Consistency of wave power at a location in the coastal waters of central eastern Arabian Sea

Ocean Dynamics - Wave energy assessment at a regional scale is required for planning installation of wave energy converters. Based on continuously measured wave data at 14-m water depth in the...     

Comparative Studies of Population Synthesis Models in the Framework of Modified Strömgren Filters

Evolutionary models form a vital part of stellar population research in understanding their evolution, but despite their long history of development, they are often misrepresented and the properties of stellar population observed through broadband and spectroscopic measurements are also misinterpreted. With growing numbers of these synthesis models, model comparison becomes an important analysis to choose a suitable model for understanding stellar populations and model up-gradation. Along with model comparison, we reinvestigate the technique of modified Strömgren photometry to measure reliable parameter-sensitive colours and estimate precise model ages and metallicities. The assessment of Rakos/Schulz models with GALEV and Worthey’s Lick/IDS model find smaller colour variation: Δ(uz ? vz) ≤ 0.056, Δ(bz ? yz) ≤ ?0.05 and Δ(vz ? yz) ≤ 0.061. The study conveys a good agreement of GALEV models with modified Strömgren colours but with poor UV model predictions and observed globular cluster data, while the spectroscopic models perform badly because of outdated isochrone and stellar spectral libraries with inaccurate/insufficient knowledge of various stellar phases and their treatment. Overall, the assessment finds modified Strömgren photometry well suited to study different types stellar populations by mitigating the effects of age-metallicity degeneracy.     

Heliborne Time Domain Electromagnetic Data Aiding Delineation of Carbonaceous Shale in Southwestern Part of Bijawar Basin and its Implication on Basinal Stratigraphy

The Callovian-Oxfordian Kuldhar Member of Middle-Upper Jurassic Jaisalmer Formation, Rajasthan is characterized by a rich cephalopod (ammonites and belemnites) fauna along with other invertebrates. They are embedded in oolitic limestone, at places in nodular limestone, grey shale and occasional red mud. The belemnite rostra bear bioerosions in the form of borings of circular or elliptical type. The present study identified those as Trypanites isp. and Rogerella isp. and characterized the hitherto unnoticed bioerosions of these belemnite rostra to be post-mortal. Different dispositions of major diameter of belemnite rostra has been interpreted to represent churning effect of ichnofossil producing organisms which put evidences of several generations of omission surfaces. Vertical and horizontal orientations of stephanoceratid ammonites side by side have been critically analysed in the light of lithology and prevailing environmental condition and inferred to be an artifact of gravity and thixotropic property of clay. Ammonites like Stephanoceratids and Macrocephalitids inhabit within 110m depth which is also permissible depth of belemnites as well as probable depth of formation of oolites, carbonate mud and aluminosilicate mud. Considering the lithology of the rocks like oolites, carbonate mud, aluminosilicate, the habitat of stephanoceratid and habitat of acrothoracid barnacles (organisms responsible for Rogerella isp.), the environment has been delineated to be sublittoral which was previously designated as shoreface zone to offshore transition zone.     

Effects of Off-fault Damage on Earthquake Rupture Propagation: Experimental Studies

We review the results of a recent series of papers in which the interaction between a dynamic mode II fracture on a fault plane and off-fault damage has been studied using high-speed photography. In these experiments, fracture damage was created in photoelastic Homalite plates by thermal shock in liquid nitrogen and rupture velocities were measured by imaging fringes at the tips. In this paper we review these experiments and discuss how they might be scaled from lab to field using a recent theoretical model for dynamic rupture propagation. Three experimental configurations were investigated: An interface between two damaged Homalite plates, an interface between damaged and undamaged Homalite plates, and the interface between damaged Homalite and undamaged polycarbonate plates. In each case, the velocity was compared with that on a fault between the equivalent undamaged plates at the same load. Ruptures on the interface between two damaged Homalite plates travel at sub-Rayleigh velocities indicating that sliding on off-fault fractures dissipates energy, even though no new damage is created. Propagation on the interface between damaged and undamaged Homalite is asymmetric. Ruptures propagating in the direction for which the compressional lobe of their crack-tip stress field is in the damage (which we term the ‘C’ direction) are unaffected by the damage. In the opposite ‘T’ direction, the rupture velocity is significantly slower than the velocity in undamaged plates at the same load. Specifically, transitions to supershear observed using undamaged plates are not observed in the ‘T’ direction. Propagation on the interface between damaged Homalite and undamaged polycarbonate exhibits the same asymmetry, even though the elastically “favored” ‘+’ direction coincides with the ‘T’ direction in this case. The scaling properties of the interaction between the crack-tip field and pre-existing off-fault damage (i.e., no new damage is created) are explored using an analytic model for a nonsingular slip-weakening shear slip-pulse and verified using the velocity history of a slip pulse measured in the laboratory and a direct laboratory measurement of the interaction range using damage zones of various widths adjacent to the fault.     

Prediction of Uniaxial Compressive Strength,Tensile Strength and Porosity of Sedimentary Rocks Using Sound Level Produced During Rotary Drilling

The main purpose of the study is to develop a general prediction model and to investigate the relationships between sound level produced during drilling and physical properties such as uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength and percentage porosity of sedimentary rocks. The results were evaluated using the multiple regression analysis taking into account the interaction effects of various predictor variables. Predictor variables selected for the multiple regression model are drill bit diameter, drill bit speed, penetration rate and equivalent sound level produced during rotary drilling (L _eq). The constructed models were checked using various prediction performance indices. Consequently, it is possible to say that the constructed models can be used for practical purposes.     

Environmental mineralogy: spectroscopic studies on ferrous saponite and the reduction of hexavalent chromium

A green-coloured phyllosilicate occurring on the walls of amygdaloidal cavities and along fractures in the Deccan Flood basalts at Killari, Maharashtra, India, has been identified as iron-rich saponite with a chemical composition [Na_0.60 K_0.40 Ca_0.47] {Mg_2.05Fe_3.95} (Si_6.45Al_1.55) O₂₀(OH)₄. In order to explore the possible application of this phyllosilicate for environmental management, we have carried out X-ray photon spectroscopic (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopic (DRS) measurements on the dichromate solutions, in both the untreated and treated form. The dichromate solution treated with the saponite samples show a remarkable capability not only to adsorb hexavalent chromium but also effect a reduction of hexavalent to trivalent chromium at an efficiency of 75%. These valence states of chromium were characterised unambiguously by XPS and DRS spectra collected at room temperature. Our studies show that Killari saponite is capable of reducing Cr (VI) to Cr (III). The ferrous saponite in Deccan Flood basalts could therefore be a useful mineral in environmental management in areas affected by Cr (VI) effluents.