Spatial prediction of soil properties in a watershed scale through maximum likelihood approach

Surface map of soil properties plays an important role in various applications in a watershed. Ordinary kriging (OK) and regression kriging (RK) are conventionally used to prepare these surface maps but generally need large number of regularly girded soil samples. In this context, REML-EBLUP (REsidual Maximum Likelihood estimation of semivariogram parameters followed by Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) shown capable but not fully tested in a watershed scale. In this study, REML-EBLUP approach was applied to prepare surface maps of several soil properties in a hilly watershed of Eastern India and the performance was compared with conventionally used spatial interpolation methods: OK and RK. Evaluation of these three spatial interpolation methods through root-mean-squared residuals (RMSR) and mean squared deviation ratio (MSDR) showed better performance of REML-EBLUP over the other methods. Reduction in sample size through random selection of sampling points from full dataset also resulted in better performance of REML-EBLUP over OK and RK approach. The detailed investigation on effect of sample number on performance of spatial interpolation methods concluded that a minimum sampling density of 4/km² may successfully be adopted for spatial prediction of soil properties in a watershed scale using the REML-EBLUP approach.     

The Flight Dynamics of Tapejara,a Pterosaur From the Early Cretaceous of Brazil with a Large Cranial Crest

Tapejara wellnhoferi, a small azhdarchoid pterodactyloid from the Early Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil, provides critical information about the aerodynamic function of its spectacular head crest. The cranial crests in pterodactyloids were sexually dimorphic and are thought to have evolved in adult males in response to female mate choice. However, the location of cranial crests in front of the center of gravity would create instability in the yaw axis during flight and may seem like a handicap. Vertically aligned webbed feet probably suppressed the yawing rotations and instability from the crest. Here we show that the crest functioned as a front rudder to make agile turn and mediate flight control. A computer simulation model suggests that Tapejara had a large excess of muscle power available above the power required for continuous flapping flight. It could easily takeoff from a perch, ground, or water surface and land safely on the ground. It was an excellent glider with a gliding angle close to 4o and a cruising speed of 27 km/h. Tapejara could soar efficiently on the windward side of cliffs or circle on rising thermals over tropical waters for efficient long-distance flight. Various control surfaces in the wings of Tapejara analogous to the slat, aileron, elevator, fin, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft made pterodactyloids versatile flyers.     

Ground-motion predictions in Shillong region, northeast India

We deliver ground-motion prediction equations for Shillong region, northeast India, based on a database generated by finite-fault stochastic simulations. An examination of the regional seismic source characteristics is carried out beforehand. Micro/minor earthquakes (M _W?<?5.0) nucleating at hypocentral depth <21?km in the region recorded at broadband seismic stations are observed to have Brune stress-drop ranging between 2.8 and 99.9?bars. Likewise, macroseismic intensity data for the 1897 Shillong Earthquake that nucleated at a hypocentral depth of ~35?km places the associated stress-drop at 100?200?bars. The apparent variation of the stress-drop parameter with depth is considered with two source zones namely lower-crust and upper-crust. Equations for the lower-crust predict higher ground-motion levels and exhibit affinity to those developed for stable continental region of Eastern North America. The ground-motion levels predicted by the equations for the upper-crust are relatively lower but are still higher compared with those predicted for tectonically active regions, viz., the Himalayas and Western North America.     

A regularized Wiener–Hopf filter for inverting models with magnetic susceptibility

For a magnetic target, the spatial magnetic signal can be expressed as a convolutional integral over Green's function of an assumed model with susceptibility as its parameter. A filter can be used to obtain the susceptibility by minimizing the mismatch between observed and the computed magnetic anomalies. In this perspective, we report the development of an advanced digital filter, which is efficient and can be used to map rock susceptibility from the acquired magnetic data. To design the new filter, we modified the space‐domain standard Wiener–Hopf filter by imposing two different constraints: (i) the filter energy constraint; and (ii) normalization of the filter coefficients. These constraints make it capable to characterize source bodies from their produced magnetic anomalies. We assume that the magnetic data are produced by induced magnetization only and interpretation can be as good as the subsurface model. Our technique is less sensitive to the data noise, which makes it efficient in enhancing the interpretation model. The modified filter demonstrates its applicability over the synthetic data with additive white Gaussian noise. In order to check the efficacy and adaptivity of this tool in a more realistic perspective, it is also tested on the real magnetic data acquired over a kimberlitic district adjoining to the western margin of the Cuddapah Basin in India to identify the source bodies from the anomalies. Our result shows that the modified Wiener–Hopf filter with the constraint for the magnetic data is more stable and efficient than the standard Wiener–Hopf filter.     

Microtremor survey in Talchir, India to ascertain its basin characteristics in terms of predominant frequency by Nakamura's ratio technique

The Talchir Basin, one of India's oldest basins, has been a subject of interest because of its rich coal deposits. The maximum thickness of the basin is about 1500 m. Beyond the basin is the hard metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age. The ambient noise survey data have been analyzed for the Talchir Basin using Nakamura's technique of horizontal–vertical-spectral-ratio (HVSR) to ascertain the basin structure in terms of the predominant frequency. The predominant frequency varies from 0.25 Hz to 7.8 Hz but a major portion of the basin comes under the range of 0.3 Hz–2.4 Hz while on the metamorphic rocks it is as high as 7.8 Hz. The variation in predominant frequency shows a good correlation with the sediment thickness of the basin. The results have been compared with the previous studies by other researchers and it shows consistency with the northerly dip of the basin. The present study has also been compared with the results of the synthetic seismogram that was performed for the Talchir Basin. The predominant frequency obtained from HVSR technique complements well with the frequency at which the peak response spectra ratio is observed. The present study of the predominant frequency identifies quite well the characteristics of Talchir Basin and is in good agreement with the synthetic ground motion modeling of the region.     

Influence of enzymatic lime on clay mineral behavior

Atterberg Limit Tests, unconfined compressive strength tests, and California Bearing Ratio Tests were conducted on the two minerals—kaolinite and bentonite—after subjecting them to stabilization with lime, enzyme, and enzymatic lime. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of enzymatic lime as a stabilizer over lime and enzyme. Results establish that enzymatic lime stabilization is the better stabilizer in terms of strength development. The unconfined compressive strength and California Bearing Ratio values of enzymatic lime stabilized samples have increased up to 5 and 30 times in the case of kaolinite mineral, but to only less than 1.5 times in the case of bentonite mineral. The study thus indicates that enzymatic lime stabilization is predominantly effective for clays containing kaolinite minerals.     

Transport and Biological Fate of Toluene in Low-Permeability Soils

The effect of simultaneous sorption, diffusion, and biodegradation on the fate and transport of toluene in low-permeability soil formations was examined. A transport model accounting for vapor and liquid sorption, vapor diffusions, and first-order biodegradation was developed to describe the movement of volatile solute in unsaturated soils. Modeling studies were followed with laboratory batch and column studies on fine-grained soil samples obtained from a gasoline-contaminated site. Batch experiments yielded the sorption and diffusion coefficients for generating theoretical solute transport profiles. Column studies were conducted to examine toluene sorption, diffusion, and biodegradation under aerobic and denitrifying conditions. Results from the column studies indicated that vapor sorption onto the soil was minimal due to the high moisture content of the soil. Comparison of model predictions with experimental results indicated that the SASK model, which is based on the resistivity theory, provided a more accurate prediction of the vapor phase tortuosity than the frequently used Millington-Quirk equation. Laboratory results of toluene concentration profiles matched well with the model predictions and yielded degradation rates comparable to those obtained in the field. Column studies, examining toluene biodegradation under aerobic and denitrifying conditions in low-permeability soils, indicated that the presence of excess nitrate in aerobic environments yielded higher solute degradation rates than those observed under exclusively aerobic systems.     

Earthquake hazard in Northeast India — A seismic microzonation approach with typical case studies from Sikkim Himalaya and Guwahati city

A comprehensive analytical as well as numerical treatment of seismological, geological, geomorphological and geotechnical concepts has been implemented through microzonation projects in the northeast Indian provinces of Sikkim Himalaya and Guwahati city, representing cases of contrasting geological backgrounds — a hilly terrain and a predominantly alluvial basin respectively. The estimated maximum earthquakes in the underlying seismic source zones, demarcated in the broad northeast Indian region, implicates scenario earthquakes of M _W 8.3 and 8.7 to the respective study regions for deterministic seismic hazard assessments. The microzonation approach as undertaken in the present analyses involves multi-criteria seismic hazard evaluation through thematic integration of contributing factors. The geomorphological themes for Sikkim Himalaya include surface geology, soil cover, slope, rock outcrop and landslide integrated to achieve geological hazard distribution. Seismological themes, namely surface consistent peak ground acceleration and predominant frequency were, thereafter, overlaid on and added with the geological hazard distribution to obtain the seismic hazard microzonation map of the Sikkim Himalaya. On the other hand, the microzonation study of Guwahati city accounts for eight themes — geological and geomorphological, basement or bedrock, landuse, landslide, factor of safety for soil stability, shear wave velocity, predominant frequency, and surface consistent peak ground acceleration. The five broad qualitative hazard classifications — ‘low’, ‘moderate’, ‘high’, ‘moderate high’ and ‘very high’ could be applied in both the cases, albeit with different implications to peak ground acceleration variations. These developed hazard maps offer better representation of the local specific seismic hazard variation in the terrain.     

Earthquake hazard zonation of Sikkim Himalaya using a GIS platform

An earthquake hazard zonation map of Sikkim Himalaya is prepared using eight thematic layers namely Geology (GE), Soil Site Class (SO), Slope (SL), Landslide (LS), Rock Outcrop (RO), Frequency–Wavenumber (F–K) simulated Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), Predominant Frequency (PF), and Site Response (SR) at predominant frequencies using Geographic Information System (GIS). This necessitates a large scale seismicity analysis for seismic source zone classification and estimation of maximum earthquake magnitude or maximum credible earthquake to be used as a scenario earthquake for a deterministic or quasi-probabilistic seismic scenario generation. The International Seismological Center (ISC) and Global Centroid Moment Tensor (GCMT) catalogues have been used in the present analysis. Combining b-value, fractal correlation dimension (Dc) of the epicenters and the underlying tectonic framework, four seismic source zones are classified in the northeast Indian region. Maximum Earthquake of M _W 8.3 is estimated for the Eastern Himalayan Zone (EHZ) and is used to generate the seismic scenario of the region. The Geohazard map is obtained through the integration of the geological and geomorphological themes namely GE, SO, SL, LS, and RO following a pair-wise comparison in an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Detail analysis of SR at all the recording stations by receiver function technique is performed using 80 significant events recorded by the Sikkim Strong Motion Array (SSMA). The ground motion synthesis is performed using F–K integration and the corresponding PGA has been estimated using random vibration theory (RVT). Testing for earthquakes of magnitude greater than M _W 5, a few cases presented here, establishes the efficacy and robustness of the F–K simulation algorithm. The geohazard coverage is overlaid and sequentially integrated with PGA, PF, and SR vector layers, in order to evolve the ultimate earthquake hazard microzonation coverage of the territory. Earthquake Hazard Index (EHI) quantitatively classifies the terrain into six hazard levels, while five classes could be identified following the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) PGA nomenclature for the seismic zonation of India. EHI is found to vary between 0.15 to 0.83 quantitatively classifying the terrain into six hazard levels as “Low” corresponding to BIS Zone II, “Moderate” corresponding to BIS Zone III, “Moderately High” belonging to BIS Zone IV, “High” corresponding to BIS Zone V(A), “Very High” and “Severe” with new BIS zones to Zone V(B) and V(C) respectively.