Spatial and temporal distribution of methane in an extensive shallow estuary, South India

Sedimentary methane (CH₄) fluxes and oxidation rates were determined over the wet and dry seasons (four measurement campaigns) in Pulicat lake, an extensive shallow estuary in south India. Dissolved CH₄ concentrations were measured at 52 locations in December 2000. The annual mean net CH₄ flux from Pulicat lake sediments was 3.7 × 10⁹ g yr^-1 based on static chamber measurements. A further 1.7 × 10⁹g yr_-1 was estimated to be oxidized at the sediment-water interface. The mean dissolved concentration of CH₄ was 242nmol |^-1 (ranging between 94 and 501 nmol |^-1) and the spatial distribution could be explained by tidal dynamics and freshwater input. Sea-air exchange estimates using models, account only for ∼13% (0.5 × 10⁹ g yr-1) of the total CH₄ produced in sediments, whereas ebullition appeared to be the major route for loss to the atmosphere (∼ 63% of the net sediment flux). We estimated the total atmospheric source of CH₄ from Pulicat lake to be 0.5 to 4.0 × 10⁹g yr^-1.     

‘Thermohaline front’ off the east coast of India and its generating mechanism

Physical oceanography measurements reveal a strong salinity (0.18 psu km^?1) and temperature (0.07 °C km^?1) front off the east coast of India in December 1997. T–S diagrams suggest lateral mixing between the fresh water at the coast and the ambient warmer, saltier water. This front seems to be the result of southward advection of fresh and cool water, formed in the northern Bay of Bengal during the monsoon, by the East Indian Coastal Current, as suggested by the large-scale salinity structure in the SODA re-analysis and the anti-cyclonic gyre in the northwestern Bay of Bengal during winter. The data further reveals an offshore front in January, which appears to be the result of a meso-scale re-circulation around an eddy, bringing cold and freshwater from the northern Bay of Bengal further away from the shore. Our cruise data hence illustrates that very strong salinity fronts can appear in the Bay of Bengal after the monsoon, as a result of intense coastal circulation and stirring by eddies.     

A Study on the Performance of the NCMRWF Analysis and Forecasting System During Asian Summer Monsoon: Thermodynamic Aspects

—The thermodynamic characteristics of the Asian summer monsoon are examined with a global analysis-forecast system. In this study, we investigated the large-scale balances of heat and moisture by making use of operational analyses as well as forecast fields for June, July and August (JJA), 1994. Apart from elucidating systematic errors in the temperature and moisture fields, the study expounds the influence of these errors on the large-scale budgets of heat and moisture over the monsoon region. The temperature forecasts of the model delineate predominant cooling in the middle and lower tropospheres over the monsoon region. Similarly, the moisture forecasts evince a drying tendency in the lower troposphere. However, certain sectors of moderate moistening exist over the peninsular India and adjoining oceanic sectors of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.¶The broad features of the large-scale heat and moisture budgets represented by the analysis/forecast fields indicate good agreement with the observed aspects of the summer monsoon circulation. The model forecasts fail to retain the analyzed atmospheric variability in terms of the mean circulation, which is indicated by underestimation of various terms of heat and moisture budgets with an increase in the forecast period. Further, the forecasts depict an anomalous diabatic cooling layer in the lower middle troposphere of the monsoon region which inhibits vertical transfer of heat and moisture from the mixed layer of the atmospheric boundary layer to the middle troposphere. In effect, the monsoon circulation is considerably weakened with an increase in the forecast period. The treatment of shallow convection and the use of interactive clouds in the model can reduce the cooling bias considerably.     

Sea surface temperature variability over North Indian Ocean — A study of two contrasting monsoon seasons

Using the satellite derived sea surface temperature (SST) data for 1979 (bad monsoon) and 1983 (good monsoon), the SST variability for two contrasting monsoon seasons is studied. The study indicates that large negative anomalies off the Somali and Arabian coasts are associated with good monsoon rainfall over India. The strong monsoonal cooling in these regions can be attributed to strong low level winds and intense upwelling. The reappearance of 27°C isotherm off Somali coast in May/June coincides with the onset of southwest monsoon over India. Further, the influence of zonal anomaly of SST off Somalia Coast (SCZASST) and Central Indian Ocean Zonal Anomaly of SST (CIOZASST) with monsoon rainfall over India is brought out. The former is negatively related to the monsoon rainfall over western and central parts of India, whilst CIOZASST is positively related.     

Geophysical expression of natural recharge in different geological terrains

Behavior of the Dar-Zarrouk parameters--longitudinal unit conductance, transverse unit resistance, longitudinal resistivity, and transverse resistivity--has been compared with the behavior of the natural recharge in two geological terrains. Contour patterns of the geophysical parameters and those of natural recharge have been analyzed and a qualitative relation in their behavior was recognized. Graphical comparison of the geophysical and hydrogeological parameters clearly illustrates a qualitative relationship between the two parameters. Use of such qualitative relation in the field of ground water exploration and management studies is explained. A modest beginning is attempted to arrive at a quantitative relation between natural recharge and Dar-Zarrouk parameters.     

Assessment of Cyclone Lehar’s impact on seagrass meadows in Ross and Smith Islands,North Andaman

Cyclonic storms are large-scale disturbances which cause extensive damage in coastal ecosystems. On 25 November 2013, Cyclone Lehar made a significant impact on the coastal areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We observed the pre- and post-Lehar cyclonic effects on the seagrass meadows at Ross and Smith Island, North Andaman. The study indicates that the seagrass meadows are composed of Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, Halodule pinnifolia and Thalassia hemperichii species. Seagrass beds of approximately 1.96 ha (approx. 63 %) were destroyed in the cyclone.     

Importance of coloured inversion technique for thin hydrocarbon sand reservoir detection – A case in mid Cambay basin

Cambay basin is an intra-cratonic rift graben formed as a result of rifting which was occurred in late Cretaceous with Deccan lava eruption through linear trending NNW to SSE directional basin. The Deccan basalt forms the basement over which more than 7–11 km thick piles of Tertiary sediments have been deposited during syn-rift and post-rift phases of basin development. Cambay basin has been considered as one of the significant hydrocarbon prolific basin in India. The biggest challenge in current days for this basin is further exploration or exploration under development stage in small marginal field or unexplored left out areas in the basin part as most of the areas are already explored/discovered by various small to big E&;P (exploration &; production) industrial players. In this present study one such small marginal field has been chosen for “Exploration under Development” portfolio in mid Cambay basin. The amount of oil-in-place volume, investment and techno-economics analysis of small marginal field has made this study area. In view of further hydrocarbon exploration in this area this kind of study will provide a robust support in limited dataset. The reservoir sand quality of the study area is discrete, thin and less permeable. This kind of sand body detection through classical seismic interpretation approach is difficult and there will be always a big amount of uncertainties for findings the pay reservoir sand. In view of the limitation of available data and challenging geological setup of the reservoir, a quantitative approach has been taken to detect the thin reservoir sand in this study area. Primarily coloured inversion technique has been applied on post-stack seismic data based upon well to seismic correlation and reservoir sand detection in seismic interpretation and well log property analysis. This technique has produced higher detectability impedance/property volume with respect to normal post-stack seismic data signature. Based on high contrast impedance/elastic property further seismic based attribute analysis on reservoir section has been performed. The attribute analysis has been made along surface and 3D seismic data level, provided clear image about the thin hydrocarbon sand reservoir. Based upon quantitative interpretation approach coloured inverted volume the prospect was chosen for further drilling in the study area and drilling of that sand was turned to be a hydrocarbon discovery prospect. The unconventional approaches e.g. coloured inversion with limited dataset for this kind of small marginal field has potential to find the hydrocarbon.     

Hydrography and water masses in the southeastern Arabian Sea during March–June 2003

This paper describes the hydrographic observations in the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) during two cruises carried out in March–June 2003 as part of the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment. The surface hydrography during March–April was dominated by the intrusion of low-salinity waters from the south; during May–June, the low-salinity waters were beginning to be replaced by the highsalinity waters from the north. There was considerable mixing at the bottom of the surface mixed layer, leading to interleaving of low-salinity and high-salinity layers. The flow paths constructed following the spatial patterns of salinity along the sections mimic those inferred from numerical models. Time-series measurements showed the presence of Persian Gulf and Red Sea Waters in the SEAS to be intermittent during both cruises: they appeared and disappeared during both the fortnight-long time series.     

Spatial Potential Analysis of Earthquakes in the Western Himalayas Using b-value and Thrust Association

In this study, we have analysed the spatial variation of b-values (from frequency-magnitude distribution (FMD)) in the western Himalayas as an indicator to demarcate the potential zones of earthquake occurrences. This is done under the acceptance of interpretation that decrease of b-values is correlated with a stress increase in the epicentral region of an approaching earthquake event. In addition to this, the spatial association of the earthquake epicenters with the major thrusts in the region using weights of evidence method, to identify potential zones of earthquake occurrences have also been analysed. Both analyses were carried out using a historical earthquake (M_w> 4) database of the1900-2015 period. Finally, based on the spatial variation of b-values and ‘contrasts’ derived from weights of evidence method (thrust associations), the derived map information was geospatially combined to prepare a “spatial earthquake potential” map of the western Himalayas. This map demarcates the western Himalayas into 3 zones - high, medium and low potential for future earthquake occurrences.     

Landslide hazard zonation mapping in ghat road section of Kolli hills,India

Landslides are the most common natural disaster in hilly terrain which causes changes in landscape and damage to life and property. The main objective of the present study was to carry out landslide hazard zonation mapping on 1：50,000 scale along ghat road section of Kolli hills using a Landslide Hazard Evaluation Factor（LHEF） rating scheme. The landslide hazard zonation map has been prepared by overlaying the terrain evaluation maps with facet map of the study area. The terrain evaluation maps include lithology, structure, slope morphometry, relative relief, land use and land cover and hydrogeological condition. The LHEF rating scheme and the Total Estimated Hazard（TEHD） were calculated as per the Bureau of Indian Standard（BIS） guidelines（IS： 14496（Part-2） 1998） for the purpose of preparation of Landslide Hazard Zonation（LHZ） map in mountainous terrains. The correction due to triggering factors such as seismicity, rainfall and anthropogenic activities were also incorporated with Total Estimated Hazard to get final corrected TEHD. The landslide hazard zonation map was classified as the high, moderate and low hazard zones along the ghat road section based on corrected TEHD.