2-D velocity structure in Kerala-Konkan basin using traveltime inversion of seismic data

The existence of gas-hydrates in marine sediments increases the seismic velocity, whereas even a small amount of underlying free-gas reduces the velocity considerably. The change in velocities against the background (without gas-hydrates and free-gas) velocity can be used for identification and assessment of gas-hydrates. Traveltime inversion of identifiable reflections from large offset multi channel seismic (MCS) experiment is an effective method to derive the 2-D velocity structure in an area. We apply this method along a seismic line in the Kerala-Konkan (KK) offshore basin for delineating the gas-hydrates and free-gas bearing sediments across a bottom simulating reflector (BSR). The result reveals a four layer 2-D shallow velocity model with the topmost sedimentary layer having velocity of 1,680–1,740 m/s and thickness of 140–190 m. The velocity of the second layer of uniform thickness (110 m) varies from 1,890 to 1,950 m/s. The third layer, exhibiting higher velocity of 2,100–2,180 m/s, is interpreted as the gas-hydrates bearing sediment, the thickness of which is estimated as 100 to 150 m. The underlying sedimentary layer shows a reduction in seismic velocity between 1,620 to 1,720 m/s. This low-velocity layer with 160–200 m thickness may be due to the presence of free-gas below the gas-hydrates layer.     

Controls of dimethyl sulphide in the Bay of Bengal during BOBMEX-Pilot cruise 1998

The air-sea exchange is one of the main mechanisms maintaining the abundances of trace gases in the atmosphere. Some of these, such as carbon dioxide and dimethyl sulphide (DMS), will have a bearing on the atmospheric heat budget. While the former facilitates the trapping of radiation (greenhouse effect) the latter works in the opposite direction through reflectance of radiation back into space by sulphate aerosols that form from oxidation of DMS in atmosphere. Here we report on the first measurements made on DMS in the Bay of Bengal and the factors regulating its abundance in seawater. Phytoplankton alone does not seem to control the extent of DMS concentrations. We find that changes in salinity could effectively regulate the extent of DMSP production by marine phytoplankton. In addition, we provide the first ever evidence to the occurrence of DMS precursor, DMSP, in marine aerosols collected in the boundary layer. This suggests that the marine aerosol transport of DMSP will supplement DMS gaseous evasion in maintaining the atmospheric non-sea salt sulphur budget.     

Groundwater resources management through flow modeling in lower part of Bhagirathi — Jalangi interfluve,Nadia, West Bengal

Groundwater utilization in Nadia district, West Bengal has been subjected to rapid exploitation in the wake of increasing urbanization and production of agricultural commodities. It is, therefore, necessary to evaluate the existing trend and availability of groundwater in time and space and its movement for proper planning in future. In the present study, an attempt has been made develop a groundwater management model using Visual MODFLOW software. The groundwater flow model for the study area was formulated by using input hydrogeological data and appropriate boundary conditions. The groundwater flow pattern of the study area indicates the occurrence of base flow which feed both the Rivers Bhagirathi and Jalangi throughout the year. The computed hydraulic heads were calibrated by comparing with observed groundwater level data for years 2004 to 2006 and were verified with the data of 2007. The outcome of modeling shows that this model can be used for prediction purpose in the future by updating input boundary conditions and hydrologic stresses during the preceding year. The model optimized unit draft for deep tube well as 556.5 m³/day and the same for shallow tube well as 41 m³/day keeping the existing tube well structures in running condition and maintaining the present and recent past trends of groundwater level. The model can be further improved if more spatial and temporal input parameters are available and can be incorporated into the model for more realistic characterization of groundwater flow.     

Holocene climate variability from lake sediment core in Larsemann Hills,Antarctica

A sediment core (L2) from Larsemann Hills, Antarctica was analyzed for Biogenic Silica (BSi), Sand (%) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The 78 cm core length represents the time span of ∼8.3 cal ka BP. The values of BSi from the core show prominent high productivity from ∼8.3 to ∼6 cal ka BP in comparison to less productivity in mid-late Holocene (∼6 cal ka BP to recent). Moreover, high sand (%) infers the glacio-fluvial deposition from ∼8.3 to ∼5 cal ka BP TOC shows little variation through out the core, except in the upper ∼10 cm (∼4 cal ka BP) part wherein it is comparatively high. The increased TOC in the upper part of the core possibly indicates presence of algal mat due to exposure of the lake to the ice free (glacier free) conditions.     

Evaluation of machine learning tools as a statistical downscaling tool: temperatures projections for multi-stations for Thames River Basin, Canada

Many impact studies require climate change information at a finer resolution than that provided by global climate models (GCMs). This paper investigates the performances of existing state-of-the-art rule induction and tree algorithms, namely single conjunctive rule learner, decision table, M5 model tree, and REPTree, and explores the impact of climate change on maximum and minimum temperatures (i.e., predictands) of 14 meteorological stations in the Upper Thames River Basin, Ontario, Canada. The data used for evaluation were large-scale predictor variables, extracted from National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis dataset and the simulations from third generation Canadian coupled global climate model. Data for four grid points covering the study region were used for developing the downscaling model. M5 model tree algorithm was found to yield better performance among all other learning techniques explored in the present study. Hence, this technique was applied to project predictands generated from GCM using three scenarios (A1B, A2, and B1) for the periods (2046–2065 and 2081–2100). A simple multiplicative shift was used for correcting predictand values. The potential of the downscaling models in simulating predictands was evaluated, and downscaling results reveal that the proposed downscaling model can reproduce local daily predictands from large-scale weather variables. Trend of projected maximum and minimum temperatures was studied for historical as well as downscaled values using GCM and scenario uncertainty. There is likely an increasing trend for T _max and T _min for A1B, A2, and B1 scenarios while decreasing trend has been observed for B1 scenarios during 2081–2100.     

Uncertainty in the ocean–atmosphere feedbacks associated with ENSO in the reanalysis products

The evolution of El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability can be characterized by various ocean–atmosphere feedbacks, for example, the influence of ENSO related sea surface temperature (SST) variability on the low-level wind and surface heat fluxes in the equatorial tropical Pacific, which in turn affects the evolution of the SST. An analysis of these feedbacks requires physically consistent observational data sets. Availability of various reanalysis data sets produced during the last 15?years provides such an opportunity. A consolidated estimate of ocean surface fluxes based on multiple reanalyses also helps understand biases in ENSO predictions and simulations from climate models. In this paper, the intensity and the spatial structure of ocean–atmosphere feedback terms (precipitation, surface wind stress, and ocean surface heat flux) associated with ENSO are evaluated for six different reanalysis products. The analysis provides an estimate for the feedback terms that could be used for model validation studies. The analysis includes the robustness of the estimate across different reanalyses. Results show that one of the “coupled” reanalysis among the six investigated is closer to the ensemble mean of the results, suggesting that the coupled data assimilation may have the potential to better capture the overall atmosphere–ocean feedback processes associated with ENSO than the uncoupled ones.     

‘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.

     

Satellite observations of unusual dust event over North-East India and its relation with meteorological conditions

An unusual intense dust storm occurred over North-East region of India on 17 March 2009, which was analyzed using multi-satellite data sets. Terra MODIS AOD₅₅₀ showed high values on 17 March 2009 with low values of Angstrom exponent (α), suggesting coarse mode particle loading in the atmosphere. NCEP temperature and relative humidity anomalies showed high temperature and low humidity during March 2009. Dry weather conditions due to deficit rainfall during January–March 2009 and higher winds resulted in unusual dust storm over the region. Satellite observations of aerosol optical depth variations suggested increased aerosol loading in March 2009 due to dust storm.     

Comparison of two methods for ground level vapour sampling and influence of meteorological parameters on its stable isotopic composition at Roorkee,India

Ground level vapour (GLV) samples were collected at Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India using two methods: liquid condensation (LC) at 0 °C and cryogenic trap (CT) at ?78 °C for the period 2009–2011. The study reveals that there is a considerable fluctuation in stable isotopic composition of GLV throughout the year. The study area receives complex moisture source during different seasons, which is evident from the moisture flux received during different seasons. The isotopic composition of the GLV in both methods shows depleted nature during rainout process. CT method shows exact isotopic signature of GLV because of maximum trapping of air moisture and its condensation, whereas LC method shows depleted or enriched character because of the prevalence of kinetic and diffusive fractionation. The d value shows that LC method acts as magnifier of the CT method and clearly shows seasonal effect than the clustered CT method. Hence, to decipher the original isotopic signature of GLV, isotopic composition of GLV_LC can be converted to GLV_CT by deriving an empirical relationship with changing season and locations. Meteorological parameters show varied behaviour with GLV_{CT and LC} because of moisture sources in all seasons. The GLV_{CT and LC} method shows significant correlation with meteorological parameters when the region is dominated by single moisture source. The GLV_LC method magnifies the correlation with meteorological parameters when the region is influenced by more than one source. The study shows that the GLV_LC methods can be used in place of GLV_CT when the objective is to understand the influence of different moisture sources on GLV. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.