A Long Term Study on Chemical Composition of Rainwater at Dayalbagh, a Suburban Site of Semiarid Region

Rainwater samples were collected for the monsoon period of 1988 and 1991–1996 at Dayalbagh (Agra), a suburban site situated in semiaridregion. The mean pH was 7.01 ±1.03 well above 5.6, which is the reference pH. Concentration of Ca²⁺ was observed to be highest followed by Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺,SO₄ ^2–, Cl^–,NO₃ ^–, Na⁺, F^– and K⁺. The ratios of SO₄ ^2– + NO₃ ^– andCa²⁺ + Mg²⁺ (TA/TC) have been considered as indicatorfor acidity. In the Agra region ratio of TA/TC is quite below 1.0 indicating alkaline nature of rainwater. The lowest value of 0.24 was observed in 1991 likely due to the lowest rain depth of the decade. The highest value of 0.54 was observed in 1996, a year with a large rain depth and increase in line (vehicular traffic) and area sources (population growth). Good correlation between Ca²⁺ and NO₃ ^–,Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ^2– andSO₄ ^2– and NO₃ ^–,indicates that wind carried dust and soil play a significant role in neutralization of precipitation acidity.     

Trace ambient levels of particulate mercury and its sources at a rural site near Delhi

Atmospheric particle-bound mercury levels were measured in PM₁₀ aerosols (HgP) at a rural site (Mahasar, Haryana) during winter 2014–15 and summer 2015. The PM₁₀ HgP was determined by using Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry through standard addition methods while the trace metals were determined by using an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mass concentrations of HgP varied from 591 to 1533 pg/m³ with an average of 1009?±?306 pg/m³ during the winter, while the mass concentrations of HgP varied from 43 to 826 pg/m³ with an average of 320?±?228 pg/m³ during the summer. However, it is difficult to assess whether these levels are harmful or not because there is no standard value available as National Ambient Air Quality Standard. The higher concentrations of HgP during winters were possibly due to favourable local meteorological conditions for the stagnation of particulate matter in the lower atmosphere and the increased emissions from existing natural or anthropogenic sources, regional sources and long-range transportation. Relatively low concentrations of HgP during summer might be due to increased mixing heights as well as scavenging effect because some light to heavy rain events were observed during summer time sampling. However, among other metals determined, the concentration of HgP was the lowest during both the seasons. The study may be useful in assessing the health impacts of PM₁₀ HgP and other metals.     

Study of Non-spinning black holes with reference to the change in energy and entropy

In this research paper, we have derived the formula for both the changes in energy (δE) and entropy (δS) and thereafter calculated the change in entropy (δS) with corresponding change in energy (δE) taking account the first law of the black hole mechanics relating the change in mass M, angular momentum J, horizon area A and charge Q, of a stationary black hole, when it is perturbed, given by formula satisfying in the vacuum as dM = \frack8p dA + WdJ - udQ\delta M = \frac{k}{8\pi} \delta A + \Omega\delta J - \upsilon\delta Q, specially for Non-spinning black holes.     

Displacements and stresses due to a single force in a half-space in welded contact with another half-space

Closed-form analytical expressions for the displacements and stresses induced by a single force of arbitrary orientation located in an elastic half-space in welded contact with another elastic half-space are obtained. These expressions are valid for arbitrary values of the Poisson's ratio and for arbitrary source and observer locations. The final results are given in a form that makes numerical computation straightforward and accurate.     

Space–time forecasting of groundwater level using a hybrid soft computing model

Forecasting of space–time groundwater level is important for sparsely monitored regions. Time series analysis using soft computing tools is powerful in temporal data analysis. Classical geostatistical methods provide the best estimates of spatial data. In the present work a hybrid framework for space–time groundwater level forecasting is proposed by combining a soft computing tool and a geostatistical model. Three time series forecasting models: artificial neural network, least square support vector machine and genetic programming (GP), are individually combined with the geostatistical ordinary kriging model. The experimental variogram thus obtained fits a linear combination of a nugget effect model and a power model. The efficacy of the space–time models was decided on both visual interpretation (spatial maps) and calculated error statistics. It was found that the GP–kriging space–time model gave the most satisfactory results in terms of average absolute relative error, root mean square error, normalized mean bias error and normalized root mean square error.     

Population of excited rotational levels of interstellar H2

The population of the rotational levels of vibrational and electronic ground state of interstellar H₂ has been calculated; different possible excitation and de-excitation mechamisms including the ultraviolet pumping and formation and destruction of molecules have been considered. The values of temperature, density and radiation field towards ζ Oph, ? Per and ζ Pup have been obtained by comparing the theoretical distributions with the observations. The results indicate the presence of a high temperature low density diffuse cloud towards ζ Pup and low temperature high density clouds towards ζ Oph and ? Per. The results of this work were presented at the February, 1974 meeting of the Astronomical Society of India (Joshi and Tarafdar, 1974).     

Characterization of Organic Acids in Dew Collected on Surrogate Surfaces

Levels of formate and acetate in dew were measured at Dayalbagh, India, usingsurrogate surfaces. The dew formed per night ranged between 0.06 lm^–2 and 1.38 l m^–2, with an average of 0.59l m^–2. pH ranged between 6.7 and 7.4. Mean concentrations offormate and acetate in dew were 10.2 ± 10.2 eql^–1 and 7.5 ± 4.5 eq l^–1,respectively. The correlation coefficient between the two ions was 0.80 (p =0.001), which suggested that concentrations of these species in dew are linkedtogether. They have either common or different sources with fairly constantstrengths or products of same reaction. Good correlation of formate andacetate with Ca (r = 0.82 and r = 0.70, respectively) and Mg (r = 0.74 and r= 0.71, respectively) suggested that these ions may be associated with Ca andMg after the neutralization process. Deposition rates for formate and acetatein dew per night were 10.2 ± 7.22 mol m^–2 pernight and 4.6 ± 2.2 mol m^–2 per night,respectively. The theoretical Henry's law constant (K^* _H)and the field-observed Henry's law coefficient (K^* _H) ascalculated from concurrent measurements of gas phase and dew for both acidsshowed large discrepancies of three orders of magnitude.