Mapping of fluoride ions in groundwater of Dindigul district, Tamilnadu, India—using GIS technique

The accurate information through water quality analysis, scientific study on F ^? distribution in groundwater and geochemical knowledge with spatial information on geology and climate are necessary to understand the source/cause, type and level of F ^? contamination. The Dindigul district is a hard-rock terrain and marked as one of the fluoride-rich area in Tamilnadu due to occurrence of various rock types including fluoride-bearing minerals. The F ^? content of groundwater can thus originate from the dissolution of fluoride-bearing minerals in the bed rock. Eighty-six representative groundwater samples from Dindigul district was collected during two different seasons. Samples were analysed for F ^?, other major cations and anions. The study area is chiefly composed of hornblende biotite gneiss and charnockite, apart from this untreated tannery effluents also let from many places in the study area. Geographical Information System technique was adopted to study the sources of F ^?, and it was found that F ^? in the study is mainly attributed to geogenic source.     

Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emissions from Mangrove-Associated Waters of the Andaman Islands,Bay of Bengal

We estimated CO₂ and CH₄ emissions from mangrove-associated waters of the Andaman Islands by sampling hourly over 24 h in two tidal mangrove creeks (Wright Myo; Kalighat) and during transects in contiguous shallow inshore waters, immediately following the northeast monsoons (dry season) and during the peak of the southwest monsoons (wet season) of 2005 and 2006. Tidal height correlated positively with dissolved O₂ and negatively with pCO₂, CH₄, total alkalinity (TAlk) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and pCO₂ and CH₄ were always highly supersaturated (330–1,627 % CO₂; 339–26,930 % CH₄). These data are consistent with a tidal pumping response to hydrostatic pressure change. There were no seasonal trends in dissolved CH₄ but pCO₂ was around twice as high during the 2005 wet season than at other times, in both the tidal surveys and the inshore transects. Fourfold higher turbidity during the wet season is consistent with elevated net benthic and/or water column heterotrophy via enhanced organic matter inputs from adjacent mangrove forest and/or the flushing of CO₂-enriched soil waters, which may explain these CO₂ data. TAlk/DIC relationships in the tidally pumped waters were most consistent with a diagenetic origin of CO₂ primarily via sulphate reduction, with additional inputs via aerobic respiration. A decrease with salinity for pCO₂, CH₄, TAlk and DIC during the inshore transects reflected offshore transport of tidally pumped waters. Estimated mean tidal creek emissions were ～23–173 mmol m^?2 day^?1 CO₂ and ～0.11–0.47 mmol m^?2 day^?1 CH₄. The CO₂ emissions are typical of mangrove-associated waters globally, while the CH₄ emissions fall at the low end of the published range. Scaling to the creek open water area (2,700 km²) gave total annual creek water emissions ～3.6–9.2?×?10¹⁰ mol CO₂ and 3.7–34?×?10⁷ mol CH₄. We estimated emissions from contiguous inshore waters at ～1.5?×?10¹¹ mol CO₂?year^?1 and 2.6?×?10⁸ mol CH₄?year^?1, giving total emissions of ～1.9?×?10¹¹ mol CO₂?year^?1 and ～3.0?×?10⁸ mol CH₄?year^?1 from a total area of mangrove-influenced water of ～3?×?10⁴ km². Evaluating such emissions in a range of mangrove environments is important to resolving the greenhouse gas balance of mangrove ecosystems globally. Future such studies should be integral to wider quantitative process studies of the mangrove carbon balance.     

The influence of the Mach number on the stability of radiative shocks

We study the stability properties of hydrodynamic shocks with finite Mach numbers. The linear analysis supplements previous analyses which took the strong shock limit. We derive the linearized equations for a general specific heat ratio as well as temperature and density power-law cooling functions, corresponding to a range of conditions relevant to interstellar atomic and molecular cooling processes. Boundary conditions corresponding to a return to the upstream temperature  ( R = 1)  and to a cold wall  ( R = 0)  are investigated. We find that for Mach number   M > 5  , the strong shock overstability limits are not significantly modified. For   M < 3  , however, shocks are considerably more stable for most cases. In general, as the shock weakens, the critical values of the temperature power-law index (below which shocks are overstable) are reduced for the overtones more than for the fundamental, which signifies a change in basic behaviour. In the   R = 0  scenario, however, we find that the overstability regime and growth rate of the fundamental mode are increased when cooling is under local thermodynamic equilibrium. We provide a possible explanation for the results in terms of a stabilizing influence provided downstream but a destabilizing effect associated with the shock front. We conclude that the regime of overstability for interstellar atomic shocks is well represented by the strong shock limit unless the upstream gas is hot. Although molecular shocks can be overstable to overtones, the magnetic field provides a significant stabilizing influence.     

Fluctuations of light intensity in coron Æ formed by diffraction

Summary The fluctuations of light intensity in the diffraction corona produced by a large number of randomly distributed particles are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical considerations show that the view put forward by de Haas is inadequate and that really the fluctuations arise owing to the interference of the waves diffracted byall the particles, which gives rise to a large number of sharp images of the source in monochromatic light. In white light, these spots must spread out, and produce radial streaks. These deductions from theory are all borne out by experiment.     

Franck-Condon factors and <Emphasis Type="Italic">r</Emphasis>-centroids for certain band systems of astrophysical molecules SrF and ScF

The Franck-Condon factors and r-centroids, which are very closely related to vibrational transition probabilities, have been evaluated by the more reliable numerical integration procedure for the bands of B ²∑⁺ − X ²∑⁺, F ²∑⁺ − X ²∑⁺ systems of SrF and C ¹∑⁺ − X ¹∑⁺, G ¹Π − X ¹∑⁺ systems of ScF molecules of astrophysical interest, using a suitable potential.     

Seismic reflection imaging of thin, kimberlite dykes and sills: exploration and deposit characterization of the Snap Lake dyke, Canada

Seismic reflection techniques are, for the first time, used to image a thin, diamondiferous, kimberlite dyke from subcrop to depths greater than 1300 m. Exploration for vertical kimberlite pipes generally utilizes potential field techniques that often fail to reveal subhorizontal or shallow-dipping intrusions. In contrast, seismic reflection methods are well suited for imaging targets with this geometry. Therefore, in order to evaluate seismic reflection as a tool for subhorizontal kimberlite dyke/sill exploration and mine planning, a feasibility study and subsequent seismic survey were undertaken on the diamondiferous Snap Lake dyke (Northwest Territories, Canada). A substantial drilling program has mapped the dyke as a gently dipping sheet that averages 2–3 m in thickness. The detailed structural and composition data available at Snap Lake provides a unique opportunity to test reflection techniques on a well-sampled deposit. The feasibility study involved measuring P-velocities and densities of cores drilled from the kimberlite and host rocks. These data were used to model reflection amplitudes, evaluate resolution limitations, and determine the acquisition parameters for the reflection survey. Two 2-D lines were acquired that provide comparative datasets for different sources (explosive and vibroseis) and ground types (land and lake ice). In addition, the exploration-scale survey incorporated high fold (40–260 nominal) and long offsets (3260 m). The explosive-source profile recorded on land yielded a superb image of the dyke from depths of 60 m to more than 1300 m over a lateral distance of 5700 m. The seismic image correlates well with adjacent drill hole data and adds considerable detail to the topography of the kimberlite sheet determined by drilling. The vibroseis source also imaged the dyke, but only when sources and geophones were on land; the dyke was not imaged beneath the ice due to reverberation and attenuation effects. The frequency response and unusually strong reflection amplitudes from the dyke indicate the importance of tuning effects and multiples for this type of target and acquisition environment. Apparent correlations between reflection amplitudes and dyke structure (e.g., thickness, feathering, 3-D geometry) suggest that seismic reflection data may be valuable for guiding drilling programs. The results demonstrate that, in the appropriate situation, seismic methods have great potential for use in kimberlite exploration, subsurface mapping, and detailed imaging for mine development purposes.     

Observations of the atmospheric surface layer parameters over a semi arid region during the solar eclipse of August 11th, 1999

This paper discusses the observations of the Atmospheric Surface Layer (ASL) parameters during the solar eclipse of August 11th, 1999. Intensive surface layer experiments were conducted at Ahmedabad (23‡21′N, 72‡36′E), the western part of India, which was close to the totality path. This rare event provided by nature is utilised to document the surface layer effects during the eclipse period using measurements of high frequency fluctuations of temperature, tri-axial wind components as well as mean parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and subsoil temperature. Analysis showed that during the eclipse period, the turbulence parameters were affected leading to the suppression of the turbulence process, the main dynamic process in the atmospheric boundary layer, while the mean parameters showed variations within the natural variability of the observational period. The spectra of the wind components and temperature indicated decrease in spectral power by one order in magnitude during the eclipse period. The rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy is found to decrease by more than one order during the eclipse period. The stability parameter showed a change from unstable to stable condition during the period of eclipse and back to unstable condition by the end of eclipse     

Aerosol, clouds and rainfall: inter-annual and regional variations over India

Inter-annual and regional variations in aerosol and cloud characteristics, water vapor and rainfall over six homogeneous rainfall zones in India during the core monsoon month of July from 2000 to 2010, and their correlations are analyzed. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol absorbing index (AAI) in July 2002, a drought year are higher over India when compared to normal monsoon years. The drier conditions that existed due to deficient rainfall in July 2002 could be responsible for raising more dust and smoke resulting in higher AODs over India. In addition, over India precipitation is not uniform and large-scale interruptions occur during the monsoon season. During these interruptions aerosols can build up over a region and contribute to an increase in AODs. This finding is supported by the occurrence of higher anomalies in AOD, AAI and rainfall over India in July 2002. Aerosol characteristics and rainfall exhibit large regional variations. Cloud effective radius (CER), cloud optical thickness and columnar water vapor over India are the lowest in July 2002. CER decreases as AOD and AAI increase, providing an observational evidence for the indirect effect of aerosols. Eighty percent of CER in northwest India, and 30% of CER over All India in July 2002 are <14 μm, the precipitation threshold critical cloud effective radius. Northeast India shows contrasting features of correlation among aerosols, clouds and rainfall when compared to other regions. These results will be important while examining the inter-annual variation in aerosols, cloud characteristics, rainfall and their trends.     

Developing climate change scenarios for Tamil Nadu, India using MAGICC/SCENGEN

This paper describes the projection of climate change scenarios under increased greenhouse gas emissions, using the results of atmospheric-ocean general circulation models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 dataset. A score is given to every model based on global and regional performance. Four out of 20 general circulation models (GCMs) were selected based on skill in predicting observed annual temperature and precipitation conditions. The ensemble of these four models shows superiority over the individual model scores. These models were subjected to increases in future anthropogenic radiative forcings for constructing climate change scenarios. Future climate scenarios for Tamil Nadu were developed with MAGICC/SCENGEN software. Model results show both temperature and precipitation increases under increased greenhouse gas scenarios. Northeast and northwest parts of Tamil Nadu show a greater increase in temperature and precipitation. Seasonally, the maximum rise in temperature occurred during the MAM season, followed by DJF, JJA, and SON. Decreasing trends of precipitation were observed during DJF and MAM.