Water Harvesting Structure Positioning by Using Geo-Visualization Concept and Prioritization of Mini-Watersheds Through Morphometric Analysis in the Lower Tapi Basin

Geo-visualization concept has been used for positioning water harvesting structures in Varekhadi watershed consisting of 26 mini watersheds, falling in Lower Tapi Basin (LTB), Surat district, Gujarat state. For prioritization of the mini watersheds, morphometric analysis was utilized by using the linear parameters such as bifurcation ratio (R_b), drainage density (D_d), stream frequency (F_u), texture ratio (T), length of overland flow (L_o) and the shape parameter such as form factor (R_f), shape factor (B_s), elongation ratio (R_e), compactness constant (C_c) and circularity ratio (R_c). The different prioritization ranks were assigned after evaluation of the compound factor. 3 Dimensional (3D) Elevation Model (DEM) from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and DEM from topo contour were analyzed in ArcScene 9.1 and the fly tool was utilized for the Geo-visualization of Varekhadi mini watersheds as per the priority ranks. Combining this with soil map and slope map, the best feasibility of positioning check dams in mini-watershed no. 1, 5 and 24 has been proposed, after validation of the sites.     

Simulation and evaluation of satellite scanner stereo images

During 1986–1996, several satellite missions on Stereoscopy are planned. This paper sumarises an attempt in evaluating these stereoscopic images for cartographic purposes. For the purpose, we have taken into account a proposed Indian experiment on satellite stereoscopy, which will be based on push-broom type scanning and a ground resolution of 70m×70m. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A04KF003 00004     

Holocene tectono-geomorphic evolution of Haryana plains,Western Ganga plain,India

Haryana plain is the drainage divide between the Ganga plain in the east and the Indus plain in the west. Being a part of the Himalayan foreland, its geomorphology, sedimentation processes, and tectonism are broadly controlled by the Himalayan tectonics. Soil and geomorphological mapping in Haryana plain bring out geomorphic features such as paleochannels, various active drainage patterns, and landforms such as old fluvial plains, floodplains, piedmonts, pediments, terminal fans, and eolian plains. Based on the degree of soil development, and Optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages, the soil-geomorphic units were grouped into six members (QIMS-I to VI) (Quaternary Indus Morphostratigraphic Sequence) of a morphostratigraphic sequence: QIMS-VI 9.86–5.38 Ka, QIMS-V 5.38–4.45 Ka, QIMS-IV 4.45–3.60 Ka, QIMS-III 3.60–2.91 Ka, QIMS-II <?2.91–1.52 Ka, and QIMS-I <?1.52 Ka. OSL chronology of different geomorphic features suggests six episodes of tectono-geomorphic evolution in the region since 10 Ka. Neotectonic features such as nine faults, two lineaments, and five fault-bounded tectonic blocks have been identified. Independent tilting and sagging of the blocks in response to neotectonics have resulted in modification of landforms, depositional processes, and hydro-geomorphology of the region. Major rivers like the Yamuna, the Ghaggar, and the Sutlej show different episodes of shifting of their courses. Lineament controlled few extinct channels have been recorded between 20 and 25 m depth below the surface in the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles. These buried channels are aligned along the paleo-course of the Lost Saraswati River interpreted from the existing literature and hence are considered as the course of the lost river. Seven terminal fans have been formed on the downthrown blocks of the associated faults. The Markanda Terminal Fan, the first of such features described, is indeed a splay terminal fan and was formed by a splay distributary system of the Markanda River. Association of three terminal fans of different ages with the Karnal fault indicates the segment-wise development of the fault from west to east. Also, comparison with other such studies in the Ganga plain to further east suggests that the terminal fans formed by streams with distributary drainage pattern occur only in semiarid regions as in the present area and thus are indicators of semiarid climate/paleoclimate. Though the whole region is tectonically active, the region between the Rohtak fault and Hisar fault is most active at present signified by the concentration of earthquake epicenters.     

Heavy metals in the Bombay harbour area

Bombay harbour is one of the major sinks, on the western peninsula of the Indian subcontinent, receiving anthropogenic pollutants including heavy metals, radionuclides and hydrocarbons in addition to sewage. To evaluate possible impacts of a few heavy metals on the harbour ecosystem, the distribution patterns of Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb and Sr in water, sediment and two benthic species, the blood clam Anadara granosa and gobiid mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddaerti were studied over the period 1976–1980. The present levels of the ten elements in biotic and abiotic matrices were found to be far below those that are known to affect adversely the life and quality of benthic communities. Furthermore, the concentrations of these elements in various compartments neither revealed any systematic temporal or spatial fluctuations nor reflected the substantial incease in the total budget over the past 8–12 years. Also these levels were within the range reported in the nearshore and oceanic environs along the west coast. In view of this, the poor growth and high percentage mortality observed in the clam Anadara granosa fished from the Sewri clam bed compared to that of the stock harvested from the Trombay region in the harbour may well be due to anoxic conditions caused by organic pollutants present in the domestic sewage and industrial wastes released in the vicinity of the Sewri clam bed.     

Predicting agricultural drought in eastern Rajasthan of India using NDVI and standardized precipitation index

In the present study, prediction of agricultural drought has been addressed through prediction of agricultural yield using a model based on NDVI-SPI. It has been observed that the meteorological drought index SPI with different timescale is correlated with NDVI at different lag. Also NDVI of current fortnight is correlated with NDVI of previous lags. Based on the correlation coefficients, the Multiple Regression Model was developed to predict NDVI. The NDVI of current fortnight was found highly correlated with SPI of previous fortnight in semi-arid and transitional zones. The correlation between NDVI and crop yield was observed highest in first fortnight of August. The RMSE of predicted yield in drought year was found to be about 17.07 kg/ha which was about 6.02 per cent of average yield. In normal year, it was 24 kg/Ha denoting about 2.1 per cent of average yield.     

Application of S-SEBI model for crop evapotranspiration using Landsat-8 data over parts of North India

Estimation and monitoring of crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) or consumptive water use over large-area holds the key to irrigation management plans and regional drought preparedness. The objective of this study was to estimate ET_c by applying the simplified-surface energy balance index (S-SEBI) model to Landsat-8 data for the 2014–2015 period in parts of North India. An average ET_c was estimated 2.72 and 2.47 in mm day^?1 with 0.22, 0.18 standard deviation and 0.11, 0.07 standard error for Kharif and Rabi crops, respectively. On validation part, a close relationship was observed between S-SEBI derived and scintillometer observed evaporative fraction with 0.85 correlation coefficient and 0.86 agreement index. The statistical analysis also endorses the results accuracy and reliability with 0.026 and 0.602, relative root-mean square errors and model efficiency for wheat crop, respectively. The study showed that normalized difference vegetation index and LST are closely related and serve as a proxy for qualitative representation of ET_c.     

Estimating surface ice velocity on Chhota Shigri glacier from satellite data using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique

Information about the surface ice velocity is one of the important parameters for Mass balance and Glacier dynamics. This study estimates the surface ice velocity of Chhota Shigri glacier using Landsat (TM/ETM+) and ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) temporal data-sets from a period of 2009 to 2016 and 2006 to 2007, respectively. A correlation based Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique has been used for the estimation of surface ice velocity. This technique uses multiple window sizes in the same data-set. Four window sizes (low, medium, high, very high) are used for each image pair. Estimated results have been compared with the published data. The outcomes attained from the medium window size closely matches with the published results. The estimated mean surface ice velocities of medium window size are 24 and 28.5 myr^?1 for 2009/2010 and 2006/2007 images pair. Highest velocity is observed in middle part of the glacier while lowest in the accumulation zone of the glacier.     

Results of optical, thermomagnetic and electron microprobe analyses of titanomagnetite grains

This paper presents results of a study of titanomagnetite from specimens of ten different rock units. The rock units comprise trachytes, basalts, ignimbrites, nephelinites, olivine melanephelinites and welded tuffs from Kenya, with ages ranging from recent to Precambrian. The correlations of the stability index with opaque petrology and with thermomagnetic analyses of the titanomagnetite and titanomaghemite bearing specimens appear to be significant. Electron microprobe analyses of the titanomagnetite grains indicate a high percentage of “impurities” in the low stability index specimens and elevation of the Curie point in the high stability index specimens.     

Two types of ELF hiss observed at Varanasi, India

The morphology of ELF hiss events observed at low-latitude ground station Varanasi (L = 1.07, geomagnetic latitude 14°55′N) are reported, which consist of two types: (1) events which propagated in ducted mode along the geomagnetic field line corresponding to observing station Varanasi and (2) events which propagated in ducted mode along higher L-values (L = 4–6), after reaching the lower edge of ionosphere excite the Earth-ionosphere wave guide and propagate towards equator to be received at Varanasi. To understand the generation mechanism of ELF hiss, incoherent Cerenkov radiated power from the low latitude and middle latitude plasmasphere are evaluated. Considering this estimated power as an input for wave amplification through wave-particle interaction, the growth rate and amplification factor is evaluated which is too small to explain the observed wave intensity. It is suggested that some non-linear mechanism is responsible for the generation of ELF hiss.