A bianchi type-III cosmological model in Brans-Dicke theory for vacuum field

An exact solution of Brans-Dicke (B-D) field equations for the metric tensor of a spatially homogeneous Bianchi type-III configuration has been obtained for vacuum field. It is shown that in the limiting case the solution reduces to that of Einstein field equations in vacuum.     

Lineament identification for groundwater drilling in a hard-rock terrain of Sirohi district,western Rajasthan

In hard-rock terrain under semi-arid climatic zone of western Rajasthan, prospective groundwater zones are poorly defined. The area of Sirohi district studied is regarded as a critical zone for tubewell siting. The present study involves delineation of lineaments on spaceborne and airborne data and their identification in field. Lineaments are identified with surface and subsurface geological features for selection of drilling sites. The study has resulted in 100 percent high-yielding exploratory wells in the area. Identical results obtained in their respective observation wells reaffirm utility of the approach adopted.     

Spectral study of the Bouguer anomaly map of a rift valley and adjacent areas in Central India

The spectral study of the Bouguer anomally map of Central India suggests an uplifted crust-mantle interface under the Mahandi graben. This study has delineated three subsurface levels of anomalous masses at the respective depths of 23 km, 8 km, and 2 km apparently representing the Moho, an intermediate discontinuity in the sialic part of the crust and the basement, respectively. Model study of the Bouguer anomaly along a profile suggests a typical continental graben type subsurface structure with a low density depression in the sialic part of the crust between 8 and 18 km supported by an elevated upper mantle of intermediate density (3.4 g/cm³) varying in depth from 25 km to 55 km. The depths of the inferred interfaces in case of Bundelkhand granite are 32 km, 11 km, and 1.5 km, which might represent the Moho, the base of intruded granite massif, and some shallow compositional variation. Similar studies in case of Vindhyan basin have brought out three discontinuities at the respective depths of 16 km, 6–4.5 km, and 2.4 km. The first horizon at the depth of 16 km probably represents the interface between the granitic and the basaltic part of the crust. The 6–4.5 km is the depth of the basement, with the 2.4 km interface separating Bijawar rocks from Vindhyans wherever they are present. A generalized inversion of a profile across a positive belt of Bouguer anomaly representing the subsurface Bijawar rocks support the above result.     

Hydromorphogeological Mapping for Groundwater Prospecting Using Landsat-MSS Images — A Case Study of Part of Dhanbad District,Bihar

The Dhanbad district in Bihar, feces acate water scareity and is chronically drought prone. The groundwater resources in the area have not been fully exploited. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the groundwater prospective zones, Landsat-5 MSS data of band-2 and band-4 and false colour composite of band 2, 3, 4 were interpreted visually to differentiate different hydromarphogeological units and to delineate the major trends of lineaments. The different geomorphic features identified are linear ridges, residual hills, pediplain, buried pedtment and dissected pediplain, besides lineaments. The study shows that the pediplain and buried pediments are promising zones for groundwater prospecting.     

A diagnosis of groundwater quality from a semiarid region in Rajasthan,India

A diagnosis of the groundwater quality of 70 wells sampled during two climatic regimes (dry and raining seasons) from a semiarid area in Rajasthan, India, had been carried out using standard methods. Analysis of the results for various hydrochemical parameters wherein the geological units are alluvium, quartzite and granite gneisses showed that all the parameters did not fall within the World Health Organisation’s acceptable limits for irrigation and drinking water purposes. The order of major cations and anions obtained during the dry and raining seasons are Na⁺ ? Mg²⁺ ? Ca²⁺ ? K⁺ and Cl^?? HCO₃ ^? ? SO₄ ^2?? CO₃ ^?> F^? ? NO₃ ^?, respectively. A maximum value of nitrate of 491.6 mg/l has been examined and its contamination is due to discriminated highly impacted groundwater samples by agricultural activity and small-scale urbanization. Fluoride (F^?) concentration is 6.50 mg/l as a maximum value, whereas values in about 26 % of the samples are more than the permissible limit (1.5 mg/l) for drinking water. The cumulative probability distributions of the selected ions show two individual intersection points with three diverse segments, considered as regional threshold values and highly impacted threshold values for differentiating the samples with the effects of geogenic, anthropogenic and saline water mixing. The first threshold values indicate the background hydrochemical constituents in the study area. The second threshold value of 732 mg/l for bicarbonate indicates that sandy aquifer is being dissolved during wet period, whereas NO₃ ^? concentration of more than the initial threshold value (=75 mg/l) indicates discriminated highly impacted groundwater samples by agricultural activity and urbanization in dry season. Various parameters such as soluble sodium percentage (SSP), salinity (electrical conductivity (EC)), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelley’s ratio (KR), permeability index (PI), residual sodium bicarbonate (RSB) and magnesium absorption ratio (MAR) for the well samples show that, overall, 46 % of groundwater samples are not suitable for irrigation. Further, chloro-alkaline indices (CAIs) were used for distinguishing regional recharge and discharge zones whereas corrosivity ratio (CR) utilized for demarcating areas to use metallic pipes for groundwater supply. In general, groundwater quality is mainly controlled by the chemical weathering of rock-forming minerals. The information obtained represents a base for future work that will help to assess the groundwater condition for periodical monitoring and managing the groundwater from further degradation.     

Markov random field-based method for super-resolution mapping of forest encroachment from remotely sensed ASTER image

Forest encroachment (FE) is a problem in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) in India for environment and planning. Small gaps created in the forest slowly expand its periphery disturbing the biodiversity. Therefore, intrusion of poachers, slash and burn and other factors causing FE must be carefully detected and monitored. Remote sensing offers a great opportunity to accomplish this task because of its synoptic view. Conventional classification methods with remotely sensed images are problematic because of small size of FE and mixed landcover composition. This study presents an application of super-resolution mapping (SRM) based on Markov random field for detection of FE using ASTER (15 m) images. The SRM results were validated using multispectral IRS LISS-IV (5.8 m) image. Non-contiguous FE patches of various sizes and shapes are characterized using the spatial contextual information. The novelty of this approach lies in the identification and separability of small FE pockets which could not be achieved with pixel-based maximum likelihood classifier (MLC). The SRM parameters were optimized and found comparable to previous studies. Classification accuracy obtained with SRM at scale factor 3 is κ = 0.62 that is superior to accuracy of MLC (κ = 0.51). SRM is a promising tool for detection and monitoring of FE at Rutland Island in ANI, India.     

Hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater quality and seasonal variation in East Bokaro coalfield region,Jharkhand

Groundwater samples collected from the East Bokaro coalfield of Jharkhand state, India during the dry and rainy seasons of the year 2012. Samples were analyzed for the assessment of groundwater quality in the study area. The results of the chemical analysis indicate that the pH values were found alkaline in nature during both the season. The major cations in groundwater was in the order of Na⁺>Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺>K⁺ during the dry season while Ca²⁺>Na⁺>Mg²⁺>K⁺ during the rainy season. The abundance of the major anions was of HCO₃^->SO₄^2->Cl^->NO₃^->F^- did not change on the seasonal basis. The average NO₃^-concentration was exceeded the desirable limit for drinking water as per Indian standard in the rainy season. Silicate weathering was inferred to be a dominant process, controlling the groundwater chemistry in both seasons, with lesser contributions by carbonate weathering and ion exchange. Leaching of salts from the unsaturated zone also has a major impact on groundwater quality during the rainy season. The water quality data indicate that groundwater is generally suitable for irrigation. However, higher salinity and residual sodium carbonate values at some sites may limit groundwater use and therefore an adequate drainage and water management plan for the study area is required.     

Stabilization of fuel oil contaminated soil—A case study

Fuel oil contamination brings adverse effect on basic geotechnical properties of foundation soil. The present study pertains to one such case, from the petrochemical complex near Vadodara City in Gujarat State, India. Here, the fuel oil contaminated soil samples exhibit drastic changes in their geotechnical parameters. Noteworthy among such deleterious changes are: decrease in maximum dry density (–4%), cohesion (–66%), angle of internal friction (–23%) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) (–35%) and increase in liquid limit (+11%). An attempt has been made to stabilize the contaminated soil using various additives viz., lime, fly ash and cement independently as well as an admixture of different combinations. It is apparent from the test results that the stabilization agents improved the geo-technical properties of the soil by way of cation exchange, agglomeration, and pozzuolanic actions. The best results were observed when a combination of 10% lime, 5% fly ash and 5% cement was added to the contaminated soil. The improvement in unconfined compressive strength (UCS), cohesion and angle of internal friction can be attributed to neo-formations such as Calcium Silicate Hydrates (CSH, CSH-1) that coats and binds the soil particles. Formation of stable complex between oil and metallic cations, results in reduction of leachableoil.