Ocean wave forecasting using recurrent neural networks

The tremendous increase in offshore operational activities demands improved wave forecasting techniques. With the knowledge of accurate wave conditions, it is possible to carry out the marine activities such as offshore drilling, naval operations, merchant vessel routing, nearshore construction, etc. more efficiently and safely. This paper describes an artificial neural network, namely recurrent neural network with rprop update algorithm and is applied for wave forecasting. Measured ocean waves off Marmugao, west coast of India are used for this study. Here, the recurrent neural network of 3, 6 and 12 hourly wave forecasting yields the correlation coefficients of 0.95, 0.90 and 0.87, respectively. This shows that the wave forecasting using recurrent neural network yields better results than the previous neural network application.     

Optimal Underground Extraction of Coal at Shallow Cover Beneath Surface/Subsurface Objects: Indian Practices

Summary  Considering ground instability problems of underground coal mines at shallow covers, this paper reviews and describes problems of optimal extraction of coal stuck below surface/subsurface constraints at Indian coal fields. Importance of thickness and quality of inter-burden between the working horizon and surface/subsurface constraints is discussed from a ground movement point of view during optimisation of coal recovery by underground mining beneath the constraints. A CIMFR, formerly CMRI idea, known as Wide Stall Method, was found suitable to overcome the limitations of non-effective-width based optimisation of recovery of coal, trapped in pillars below surface/subsurface objects, at shallow cover. The involved rock mechanics concept and three successful field trials of the Wide Stall Method under three different geo-mining conditions of the country are also briefly given in this paper. Author’s address: Rajendra Singh, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR, formerly CMRI), Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826001 Jharkhand, India     

Theoretical Concept to Understand Plan and Design Smooth Blasting Pattern

Considering different mechanical cutting tools for excavation of rock, drilling and blasting is said to be inexpensive and at the same time most acceptable and compatible to any geo-excavation condition. Depending upon strength properties of in-situ rock mass, characteristics of joint pattern and required quality of blasting, control blasting techniques viz., pre-split and smooth blasting are commonly implemented to achieve an undamaged periphery rock-wall. To minimize magnitude of damage or overbreak, the paper emphasized that in-situ stresses and re-distribution of stresses during the process of excavation should be considered prior to selection of explosive parameters and implementation of any suitable blast pattern. Rock structure being not massive in nature, the paper firstly explains the influence of discontinuities and design parameters on smooth-wall blasting. Considering the empirical equations for estimation of stress wave’s magnitude and its attenuation characteristics through transmitting medium, the paper has put forward a mathematical model for smooth blasting pattern. The model firstly illustrates that rock burden for each hole should be sub-divided into thin micro strips/slabs to understand the characteristics of wave transmission through the medium and lastly with the help of beam theory of structural dynamics have put forward a mathematical model to analyze and design an effective smooth blasting pattern to achieve an undamaged periphery rock-wall.     

Climate change vulnerability to agrarian ecosystem of small Island: evidence from Sagar Island,India

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - The present study assessed climate change vulnerability in agricultural sector of low-lying Sagar Island of Bay of Bengal. Vulnerability indices were estimated...     

Carbonaceous and inorganic species in PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> during wintertime over Giridih,Jharkhand (India)

Ambient concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and water soluble inorganic ionic components (WSIC) of PM₁₀ were studied at Giridih, Jharkhand, a sub-urban site near the Indo Gangatic Plain (IGP) of India during two consecutive winter seasons (November 2011–February 2012 and November 2012–February 2013). The abundance of carbonaceous and water soluble inorganic species of PM₁₀ was recorded at the study site of Giridih. During winter 2011–12, the average concentrations of PM₁₀, OC, EC and WSIC were 180.2?±?46.4; 37.2?±?6.2; 15.2?±?5.4 and 18.0?±?5.1 μg m^?3, respectively. Similar concentrations of PM₁₀, OC, EC and WSIC were also recorded during winter 2012–13. In the present case, a positive linear trend is observed between OC and EC at sampling site of Giridih indicates the coal burning, as well as dispersed coal powder and vehicular emissions may be the source of carbonaceous aerosols. The principal components analysis (PCA) also identifies the contribution of coal burning? +?soil dust, vehicular emissions?+?biomass burning and seconday aerosol to PM₁₀ mass concentration at the study site. Backward trajectoy and potential source contributing function (PSCF) analysis indicated that the aerosols being transported to Giridih from upwind IGP (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) and surrounding region.     

Stable isotopic and geochemical data for inferring sources of recharge and groundwater flow on the volcanic island of Rishiri,Japan

An isotopic and chemical study was conducted on precipitation, spring water, streams, groundwater wells and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to constrain the recharge areas and flow paths of SGD. The isotopic values of precipitation were used to determine the local meteoric water lines (LMWLs) of Rishiri Island. The d-excess values of precipitation showed seasonal variation, with lows of 2.5‰ in the summer and highs of 24.2‰ in the winter. The d-excess values of spring water, streams, groundwater wells and SGD ranged from 12.5‰ to 23.0‰, indicating that the resulting waters were a mix of two seasons of precipitation. The isotopic composition of the groundwater wells sampled along the coast and SGD showed more negative values than that of the spring water sampled along the coast. This indicated that SGD recharged at high altitudes and flowed into the sea. The isotopic and chemical composition of SGD indicated unidirectional flow from land to sea.     

Classification of cyclone hazard prone districts of India

Hazards associated with tropical cyclones are long-duration rotatory high-velocity winds, very heavy rain and storm tide. India has a coastline of about 7,516?km of which 5,400?km is along the mainland. The entire coast is affected by cyclones with varying frequency and intensity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal government agency that provides weather services related to cyclones in India. However, IMD has not identified cyclone-prone districts following any specific definition though the districts for which cyclone warnings are issued have been identified. On the other hand, for the purpose of better cyclone disaster management in the country, it is necessary to define cyclone proneness and identify cyclone-prone coastal districts. It is also necessary to decide degree of hazard proneness of a district by considering cyclone parameters so that mitigation measures are prioritised. In this context, an attempt has been made to prepare a list of cyclone hazard prone districts by adopting hazard criteria. Out of 96 districts under consideration, 12, 45, 31 and 08 districts are in very high, high, moderate and low categories of proneness, respectively. In general, the coastal districts of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are more prone and are in the high to very high category. The cyclone hazard proneness factor is very high for the districts of Nellore, East Godawari, and Krishna in Andhra Pradesh; Yanam in Puducherry; Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur in Orissa; and South and North 24 Parganas, Medinipur and Kolkata in West Bengal. The results give a realistic picture of degree of cyclone hazard proneness of districts, as they represent the frequency and intensity of land falling cyclones along with all other hazards like rainfall, wind and storm surge. The categorisation of districts with degree of proneness also tallies with observed pictures. Therefore, this classification of coastal districts based on hazard may be considered for all the required purposes including coastal zone management and planning. However, the vulnerability of the place has not been taken into consideration. Therefore, composite cyclone risk of a district, which is the product of hazard and vulnerability, needs to be assessed separately through detailed study.