Bi‐Solute Sorption of Estrogens at Low Concentration: Two‐ and Three‐Parametric Analysis

Competitive sorption of estriol (E3) and 17α‐ethinylestradiol (EE2) was studied on activated charcoal. Better sorption of E3 (88.9%) and EE2 (69.5%) was observed with single‐solute sorption system than with bi‐solute sorption system. Single‐solute sorption kinetics of E3 and EE2 were evaluated with two (Langmuir and Freundlich) and three (dual mode and Song) parameter models. Freundlich model (R², 0.9915 (E3); 0.9875 (EE2)) showed good prediction compared to other models for single‐solute sorption. Adsorption capacity documented reduced efficacy (86.4% (E3); 65.9% (EE2)) due to induced competitive behavior between the estrogens in aqueous phase. Bi‐solute adsorption kinetics of E3 and EE2 were described by IAST with two and three parameter models. Among these models, IAST‐Freundlich model (R², 0.9765 (E3); 0.9985 (EE2)) was best in predicting bi‐solute sorption of E3 and EE2 by activated charcoal. All these models showed favorable representation of both single‐ and bi‐solute sorption behaviors.     

Comparison of MODIS vegetation continuous field — based forest density maps with IRS-LISS III derived maps

The study compared forest cover maps derived using coarse resolution vegetation continuous fields (MODIS VCF; 500m resolution) with the maps derived from medium resolution (24m; IRS LISS-III) data. The comparison of VCF, per cent tree cover product, for the years 2000 to 2004 with LISS III forest density class maps of 2001 and 2003 was carried out for two sites representing hilly (Uttarakhand) and undulating terrains (Madhya Pradesh). Slicing VCF to corresponding forest crown cover, i.e., 0–10%, 10–40%, 40–70% and >70% produced considerable difference in forest area estimates when compared to original LISS III derived crown cover area. The corresponding value range in VCF for 0–10% of actual forest cover were 0–31% and 0–25% in 2 sites respectively, and the respective limit was consistent at 1–20% when VCF range were sliced with respect to upscaled LISS III at 500m resolution. Similarly, all other class limits were also found through iterative process. These limits were similar, within a site, across five years. Spatial Kappa match between these two data indicated higher match in 40–70% class, and also in undulating site. When compared at same resolution, similar forest area cover estimated with weighted area upscaling gave closest match. The study is useful in knowing the usability and limits of VCF product, and utility of spatial Kappa.     

Mooring forces in horizontal interlaced moored floating pipe breakwater with three layers

The paper presents the results from model scale experiments on the study of forces in the moorings of horizontally interlaced, multi-layered, moored floating pipe breakwaters. The studies are conducted with breakwater models having three layers subjected to waves of steepness H_i/L (H_i is the incident wave height and L the wavelength) varying from 0.0066 to 0.0464, relative width W/L (W is the width of breakwater) varying from 0.4 to 2.65, and relative spacing S/D (S is the spacing of pipes and D the diameter of pipe) of 2 and 4. The variation of measured normalized mooring forces on the seaward side and leeward side are analyzed by plotting non-dimensional graphs depicting f/γW² (f is the force in the mooring per unit length of the breakwater, γ the weight density of sea water) as a function W/L for various values of H_i/d (d is the depth of water). It is found that the force in the seaward side mooring increases with an increase in H_i/L for d/W values ranging between 0.081 and 0.276. The experimental results also reveal that the forces in the seaward side mooring decrease as W/L increases, up to a value of W/L=1.3, and then increases with an increase in W/L. It is also observed that the wave attenuation characteristics of breakwater model with relative spacing of 4 is better than that of the model with relative spacing of 2. The maximum force in the seaward side mooring for model with S/D=4 is lower compared to that for the breakwater model with S/D=2. A multivariate non-linear regression analysis has been carried out for the data on mooring forces for the seaside and leeside.     

Physical model studies on wave transmission of a submerged inclined plate breakwater

This paper examines the results of physical model studies conducted in a monochromatic wave flume, to evaluate the wave transmission characteristics of a submerged plate breakwater consisting of a fixed plate of 0.50 m length and 0.003 m thickness. The model was oriented at varying inclinations and submergence. The influence of wave steepness, relative depth, relative submergence and angle of inclination on wave transmission was analysed. It was found that the horizontal plate is effective for short waves with steepness parameter higher than 5×10^?3 in relative depth grater than 0.21. The plate oriented at an angle of inclination of 60° is found to be effective for the entire ranges of wave parameters considered for the study and it reduces the wave height by about 40%.     

Characterization of aerosol optical depth, aerosol mass concentration, UV irradiance and black carbon aerosols over Indo-Gangetic plains, India, during fog period

Every year during winter months (December?CJanuary) fog formation over Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of Indian region is believed to create numerous hazards. The present study addresses variations in aerosol optical properties, aerosol mass concentration and their impact on solar irradiance for pre-during-post fog conditions of December 2004 over IGP, India. Continuous measurements on aerosol optical depth (AOD), total aerosol mass concentration, black carbon (BC) aerosols, UV_ery and UVA were carried out for pre, during and post fog periods over study site of Allahabad, India, during December 2004 as a part of Aerosol Land Campaign-II conducted by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). High aerosol mass concentrations were observed during fog and post-fog periods. Accumulation mode particle loading was found to be high during pre-fog period and coarse mode particle loading was observed to be high during fog and post-fog periods. Considerable reduction in UV_ery and UVA irradiance was observed during fog period compared with pre and post-fog periods. Analysis of NOAA-HYSPLIT model runs suggested that enhanced biomass burning episodes down-wind to the study area increased the concentration of AOD and BC.