Mapping of tropical dry deciduous forest and landuse in part of Vindhyan range using satellite remote sensing

Forest vegetation of Vindhyan range located in the north of G.B. Pant Sagar (dam) has been subjected to degradation due to high biotic pressure caused by the installation of thermal power plants, coal mining, heavy cattle grazing etc. In the present study Landsat TM FCC of 1∶250,000 scale was visually analysed with respect to forest vegetation types, crown density and structure along with other landuse/land cover classes. ExceptShorea robusta (Sal) andLagerstroemia parviflora (Lendia) all forest vegetation types show higher percentage of degradation and under-stocked condition with respect to their areal extent under study. Overall classification accuracy of the forest types has been found to be 88.94%. This indicates that for obtaining reliable mapping accuracy in dry deciduous areas, satellite remote sensing data of appropriate season is essential.

     

Habitat analysis for sambar in corbett national park using remote sensing and gis

Habitat analysis for sambar in terms of food, cover, water, space and extent of edge in Corbett National Park using remote sensing and GIS has been attempted. Other physical parameters include climate, topography, fire history, disturbance regimes, weeds etc. IRS-IB LISS II data (FCC, hardcopy) on 1:50.000 scale was interpreted to generate vegetation cover and density map. Other maps showing drainage, water bodies, roads, human habitations and contours were prepared using Survey of India topographical maps. During evaluation of sambar habitat information regarding habitat parameters and their tolerance was collected from existing literature as well as during field observations. Twenty-two transects of one km. length were laid down in all the strata randomly to collect information regarding the structure and composition of the forest and also habitat use (direct and indirect evidences) by sambar. This was then integrated using condition-based equations in the GIS domain to generate suitability maps. Actual sightings on the ground to a large extent supported the results.     

Characterization of Surface Geological Material in Northwest India and Adjoining Areas of Pakistan Using Normalized Difference Water Index,Land Surface Temperature and Silica Index

Land surface temperature (LST) shows negative correlation with the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). Variability in the degree of correlation between LST and NDWI is ascribed to the physical character of specific geological material. Northwest India exhibits various landforms with different geological materials and has been broadly classified into four zones. Structural ridges of Aravalli Mountain of different rock compositions show strong variability both in NDWI (range 1.154, SD?=?0.0599) and in LST (range 24 °C and SD?=?2.54). Negative LST–NDWI correlation in this sector is partially linear. Western Thar Desert, having homogenous silica sand of lower emissivity shows least variability in its NDWI (range 0.88, SD?=?0.027) and moderate variability in its LST (20 °C, SD?=?2.389). Strong negative correlation of LST with NDWI is exhibited here. Band ratio Silica map in this sector shows strong positive correlation with LST. The eastern part of the Thar desert with mixed rocky knobs, and wind-blown sand shows low variability in NDWI (range 0.85) as well as LST (range 15 °C). Area in Indus–Bias–Sutlej River basin, dominated with fluvial sediments with lesser amount of windblown sediments, show low variability of NDWI (0.85) and moderate variability of LST (range 23 °C). In the areas, around Luni river higher NDWI trend is recorded, which is unrelated to present drainage trends indicating presence of palaeo-drainage. In addition, high NDWI and high LST bearing linear zones at places are interpreted as structural lineaments/faults based on pattern, moisture content and thermal high.     

Accuracy Assessment of Digital Elevation Model Generated by SAR Stereoscopic Technique Using COSMO-Skymed Data

Radargrammetry technique using the stereoscopic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is used for the generation of a digital elevation model (DEM) of a region requires only the amplitude images. SAR stereoscopic technique is analogous to the stereo-photogrammetric technique where the optical stereoscopic images are used for DEM generation. While the advantages of the SAR images are their indifference to atmospheric transparency and solar illumination conditions, the side-looking geometry of the SAR increases the complexity in the SAR stereo analysis. The availability of high spatial and temporal resolution SAR data in recent years has facilitated generation of high-resolution DEM with greater vertical accuracy using radargrammetric technique. In the present study, attempt has been made to generate the DEM of Dehra Dun region, India, from the COSMO-Skymed X-band SAR data-pair acquired at 8 days interval through the radargrammetry technique. Here, radargrammetric orientation approach has been adopted to generate the DEM and various issues and processing steps with the radargrammetry technique have been discussed. The DEM was validated with ground measured elevation values using a differential global positioning system and the root-mean-square error of the DEM was found as 7.3 m. The DEM was compared with the reference DEM of the study area generated from the Cartosat-1 stereo data with a model accuracy of 4 m.     

Advances in understanding of the mechanism for generation of earthquake thermal precursors detected by satellites

Stresses building up during an earthquake preparation phase also manifest themselves in the form of a so called increased land surface temperature (LST) leading to a thermal precursor prior to the earthquake event. This phenomenon has now been validated by our observations of short-term thermal anomalies detected by infrared satellite sensors for several recent past earthquakes around the world. The rise in infrared radiance temperature was seen to vary between 5 and 12 °C for different earthquakes. We discuss in this paper different explanations for the generation of such anomalies that have been offered. Emission of gases due to the opening and closure of micropores upon induced stresses and also the participation of ground water have been propounded as a possible cause for generation of thermal anomalies. Seismo-ionosphere coupling, by which gases like radon move to the earth–atmosphere interface and cause air ionization thus bringing about a change in air temperature, relative humidity, etc., has been put forth by some workers. A mechanism of low frequency electromagnetic emission was tested and experimented by scientists with rock masses in stressed conditions as those that exist at tectonic locations. The workers proposed the positive hole pair theory, which received support from several scientific groups. Positive holes (sites of electron deficiency) are activated in stressed rocks from pre-existing yet dormant positive hole pairs (PHPs) and their recombination at rock–air interface leads to a LST rise. A combination of remote sensing detection of rock mechanics behavior with a perception of chemistry and geophysics has been applied to propose the remote sensing rock mechanics theory. Remote sensing detections of such anomalies confirm so far proposed lab theories for such a hotly debated field as earthquake precursor study by providing unbiased observations with consistency in time and space distribution.     

Validation of Chlorophyll-a Algorithms in the Coastal Waters of Bay of Bengal Initial Validation Results from OCM-2

In this paper we report chlorophyll measurements made during an ocean colour validation cruise in April 2011 of the research vessel, Sagar Paschimi in the coastal waters of Northern Bay of Bengal. The chlorophyll-a concentration in these waters range from 0.2 to 4.0 mg/m³. Chlorophyll-a concentration from OCM-2 was estimated using the global ocean colour algorithms namely, OC2, OC3, OC4 and Chl-a algorithms respectively. OCM data was processed using the global SeaWiFS Data Analysis System (SeaDAS) in which all the above mentioned algorithms are embedded for estimating the chlorophyll-a concentration. A comparative study was made between and in-situ and satellite derived chlorophyll-a concentration. Although the matchups between in-situ and satellite data from OCM-2 were sparse, it indicates that direct application of the standard SeaWiFS algorithm-the OC4-V4 algorithm—in the coastal waters of the Bay of Bengal will underestimate chlorophyll-a by up to 30%. The results show a good correlation with an R value of 0.61 using OC2 algorithm. However, all the other global algorithms over estimate the chlorophyll-a concentration even in low chlorophyll concentration range. The comparison between in-situ and all the existing chlorophyll algorithms shows the efficiency of these algorithms for quantification of chlorophyll in coastal waters and hence the need to develop regional algorithms and fluorescence based algorithms for better quantification.     

Petrogenetic implications of ophiolitic chromite from Rutland Island, Andaman—a boninitic parentage in supra-subduction setting

Chromites occurring in different modes have been characterized from ophiolites of Rutland Island, a part of Burma-Andaman-Java subduction complex in the Bay of Bengal. Chromite mainly occurs as massive chromitite pods in mantle ultramafic tectonite and as thin massive chromitite bands together with minor disseminations in crustal ultramafic cumulate. Other than pods chromite also appears as: (a) anhedral restitic grains, (b) strings occurring as exsolved phases and as (c) symplectitic intergrowth with orthopyroxene in mantle tectonite. The chromites occurring as massive chromitite pods and bands contain high Cr (Cr#—73 to 80). Restitic chromite grains in mantle ultramafics are high-Mg (Mg#—58), high-Al (Al₂O₃—34 wt.%) and intermediate-Cr (Cr#—37) chromites. The bivariant plots of TiO₂ wt.% vs 100Cr#, Mg# vs Cr# and Cr-Al-Fe³⁺ ternary discrimination diagram show that the massive and disseminated chromites fall in the boninitic field. The (Al₂O₃)_melt and (FeO/MgO)_melt values for the massive chromitites are estimated as 10 wt.% to 11 wt.% and 0.67–1.78 respectively, corroborating a boninitic parentage. Massive chromitite on Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ vs Al₂O₃ wt.% and TiO₂ wt.% vs Al₂O₃ wt.% plots occupy mainly the field of supra-subduction zone peridotites. High-Mg olivine (Fo_91?93), high-Mg orthopyroxene (En_～90) and high-Cr chromites of Rutland ophiolite are all supportive of boninitic source at supra-subduction zone setting. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer study of chromite of beach placer shows that chromites occur in partly inverse spinel structure with iron distribution as Fe³⁺(A)Fe²⁺(A)Fe²⁺(B) which might be a result of oxidation. The olivine-spinel geothermometry shows 650–700°C re-equilibration temperature which is much lower than near crystallization temperature (950–1,050°C) derived from orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene assemblage. At supra-subduction setting an oxidizing hydrous fluid derived from subducting slab might have a major influence during the formation of Rutland ophiolite in this part of Burma-Java subduction complex.     

Developing synergy regression models with space-borne ALOS PALSAR and Landsat TM sensors for retrieving tropical forest biomass

Forest stand biomass serves as an effective indicator for monitoring REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation). Optical remote sensing data have been widely used to derive forest biophysical parameters inspite of their poor sensitivity towards the forest properties. Microwave remote sensing provides a better alternative owing to its inherent ability to penetrate the forest vegetation. This study aims at developing optimal regression models for retrieving forest above-ground bole biomass (AGBB) utilising optical data from Landsat TM and microwave data from L-band of ALOS PALSAR data over Indian subcontinental tropical deciduous mixed forests located in Munger (Bihar, India). Spatial biomass models were developed. The results using Landsat TM showed poor correlation (R² = 0.295 and RMSE = 35 t/ha) when compared to HH polarized L-band SAR (R² = 0.868 and RMSE = 16.06 t/ha). However, the prediction model performed even better when both the optical and SAR were used simultaneously (R² = 0.892 and RMSE = 14.08 t/ha). The addition of TM metrics has positively contributed in improving PALSAR estimates of forest biomass. Hence, the study recommends the combined use of both optical and SAR sensors for better assessment of stand biomass with significant contribution towards operational forestry.     

Leachate studies on fly ash-stabilised expansive clay liners

This paper presents leachate studies on fly ash-stabilised expansive clay liners. Fly ash in different contents (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) by dry weight of the expansive clay was added to the clay, and the ash-clay blend was compacted as a liner overlying a compacted lateritic clay layer. Deionised water (DIW) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solutions of varying concentration (5 mM, 10 mM, 20 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM and 500 mM) were used as the permeating fluids in the leachate studies. Chemical analysis of the leachate was performed. For a given CaCl₂ concentration, the concentrations of both calcium ion and chloride ion in the leachate decreased up to a fly ash content of 20%, and thereafter they increased when the fly ash content was increased to 30%. Further, for a given fly ash content, concentrations of calcium ion and chloride ion increased with increasing CaCl₂ concentration.