Vulnerability of groundwater in an industrial (Bauxite) valley of Lanjigarh (Orissa), India

Groundwater, particularly in the shallow zone aquifer is an easily available source of freshwater that serves various needs of people around it. Due to rapid growth in the industrial sector, the shallow groundwater regime becomes vulnerable to industrial toxicity and human activity. In the case of bauxite ore processing industry it is not only the groundwater potential that gets affected, but often the quality of groundwater is at risk from the ore processing activity. Bauxite processing plant has been setup in the Lanjigarh (Orissa State), India during 2007. An attempt has been made to evaluate the groundwater regime in the watershed that comprises the plant and its various disposal sites. Although the groundwater has not been found affected due to waste disposals, however, areas vulnerable to pollution have been demarcated.     

Dynamic analysis of piles and pile groups embedded in homogeneous soils

A boundary element formulation for the dynamic analysis of axially and laterally loaded single piles and pile groups is presented. The piles are represented by compressible beam-column elements and the soil as a hysteretic elastic half-space. The governing equations of motion for the pile domain have been solved exactly for distributed periodic loading intensities. These solutions are then coupled with a numerical solution for the motion of the soil domain by satisfying equilibrium and compatibility at the pile-soil interface. The results obtained from the analysis compare favourably with those from alternative analyses, e.g. finite element, but at greatly reduced computational costs.     

Long-term seismic observations along Myanmar–Sunda subduction margin: insights for 2004 Mw > 9.0 earthquake

International Journal of Earth Sciences - The present study investigates the temporal variation of few seismic parameters between the Myanmar (Zone I), Andaman–Nicobar–Northwest Sumatra...     

Modal analysis and geochemistry of two sandstones of the Bhander Group (Late Neoproterozoic) in parts of the Central Indian Vindhyan basin and their bearing on the provenance and tectonics

The Neoproterozoic Bhander Group in the Son Valley, central India conformably overlying the Rewa Group, is the uppermost subdivision of the Vindhyan Supergroup dominantly composed of arenites, carbonates and shales. In Maihar-Nagod area, a thick pile of unmetamorphosed clastic sedimentary rocks of Bhander Group is exposed, which provides a unique opportunity to study Neoproterozoic basin development through provenance and tectonic interpretations. The provenance discrimination and tectonic setting interpretations are based on modal analysis and whole rock geochemistry. The average framework composition of the detrital sediments composed of quartz and sedimentary lithic fragments are classified as quartz arenite to sublitharenite. The sandstone geochemically reflects high SiO₂, moderate Al₂O₃ and low CaO and Na₂O type arenite. The high concentration of HFSE such as Zr, Hf, and Th/Sc, Th/U ratios in these sandstones indicate a mixed provenance. The chondrite normalized REE pattern shows moderate to strong negative Eu anomaly which suggests that major part of the sediments were derived from the granitic source area. The sandstone tectonic discrimination diagrams and various geochemical plots suggest that the provenance of the lower and upper Bhander sandstone formations was continental interior to recycled orogen.     

Subcrop Gondwana of Bengal basin and their reservoir characteristics

In Bengal basin the subcrop Gondwana sediments occur in N-S trending elongated grabens originated largely by the graben forming tectonisms of the Gondwanaland which overlie the crystalline basement in the sub-surface in an intra-cratonic setup. So far five wells in shelf part of Bengal Basin have penetrated Gondwana sediments, out of which three wells i.e.,G1, G3 and G2 have been drilled up to Precambrian basement. In subcrop Gondwana graben, glacial to glacio-fluvial Talchir Formation of Early Permian age was deposited above the basement. Early Permian Barakar Formation overlies Talchir Formaion. Flood basin model of deposition is postulated for this coal rich unit. In the absence of Barren Measure Formation, coal bearing Raniganj Formation overlies Barakar Formation. The fluvial set up changed over to arid environment during deposition of Panchet/Supra Panchet Formation (undifferentiated). The deposition of Panchet Formation is followed by eruption of doleritic rocks in both subcrop and outcrop Bengal Gondwana whereas lamprophyres are absent in subcrop of Bengal Gondwana. Rifting as well as pull-apart basin model due to transtensional movement is postulated for Gondwana basins. Detailed lithostratigraphic analysis of the core / cutting samples of the Gondwana sediments reveal that the sediments are mainly fine to coarse grained, poorly sorted sandstone. These sediments are characterized as poor reservoir and needs some treatment for permeability enhancement for hydrocarbon production.     

Development and performance evaluation of statistical models correlating air pollutants and meteorological variables at Pantnagar,India

Ambient air quality in respect of SO₂, NO₂ and total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) was monitored at Pantnagar, India from May, 2008 to April, 2009 and statistically analyzed with meteorological variables such as relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), precipitation (P) and mean air temperature (T). TSPM was found to be the major air pollutant causing significant deterioration of air quality with annual mean concentrations of 280 μg/m³. Further, weekly mean air pollutant concentrations were statistically analyzed through stepwise multiple linear regression analysis in respect of independent meteorological variables to develop suitable statistical models. Both NO₂ and TSPM concentrations were found to have been influenced by meteorological variables with coefficient of determination (R²) of 82.21 and 92.84%, respectively. However, atmospheric SO₂ revealed only 22.87% of dependencies on meteorological variables. Partial correlation coefficients revealed that wind speed has the maximum influence (77.80 and 31.50%) on proposed equations for NO₂ and SO₂, closely followed by weekly mean temperature (73.60 and 24.30%). However, in case of TSPM, individual contribution of ambient temperature (94.40%) was found maximum, followed by relative humidity (86.50%). Model performances were evaluated through both quantitative data analysis techniques and statistical methods. Nearly 98 and 95% of potential error has been explained by the model developed for TSPM and NO₂, while in case of SO₂, it is found as only 61%. Therefore, performances of models (for TSPM and NO₂) to predict ambient weekly mean concentrations based on forecasted weather parameters were found to be excellent, however, performance of model developed for SO₂ was found only satisfactory.     

Shelf water entrainment by Gulf Stream warm-core rings between 75°W and 50°W during 1978–1999

Previous work concerning Gulf Stream warm-core rings (WCRs) and their associated shelf water entrainments have been based upon single surveys or time series from individual WCRs. To date, estimates of annual shelf water volume entrained into the Slope Sea by WCRs and its interannual variability have not been made. Using a long time series of satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) observations of Slope Sea WCRs, we have completed an analysis of 22 years of WCR data (1978–1999) between 75°W and 50°W to understand the interannual variability of WCRs and their role in entraining shelf water. Satellite-derived SST data digitized at Bedford Institute of Oceanography are analyzed using an ellipse-fitting feature model to determine key WCR characteristics including WCR center position, radius and orientation. Key characteristics are then used to compute WCR swirl velocity by finite-differencing WCR orientations (θ) obtained from the feature model time series. Global mean WCR-edge swirl velocity calculated from all observations is 105.72±10.7 km day⁻¹ (122.36±12.4 cm s⁻¹), and global mean WCR radius is 64.8±6.2 km. Primary and derived WCR data are incorporated into a two-dimensional ring entrainment model (RM) using the quasi-geostrophic approximation of the potential vorticity equation. The RM defines ambient water as entrained by a WCR only if the gradient of relative vorticity term (horizontal shear) dominates the potential vorticity. Proximity of a WCR to the position of the shelf-slope front (SSF) is then used to determine whether the ambient water is entrained from the outer continental shelf. WCR-induced shelf entrainment derived from the RM displays considerable spatial variability, with maximum entrainment occurring offshore of Georges Bank, advecting a mean total annual shelf water volume of 7500 km³ year⁻¹ from the region. Estimates of shelf water fluxes display significant interannual variability, which may be in part due to the observed covariance between WCR occurrences and the state of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Increased (decreased) occurrences of WCRs are evidenced during positive (negative) phases of the NAO. The total mean annual shelf-wide WCR-induced shelf water transport is estimated to be 23,700 km³ year⁻¹ (0.75 Sv), accounting for nearly 25% of the total transport in the Slope Sea region neighboring the outer continental shelf.     

Assimilation of Doppler weather radar observations in a mesoscale model for the prediction of rainfall associated with mesoscale convective systems

Obtaining an accurate initial state is recognized as one of the biggest challenges in accurate model prediction of convective events. This work is the first attempt in utilizing the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Doppler radar data in a numerical model for the prediction of mesoscale convective complexes around Chennai and Kolkata. Three strong convective events both over Chennai and Kolkata have been considered for the present study. The simulation experiments have been carried out using fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University-National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU-NCAR) mesoscale model (MM5) version 3.5.6. The variational data assimilation approach is one of the most promising tools available for directly assimilating the mesoscale observations in order to improve the initial state. The horizontal wind derived from the DWR has been used alongwith other conventional and non-conventional data in the assimilation system. The preliminary results from the three dimensional variational (3DVAR) experiments are encouraging. The simulated rainfall has also been compared with that derived from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. The encouraging result from this study can be the basis for further investigation of the direct assimilation of radar reflectivity data in 3DVAR system. The present study indicates that Doppler radar data assimilation improves the initial field and enhances the Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting (QPF) skill.     

Comparative analysis of two rainfall retrieval algorithms during extreme rainfall event: a case study on cloudburst, 2010 over Ladakh (Leh), Jammu and Kashmir

Natural Hazards - Intense rainfall events lead to floods and landslides in the Western Himalayas (WH). These rainfall amounts are considered comparatively moderate over the plains. These events,...