Quantitative measurement of arid fluvial processes: Results from an upland catchment in Thar Desert

A quantitative study on fluvial processes was carried out in an upland stream catchment (9.3 ha) near Agolai in the NE of Jodhpur district in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. The catchment of the studied second order ephemeral channel (1.0–1.4 km long and 1.0–1.5 m deep) has developed on a hill — rocky/gravelly pediment — colluvial plain sequence on rhyolite. Initial results of measurements of channel parameters during two significant runoff generating events of 42 mm and 52 mm in 2007 showed peak discharges of 20 m³s⁻¹ (upstream) and 13 m³s⁻¹ (downstream) that moved sediments (bedload) to distances of 43 m − 141 m in the upstream reach, 6–28 m in the middle reach and 63–95 m in the lower reach. The long profile and cross profile measurements showed a balance between load and discharge through a sequence of alternate deposition and erosion throughout the channel. Hypsometry curves revealed maximum erosion (7.7 cm) in the upper reach and aggradation (2.90 cm) in the lower reach. Cross profile measurements showed bank cuts (6 cm) and vertical incisions (1–2 cm) on the rocky-gravelly V shaped valley in the upper reach, incision (4–30 cm) and localized higher deposition (10–12 cm) in the narrow (<1m) and deep (>1m) U shaped valleys in middle reach and mainly deposition (13 cm) on the wide ( 1–4 m) and shallow channels (0.1 to 0.2 m) in the lower reach.     

Petrogenesis of granitoid rocks at the northern margin of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt and evidence of syn-collisional magmatism

The northern margin of the Eastern Ghats Mobile belt against the Singhbhum craton exposes granitic rocks with enclaves from both the high-grade and low-grade belts. A shear cleavage developed in the boundary region is also observed in these granitoids. Field features and petrography indicate syn-tectonic emplacement of these granitoids. Petrology-mineralogy and geochemistry indicate that some of the granitoids are derived from the high-grade protoliths by dehydration melting. Others could have been derived from low-grade protoliths. Moreover, microstructural signatures in these granitoids attest to their syn-collisional emplacement.     

Plant pathogen Protocolletotrichum from a Deccan intertrappean bed (Maastrichtian), India

A fossil fungus related to Colletotrichum Corda, which causes leaf spot and red rot in plants, was recovered from an intertrappean bed intersected by a well at Mohgaon-Kalan village, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. The intertrappean bed is sandwiched between the two basaltic flows and is dated as Maastrichtian on the basis of plant and animal fossils. Radiometric dating of the volcanic rocks yielded ages of 67.8–61.6 Ma. The specimens are preserved on a leaf cuticle and are named Protocolletotrichum deccanensis gen. et sp. nov. They are strongly constructed, 1–2 septate, dark brown setae, each with a slightly swollen base and pointed tip.     

Hydrogeomorphological mapping in ground water exploration using remotely sensed data — a case study in keonjhar district, orissa

Identification of fractures/lineaments and hydrogeomorphic units is prerequisite for undertaking ground water exploration and development in any terrain. Use of satellite remote sensing techniques coupled with aerial photo-interpretation greatly aid in planning ground water exploration, and pin pointing well sites In this study, airborne and space borne data was used for qualitative evaluation of ground water resources and a critical appraisal of such study in combination with hydrogeological and hydrogeophysical techniques for ground water exploration and development in Keonjhar district of Orissa. The study area has been divided into various geomorphic units based on visual interpretation of Landsat (TM) false colour composite on. 1:2,50,000 scale and the ground water potential of each of the units is qualitatively assessed. Digital image processing techniques such as principal component analysis and brightness index were used for generating classified outputs. The features like valley fills, pediments ete appeared clearly on the classified image. Directional filtering brought out minor fractures/lineaments crisply. The study has revealed the significance of different hydrogeomorptuc units and lineaments in Controlling ground water potential of the area. The findings were corroborated by resalts of drilling and resistivity soundings.     

On the propagation of certain types of surface waves in a non-homogeneous elastic layer

Summary The propagation of a certain type of surface waves in a non-homogeneous elastic layer of finite thickness lying in welded contact with a semi-infinite homogeneous elastic medium has been investigated in this paper. The surface wave is characterised by the fact that the dilatation and the vertical displacement component are both zero. It has been proved that such disturbance can propagate only when the phase velocity of the wave is greater than the shear wave velocity and the group velocity is inversely proportional to the phase velocity.     

Fractal-based dimensionality reduction of hyperspectral images

The spectral reflectance of any pixel in a remote sensing image depends on the characteristics of the particular land cover (LC) present in the Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV) of the sensor. The fractal dimension of the spectral reflectance curve (SRC) of any pixel can thus be visualized as a representation of the characteristics of the LC. Based on this, a fractalbased method for reduction of the dimensionality of Hyperspectral (HS) images has been investigated. The fractal dimension (FD) of SRC has been calculated by adopting a method based on Hausdorff metric that reduces the dimensionality from N HS bands to a single feature incorporating the characteristics associated with each of the bands. Further, it has been established that FD values can be used as a feature to identify anomaly in water cover.     

Modelling of non-point source pollution in a watershed using remote sensing and gis

Assessment of the environmental impact of Non Point Source (NPS) pollutants on a global, regional and localized scale is the key component for achieving sustainability of agriculture as well as preserving the environment. The knowledge and information required to address the problem of assessing the impact of NPS pollutants like Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), etc., on the environment crosses several sub-disciplines like remote sensing, Geographical Information System (GIS), hydrology and soil science. The remote sensing data, by virtue of its potential like synopticity, multi-spectral and multi-temporal capability, computer compatibility, besides providing almost real time information, has enhanced the scope of automation of mapping dynamic elements, such as land use/land cover, degradation profile and computing the priority categorisation of sub-watersheds. The present study demonstrates the application of remote sensing, GIS and distributed parameter model Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Model (AGNPS) in the assessment of hazardous non-point source pollution in a watershed. The ARC-INFO GIS and remote sensing provided the input data to support modelling, while the AGNPS model predicted runoff, sediment and pollutant (N and P) transport within a watershed. The integrated system is used to evaluate the sediment pollution in about 2700 ha Karso watershed located in Hazaribagh area of Jharkhand State, India. The predicted values of runoff and sediment yield copared reasonably well with the measured values. It is important to emphasize that this study is not intended to characterise, in an exhaustive manner. Instead, the goal is to illustrate the implications and potential advantages of GIS and remote sensing based Hydrology and Water quality (H/WQ) modelling framework.     

Developing a spectral library of mangrove species of Indian east coast using field spectroscopy

Development of a spectral library is a prerequisite for the higher order classification of satellite data and hyperspectral image analysis to map any ecosystem with rich diversity. In this study, sampling methodology, collection of field and laboratory spectral signatures and post-processing methodologies were investigated for developing an exclusive spectral library of mangrove species using hyperspectral spectroscopic techniques. Canopy level field spectra and leaf level laboratory spectra were collected for 34 species (25 true and 9 associated mangroves) from two different mangrove ecosystems of the Indian east coast. Post-processing steps such as removal of water vapour absorption bands, correction of drifts which occur due to the thermal properties of the instrument during data collection and smoothing of spectra for its further utilisation were applied on collected spectra. The processed spectra were then compiled as spectral library.     

Automated recognition of quasi‐planar ignimbrite sheets as paleosurfaces via robust segmentation of digital elevation models: an example from the Central Andes

Quasi‐planar morphological surfaces may become dissected or degraded with time, but still retain original features related to their geologic‐geomorphic origin. To decipher the information hidden in the relief, recognition of such features is required, possibly in an automated manner. In our study, using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM), an existing algorithm has been adapted to recognize quasi‐planar features fulfilling specified criteria. The method has been applied to a study area of the Central Andes with Miocene to Quaternary volcanic edifices, tilted ignimbrite surfaces, and basin‐filling sediments. The result is a surface segmentation, whereas non‐planar features (gullies, tectonic faults, etc.) are sorted out. The main types of geomorphic features that can be distinguished and interpreted are as follows. (1) The west‐dipping western margin of the Altiplano is differentiated into segments of the lower sedimentary cover that of increased erosion by tectonic steepening at intermediate levels, and an upper plane with limited erosion. (2) In the central part of the Western Cordillera, the Oxaya ignimbrite block shows a ‘striped’ bulging pattern that results from a smoothly changing surface dip. This pattern is due to continuous folding/warping of the ignimbrite block possibly related to gravitational movements. (3) To the west, large, uniform planes correspond to flat, smooth, tectonically undisturbed surfaces of young sedimentary cover of the Central Basin. (4) The evolution of Taapaca volcanoes with sector collapse events and cone‐building phases is shown by several segments with overlapping clastic aprons. (5) To the east, on the western margin of the Altiplano, young intermontane basins filled by Upper Miocene sediments show progressively increasing dip toward basin margins, reflected by a circular pattern of the segmentation planes. We show that the segmentation models provide meaningful images and additional information for geomorphometric analysis that can be interpreted in terms of geological and surface evolution models. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.