Modelling of water table variation in response to time-varying recharge from multiple basins using the linearised Boussinesq equation

A mathematical model is presented to describe the variations of the water table in an unconfined aquifer due to time-varying recharge applied from four rectangular basins. The model is developed by solving the linearised Boussinesq equation using the extended finite Fourier cosine transform. The time-varying recharge rate is approximated by a number of piecewise linear elements of different lengths and slopes depending on the nature of the variation in recharge rate. Application of this model for the prediction of water table fluctuations and in the sensitivity analysis of various controlling parameters on the aquifer response is demonstrated in an example.     

Propagation of weak discontinuities in a vibrationally-excited gas flow

Propagation of weak discontinuities headed by wavefronts of arbitrary shape in three dimensions are studied in vibrationally relaxing gas flow. The transport equations representing the rate of change of discontinuities in the normal derivatives of the flow variables are obtained, and it is found that the nonlinearity in the governing equations does not contribute anything to the vibrationally relaxing gas. An explicit criterion for the growth and decay of weak discontinuities along bi-characteristic curves in the characteristic manifold of the governing differential equations is given. A special case of interest is also discussed.     

An anisotropic cosmological model in Brans-Dicke theory

Solutions of Brans-Dicke field equations are obtained when the source of the gravitational field is a perfect fluid with pressure equal to energy density and the metric is cylindrically symmetric of Marder-type. Various physical and geometrical properties of the model have been discussed. Finally the solutions have been transformed to the original form of Brans-Dicke (1961) theory and then through unit transformation to a general form.     

Mass balance and morphological evolution of the Dokriani Glacier,central Himalaya,India during 1999–2014

Glaciological mass balance(MB)is considered the most direct,undelayed and unfiltered response of the glaciers to climatic perturbations.However,it may inherit errors associated with stake underrepresentation,averaging over the entire glacier and human bias.Therefore,proper validation of glaciological MB with geodetic MB is highly recommended by the World Glacier Monitoring Service(WGMS).The present study focuses on the Dokriani Glacier,central Himalaya which is one of the bench-mark glaciers in the region and has glaciological MB records from 1993 to 2013 with intermittent gaps.In the present study,firstly the glaciological MB series is extended to 2014 i.e.,field-based MB for one more year is computed and,to compare with it,the geodetic MB is computed for the 1999–2014 period using high resolution Cartosat-1 digital elevation model(DEM)and SRTM DEM.Finally,the study assesses the regional representation of the Dokriani Glacier in terms of MB and evaluates the influence of the MB regime on its morphological evolution.Results show that the average glaciological MB(-0.34±0.2 m water equivalent(w.e.)y-1)is more negative than the geodetic MB(-0.23±0.1 m w.e.y-1)for the 1999–2014 period.This is likely because of the partial representation of glacier margins in the glaciological MB,where melting is strikingly low owing to thick debris cover(>30 cm).In contrast,geodetic MB considers all marginal pixels leading to a comparatively low MB.A comparative assessment shows that the MB of Dokriani Glacier is less negative(possibly due to its huge accumulation area)than most other glacier-specific and regional MBs,restricting it to be a representative glacier in the region.Moreover,continuous negative MB has brought a peculiar change in the epiglacial morphology in the lower tongue of the glacier as differential debris thickness-induced differential melting has turned the glacier surface into a concave one.This concavity has led to development of a large(10–20 m deep)supraglacial channel which is expanding incessantly.The supraglacial channel is also connected with the snout wall and accelerates terminus disintegration.Given the total thickness of about 30–50 m in the lower glacier tongue,downwasting at its current pace,deepening/widening of supraglacial channel coupled with rapid terminus retreat may lead to the complete vanishing of the lower one km glacier tongue.     

Coda Q Estimates in the Andaman Islands Using Local Earthquakes

The attenuation property of Andaman Island has been investigated analyzing coda waves from 57 local earthquakes in the magnitude range of 2.0–4.9, using the single backscattering model. These earthquakes waveforms, recorded on five broadband seismographs sited over the island from north to south during Nov. 2003 to March 2004, have been used to calculate the frequency dependent Coda Q (Q _c ) applying the time domain coda-decay method. The Coda Q, computed at central frequencies from (0.5–12) Hz and five-lapse time windows from 40 to 80 s, progressively increases from 105 f ^0.88 in the north Andaman to 135 f ^0.79 in the south Andaman with an average of 119 f ^0.80. The average Q _c values vary from 75 ± 42 at 0.5 Hz to 697 ± 54 at 12 Hz central frequency for 40 s lapse time window, while for 80 s lapse time window its variation is from 117 ± 38 at 0.5 Hz to 1256 ± 115 at 12 Hz. The Q _c estimated at different lapse times manifests a significant variation from 122f ^0.75 to 174f ^0.73, corresponding to lapse time window lengths of 40 and 80 s, respectively. The variation of Q _c with frequency, lapse time and also with the location of seismograph reflects the marked structural and compositional inhomogeneity with depth along the Andaman Islands. These observations are well correlated with the seismicity pattern and distinct high angle subduction beneath the island.     

A new exploration tool: Quantitative core characterization

We will describe a new laboratory system which was designed to be highly automated and portable while maintaining quality. Driving this design was the recognition of the temporal dependence of physical properties. It becomes apparent that some sedimentary rocks, particularly shales, degrade and disaggregare so completely that mechanical or elastic properties cannot be measured. This temporal dependence displays a time scale much shorter than normal weathering but greater than the time for stress relief. A system was designed to permit field characterization of freshly recovered core material. A benefit of automation and portability is a marked increase in measurement efficiency. The attributes of this system permit rapid characterization of a large number of fresh cores in remote, frontier exploration areas. This feature can significantly reduce prospect evaluation time. Statistically significant rock property databases can be created in a short period of time.     

Water Pollution – Phycological Perspectives

Water pollution exerts a pressure of selection on algal populations. In spite of a possible adaptation, often a changed diversity and sociological structure result, from which other effects on higher levels of the nutrient chain may emanate. There are represented some biological indices for characterizing algal communities which may serve as a biological measure of pollution and selfpurification, the problem of diversity being especially taken into account. Moreover, algal tests are used for representing the trophic situation and for determining the limiting nutrient, but also for determining the toxic influencing of biocenosis by hydrocarbons, too. Special attention is paid to heavy metals with regard to their synergistic action and bioaccumulation. On the other hand, the mass culture of algae is a valuable method of wastewater treatment and the recovery of valuable materials, and algae ponds provide an important technique for advanced wastewater purification.     

Environmental Effects on the Toxicity of Methyl Mercuric Chloride to Chorella vulgaris.

The effect of different concentrations, viz. 0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001 ppm of methyl mercuric chloride on survival, growth behaviour and chlorophyll content of Chlorella vulgaris has been studied under various environmental conditions. Methyl mercury at 0.01 ppm is 100% toxic to the test alga. At a sublethal (0.001 ppm) dose of CH₃HgCl, Chlorophyll a was more inhibited than Chlorophyll b. Toxicity was found to be very much under the influence of pH as at acid pH growth is highly reduced by a sublethal concentration, whereas the same concentration does not have an inhibitory influence in the alkaline range of pH. Eutrophic waters seem to reduce the heavy metal toxicity in general.