Climate change and adaptation: an integrated framework linking social and physical aspects in poorly-gauged regions

Various frameworks related to climate change and adaptations that have been developed to date have notable benefits as well as significant limitations. It is not always practical to implement advanced climate change frameworks in situations with limited data availability. Social aspects, such as people’s experience and perception, are often under-prioritized. Therefore, this study introduces an integrated framework linking social and physical aspects of climate change to assess its impacts on water resources and to evaluate differing adaptation options in poorly gauged basins. A case study of the Kali Gandaki River Basin (KGRB) in western Nepal is presented to demonstrate the applicability of this framework. Results of the study show that people of the mountainous Mustang district in the KGRB have perceived climate change or climate variability, its impacts on water resources, as well as other water-related issues and potential adaptations or responses. Furthermore, evaluation of people’s perception using available physical data confirms the increase in temperature and average annual discharge in the Kali Gandaki River as well as poor water use, as a major problem at all levels in the basin. Despite increasing water availability, a concurrent increase in water use is difficult due to topographic constraints on irrigation development. However, the impacts of climate change are particularly severe in Mustang, owing to the fact that a large proportion of the population depends on a climate-sensitive livelihood like agriculture. Therefore, various adaptation options are identified in the agricultural sector, and one relevant option is further evaluated. The framework developed in this study has the potential to be further applied to other poorly gauged basins.     

Photometric and polarimetric studies of three W UMa-type binaries: FZ Ori,V407 Peg and LP UMa

We present analyses of new optical photometric observations of three W UMa-type contact binaries FZ Ori, V407 Peg and LP UMa. Results from the first polarimetric observations of the FZ Ori and V407 Peg are also presented. The periods of FZ Ori, V407 Peg and LP UMa are derived to be 0.399986, 0.636884 and 0.309898 d, respectively. The O?C analyses indicate that the orbital periods of FZ Ori and LP UMa have increased with the rate of 2.28×10^?8 and 1.25×10^?6 d?yr^?1, respectively and which is explained by transfer of mass between the components. In addition to the secularly increasing rate of orbital period, it was found that the period of FZ Ori has varied in sinusoidal way with oscillation period of ～30.1 yr. The period of oscillations are most likely to be explained by the light-time effect due to the presence of a tertiary companion. Small asymmetries have been seen around the primary and secondary maxima of light curves of all three systems, which is probably due to the presence of cool/hot spots on the components. The light curves of all three systems are analysed by using Wilson-Devinney code (WD) and the fundamental parameters of these systems have been derived. The present analyses show that FZ Ori is a W-subtype, and V407 Peg and LP UMa are A-subtype of the W UMa-type contact binary systems. The polarimetric observations in B, V, R and I bands, yield average values of polarization to be 0.26±0.03, 0.22±0.02, 0.22±0.03 and 0.22±0.05 per cent for FZ Ori and 0.21±0.02, 0.29±0.03, 0.31±0.01 and 0.31±0.04 per cent for V407 Peg, respectively.     

Self-similar model of magnetohydrodynamic radiative shock waves with increasing density

The magnetohydrodynamic model of shock waves has been discussed in an atmosphere with gravitation and radiation. The disturbance is headed by a strong shock of increasing density. The medium ahead of the shock is assumed to be inhomogeneous and at rest. Variation of magnetic field radiation flux, and other flow variables are given in tabular form.     

On penetrative instabilities

The investigation of instabilities in a penetrative atmosphere discussed in our earlier paper (Pandeyet al., 1979) is extended to include thermal dissipation in a more realistic approximation. It is shown that the convective modes are not very sensitive to the presence of an overlying stable layer. The overstabilization of gravity modes is, however, found to occur under very stringent conditions, while the acoustic overstability is enhanced by the presence of an overlying stable layer.     

Self-similar magnetogasdynamic cylindrical shock waves,I

Similarity solutions describing the flow of a perfect gas behind a cylindrical shock wave with transverse magnetic field are investigated in an inhomogeneous medium. The total energy of the shock wave is assumed to be constant. A comparative study has been made between the results with and without magnetic field.     

General relativistic treatment of magnetofluid disk around compact objects

Solutions of magnetofluid accretion disk with negligible self-gravitation have been obtained in the background of the Schwarzschild spacetime for differential as well as rigid rotation. The constraint equations for the magnetic field components have also been derived. It is shown that the magnetic field plays an important role in confining the fluid flow.     

Some Bianchi Type I Viscous Fluid Cosmological Models with a Variable Cosmological Constant

Some Bianchi type I viscous fluid cosmological models with a variable cosmological constant are investigated in which the expansion is considered only in two direction i.e. one of the Hubble parameter is zero. The viscosity coefficient of bulk viscous fluid is assumed to be a power function of mass density whereas the coefficient of shear viscosity is considered as constant in first case whereas in other case it is taken as proportional to scale of expansion in the model. The cosmological constant Λ is found to be positive and is a decreasing function of time which is supported by results from recent supernovae Ia observations. Some physical and geometric properties of the models are also discussed.     

Cosmogenic and bomb-produced7Be in stratospheric air

Concentration of⁷Be has been measured in 15 air filters flown at 18·3 km in the latitudes 10 to 25°N and longitudes 80 to 96°W. Testing of nuclear weapons in atmosphere increased⁷Be considerably, on two occasions, above the expected cosmic-ray production level in the stratosphere. This provides evidence for the existence of interhemispheric mixing,via stratosphere.