East-west mafic dyke in Aravallis – a post-depositional event deciphered by aeromagnetic studies

Aravalli fold belt has witnessed major tectonism resulting in intense deformation and associated mafic magmatism. Recently acquired high resolution aeromagnetic data over central Aravalli fold belt brought out a conspicuous E-W trending magnetic anomaly extending for more than 35 km in length cutting across the whole succession of Aravalli Supergroup. This anomaly on ground is manifested as undeformed basic dyke intruding into metasediments of Aravalli Supergroup. The E-W trend and undeformed nature of these dykes suggest that they represent post Aravalli mafic magmatism which are emplaced sympathetic to the axial plane of F₃ folding.     

Glacial mass balance changes in the Karakoram and Himalaya based on CMIP5 multi-model climate projections

The impact of future climate change on the glaciers in the Karakoram and Himalaya (KH) is investigated using CMIP5 multi-model temperature and precipitation projections, and a relationship between glacial accumulation-area ratio and mass balance developed for the region based on the last 30 to 40 years of observational data. We estimate that the current glacial mass balance (year 2000) for the entire KH region is -6.6?±?1 Gta^?1, which decreases about sixfold to -35?±?2 Gta^?1 by the 2080s under the high emission scenario of RCP8.5. However, under the low emission scenario of RCP2.6 the glacial mass loss only doubles to -12?±?2 Gta^?1 by the 2080s. We also find that 10.6 and 27 % of the glaciers could face ‘eventual disappearance’ by the end of the century under RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 respectively, underscoring the threat to water resources under high emission scenarios.     

Dynamics of population growth: Bundelkhand region--a case study

This paper analyzes the growth of population and its various characteristics in the Bundelkhand region of India. Bundelkhand region--a distinct histocultural and geographic unit--is a transitional zone between the 2 major physiographic divisions of India: the Gangetic plain and Peninsular India. The region is a less developed part of India where people are living in low social status with poor economic conditions; agriculture is the mainstay of the people, but the region suffers from the inadequacy and inefficiencies of irrigation facilities. The history of population growth of the region during the last 80 years has followed a multivariate course; besides the interplay of birth and death, in-migration contributes considerably to the population growth. The 1st phase (1901-1921) is that of progressive decline causing a very slow population growth--population decrease was mainly due to the influenza epidemic of 1918-19. The 2nd phase (1921-1951) was a period of moderate population growth due to the national political movements and disturbances together with some natural disasters. The 3rd phase (1951-1981) is marked by a rapid population growth mainly due to the decline in the death rate. Over the last 80 years, the total population of the Bundelkhand region increased from 3.45 million to 8.03 million--a net increase of 132.58%. However, this change is not high when compared to the national average of 176.11%. The total population of the region in 1981 (8,037,206 persons) is expected to reach 8,874,000 persons in 1991, and 9,797,000 persons in 2001. This will undoubtedly put enormous pressure on the resources of the region slowing down the pace of economic progress.     

Records of climatic changes and volcanic events in an ice core from Central Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica) during the past century

The depth profiles of electrical conductance, δ¹⁸O,²¹⁰Pb and cosmogenic radio isotopes¹⁰Be and³⁶Cl have been measured in a 30 m ice core from east Antarctica near the Indian station, Dakshin Gangotri. Using²¹⁰Pb and δ¹⁸O, the mean annual accumulation rates have been calculated to be 20 and 21 cm of ice equivalent per year during the past ∼ 150 years. Using these acumulation rates, the volcanic event that occurred in 1815 AD, has been identified based on electrical conductance measurements. Based on δ¹⁸O measurements, the mean annual surface air temperatures (MASAT) data observed during the last 150 years indicates that the beginning of the 19th century was cooler by about 2‡ C than the recent past and the middle of 18th century. The fallout of cosmogenic radio isotope¹⁰Be compares reasonably well with those obtained on other stations (73‡ S to 90‡ S) from Antarctica and higher latitudes beyond 77‡N. The fallout of³⁶Cl calculated based on the present work agrees well with the mean global production rate estimated earlier by Lal and Peters (1967). The bomb pulse of³⁶Cl observed in Greenland is not observed in the present studies – a result which is puzzling and needs to be studied on neighbouring ice cores from the same region.     

Phase stability and kinetics of methane hydrate formation in presence of calcium and magnesium carbonate

The huge amount of methane hydrate deposits identified in deep marine sediments is considered as the new resource for future energy. Since carbonates are one of the major components of marine sediments, in the present study, an investigation has been made to study methane hydrate stability and kinetics in the presence of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃. Effect of the presence of carbonates on the solubility of methane in the system has also been examined as it directly affects the hydrate formation process. It has been observed that in presence of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃, the hydrate formation is inhibited. Comparative studies have also been done in the presence of artificial seawater to consider the effect of presence of different salts. Mole consumption of methane gas during hydrate formation in different carbonate samples was measured using real gas equation and found to be minimum in CaCO₃ in seawater sample due to the combined effect of the presence of CaCO₃ and different salts of seawater. An increase in nucleation and induction time was also observed demonstrating the inhibition of hydrate formation in the presence of these components. Further, the decrease in hydrate formation rate also confirmed the inhibition effect of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃ on hydrate formation.     

Oxygen isotope records of Globigerina bulloides across a north-south transect in the south-western Indian Ocean

Along a north-south transect (9.69°N to 55.01°S) in the southwestern Indian Ocean during the Indian Pilot Expedition to Southern Ocean (PESO), the oxygen isotopic analysis of planktic foraminifera (Globigerina bulloides) from 23 surface sediment samples was carried out to assess the relationship between isotopic composition of G. bulloides and the prevailing physical (seawater temperature and salinity) conditions of the ambient seawater. An increasing trend in the δ¹⁸O value is noticed towards higher latitude. Apparently such an increase in δ¹⁸O values is inversely related to the temperature changes along the transect. However, slight mismatch is observed at a few stations due to calcification out of optimum conditions or due to the salinity changes. The preliminary results of the present study, if extended to the subsurface sediments coupled with other parameters, may contribute to the reconstruction of the paleohydrography of the region, especially the position of various seawater fronts during the geologic past albeit with areal limitation.     

Fluvial geochemistry of Subarnarekha River basin,India

The fluvial geochemistry of the Subarnarekha River and its major tributaries has been studied on a seasonal basis in order to assess the geochemical processes that explain the water composition and estimate solute fluxes. The analytical results show the mildly acidic to alkaline nature of the Subarnarekha River water and the dominance of \(\hbox {Ca}^{2+}\) and \(\hbox {Na}^{+}\) in cationic and \(\hbox {HCO}_{3}^{-}\) and \({\hbox {Cl}}^{-}\) in anionic composition. Minimum ionic concentration during the monsoon and maximum concentration in the pre-monsoon seasons reflect concentrating effects due to decrease in the river discharge and increase in the base flow contribution during the pre-monsoon and dilution effects of atmospheric precipitation in the monsoon season. The solute acquisition processes are mainly controlled by weathering of rocks, with minor contribution from marine and anthropogenic sources. Higher contribution of alkaline earth \((\hbox {Ca}^{2+}{+}\,\hbox {Mg}^{2+})\) to the total cations \((\hbox {TZ}^{+})\) and high \((\hbox {Na}^{+}+\hbox {K}^{+})/\hbox {Cl}^{-}\), \((\hbox {Na}^{+}+\hbox {K}^{+})/\hbox {TZ}^{+}\), \(\hbox {HCO}_{3}^{-}/(\hbox {SO}_{4}^{2-}+\hbox {Cl}^{-})\) and low \((\hbox {Ca}^{2+}+\hbox {Mg}^{2+})/(\hbox {Na}^{+}+\hbox {K}^{+})\) equivalent ratios suggest that the Subarnarekha River water is under the combined influence of carbonate and silicate weathering. The river water is undersaturated with respect to dolomite and calcite during the post-monsoon and monsoon seasons and oversaturated in the pre-monsoon season. The pH–log \(\hbox {H}_{4}\hbox {SiO}_{4}\) stability diagram demonstrates that the water chemistry is in equilibrium with the kaolinite. The Subarnarekha River annually delivered \(1.477\times 10^{6}\) ton of dissolved loads to the Bay of Bengal, with an estimated chemical denudation rate of \(77\hbox { ton km}^{-2}\hbox { yr}^{-1}\). Sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate and per cent sodium values placed the studied river water in the ‘excellent to good quality’ category and it can be safely used for irrigation.     

Polyatomic molecules,molecular ions,and radicals of astrophysical interest,II

This paper has been devoted to a basic molecular studies of polyatomics. A critical analysis of the 70 available references in literature has been made to select 37 polyatomic molecules, molecular ions, and radicals containing six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen atoms of astrophysical significance. The results have been arranged in a text-cum-tabular form. The compilation contains various information for each molecule, such as the spectral region, transition levels, astrophysical objects where the respective molecules have been detected (say, comet, meteorite, Sun, planet, star, interstellar matter, interstellar cloud, molecular cloud, interstellar space, Galaxy, etc.). Two-hundred fourteen new polyatomic molecules (containing 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 atoms) of astrophysical significance have also been listed.Astrophysics and Space Science Review Paper II.     

Thematic integration of spatial data sets to delineate favourable zones for uranium exploration in Gangpur basin and parts of Kunjar and Darjing basins,Odisha

Surface exploration techniques have been key contributors in discovering mineral deposits over the past three decades. However, in the last decade there has been a growing emphasis on integrating remote sensing, geological, geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques to compliment them in identifying concealed deposits. Successful integrated exploration requires putting mappable petrophysical property contrasts in terms of geological and geochemical process that could be associated with different mineralisation environment. The Precambrian Gangpur basin comprising volcanic free sedimentary sequence is considered as a potential geological setting for hosting uranium mineralisation. The Gangpur basin with metasediments of low to medium metamorphic grade classified as the Gangpur Group are known for hosting manganese, limestone and lead-zinc deposits. Uranium mineralization is reported in limonitic carbonaceous phyllite and sheared quartzite of Kumarmunda Formation at Jhamankele-Bhalulata areas. Several uranium anomalies have been associated with gossan at Kaedarpani, Jamdra and in ferruginised laterite at Badekachar, Jarmal, Jhagarpur, Kadorpani, Karamabahal, Tetelkela & Kumtinunda. In the present study geological, geophysical and remote sensing data sets are processed and integrated with other available data to delineate target zones for uranium exploration. Even though direct detection of uranium mineralisation remains unresolved in exploration strategy, instead it is becoming increasingly instructive to focus on mapping suitable depositional environments. The enhanced satellite imagery is interpreted in terms of thematic layers viz. trend lines, lineaments, faults and geological contacts. The aeromagnetic data is processed and interpreted thematic layers of magnetic breaks and linears from total magnetic intensity (TMI), the reduced to pole (RTP), tilt derivative and amplitude of analytical signal grid images. The radiometric data is processed based on their broad lithology and radio-elemental distribution maps viz. count maps, ratio maps, ternary (%K-eTh-eU) and eU/K ? eU/eTh ? eU images are generated to aid in mapping uranium favourability zones. The favourability image zones with high eU/K, eU/eTh and eU counts zones are classified into class based on statistics and anomalous high zones are picked up as uranium favourable locales. The thematic layers of geological contacts, lineaments and faults interpreted from satellite imagery, magnetic linears interpreted from aeromagnetic data and uranium favourability zone extracted from Airborne Gamma Ray Spectrometric (AGRS) data are overlaid. Based on spatial association of favourable features few locals are delineated for uranium exploration.