Classification of the Didwana‐Rajod meteorite: A Mössbauer spectroscopic study

Abstract— Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of the Didwana‐Rajod chondrite, which fell on 1991 August 12 in western Rajasthan, India, are presented. The results are compared with the Mössbauer data of several enstatite and ordinary chondrites including the Dhajala chondrite for which Mössbauer data were acquired during the present study. The Didwana‐Rajod chondrite's iron phases and its oxidation states strongly suggest that it should be classified as an H‐type ordinary chondrite instead of the earlier suggestion (based on petrographic studies) that it could be an enstatite chondrite. The present study demonstrates that Mössbauer spectroscopy is a very powerful technique for aiding in the classification of meteorites.     

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF SUBMERGENCE RATIO OF A RECTANGULAR SUBMERGED VANE WITH A COLLAR

1 INTRODUCTION Odgaard and Kennedy (1983) suggested that for values of angle of attack, α greater than or equal to approximately 20o, a persistent scour hole is produced near the upstream end of a vane. As α was reduced the number of vanes producing obj…     

DISTRIBUTED NUMERICAL RAINFALL–RUNOFF MODELLING IN AN ARID REGION USING THEMATIC MAPPER DATA AND A GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

The rainfall–runoff process consists of an excess rainfall process and a runoff concentration process. A transient one-dimensional finite difference model describing the partitioning of precipitation between surface runoff, soil moisture storage and deep percolation, through the coupling of saturated–unsaturated zones, has been implemented in a geographical information system including data on vegetation cover derived from the Landsat Thematic Mapper. The model has been used to simulate both the rainfall excess and the resultant outflow hydrographs for a small arid zone drainage basin in the Andean region of Argentina. The overall hydrograph shape, peak discharge, runoff volume and flow duration are predicted within a relative squared error of 13.2%. The spatial input data and the model structure are discussed and suggestions for applications to larger complex basins and for future refinements in the technique are presented.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of the Piplia Kalan (eucrite) and Lohawat (howardite) meteorites

Abstract— Two meteorites belonging to the howardite‐eucrite‐diogenite (HED) group fell recently in Rajasthan, India. One of these, Piplia Kalan, was classified as a eucrite and the other, Lohawat, as a howardite. In this study, we present the results of Mössbauer spectroscopic investigations of these two meteorites. We also compare the results with the Mössbauer experiments reported for the Kapoeta howardite and look for systematics in the Mössbauer spectra of HED meteorites.     

Neotectonic activity and parity in movements of Udaipur block of the Arvalli Craton and Indian Plate

We report site motion of a permanent GPS site at Udaipur (udai), Rajasthan on the Udaipur block of Aravalli Craton. The GPS measurements of 2007–2011 suggest that the site moves at a rate of about 49 mm/year towards northeast. As the site motion is consistent with the predicted plate motion using the estimated euler pole of rotation for the Indian Plate, it implies that there is insignificant internal deformation/strain in the region. Such a deformation is consistent with very low seismic activity in the region. The epicenters of the infrequent low magnitude earthquakes are located on the Precambrian lineaments on the west of Udaipur Block, and on the NW–SE striking younger lineament in the south of the block.     

Partial drought conditions in Nepal / Les conditions de sécheresse partielle en Nepal

Abstract

In a mountainous country like Nepal, where precipitation from the monsoon (July) and the westerlies (January) occurs yearly, it is surprising to find partial drought conditions in space and time. This paper deals with the partial drought conditions and also the measures to combat them.     

Temporal and spatial variations in the magnitude of completeness for homogenized moment magnitude catalogue for northeast India

Northeast India region is one of the most seismically active areas in the world. Events data for the period 1897–2010, used in this study has been largely compiled from global ISC, NEIC and GCMT databases. Historical seismicity catalogue of Gupta et al (1986) and some events data from the bulletins of India Meteorological Department are also used. Orthogonal regression relations for conversion of body and surface wave magnitudes to M _w,HRVD based on events data for the period 1978–2006 have been derived. An Orthogonal Standard Regression (OSR) relationship has also been obtained for scaling of intensity estimates to M _w,NEIC using 126 global intensity events with intensity VI or greater during the period 1975–2010.     

Altimeter data assimilation in the tropical Indian Ocean using water property conserving scheme

Altimeter data have been assimilated in an ocean general circulation model using the water property conserving scheme. Two runs of the model have been conducted for the year 2004. In one of the runs, altimeter data have been assimilated sequentially, while in another run, assimilation has been suppressed. Assimilation has been restricted to the tropical Indian Ocean. An assessment of the strength of the scheme has been carried out by comparing the sea surface temperature (SST), simulated in the two runs, with in situ derived as well as remotely sensed observations of the same quantity. It has been found that the assimilation exhibits a significant positive impact on the simulation of SST. The subsurface effect of the assimilation could be judged by comparing the model simulated depth of the 20°C isotherm (hereafter referred to as D20), as a proxy of the thermocline depth, with the same quantity estimated from ARGO observations. In this case also, the impact is noteworthy. Effect on the dynamics has been judged by comparison of simulated surface current with observed current at a moored buoy location, and finally the impact on model sea level forecast in a free run after assimilation has been quantified in a representative example.     

LEOPOLD A. HEINDL,US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Abstract

The distributed parameter model ANSWERS was used to predict runoff and soil loss from three agricultural watersheds in the arid zone of India. Model input parameters such as landform, drainage, soil and land use/land cover were derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper false colour composites and limited ground truth. The model predicted hydrographs and sediment graphs within acceptable limits. ANSWERS underpredicted the total soil loss by factors of 2.6 to 3.6. Reasons for these results are discussed.