Spectral characteristics of high shallow water waves

The spectral characteristics of shallow water waves with significant wave height more than 2 m based on the data collected along the Indian coast is examined. It was found that the value of Joint North Sea Wave Project (JONSWAP) parameters (α and γ) increases with significant wave height and mean wave period and decreases with spectral peak period. The estimated average value (0.0027 and 1.63) of the JONSWAP parameters, α and γ were less than the generally recommended values of 0.0081 and 3.3, respectively. By carrying out a multi-regression analysis, an empirical equation is arrived relating the JONSWAP parameters with significant wave height, peak wave period and mean wave period. It was found that the Scott spectra underestimate the maximum spectral energy of high waves. The study shows that the measured wave spectra can be represented by JONSWAP spectra with the JONSWAP parameters estimated based on the equation proposed in this paper.     

GIS based spatial data analysis for landslide susceptibility mapping

Landslide susceptibility map delineates the potential zones for landslides occurrence. The paper presents a statistical approach through spatial data analysis in GIS for landslide susceptibility mapping in parts of Sikkim Himalaya. Six important causative factors for landslide occurrences were selected and corresponding thematic data layers were prepared in GIS. Topographic maps,satellite image,field data and published maps constitute the input data for thematic layer preparation. Numerical weights for different categories of these factors were determined based on a statistical approach and the weighted thematic layers were integrated in GIS environment to generate the landslide susceptibility map of the area. The landslide susceptibility map classifies the area into five different landslide susceptible zones i.e.,very high,high,moderate,low and very low. This map was validated using the existing landslide distribution in the area.     

Species diversity and population status of threatened plants in different landscape elements of the Rohtang Pass,western Himalaya

This paper highlights the quantitative estimates of plant species diversity and ecosystems of the Rohtang Pass,which is one of the most preferred visiting spots by tourists in Himachal Pradesh （H.P.）,India. In spite of high pressure of anthropogenic activities,the Rohtang Pass still harbours a variety of flowering plants with economic value,including various medicinal herbs. In order to observe species diversity in different landscape elements （LSEs）,ground surveys were conducted in nine unique LSEs within the elevation range between 3624 m and 4332 m. Plant community structure in each LSE was studied using stratified random sampling where a total 56 quadrats of 1 m^2 in size for herbs and 7 quadrats of 25 m^2 for shrubs were made. Of the total 50 plant species belonging to 15 families recorded in different random quadrats,24 species were found of medicinal value. Maximum species richness （18） and value of Shannon diversity （H＇=2.2648） were observed on northeast-facing slope in Picrorhiza kurrooa dominated LSE in moist area,followed by Rheum emodi LSE （species richness = 17 and H＇ = 2.4141） distributed on south-facing slope. Maximum values of species richness and Shannon diversity in Rheum emodi LSE were observed between 8 ～ 12 and 1.4797 ～ 2.1911,respectively. Rhododendron anthopogon dominated LSE on northwest-facing slope was found least diverse in terms of species richness where the Simpson index of dominance （D） was 0.4205. The species were equal in abundance in P. kurrooa LSE on east-facing slope and Pleurospermum candollii LSE on north-facing slope,showing the maximum similarity in terms of species distribution between the two LSEs. Low turnover of species across common LSEs gives an idea regarding their limited distribution. Five species of threatened category according to the IUCN criteria were observed in seven LSEs. The largest population of threatened medicinal plants was recorded on northeast and northwest-facing slopes where population density of Bergenia stracheyi （     

Linear stability and the resonance cases for the triangular libration points for the doubly photo-gravitational elliptic restricted problem of three bodies

In the present paper we have found the range of values of μ ande for the linear stability of the triangular points for the doubly photogravitational elliptic restricted problem of three bodies. It has been shown that some resonances of the third and the fourth order exist which will need special investigation for the determination of complete stability of the libration points under our terms of reference.     

Basin‐scale stream‐flow forecasting using the information of large‐scale atmospheric circulation phenomena

It is well recognized that the time series of hydrologic variables, such as rainfall and streamflow are significantly influenced by various large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns. The influence of El Niño‐southern oscillation (ENSO) on hydrologic variables, through hydroclimatic teleconnection, is recognized throughout the world. Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) has been proved to be significantly influenced by ENSO. Recently, it was established that the relationship between ISMR and ENSO is modulated by the influence of atmospheric circulation patterns over the Indian Ocean region. The influences of Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) mode and equatorial Indian Ocean oscillation (EQUINOO) on ISMR have been established in recent research. Thus, for the Indian subcontinent, hydrologic time series are significantly influenced by ENSO along with EQUINOO. Though the influence of these large‐scale atmospheric circulations on large‐scale rainfall patterns was investigated, their influence on basin‐scale stream‐flow is yet to be investigated. In this paper, information of ENSO from the tropical Pacific Ocean and EQUINOO from the tropical Indian Ocean is used in terms of their corresponding indices for stream‐flow forecasting of the Mahanadi River in the state of Orissa, India. To model the complex non‐linear relationship between basin‐scale stream‐flow and such large‐scale atmospheric circulation information, artificial neural network (ANN) methodology has been opted for the present study. Efficient optimization of ANN architecture is obtained by using an evolutionary optimizer based on a genetic algorithm. This study proves that use of such large‐scale atmospheric circulation information potentially improves the performance of monthly basin‐scale stream‐flow prediction which, in turn, helps in better management of water resources. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soret effects on free-convection and mass transfer flow in the stokes problem for a infinite vertical plate

An analytical study is performed to examine the free-convection and mass transfer flow for the Sokes problem for an infinite vertical plate on taking into account the Soret effect (thermal diffusion effect). The Laplace transform technique is used to obtain the expressions for velocity and skin-friction. The effect of Soret numberS on velocity field and skin-friction is extensively discussed with the help of graphs and table.     

Bearing capacity tests of strip footings on reinforced layered soil

The ultimate bearing capacity of strip footings resting on subsoil consisting of a strong sand layer (reinforced/unreinforced) overlying a low bearing capacity sand deposit has been investigated. Three principal problems were analysed based on results obtained from the model tests as follows: (1) the effect of stratified subsoil on the foundations bearing capacity; (2) the effect of reinforcing the top layer with horizontal layers of geogrid reinforcement on the bearing capacity; (3) effect of reinforcing stratified subsoil (reinforced and unreinforced) on the settlement of the foundation. It has been observed that reinforcing the subsoil after replacing the top layer of soil with a well-graded soil is beneficial as the mobilization of soil-reinforcement frictional resistance will increase.     

Optimal pumping from skimming wells from the Yamuna River flood plain in north India

This report examines the problem involving the pumping of groundwater from a group of 90 existing wells along the banks of the Yamuna River, northwest of Delhi (India), underlain with geologically occurring saline water. It is known that unregulated pumping will lead to upconing of saline water and therefore it is necessary to determine optimal rates and associated well locations (from an existing group of candidate wells that supply drinking water to the city of Delhi) that will minimize the total salinity. The nonlinear, non-convex problem is solved by embedding the calibrated groundwater model within a simulation-optimisation (S/O) framework. Optimisation is accomplished by using simulated annealing (SA), a search algorithm. The computational burden is primarily managed by replacing the numerical model with a surrogate simulator-artificial neural network (ANN). The model is applied to the real system to determine the optimal pumping schedule. The results of the operational model suggest that the skimming wells must be operated from optimal locations such that they are staggered in space and time to obtain the least saline water.     

Escalation of salinity levels in the quaternary aquifers of the Ganga alluvial plain,India

A detailed water quality analysis was carried out in the quaternary aquifer system of the marginal alluvial plain (Ganga Plain) in Bah Tahsil, Agra district, India. The electrical conductivity of 50 samples each from dug wells, hand pumps and tube wells was analysed for the study of salinity levels in shallow, intermediate and deep aquifers. Out of 50, 20 samples of each were also analysed for other chemical constituents such as Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, F⁻ and TDS. The analyses show drastic changes in the salinity levels of shallow, intermediate and deep aquifers. The deep aquifers are more saline compared to the shallow and intermediate aquifers. On the contrary, the concentration of chemical constituents such as Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻ and F⁻ was more in the shallow aquifers compared to the deep aquifers. Moreover, there is an indication that the salinity and concentration of the above chemical constituents also escalate with time in each aquifer. The chemical constituents such as Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, F⁻ and TDS range from 51 to 165 mg/l, 1 to 14 mg/l, 224 to 1,459 mg/l, 0 to 1.5 mg/l and 750 to 2,650 mg/l, respectively. Over a 3-year period, the salinity levels have sharply increased and the average F level has increased by 0.1–0.3 mg/l. An attempt has been made here to discuss the factors causing the variation and escalation of chemical constituents and salinity in the water of the three aquifers.     

Attenuation studies based on local earthquake Coda waves in the southern Indian peninsular shield

The Dharwar craton, Cuddapah basin and the Godavari graben characterise three diverse geological and tectonic settings in the peninsular shield of India. Owing to their contiguous proximity, they offer a unique opportunity to document differences, if any, in their seismic wave attenuation characteristics that might have a bearing on the seismogenic nature of the crust in a craton, basin and a rift-like graben structure. An attempt is made here to bring out these differences using constraints from coda-Q. We considered local earthquakes with epicentral distances ranging from␣14 to 150 km recorded at the digital broadband stations at Dharwar (DHD), Cuddapah (CUD) and Kothagudem (KGD) regions to derive the frequency-dependent coda-Q relations. Using the single scattering method, we obtained the frequency-dependent Q _C relationship (Q _C = Q ₀ f ⁿ )for each of the three geological units separately: DHD: Q _C = (730.62 ± 0.09)f ^{(0.54 ± 0.01)}; CUD: Q _C = (535.06 ± 0.13)f ^{(0.59 ± 0.01)} and KGD: Q _C = (150.56 ± 0.08)f ^{(0.91 ± 0.01)}. The Q _C values obtained for all the three sub-regions show moderate to strong frequency dependence and essentially reflect the level of crustal heterogeneities to varying degrees.