Evaluating social capital in emergency and disaster management and hazards plans

Natural Hazards - Natural hazards and disasters pose a serious threat to society. Efficient hazard plans are a county’s prerequisite in preparing for potential disasters and serve as primary...     

Anisotropic universe with cosmic strings and bulk viscosity in a scalar–tensor theory of gravitation

A spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-I cosmological model is obtained in a scalar–tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (Phys. Lett. A 113:467, 1986) when the source for energy momentum tensor is a bulk viscous fluid containing one dimensional cosmic strings. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are discussed. It is observed that the bulk viscosity has a greater role in getting an accelerated expansion of the universe in this theory.     

Locating oceanic Tuna resources in the Eastern Arabian sea using remote sensing

Tuna fishery resources are currently under exploited. The resource potential of tunas in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond 50 m depths is around 2.09 lakh tonnes as estimated by Fishery Survey of India. The distribution and availability of the tuna are governed by environmental factors like temperature, thermocline depth, availability of prey, visibility etc. Remote sensing provides synoptic information on productivity in terms of chlorophyll and Sea Surface Temperature (SST). In the present paper, satellite remote sensing data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS- P4 Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) sensor for chlorophyll-a and diffuse attenuation coefficient (K) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor data for sea surface temperature were analysed and correlated within situ catch data of oceanic tunas, Skipjack(Katsuwonus pelamis) and Yellowfin tuna(Thunnus albacares), off Maharashtra coast. Higher catches were found to be associated with moderate to good primary productivity and in the vicinity of thermal fronts. Relationship between Hooking rate and SST has shown that SST of 28–30°C range is optimum for skipjack and 28–31°C for yellowfin tuna. Besides satellite derived chlorophyll and SST for identification of potential tuna fishing zones, role of diffuse attenuation coefficient (K) for visibility factor is also discussed.     

A dark energy model in a scalar tensor theory of gravitation

LRS Bianchi type-I dark energy model with variable equation of state (EoS) parameter is presented in the scalar-tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (Phys. Lett. A 113:467, 1986). To get a determinate solution of the field equations we take the help of special law of variation for Hubble’s parameter presented by Bermann (Nuovo Cimento B 74:182, 1983) which yields a cosmological model with negative constant deceleration parameter. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.     

The role of landscape morphology on soil moisture variability in semi-arid ecosystems

Previous studies on semi-arid ecosystems have shown high values of soil moisture variability (SMV) primarily induced by the combined effects of non-uniform precipitation, incoming solar radiation, and soil and vegetation properties. However, the relative impact of these various factors on SMV has been difficult to evaluate due to limited availability of field data. In addition, only a limited number of studies have analysed the role of landscape morphology on SMV. Here we use numerical simulations of a simple hydrological model, the Bucket Grassland Model, to systematically analyse the effect of each contributing factor on SMV on two different landscape morphologies. The two different landform morphologies represent landscapes dominated respectively by either diffusive erosion or fluvial erosion processes. We conducted various simulations driven by a stochastically generated 100-year climate time series, which is long enough to capture climatic fluctuations, in order to understand the effect of various soil moisture controlling factors on the spatiotemporal SMV. Our modelling results show that the fluvial dominated landscapes promote higher spatial SMV than the diffusive dominated ones. Further, the role of landform morphology on SMV is more pronounced in regions where the spatial variability of incoming solar radiation and precipitation is high.     

Soil characterization using electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical investigations

Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) has been used in association with Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Dynamic Cone Penetration Test (DCPT) for Geotechnical investigations at two sites, proposed for thermal power plants, in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. SPT and DCPT tests were conducted at 28 points and two ERT profiles, each measuring 355 m long, were recorded using 72 electrodes deployed at 5 m spacing. Electrical characterization of subsurface soil was done using borehole data and grain size analysis of the soil samples collected from boreholes. The concept of electrical resistivity variation with soil strength related to the grain size distribution, cementation, porosity and saturation has been used to correlate the transverse resistance of soil with the number of blow counts (N-values) obtained from SPT and DCPT data. It was thus observed that the transverse resistance of soil column is linearly related with the number of blow counts (N-values) at these sites. The linear relationships are site-specific and the coefficients of linear relation are sensitive to the lithology of subsurface formation, which was verified by borehole data. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the ERT method in geotechnical investigations, which is economic, efficient and less time consuming in comparison to the other geotechnical methods, such as SPT and DCPT, used for the purpose.     

Thermosolutal-convective instability of a composite stellar atmosphere in the presence of a variable magnetic field

The thermosolutal-convective instability of a composite stellar atmosphere is considered in the presence of variable horizontal magnetic field and collisional effects. The criteria for monotonic instability are obtained which generalize the criterion derived for thermal-convective instability in the absence of above effects.     

Toxicity of Crude Oil to the Survival of the Fresh Water Fish Puntius sophore (HAM.)

The exposure of Puntius sophore to different concentrations of crude oil (200… 4000 ppm) revealed that 4000 ppm was acutely lethal to the fish and mortality did not occur at <500 ppm at 21±1 °C for up to 15 days. The increase in the opercular frequency during exposure to crude oil has been recorded almost parallel to toxicant concentrations. The objectionable odour of the crude oil and the formation of coagulated mucous film over the body and gills were the main factors causing mortality among the experimental fish. The 24, 48, 78 and 96-h TL 50 values have been 3275, 1750, 1650 and 1450 ppm. The corresponding regression coefficients b were –1.8056, –1.5849, –1.6037 and –1.6497.     

Assessment and planning for integrated river basin management using remote sensing,SWAT model and morphometric analysis (case study: Kaddam river basin,India)

Abstract

River basin assessment is crucial for water management and to address the watershed issues. So, an integrated river basin management and assessment model using morphometric assessment, remote sensing, GIS and SWAT model was envisaged and applied to Kaddam river basin, Telangana state, India. Morphometric results showed high drainage density ranging from 2.19 to 5.5?km²/km, with elongated fan shape having elongation ratio of 0.60–0.75 with sparse vegetation and high relief. Land use change assessment showed that 265.26?km² of forest land is converted into irrigated land and has increased sediment yields in watersheds. The calibration (r ²?=?0.74, NSE?=?0.84) and validation (r ²?=?0.72, NSE?=?0.84) of SWAT model showed that simulated and observed results were in agreement and in recommended ranges. The SWAT simulations were used to compute mean annual water and sediment yield from 1997 to 2012, along with morphometric results to categorize critical watersheds and conservation structures were proposed accordingly.