Effect of Different Growing Environments on Population Dynamics of Sucking Pests in Relation to Various Spectral Indices in Cotton

Present study was designed to determine the effect of various growing environments on sucking pest population dynamics in cotton and to work out their relation with spectral indices. Crop spectral reflectance in four IRS bands was measured with ground truth radiometer during 1000–1200 h in all the treatment combinations. Incidence of sucking pest in cotton was found out to be highly influenced by growing environments. The leafhopper and whitefly population was highest in 15 May sown cotton crop and was lowest in 15 April sown crop. Cultivar HS-6 was highly affected by both the sucking pest than the other cultivar H-1226. The spectral indices (SR, NDVI and TVI) were highest in 15 April sown crop at all the phenophases and were lowest in 15 May sown crop. The cultivar H-1226 showed higher values of spectral indices as compared to HS-6. The relationship of pests’ population with various spectral indices was established. Multiple regression models based on spectral indices can be used for prediction of sucking pest population more than 69 and 74 % accuracy in leafhopper and whitefly, respectively in cotton crop.     

Characterization of forests and deforestation in Cambodia using ALOS/PALSAR observation

In this study, we have demonstrated the capability of full polarimetric ALOS/Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data for the characterization of the forests and deforestation in Cambodia, to support climate change mitigation policies of Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). We have observed mean backscattering coefficient (σ°), entropy (H), alpha angle (α), anisotropy (A), pedestal height (PH), Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) and Freeman–Durden three-component decomposition parameters. The observations show that the forest types and deforested area are showing variable polarimetric and backscattering properties because of the structural difference. Evergreen forest is characterized by a high value of σ° HV (?12.96 dB) as compared with the deforested area (σ° HV=?22.2 dB). The value of polarimetric parameters such as entropy (0.93), RVI (0.91), PH (0.41) and Freeman–Durden volume scattering (0.43) is high for evergreen forest, whereas deforested area is characterized by the low values of entropy (0.36) and RVI (0.17). Based on these parameters, it is found that σ° HV, entropy, RVI and PH provide best results among other parameters.     

A universal kriging approach for spatial functional data

In a wide range of scientific fields the outputs coming from certain measurements often come in form of curves. In this paper we give a solution to the problem of spatial prediction of non-stationary functional data. We propose a new predictor by extending the classical universal kriging predictor for univariate data to the context of functional data. Using an approach similar to that used in univariate geostatistics we obtain a matrix system for estimating the weights of each functional variable on the prediction. The proposed methodology is validated by analyzing a real dataset corresponding to temperature curves obtained in several weather stations of Canada.     

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis in Nepal

The seismic ground motion hazard for Nepal has been estimated using a probabilistic approach. A catalogue of earthquakes has been compiled for Nepal and the surrounding region （latitude 26% N and 31.7% N and longitude 79° E and 90° E） from 1255 to 2011. The distribution of catalogued earthquakes, together with available geological and tectonic information were used to delineate twenty-three seismic source seismic source information and probabilistic earthquake hazard prediction relationship, peak ground accelerations （PGAs） have zones in Nepal and the surrounding region. By using the parameters in conjunction with a selected ground motion been calculated at bedrock level with 63%, 10%, and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The estimated PGA values are in the range of 0.07-0.16 g, 0.21 0.62 g, and 0.38-1.1 g for 63%, 10%, and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years, respectively. The resulting ground motion maps show different characteristics of PGA distribution, i.e., high hazard in the far-western and eastern sections, and low hazard in southern Nepal. The quantified PGA values at bedrock level provide information for microzonation studies in different parts of the country.     

Role of Nitrogen Oxides,Black Carbon,and Meteorological Parameters on the Variation of Surface Ozone Levels at a Tropical Urban Site – Hyderabad,India

In this study, temporal variations of surface ozone (O₃) were investigated at tropical urban site of Hyderabad during the year 2009. O₃, oxides of nitrogen (NO_x = NO + NO₂), black carbon (BC), and meteorological parameters were continuously monitored at the established air monitoring station. Results revealed the production of surface O₃ from NO₂ through photochemical oxidation. Averaged datasets illustrated the variations in ground‐level concentrations of these air pollutants along different time scales. Maximum mean concentrations of O₃ (56.75 ppbv) and NO_x (8.9 ppbv) were observed in summer. Diurnal‐seasonal changes in surface O₃ and NO_x concentrations were explicated with complex atmospheric chemistry, boundary layer dynamics, and local meteorology. In addition, nocturnal chemistry of NO_x played a decisive role in the formation of O₃ during day time. Mean BC mass concentration in winter (10.92 µg m^?3) was high during morning hours. Heterogeneous chemistry of BC on O₃ destruction and NO_x formation was elucidated. Apart from these local observations, long‐range transport of trace gases and BC aerosols were evidenced from air mass back trajectories. Further, statistical modeling was performed to predict O₃ using multi‐linear regression method, which resulted in 91% of the overall variance.     

Principal component analysis of lithologic variables in Early Permian Barakar coal-measures,western Singrauli Gondwana sub-basin of central India

The quantitative relationships between lithological variables of Early Permian Barakar coal measures of western Singrauli Gondwana sub-basin are investigated using principal component analysis in an attempt to reveal simple relationships undetected by conventional quantitative methods. The results not only confirm and amplify those of the simple regression analysis described in Casshyap et.al. (1988), but are also interpreted in terms of evolution of coal swamps. If the total thickness of strata, total thickness of clastic sediments, total thickness of coal seams, number of sandstone beds, number of shale beds, number of coal seams and clastic ratio are considered, the first three components accounts for 80% of the total variance and the lithological variables generally fall into two groups. One group contains the first four variables, namely, total thickness of strata, total thickness of sandstone, total thickness of shale and total thickness of coal seams, all of which have basin-like regional patterns of sedimentation linked to net subsidence. The other group of variables, which are somewhat less closely related to net subsidence such as number of sandstone beds, number of shale beds and number of coal seam. The sand/shale ratio and clastic ratio are dependent on the other variables and seem to be unrelated to net subsidence. The principal component results, at best in geological term, may be explained by the to and fro lateral migration of a river channel across its flood plain coupled with a gradual isostatic adjustment of the basin floor in response to the weight of the sediments and differential subsidence through space and time.     

A fossil palm leaf impression from ∼11.2 Ma old,Siwalik deposits of Kangra Valley,Himachal Pradesh

We report here, a fossil palm leaf from Lower Siwalik sediments, tied to nearby palaeomagnetically dated 11.2 Ma old beds exposed in the Baner Khad, near Ranital, Himachal Pradesh. The palm fossil leaf impression has been placed in the genus Palmacites sp. (Family: Arecaceae) based on its diagnostic features such as large palmate leaf without hastula and costa (midrib), showing coriaceous texture, leaflets diverging from the base of the lamina with prominent midrib and parallel venation. This finding may indicate presence of tropical to subtropical climatic conditions in the Himalayan foothills around Kangra Valley in the Middle Miocene time.     

Optical polarimetric study of open clusters: distribution of interstellar matter towards NGC 654

We present new B ,  V and R linear polarimetric observations for 61 stars towards the region of the young open cluster NGC 654. In this study we found evidence for the presence of at least two layers of dust along the line of sight to the cluster. The distances to the two dust layers are estimated to be ∼200 pc and ∼1 kpc which are located much closer to the Sun than the cluster (∼2.4 kpc). Both the dust layers have their local magnetic field orientation nearly parallel to the direction of the Galactic plane. The foreground dust layer is found to have a ring morphology with the central hole coinciding with the centre of the cluster. The foreground dust grains are suggested to be mainly responsible for both the observed differential reddening and the polarization towards the cluster.     

Hisslers observed during daytime in a low latitude ground station

The observation of hisslers during daytime at low latitude station Jammu, India, is reported. The hissler elements are quasi-periodic falling tones observed during the period of hiss activity and appear in minutelong sequences with average spacing between individual elements of the order of 0.15 s. Hissler elements exhibit almost no dispersion and no complex internal structure in slope and intensity, and successive hissler elements do not overlap in time. It seems that the reported hisslers might have propagated in prolongitudinal mode.     

Diagenesis and bioavailability of mercury in the contaminated sediments of Ulhas Estuary, India

Sequential extraction of Hg was performed in a core collected from intertidal area in Ulhas Estuary in order to characterize the downward distribution and diagenetic behavior of Hg in a polluted estuary. Concentration of total Hg ranged between 0.46 and 6.40 μg g⁻¹ with significant decrease in surficial sediment as a result of closing of two Hg-cell based chlor-alkali plants. Results of sequential extraction showed that >65% Hg was strongly bound to organo-sulphur and inorganic sulphide species that are not bioavailable. Flux of only 18.8% of Hg was found compared to its value deposited on sediment–water interface. Hence, it is concluded that there is no significant diagenetic remobilization of Hg in Ulhas Estuary. This core also has been analyzed for ²¹⁰Pb geochronology. The estimated sedimentation rate is 0.31 cm y⁻¹ in the present sampling region.