Fault rupture directivity of large earthquakes in Himalaya

The paper examines the predominant fault rupture directivity during large earthquakes in different sectors of the Himalaya which influences strong ground motion and damage scenario. The nature of the faulting of earthquakes vis-à-vis their rupture directivity has been discussed. It is found that the rupture directivity near the Indo-Eurasian plate boundary varies from place to place i.e. either along the strike direction of the faults or at right angles to it. The secondary meizoseismal areas as observed for 1505 Dharchula, 1803 Uttarakhand, 1905 Kangra earthquakes in the Himalaya and 2001 Bhuj earthquake in stable continental region suggest that they are a fairly good indicator of predominant rupture directivity since the latter accentuates the site response up to a longer distance. The resulting larger ground motions, therefore, need to be incorporated in the design of engineering structures by suitable modifications in the BIS code.     

Transition in Late Quaternary Paleoclimate in Schirmacher Region,East Antarctica as Revealed from Lake Sediments

The lacustrine sediments are one of the best sources to provide information on climate change, specially in peri-glacial climatic region. Schirmacher Oasis, located on the Princess Astrid Coast in Queen Maud Land, is one of the few areas in East Antarctica that provides valuable information on paleoclimate of the region with various depositional features formed due to deglaciation process. This Oasis is dotted with more than 100 lakes of proglacial, land-locked and epi-shelf type. The multi-proxy sedimentological data, generated from the sediment cores from land-locked lakes and grab sample from a proglacial lake, lying in the same drainage line in the central part of Schirmacher region has provided better insight into the paleoclimatic evolution of the region. The immature and chemically unaltered lake sediments have shown restricted drainage pattern. Different phases of warmer and cooler intervals are highlighted by the patterns of fluctuations in different sedimentological and statistical parameters. The dominance of glacial signatures is very clear on the lake sediments as revealed by the surface textures of quartz grains. Physical weathering has mainly controlled the overall sediments and the composition of clay fraction. The clay minerals indicate a gradual shift in the weathering regime and therewith in climate from strongly glacial to fluvioglacial specially around 42 ka. This indicates beginning of warming of the area much before the LGM. But the warm period is not strong enough to alter the overall clay chemistry. Proxy records indicate short-period climatic oscillations during late Quaternary.     

Characterization of organic carbon in black shales of the Kachchh basin,Gujarat, India

Thirty-three black shale samples from four locations on the onland Kachchh basin, western India were analyzed to characterize organic carbon (OC), thermal maturity and to determine the hydrocarbon potential of the basin. Upper Jurassic black shales from the Jhuran Formation (Dhonsa and Kodki areas) are characterized by the presence of chlorite, halloysite, high \(T_{\mathrm{max}}\), low OC, low hydrogen index and high oxygen index. These parameters indicate the OC as type IV kerogen, formed in a marine environment. The rocks attained thermal maturity possibly during Deccan volcanism. Early Eocene samples of the Naredi Formation (Naliya-Narayan Sarovar Road (NNSR) and the Matanomadh areas) are rich in TOC, smectite, chlorite and framboidal pyrite, but have low \(T_{\mathrm{max}}\). These indicate deposition of sediments in a reducing condition, probably in a lagoonal/marsh/swamp environment. Organic carbon of the Naredi Formation of NNSR may be considered as immature type III to IV kerogen, prone to generate coal. Core samples from the Naredi Formation of the Matanomadh area show two fold distribution in terms of kerogen. Organic carbon of the upper section is immature type III to IV kerogen, but the lower section has type II to III kerogen having potential to generate oil and gas after attaining appropriate thermal maturity.     

Active tectonics in the Assam seismic gap between the meizoseismal zone of AD 1934 and 1950 earthquakes along eastern Himalayan front,India

The Assam Seismic Gap has witnessed a long seismic quiescence since the \({ Mw}{\sim }8.4\) great Assam earthquake of AD 1950. Owing to its improper connectivity over the last decades, this segment of the Himalaya has long remained inadequately explored by geoscientists. Recent geodetic measurements in the eastern Himalaya using GPS document a discrepancy between the geologic and geodetic convergence rates. West to east increase in convergence rate added with shorter time span earthquakes like the 1697 Sadiya, 1714 (\({ Mw}{\sim }8\)) Bhutan and 1950 (\({ Mw}{\sim } 8.4\)) Tibet–Assam, makes this discrepancy more composite and crucial in terms of seismic hazard assessment. To understand the scenario of palaeoearthquake surface rupturing and deformation of youngest landforms between the meizoseismal areas of \({ Mw}{\sim }8.1\) 1934 and 1950 earthquakes, the area between the Manas and Dhanshiri Rivers along the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) was traversed. The general deformation pattern reflects north-dipping thrust faults. However, back facing scarps were also observed in conjugation to the discontinuous scarps along the frontal thrust. Preliminary mapping along with the published literature suggests that, in the eastern Himalayan front the deformation is taking place largely by the thrust sheet translation without producing a prominent fault-related folds, unlike that of the central and western Himalayas.     

An integrative approach toward biosensing and bioremediation of metals and metalloids

The contamination of harmful metals and metalloids has emerged as a major issue of concern with the industrial and agricultural progress and increase in human population in the last century. Natural biogeochemical activities are also responsible for increase in the level of elements. Metal(loid)s reach to humans either directly through contaminated drinking water or through the food when crop is cultivated in contaminated areas. Metal(loid)s have carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxicological properties and hence are a burden to body and the cause of a number of health problems. To combat the menace of metal(loid)s contamination, there is a need to not only precisely monitor their levels in the environment but also to remove them efficiently. In addition, these two basis processes require being a low-cost affair to be affordable for routine operation and for most of the areas and people. Biosensors and bioremediation are two important areas, which offer hope to achieve the goals by allowing sensing of metal(loid)s precisely and removing them at a low cost and in easily operable manner. The present article reviews progress of biosensor and bioremediation approaches and proposes prospective feasible strategies for future.     

Bioslurry phase remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil using potato peels powder through biosurfactant producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus licheniformis</Emphasis> J1

Soil contamination due to petroleum oil has become significant ecological issue due to their toxicity. Thus, detoxification of petroleum-contaminated soil is of pressing concern. In this study, bench-scale bioslurry experiment was carried for remediation and detoxification of petroleum-contaminated soil. Potato peels powder was used as organic nutrient source in the slurry for biostimulation purpose, while biosurfactant producing Bacillus licheniformis strain J1 identified through molecular approach is used as inocula in the slurry treatment. The strain J1 has the capability to utilized petroleum as carbon source, but its efficiency increase in the presence of potato peels powder. Bioslurry phase experiment was categorized into four groups based on the treatment, such as B0 (soil + H₂O), B1 (soil + petroleum oil + H₂O), B2 (soil + petroleum oil + strain J1 + H₂O), B3 (soil + petroleum oil + potato peels powder + strain J1 + H₂O). After 90 days of treatment, the soils from each treatment were subjected to toxicity analysis using earth worm acute toxicity test and seed germination inhibition assay. The results suggest that in B1 treatment the toxicity effect on germination and seedling growth is highest, while decrease in effect was observed in case of B2 and B3 treatment. Results of earthworm acute toxicity test revealed that 30 ± 5% earthworm survival rates was reported in B1 treatment, whereas 71.6 ± 2.8 and 78.3 ± 2.8% was observed in B2 and B3 treatment, respectively. Hence, the result of the present study signifies that bioslurry phase treatment can be effectively and commercially used for detoxification petroleum-contaminated wastelands.     

Hydrologic simulation approach for El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-affected watershed with limited raingauge stations

ABSTRACT

Since the performance of hydrological models relies on numerous factors, the selection of an appropriate modeling approach for hydrological study has always been a crucial issue. The major objective of this research is to demonstrate that data-driven models such as the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference system (ANFIS) are more suitable in a region where spatially distributed precipitation datasets are not available. Since precipitation has a teleconnection with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in different parts of the world, the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and sea level pressures (SLPs) of the equatorial Pacific can be expected to act as surrogates for the precipitation if there are insufficient raingauge stations in the watershed. Moreover, in contrast to conceptual and physically-based models, data driven models can incorporate SST and SLP in their input vectors, and hence additional forcing of SST with precipitation has been experimented with in past studies. Therefore, our second objective is to test whether the additional forcing of SST and SLP will improve the hydrologic simulation. For this, various ANFIS models for the winter season were developed considering 10 raingauge stations situated at various locations in the watershed. Rainfall from each raingauge station was considered in the ANFIS model one at a time with and without SST/SLP. The results show that the performance of the ANFIS model improved with the additional fusion of SST and SLP, especially when a raingauge station from a remote location was considered. However, this improvement was observed when the analysis was primarily focused on the winter season which is a period with a strong ENSO signal.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor L. See     

Geochemical characteristics of the mud volcano fluids in southwestern Taiwan and their possible linkage to elevated arsenic concentration in Chianan plain groundwater

Fluid and mud samples were collected from Wushanting (WST), Hsiaokunshui (HKS), Yenshuikeng (YSK), Kuantzeling (KZL), and Kunshuiping (KSP) mud volcanoes of southwestern Taiwan. Concentrations of major ions and trace elements in mud volcanic fluids were analyzed to find the possible linkage to elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in the Chianan plain groundwater. The elevated Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl⁻ concentrations indicated possible marine origin of the fluids. The trace element concentrations in the mud volcanic fluids were generally low, but the As concentrations were up to 0.12 mg/L. High contents of As, Fe, and Mn were observed in the mud samples. Saturation index calculations indicated that both carbonate and oxide minerals acted as potential sinks for As in the mud volcanic fluids. Arsenic in the dewatering fluids and muds may be transported by the subsurface flow and surface streams as suspended solids and eventually deposited in the Chianan plain aquifers. Under reducing conditions, As may be released from the host minerals (such as Fe- and Mn-oxides/hydroxides), thereby causing widespread groundwater As pollution.     

Problematic fossils from the Palaeo-Neoproterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup, India

Fossils of the Vindhyan Supergroup exhibit extensive diversity and variable biologic affinities represented by: bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, acritarchs, metaphytes and metazoans (including members of the Ediacaran Fauna) and ranging from less than a micron to almost a metre in size. Besides identified fossils, a number of bizarre morphologies (due to deviation of morphology from conventional structures), present in various stratigraphic horizons, have been observed. It is very difficult to identify and decide their biologic affinities. In thin sections of Lower Vindhyan cherts, microfossils resembling lichen-like or fungal forms in which a sac encompassing a coiled filament may possibly indicate a symbiotic relationship, a Volvox colony-like structure and a vase-shaped body without an opening are unique. Among the carbonaceous fossils, very unusual and interesting fossil is a transparent disc comprising numerous appendages of an unidentified mesoscopic insect-like organism. Megascopic branching and associated Grypania-like structure is another form preserved as impression on micritic limestone. Petrographic thin sections of chert belonging to the Sirbu Shale Formation, exhibit presence of microscopic bizarre forms. The assemblage includes acritarchs and acanthomorphs of variable morphology and a dividing cell-like structure interpreted to be of rhodophycean affinity or a cleaving embryo of an animal affinity. Other peculiar morphologies among the carbonaceous fossils are: branched filaments that have attached sporangia-like vesicles, Chuaria-like body comprising cluster of very small-sized spheroids resemble scale-like structure, a chrysophycean alga or a multicellular tissue of a metaphyte. Another carbonaceous fossil represents a possible metazoan exhibiting an elongate body and a mid-gut-like structure or a Vaucheriacean alga. Although the biologic affinities of these bizarre forms can be a matter of debate, their biogenic nature is almost undoubted. The presence of such forms in the Vindhyans indicates advancement in morphology and a gradual evolution of life during the Palaeoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic period. In addition, presence of Ediacaran fossils in Bhander Group and large-sized acritarchs especially Trachyhystrichosphaera sp. in petrographic thin section of chert from the Sirbu Shale Formation, Bhander Group, Upper Vindhyans, suggests Ediacaran age as an upper age limit of the Vindhyan Supergroup.     

Geomorphic control on the formation of mixed layer clays by progressive degradation of biotite: A case study from Jutulsessen Gjelsvikfjella,East Antarctica

Eleven glacial sediment samples collected from different elevation of Jutulsessen Nunatak, Gjelsvikfjella of East Antarctica were studied for the clay mineralogical analysis using X-ray diffraction technique. The result shows prominent peak at 10, and 3.34 Å suggesting the presence of biotite possibly derived from the catchment where biotite rich granite gneisses are exposed. The detailed investigation on the shape of biotite peak of certain samples shows the signs of alteration of biotite in to a mixed layer containing tri-octahedral smectite (low charge vermiculite). The presence of mixed layer along with the biotite is found to be associated with the samples of lower geomorphic level. The progressive alteration of clay sized biotite to form a mixed layer in the lower horizons of Jutulsessen Nunatak is probably due to the periodic accumulation of melt-water during the austral summer.