A deterministic approach for preparation of seismic hazard maps in North East India

A method of seismic zonation based on deterministic modeling of rupture plane is presented in this work. This method is based on the modeling of finite rupture plane along identified lineaments in the region using the semi-empirical technique, of Midorikawa [(1993) Tectonophysics 218:287–295]. The modeling procedure follows ω² scaling law, directivity effects, and other strong motion parameters. The technique of zonation is applied for technoeconomically important NE part of Brahmaputra valley that falls in the seismic gap region of Himalaya. Zonation map prepared for Brahmaputra valley for earthquakes of magnitude M > 6.0 show that approximately 90,000 km² area fall in the highly hazardous zone IV, which covers region that can have peak ground accelerations of order more than 250 cm/s². The zone IV covers the Tezu, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Ziro, North Lakhimpur, Itanagar, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Wokha, Senapati, Imphal, and Kohima regions. The Pasighat, Daring, Basar, and Seppa region belong to zone III with peak ground accelerations of the order 200–250 cm/s². The seismic zonation map obtained from deterministic modeling of the rupture is consistent with the historical seismicity map and it has been found that the epicenter of many moderate and major earthquakes fall in the identified zones.     

Distribution of inhomogeneities in the interstellar plasma in the directions of three distant pulsars from observations with the RadioAstron ground–space interferometer

The RadioAstron ground–space interferometer has been used to measure the angular sizes of the scattering disks of the three distant pulsars B1641–45, B1749–28, and B1933+16. The observations were carried out with the participation of the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope; two 32-m telescopes at Torun, Poland and Svetloe, Russia (the latter being one antenna of the KVAZAR network); the Saint Croix VLBA antenna; the Arecibo radio telescope; the Parkes, Narrabri (ATCA), Mopra, Hobart, and Ceduna Australian radio telescopes; and the Hartebeesthoek radio telescope in South Africa. The full widths at half maximum of the scattering disks were 27 mas at 1668 MHz for B1641–45, 0.5 mas at 1668 MHz for B1749–28, and 12.3 at 316 MHz and 0.84 mas at 1668 MHz for B1933+16. The characteristic time scales for scatter-broadening of the pulses on inhomogeneities in the interstellar plasma τ_sc were also measured for these pulsars using various methods. Joint knowledge of the size of the scattering disk and the scatter-broadening time scale enables estimation of the distance to the effective scattering screen d. For B1641–45, d = 3.0 kpc for a distance to the pulsar D = 4.9 kpc, and for B1749–28, d = 0.95 kpc for D = 1.3 kpc. Observations of B1933+16 were carried out simultaneously at 316 and 1668 MHz. The positions of the screen derived using the measurements at the two frequencies agree: d ₁ = 2.6 and d ₂ = 2.7 kpc, for a distance to the pulsar of 3.7 kpc. Two screens were detected for this pulsar from an analysis of parabolic arcs in the secondary dynamic spectrum at 1668 MHz, at 1.3 and 3.1 kpc. The scattering screens for two of the pulsars are identified with real physical objects located along the lines of sight toward the pulsars: G339.1–04 (B1641–45) and G0.55–0.85 (B1749–28).     

Use of objective analysis to estimate winter temperature and precipitation at different stations over western Himalaya

Temperature and fresh snow are essential inputs in an avalanche forecasting model. Without these parameters, prediction of avalanche occurrence for a region would be very difficult. In the complex terrain of Himalaya, nonavailability of snow and meteorological data of the remote locations during snow storms in the winter is a common occurrence. In view of this persistent problem present study estimates maximum temperature, minimum temperature, ambient temperature and precipitation intensity on different regions of Indian western Himalaya by using similar parameters of the neighbouring regions. The location at which parameters are required and its neighbouring locations should all fall in the same snow climatic zone. Initial step to estimate the parameters at a location, is to shift the parameters of neighbouring regions at a reference height corresponding to the altitude of the location at which parameters are to be estimated. The parameters at this reference height are then spatially interpolated by using Barnes objective analysis. The parameters estimated on different locations are compared with the observed one and the Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) of the observed and estimated values of the parameters are discussed for the winters of 2007–2008.     

Forest canopy density stratification using biophysical modeling

Forest canopy density is an important parameter to assess the ecological conditionsviz, light penetration through canopy, undergrowth, surface reflectance, rainfall interception, etc. in a forest landscape. The rate of change in the cover and density has increased due to human need for fuel and fodder. Hence, quick, repetitive and accurate information about forest density is required at the local, regional, state and national levels for sustainable forest management. Satellite remote sensing has the potential to provide information on the forest canopy closure. The present study aims at forest canopy density mapping using satellite remote sensing data using three techniques: visual interpretation (VI), object oriented image segmentation (OOIS) and biophysical modeling (BM). On comparing the techniques, the BM has been found to be the better density mapping technique than other two in terms of accuracy, efficiency and high correlation with ground estimates.     

Landscape dynamics in Hokersar Wetland, Jammu & Kashmir—An application of geospatial approach

Geospatial presentation of habitat has become a key issue for planning conservation and management of any ecosystem. Hokersar wetland, one of the best resorts of migratory waterfowl in Kashmir, is under anthropogenic pressure and siltation due to floods. This has resulted in the degradation and change in the habitat quality of varied aquatic flora and fauna. Moreover, the seasonal changes affect the water level and land cover characteristics of the landscape. In the present study temporal mapping of the wetland has been carried out using the data sets for the autumn and spring seasons to assess the land cove/land use dynamics. The temporal change analysis, in the urban sprawl and the wetland, has been carried out to assess the rate of changes in the wetland and its environs. The wetland initially comprised of patch of marshy waterfowl habitat with some open water bodies. It has been fragmented into a large number of land uses because of anthropogenic activities. The increase in the settlement has been observed proportionate to the rate of fragmentation in the wetland. This study has created an information base, which will help to design conservation schemes for long term maintenance of the wetland.     

Cartosat-1 derived DEM (CartoDEM) towards Parameter Estimation of Microwatersheds and Comparison with ALTM DEM

Hydrologic analysis of microwatersheds is essential for water resources planning at large scale. Space based input for decentralized planning at panchayat level use high resolution DEM. Drainage and slope play important role in planning and Digital Elevations Models (DEM) are widely being used for estimation of hydrologic parameters which are useful as input for hydrologic models. The estimates vary as per resolution and type of DEM. This paper evaluates the suitability of DEM derived through Cartosat-1 satellite stereo data(CartoDEM) for hydrologic parameter estimation of microwatersheds and compares the results with Airborne Laser Terrain Mapper (ALTM) based DEM data. Comparison is based on the hydrologic parameters delineated in Geographical Information System. Microwatersheds are delineated and drainage length extracted using two different cell sizes for both DEMs. Correctness Index, Figure of Merit, visual comparison, Percent within buffer and Junction comparison method, compared extracted river network. Average watershed slope is calculated using three different methods. CartoDEM derived drainage is comparable with ALTM derived drainage. There is high correlation between Carto5 and Caro10 DEMs in terms of drainage delineation and slope calculation. Average watershed slope vary as per calculation methods but average channel slope value (S3) although less, is comparable across DEMs.     

Modeling of the strong ground motion of 25th April 2015 Nepal earthquake using modified semi-empirical technique

On 25th April, 2015 a hazardous earthquake of moment magnitude 7.9 occurred in Nepal. Accelerographs were used to record the Nepal earthquake which is installed in the Kumaon region in the Himalayan state of Uttrakhand. The distance of the recorded stations in the Kumaon region from the epicenter of the earthquake is about 420–515 km. Modified semi-empirical technique of modeling finite faults has been used in this paper to simulate strong earthquake at these stations. Source parameters of the Nepal aftershock have been also calculated using the Brune model in the present study which are used in the modeling of the Nepal main shock. The obtained value of the seismic moment and stress drop is 8.26 × 10²⁵ dyn cm and 10.48 bar, respectively, for the aftershock from the Brune model .The simulated earthquake time series were compared with the observed records of the earthquake. The comparison of full waveform and its response spectra has been made to finalize the rupture parameters and its location. The rupture of the earthquake was propagated in the NE–SW direction from the hypocenter with the rupture velocity 3.0 km/s from a distance of 80 km from Kathmandu in NW direction at a depth of 12 km as per compared results.