Weather yield model for the semi tropical region (Pakistan)

Weather models are essential tools for checking of the effect of the weather elements in terms of their effect on the production of the crop. This research is an attempt to see the effect of only two variables i.e., temperature and rainfall for the division Faisalabad (semitropical region of Pakistan).The model fitted is of the linear form:the values of a,b, c have been found. The expected yield has been calculated by using the aridity indices (X1 and X2 ) and the result in the form of coefficient of determination R2 has been found equal to 0.166. The significance of the regression coefficient has been tested, which shows that the contribution to the yield from aridity index at germination and that at ripening is significant.The wheat yields are the results of a wide variety of variables, most of which show varying degree of relationship with one another, some positive and some negative in terms of output. These variables may be technology, fertilizers, pesticides, epidemics, kinds of seeds used, market price of crop and the area under cultivation etc, which can be the source of variation in the wheat yield. Since rainfall during germination and temperature at the ripening periods are the necessary factors for the yield of wheat, for this purpose these parameters have been studied in order to their contribution.     

Reconnaissance geology in Upper Chitral,Baroghil and Karambar districts (northern Karakorum,Pakistan)

During the summer of 1992 a geological expedition crossed the northern Karakorum range in northern Pakistan, from the Chitral to Karambar valleys, from the villages of Mastuj to Imit. Some of the areas visited were geologically unknown. A number of structural units were crossed, belonging to the Karakorum block or to other crustal blocks north of it. They are: (a) the axial batholith, in which three plutonic bodies have been identified, and (b) the northern sedimentary belt (NSB), in which three major tectonostratigraphic units form thrust stacks dipping to the north. Their internal stratigraphy and structural style are partly different. The most complete contains a crystalline basement, transgressed by a marine succession during the Early Ordovician. The youngest strata are represented by the Reshun conglomerate, of inferred Cretaceous age. The northernmost unit of the NSB is tightly folded, whereas the central one forms a monocline. Vertical faults, mainly strike-slip, dissect the thrusted slabs. Metamorphic deformation is absent or reaches only the anchizone in the studied sector of the Karakorum NSB. To the north of the Karakorum proper there are several other tectonic units, separated by vertical faults. They are, from south to north: (a) the Taš Kupruk zone, with metavolcanics of basaltic to latibasaltic composition; (b) the Atark unit, mostly consisting of massive carbonate rocks of Mesozoic age; and (c) the Wakhan slates which consist of a thick widespread succession of dark slates, metasiltites and sandstones. The fine-grained elastic rocks are supposed to be Palaeozoic to Early Triassic in age. The Wakhan slates are intruded by plutons belonging to the East Hindu Kush batholith, from which a single K/Ar age on muscovite gave a Jurassic age.     

Active fault traces along Bhuj Fault and Katrol Hill Fault, and trenching survey at Wandhay, Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Several new active fault traces were identified along Katrol Hill Fault (KHF). A new fault (named as Bhuj Fault, BF) that extends into the Bhuj Plain was also identified. These fault traces were identified based on satellite photo interpretation and field survey. Trenches were excavated to identify the paleoseismic events, pattern of faulting and the nature of deformation. New active fault traces were recognized about 1km north of the topographic boundary between the Katrol Hill and the plain area. The fault exposure along the left bank of Khari River with 10m wide shear zone in the Mesozoic rocks and showing displacement of the overlying Quaternary deposits is indicative of continued tectonic activity along the ancient fault. The E-W trending active fault traces along the KHF in the western part changes to NE-SW or ENE-WSW near Wandhay village. Trenching survey across a low scarp near Wandhay village reveals three major fault strands F1, F2, and F3. These fault strands displaced the older terrace deposits comprising Sand, Silt and Gravel units along with overlying younger deposits from units 1 to 5 made of gravel, sand and silt. Stratigraphic relationship indicates at least three large magnitude earthquakes along KHF during Late Holocene or recent historic past.     

Solubility of platinum and palladium in silicate melts under high water pressure as a function of redox conditions

The solubility of platinum and palladium in a silicate melt of the composition Di ₅₅ An ₃₅ Ab ₁₀ was determined at 1200°C and 2 kbar pressure in the presence of H₂O-H₂ fluid at an oxygen fugacity ranging from the HM to WI buffer equilibria. The influence of sulfur on the solubility of platinum in fluid-bearing silicate melt was investigated at a sulfur fugacity controlled by the Pt-PtS equilibrium at 1200°C and a pressure defined in such a way that the \(f_{H_2 O} \) and \(f_{O_2 } \) values were identical to those of the experiments without sulfur. The experiments were conducted in a high pressure gas vessel with controlled hydrogen content in the fluid. Oxygen fugacity values above the NNO buffer were controlled by solid-phase buffer mixtures using the two-capsule technique. Under more reducing conditions, the contents of H₂O and H₂ were directly controlled by the argon to hydrogen ratio in a special chamber. The hydrogen fugacity varied from 5.2 × 10^?2 bar (HM buffer) to 1230 bar (\(X_{H_2 } \) = 0.5). Pt and Pd contents were measured in quenched glass samples by neutron activation analysis. The results of these investigations showed that the solubility of Pt and Pd increases significantly in the presence of water compared with experiments in dry systems. The content of Pd within the whole range of redox conditions and that of Pt at an oxygen fugacity between the HM to MW buffer reactions are weakly dependent on \(f_{O_2 } \) and controlled mainly by water fugacity. This suggests that, in addition to oxide Pt and Pd species soluble at the ppb level in haplobasaltic melts, much more soluble (ppm level) hydroxide complexes of these metals are formed under fluid-excess conditions. Despite a decrease in water fugacity under reducing conditions, Pt solubility increases sharply near the MW buffer. It was shown by electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry that, in contrast to dry melts, fluid-saturated silicate melts do not contain a pure metal phase (micronuggets). Therefore, the increase in Pt solubility under reducing conditions can be explained by the formation of Pt hydride complexes or Pt-fluid-silicate clusters. At a sulfur fugacity controlled by the Pt-PtS equilibrium, the solubility of Pt in iron-free silicate melts as a function of redox conditions is almost identical to that obtained in the experiments without sulfur at the same water and oxygen fugacity values. These observations also support Pt dissolution in iron-free silicate melts as hydroxide species.     

Groundwater level estimation in northern region of Bangladesh using hybrid locally weighted linear regression and Gaussian process regression modeling

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Urban groundwater resources (GWRs) have declined substantially in recent decades, due to rapid urbanization, population growth, groundwater exploitation, land...     

Changes in monsoon precipitation patterns over Bangladesh and its teleconnections with global climate

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - Understanding changes in monsoon precipitation patterns is crucial as it determines the occurrence, intensity, and duration of floods and droughts in...     

Spatio-temporal land cover changes in a semi-arid watershed: Central India

Land use/land cover change is a global phenomenon which reflects natural resources degradation and/or utilization. Remote sensing and GIS have been widely used to monitor such changes at watershed level. The present study evaluates the LU/LC change during 1989 - 2001 in a semi-arid watershed of central India. Geocoded satellite data of 1989 and 2001 on 1:50,000 scale, were visually interpreted to prepare thematic maps which were later digitized using ArcGIS softwares. The analysis shows that vast tracts of cultivated land have become uncultivated and at some places even converted to wasteland. However, the land under dense forest and open forest has decreased due to expansion of built-up land and other anthropogenic activities. Increase in area of uncultivated land, wasteland and decrease in cultivated land and open scrub is also supported by rainfall analysis, which shows a declining trend and a fall of 186.93 mm in average annual rainfall for 1986-2003 period. The change detection map prepared using land use/land cover of 1989 and 2001 as inputs shows that out of the total geographical area of the watershed, 25.78% of the watershed area has seen a change from one land use category to another, however rest 74.22% has remained unchanged.     

Groundwater resource development in Jamui District,Bihar, India: an overview

Because agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the bulk of the population in Jamui District, the importance of developing irrigation facilities in any programme of economic regeneration can hardly be over emphasized. It is, therefore, imperative that groundwater development be considered as an important step to drought mitigation in the Jamui district. The present study was carried out in such a way that technical and economic viability of any groundwater development plan can be thoroughly scrutinized. In this paper the hydrogeological framework of the district was established based on aquifer disposition, orientation of potential fracture systems and their hydraulic characteristics. Considering the aquifer geometry and yield potential of different structures, a blueprint for a groundwater development plan was prepared. An economic analysis of the development plan also was attempted. The analysis yielded results that made it possible to evaluate parameters such as cost–benefit ratio, incremental benefits and internal rate of return used to assess the economic viability of the groundwater development plan. Electronic Publication     

Mapping vulnerability to multiple stressors: climate change and globalization in India

There is growing recognition in the human dimensions research community that climate change impact studies must take into account the effects of other ongoing global changes. Yet there has been no systematic methodology to study climate change vulnerability in the context of multiple stressors. Using the example of Indian agriculture, this paper presents a methodology for investigating regional vulnerability to climate change in combination with other global stressors. This method, which relies on both vulnerability mapping and local-level case studies, may be used to assess differential vulnerability for any particular sector within a nation or region, and it can serve as a basis for targeting policy interventions.