Remote Sensing-Based Yield Forecasting for Sugarcane (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharum officinarum</Emphasis> L.) Crop in India

Early yield assessment at local, regional and national scales is a major requirement for various users such as agriculture planners, policy makers, crop insurance companies and researchers. This current study explored a remote sensing-based approach of predicting sugarcane yield, at district level, using Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), under the FASAL programme of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. 13-years’ historical database (2003–2015) of NDVI was used to derive the VCI. NDVI products (MOD-13A2) of MODIS instrument on board Terra satellite at 16-day interval from first fortnight of June to second fortnight of October (peak growing period) were used to calculate the VCI. Stepwise regression technique was used to develop empirical models between VCI and historical yield of sugarcane over 52 major sugarcane-growing districts in five states of India. For all the districts, the empirical models were found to be statistically significant. A large number of statistical parameters were computed to evaluate the performance of VCI-based models in predicting district-level sugarcane yield. Though there was variation in model performance in different states, overall, the study showed the usefulness of VCI, which can be used as an input for operational sugarcane yield forecasting.     

Evapotranspiration models of different complexity for multiple land cover types

A comparison between half‐hourly and daily measured and computed evapotranspiration (ET) using three models of different complexity, namely, the Priestley–Taylor (P‐T), the reference Penman–Monteith (P‐M) and the Common Land Model (CLM), was conducted using three AmeriFlux sites under different land cover and climate conditions (i.e. arid grassland, temperate forest and subhumid cropland). Using the reference P‐M model with a semiempirical soil moisture function to adjust for water‐limiting conditions yielded ET estimates in reasonable agreement with the observations [root mean square error (RMSE) of 64–87 W m^?2 for half‐hourly and RMSE of 0.5–1.9 mm day^?1 for daily] and similar to the complex Common Land Model (RMSE of 60–94 W m^?2 for half‐hourly and RMSE of 0.4–2.1 mm day^?1 for daily) at the grassland and cropland sites. However, the semiempirical soil moisture function was not applicable particularly for the P‐T model at the forest site, suggesting that adjustments to key model variables may be required when applied to diverse land covers. On the other hand, under certain land cover/environmental conditions, the use of microwave‐derived soil moisture information was found to be a reliable metric of regional moisture conditions to adjust simple ET models for water‐limited cases. Further studies are needed to evaluate the utility of the simplified methods for different landscapes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coral bleaching indices and thresholds for the Florida Reef Tract, Bahamas, and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

It is well established that elevated sea temperatures cause widespread coral bleaching, yet confusion lingers as to what facet of extreme temperatures is most important. Utilizing long-term in situ datasets, we calculated nine thermal stress indices and tested their effectiveness at segregating bleaching years a posteriori for multiple reefs on the Florida Reef Tract. The indices examined represent three aspects of thermal stress: (1) short-term, acute temperature stress; (2) cumulative temperature stress; and (3) temperature variability. Maximum monthly sea surface temperature (SST) and the number of days >30.5 °C were the most significant; indicating that cumulative exposure to temperature extremes characterized bleaching years. Bleaching thresholds were warmer for Florida than the Bahamas and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands reflecting differences in seasonal maximum SST. Hind-casts showed that monthly mean SST above a local threshold explained all bleaching years in Florida, the Bahamas, and US Virgin Islands.     

Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of Newania Dolomite Carbonatites, Rajasthan, India: implications for source of carbonatites

The Newania carbonatite complex of Rajasthan, India is one of the few dolomite carbonatites of the world, and oddly, does not contain alkaline silicate rocks thus providing a unique opportunity to study the origin and evolution of a primary carbonatite magma. In an attempt to characterize the mantle source, the source of carbon, and the magmatic and post-magmatic evolution of Newania carbonatites, we have carried out a detailed stable carbon and oxygen isotopic study of the complex. Our results reveal that, in spite of being located in a metamorphic terrain, these rocks remarkably have preserved their magmatic signatures in stable C and O isotopic compositions. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O variations in the complex are found to be results of fractional crystallization and low temperature post-magmatic alteration suggesting that like other carbonatites, dolomite carbonatites too fractionate isotopes of both elements in a similar fashion. The major difference is that the fractional crystallization of dolomite carbonatites fractionates oxygen isotopes to a larger extent. The modes of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O variations in the complex, ?4.5?±?1‰ and 7?±?1‰, respectively, clearly indicate its mantle origin. Application of a multi-component Rayleigh isotopic fractionation model to the correlated δ¹³C versus δ¹⁸O variations in unaltered carbonatites suggests that these rocks have crystallized from a CO₂ + H₂O fluid rich magma, and that the primary magma comes from a mantle source that had isotopic compositions of δ¹³C ~ ?4.6‰ and δ¹⁸O ~ 6.3‰. Such a mantle source appears to be a common peridotite mantle (δ¹³C = ?5.0?±?1‰) whose carbon reservoir has insignificant contribution from recycled crustal carbon. Other Indian carbonatites, except for Amba Dongar and Sung Valley that are genetically linked to Reunion and Kerguelen plumes respectively, also appear to have been derived from similar mantle sources. Through this study we establish that dolomite carbonatites are generated from similar mantle source like other carbonatites, have comparable evolutionary history irrespective of their association with alkaline silicate rocks, and may remain resistant to metamorphism.     

徐家围子断陷构造地质特征研究新进展

在徐家围子断陷深层连片三维地震精细解释的基础上,结合前人的研究成果,系统的刻画了深大断裂的性质、产状和时空分布规律。从区域构造应力场着手,详细剖析了徐家围子断陷的构造地质特征,重新构建了深大断裂体系。依据剖面特征和断陷的地质结构,首次在徐家围子断陷内解释出两条深大走滑断裂带,发现深大走滑断裂控制了营城组火山岩的形成和分布。明确了徐家围子断陷"两凹夹一隆、东西分带、南北分块"构造格局的动态演化过程及其控制因素。详细剖析了断陷期地层的沉积发育过程、后期改造过程以及现今赋存特征。为庆深气田火山岩储层分布规律预测奠定了基础。     

Shift in detrital sedimentation in the eastern Bay of Bengal during the late Quaternary

Down-core variations of granulometric, geochemical and mineral magnetism of a 70-cm long sediment core retrieved from the eastern Bay of Bengal abyssal region were studied to understand sedimentation pattern and sediment provenance during the last ～12 kyr BP. Based on down-core physical and elemental variations, three units were identified: unit 3 (70–43 cm) is a ～30 cm thick clayey silt organic carbon-rich (0.5–0.92%) turbidite probably delivered by the Brahmaputra River during the late Quaternary period. Units 2 (43–24 cm) and 1 (24–0 cm) represent enhanced and reduced supply of coarse-grained detrital sediments from the Ganges River during early and late Holocene period, respectively. Increased terrigenous supply dilutes calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and biogenic elements (P, Ba and Cu) in units 3 and 2. On the contrary, a reduction in detrital input enhances CaCO₃ and biogenic elements in unit 1. Lithogenic elements (Ti, Al, K and Rb) and shale-normalized REE patterns in all three units suggest terrigenous source. The shift in provenance from the Brahmaputra to the Ganges derived sediments is evident by a sharp increase in sediment grain size, increased concentration and grain size assemblages of magnetic minerals, lithogenic elements concentration and La_n/Yb_n ratio. This study highlights terrigenous dilution on biogenic sedimentation in the eastern Bay of Bengal sediments.     

Antarctic lunar meteorites Yamato-793169, Asuka-881757, MIL 05035, and MET 01210 (YAMM): Launch pairing and possible cryptomare origin

The Antarctic lunar meteorite Meteorite Hills (MET) 01210 is a polymict regolith breccia, dominantly composed of mare basalt components. One relatively large (2.7 × 4.7 mm) basalt clast in MET 01210 (MET basalt) shows remarkable mineralogical similarities to the lunar-meteorite crystalline mare basalts Yamato (Y)-793169, Asuka (A)-881757, and Miller Range (MIL) 05035. All four basalts have similar rock texture, mineral assemblage, mineral composition, pyroxene crystallization trend, and pyroxene exsolution lamellae. The estimated TiO₂ contents (∼2.0 wt%) of the MET basalt and MIL 05035 are close to the bulk-rock TiO₂ contents of Y-793169 and A-881757. These similarities suggest that Y-793169, A-881757, MIL 05035, and the MET basalt came from the same basalt flow, which we designate the YAMM basalt. The source-basalt pairing of the YAMM is also supported by their similar REE abundances, crystallization ages (approx. 3.8-3.9 Ga), and isotopic compositions (low U/Pb, low Rb/Sr, and high Sm/Nd). The pyroxene exsolution lamellae, which are unusually coarse (up to a few microns) by mare standards, imply a relatively slow cooling in an unusually thick lava and/or subsequent annealing within a cryptomare. Reported noble gas and CRE data with close launch ages (∼1 Ma) and ejection depths (deeper than several meters) among the four meteorites further indicate their simultaneous ejection from the moon. Despite the marginally close terrestrial ages, pairing in the conventional Earth-entry sense seems unlikely because of the remote recovery sites among the YAMM meteorites.The high abundance (68%) of mare components in MET 01210 estimated from a two-component mixing model calculation could have resulted from either lateral mixing at a mare-highland boundary or vertical mixing in a cryptomare. The proportion of mare materials in MET 01210 is greater than in Apollo core samples at the mare-highland boundary. The burial depth (>several meters deep) inferred from the lack of surface irradiation of MET 01210 exceeds the typical mare regolith thickness (a few meters). Thus, the source of the YAMM meteorites is likely a terrain of locally high mare-highland mixing within a cryptomare. We searched for a possible source crater of the YAMM meteorites within the well-defined cryptomare, based on the multiple constraints obtained from this study and published data. An unnamed 1.4 km-diameter crater (53°W, 44.5°S) on the floor of the Schickard crater is the most suitable source for the YAMM meteorites.The ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb (μ) value of the YAMM basalts is extremely low, relative to those of the Apollo mare basalts, but comparable to those of the Luna 24 very low-Ti basalts. The low-μ source indicates a derivation from a less differentiated mantle with a lack of KREEP components. Although the chemical sources of materials and heat source of melting might be independent, the heat source that generated the source magma of the YAMM and Luna 24 basalts may not be related to KREEP, unlike the case of the Apollo basalts. The distinct chemical and isotopic compositions of mantle sources between the Apollo basalts and the YAMM/Lunar 24 basalts imply differences in mantle composition and thermal evolution between the Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT) and non-PKT regions of the nearside.     

Overview of overpressure in Bengal Basin,India

Abnormally high formation pressures are encountered worldwide, ranging in geological age from Cenozoic to Paleozoic, within a depth range of few hundred meters to as deep as six thousand meters while carrying out exploratory drilling by E and P companies. Several causes can increase formation fluid pressure i.e. rapid loading of sediments results compaction disequilibrium, thermal expansion of fluids, compression and/or upliftment of strata by tectonic forces, generation of oil and gas from organic matter and its volume expansion due to high thermal stress within the restricted pore volume in subsurface condition. Few global examples on overpressure occurrences have been compiled in the paper with special reference to Bengal Basin. Emphasis has been given on methodology and interpretation on abnormal pressure detection in Bengal Basin with a compiled data package on generated curves (Geologs), charts, tables in a systematic way to understand the depth/stratigraphic horizons proved/interpreted as proved or likely to be within transition and overpressure regime. The integrated analysis indicates that the wells drilled in the east of Eocene hinge zone in the onshore and offshore parts of Bengal Basin have penetrated overpressure formation within Miocene in the depth range of 2800 m to 5340 m and the mud weight used to control this overpressure zone was more than 2.0 sp gr mud. The generated Geologs can be used as reference to understand the regime of transition and overpressure, as a valuable document for exploration drilling planning and monitoring. The generated model curve (modified using available data after Hottman and Johnson, 1956 curve) using sonic departure (i.e. Δt_ob(sh) −Δt_n(sh)) from drilled wells may be used as an additional tool to find out the expected formation pressure gradient and equivalent mud weight in all future wells. The correlation of wells based on the trend of dcs and σ logs will be useful for predicting transition and overpressure top provided all the parameters required for calculating dcs and σ log recorded smoothly during drilling phase. The study has brought out the detail procedure to generate the pressure profile in the future wells. The generation of pressure profile of a well prior to drilling has got immense importance in oil industry. The drilling of the well should be done by maintaining the optimum mud weight generated from the pressure profile. In case, during drilling, formation pressure is more than the mud pressure, resulted gas kicks or worse, blowouts of the well. Excessively high mud pressure can fracture the formation and cause lost circulation. The oil and gas companies, worldwide, attributed 15% losses due to various problems associated with drilling complications, mostly related to improper pressure prediction of a well. The losses include loss of material as well as drilling process continuity, called non-productive time (NPT). The generation of accurate pressure profile reduces drilling problems, cuts exploration and development costs and allows billions of dollars now spent on losses to be better spent-building and replacing reserves.     

Oscillatory Universe, dark energy and general relativity

The concept of oscillatory Universe appears to be realistic and buried in the dynamic dark energy equation of state. We explore its evolutionary history under the framework of general relativity. We observe that oscillations do not go unnoticed with such an equation of state and that their effects persist later on in cosmic evolution. The ‘classical’ general relativity seems to retain the past history of oscillatory Universe in the form of increasing scale factor as the classical thermodynamics retains this history in the form of increasing cosmological entropy.     

Petrology of mafic-ultramafic rocks along North Puruliya Shear zone,West Bengal

The North Puruliya Shear zone (NPSZ) is characterized by occurrence of mafic-ultramafic rocks aligned parallel to the shear zone, intruding the high grade Proterozoic rocks of Chhotanagpur Gneissic Complex. The ultramafic rocks occur as small lenses, pockets, veins, thin dykes and are intimately associated with mafic (gabbro, norite) rocks. Pyroxenites (viz. olivine websterite, websterite, plagioclase websterite) and hornblendite are the two important members of the ultramafic rocks containing clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, plagioclase, amphibole, phlogopite and ilmenite. The mafic-ultramafic rocks show evidence of shearing and retrogressive metamorphism. Linear correlation of chemical attributes suggests fractionation-controlled magmatic differentiation. Enrichment of LILE and LREE in the mafic-ultramafic suite suggests an enriched mantle source and pronounced negative Eu-anomalies in all the rock types except hornblendite suggest fractionation of plagioclase under low f_O2 condition. Progressive iron enrichment trend in rocks of the mafic-ultramafic suite also indicate magmatic differentiation under low f_O2 condition. Early fractionation and accumulation of clinopyroxene and plagioclase from a basaltic magma may have given rise to the ultramafic rocks of the area. Little change in the Nb/Zr and Ce/Zr ratios of ultramafic and mafic rocks (except alkali norite) strongly support low crustal contamination. A few samples of norite and gabbro-norites appeared to be variably contaminated by a crustal component or affected by late granitic intrusion resulting in enrichment of alkali in the former.