Estimation of surface latent heat fluxes from IRS-P4/MSMR satellite data

The brightness temperatures of the Microwave sensor MSMR (Multichannel Scanning Microwave Radiometer) launched in May 1999 onboard Indian Oceansat-1 IRS-P4 are used to develop a direct retrieval method for latent heat flux by multivariate regression technique. The MSMR measures the microwave radiances at 8 channels at frequencies of 6.6, 10.7, 18 and 21 GHz at both vertical and horizontal polarizations. It is found that the surface LHF (Latent Heat Flux) is sensitive to all the channels. The coefficients were derived using the National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data of three months: July, September, November of 1999. The NCEP daily analyzed latent heat fluxes and brightness temperatures observed by MSMR were used to derive the coefficients. Validity of the derived coefficients was checked within situ observations over the Indian Ocean and with NCEP analyzed LHF for global points. The LHF derived directly from the MSMR brightness temperature (Tb) yielded an accuracy of 35 watt/m². LHF was also computed by applying bulk formula using the geophysical parameters extracted from MSMR. In this case the errors were higher apparently due to the errors involved in derivation of the geophysical parameters.     

Rainfall variability and indices of extreme rainfall-analysis and perception study for two stations over Central Himalaya,India

The analysis of rainfall pattern and indices of extreme rainfall events is performed for two meteorological stations located in the Central Himalayan Region which is highly vulnerable to rain-induced hazards. The records of these rain-induced disasters suggest that such events are generally observed in later part of monsoon season, when soil is saturated after monsoon rains. An attempt is made here to test trends of 19 different extreme rainfall indices that have been widely used in the literature, using daily rainfall data for two urban centres (Nainital and Almora) over the period 1992–2005. We have used statistical tools such as Sen’s method and Mann–Kendall test for detection of trend in annual rainfall, monsoon rainfall, number of rainy days and 1-day extreme rainfall. Principal component analysis gives the correlation between different extreme rainfall indices. Time series of principal components are representing the trends of extreme indices, their variation and interrelation between different indices. The perception study conducted in the same sites indicates that extreme rainfall events and change in rainfall amount and timing are well perceived by the local people.     

Morphometry and Morphostructural Studies of the Parts of Gola River and Kalsa River Basins,Chanphi-Okhalkanda Region,Kumaun Lesser Himalaya,India

Geotectonics - Study of morphometric parameters such as stream length (Lu) and stream length ratios (Rl), bifurcation ratio (Rb), drainage density (D), form factor (Rf), circularity ratio (Rc),...     

Quality of spring water used for irrigation in the Almora District of Uttarakhand, India

This paper aims to propose a quality profile of springs of the study area for irrigation. In the present study, fifty-four springs in Almora have been identified from rural as well as urban localities for calculation of irriga- tional water quality parameters during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon, 2008. Spring water samples are collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), Na+ , K+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+ , HCO3- , Cl- , and SO42- . Different irrigation quality parameters viz. salinity, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), magnesium hazards (MH) and permeability index (PI) are calculated for the evaluation of spring water quality for irrigation purposes. All springs are found excellent to good based on irrigation quality parameters. Based on Wilcox diagram, about 98% of the water resources are grouped as C1S1 (low-low) and C2S1 (medium-low) classes, so springs are suitable for normal irrigation.     

Geochemistry of Gneiss-Granulite transformation in the “incipient charnockite” zones of southern India

Summary Upper amphibolite facies gneisses in the southern Indian Shield show local transformation into veins, clots and patches of orthopyroxene-bearing dry granulites (incipient charnockites). Depending upon the protolith composition, these desiccated zones are classified into ortho- and para-charnockites and have developed within rocks of distinct mineralogy and chemistry at different time intervals through the structurally-controlled influx of carbon dioxide-rich fluids. Our geochemical investigations at five critical quarry sections indicate that the incipient charnockites have undepleted chemistry and very low K/Rb values. In the paracharnockite localities, where granulite formation is characterized by consumption of garnet, biotite and quartz to produce orthopyroxene, loss of Rb and Ba and enrichment of Ti are observed. In contrast, the orthocharnockite localities show marked LILE enrichment with gain of K, Rb and Ba and loss of CaO, suggesting extensive replacement of plagioclase in the gneisses by K-feldspar in the charnockite through K-Na-Ca exchange reactions with influxing carbonic fluids. The marked depletion in Fe, Mg, Ti and P in these rocks correlates with progressive dissolution of hornblende, biotite, magnetite and accessory apatite. Our study indicates that gneiss to granulite transformation, even if on a local scale, is not an isochemical phenomenon, but attended by distinct element mobilities, although they are contrastingly different from the geochemical trends in some regional high grade terrains.

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Geochemie von Gneiss-Granulit-Übergängen in den Incipient Charnockite Zonen von Süd-Indien

Zusammenfassung Gneise der oberen Amphibolit-Fazies im Südteil des Indischen Schildes zeigen lokal Umwandlungen in Adern, and unregelmäßigen Bereichen von orthopyroxen-führenden trockenen Granuliten (Incipient Charnockites). In Abhängigkeit von der Zusammensetzung des Ausgangsgesteins werden diese Zonen in Ortho- und Paracharnockite eingeteilt. Sie entwickelten sich in Gesteinen von charakteristischer mineralogischer und chemischer Zusammensetzung zu verschiedenen Zeit-Intervallen durch die tektonisch kontrollierte Zufuhr von kohlendioxid-reichen Fluiden. Unsere geochemischen Untersuchungen an fünf strategisch ausgewählten Steinbruchen zeigen, daß die Incipient Charnockite eine nicht verarmte chemische Zusammensetzung und sehr niedrige K/Rb Werte haben. In den Paracharnockit-Lokalitäten, wo Granulitbildung charakterisiert wird durch das Verschwinden von Granat, Biotit und Quartz, aus denen Orthopyroxene gebildet werden, ist Verlust von Rb und Ba und Anreicherung an Ti zu beobachten. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigen die Orthocharnockite eindeutige LILE Anreicherung mit Zunahme von K, Rb, und Ba und Verlust von Ca0. Dies weist auf extensiven Ersatz von Plagioklas in den Gneisen durch K-Feldspat in den Charnockiten durch K-Na-Ca Austausch-Reaktionen mit zugeführten C0₂-Fluiden hin. Die deutliche Verarmung an Fe, Mg, Ti und P in diesen Gesteinen wird mit zunehmender Auflösung von Hornblende, Biotit, Magnetit und akzessorischem Apatit erKlärt. Unsere Untersuchungen zeigen, daß die Gneis-Granulit Transformation auch im lokalen Maßstab nicht ein isochemisches Phänomen ist, sondern durch charakteristische Elementtransporte charakterisiert wird. Diese unterscheiden sich jedoch deutlich von den geochemischen Trends, die in einigen regional-metamorphen high grade terrains zu beobachten sind.[/p]

     

Fluid-rock history of granulite facies humite-marbles from Ambasamudram, southern India.

An extensive humite‐bearing marble horizon within a supracrustal sequence at Ambasamudram, southern India, was studied using petrological and stable isotopic techniques to define its metamorphic history and fluid characteristics. At peak metamorphic temperatures of 775±73°C, based on calcite‐graphite carbon isotope thermometry, the mineral assemblages suggest layer‐by‐layer control of fluid compositions. Clinohumite + calcite‐bearing assemblages suggest X_CO2 < 0.4 (at 700°C and 5 kbar), calcite + forsterite + K‐feldspar‐bearing assemblages suggest X_CO2>0.9 (at 790°C); and local wollastonite + scapolite + grossular‐bearing zones formed at X_CO2 of c. 0.3. Retrograde reaction textures such as scapolite + quartz symplectites after feldspar and calcite and replacement of dolomite + diopside or tremolite+dolomite after calcite+forsterite or calcite+clinohumite are indicative of retrogression under high X_CO2 conditions. Calcite preserves late Proterozoic carbon and oxygen isotopic signatures and the marble lacks evidence for extensive retrograde fluid infiltration, while during prograde metamorphism the possible infiltration of aqueous fluids did not produce significant isotopic resetting. Isotopic zonation of calcite and graphite grains was likely produced by localized CO₂ fluid infiltration during retrogression. Contrary to the widespread occurrence of humite‐marbles related to retrograde aqueous fluid infiltration, the Ambasamudram humite‐marbles record a prograde‐to‐peak metamorphic humite formation and retrogression under conditions of low X_H2O.     

Mesoproterozoic ophiolitic mélange from the SE periphery of the Indian plate: U–Pb zircon ages and tectonic implications

The Kanigiri mélange within the Proterozoic Nellore–Khammam schist belt in southern Peninsular India includes ophiolitic fragments that represent the remnants of an oceanic plate. The ophiolitic units were accreted along a NE-trending suture that juxtaposes the Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Granulite Belt (EGGB) against the Archean Nellore Schist Belt of the Dharwar craton. The ophiolite components in the Kanigiri mélange include plagiogranites and gabbros which show mutually intrusive relations indicating their coeval nature. We report laser ablation-ICP-MS age data and REE geochemistry of zircons from the gabbro and granite. The zircons from both gabbro and granite show high REE contents, prominent HREE enrichment and a conspicuous negative Eu anomaly, suggesting a common melt source. Zircon REE abundances and normalized patterns show little intersample and intrasample variations. U–Pb dating of the zircons reveals prominent Mesoproterozoic ages for the plagiogranite, with the ca.1.33 Ga age of the Kanigiri ophiolitic mélange offering important clues for arc–continent collision during the final stages of amalgamation of the Columbia-derived fragments within the Neoproterozoic supercontinent assembly.