone measurements from sun photometer and TOMS-Ozone Mapping Instrument (OMI) indicated a clear decrease in ground reaching UV-B irradiance during higher ozone conditions. The higher levels are attributed to photochemical production of O₃ during the oxidation of trace gases emitted from biomass burning. Results also suggested a relatively high attenuation in UV irradiance (~6% higher) from smoke particles than dust. We also found a relatively good agreement between the modeled (TUV) and measured UV irradiance spectra for different atmospheric conditions. Our results highlight the factors affecting UV irradiance in a tropical urban environment, south India.     

A composite fall-slippage model for cliff recession in the sedimentary coastal cliffs

A composite fall-slippage model is proposed in this study for the Tertiary sedimentary coastal cliffs of Varkala in the western coastal tract of Peninsular India which are retreating landwards due to the combination of several factors. The fall model in the present study accounts both spring seepage and wave action, resulting in undercutting and this fall affects only the topmost laterite and the just below sandstone in the cliff. Slippage in this area affects all the litho-units and hence the geologic characteristics of all the litho-units are considered for developing the slippage model. This mathematically derived model can be used in other cliffs exhibiting the same morphology as well as the one controlled by the same influencing factors. This model differs from other models in incorporating multi-lithounits as well as multi-notches. Varkala cliffs form a part of the aspiring geopark in the Global Geopark Network and hence a study on the cliff recession is a pressing requirement.     

Analysis of aerosol and carbon monoxide characteristics over Arabian Sea during crop residue burning period in the Indo-Gangetic Plains using multi-satellite remote sensing datasets

In this study, we have used multi-satellite data to retrieve aerosol loadings and carbon monoxide (CO) pollution over the Arabian Sea, caused due to anthropogenic activities over the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) in India. Relatively high aerosol and CO loadings during 9–14 November 2007 over Arabian Sea were attributed to crop residues burning in the IGP and fireworks during Diwali festival. Aerosol index (AI) obtained from ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) and CO from measurements of pollution in the troposphere instrument (MOPITT). CO showed higher values over the Arabian Sea suggesting long-range transport of anthropogenic aerosols and trace gases from the continental to Arabian Sea region.     

Alterations in Certain Organic Components and Serum Electrolytes in Notopterus notopterus Chronically Exposed to Phenolic Compounds

• The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of three sublethal concentrations (1/10th, 1/15th and 1/20th fractions of 96 h LC₅₀) of phenol (P), dinitrophenol (DNP), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and their antagonistic [(PCP + DNP)/P], additive [(DNP + P)/PCP] and synergistic [(P + DNP)/PCP] combinations, on several organic and inorganic components of haemopoetic systems of Notopterus notopterus after 30 d of exposure.
• Glucose, lactate, total phosphorus, non-protein nitrogen, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and chloride were found to be increased in most cases while protein and cholesterol were found to be decreased.
• It has been concluded that these alterations in blood parameters might be due to a damage or hyperactivity of liver, kidney and endocrine glands, the main centres for controlling the tissue metabolism.

     

Stability assessment and characterization of colloids in coastal groundwater aquifer system at Kalpakkam

Natural colloids have a potential role in facilitating the transport of radionuclides in groundwater. To assess the role of mobile colloidal phases in radionuclide transport, characterization of colloids for size, size distribution, zeta potential, surface charge and elemental composition is required. Groundwater samples were collected from 12 borewells in the study area and were characterized with respect to physicochemical parameters. Water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, specific conductance, TDS and dissolved O₂ were measured in situ. Based on salinity, two groundwater types were identified in the study area: (1) freshwater type and (2) brackish type. Laboratory and field-scale turbidity measurements in addition to quantitative analysis of major ions were carried out. It was observed that the colloid concentrations are reduced at higher salinity. Zetasizer, particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the colloidal particles in groundwater. Colloids were present in all the groundwater samples, the concentration varying between 0.05 and 6 mg/L. Colloid concentration was greater in wells with low ionic strength and the number of colloidal particles varied between 3 × 10⁹ and 4 × 10¹¹ particles/L. The average colloid size varied between 200 and 350 nm for various samples. The zeta potential of the colloidal particles varied between −25.5 and –34.0 mV. SEM analysis of colloidal particles revealed the presence of clays particularly kaolinite and that the mineral composition of colloids reflects the mineralogy of the aquifer. For proper risk assessment and remediation studies, the role of colloids in radionuclide transport assumes greater importance. This study highlights the need for, and relevance of, detailed colloid characterization to assess its role in the migration of radionuclides from near surface disposal facilities.