Petrogenesis of gabbro and orthopyroxene gabbro from the Phenai Mata Igneous Complex,Deccan volcanic province: Products of concurrent assimilation and fractional crystallization

We report the occurrence of orthopyroxene gabbro from the Phenai Mata Igneous Complex (containing thoeliitic and alkaline rocks) that occur within Deccan Traps. The P-T calculations based on two pyroxene thermometry vary from 8.5±1.0 kbar and 963±39 °C. These gabbroic rocks exhibit high Mg# (0.67 to 0.71). But their primary magma signature can be negated due to their high SiO₂ (> 50 wt %), low Ni (32–35 ppm) and Cr (105–182 ppm) contents. Further, simple fractional crystallization was not responsible for the modification of the magma. Modeling carried out using trace element concentrations revealed that concurrent assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) was responsible for the genesis of these rocks. Small pods of magma could have accumulated in the crustal portions and concurrent assimilation and fractional crystallization have taken place in the generation of gabbro and orthopyroxene gabbro in the present study area.     

Soil erosion assessment in Rangit catchment,India through a process-based model in the geospatial environment

The accurate assessment of soil erosion in the spatial environment can give valuable input in designing reservoirs and for preparing watershed management action plans. Rangit River in northeastern India is affected by severe soil erosion, causing reduction in its reservoir capacity. The main aim of the paper is to estimate the soil erosion in the Rangit catchment, India through a process-based soil erosion model that integrates remote sensing and field data in the geospatial domain, and also to identify the problem areas for further watershed management action plans. Various topographic parameters that were derived from land use, soil texture and a digital elevation model were used for the estimation of soil erosion. The Morgan, Morgan and Finny model was used to compute soil erosion. Based on the drainage pattern, the catchment was divided into eight sub-catchments for detailed study. Annual soil erosion was estimated for four years from 2002 to 2005 using the corresponding year’s meteorological data. Estimated soil erosion was compared with the field data in each year and found very good correlation.     

Accuracy assessment of MODIS/Terra snow cover product for parts of Indian Himalayas

Snow cover mapping is important for snow and glacier-related research. The spatial and temporal distribution of snow cover area is a fundamental input to the atmospheric models, snowmelt runoff models and climate models, as well as other applications. Daily snow cover maps from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra satellite were retrieved for the period between 2004 and 2007, and pixels in these images were classified as cloud, snow or snow-free. These images have then been compared with ground snow depth (SD) measurements from the four observatories located at different parts of Himalayas. Comparison of snow maps with in situ data showed good agreement with overall accuracies in between 78.15 and 95.60%. When snow cover was less, MODIS data were found to be less accurate in mapping snow cover region. As the SD increases, the accuracy of MODIS snow cover maps also increases.     

Geochemistry of Mesoproterozoic Deonar Pyroclastics from Vindhyan Supergroup of Central India: Evidences of felsic magmatism in the Son valley

Deonar Pyroclastics of Semri Group in the Vindhyan Supergroup originated as a result of violent and explosive intrabasinal submarine volcanism during the Mesoproterozoic period. These pyroclastics are rhyolitic to rhyodacitic in composition, comprised of banded, massive, pumiceous flow, breccia, vitric tuff, lapilli and volcanic bomb. The pyroclastic deposits represent welded and non-welded ignimbrites, exhibit typical eutaxitic texture. Mantle normalized multi-element patterns show enrichment in LILs and depletion in HFSFs. Ti, Nb and REE contents show close correlation with Zr, indicating their immobile character. HFSEs and Th/Nb, La/Nb and Zr/Nb values indicate contamination and these signatures represent mixing between mantle-derived rocks and the average continental crust. Deonar Pyroclastics reflect continental rift environment. Felsic magma plausibly generated by underplating of the mature Proterozoic crust of the Indian craton (which acted like a ‘heating lens’) resulted in extensive melting of metabasalt in the lower crustal levels. The high heat flow beneath the Indian shield accentuated heat generation which led to extensive partial melting of metabasalts. Thus, generation of rhyolitic magma occurred along the reactivated deep seated fractures and rifting of the craton, resulting in the explosive intra-basinal felsic vulcanicity in the Vindhyan basin.     

Short-Term Periodicities in the Time Series of Solar Radio Emissions at Different Solar Altitudes

A spectral analysis of the time series of daily values of 12 parameters, namely, ten solar radio emissions in the range 275–1755 MHz, 2800 MHz solar radio flux, and sunspot numbers for six continuous intervals of 132 values each during June 1997–July 1999 showed considerable differences from one interval to the next, indicating a nonstationary nature. A 27-day periodicity was noticed in Interval 2 (26.8 days), 3 (27.0 days), 5 (25.5 days), 6 (27.0 days). Other periodicities were near 11.4, 12.3, 13.3, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5, 35, 40, 50–70 days. Periodicities were very similar in a large vertical span of the coronal region corresponding to 670–1755 MHz. Above this region, the homogeneity disappeared. Below this region, there were complications and distortions due to localized solar surface phenomena.     

Lightning-generated waves escaping out through plasma holes in the nightside Venus ionosphere

The plasma waves in the Venus ionosphere measured by OEFD aboard PVO are analysed. It is shown that these waves are generated by lightning like cloud-to-cloud discharges anywhere in the Venus ionosphere-surface waveguide. The theoretical minimum attenuation for waveguide mode propagation at 5.4 kHz is consistent with the maximum occurrence rate at this frequency. The lightning-generated and globally-propagating signals when encountered with plasma holes or ion-trough structures escape out partially and are detected by the OEFD aboard PVO. The 100 Hz signals can propagate upwards in whistler mode. Even the localized electrostatic mode waves would be converted into electromagnetic waves in the plasma holes and ion-trough regions.     

Analyses of fission track etching and annealing phenomena in muscovite

Variation of fission track density with etching time has been analysed to standardize the etching conditions. The relations between the etching parameters (i.e., temperature, concentration and time) have been established. The differences in unheated samples and samples heated for different times at a constant temperature have been studied Graphs of thermal annealing vs. optimum etching time and of density reduction vs. length shrinkage have been constructed for applications in fission track geochronology.     

Equatorial night-time F-region zonal electric fields

Night-time F-region vertical electrodynamic drifts at the magnetic equatorial station, Trivandrum are obtained for a period of 2 years, 1989 and 1990 (corresponding to solar cycle maximum epoch), using ionosonde h^‘F data. The seasonal variation of the vertical drift is found to be associated with the longitudinal gradients of the thermospheric zonal wind. Further, the seasonal variation of the prereversal enhancement of the vertical drift is associated with the time difference between the sunset times of the conjugate E-regions (magnetic field line linked to F-region) which is indicative of the longitudinal gradients of the conductivity (of the E-region). The vertical drifts and the causative zonal electric fields at Trivandrum are compared with those at Jicamarca and F-region zonal electric field models. It is seen that the night-time downward drift (as also the causative westward electric field) at Jicamarca is greater than that at Trivandrum. The prereversal enhancement of the drift is greater at Jicamarca than at Trivandrum during the summer and the equinoxes, whereas during the winter the opposite is the case.