Investigation of the generation and propagation of low frequency internal waves: A case study for the east coast of India

SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) images in the northwest Bay of Bengal indicate the existence of internal waves and their occurrence and intensity is topography dependent as indicated by in-situ data and satellite information. To complement and comprehend the observations, a three-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model is applied to study the generation and propagation of internal waves. The model domain is configured with a variable curvilinear grid and the input fields comprise bathymetry, initial temperature and salinity, wind stress, air-sea heat flux and tidal information. The numerical investigation indicated a predominant activity of internal waves in the north, and the rationale is three-fold. The first one could be the stable stratification due to fresh water discharge from head-bay major river system, secondly, the significant magnitude/range of the tides and finally, the bathymetry in the coastal waters off Paradip is about 12% shallower compared to that of Visakhapatnam and further south. The cumulative effect of these causes the predominance of internal waves in the north. The core of the energy is essentially in the low-frequency range and the model is able to simulate semi-diurnal and diurnal components reasonably well up to 6 h frequency (0.162 cph).     

Cosmogenic and trapped noble gases in individual chondrules: Clues to chondrule formation

Abstract— We studied the elemental and isotopic abundances of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar in most cases, and Kr, Xe also in some cases) in individual chondrules separated from six ordinary, two enstatite, and two carbonaceous chondrites. Most chondrules show detectable amounts of trapped ²⁰Ne and ³⁶Ar, and the ratio (³⁶Ar/²⁰Ne)_t (from ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites) suggests that HL and Q are the two major trapped components. A different trend between (³⁶Ar/²⁰Ne)_t and trapped ³⁶Ar is observed for chondrules in enstatite chondrites indicating a different environment and/or mechanism for their formation compared to chondrules in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites. We found that a chondrule from Dhajala chondrite (DH‐11) shows the presence of solar‐type noble gases, as suggested by the (³⁶Ar/²⁰Ne)_t ratio, Ne‐isotopic composition, and excess of ⁴He. Cosmic‐ray exposure (CRE) ages of most chondrules are similar to their host chondrites. A few chondrules show higher CRE age compared to their host, suggesting that some chondrules and/or precursors of chondrules have received cosmic ray irradiation before accreting to their parent body. Among these chondrules, DH‐11 (with solar trapped gases) and a chondrule from Murray chondrite (MRY‐1) also have lower values of (²¹Ne/²²Ne)_c, indicative of SCR contribution. However, such evidences are sporadic and indicate that chondrule formation event may have erased such excess irradiation records by solar wind and SCR in most chondrules. These results support the nebular environment for chondrule formation.     

Solar activity and Indian weather/climate

The literature on influences of solar activity on the Indian weather and climate is reviewed since the discovery of sunspot cycle. Fluctuations in solar activity are undoubtedly a factor affecting weather and climate. Although the results of some of the studies are conflicting, Indian weather and climate is, in general, inversely related to sunspots. However, the areal extent of floods in India seems to expand and contract in phase with the Hale double sunspot cycle, suggesting that the flood rhythm is in some manner controlled by long-term solar activity related to solar magnetic effects. All the evidences of solar influences on weather and climate may have practical implications in improving long-range forecasting of weather and climate, once the physical coupling mechanisms and their modification by other factors are clearly understood. Some of the promising plausible physical mechanisms for explaining solar effects on weather and climate are also discussed.     

Geomagnetic anomalies and regional geology in India along 18° N parallel

The mobile geomagnetic measurements made during 1970–73 by NGRI across the Indian Peninsula between Alibag and Kalingapatnam have been examined. It is noticed that the meanZ values after normal correction and the long periodZr/Hr ratio reveal different levels on the three different geological provincesviz., the Deccan traps, peninsular granites and the easternghat metamorphics.     

Wave-induced nearshore circulation along the Calangute-Candolim beach,Goa, west coast of India

The wave-induced nearshore circulation model suggested by Noda has been modified and applied for three small segments along the coast of Goa. The present model incorporates the prevailing bottom topography and considers its variation along with the radiation stress as the driving force for the circulation. We find that the flow pattern is strongly dependent on bottom topography. While normal incidence of waves results in a cellular pattern of flow, meandering flows prevail for oblique incidence along the coast. The shoreward flows are always located over shoals while the rip currents prevail over channels. The onshore/offshore flows show magnitudes as high as 3·1 m/s, while those alongshore reach a maximum of 1·1 m/s. When compared with field observations these values are slightly higher.     

Nitrogen and xenon in acid residues of iron meteorites

Total nitrogen, measured by neutron activation analysis, is highly enriched in residues from iron meteorites obtained by dissolution of the metal in dilute H₂SO₄, relative to the bulk value. On the average, the residues, representing 3% mass, contain 22% of total N. Group IA has more dissolved N than IIIA. Lithium and Ir show a distribution pattern parallel to N. Total Xe has been measured in several residues and its isotopic composition is, similar to atmospheric Xe for mass numbers 131 to 136 but not for ¹²⁴Xe and ¹²⁶Xe which are strongly depleted in the non-magnetic residues. It is suggested that iron meteorites have trapped in their micro-inclusions, some pre-solar nebular matter which is isotopically heterogeneous.     

Deuterium tracing for the estimation of transpiration from trees Part 3. Measurements of transpiration from Eucalyptus plantation, India

Measurements of transpiration from individual trees of Eucalyptus from plantations at four different sites in Karnataka, Southern India, are presented. These show large (as much as tenfold) differences in the transpiration between premonsoon and postmonsoon periods, a reflection of the effects of soil-moisture stress in the premonsoon periods. For trees with diameters at breast height (DBH) less than 10 cm the transpiration rate of individual trees is proportional to the square of the DBH. For trees which are not experiencing soil-water stress the daily transpiration rate of individual trees, q, is well represented by the relation: q = (6.6 ± 0.3)g (m³ day⁻¹ where g (m²) is the tree basal area. On a unit ground area basis the transpiration rate, expressed as a depth per day is given by the relation: E_t = (0.66 ± 0.03)G (mm day⁻¹ where g(m²ha⁻¹) is the total basal area per hectare. For all the sites studied, although there is evidence for the ‘mining’ of soil water as roots penetrate deeper depths in the soil each year, there is no evidence for direct abstraction from the water table.     

On the impossibility of the co-existence of monsoons and severe storm surges in the Bay of Bengal

The problem of storm surges is introduced briefly. The utility of passive microwave observations to study this phenomenon is pointed out. The reasons for the nonoccurrence of severe surges in the Bay of Bengal, during monsoon regimes, is discussed in this paper. It was demonstrated that the predominant reason for lack of severe surges over the Bay of Bengal coast is due to the absence of weak wind shear during monsoon seasons.Atmospheric Environment Service, Ice Center, Environment Canada, 373 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OH3.     

Variability of the oceanic boundary layer characteristics in the northern Bay of Bengal during MONTBLEX-90

Variability of the ocean surface boundary layer characteristics on daily time-scale is studied utilizing the 3-hourly hydrographic data collected at a stationary location (20°N, 89°E) in the Bay of Bengal during August (18th–31st) and September (9th–19th), 1990 under MONTBLEX-90 field programme. The daily variations of temperature, salinity, σ₀, mixed layer thickness, stability, heat content and rate of change of heat content in the upper 100 m are discussed in relation to prevailing weather (depressions) and hydrographic conditions (influx of fresh water, presence of eddies). The mixed layer thickness is examined through temperatureand σ₀-based criteria considering also the surface salinity in the latter. TheT-based mixed layer thickness is always higher than that of σ₀-based thickness. The rate of change of heat content is also computed up to the depth of 20°C and 14°C isotherms which takes into account the vertical motion and hence divergence. With the development of a low into a deep depression close to the study area, intense upwelling of subsurface cold waters is noticed from 100 m to the bottom of the surface mixed layer (20m) from 18th to 20th August. The upwelling is weakened by 21st August when the depression moved away from the study location. This variation of upwelling is supported by the variation of surface mixed layer thickness, static stability at 30 m depth, heat content in the upper 100 m and the heat content up to the depth of 20°C isotherm from 18th to 21st August. The rate of change of heat content in the upper 100 m and up to the depths of 20°C and 14°C isotherms leads to net heat storage during August and to net heat depletion during September. This together with the net surface heat gain lead to an import (197Wm^?2) and export (233 Wm^?2) of heat during August and September respectively through horizontal advective processes. These advective processes are attributed to the presence and movement of a warm core eddy through the study location.