Information content in astronomical images

We should like to point out that the special non-singular Bianchi type-I solution of no-scale supergravity, recently obtained by Barrow and Deruelle (1988), does not exist. The most general consistent non-singular Bianchi type-I solution has been derived recently by us (Lorenz-Petzold, 1988).     

Geophysical Characterization of the Salna Sinking Zone, Garhwal Himalaya, India

Infrastructure and communication facilities are repeatedly affected by ground deformation in Gharwal Himalaya, India; for effective remediation measures, a thorough understanding of the real reasons for these movements is needed. In this regard, we undertook an integrated geophysical and geotechnical study of the Salna sinking zone close to the Main Central Thrust in Garhwal Himalaya. Our geophysical data include eight combined electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarization imaging (IPI) profiles spanning 144–600 m, with 3–10 m electrode separation in the Wenner–Schlumberger configuration, and five micro-gravity profiles with 10–30 m station spacing covering the study region. The ERT sections clearly outline the heterogeneity in the subsurface lithology. Further, the ERT, IPI, and shaliness (shaleyness) sections infer the absence of clayey horizons and slip surfaces at depth. However, the Bouguer gravity analysis has revealed the existence of several faults in the subsurface, much beyond the reach of the majority of ERT sections. These inferred vertical to subvertical faults run parallel to the existing major lineaments and tectonic elements of the study region. The crisscross network of inferred faults has divided the entire study region into several blocks in the subsurface. Our studies stress that the sinking of the Salna village area is presently taking place along these inferred vertical to subvertical faults. The Chamoli earthquake in March 1999 probably triggered seismically induced ground movements in this region. The absence of few gravity-inferred faults in shallow ERT sections may hint at blind faults, which could serve as future source(s) for geohazards in the study region. Soil samples at two sites of study region were studied in a geotechnical laboratory. These, along with stability studies along four slope sections, have indicated the critical state of the study region. Thus, our integrated studies emphasize the crucial role of micro-gravity in finding fine subsurface structure at deeper depth level; supported by ERT and IPI at shallow depth intervals, they can satisfactorily explain the Salna sinking zone close to Lesser Himalaya. The geotechnical studies also lend support to these findings. These integrated studies have yielded a better understanding of the mass-wasting mechanism for the study region.     

A unified earthquake catalogue for South Asia covering the period 1900–2014

Seismicity analysis is very much pertinent for Indian subcontinent and its adjoining region which is seismically active including many great earthquakes associated with collision and subduction tectonics in the northern, north-eastern part of the subcontinent and in the Andaman and Nicobar Island. An earthquake catalogue has been generated for South Asia covering the period 1900–2014 by compiling the records of earthquake occurrences from International Seismological Center, Global Centroid Moment Tensor (GCMT), US Geological Survey, India Meteorological Department and published literature. The uniform magnitude scaling in moment magnitude M _W,GCMT is achieved through connecting relationships between different magnitude types. These relationships are derived by orthogonal standard regression analysis on available data pairs. The derived relationships have been compared with the existing equations already reported by others. The catalogue is subsequently subjected to a seismicity declustering algorithm to identify the foreshocks, main-shocks and aftershocks. The catalogue thus compiled is envisaged to be a useful resource for seismotectonic and seismic hazard studies in the region.

     

Ground deformational studies using ALOS-PALSAR data between 2007 and 2010 of the central Kutch area,Gujarat, India

The central Kutch region of Gujarat, India, experienced a M7.7 earthquake on January 26, 2001, causing large-scale ground deformations including a huge loss of lives and infrastructure. The rupture of a hidden reverse fault was the reason for this intense tectonic activity. The post-seismic ground deformations, attributed to the relaxation phase of a stressed crustal layer, have been analyzed using a pair of Advanced Land Observation Satellite-Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) images. The InSAR images were obtained in 2007 and 2010, covering an area around Bhuj. It falls on the Kutch Mainland Fault and Katrol Bhuj Fault. Using the ADORE-DORIS software, interferometric imagery has successfully been generated, covering the study area. This allowed making interesting geological inferences. Three different regions in the study area elicited countable visible colored fringes, indicating different amounts of positive and negative ground deformations (surface motion with respect to the satellite). They occurred within the InSAR data acquisition dates. The region around Bhuj and to the north and east of Bhuj showed top surface deformations of about 35, 35, and 24 cm, respectively. The synoptic view of the interferometric image of the study area suggests two crustal fault lines running to the north and south of Bhuj city. The Institute of Seismological Research, geophysical and Global Positioning System data, indicates that huge seismic events occurred during the year 2007–2010 and supports the observational inference of clustering of interferometric fringes to the E and NE of the study area.     

Studies on the shift in the frequency of the first Schumann resonance mode during a solar proton event

The variation of the first Schumann resonance (SR) frequency spectra observed from the recorded data over Kolkata (22.56°N, 88.5°E) during a solar proton event (SPE) on July 14, 2000 has been presented. It shows increase in frequency during X-ray bursts and decrease during the period of occurrence of an SPE. The results from some other locations for the same event are also reported. The severe X-ray bursts recorded just before the proton event exhibit enhancement in frequency of the first mode due to enhancement of ionization in the D-region of the ionosphere. Some attempts are made to explain the observed variation during solar proton events in terms of the perturbations within the Earth–ionosphere waveguide on the basis of two-layer-model.     

Morphotectonic analysis of alluvial fan dynamics: comparative study in spatio-temporal scale of Himalayan foothill,India

Alluvial fan is a depositional fluvial landform that is characterised by sediment flow and hydrological processes and is also controlled by tectonic activity. These extraordinary features have always attracted researchers since the past as they preserve the past records, but now, this study is focused on the formation meso-level fans with its spatio-temporal dynamic nature. These tributaries have formed secondary alluvial fans at their debouching points. The dynamics of the fans are controlled by the hydrological responses and tectonic base and also by the sedimentation processes. The origin of these tributaries and their respective fans are related to the last stage of Himalayan uplift. This is the region of Himalayan foreland basin which contains the main frontal thrust and makes the region tectonically very active. The region is drained by many large rivers and their numerous tributaries. The active tectonism, the configuration of the basin and also the deposition of the sediments carried by these rivers have formed alluvial fans where the channel debouches into the widened valley. In the present study, the meso-level alluvial fans formed by River Gish and the Rivers Neora and Murti have been studied. Both these fans are present in the piedmont region of the Himalayas, but they deliver different characteristics, and the nature of their deposition is also different. This is mainly because of the influence of the minor faults in the region which control the channel pattern and also have a great influence in the sediment delivery to the downstream section of the channels. Thus, in order to understand the influence of tectonics in the dynamics of these fans, some morphotectonic parameters have been taken into consideration. These include mountain front sinuosity index, valley floor width-to-depth ratio, and tectonic tilt. The calculated hypsometric integral also depicts that the two fans are at different stages of development.     

Determination of in-situ stress direction from cleat orientation mapping for coal bed methane exploration in south-eastern part of Jharia coalfield, India

Accurate prediction of in-situ stress directions plays a key role in any Coal Bed Methane (CBM) exploration and exploitation project in order to estimate the production potential of the CBM reservoirs. Permeability is one of the most important factors for determination of CBM productivity. The coal seams in Jharia coalfield generally show low permeability in the range of 0.5 md to 3 md. To estimate the in-situ stress direction in the study area, an attempt has been made to undertake the cleat orientation mapping of four regional coal seams of two underground coal mines located at south-eastern part of Jharia coalfield, India. Cleat orientation mapping is critical to determine the maximum principal compressive horizontal stress (S_H) direction for CBM exploration and exploitation, which in turn controls the direction of maximum gas or water flow though coal beds. From the field study it is found that the average face and butt cleat azimuths are towards N15°W and N75°E respectively. Average permeability of the four above-mentioned major coal seams has been calculated from well logs of nine CBM wells distributing over an area of 7.5 km², adjacent to the underground mines. The cleat orientations are congruous with the regional lineament pattern and fits well with the average permeability contour map of the study area to infer the orientation of in-situ maximum horizontal stress. Goodness of fit for the exponential regressions between vertical stress and permeability for individual coal seams varies between 0.6 and 0.84. The cleat orientation is further validated from the previous fracture analysis using FMI well log in Parbatpur area located southern part of the Jharia coalfield. The major coal seams under the study area exhibit directional permeability, with the maximum permeability, oriented parallel to the direction of face cleat orientation.     

Potato varietal discrimination using ground based multiband radiometer

The potential usefulness of spectral properties and vegetation indices in varietal discrimination of potato genotypes was studied in the field experiment. Spectral measurements were recorded in different bands in blue (450–520 nm), green (520–590 nm), red (620–680 nm) and infrared (770–860 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum at different stages during crop growth period. A ground based hand held multiband radiometer (Model/041) was used for the purpose. The mean per cent green reflectance value among different genotypes was lowest in genotype MS/86-89, while it was observed highest in genotype JX-216. Significant difference among these genotypes was found at all growth stages except 6 week after planting. Consequent to variation in spectral reflectance the vegetation indices like, NDVI, RVI, TVI and DVI showed significant difference among genotypes at all growth stages except at 8^th week after planting. The vegetation indices are good indicators of crop growth and condition. Similarly, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area index were also highest in MS/86-89, followed by KUFRI Bahar and KUFRI Sutlej while in case of leaf area index it was followed by Kufri Sutlej and Kufri Bahar. JX-23 was highest in chlorophyll content and tuber yield followed by MS/86-89 and JW-160, while lowest chlorophyll content was seen in MS/89-1095 and poorest tuber yield in MS/89-60. Most of the genotypes exhibited considerable variation in their spectral response and vegetation indices thereby indicating the possibility of their discrimination through remote sensing technique.     

Pre- and post-collisional depositional history in the upper and middle Bengal fan and evaluation of deepwater reservoir potential along the northeast Continental Margin of India

The Bengal fan is the largest submarine fan in the world that has formed as a result of high sediment transport from the Himalaya by the Ganga–Brahmaputra river system. The Himalaya was formed as a result of the collision between the Eurasian and Indian plates. The initiation of this collision known as “soft” collision occurred around 59 Ma, whereas, the major collision, known as “hard” collision took place around 15 Ma ago. Prior to the collision, sediments into the Bay of Bengal were derived from the northwest by relatively smaller river system like Mahanadi–Godavari. The switching of river systems with time was not distinct but gradational. In the post- collision period, the sediment input from the NW was masked in most instances because of rapid sediment supply from the Himalaya to the north. Pre-collisional sediment dispersal pattern from the NW was largely affected by pre-existing basement high known as 85°E Ridge; this ridge was submerged during the post-collisional period. Post-collisional sediments are commonly referred to as the Bengal fan sediments and show huge accumulation along the shelf and beyond. High resolution 2D seismic data acquired along a corridor covering the upper, middle and distal parts of the present day active Bengal fan system indicates that the fan has prograded southward with time because of continuously increasing sediment supply and has, therefore, masked the effect of eustacy. The present day geometry of the fan shows a single active canyon and an associated single active fan. The active channel shows typical meandering pattern that shifts laterally with time. The seismic facies analysis indicates that both the pre- and post-collision basin has significant hydrocarbon potential. The thermogenic model is best suited for modeling source rock maturity in the pre-collision basin whereas both biogenic and thermogenic models best explain source rock maturity in the post-collision, younger Bengal fan. The wedge out against the 85°E Ridge is considered to be one of the important play types for hydrocarbon exploration in the deeper part of the basin. On the other hand, the channel levee complexes and frontal splay/basin floor fan are the possible target areas for petroleum exploration in relatively younger Bengal fan deposits.