Magnetoelastic shear wave propagation in pre-stressed anisotropic media under gravity

The present study investigates the propagation of shear wave (horizontally polarized) in two initially stressed heterogeneous anisotropic (magnetoelastic transversely isotropic) layers in the crust overlying a transversely isotropic gravitating semi-infinite medium. Heterogeneities in both the anisotropic layers are caused due to exponential variation (case-I) and linear variation (case-II) in the elastic constants with respect to the space variable pointing positively downwards. The dispersion relations have been established in closed form using Whittaker’s asymptotic expansion and were found to be in the well-agreement to the classical Love wave equations. The substantial effects of magnetoelastic coupling parameters, heterogeneity parameters, horizontal compressive initial stresses, Biot’s gravity parameter, and wave number on the phase velocity of shear waves have been computed and depicted by means of a graph. As a special case, dispersion equations have been deduced when the two layers and half-space are isotropic and homogeneous. The comparative study for both cases of heterogeneity of the layers has been performed and also depicted by means of graphical illustrations.     

Evaluation of significant sources influencing the variation of physico-chemical parameters in Port Blair Bay,South Andaman,India by using multivariate statistics

Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the union territory of India. More than 50% of the population of these islands lives around Port Blair Bay. Therefore the anthropogenic effects in the bay water were studied for monitoring purpose from seven stations. Physico-chemical parameters of seawater were analyzed in samples collected once in every 3 months for 2 years from seven sampling stations located in Port Blair Bay, South Andaman Island to evaluate the spatial and tidal variation. Cluster analysis and factor analysis were applied to the experimental data in an attempt to understand the sources of variation of physico-chemical parameters. In cluster analysis, the stations Junglighat Bay and Phoenix Bay having high anthropogenic influence formed a separate group. The factors obtained from factor analysis indicated that the parameters responsible for physico-chemical variations are mainly related to land run-off, sewage outfall and tidal flow.     

Emissions of greenhouse and non-greenhouse air pollutants from fuel combustion in restaurant industry

Information on emissions from restaurant industry is limited in scientific literature. Emission inventory of greenhouse and non-greenhouse air pollutants from restaurant industry was prepared for two Class 1 Indian cities, viz. Nagpur and Raipur for 2010. Emissions were estimated from a primary database on type and amount of cooking fuel combusted in restaurant industry in the selected cities. Liquefied petroleum gas, charcoal, wood, coal, diesel and candy coal are used in this industry, first three being the major ones. Carbon dioxide emission was highest in both cities and liquefied petroleum gas, charcoal and wood were the major contributors to emissions. Total annual emissions of greenhouse gases, viz. carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were estimated to be 19,251, 27 and 1 Mg year^?1 in Nagpur and 21,207, 34 and 1 Mg year^?1 in Raipur, whereas total annual emissions of non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC), carbon monoxide, total suspended particulate (TSP), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and black carbon (BC) were 96, 959, 31, 12, 19, 3 Mg year^?1 and 87, 1141, 78, 37, 28, 6 Mg year^?1 in Nagpur and Raipur, respectively, from all the fuels used in restaurant industry. Considering the huge growth of Indian restaurant industry in the last decade and the predicted growth in future, emissions from this industry is assumed to grow and will play a major role in governing regional and national emissions in India.     

Propagation of two-solitons in an electron acoustic waves in a plasma with electrons featuring Tsallis distribution

A first theoretical work is presented to study the propagation of two-solitons in an electron acoustic waves (EAWs) within the theoretical framework of the Tsallis statistical mechanics. For this purpose, cylindrical and spherical Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations are derived for electron acoustic solitary waves (EASWs) in an unmagnetized three species plasma system comprised of cold electrons, immobile ions and hot electrons featuring Tsallis statistics by employing the standard reductive perturbation method. The effects of electron nonextensivity and the fractional number density of the hot electrons relative to that of the cold ones number density (α) on the profiles of two-soliton structures are investigated numerically. Results would be helpful for understanding the localized structures that may occur in space plasmas.     

A study on soil physico-chemical, microbial and metal content in Sukinda chromite mine of Odisha, India

Soil samples from chromite mining site and its adjacent overburden dumps and fallow land of Sukinda, Odisha, were analysed for their physico-chemical, microbial and metal contents. Chromite mine soils were heterogenous mixture of clay, mud, minerals and rocks. The pH of the soils ranges between 5.87 and 7.36. The nutrient contents of the mine soils (N, P, K and organic C) were found to be extremely low. Analysis of chromite mine soils revealed accumulation of a number of metals in high concentrations (Fe > Cr > Mn > Ni > Zn > Pb > Sr) which exceeded ecotoxicological limits in soil. Correlation and cluster analysis of metals revealed a strong relation between Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn among the different attributes studied. Assessment of different microbial groups such as fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria (heterotrophic, spore forming, free-living nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilising and cellulose degrading) from mine soils were found to be either extremely low or absent in some soil samples. Further chromium tolerant bacteria (CTB) were isolated using 100 mg/L Cr(VI) enriched nutrient agar medium and were screened for their tolerance towards increasing concentrations of hexavalent chromium and other toxic metals. Out of 23 CTB isolates, three bacteria tolerated up to 900 mg/L, 6 up to 500 mg/L, 20 up to 200 mg/L of Cr(VI). These bacteria were also found to be sensitive towards Cu > Co > Cd and very few CTB strains could show multiple metal tolerance. These strains have great scope for their application in bioremediation of toxic chromium ions in presence of other metals ions, which needs to be explored for their biotechnological applications.     

Single/multiple input-single output transfer function with noise models for constituents of iron ores of Northern Goa, India

Parametric time domain time series models for different chemical constituents such as SiO ₂,Fe ₂ O ₃,TiO ₂,MnO, and P ₂ O ₅ of iron ores belonging to banded hematite quartzites in Bicholim Mine (Goa) have been utilized for forecasting Fe ₂ O ₃ assay values through single/multiple input—single output (Fe ₂ O ₃ ) transfer function with noise methodology. Statistically significant correlated chemical constituent inputs (say, SiO ₂,TiO ₂,MnO, P ₂ O ₅ ) along lateral (horizontal strike direction) and vertical (perpendicular to bedding planes) sections in this mine are useful in modeling as well as forecasting assay values of blocks of ore to be exploited. Parameters of transfer function—noise models are estimated by utilizing time domain methodology, and the usefulness of these models for optimization of mining operations is discussed.     

High-resolution observations of Hα emission line from R Aquarii

We have obtained H emission line profiles from R Aquarii, a Mira variable surrounded by a complex nebulosity, using a very high-resolution Fabry-Pérot spectrometer. A new feature that was seen in our observations is the fact that the line profile shows a splitting which we interpret as due to two expanding shells surrounding the star with velocities of 5 km s^–1 and 15 km s^–1. The expansion velocities show an acceleration outwards due perhaps to the radiation pressure caused momentum transfer. Possible periodic variation of radial velocity derived from observations is discussed.     

Heavy metal pollution around the island city of Bombay, India. Part II: distribution of heavy metals between water, suspended particles and sediments in a polluted aquatic regime

The island city of Bombay is surrounded by Thane creek in the east and Ulhas river on the north. These two aquatic regimes act as receptacles of industrial waste and sewage discharges from the city and also lithogenic fluxes from the adjacent basaltic terrain.

Two consecutive sets of pre-monsoon and post-monsoon samples of water, suspended solids and sediments were collected from the intertidal zone of Thane Creek and along the Ulhas River. These were analysed for toxic heavy metals such as Fe. Mn, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Hg and Cd and the degree of metal contamination was determined. Using this data the pattern and mechanism of distribution of heavy metals in water, suspended solids and sediments were investigated. These are closely related to discharges of industrial effluents and domestic sewage and largely controlled by basic geochemical processes.     

Rapid eco-physical impact assessment of tropical cyclones using geospatial technology: a case from severe cyclonic storms Amphan

The tropical cyclones are very destructive during landfall, generating high wind speeds, heavy intensive rainfall, and severe storm surges with huge coastal inundations that have massive socioeconomic and ecological catastrophic effects on human beings and the economic well-being. The sizable ecological effects of cyclonic storms cannot be ignored because of the uncertainty of impact, intensity induced by a warming ocean, and sea level rise. The Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan which falls under the category five classifications under the scheme of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), on the basis the maximum sustained wind speeds gusting up to 168 km/h affected parts of West Bengal and Odisha in India, and south-west Bangladesh between May 16 and 20, 2020. In this work, we have focused on the coastal districts of Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore in Odisha, Purba Medinipur, and South Twenty-Four Parganas in West Bengal, India and, Khulna, Barisal division of Bangladesh that have been seriously affected by the Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan. The objective of the study is to analyze the eco-physical assessment of tropical cyclone Amphan using geospatial technology. Therefore, shoreline change detection and enhance vegetation index have been used in this research work to systematically analyze the eco-physical impact parameters of Cyclonic Storm Amphan using ortho-rectified Landsat 8/OLI imagery and MODIS dataset of USGS with high spatial resolutions of 30–500 m. The result highlights that about 60.33% of the total transects of the study area was eroded, but only 24.99% of the total transects experienced accretion, and 14.68% of the total transects depicted stability. The scientific study will benefit coastal managers and policymakers in formulating action plans for coastal zone management, natural resilience, and sustainable future development.