Oscillation of wind temperature humidity in the atmospheric surface layer over tropical semi-arid stations

Analysis of wind, air temperature, humidity and rainfall data from Land Surface Processes Experiment (LASPEX) in the surface layer at Anand (22°35′N, 72°55′E) and Khandha (22°02′N, 73°11′E) during January to December 1997 is presented. Wind and temperature at various levels showed prominent diurnal variation. Progression of daily wind and temperature revealed the intra-seasonal, quasi-biweekly and 6–9 day oscillations indicated large-scale convection, transport of heat and water vapor from Arabian Sea towards these stations.Power spectrum of wind and humidity corroborated the planetary scale Madden–Julian oscillation in the surface layer. Periodic oscillations of 21, 6–9, 1 day and 12 h were prominent in the spectrum of all variables. Low-frequency spectral peaks showed the energy in wind is 2–3 times higher over Khandha than at Anand whereas temperature is 3 times higher at Anand than Khandha.     

Induction by long period geomagnetic variations in the Indian sub-continent

In the present paper storm time variations and 27-day geomagnetic periodicity have been analysed to estimate the depth of the substitute conductor, assuming an infinitely (super) conducting core model of the earth. The advantage of using data from a restricted longitude range is that the uncertainties arising from lateral contrasts in the upper mantle and contributions from Sq current systems are considerably reduced. The result of the present analysis, which has been done in the time domain, gives a value of 522 km for the depth of the substitute conductor in case of storm time variations which rises to 870 km for 27-day recurrent storms. A higher value of the depth for 27-day variations indicate that the rise in conductivity inside the earth is not like a step function rather is a gradual one. The value of 522 km for storm time variations for the Indian region is smaller than the global average. This is natural to expect because the Indian sub-continent is known to be a tectonically active region.     

Landuse/land cover mapping and change detection using satellite data — a case study of dehlon block, district Ludhiana, Punjab

The land use information collected for Dehlon block of Ludhiana district, Punjab from the analysis of the IRS-1B LISS-II data for the year 1993 and IRS PAN data for the year 1997 and SOI topographical maps for 1964 revealed a large change in the area of different land use categories during the period from 1964 to 1997. The agricultural land covering an area of about 94.14 per cent in 1964 reduced to 90.26 per cent in 1997. while the area under rural settlements increased from 312 ha in 1964 to 1162 ha in 1997. An extra area of about 169 ha under waste land was added during the period under study making total waste land area to about 400 ha in 1997. However, the block lacks the forest cover of the required limit. Considerable change in living environment was observed in the block. Number of persons per unit settlement area (ha) being 213.3 in 1964 reduced to 97.1 in 1991; it indicate that the living standard of the people of the block has improved with the changed cropping pattern and increased agricultural production during the period from 1964 to 1991.     

Land use change analysis for agricultural management — A case study of Tehsil Talwandi Sabo,Punjab

Remote sensing applications have been operationalised in most of the natural resources management themes and at present the trend is on integrated surveys to arrive at sustainable developmental packages. In accordance with the IMSD project, the Tehsil Talwandi Sabo in district Bathinda has been selected for integrated survey and resource management analysis. In the present study multidate remote sensing data has been analysed to map existing land use and temporal changes. The study in Talwandi Sabo suggests that land use pattern in the tehsil is not similar to that of general land use pattern prevailing in the State. The area under settlements show many fold increase while there is no increase in forest land. Sandy areas comprising sand dunes (levelled and unlevelled) require suitable management for proper ecosystem balance.     

Tectonomagnetic study in the seismoactive area of Narmada-Son lineament,central India: Preliminary results on repeat field observations

Repeated measurements of the total geomagnetic field on the five profiles have revealed a picture of stress-induced tectonomagnetic effect in the form of secular variation of the total geomagnetic field in the tectonically and seismically active area of Jabalpur and adjoining areas of the Narmada-Son lineament (NSL), central India. For this experiment, a reference base station was established within the study area at Jabalpur. Using proton precession magnetometers with a sensitivity of 0.1 nT, simultaneous measurements of total geomagnetic field were made annually at the base and all field stations. Five cycles of repeated observations have been performed between 2003 and 2007. For data analysis, a difference method has been applied and the residuals have been calculated as secular variations of the total geomagnetic field with values ranging from ±0.1nT to about ±14.6nT/yr over the different stations. The anomalies in secular variation of the total geomagnetic field may be related to anomalous accumulation of tectonic stresses and tensions on the deep fault zones and crustal blocks due to recent geodynamic processes and active geological inhomogeneities in the NSL.