The crustal dynamics and the tectonic trends in the Bengal Basin

Seismological data of the events that took place in the Bengal Basin during 1918 to 1989 have revealed an increased frequency of earthquakes in the last 30 years. The increase in seismic activity is an indication of fresh tectonic activity or propagation of fractures from the adjacent seismic zones.The tectonic trend TT3 as determined from the tectonic flux and from the crustal model is in good coincidence with the NE-SW trending linear zone of gravity high, the zone of Moho upwarping and the location of earthquake events having fault-plane solutions of prominent strike-slip component. It is further observed that most of the earthquakes that occurred in the Bengal Basin in the 20th century follow the tectonic trend TT3. The NE-SW trending tectonic trend TT3 is inferred as one of the most remarkable features in the Bengal Basin. The extension of this trend is well marked by the “Halflong-Disang Thrust” in the NE and by the “Swatch of No-Ground” in the SW.The tectonic flux has also revealed some other striking tectonic trends distributed over broad regions and is not confined to definite geologic or physiographic provinces but instead is transverse to major structural elements of the region, thus forming conjugate sets of active zones. The focal mechanism solutions of 12 earthquake events reveal the nature of faulting which is predominantly strike-slip. The strike-slip fault solutions for most of the events are indicative of a changing pattern from convergence and subduction to strike-slip displacement in the Bengal Basin. The focal mechanism of two events having solutions of strike-slip with a normal fault component located on the tectonic trend TT3, the nature of Moho upwarping and the crustal configuration lend support to a process of crustal extension prevailing in the Bengal Basin. The crustal segment to the east of TT3 is relatively more mobile than that of the crustal segment to the west. The general trend of compression (P-axis) is N57 °W in the Bengal Basin, while it is N40 °E in the Bay of Bengal. The oblique convergence of the crustal segments situated in the Bengal Basin and in the Bay of Bengal has been inferred.     

In Situ Abiotic Detoxification and Immobilization of Hexavalent Chromium

Detailed site characterization data from the former electroplating shop at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Support Center, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, suggested that the elevated Cr(VI) in the capillary fringe area had contaminated the ground water at the site. Most of the mobile Cr(VI) is present in the capillary fringe zone of the aquifer under an oxidizing environment. Current literature suggests that the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) through in situ redox manipulation in the presence of a reductant is an innovative technique for remediating chromate-contaminated sediments and ground water. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sodium dithionite in creating a reductive environment to remediate Cr(VI) present in soil. Sodium dithionite, a strong reductant, was injected into a small area of the vadose zone where elevated Cr(VI) was identified. Several striking changes observed in the target zone during the post-injection monitoring periods include a significant decrease in Eh(SHE), as much as ∼700 mV, absence of dissolved oxygen for 48 weeks, and the increase of Fe(II) concentrations. Results indicated that the in situ remedial treatment of Cr(VI) in the capillary fringe area was effective and consequently the concentration of Cr(VI) in ground water dropped below the MCLG level. This research demonstrated the effectiveness of in situ abiotic remediation by reducing Cr(VI) concentrations, mobility, and toxicity in soils and ground water within a short period of time. Therefore, sodium dithionite would be a feasible and cost-effective option for a full-scale remedial approach for the contaminated site at the U.S. Coast Guard Facility.     

Regional crop water use assessment using Landsat-derived evapotranspiration

Reliable information on water use and availability at basin and field scales are important to ensure the optimized constructive uses of available water resources. This study was conducted with the specific objective to estimate Landsat-based actual evapotranspiration (ETa) using the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model across the state of South Dakota (SD), USA for the 1986–2018 (33-year) period. Validated ETa estimations (r² = 0.91, PBIAS = −4%, and %RMSE = 11.8%) were further used to understand the crop water-use characteristics and existing historic mono-directional (increasing/decreasing) trends over the eastern (ESD) and western (WSD) regions of SD. The crop water-use characteristics indicated that the annual cropland water uses across the ESD and WSD were more or less met by the precipitation amounts in the area. The ample water supply and distribution have led to high rainfed and low percentage of irrigated cropland (~2.5%) in the state. The WSD faced greater crop-water use reductions than the ESD during drought periods. The landscape ETa responses across the state were found to be more sensitive than precipitation for the drought impact assessments. The Mann Kendall trend analysis revealed the absence of a significant trend (p > 0.05) in annual ETa at a regional scale due to the varying weather conditions in the state. However, about 12% and 9% cropland areas in the ESD and WSD, respectively, revealed a significant mono-directional trend at pixel scale ETa. Most of the pixels under significant trend showed an increasing trend that can be explained by the shift in agricultural practices, increased irrigated cropland area, higher productions, moisture regime shifts, and decreased risk of farming in the dry areas. The decreasing trend pixels were clustered in mid-eastern SD and could be the result of dynamic conversion of wetlands to croplands and decreased irrigation practices in the region. This study also demonstrates the tremendous potential and robustness of the SSEBop model, Landsat imagery, and remote sensing-based ETa modelling approaches in estimating consistent spatially distributed evapotranspiration.     

Simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature in the lower troposphere over Chung-Li,Taiwan

A combined Raman–Rayleigh lidar has been designed at Chung-Li, Taiwan for the simultaneous measurement of water-vapor mixing ratio, temperature and extinction-to-backscatter ratio of aerosol in the lower troposphere. The technique of Raman–Rayleigh lidar can retrieve correct temperature profile in the lower troposphere where the measurements are underestimated due to the aerosol loading. Two typical cases are discussed under different humidity (dry/wet) conditions. The water vapor and temperature profile have shown a good agreement with radiosonde. Simultaneous measurement of Raman–Rayleigh lidar also illustrates the physical nature of the aerosol and is useful in understanding the effects of humidity on aerosol swelling.     

Numerical modelling-based pillar strength estimation for an increased height of extraction

Underground extraction of total thickness of a thick coal seam in single lift by bord and pillar method increases pillar height during retreat. Field studies found that the increase in pillar height affects the depillaring operation adversely, especially, during caving of the strong/massive roof strata. Dilution in strength due to the increased pillar height caused catastrophic failure of barrier pillars and goaf overriding. This warrants a systematic study of pillar strength variation for the different heights of pillar. A review of different pillar strength estimation approaches for an analysis of the dilution in strength of the heightened pillar suggested that numerical modelling provides a better option for such a systematic study. Accordingly, investigations are conducted on simulated models in laboratory adopting a recognised numerical modelling procedure. The observed nature of variations in pillar strengths with the increase in its height in the numerical models and empirical formula is found to be matched. But a mismatch is found between the strength values of the two approaches with an increase in height of the pillar. Considering validity of the empirical formulation in Indian coalfields, a relationship is developed to incorporate a correction in the strength values of the numerical models. The suggested correction on the basis of this simple study of the pillar strength variation would be helpful for the use of the established simulation tool during the depillaring of a thick coal seam.     

Dynamic stress concentration in pre-stressed poroelastic media due to moving punch influenced by shear wave

During the occurrence of earthquake, the shear wave propagates in the rocks present inside/at the Earth’s crust. The propagation of shear wave may lead to the progression of punch present inside the rock medium. As a result of this, substantial stress accumulated at the vicinity of propagating punch inside rock medium which significantly affects the stability of various geological and human-made structure and, hence, may cause failure of structure. Therefore, the analysis of stress concentration at the vicinity of punch moving due to shear wave propagation has become prominent in the area of seismology. In the present paper, an analytical perspective has been employed to discuss the influence of velocity of moving punch associated with the propagation of shear wave on developed dynamic stress concentration (DSC) in three types of pre-stressed vertical transversely isotropic (VTI) poroelastic media viz. granite (an igneous rock); sandstone (a sedimentary rock); and marble (a metamorphic rock). The closed form expression of DSC for the force of constant intensity has been derived with the aid of Weiner-Hopf technique along with Galilean and two-sided Fourier integral transformations. The noticeable influence of different affecting parameters (viz. velocity of moving punch associated with the shear wave propagation, horizontal compressive/tensile initial stresses, vertical compressive/tensile initial stress, porosity, and anisotropy parameter) on dynamic stress concentration has also been reported. Numerical computation and graphical illustrations have been carried out for the aforementioned three different types of porous rocks to investigate the profound impact of affecting parameters on DSC. Moreover, some noteworthy peculiarities have also been derived from the obtained expression of dynamic stress concentration.     

Temperature dependence on the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of natural jasper from Taroko Gorge (Taiwan)

Structural properties of natural jasper from Taroko Gorge (Taiwan) have been investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic techniques. The EPR spectrum at room temperature exhibits a sharp resonance signal at g = 2.007 and two more resonance signals centered at g ≈ 4.3 and 14.0. The resonance signal at g = 2.007 has been attributed to the E′ center and is related to a natural radiation-induced paramagnetic defect. Two more resonance signals centered at g ≈ 4.3 and 14.0 are characteristic of Fe³⁺ ions. The EPR spectra recorded at room temperature of jasper samples, heat-treated at temperatures ranging from 473 to 1,473 K exhibit marked temperature dependence. The resonance signal corresponding to E′ center disappears at elevated temperatures. A broad, intense resonance signal centered at g ≈ 2.0 appears at elevated temperatures. This resonance signal is a characteristic of Fe³⁺ ions, which are present as hematite in the jasper sample. The intensity of the resonance signal becomes dominant at elevated temperatures at ≥873 K, masking g ≈ 4.3 and g ≈ 14.0 resonance signals. The EPR spectra of jasper heat-treated at 673 K have been recorded at temperatures between 123 and 296 K. The population of spin levels (N) has been calculated for the broad g ≈ 2.0 resonance signal. It is found that N decreases with decreasing temperature. The linewidth (ΔH) of g ≈ 2.0 resonance signal of the heat-treated jasper is found to increase with decreasing temperature. This has been attributed to spin–spin interaction of the Fe³⁺ ions present in the form of hematite in the studied jasper sample.     

Waterlogging and flood hazards vulnerability and risk assessment in Indo Gangetic plain

The recurrent flooding during monsoon and subsequent waterlogging in the northern Bihar plains and the magnitude of losses due to these hazards indicate the continuing vulnerability of the region to flood and waterlogging. Management of floods and waterlogging hazards in highly flood-prone regions of India, including Bihar state has been largely response oriented with little or no attention to mitigation and preparedness. This paper presents a method for spatial, Geographic Information Systems-based assessment of flood and waterlogging vulnerability and risk in northern Bihar plains. Multitemporal satellite data was used to evaluate the area statistics and dynamics of waterlogging over the period from 1975 to 2008. The flood proneness is evaluated at district level with reference to flood inundation during a period from 1998 to 2008. Census data were used to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the region through computation of population density, cultivators, agricultural labourers, sex ratio, children in age group 0–6 years and literates. The geohazard map derived by combining area prone to waterlogging and flood inundation was multiplied with socio-economic vulnerability map to derive the flood-waterlogging risk map of the region. The result shows that flood and water-logging pose highest risk to the central districts in the northern Bihar plains with 50.95% of the total area under high and very high risk.