Helium, radon and radiocarbon studies on a regional aquifer system of the North Gujarat-Cambay region, India

The study reports the age evolution of groundwater as it flows from the recharge area through a regional alluvial aquifer system in North Gujarat-Cambay region in western India. Radiocarbon (¹⁴C), ⁴He and ⁴He / ²²²Rn dating methods have been employed. Sediments from a drill core in the Cambay Basin were also analysed for uranium (U) and thorium (Th) concentrations and the measured values have been used to estimate the ⁴He and ²²²Rn production rate for groundwater age calculations. Additionally, factors controlling the distribution of ²²²Rn, ⁴He and temperature anomalies in groundwater, vis-à-vis their relation to the tectonic framework and lithology of the study area, have also been examined.The multi-isotope study indicated a reasonable correspondence in groundwater age estimates by the three methods employed. The groundwater ¹⁴C ages increased, progressively, in the groundwater flow direction: from the foothills of Aravalli Mountains in the east, and reached a value of ∼35 ka towards the region of lowest elevation, linking Little Rann of Kachchh (LRK)-Nalsarovar (NS)-Gulf of Khambhat (GK) in the western part of the study area. In this region, groundwater ages obtained for free flowing thermal wells and springs employing ⁴He and ⁴He / ²²²Rn systematics are in the order of million years. Such anomalous ages are possibly due to enhanced mobilisation and migration of ‘excess helium’ from hydrothermal circulation vents along deep-seated faults. Excluding such anomalous cases and considering all uncertainties, presently estimated ⁴He and ⁴He / ²²²Rn groundwater ages are in reasonable agreement with ¹⁴C age estimates in the Cambay Basin for helium release factor (Λ_He) value of 0.4 ± 0.3. The ⁴He method also indicated west-southwards progression of groundwater ages up to ∼100 ka beyond the Cambay Basin.Large ‘excess helium’ concentrations are also seen to be generally associated with anomalous groundwater temperatures (> 35 °C) and found to overlie some of the basement faults in the study area, particularly along the east and the west flanks of the Cambay Basin. Groundwater ²²²Rn activities in most of the study area are 800 ± 400 dpm/l. But, a thermal spring at Tuwa on the east flank of the Cambay Basin, having granitic basement at shallow depth, recorded the highest ²²²Rn activity (∼63,000 dpm/l).     

An interpretation of induced magnetic variations near Shillong and Gulmarg

Short-period events such as bays and storm sudden commencements (SSCs) have been analysed to investigate the nature of induced magnetic variations at two Indian magnetic observatories: Shillong and Gulmarg. It seems that near Gulmarg there is obvious connection between the induced magnetic variations and the two large scale features; the main central thrust (MCT) and the main boundary fault (MBF) in the north-west direction. The Dauki fault, an approximately east-west conductor, seems to be responsible for the conductivity anomalies at SHL.     

On spatial and temporal separation of geomagnetic anomalies at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula

In this communication, the applicability of differential geomagnetic deep sounding at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula has been investigated by analysing the nature of anomalies at Annamalainagar (ANN) and Trivandrum (TRD). Hyderabad (HYB) has been chosen as a reference station for this purpose. The results indicate that, despite a strong current channelling in this region, the anomalies do not permit separation into the spatial and temporal components which is possible in other areas with strong current channelling, like the Pyrenees and the Rhine Graben. This non-relationship between ΔH_A and ΔZ_A at ANN and TRD has been attributed to contributions from both coast effect (local induction) and channelling (regional effect) being simultaneously present in the area. During the day, the geometry of the source field produces further differences.     

Application of remote sensing techniques in snow and ice hydrology

The contribution of snow and ice melt towards the water discharges of most of the Himalayan rivers is highly significant. It is, therefore, necessary to monitor the snow accumulation and depletion, and study the melting processes to help in efficient management of water resources. It is also important to compile a glacier inventory for the purpose. The snow bound areas in the Himalaya lie at high altitudes where the terrain is rugged and inaccessible. This renders the conventional methods of study not only difficult but hazardous as well. Remote sensing techniques, therefore, have a vital role to play in these studies for quick results with much less cost. Visual interpretation of Landsat imagery in Beas river basin and use of aerial photographs for glacier inventory in Baspa river basin have been cited as case studies. To perfect the methodology used in various remote sensing techniques, a pilot project approach has been suggested.     

A possible explanation of conductivity anomalies near Ujjain and Jaipur

Journal of Earth System Science - Short-period events such as bays and SSCs have been analysed to investigate the nature of conductivity anomalies at two Indian magnetic observatories: Ujjain (UJJ)...     

Climate change and water resources in the Bagmati River Basin,Nepal

This paper characterizes potential hydrological impact of future climate in the Bagmati River Basin, Nepal. For this research, basinwide future hydrology is simulated by using downscaled temperature and precipitation outputs from the Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 (HadCM3), and the Hydrologic Engineering Center's Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). It is predicted that temperature may rise maximally during the summer rather than winter for both A2 and B2 Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) scenarios. Precipitation may increase during the wet season, but it may decrease during other seasons for A2 scenario. For B2 scenario, precipitation may increase during all the seasons. Under the A2 scenario, premonsoon water availability may decrease more in the upper than the middle basin. During monsoons, both upper and middle basins show increased water availability. During the postmonsoon season, water availability may decrease in the upper part, while the middle part shows a mixed trend. Under the B2 scenario, water availability is expected to increase in the entire basin. The analysis of the projected hydrologic impact of climate change is expected to support informed decision-making for sustainable water management.     

Evaluation of brightness temperature from a forward model of ground-based microwave radiometer

Ground-based microwave radiometers are getting great attention in recent years due to their capability to profile the temperature and humidity at high temporal and vertical resolution in the lower troposphere. The process of retrieving these parameters from the measurements of radiometric brightness temperature (T _B ) includes the inversion algorithm, which uses the back ground information from a forward model. In the present study, an algorithm development and evaluation of this forward model for a ground-based microwave radiometer, being developed by Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) of India, is presented. Initially, the analysis of absorption coefficient and weighting function at different frequencies was made to select the channels. Further the range of variation of T _B for these selected channels for the year 2011, over the two stations Mumbai and Delhi is discussed. Finally the comparison between forward-model simulated T _B s and radiometer measured T _B s at Mahabaleshwar (73.66 ^°E and 17.93^°N) is done to evaluate the model. There is good agreement between model simulations and radiometer observations, which suggests that these forward model simulations can be used as background for inversion models for retrieving the temperature and humidity profiles.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113001084

We report here for the first time the composition and mineralogical studies on a new meteorite,which fell in Dhayala ki Chappar(24°58'N,73°48'27"E) 5 km NW of Nathdwara in south Rajasthan,India,on Dec.25 th,2012.Mineralogical and compositional studies were carried out on a representative piece of the Nathdwara meteorite sample.The mineralogical composition of the meteorite has been found to be olivine(42-45 vol.%),feldspar(10-15 vol.%),orthopyroxene(23-25 vol.%),troilite(6-8 vol.%),and titanium bearing minerals(6-8 vol.%).Our investigations show that the Nathdwara meteorite belongs to H6 group of ordinary chondrites.