Mapping of suspended sediments using site specific seasonal algorithms

This article reports a preliminary work in which two site specific seasonal algorithms have been proposed for estimating the suspended sediments concentration (SSC) from the digital numbers recorded on Indian Remote sensing Satellite, IRS-P4 Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) sensor. For estimation of SSC, the proposed algorithms utilize dark pixel deduction atmospheric correction technique. The computations are performed with respect to north east monsoon phase situations of Palk Strait coastal stretch. The algorithms performance was satisfactory during the north east monsoon period. Although the results obtained cannot be generalized, we suggest that the authority of proposed algorithms can be extended to other seasons with the addition of more temporal experimental validation data sets and with numeric constants adjusted to present existing conditions. (As this area was severely affected by Tsunami, it may have dissimilar conditions at present).     

Stationary spatially modulated fourier transform spectro-radiometer

Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing - A stationary, compact, spatially modulated Fourier Transform spectro-radiometer based on triangular, common path Sagnac interferometer has been...     

Predictability of low frequency modes

Summary In this paper we propose a procedure for the extended integration of low frequency modes of the time scale of 30 to 50 days. A major limitation of the extended integrations arise from a contamination of low frequency modes as a result of energy exchanges from the higher frequency modes. In this study we show an example on the prediction of low frequency mode to almost a month which is roughly 3 weeks beyond the conventional predictability. This was accomplished by filtering the higher frequency modes from the initial state. The initial state included a time mean state and a low frequency mode. The sea surface temperature anomalies on this time scale and the annual cycle were also prescribed.The specific experiment relates to the occurrence of a dry and a wet spell in the monsoon region. The meridional passage of an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over the lower troposphere and the eastward passage of a negative velocity potential anomaly over the upper levels of the Indian monsoon, on this time scale, are reasonably predicted. The aforementioned experiment was carried out with the 1979 data sets of the global experiment. A second example during an anomalous southward propagation of the low frequency waves over the Indian monsoon region during 1984 was also reasonably predicted by this model. Suggestions for further experimentation on the predictability of low frequency modes are proposed.With 16 Figures     

Decision of threshold values for extraction of turbidity for inland wetland using IRS P6 LISS III data

Wetland is a kind of natural resource with fast dynamic changes. Around 50% of the earth’s wetlands are estimated to have already disappeared worldwide over the last hundred years through conversion to industrial, agricultural, and residential developments. It is important for wetland protection and management to accurately map the wetland distribution by remote sensing and GIS. A study of the water turbidity and water quality of the wetland is essential to assess the fitness of the water for various purposes—irrigation, drinking, other domestic use, and industry. In the present study, an attempt has been made to know the inland wetland of Salem taluk of Salem district and to monitor changes in turbidity conditions for post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons. With the IRS P6 LISS III satellite image, indices images were generated for the extraction of water spread boundary. An automatic determination method of the threshold was examined to produce masks for the extraction of turbidity, and a turbidity map was generated which classifies turbidity into high, medium, and low. From the analysis, it has been observed that the inland wetlands of post-monsoon constitute 489 ha of the study area, of which 21.3% is subjected to high turbidity. Pre-monsoon spread constitutes 362.81 ha, of which 15.7% is subjected to high turbidity in pre-monsoon. Thus, this study highlights the usefulness of remotely sensed data for wetland mapping, seasonal monitoring, and characterization. The result indicates that turbidity conditions are moderate and low in pre-monsoon and moderate in post-monsoon seasons.     

Impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami along the Tamil Nadu coastline: field survey review and numerical simulations

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami had a significant impact on the Tamil Nadu coast in India. In this paper, a range of field survey data collected by different survey teams available in literature have been analyzed and compiled to serve as a basis for validation of numerical tsunami simulations. The individual field surveys reveal a significant scatter in the run-up data between the different teams, which point out that the uncertainty in these data must be taken into account when using them for validation. The inundation of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is simulated for the coastlines of Chennai and Nagapattinam based on high-resolution topography. Different spatially uniform Manning friction as well as heterogeneous friction maps is used. Overall, the simulation results showed a good agreement with the field observations, but there are also some observed spatial variability in the goodness of the fit between the data and simulations. In some areas, clear discrepancies are found. The results obtained using detailed land use maps including spatially variable friction are not significantly more accurate than those employing spatially constant values. For most areas, parameters indicating relatively low friction provided best match with the observations. This may also suggest that the inundation is often strongly governed by local variations in topography.     

In-orbit Performance of UVIT and First Results

The performance of the ultraviolet telescope (UVIT) on-board AstroSat is reported. The performance in orbit is also compared with estimates made from the calibrations done on the ground. The sensitivity is found to be within \(\sim \)15% of the estimates, and the spatial resolution in the NUV is found to exceed significantly the design value of \(1.8^{\prime \prime }\) and it is marginally better in the FUV. Images obtained from UVIT are presented to illustrate the details revealed by the high spatial resolution. The potential of multi-band observations in the ultraviolet with high spatial resolution is illustrated by some results.     

Sonochemical Degradation of Pharmaceutical Wastewater

This study presents the influence of the addition of additives such as activated carbon, carbon tetra chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium dichromate on ultrasonic reduction of pharmaceutical wastewater chemical oxygen demand (COD) under laboratory conditions. The addition of activated carbon increased the % COD reduction whereas the combined addition of activated carbon and H₂O₂/CCl₄/K₂Cr₂O₇ was found to show higher reduction. Among the various combinations investigated, the combined addition of activated carbon and CCl₄ was found to be the best combination. However, the environmental and health problems associated with these chemicals limit the applicability of the process in an industrial level. Further investigation with this system showed that the initial pH and initial COD have significant influence on the removal rate. The data obtained were fitted with first order and Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic models. The values of the rate constants obtained indicated that the pharmaceutical wastewater can be treated efficiently by the proposed methods.