Trends in reference evapotranspiration in the humid region of northeast India

In the present study, the trends in the reference evapotranspiration (ET_O) estimated through the Penman‐Monteith method were investigated over the humid region of northeast (NE) India by using the Mann‐Kendall (MK) test after removing the effect of significant lag‐1 serial correlation from the time series of ET_O by pre‐whitening. During the last 22 years, ET_O has been found to decrease significantly at annual and seasonal time scales for 6 sites in NE India and NE India as a whole. The seasonal decreases in ET_O have, however, been more significant in the pre‐monsoon season, indicating the presence of an element of a seasonal cycle. The decreases in ET_O are mainly attributed to the net radiation and wind speed, which are also corroborated by the observed trends in these two parameters at almost all the times scales over most of the sites in NE India. The steady decrease in wind speed and decline in net radiation not only balanced the impact of the temperature increases on ET_O, but may have actually caused the decreases in ET_O over the humid region of northeast India. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of blast-induced ground vibrations in open-pit mines by using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems

This study addresses the effects of rock characteristics and blasting design parameters on blast-induced vibrations in the Kangal open-pit coal mine, the Tülü open-pit boron mine, the K?rka open-pit boron mine, and the TKI Çan coal mine fields. Distance (m, R) and maximum charge per delay (kg, W), stemming (m, SB), burden (m, B), and S-wave velocities (m/s, Vs) obtained from in situ field measurements have been chosen as input parameters for the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS)-based model in order to predict the peak particle velocity values. In the ANFIS model, 521 blasting data sets obtained from four fields have been used (r ² = 0.57–0.81). The coefficient of ANFIS model is higher than those of the empirical equation (r ² = 1). These results show that the ANFIS model to predict PPV values has a considerable advantage when compared with the other prediction models.     

Gravity studies of the Tharsis area on Mars

The Tharsis rise on Mars with a diameter of about 8000 km and an elevation up to 10 km shows extensive volcanism and an extensional fracture system. Other authors explained this structure by (I) an uplift due to mantle processes and by (II) volcanic construction. Gravity models of four profiles are in accordance with a total Airy isostatic compensation of the whole rise with mean crustal thicknesses of 50 km and 100 km. But two regions exhibit significant mass deficits: (i) the area between Olympus Mons and the three large Tharsis volcanoes and (ii) central Tharsis. This can be explained by (1) a heated upper mantle, (2) a chemically modified upper mantle, (3) a crustal thickening, or (4) a combination of these three processes. Crustal thickening is mainly a constructional process, but the mass deficit should contribute to a certain degree of uplift causing the extensional area of Labyrinthus Noctis. Gravity modelling results in a different isostatic state of the three Tharsis volcanoes. Pavonis Mons is not compensated, Ascraeus Mons is highly or totally compensated, and Arsia Mons is medium or not compensated. The large, flat volcanic structure Alba Patera has been explained by a hot spot with an evolution of a mantle diapir.The results have shown that the Tharsis rise is a very complex structure. The central and eastern part of the rise is characterized by extensional features and a mass deficit (Extensional Province). The western part is dominated by many volcanic features and a central elongated mass deficit (Volcanic Province). The northern part consists of Alba Patera. It seems unlikely that the whole rise has been generated by one stationary large axisymmetric plume or hot spot. There could have been one or more active hot spots with an evolution in space and time.Contribution Nr. 421, Institut für Geophysik der Universität Kiel, Germany.     

Bartonian orthophragminids from the Fulra Limestone (Kutch,W India) and coeval units in Sulaiman Range,Pakistan: a synthesis of shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for the Indian Subcontinent

Orthophragminids from the Bartonian Fulra Limestone in Kutch, India and the coeval units in Sulaiman Range in Pakistan suggest the establishment of a significant number of endemic species in the Indian subcontinent (Eastern Tethys). Among a total of fifteen species of Discocyclina, Orbitoclypeus and Asterocyclina, six of them appear to be confined to Indian subcontinent while seven species are common both to the peri-Mediterranean/Europe region (Western Tethys) and Indian subcontinent. Two species, Asterocyclina sireli, a four-ribbed species of possibly Indo-Pacific origin, and Orbitoclypeus haynesi that form large populations in Fulra Limestone, appear to have spread into North Africa and Turkey but not into European platforms as a response to Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO). The lack of Lutetian and Priabonian fauna in the studied sections, either due to a hiatus or unsuitable depositional environments, hampers the establishment of the actual stratigraphic ranges of the identified taxa. Our record provides us to characterize the orthophragminids in shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for Eastern Tethys in detail by comparing the data from the above localities with those from the North Africa, Europe and Turkey, showing the change in diversity.     

Nummulitids,lepidocyclinids and Sr-isotope data from the Oligocene of Kutch (western India) with chronostratigraphic and paleobiogeographic evaluations

Due to its intermediate geographical position between the Mediterranean and W Pacific, the Oligocene shallow-marine sequence of Kutch (India) is of key importance in paleobiogeographical interpretations. Larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) are a fundamental link for the correlation between the Mediterranean shallow benthic zones (SBZ) and the W Pacific ‘letter stages’. LBF were re-evaluated by morphometric studies of the internal test from five stratigraphic sections of the Maniyara Fort Formation. Based on their significant affinity to coeval fauna in the Mediterranean, they were assigned to W Tethyan SBZ zones, supported by Sr-isotope stratigraphy. In the Basal Member, traditionally considered as early Rupelian, we identified Nummulites bormidiensis, N. kecskemetii and Heterostegina assilinoides assigning it to the early Chattian SBZ 22B Zone. The Coral Limestone Member, previously considered as late Rupelian, is also assigned to this zone, for the presence of N. bormidiensis, Eulepidina formosoides-dilatata and Nephrolepidina morgani-praemarginata. Its early Chattian age (26.5–29 Ma) is further supported by Sr-isotope data. Miogypsinoides complanatus and Spiroclypeus margaritatus in the Bermoti Member (the top of the formation) document the late Chattian SBZ 23 Zone and the Sr-isotope data (22.5–24 Ma) place it close to the Oligocene–Miocene boundary.     

Monthly precipitation assessments in association with atmospheric circulation indices by using tree-based models

Natural Hazards - The Urmia Lake basin is one of the most important basins in Iran, facing many problems due to poor water management and rainfall reduction. Under current circumstances, it becomes...     

Rapid source inversions of the 2023 SE Türkiye earthquakes with teleseismic and strong-motion data

We conducted rapid inversions of rupture process for the 2023 earthquake doublet occurred in SE Türkiye, the first with a magnitude of M_W7.8 and the second with a magnitude of M_W7.6, using teleseismic and strong-motion data. The teleseismic rupture models of the both events were obtained approximately 88 and 55 minutes after their occurrences, respectively. The rupture models indicated that the first event was an asymmetric bilateral event with ruptures mainly propagating t...     

Dehumidification property of Eskisehir–Derbent Ciftligi white tuffs in Turkey

In Anatolia, throughout the centuries, caverns in tuffs have been used for food storage. The aim of this study is to investigate experimentally the dehumidification property of tuffs, and to confirm whether tuffs play any part in the humidity of the ecosystem in storage. According to tests carried out on the Eskisehir?CDerbent Ciftligi white tuffs and six different rock types from Turkey, it was found that the atmospheric moisture absorption ability of tuffs is relatively higher than those of other tested rocks. This suggests that the dehumidification property is a unique characteristic of tuffs. It may allow for the tuff walls to work as an air dehumidifier for storing food.     

Automatic detection of shoreline change on coastal Ramsar wetlands of Turkey

This research focuses on the shoreline change rate analysis by automatic image analysis techniques using multi-temporal Landsat images and Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) along the coastal Ramsar wetlands of Turkey. Five wetlands were selected for analysis: Yumurtalik Ramsar, the Goksu Ramsar, Kizilirmak and Yesilirmak wetlands and Gediz wetlands. Accretion or erosion processes were observed on multi-temporal satellite images along the areas of interest. Landsat images were geometrically and radiometrically corrected for the quantitative coastline delineation analysis. DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) was used as a reliable statistical approach for the rate of coastline change. For the detection of coastal change in Aegean part (Gediz wetland) of the study, zonal change detection method was used. As a result of the analysis, in some parts of research area remarkable shoreline changes (more than 765 m withdrawal and −20.68 m/yr erosion in Yumurtalik, 650 m withdrawal and −25.99 m/yr erosion in Goksu, 660 m withdrawal and −16.10 m/yr erosion in Kizilirmak and 640 m withdrawal and −4.91 m/yr erosion in Yesilirmak) were observed for three periods (1989, 1999 and 2009). Wetland in Gediz delta which is 35.57 km² was converted to sea or salt pan for the period 1975 and 2009.