Potential and inductive electric fields in the magnetosphere during auroras

During quiescent auroras the large-scale electric field is essentially irrotational. The volume formed by the plasma sheet and its extension into the auroral oval is connected to an external source by electric currents, which enter and leave the volume at different electric potentials and which supply sufficient energy to support the auroral activity. The location of the actual acceleration of particles depends on the internal distribution of electric fields and currents. One important feature is the energization of the carriers of the cross-tail current and another is the acceleration of electrons precipitated through relatively low-altitude magnetic-field-aligned potential drops.Substorm auroras depend on rapid and (especially initially) localized release of energy that can only be supplied by tapping stored magnetic energy. The energy is transmitted to the charged particle via electric inductive fields.The primary electric field due to changing electric currents is redistributed in a complicated way—but never extinguished—by polarization of charges. As a consequence, any tendency of the plasma to suppress magnetic-field-aligned components of the electric fields leads to a corresponding enhancement of the transverse component.     

Clinometric records with two long water levels in Lohja,Finland, during the total solar eclipse in 1990

Two water tube clinometers are installed in a deep mine in Lohja, Finland. One, lying in an E-W direction, is 177 m long and the other, lying in a N-S direction, is 62 m long. These instruments are used for tidal records and research. Because the station was on the zone of totality of the 1990 solar eclipse, the instruments offered a suitable tool for investigating whether there was any shielding effect on the direction of the vertical. During the eclipse, the resolution of the instruments was increased to 0.00001 and 0.00004, respectively. p ]Recordings and data evaluation are discussed, and the results obtained show that no gravitational shielding was found at the level of the above accuracy.     

Mountain restoration: Soil and surface wildlife habitat

Much wildlife habitat is being destroyed by extractive resource industries in mountain environments. This article illustrates how mountain wildlife habitat was restored in a devastated area. A strip mine for coal on the east slopes of the Alberta Rockies, occupied during its operations by Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis, Shaw 1803), was reclaimed as bighorn habitat. By considering the behaviour and habitat requirements of bighorns in conjunction with an operating coal mine and reclamation process, a large coal mining company has been able to reconstruct the mine site restoration to benefit mountain sheep. Although bighorn habitat requirements are well known, it was not until the animal and its requirements were studied against the backdrop of an operating coal mine that obvious recommendations regarding the maintenance and placement of high steep excavated rock faces were made and accepted by the government regulatory agencies. An open pit mine is a devastated landscape; trees, soil and overburden are removed to retrieve coal that may be up to 215 m underground. Overburden and soil are returned, but the disturbance compares to the barren landscapes left behind by glaciers. Contouring of the land, grading of overburden and soil, seeding with grass and legume mixtures and extensive fertilization are designed to speed plant colonization and soil development. By examining the bighorn's biological needs with respect to specific mining operations, a unique opportunity arose to employ McHarg's design with nature concept. This approach incorporates environmental and societal values into every aspect of development, and promotes the evaluation of the constraints and opportunities arising. The sheep numbered about 200. Their seasonal movements were similar to those found on native ranges. They used the reclaimed areas as winter range and for the mineral licks exposed during mining; in summer, the sheep moved to nearby alpine areas. Two thirds of all sightings were confined to 1.3 km² of reclaimed grassland; its average productivity (4190 kg/ha) exceeded native ranges (1700 kg/ha). The body mass of female sheep in autumn equalled that of the largest in Alberta, but the skull dimensions were not larger than those of adjacent ranges. Infestation with lungworms was moderate. Lamb production and survival were high. Design criteria should be: feeding areas should be dry and lie within 300 m of escape terrain, which should have a slope of 40% and contain at least three benches. Rock piles should be placed on grazing areas. Mineral licks, a vital welfare factor, already existed within the high walls created by strip mining.     

Mountain hazards

The review examines mountain land risks, especially those that involve sudden, more or less localized bouts of damage and disasters. Geographers' studies to date have mainly dealt with natural hazards, emphasizing those like avalanches, large landslides or natural dams that are uniquely associated with mountain environments. Such work is briefly reviewed. Earthquake risks are then singled out to help define and discuss problems faced by this work. They are shown to depend strongly upon aspects of mountain environments other than seismicity. Human vulnerability appears to be mainly dependent upon socioeconomic and habitat conditions which, although they determine seismic impacts, may and usually do develop independent of it. Moreover, these ingredients of risk are most closely associated with, or definitive of, the mountain people and areas. They are most strongly influenced by human agency, both in deciding who and what are exposed to risk, and in actually increasing or decreasing unfavorable responses to earthquakes. Recent earthquake disasters in the mountains also record how rapid changes in these social and habitat conditions, rather than seismicity, are increasing the scale and altering the forms of damage. These changes in turn, however, are largely dependent upon developments, initiatives and penetration from outside the mountains, and responses of mountain people more or less enforced by them. The importance of so-called highland-lowland interactions, is even more obvious in the most destructive of human hazards discussed, those of war and other armed violence. Mountain lands and peoples are shown to have been subject to recurrent warring, and a disproportionate share of the deployment of state violence in this century. Most of the casualties are resident civilians. They have been usually threatened by other uses of armed violence, including insurgency and counter-insurgency warfare and genocidal actions by state forces. Refugees and expellees from war zones have included great numbers of mountain folk. Another fast growing hazard of the late twentieth century, not unrelated to war and militarism, the international trafficking in and addiction plagues of hard drugs, has a unique relation to mountains. The South American growers of the coca leaf, and Southwest and Southeast Asian growers of the opium poppy are mountain farmers. Their participation is bringing a range of severe risks to their high valleys, as well as benefits. Finally the paper addresses the conceptual problems brought about by the compounding of determinist assumptions in both mountain land and hazards research. These include not only environmental determinist notions, or related Neo-Malthusian and Social Darwinist ideas, but the various historicist ones of assumed technological, economic and political stages of development. It is argued that such social constructions of the problem of hazards and disaster are dubious, and have become a major impediment to understanding and risk mitigation. Alternative frameworks require more attention to the regional, state, and global patterns of influence shaping risk in mountain lands, but also to the human ecology of mountain societies taking account of matters to which the expediences of technocratic expertise have made us blind.     

The character of the fine fractions of the bottom sediments of the Bohemian part of the Labe (Elbe) river

The amounts of fractions with size 63 m in the bottom sediments of the Bohemian part of the Labe (Elbe) river is variable. The grain-size distribution is poorly to very poorly sorted with a mean particle size from 5.1 to 12.2 m.The crystalline phase of recent sediments of the Labe river draining various types of parent rocks has a simple mineral composition, with predominant mica/illite, quartz, kaolinite and chlorite (±vermiculite ±smectite). There are also very small amounts of interstratification of 10 Å and 14 Å sheet silicates (11–13.6 Å). Small amounts of Na-rich plagioclase, K-feldspar and calcite have also been found; accessory amounts of amphibole, authigenic gypsum and pyrite are also present. Opal in diatomic tests is an omnipresent constituent. In the amorphic inorganic phase, hydrated oxides predominate, where Si >Al >Fe >Mn in a ratio of 64:28:22:1. The greatest amount of amorphous inorganic and organic phases were found in the 4 m fraction.A considerable part of the detrital material originates from soils formed on various igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, transported to the Labe by other rivers or directly by erosion in the immediate vicinity of the Labe river.     

Chemical study of tectonically controlled hydrothermal dolomitization: an example from the Lessini mountains,Italy

In the Central Southern Alps (Feltre, Verona — Italy), a 750 m thick interval of Jurassic and Cretaceous pelagic limestones shows post-depositional partial brecciation and dolomitization. The overlying 500 m thick Tertiary sedimentary sequence is unaffected. Through the Paleogene, mostly submarine, mafic volcanism has been documented in the area. Small-scale extensional features were observed in the limestone near the contact with the dolomitized breccias. Their orientations measured in the field correspond to the tectonic framework of the area and give evidence for the contemporaneousness of the volcanic activity and the brecciation. The distribution and petrologic characteristics of the basalts, combined with the orientation of the extensional features observed in the field, allow a paleotectonic reconstruction. This tectonic scenario can be viewed as a back-arc extension, an eastward prolongation of the spreading that divided Southern France from the Sardinia-Corsica-Calabria block, generating the Ligurian-balearic basin in the Late Oligocene.The dolomite is fine-grained to sucrosic, with a microamygdaloidal porosity, partially filled with ankerite and calcite. The matrix shows a homogeneous, orange-red cathodoluminescence, indicating a single phase of iron-poor dolomite. The carbonate fraction consists of more than 90% dolomite. The dolomite is almost stoichiometric (Ca_0.6Mg_0.4 to Ca_0.5Mg_0.5). The ¹³C values of the dolomite are less than 1%. more negative than the unaffected limestone. The ¹⁸O values are between –5%. to –13%., with a depletion of 2–11%. relative to the undolomitized limestone. The depleted oxygen isotope ratios in the dolomitized rock can be derived either from fluids impoverished in the heavy isotopes (e.g. meteoric water) or high temperatures. The unvaried carbon isotopic ratios make the second interpretation the most acceptable. As the⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values increase from a mean of 0.7077 in the unaffected limestones to 0.7085 in the dolomitized limestones, a derivation of the dolomitizing fluids from the volcanic rocks can be excluded. Comparing the obtained data with the Phanerozoic seawater isotope curve, however, the radiogenic Sr may be derived from marine waters of Late Oligocene-Early Miocene age. Microthermometric analyses of the fluid inclusions in the dolomite crystals from the bulk rocks and from the veins suggest a trapping temperature ranging from a minimum of 70°C (dolomite rock) to a maximum of 120°C (dolomite in veins). The solution contained in the inclusions is water with NaCl and MgCl₂ with salinities of 46%. (dolomite bulk rock) and 17%. (dolomite in veins). The pressure correction calculated from the fluid inclusion data is about 250 bars, which roughly correspond to the lithostatic pressure over the Mesozoic limestones in the Early Miocene.These results point to a hydrothermal origin of the dolomitization during the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene, as ascertained from the strontium isotope and fluid inclusion data. The circulation of hot marine water through the brecciated limestones in convective cells, triggered by the geothermal gradient related to the volcanic activity, is the proposed hydrodynamic model. Hydrologie considerations demonstrate that the proposed model is feasible.

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Zusammenfassung In den zentralen Südalpen (Feltre, Verona — Italien) findet sich eine etwa 750 m dicke Abfolge jurassischer und kretazischer pelagischer Kalke, die nach der Ablagerung zum Teil breckziert und dolomitisiert wurde, während die darüberliegenden 500 m mächtigen tertiären Sedimente keine Dolomitisierung zeigen. Im Paläogen ist im Gebiet ein mafischer, überwiegend mariner Vulkanismus dokumentiert. Kleinmaßstäbliche listrische Brüche in Kalken am Kontakt mit der dolomitisierten Breckzie entsprechen geometrisch einem großräumigen extensiven Regime im Paläogen. Sie beweisen die Gleichzeitigkeit der vulkanischen Aktivität und der Breckzierung. Die Verteilung und petrographischen Eigenschaften der Basalte, mit der Geometrie der Extensionsstrukturen, erlauben eine paläotektonische Rekonstruktion. Diese tektonische Situation entspricht einem Back-arc-basin und stellt die östliche Verlängerung des ligurisch-balearischen Beckens dar, das Südfrankreich vom Sardisch-Korsisch-Kalabrischen-Block im späten Oligozän getrennt hat.Die ¹³C Werte der Dolomite sind weniger als 1%. negativer als die entsprechender nicht dolomitisierter Kalke. Die ¹⁸O-Werte (relativ zum PDB Standard) variieren zwischen –5%. und –13%., das ist 2 bis 11%. negativer als die nicht dolomitisierter Kalke. Dies wird auf erhöhte Bildungstemperaturen zurückgeführt. Ein Anstieg der⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-Signaturen im Mittel von 0.7077 in den nicht dolomitisierten Kalken auf 0.7085 in den dolomitisierten Kalken schließt eine Herkunft der dolomitisierenden Fluide von den vulkanischen Gesteinen aus. Beim Vergleich der Isotopensignaturen mit der phanerozoischen Meerwasser-Isotopenkurve, könnte aber das radiogene Strontium von spät oligozänem — früh miozänem Meerwasser kommen. Mikrothermometrische Analysen flüssiger Einschlüsse in Dolomitkristallen im Gestein und in Adern deutet auf eine Einschlußtemperatur von 70°C (Dolomitgestein) bzw. 120°C (Dolomit in Adern) hin. Die Lösung in den Einschlüssen ist Wasser mit NaCl und MgCl₂, mit einer Salinität von 46%. (Dolomitgestein) bzw. 17%. (Adern). Die aus den Einschlüssen berechnete Druckkorrektur ist etwa 250 bar. Dies entspricht ungefähr der früh miozänen Gesteinssäule über den mesozoischen Kalken.Aufgrund dieser Daten wird eine hydrothermale Bildung der Dolomite im späten Oligozän - frühen Miozän postuliert. Es wird ein hydrodynamisches Modell vorgeschlagen, in dem aufgeheiztes Meerwasser konvektiv durch die breckzierte mesozoische Abfolge zirkuliert. Als Motor wirkt ein vulkanischer geothermischer Gradient. Dieses Modell läßt sich mit hydrologischen Betrachtungen testen und stützen.

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Résumé Dans la partie sud des Alpes Centrales (Feltre, Verone: Italie) il existe une succession, épaisse de 750 m, de calcaires pélagiques jurassiques et crétacés, qui ont subi après leur sédimentation une bréchification et une dolomitisation partielles. Les sédiments tertiaires surincombants, épais de 500 m, ne sont pas affectés par ces phénomènes. Un volcanisme paléogène mafique, essentiellement sousmarin, a été reconnu dans la région. Dans les calcaires, au contact de la brèche dolomitisée, existent des cassures listriques de petite échelle dont la géométrie témoigne d'un régime extensif général au Paléogène. Leurs orientations, mesurées sur le terrain, indiquent la contemporanéité de l'activité volcanique et de la bréchification. La distribution et les caractères pétrologiques des basaltes, combinés à la géometrie des structures extensives, permet une reconstitution paléotectonique. Celle-ci montre une extension dans un bassin d'arrière-arc, prolongement oriental de l'expansion qui, à l'Oligocène supérieur, a séparé du sud de la France le bloc corsico-sardo-calabrais en créant le bassin liguro-baléare.La dolomie, finement grenue à saccharoïde, possède une porosité à vides micro-amygdaloïdes, partiellement occupés par de l'ankérite et de la calcite. La matrice présente une cathodoluminescence homogène rouge-orange, indiquant la présence d'une seule phase constituée de dolomite pauvre en Fe. La fraction carbonatée consiste en dolomite pour plus de 90%. Cette dolomite est à peu près stoechiométrique (Ca_0,6Mg_0,4 à Ca_0,5Mg_0,5). Les rapports ¹³C de la dolomie sont inférieurs de moins de 1%. à ceux du calcaire intact. Les rapports ¹⁸O sont compris entre –5%. et –13%., soit 2 à 11%. inférieurs à ceux du calcaire non dolomitisé. Cette baisse du rapport isotopique peut provenir soit de fluides appauvris en isotopes lourds (p. ex. l'eau météorique), soit d'une température élevée; la constance des rapports isotopiques du C rend cette deuxième explication la plus plausible. Le rapport⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr passe d'une valeur moyenne de 0,7077 dans les calcaires non affectés à 0,7085 dans les calcaires dolomitisés; cet accroissement exclut une origine volcanique pour les fluides dolomitisants. En comparant ces valeurs à la courbe isotopique du Sr de l'eau de mer au Phanérozoïque, on peut déduire que le Sr radiogénique est dérivé d'eaux marines d'âge oligocène tardif à miocène inférieur. L'analyse microthermométrique des inclusions fluides contenues dans les cristaux de dolomite suggère une température de formation qui va de 70°C (dans la roche) à 120° (dans les veines). Le contenu de ces inclusions est une solution aqueuse de NaCl et MgCl₂ avec une salinité de 44%. (dans la roche) et de 17%. (dans les veines). La correction de pression calculée à partir des inclusions fluides est d'environ 250 bars, ce qui correspond grosso modo à la pression lithostatique qui s'exerçait au Miocène inférieur sur les calcaires mésozoïques.Sur la base de ces données, on conclut à une origine hydrothermale de la dolomie au cours de l'Oligocène supérieur - Miocène inférieur. Le modèle hydrodynamique proposé fait appel à la circulation convective, à travers le calcaire bréchié, d'eau marine échauffée grâce au gradient géothermique élevé dû à l'activité volcanique. Ce modèle est en accord avec des considérations hydrologiques.

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(, — ) , 750 , , , , 500 , . , . , . , . . - , - . ¹³ , 1%. ¹⁸, PDB –5 –13%, .. 2 11% . , , . ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.7077 0,7085 . , - . 70° , 120° . , , 44%, 17%. , , 250 . - . , - . , . , . .

     

The occurrence of OH absorptions in phenakite—an IR spectroscopic study

Summary IR spectra of phenakite single crystals from different localities show a distinct variability in the region of the OH stretching fundamental. Minute hydrous mineral phases (tourmaline, bertrandite) are included in Piracicaba phenakite. Structural OH, ranging up to 0.005 equivalent wt.% H₂O, is characterized by two extremely pleochroic bands centered at 3380 and 3120 cm^–1. On the basis of their pleochroic scheme it is proposed that (O₂(OH)₂) and (O₃(OH)) tetrahedra occur as structural elements, assuming that the vacancies are on Be sites.

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Das Auftreten von OH Absorptionen in Phenakit—eine IR spektroskopische Untersuchung

Zusammenfassung Die IR Spektren von Phenakit-Einkristallen verschiedener Vorkommen zeigen im Bereich der OH-Streckschwingungen eine deutliche Variabilität. Piracicaba Phenakit enthält feinste Einschlüsse von OH-hältigen Mineralphasen (Turmalin, Bertrandit). Strukturell gebundene OH-Gruppen (bis 0,005 äquivalente Gew.% H₂O) sind durch zwei extrem pleochroitische Banden bei 3380 und 3120 cm^–1 charakterisiert. Unter der Annahme von Be-Leerstellen werden aufgrund des Pleochroismus dieser Banden (O₂(OH)₂) und (O₃(OH)) Tetraeder als strukturelle Baueinheiten vorgeschlagen.

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With 3 Figures     

Composition-related microstructures in zinc-bearing carbonate assemblages from Broken Hill,New South Wales

Summary Analytical transmission electron microscopy has been used to investigate two zincian dolomites occurring as overgrowths on calcite from the oxidized zone of the ore bodies at Broken Hill, New South Wales. Particular attention has been focussed on the nature of the microstructures, and any correlations between microstructure and local composition, especially zinc content. The possible occurrence of tiny amounts of the zinc dolomite, minrecordite, has also been explored.The most notable features in the zincian dolomite are fine-scale distributions of ribbonlike calcitic second phase, growth bands, and modulated microstructures (strong modulations in diffraction contrast). Their occurrence is correlated with calcium in excess of stoichiometric requirements, but is not directly influenced by zinc content. The associated calcites are low in zinc, but they also exhibit carbonate second phase, which is thought to be dolomitic although giving no detectable order (b-type) reflections. Long-exposure electron diffraction patterns, however, revealed the presence of diffuse c-type superstructure reflections, which are thought to arise from smaller volumes in which Ca and Mg cations are ordered, for which a model is proposed.

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Zusammensetzungsabhängige Mikrogefüge in Zn-haltigen Karbonat-Vergesellschaftungen von Broken Hill, New South Wales

Zusammenfassung Analytische Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie wurde benutzt um zwei Zn-haltige Dolomite zu untersuchen, die als Überzüge von Calcit aus der Oxidationszone der Erzkörper von Broken Hill, New South Wales, auftraten. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wurde der Art der Mikrogefüge und möglichen Korrelationen zwischen Mikrogefüge und der lokalen Zusammensetzung, vor allem dem Zn-Gehalt, gewidmet. Dem möglichen Auftreten von geringen Mengen des Zn-Dolomit, Minrecordit, wurde ebenfalls nachgegangen.Die bemerkenswertesten Erscheinungen im Zn-haltigen Dolomit sind feine bandartige Verteilung einer calcitischen Phase, Wachstumsbänder und modulierte Strukturen (starke Modulationen im Beugungskontrast sichtbar). Ihr Auftreten ist mit über das stöchiometrische Verhältnis hinaus vorhandenem Ca korreliert; es ist aber vom Zn-Gehalt nicht direkt beeinflußt. Die mitvergesellschafteten Calcite haben einen niedrigen Zn-Gehalt, zeigen aber eine weitere Karbonatphase. Diese wird für dolomitsch gehalten, obwohl keine entsprechenden Ordnungsreflexe (b-Reflexè) nachweisbar waren. Sehr lange belichtete Elektronenbeugungs-Aufnahmen zeigen jedoch diffuse c-Typ-Über-struktur-Reflexe. Diese sind wahrscheinlich auf kleine Bereiche beschränkt, in dener die Ca und Mg Kationen geordnet sind, wofür ein Modell vorgeschlagen wird.

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With 10 Figures     

The Paasivaara PGE reef in the Penikat layered intrusion,northern Finland

Summary Three major PGE-bearing mineralized zones have been found in the layered series of the early Proterozoic Penikat layered intrusion. These are designated as the Sompujärvi (SJ), Ala-Penikka (AP) and Paasivaara (PV) Reefs according to the site of their initial discovery.The uppermost of these, the PV Reef, has the highest Pt/Pd ratio. It is located in the transition zone between the fourth and the fifth megacyclic units. The main host rock is the uppermost anorthosite, disseminated sulphides and associated PGM being concentrated in the interstices of this plagioclase orthocumulate. The Reef has also been encountered in other parts of the transition zone, however, and sometimes even in the lowermost parts of the fifth megacyclic unit. The dominant sulphide paragenesis is chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite-pentlandite, whereas the PGM identified are represented by sperrylite (PtAs₂), kotulskite (PdTe), merenskyite (PdTe₂), isomertieite (Pd₁₁Sb₂As₂), stibiopalladinite (Pd₅Sb₂), cooperite (PtS) and braggite ((Pt, Pd, Ni)S).It is suggested that the PV Reef was formed in the mixing process when the fifth magma pulse intruded into the magma chamber. Mixing of the new magma with the older residual magma in the chamber accounted for the sulphide precipitation. Mixing and convection were probably turbulent at first and the sulphides were thus able to "scavenge" PGE from a large amount of silicate melt. The metal ratios in the mineralization point to a close genetic relationship with the fifth magma pulse.

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Das Paasivaara PGE Reef in der Penikat-Intrusion, Nord-Finnland

Zusammenfassung In den geschichteten Serien der frühproterozoischen Intrusion von Penikat kommen drei grössere PGE-führende Zonen vor. Diese werden als die Sompujärvi (SJ), Ala-Penikka (AP) und Paasivaara (PV) Reefs bezeichnet, entsprechend den Lokalitäten der Entdeckung.Das am höchsten gelegene PV Reef hat die höchsten Pt/Pd Verhältnisse. Es liegt in der Übergangszone zwischen der vierten und der fünften megazyklischen Einheit. Das wichtigste Wirtsgestein ist der oberste Anorthosit, wo disseminierte Sulfide und assoziierte PGM in den Zwischenräumen dieses Plagioklas-Orthokumulates vorkommen. Das Reef wurde auch in anderen Teilen der Überganszone beobachtet und manchmal sogar in den untersten Partien der fünften megazyklischen Einheit. Die dominierende Sulfidparagenese ist Kupferkies-Magnetkies-Pentlandit; PGM sind Sperrylith (PtAs₂), Kotulskit (PdTe), Merenskyit (PdTe₂), Isomertieit (Pd₁₁Sb₂As₂), Stibiopalladinit (Pd₅Sb₂), Cooperite (PtS) und Braggit ((Pt, Pd, Ni)S).Es wird angeregt, dass das PV Reef während der Mischungsvorgänge bei der Intrusion des fünften Magma Pulses in die Magmenkammer entstanden ist. Mischung des neuen Magmas mit dem alten Residual-Magma in der Kammer war für die Ausfällung der Sulfide verantwortlich. Mischung und Konvektion dürften anfangs turbulent gewesen sein, und so konnten die Sulfide die PGE aus einem beträchtlichen Anteil der Silikatschmelze entfernen. Die Metallverhältnisse dieser Vererzung lassen eine enge genetische Verbindung mit dem fünften Magmapuls erkennen.

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With 8 Figures     

Water in India with reference to agriculture and population: some issues and patterns —dynamic approaches needed for development

In this paper an attempt is made to present some facets of status of water for agriculture and population in India. The issues are basic in nature which have been focused by scholars all over time and again. The materials are gathered from various sources to highlight and to consider a plea in the context of population-hydrological regions of the country to develop water potentials. Some characteristic mapping has also been conducted showing the main parameters of water utilization, need and spatial issues regarding consumptive use of water during agricultural operations as per the seasons prevalent in India. A relation is also established with the drought areas leading to assess the need for water. The human problems specially in relation to the safe drinking water is also projected in relation to distributional qualities with reference to natural regions by districts. The study does not claim a full assessment of the water issue due to paucity of statistics on water use, generation and potentials but it does indicate in many ways the geographical problems as an important study for further research by all concerned.