A numerical study on the mixed layer depth variability and its influence on the sea surface temperature during 2013–2014 in the Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian Ocean

Ocean Dynamics - This study addresses the air–sea interaction processes and mixed layer variability, which cause the intraseasonal oscillations in the sea surface temperature (SST) during...     

The Kalapana earthquake of November 29, 1975: An intra-plate earthquake and its relation to geothermal processes

By use of teleseismic and local data, the P-wave source mechanism of the Kalapana, Hawaii, earthquake of November 29, 1975 was found to have a common strike of N64°E for the two nodal planes. One plane dipped 4° to the NW; the other dipped 86° to the SE. After consulting subsurface geological data obtained by the recent Hawaii geothermal exploration program, it was decided that the plane dipping to the NW at 4° was the preferred solution.Seismic moment obtained from body-wave data and surface-wave data averaged 1.2 · 10²⁷ dyn cm. Fault area from P-wave, surface wave and tsunami data amounted to about 2200 km². Stress drop was on the order of tens of bars.The earthquake appears to be of volcanic origin. When magma pressure in the dike complex of the east rift of Kilauea exceeded the fracture point, the southern flank of the east rift was pushed across the ancient sea floor upon which the volcanic edifice rests. The result was a low-angle overthrust, which also produced a tsunami. The hypothesis of forceful intrusion of magma into the east rift is consistent with the mechanism of the earthquake.The low stress drop (in relation to other intra-plate earthquakes) is probably due to the occurrence of the earthquake in a hot-rock regime.     

Photogeological mapping in parts of Cuddapah basin Kurnool and Prakasam Districts of Andhra Pradesh

An area of 2500 sq. Km. has been covered by photogeological mapping with selected field checks which forms a part of Cuddapah basin in the Kumool and Prakasam Districts of A.P. The rocks exposed in the area belong to the Cumbum and Bairankonda Formations of Cuddapah Super Group. They occur more or less as an alternating sequence. These formations are bound on the east by Dharawar gneisses and on the west by Nandyal Shales. The Bairankonda Formation is predominantly arenaceous with quartzite as the main member, being easily identifiable in the aerial photographs by its characteristic topography, coarse drainage, light grey tone etc. The Cumbum Formation is mainly argillaceous with slate/phyllite as the main member, intercalated with minor quartzite band and is expressed on the photographs in dark tone with dendritic to sub-parellel drainage and occurs relatively at lower elevations, mostly in plains. The Dharwar (Archaean) gneisses underlying the vast plains in the east are recognised by the sandy nature of soil and by the thrusted contact of this unit with the Bairankondas. The Nandyal Shales occupying the large cultivated area in west have a darker tone and a dendritic drainage pattern. They are Upper Kurnool in age. All the litho-units have undergone pre-Kurnool deformation resulting into plunging/doubly plunging antiforms and synforms trending NNE-SSW and a few shear zones and faults. Due to severe deformation a very prominant foliation has developed in the Cumbum unit. Groove lineation has also been developed in the hinge portions of major folds. The magmatic activity in these formations has been witnessed with the emplacement of reibeckite syenite and Kimberlite plugs and veins. Geomorphologically the area may be divided into two prominant units namely (i) Denudational landforms comprising (a) hills, ridges, inselbergs, bornhardts and hogbacks on Bairankonda quartzites and phyllites (b) pediment and dissected pediment on Cumbum Shales and Dharwar gneisses and (ii) Depositional landforms such as (a) alluvial fans and colluvial fans (b) alluvial valley fills along river courses and (c) sand dunes in Dharwar gneisses.     

Assessing livelihood status of migrants from northern Ghana resident in the Obuasi Municipality

In Ghana, studies on migration and livelihoods are mostly limited to migrants’ places of origin. This paper therefore assesses livelihood status of permanent migrants resident in the Obuasi Municipality who hail from the northern parts of Ghana. The instrument used was a survey questionnaire and the respondents were both migrants and indigenes aged 18 years and above. The findings showed no significant differences between migrants and indigenes in ownership of assets and consumer durable goods and housing quality. However, the indigenes earned relatively higher than the migrants due to access to various forms of capital and the influence of institutional structures and processes. But to the migrants, their livelihood status has improved since they have built houses, educated their children, remitted relations at home and have acquired some consumer durable goods. Improvement in the livelihood status of migrants could induce further north–south migration. There is therefore the need for government and other stakeholders to bridge the gap of unequal socio-economic development between the northern and southern parts of the country.