Analysis of the 2003 Varunawat Landslide,Uttarkashi, India using Earth Observation data

Mass movements such as landslides in mountainous terrains are natural degradation processes and one of the most important landscape-building factors. Varunawat Parbat overlooking Uttarkashi town witnessed a series of landslides on 23 September 2003 and the debris slides and rock falls continued for 2 weeks. This landslide complex was triggered due to the incessant rainfall prior to the event, and its occurrence led to the blockage of the pilgrim route to Gangotri (source of the Ganges river) and evacuation of thousands of people to safer places. Though there was no loss of lives due to timely evacuation, heavy losses to the property were reported. High-resolution stereoscopic earth observation data were acquired after the incidence to study the landslide in detail with emphasis on the cause of the landslide and mode of failure. Areas along the road and below the Varunawat foothill region are mapped for landslide risk. It was found that the foothill region of the Varunawat Parbat was highly disturbed by man-made activities and houses are dangerously located below steep slopes. The potential zones for landslides along with the existing active and old landslides are mapped. These areas are critical and their treatment with priority is required in order to minimise further landslide occurrences.     

Filtration and Clogging Behavior of Geotextiles with Roorkee Soils

Geotextile filters are rapidly replacing graded granular filters as the standard of practice in geotechnical design. The objective of the present study is to predict the behavior of the geotextile filter for the locally (Roorkee—India) available soils using three different geotextiles (two nonwoven and one woven). Nonwoven geotextiles are commonly used in filtration applications. This paper evaluates the long-term performance of two needle-punched nonwoven geotextiles and one woven geotextile. Filtration tests on soil–geotextile filter systems were conducted in the laboratory in order to evaluate the filtration and clogging behavior. Laboratory test program, include evaluation of performance of two different nonwoven and one woven geotextile filters in combination with locally available Solani River Sand and Clayey Soil. The paper describes the concept and details of the Fine Fraction Filtration (F³) test and presents data on three different geotextiles, which were evaluated using three different soil types. It is deduced that in all filtration applications, the non-woven geotextile would perform better than the woven geotextile.     

Cyclotron amplification of geomagnetic micropulsations Pc1 in the magnetosphere

A numerical analysis of cyclotron instabilities is carried out by computing the dispersion relation for a three component cold plasma-beam system. Rates of growth and damping for various values of the stream density are calculated from the dispersion relation. The rates of growth and damping increase monotonically as the number density of the proton stream increases. It is found that the frequencies at the rates of maximum growth and the damping decrease slightly to lower frequencies and a sharp peak at these frequencies becomes blunt. The minimum e-folding times of an ion cyclotron wave for (a) σ_s = 10⁻⁴, σ_i = 10⁻² and (b) σ_s = 10⁻¹, σ_i = 10⁻² are about 3·84 and 0·16 sec respectively in the vicinity of the equatorial plane at 6 Re, where σ_s and σ_i are the ratios of the beam density N_s and the helium ion (H₆⁺) density N_i to the total positive ions in the plasma-beam system.     

GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF WATER LEAKAGES FROM RESERVOIRS*

Considerable water leakages from reservoirs make it difficult to attain the planned storage capacity. In some cases water leakages give rise to suffusion followed by catastrophes. Until recently methods for locating water leakages were extremely imperfect. Geophysical methods offer good prospects in this direction. For solving these problems, it is effective to use streaming potential measurements, water flow rate observations and thermometry. Laboratory experiments were carried out in connection with the fact that water leakages from reservoirs are characterized by negative anomalies of natural currents; the more filtration discharge, the higher these anomalies are. As a result, the relationship governing the intensity of streaming potential and sand granulometric composition, electrolyte concentrations and other factors were revealed. To determine the velocity of water flowing to leakage sites, a special device, based on the relationship between the temperature of a heated body and its resistance, is applied. This device simultaneously makes it possible to measure the water medium temperature. Observations at reservoir sites were effected by moving along the reservoir non-polarizable potential electrodes and water velocity devices. Recordings were carried out automatically by the recording device of the logging apparatus. Under the conditions of ice cover on water surfaces, measurements were made through separate points by digging holes in the ice cover. Practical field observations were carried out at reservoir sites located in regions where fissured massive rocks as well as loose sediments predominate. In the first case field experiments were carried out in alpine reservoirs, in Armenia. The major water leakages were found to be concentrated on the right bank of the reservoir. In this connection it was not only possible to locate water leakage sites, but also to evaluate their relative intensity. These data were used for planning antifiltration measures. In the second case water leakages from a reservoir located in Uzbekistan in the submontane part of the Pamirs were studied. Streaming potential anomalies and high benthonic flow rates made it possible to discover high filtrations in the base and walls of the dam. Further perfection of these methods should not only permit the determination of water leakage sites and their relative intensity, but also filtration discharges in absolute units.     

DEFORMATION OF SEISMIC WAVELETS BY THIN LAYERS AND LAYERED BOUNDARIES*

Using plane wave theory and assuming a given input wavelet the shape of the reflected (or transmitted) wavelet from a layered boundary is derived. Several types of boundaries are considered, among them the weathered layer and a wedge shaped intermediate layer. Different angles of incidence and all internal multiples are taken into account. The examples shown in the figures can be used for a direct comparison between theoretical and observed shapes of reflected (or transmitted) wavelets from special boundaries.     

THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT PATTERN INDUCED BY AN OSCILLATING MAGNETIC DIPOLE IN A SEMI INFINITE CONDUCTIVE THIN PLATE*

In a paper by Koefoed and Kegge (1968), which was based on previous work of Wesley (1958), the electrical current pattern has been derived that is induced by an oscillating magnetic dipole in a semi-infinite thin plate of infinitesimal resistivity. In the present paper, the range of validity of the assumptions, on which the work of Wesley is based, is subjected to a theoretical analysis. It is found that the decisive factor for the validity of Wesley's derivation is the quotient of the square of the penetration depth of the electrical current over the product of the thickness of the plate and a distance that is indicative of the size of the current loops in the plate. Wesley's derivation is shown to be valid only when this factor is negligible. It is also shown that in this condition the imaginary component of the anomaly must be negligible. Model experiments are described in which the electrical current pattern is studied also in the range in which the derivation of Wesley is not valid. The procedure used in these model experiments was to measure the tangential component of the magnetic field strength very close to the metal plate that simulated the conductive dyke. In order to express the results of the measurements in terms of the imaginary to real ratio, these results are compared with an interpretation graph for field measurements that was published by Hedström and Parasnis (1958). It is found that the current pattern in the plate is essentially the same as that which follows from Wesley's derivation, provided that the imaginary to real ratio is less than one third. The measurements do not permit to draw conclusions regarding the current pattern in the plate in conditions that correspond to larger values of the imaginary to real ratio.     

THE LAUSANNE CONGRESS

The International Society for Photogrammetry held the Xlth International Congress at Lausanne during July 1968. The authors review the activities of five of the seven I.S.P. Commissions.