Water vapour flux divergence over the Arabian Sea during 1987 summer monsoon using satellite data

The evaporation rates over the Arabian Sea (AS) for the summer monsoon months (June to September) of 1987 have been computed using the bulk-aerodynamic formula. The satellite derived precipitation from the INSAT-1B VHRR (Very High Resolution Radiometer) sensor operating in the wavelength 10.5–12.5 m has been used for computing the precipitation over the AS. The net water vapour flux divergence (NFD) over AS has been computed as the difference between evaporation and precipitation. The estimates being -0.02 × 10¹⁰, 2.55 × 10¹⁰, 0.70 × 10¹⁰ and 0.44 × 10¹⁰ tons/day respectively for the months June, July, August and September. The NFD over AS was found to be positively and significantly correlated with the mean monsoon rainfall along the west coast of India.     

Effect of extracellular polymeric substances on sludge reduction potential of Bacillus licheniformis

The disposal of wastewater sludge generated during the treatment of the various municipal and industrial wastewaters is a major environmental problem. In this study the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis, which enhances the efficiency of sludge reduction, was isolated from waste activated sludge acclimated to 55 °C. The resulting suspended solids’ degradation was 12 % and chemical oxygen demand solubilization was 18 %. To further enhance the sludge reduction potential, extra polymeric substances, which play a major role in the formation of flocs, were removed. A chemical extractant, ethylenediaminetetraacetate that is also a cation binding agent, was used to remove the extra polymeric substances. After the removal of extra polymeric substances, the suspended solids’ degradation increased from 12 to 23 % and the chemical oxygen demand solubilization increased from 18 to 25 %. These observations confirm that Bacillus licheniformis enhanced sludge reduction in non-flocculated sludge (with the removal of extra polymeric substances) as compared to flocculated sludge (without the removal of extra polymeric substances).     

Variations in vapor pressure and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index since AD 1861 over the western Himalaya in India: inference from tree ring-width records

A regional tree ring-width index chronology prepared from various tree core samples of the western Himalaya has been analyzed in relation to climate fluctuations. The correlation analysis of tree ring chronology shows significant positive correlations with regional rainfall and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and negative correlations with temperature and vapor pressure (VP) during the spring season. The correlation coefficients (CCs) of tree ring-width index chronology with rainfall, temperature, SPEI, and VP during 1901–1990 are 0.50, −0.49, 0.65, and −0.51, respectively. All CCs are significant at 0.1% level. The highly significant CCs between tree ring-width index chronology and SPEI indicate that tree growth over the western Himalaya is more sensitive to soil moisture availability than rainfall, whereas the rising VP is found to have a significant moisture stress condition to tree growth by accelerating the evapotranspiration, which is not conducive for the development of tree growth in the region. So, based on the strong association between tree ring-width index chronology and SPEI; the reconstructions of SPEI and VP are developed back to AD 1861, that show the long period of dryness during 1936–1963.     

A comparative evaluation of groundwater suitability for irrigation and drinking purposes in two intensively cultivated districts of Punjab, India

Punjab is the most cultivated state in India with the highest consumption of fertilizers. Patiala and Muktsar districts are two agricultural dominated districts of Punjab located in extreme south-east and south-west of the state. This paper highlights temporal variations of the groundwater quality and compares its suitability for irrigation and drinking purpose in these two districts. Water samples were collected in March and September 2003, representing the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Water samples were analysed for almost all major cations, anions, dissolved heavy metals and turbidity. Parameters like sodium adsorption ratio, % sodium, residual sodium carbonate, total hardness, potential salinity, Kelley’s ratio, magnesium ratio, index of base exchange and permeability index were calculated on the basis of chemical data. A questionnaire was also used to investigate perception of villagers on taste and odour. Comparison of the concentration of the chemical constituents with WHO (world health organization) drinking water standards of 2004 and various classifications show that present status of groundwater in Patiala is better for irrigation and drinking purposes except for a few locations with a caution that it may deteriorate in near future. In Muktsar, groundwater is not suitable for drinking. Higher total hardness (TH) and total dissolved solids at numerous places indicate the unsuitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation. Results obtained in this forms baseline data for the utility of groundwater. In terms of monsoon impact, Patiala groundwater shows dilution and flushing but Muktsar samples show excessive leaching of different chemical components into the groundwater leading to the enrichment of different anions and cations indicating pollution from extraneous sources. No clear correlation between the quality parameters studied here and perceived quality in terms of satisfactory taste response were obtained at electrical conductivity values higher than the threshold minimum acceptable value.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113000340

Regional surface gravity data and global satellite magnetic data have been utilized to generate a preliminary model of the crustal structure along a southwest-northeast profile （Gadra-Fatehpur） through western Rajasthan.The study area represents the western part of the Indian continental landmass which has undergone several major episodes of repeated subduction/collision,plume traces and rifting from Archaean to recent times.The temporal and spatial relationship between the various geotectonic provinces is quite complex,thereby limiting the emergence of a suitable crustal structure model for this region.Exposures of the Malani Igneous Suite （MIS）,a product of bimodal volcanism （～780 Ma）,and considered to be the third largest felsic magmatic province of the world,is evident along the profile and also to the southwest of the study area.The easternmost part of the profile is close to the DAFB （Delhi Aravalli Fold Belt）,a Proterozoic orogenic belt.This study probes the geometry of the different crustal units in terms of density and susceptibility variations in order to decipher the imprints of the major tectonic processes the region has undergone.In order to decipher the crustal geometry of the Gadra-Fatehpur profile,two NW-SE gravity and magnetic profile vertical sections （A-A＇ in the south and B-B＇ in the north） are modelled on the basis of the constraints provided from previous seismic models.The crustal model of the Gadra-Fatehpur profile is composed of alluvium,Tertiary sediments,MIS,Marwar Supergroup,low-density layers （LDLs） and the middle-lower crustal layers,with a distinct change in configuration from the southwest to northeast.The Moho dips from SW to NE,the MIS in the SW gives way to the thick pile of the Marwar Supergroup to the NE.The evolution of MIS has been suggested to have occurred as a consequence of delamination of the upper mantle.LDLs are incorporated in Gadra-Fatehpur model.In the SW,LDL （2550 kg/m3） lies below the MIS in the NE,another LDL （2604 kg/m3） is depicted below the mid-crustal layer.     

Simultaneous production of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate from dolomites and dolomitic limestones

By use of a recarbonation process, it is possible to separate magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate from dolomites/dolomitic limestones. Magnesium carbonate can be used for manufacturing basic refractories and magnesium chemicals; the portion rich in calcium carbonate can be used for cement manufacture if the MgO content is below 3%. In this paper the process developed for the purpose and the results of bench scale tests are reported. The results indicate that, under optimum conditions, both objectives can be fulfilled by the recarbonation process.     

Biosorption of Cd (Ⅱ) and Pb (Ⅱ) Ions by Aqueous Solutions of Novel Alkalophillic Streptomyces VITSVK5 spp. Biomass

Discharge of heavy metals from metal processing industries is known to have adverse effects on the environment. Biosorption of heavy metals by metabolically inactive biomass of microbial organisms is an innovative and alternative technology for removal of these pollutants from aqueous solution. The search of marine actinobacteria with potential heavy metal biosorption ability resulted in the identification of a novel alkalophilic Streptomyces VITSVK5 species. The biosorption property of Streptomyces VITSVK5 spp. was investigated by absorbing heavy metals Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb). Physiochemical characteristics and trace metal concentration analysis of the backwater showed the concentrations of different metals were lead 13±2.1 μg L⁻¹, cadmium 3.1±0.3μg L⁻¹, zinc 8.4±2.6μg L⁻¹ and copper 0.3±0.1μg L⁻¹, whereas mercury was well below the detection limit. The effect of pH and biomass dosage on removal efficiency of heavy metal ions was also investigated. The optimum pH for maximal biosorption was 4.0 for Cd (II) and 5.0 for Pb (II) with 41% and 84% biosorption respectively. The biosorbent dosage was optimized as 3 g L-1 for both the trace metals. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectrum results indicated the chemical interactions of hydrogen atoms in carboxyl (-COOH), hydroxyl (-CHOH) and amine (-NH₂) groups of biomass with the metal ions. This could be mainly involved in the biosorption of Cd (II) and Pb (II) onto Streptomyces VITSVK5 spp. The results of our study revealed Streptomyces metabolites could be used to develop a biosorbent for adsorbing metal ions from aqueous environments.     

Signature of the 27-day variation in hemispheric sunspot activity and asymmetry during 2010-2015

In the present work,we study the time evolution,significance of the N-S asymmetry excesses presented as a function of the solar cycle and prominent rotational p...     

Palaeoenvironmental significance of fluvial facies and archives of Late Quaternary deposits in the floodplain of Damodar River,India

Statigraphic exposures, fluvial archives and borehole data have been allowed to reconstruct the alluvial history of Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene and climate changes in the monsoonal wet–dry region of lower Damodar Basin (West Bengal, India). The facies architectures and climate proxies suggest that five to six climate changes occurred in between ～14 and 6 kiloannum (ka). Supporting evidence from the floodplain of Damodar River demonstrates that the successive phases of aggradation and incision were linked to the south-west monsoonal variability of Late Quaternary period. The onset of semi-arid climate was associated with caliches, pond and backswamp deposits of waning low-energy floods. The relatively warm-humid climate was associated with sandy bedforms, valley fills, slack water deposits and ferruginous nodules. This paper presents a synthesis of the available palaeoclimatic records from the lower Ganga Basin and the rivers of western and central India for the palaeoenvironmental significance of Late Quaternary deposits and discusses the influence of palaeoclimatic controls on the fluvial architectures and archives that developed below the floodplain of Damodar River. We have taken some representative studies from the region to reveal the spatial variability in fluvial successions in response to climate changes during this period.     

Copper Ore Identification using Spectral Similarity Measurement from Hyperion Image,Mapping of Porphyry Copper Mineralized Zone

This work illustrates the effectiveness of hyperspectal image spectroscopy and lab spectroscopy in identification techniques of minerals in alteration zone of ore body. The adopted procedure involves testing of Hyperion image spectra, their processing for noise, spectral matching and spectral similarity measurement with selected library spectra. Average weighted spectral similarity; visual and statistical matching techniques were used to select end-members from image spectra. Minimum noise fraction and pixel purity index technique were used to retrieve end-member spectra from hyperion image. Hyperspectral image like hyperion has the capability to deliver laboratory standard spectroscopic result. This paper illustrates the capability of hyperion image spectra in copper ore identification and mapping of chalcopyrite outcrop. A systematic approach has been made in this paper. This approach describes how image end member spectra and laboratory spectra can be co-related to fetch accurate spectral form of chalcopyrite ores. Thus, statistical and graphical comparison has been carried out between image derived end member spectra and laboratory spectra of chalcopyrite for better accuracy. The visual measurements is satisfactory, R = 0.973 for fine and 0.976 for medium grained chalcopyrite ore. Excellent statistical significance levels (90–97%) are found while comparing these spectra. There are many success stories of sub-pixel and N-dimensional feature space methods to separate the hydrothermal alteration zones from iron oxide mixed ore bodies. Thus, unmixing methods are very useful for mapping of most dominating mineral parts of a pixel from hyperspectral images which have coarse spatial resolution. Finally, mapping of mineralized zone has been achieved through sub-pixel based classifiers like spectral angle mapper (SAM), constrained energy minimization (CEM) and adaptive coherence estimator (ACE) techniques.