Estimating fractal dimension of lineaments using box counting method for the Indian landmass

A fractal in general is a scale-invariant object that has an underlying power-law equation and is characterized by a positive fractal dimension. The fractal dimension of the Indian landmass is evaluated from the lineament map by utilizing the MATLAB programme for box counting method. The lineament map of India is divided into grids. The fractal dimension of each grid is obtained and the values are mapped. Most of the regions of India has fractal dimension in the range 1–1.25. The fractal values are compared with b-value in Gutenberg–Richter equation which gives a relationship between frequency of occurrence of earthquake and its magnitude. The estimation of b-value requires a complete earthquake dataset. In regions where the complete earthquake data are not available, the fractal dimension evaluated from the study can be used as a parameter to assess the seismic hazard of the region.     

On the validity of series expansion being used for the position of a point on a Roche equipotential

The concept of Roche equipotentials has been frequently used in literature to study the problems of rotating stars and stars in binary systems. However in spite of using this simplifying concept, it is still not possible to express the position of a point in the potential field of such a system in a closed analytic form. In order to carry out further analytic studies, Kopal (Adv. Astron. Astrophys. 9:1–65, 1972), therefore, developed a series expansion for it. The series expansion of Kopal has often been used in the analysis of the problem of equilibrium structure and the periods of oscillations of rotating stars and stars in binary systems, but its validity and convergence has not been analytically established. It is important that this aspect of the problem is checked so that one is sure of the correctness of subsequent analysis and results based on this series expansion. In the present brief note, we have addressed ourselves to this problem and validated the correctness of the numerical results obtained through the use of this series expansion.     

A Tool Assessing Optimal Multi-Scale Image Segmentation

Image segmentation to create representative objects by region growing image segmentation techniques such as multi resolution segmentation (MRS) is mostly done through interactive selection of scale parameters and is still a subject of great research interest in object-based image analysis. In this study, we developed an optimum scale parameter selector (OSPS) tool for objective determination of multiple optimal scales in an image by MRS using eCognition software. The ready to use OSPS tool consists of three modules and determines optimum scales in an image by combining intrasegment variance and intersegment spatial autocorrelation. The tool was tested using WorldView-2 and Resourcesat-2 LISS-IV Mx images having different spectral and spatial resolutions in two areas to find optimal objects for ground features such as water bodies, trees, buildings, road, agricultural fields and landslides. Quality of the objects created for these features using scale parameters obtained from the OSPS tool was evaluated quantitatively using segmentation goodness metrics. Results show that OSPS tool is able determine optimum scale parameters for creation of representative objects from high resolution satellite images by MRS method.     

Effectiveness of SID as Spectral Similarity Measure to Develop Crop Spectra from Hyperspectral Image

The present study was undertaken with the objective to check effectiveness of spectral information divergence (SID) to develop spectra from image for crop classes based on spectral similarity with field spectra. In multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing, classification of pixels is obtained by statistical comparison (by means of spectral similarity) of known field or library spectra to unknown image spectra. Though these algorithms are readily used, little emphasis has been placed on use of various spectral similarity measures to develop crop spectra from the image itself. Hence, in this study methodology suggested to develop spectra for crops based on SID. Absorption features are unique and distinct; hence, validation of the developed spectra is carried out using absorption features by comparing it with field spectra and finding average correlation coefficient r?=?0.982 and computed SID equivalent r?=?0.989. Effectiveness of developed spectra for image classification was computed by probability of spectral discrimination (PSD) and resulted in higher probability for the spectra developed based on SID. Image classification was carried out using field spectra and spectra assigned by SID. Overall classification accuracy of the image classified by field spectra is 78.30% and for the image classified by spectra assigned through SID-based approach is 91.82%. Z test shows that image classification carried out using spectra developed by SID is better than classification carried out using field spectra and significantly different. Validation by absorption features, effectiveness by PSD and higher classification accuracy show possibility of new approach for spectra development based on SID spectral similarity measure.     

Prospect for UV observations from the Moon

Space astronomy in the last 40 years has largely been done from spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) for which the technology is proven and delivery mechanisms are readily available. However, new opportunities are arising with the surge in commercial aerospace missions. We describe here one such possibility: deploying a small instrument on the Moon. This can be accomplished by flying onboard the Indian entry to the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition, Team Indus mission, which is expected to deliver a nearly 30 kgs of payloads to the Moon, with a rover as its primary payload. We propose to mount a wide-field far-UV (130–180 nm) imaging telescope as a payload on the Team Indus lander. Our baseline operation is a fixed zenith pointing but with the option of a mechanism to allow observations of different attitudes. Pointing towards intermediate ecliptic latitude (50^° or above) ensures that the Sun is at least 40^° off the line of sight at all times. In this position, the telescope can cover higher galactic latitudes as well as parts of Galactic plane. The scientific objectives of such a prospective are delineated and discussed.     

Climate change and finger millet: Perception,trend and impact on yield in different ecological regions in Central Nepal

The views of local people on climate change along different ecological regions are relatively unexplored in Nepal. This study was conducted in 13 villages in central Nepal at different altitudes to document the views of small holder farmers and compare their perception with trends of climatic variables, finger millet yield, natural disasters, plant phenology(flowering and fruiting), status of forest and wild life, as well as the spread of diseases and pests. Analysis on the climatic data of stations for 36-41 years between 1975 and 2016 showed significant increases in the minimum temperature in lower tropical climatic region(500 m), upper tropical to subtropical climatic region(500-2000 m) and temperate climatic region(2000-3000 m) by 0.01, 0.026 and 0.054℃/year, respectively, and an increase of maximum temperature by 0.008, 0.018, and 0.019℃/year, respectively. Rainfall showed a strongly significant decreasing trend in all elevation regions. This result matches with the views of respondents except 38% respondent from temperate climatic region. People from the temperate climatic region also mentioned that current onset of snowfall is delayed but amount of snowfall remained the same. From the documented records, except events of wild fire, frequency of natural disasters events have increased in the recent years, which was in harmony with the views of local people. Multi-linear regression analysis showed that contribution of climatic variables on finger millet yield in lower tropical climatic region and upper tropical to subtropical regions was 23% and 57.3%, respectively, which was supported by increasing trend on average growing degree day(GDD) temperature at the rate of 0.01℃ in upper tropical to subtropical region and 0.007℃ in lower tropical climatic region yearly. Finger millet yield has been increasing at the rate of 7.39 and 36.9 kg/ha yearly in lower tropical climatic region and upper tropical to subtropical climatic region, respectively. This result provides deeper understanding of people's perception of causes and effects of climate change on diverse variables along different elevation and related magnitude which can contribute to policy making in Nepal.     

Predicting suitable habitat of an invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus under future climate scenarios in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape,Nepal

Chitwan-Annapuma Landscape(CHAL)in central Nepal is known for its rich biodiversity and the landscape is expected to provide corridors for species range shift in response to climate change.Environmental assessments have identified biological invasions and other anthropogenic activities as major threats to the biodiversity in the CHAL.One of the rapidly spreading Invasive Alien Plant species(IAPs)in the CHAL is Parthenium hysterophorus L.,a neotropical invasive weed of global significance.This study aimed to investigate the current and future projected suitable habitat of P.hysterophorus in the CHAL using MaxEnt modelling in three"Representative Concentration Pathways"(RCPs 2.6,4.5 and 8.5)corresponding to different greenhouse gases emissiontrajectories for the year 2050 and 2070.A total of 288species occurrence points,six bioclimatic variablesmean diurnal range,isothermality,annual precipitation,precipitation of driest month,precipitation seasonality,precipitation of driest quarter and two topographic variables(aspect and slope)were selected for MaxEnt modelling.Potential range shift in terms of increase or decline in the suitable habitat areas under the projected scenarios were calculated.Slope and annual precipitation were the most important variables that explained the current distribution of P.hysterophorus.Twenty percent of the total area of CHAL was predicted to be suitable habitat for the growth of P.hysterophorus in the current climatic condition.Highest gain in the suitable habitat of this noxious weed was found under RCP 4.5 scenario in 2050 and 2070.whereas there will be a loss in thesuitable habitat under RCP 8.5 scenario in 2050 and2070.Out of four physiographic regions present in CHAL,three regions-Siwalik,Middle Mountain and High Mountain have suitable habitat for P.hysterophorus under current climatic condition.The mountainous region is likely to be affected more than the Siwalik region by further spread of P.fhysteropfhorus in the future under low(RCP 2.6)to medium(RCP 4.5)emission scenarios.The suitable habitat for this weed is likely to increase in the protected areas of mountain regions(Langtang National Park,Annapurna Conservation Area and Manaslu Conservation Area)in the future.The results have revealed a risk of spreading P.hysterophorus from present localities to non-invaded areas in the current and future climatic condition.Such risk needs to be considered by decision makers and resource managers while planning for effective management of this weed to reduce its ecological and economic impacts in the CHAL.     

Two-dimensional interpretation of gravity anomalies over sedimentary basins with an exponential decrease of density contrast with depth

The decrease of density contrast with depth in sedimentary basins is approximated by an exponential function. The anomaly equation, in frequency domain, of a prismatic model with an exponential density function is derived. The method has been extended to derive the Fourier transforms of the gravity anomalies of the sedimentary basin, wherein the basin is viewed as vertical prisms placed in juxtaposition. The gravity anomalies of the sedimentary basin are obtained by taking the inverse Fourier transforms. Filon’s method has been extended for calculating accurate inverse Fourier transforms. The accuracy of the method has been tested using a synthetic example. A combination of space and frequency domain methods have been developed for inversion of gravity anomalies over the sedimentary basin. The method has been applied to interpret one synthetic profile and one field profile over the Godavari basin. The method developed in this paper to calculate the inverse Fourier transforms yields continuous spectrum with accurate values. The maximum depth deduced from the gravity anomalies is of the same order as the depth encountered to the basement at the Aswaraopeta borewell.