Air-sea interaction studies at the station occupied by R/V Sirius

The transfer formulas are used to compute hourly values of sensible and latent heat exchanges for the period July 29 to July 31, 1974. Also, values of eddy shearing stress at the sea surface, Bowen's ratio and dissipation of kinetic energy are computed. The data used cover part of the GATE period for station 20 occupied by the Brazilian Naval Ship R/V Sirius in the Equatorial Atlantic (0730 N 4000 W). The variations in the computed values are studied in relation to rainfall and the synoptic situation.     

Northeast monsoon rainfall variability over south peninsular India and its teleconnections

Rainfall over south peninsular India during the northeast (NE) monsoon season (Oct–Dec) shows significant interannual variation. In the present study, we relate the northeast monsoon rainfall (NEMR) over south peninsular India with the major oscillations like El Ni?o Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation (EQUINOO) in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. For establishing the teleconnections, sea surface temperature, outgoing long wave radiation, and circulation data have been used. The present study reveals that the positive phase of ENSO, IOD, and EQUINOO favor the NEMR to be normal or above normal over southern peninsular India. The study reveals that the variability of NEMR over south peninsula can be well explained by its relationship with positive phase of ENSO, IOD, and EQUINOO.     

Latitudinal variation of air sea fluxes in the western Indian ocean during austral summer and fall

Daily and zonal (latitudinal belt) averages of heat and momentum fluxes were computed using bulk aerodynamic formulae, from the meteorological parameters measured onboard M. S. Thuleland during the sixth Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica (26th November, 1986 to 22nd March, 1987). Both estimates showed significant variations, the momentum flux showing the largest variation. The maximum values of sensible and latent heat fluxes were observed over the 30°–40° S and 10°–20° S zones during the southern summer and fall respectively while the minimum values of latent heat flux were observed in the 60°–70° S zone for both seasons. The sensible heat flux minimum was observed in the 50°°60° S and 60°–70° S zones for summer and fall, respectively. Higher momentum flux values over the 40°–50° S zone in summer shifted to the 50°–60° S zone during fall.     

中国地级以上城市土地经济密度差异的时空演化分析

以中国336个地级以上城市为研究对象,利用核密度估计和探索性空间数据分析方法,对2001~2014年中国地级以上城市土地经济密度差异的时空格局演化及影响因素进行分析和探讨。结果表明：① 中国地级以上城市土地经济密度的总体水平不断提高,平均值从2001年的4.769亿元/km²增加至2014年的15.375亿元/km²,但地区差距逐渐扩大;② 中国地级以上城市土地经济密度表现出显著的全局空间正相关性,相邻地市相互影响,呈现出“高–高”或“低–低”的空间集聚态势,且从LISA集聚图来看,城市土地经济密度通过空间聚类可以划分为“高水平均质型地域”、“塌陷型地域”、“极化型地域”和“低水平均质型地域”4种类型,不同地域类型的空间分布范围和稳定性等都存在差异;③ 中国地级以上城市土地经济密度冷、热点区域的空间分布具有相对稳定性,总体上表现出“东热西冷”的分布格局,热点区主要分布在东部的京津冀地区、长江三角洲地区和珠江三角洲地区等,广大中、西部地区则大多处于低值簇,属于城市土地经济密度的冷点区或次冷点区;④ 自然条件状况决定城市土地的供给能力和开发潜力,是导致中国地级以上城市土地经济密度差异的基础性因素,区域经济发展水平、经济发展政策、土地利用管理政策也会对城市土地经济密度差异造成一定程度的影响。     

Effect of Pollutants on the Physical and Engineering Behavior of Lime-Treated Marine Clay

Rapid industrial growth and increasing population has resulted in the discharge of wastes into the ocean, wastes which ultimately reach the seabed and contaminate the marine sediments. The soil-contaminants interaction, and their associated physico chemical properties with sediments control the behavior of marine clays. Marine clay deposits of low strength and high compressibility are located in many coastal and offshore areas. There are several foundation problems encountered in these weak marine clays. In this study, experimental work was carried out in the laboratory to stabilize soft marine clays using the lime column technique. Also the lime-induced effects on the physical and engineering behavior of marine clays in sulfate-contaminated marine environment was investigated. Consolidation tests indicate that compressibility of the lime-treated samples was reduced to 1/2-1/3 of the virgin soil after 45 days treatment. The test results also suggest that the lime column technique can be conveniently used to improve the behavior of contaminated marine clay deposits.     

Application of photo-interpretation and remote sensing techniques for integrated survey of Anantapur district,Andhra Pradesh

Multi-disciplinary integrated studies were carried out in the drought prone, backward district of Anantapur, for an appraisal of its natural resource and environmental potential, by applying the photointerpretation and remote sensing techniques. Shortage of land and water resources are identified as the major constraints for developmental planning. The natural resources and the potential available for development are documented in various thematic maps. The landuse pattern for agriculture and forestry is mainly controlled by the lithological and morphological units. It is surmised, that with the new source for groend water identified along linement and fracture zones, there is scope for augmenting and uplift the land use and crop-pattern, and this helps to upgrade the socio-economic condition of the district.     

300年来中国森林的变化

Based on historical documents, modern survey and statistics, as well as the result of predecessor studies, the trend and main process of forest dynamics are recognized. The forest area and forest coverage rates for each province of China from 1700 to 1949 are estimated backward by every 50 years. Linking the result with modern National Forest Inventory data, the spatial-temporal dynamics of Chinese forest in recent 300 years （AD 1700-1998） is quantitatively analyzed. The study shows that in recent 300 years, the forest area in current territory of China has declined by 0.95×10^8 hm^2 （or 9.2% of the coverage rate） in total, with a trend of decrease and recovery. Before the 1960s, there was a trend of accelerated descending. The forest area was reduced by 1.66×10^8 hm^2 （or 17% of the coverage rate） in 260 years. While after the 1960s, there has been a rapid increase. The forest area increased by 0.7×10^8 hm^2 （or 8% of the coverage rate） in 40 years. The study also shows that there is a significant spatial difference in the dynamics of forest. The amplitudes of increasing and decreasing in western China are both smaller than the ones in eastern China. During the rapid declining period from 1700 to 1949, the most serious decrease appeared in the Northeast, the Southwest and the Southeast, where the coverage rate in most provinces dropped over 20%. In Heilongjiang Province, the coverage rate dropped by 50%. In Jilin Province, it dropped by 36%. In Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality, it dropped by 42%. In Yunnan Province, it dropped by 35%. During the recovery period 1949-1998, the western provinces, municipality and autonomous regions, including Ningxia, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan-Chongqing, Yunnan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Qinghai, etc, the increase rates are all below 5%, while the eastern provinces, municipality and autonomous regions （except Heilongjiang, Hubei, Jiangsu-Shanghai） have achieved an increase over 5%, among which the Guangdong-Hainan, Guangxi, Anhui, Beijing-Tianjin-H     

Training Programme on Major Tectonics and Lithounits in the Indus and Shyok Suture Zones of Ladakh Himalaya — M. Ram Mohan, (NGRI-CSIR,Hyderabad. Email: rammohan@ngri.res.in) and Sita Bora (Kumaun University,Nainital; Email: sitabora@yahoo.com)

News and Notes

Training Programme on Major Tectonics and Lithounits in the Indus and Shyok Suture Zones of Ladakh Himalaya — M. Ram Mohan, (NGRI-CSIR, Hyderabad. Email: rammohan@ngri.res.in) and Sita Bora (Kumaun University, Nainital; Email: sitabora@yahoo.com)     

FT-IR Spectroscopic Investigation of Hydrous Components in Sillimanite from Eastern Ghat Granulite Belt, India

FT-IR spectra of sillimanite samples from high grade regionally metamorphosed rocks belonging to the granulite terrain (amphibolite to pyroxene granulite facies) deciphers prominent OH features. Heating experiments indicate growth of prominent band at 3161cm⁻¹. Heating above 1000°C all OH features disappear in intensity into broad features with slight shift of bands towards lower energies. Complete dehydration requires temperatures above 1000°C. Coexistence of boron and OH features are also observed in all sillimanite samples. The high temperature behaviour of sillimanite from the granulite terrain discerns that the hydrous species in sillimanite were incorporated much below 700°C, however, secondary hydration due to pegmatite activity, retrograde metamorphism and migmatisation is not ruled out. Thus a near anhydrous condition were probably not achieved during the granulite facies metamorphism in Eastern ghat granulite terrain.     

On the values of stratospheric circulation index over Natal,Brasil

Summary The SCI values of zonal and meridional winds over Natal, Brasil are calculated. The results are compared with another southern Hemispheric Station Ascension Island and circulation patterns in the Stratosphere are discussed. Also a comparison is made of the zonal winds over Natal with those of an Equatorial Station (Thumba, India) and a station in Subtropics (Sonmiani, Arabian Sea islands).On leave from Dept. of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University, Waltair (India).