An analysis of climatic and human induced determinants of agricultural land use changes in Shupiyan area of Jammu and Kashmir state,India

The economy of the Jammu and Kashmir state depends mostly on traditional forms of occupation. Unaffected and unaltered by modern day industrial developments and changing times, the indigenous traditional occupations of farming, animal husbandry and horticulture forms the backbone of the state economy. But in the last few decades, Agriculture in the state as well as the study area is receiving a set back and Horticulture is flourishing leaps and bounds. The present study aims to analyze various determinants responsible for this change. Climatic as well as field data was thoroughly analyzed to comprehend the situation. A Mann–Kendall test was done on the climatic data to support the hypotheses. It was observed that initially changing climatic trends proved to be the triggering factor supporting this change, but in due course of time, the determinants took an economic and psychological turn. The perusal of Indian Meteorological Data reveals an increasing trend of annual mean maximum temperature from 16.78 °C in 1985 to 17.58 °C in 1995 and an increase from 5.30 °C to 7.00 °C in the annual mean minimum temperature, and as such acting as a triggering factor for the land use conversion. Further, the mean annual rainfall shows a decrease from 100.75 mm in 1981 to 79.43 mm in 1991. The greater economic returns from horticulture as well as the changing behavioral patterns of people over the time further cemented its growth. The farmers have since persisted with the horticulture activity as it has proven to be an economically a much better lucrative enterprise.     

Fisher Matrix-based Predictions for Measuring the <Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis> = 3.35 Binned 21-cm Power Spectrum using the Ooty Wide Field Array (OWFA)

We use the Fisher matrix formalism to predict the prospects of measuring the redshifted 21-cm power spectrum in different k-bins using observations with the upcoming Ooty Wide Field Array (OWFA) which will operate at 326.5 MHz. This corresponds to neutral hydrogen (HI) at z = 3.35, and a measurement of the 21-cm power spectrum provides a unique method to probe the large-scale structures at this redshift. Our analysis indicates that a 5σ detection of the binned power spectrum is possible in the k range 0.05 ≤ k ≤ 0.3 Mpc^?1 with 1000 hours of observation. We find that the signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) peaks in the k range 0.1?0.2 Mpc^?1 where a 10σ detection is possible with 2000 hours of observations. Our analysis also indicates that it is not very advantageous to observe beyond 1000 h in a single field-of-view as the SNR increases rather slowly beyond this in many of the small k-bins. The entire analysis reported here assumes that the foregrounds have been completely removed.     

Geochemical and oxygen isotope perspective of a new R chondrite Dhofar 1671: Affinity with ordinary chondrites

Dhofar 1671 is a relatively new meteorite that previous studies suggest belongs to the Rumuruti chondrite class. Major and REE compositions are generally in agreement with average values of the R chondrites (RCs). Moderately volatile elements such as Se and Zn abundances are lower than the R chondrite values that are similar to those in ordinary chondrites (OCs). Porphyritic olivine pyroxene (POP), radial pyroxene (RP), and barred olivine (BO) chondrules are embedded in a proportionately equal volume of matrix, one of the characteristic features of RCs. Microprobe analyses demonstrate compositional zoning in chondrule and matrix olivines showing Fa‐poor interior and Fa‐rich outer zones. Precise oxygen isotope data for chondrules and matrix obtained by laser‐assisted fluorination show a genetic isotopic relationship between OCs and RCs. On the basis of our data, we propose a strong affinity between these groups and suggest that OC chondrule precursors could have interacted with a ¹⁷O‐rich matrix to form RC chondrules (i.e., ?¹⁷O shifts from ~1‰ to ~3‰). These interactions could have occurred at the same time as “exotic” clasts in brecciated samples formed such as NWA 10214 (LL3–6), Parnallee (LL3), PCA91241 (R3.8–6), and Dhofar 1671 (R3.6). We also infer that the source of the oxidation and ¹⁷O enrichment is the matrix, which may have been enriched in ¹⁷O‐rich water. The abundance of matrix in RCs relative to OCs, ensured that these rocks would be apparently more oxidized and appreciably ¹⁷O‐enriched. In situ analysis of Dhofar 1671 is recommended to further strengthen the link between OCs and RCs.     

New calculations of interstellar dust (ID) contraction in a non-isothermal regime

We have calculated the opacity as resulting from different interstellar grain models, molecules, atoms, and ions. The resulting opacities have been applied to a numerical code used to follow the thermal evolution of a contracting cloud in one dimension. An exact analytical and computational developments of both Mie theory for isolated grains and Güttler's formulae for composite grain models have been used to calculate the extinction coefficients. We have studied two models of composite grain and three models of isolated grain. The opacity of interstellar grains has been calculated in the temperature range 10–1500 K. The molecular opacity is splitted into continuous and line opacities. The different sources of continuous opacity have been studied. The line opacity has also been included. The atomic opacities are also considered. The hydrodynamical equations are solved explicitly but the energy and Poisson equations are solved implicitly.It has been found that the thermal evolution during contraction of protostellar clouds is sensitive to both: the assumed grain models and the considered chemical composition. A cloud of an initial temperature of 10 K collapsed to a stage in which the temperature increases to 91 000 K and the density reached to 0.16 g cm^–3.     

NanoSIMS analysis of organic carbon from the Tissint Martian meteorite: Evidence for the past existence of subsurface organic‐bearing fluids on Mars

Two petrographic settings of carbonaceous components, mainly filling open fractures and occasionally enclosed in shock‐melt veins, were found in the recently fallen Tissint Martian meteorite. The presence in shock‐melt veins and the deuterium enrichments (δD up to +1183‰) of these components clearly indicate a pristine Martian origin. The carbonaceous components are kerogen‐like, based on micro‐Raman spectra and multielemental ratios, and were probably deposited from fluids in shock‐induced fractures in the parent rock of Tissint. After precipitation of the organic matter, the rock experienced another severe shock event, producing the melt veins that encapsulated a part of the organic matter. The C isotopic compositions of the organic matter (δ¹³C = ?12.8 to ?33.1‰) are significantly lighter than Martian atmospheric CO₂ and carbonate, providing a tantalizing hint for a possible biotic process. Alternatively, the organic matter could be derived from carbonaceous chondrites, as insoluble organic matter from the latter has similar chemical and isotopic compositions. The presence of organic‐rich fluids that infiltrated rocks near the surface of Mars has significant implications for the study of Martian paleoenvironment and perhaps to search for possible ancient biological activities on Mars.     

On the distribution of rainfall over the Sultanate of Oman

Rainfall distribution over the Sultanate of Oman is analysed. Data from seven recently installed weather stations as well as supporting data from scattered sources were used. Distribution maps were drawn. NW and NE winter wind meet resulting in troughs and rainfall on the Mountains and Coastal Strips. Summer monsoon wind dominates the S. Central areas of overlap receive light showers from both summer monsoons and winter local troughs. Heavier amounts of rainfall are generally associated with high altitude.     

Investigating variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1912 and its surrounding field

In this work,we studied the variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1912 based on the photometric observations and Gaia DR2 data.More than 3600 CCD frames in B,V,R filters were reduced,and we obtained the light curves that span about 63 hours.By analyzing these light curves,we detected 24 variable stars,including 16 periodic variable stars,seven eclipsing binaries and one star whose type is unclear.Among these 24 variable stars,11 are newly discovered,which are classified as sixγDoradus stars,oneδScuti star,three detached binaries and one contact binary.We also confirmed 13 previously known variable stars.Based on cluster members identified by Cantat-Gaudin et al.(2018),we inferred cluster memberships for these detected variable stars.Using Gaia DR2 data,we plotted a new color-magnitude diagram for NGC1912,and showed the nature of variable cluster members in kinematical properties and heliocentric distance.Among the 24 variable stars,seven variables are probable cluster members,which show homogeneity in kinematic characters and space position with the established cluster members.Four of the seven variable cluster members are the previously discovered stars,consisting of twoγDor stars and twoδSct stars.The remaining three variable cluster members,which are allγDor stars,are firstly detected in this work.The main physical parameters of these variable cluster members estimated from the color-magnitude diagram are log(age/yr)=8.75,[Fe/H]=-0.1,m-M=10.03 mag,and E(B-V)=0.307.     

Scale impacts on spatial variability in reference evapotranspiration

ABSTRACT

Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the most important components in the hydrological cycle, and a key variable in hydrological modelling and water resources management. However, understanding the impacts of spatial variability in ET and the appropriate scale at which ET data should be incorporated into hydrological models, particularly at the regional scale, is often overlooked. This is in contrast to dealing with the spatial variability in rainfall data where existing guidance is widely available. This paper assesses the impacts of scale on the estimation of reference ET (ETo) by comparing data from individual weather stations against values derived from three national datasets, at varying resolutions. These include the UK Climate Impacts Programme 50 km climatology (UKCP₅₀), the UK Met Office 5 km climatology (UKMO₅) and the regional values published in the Agricultural Climate of England and Wales (ACEW). The national datasets were compared against the individual weather station data and the UKMO₅ was shown to provide the best estimate of ETo at a given site. The potential impacts on catchment modelling were then considered by mapping variance in ETo to show how geographical location and catchment size can have a major impact, with small lowland catchments having much higher variance than those with much larger areas or in the uplands. Some important implications for catchment hydrological modelling are highlighted.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis; Associate editor L. Ruiz     

GPS Water Vapor and Its Comparison with Radiosonde and ERA-Interim Data in Algeria

Remote sensing of atmospheric water vapor using global positioning system(GPS) data has become an effective tool in meteorology,weather forecasting and climate research. This paper presents the estimation of precipitable water(PW)from GPS observations and meteorological data in Algeria,over three stations located at Algiers,Bechar and Tamanrasset.The objective of this study is to analyze the sensitivity of the GPS PW estimates for the three sites to the weighted mean temperature(T_m),obtained separately from two types of T_m–T_s regression [one general,and one developed specifically for Algeria(T_s stands for surface temperature)],and calculated directly from ERA-Interim data. The results show that the differences in T_m are of the order of 18 K,producing differences of 2.01 mm in the final evaluation of PW. A good agreement is found between GPS-PW and PW calculated from radiosondes,with a small mean difference with Vaisala radiosondes.A comparison between GPS and ERA-Interim shows a large difference(4 mm) in the highlands region. This difference is possibly due to the topography. These first results are encouraging,in particular for meteorological applications in this region,with good hope to extend our dataset analysis to a more complete,nationwide coverage over Algeria.     

Land use history of Jebel Marra,Sudan, as related to the present distribution of woody vegetation

This study attempts to relate vegetation distribution to land use history in Jebel Marra, the Democratic Republic of the Sudan. There are evidences that most,if not all, of the woody vegetation communities in Jebel Marra have been derived from some more complex types by continuous disturbance ssince antiquity. Here past and contemporary land use types are described and associated to woody plants distribution. Empirical stratified sampling methods of plant geographers and ecologists are applied to both natural and artificial systems. Frequencies, densities and diversities for all woody plant communities are estimated by standard ecological indices. It was found that throughout known history woody plant communities were subjected to different degrees of suppression. Thus, the present distribution of the woody plant communities reflects the different stages as well as modes of suppression. Drastic population movements and the resulting changes in land use types since antiquity, seem to be the chief explanation behind the variations in modes of suppression.