Physico-chemical Limnology of Lake Naini Tal,Kumaun, Himalaya (U. P.), India

The monomictic lake at a height of 1937 m, having an area of 48 ha, a mean depth of 16 m and a maximum depth of 27 m, is subjected to such an intensive use in its drainage area that the lake became eutrophicated. The spatial-temporal distribution of important physico-chemical criteria is represented for a period of two years. The depth of visibility varies between 0.4 m (March) and 2 m (June). The thermal stratification keeps up from March to November; therefore in the deep water zone a typical oxygen depletion and an enrichment of PO₄? P (26 μg/l) and of N_inerg (940 μg/l) occur. The pH-value lies in the alkaline range and shows a significantly positive correlation with primary production and temperature and a negative correlation with the carbonate content. Also the oxygen concentration is positively correlated with the primary production and temperature. During stagnation, the sediment/water contact zone is free of oxygen for ca. 70 % of the area.     

Determination of thermodynamic properties of (Fe,Mg)-pyroxenes at 1000 K by the emf method

Emf measurements were made on the cell Pt|Fe,(Fe,Mg)_xSi₂O₆,SiO₂|(ZrO₂)_0.85(CaO)_0.15|Fe,FeO|Pt at 1000 K. Using the present data, the standard free energy of formation of ferrosilite (compound FeSiO₃), from the component oxides FeO and SiO₂, is calculated to be −6.35 ± 0.80 kJ/mol. The activity-composition relation for pyroxene solid solution shows that it has a positive deviation from ideality at 1000 K. The present results are compared with the results of other workers.ΔG_mix andΔG^ex are calculated and plotted againstN_FeSiO3.     

Transport ofBe andBe in the ocean

Beryllium isotopes (¹⁰Be and⁹Be) have been measured in suspended particles of < 1 mm size collected by mid-water sediment traps deployed in the eastern Pacific at MANOP sites H (6°32′N, 92°50′W, water depth 3600 m) and M (8°50′N, 104°00′W, 3100 m). For comparison, surface sediments from box cores taken from the two sites were also studied. The concentrations of¹⁰Be and⁹Be in sediment-trap particles are about an order of magnitude smaller than those in the bottom sediments which contain about 8 × 10⁹ and 6 × 10¹⁶ atoms g⁻¹ of¹⁰Be and⁹Be, respectively. The sediment trap samples collected from 50 m off the bottom showed significant (26–63%) contributions from resuspended bottom sediments. The¹⁰Be/⁹Be ratio in trap samples varies from 3 to 20 × 10⁻⁸. The variation may partly result from varied proportion of authigenic/detrital material. The fluxes of both isotopes exhibit a very strong seasonality. The fluxes of¹⁰Be into the traps at about 1500 m are estimated as 9 × 10⁵ and 4 × 10⁵ atoms cm⁻² a⁻¹ at sites H and M respectively. These values are to be compared with the fluxes into the sediments of 4–5 × 10⁵ atoms cm⁻² a⁻¹ at both locations. Good correlations exist between¹⁰Be,⁹Be and²⁷Al indicating that the primary carrier phase(s) for the beryllium isotopes in the water column may be aluminosilicates.     

Aerial remote sensing as a useful technique to obtain data on urban population

The aerial remote sensing data can be reliable source to obtain an estimate of urban population. A study was carried out in the city of Coimbatore (municipal area) using aerial photoghraphs of scale 1:4000 taken by a metric camera of 300 mm. focal length in the year 1979. The findings obtained by photo-interpretation compared very favourably with the interpolated population census figures for the year 1979, for the municipal area of the city Coimbatore. Dwelling units counted on the aerial photograph for different types of residential areas classified on the basis of size, shape and pattern are the physical indicators of population. Occupancy rate of dwelling units was determined by sampling survey carried out during field visit itself in this particular study.     

Monitoring landuse and landcover changes using landsat images

It is well known that changes in landuse and landcover e.g., vegetation, forests, soils, water quality etc. have a great impact on the economic and social development of a region. In most of these cases, a knowledge of existing landuse and landcover and its rate of change is essential prior to any planning activity. Remote Sensing, particularly from a satellite platform is potentially an effective and economic means to collect the data and to monitor changes occurring in landuse categories. This paper deals with a study carried out in Dehradun - Roorkee region for preparation of the landuse and landcover maps and monitoring changes, if any, over a period of 5 years, from landsat images using Visual Interpretation Techniques..     

Implications of precise 10Be measurements in deep-sea sediments

Precise ¹⁰Be measurements in a vertical profile of a large-diameter gravity core with uniform chemical composition from the central equatorial Pacific have not shown the expected decrease with depth. The decay-corrected ¹⁰Be activities ranged from 5.79 ± 0.21 d.p.m. kg^?1 at the top of the core to 9.88 ± 0.46 d.p.m. kg^?1 at the bottom, with a mean of 7.24 ± 1.18 d.p.m. kg^?1. This variation is attributable to the combined variations in the intensity of cosmic rays and that of the earth's magnetic field during the past ～ 1 Ma.     

Procedures for computation of saturation radiances: A case study for proposed sensors onboard Indian remote sensing satellite-1C

Saturation radiance (SR) is one of the important parameters required while designing a sensor and it depends on application requirements as well as sensor requirements. This study describes the procedures for computation of SR values using theoretical calculations of earthatmosphere radiances as well as radiances observed by existing satellites such as IRS-1A/1B LISS-I, Landsat TM and SPOT sensors. A possible set of saturation radiances for IRS-1C LISS-III, WIFS and PAN sensors has been suggested.     

Influence of rainfall-induced wetting on the stability of slopes in weathered soils

Shallow failures of slopes in weathered soil are caused by infiltration due to prolonged rainfall. These failures are mainly triggered by the deepening of the wetting band accompanied by a decrease in matric suction induced by the water infiltration. This paper reports trends of rainfall-induced wetting band depth in two types of weathered soils that are commonly found in Korea. Both theoretical and numerical analyses for wetting band depth are presented based on the soil–water characteristic curve obtained using filter paper as well as tensiometer tests. It is found that the magnitude of wetting front suction plays a key role in the stability of slopes in weathered soils. Theoretical analysis based on modified Green and Ampt model tends to underestimate the wetting band depth for typical Korean weathered soils. It was also deduced that for Korean weathered soils, the factor of safety drops rapidly once the wetting band depth of 1.2 m reached.     

Two- and three-dimensional gravity modeling along western continental margin and intraplate Narmada-Tapti rifts: Its relevance to Deccan flood basalt volcanism

The western continental margin and the intraplate Narmada-Tapti rifts are primarily covered by Deccan flood basalts. Three-dimensional gravity modeling of +70mgal Bouguer gravity highs extending in the north-south direction along the western continental margin rift indicates the presence of a subsurface high density, mafic-ultramafic type, elongated, roughly ellipsoidal body. It is approximately 12.0 ±1.2 km thick with its upper surface at an approximate depth of 6.0 ±0.6 km, and its average density is {dy2935} kg/m³. Calculated dimension of the high density body in the upper crust is 300 ±30 km in length and 25 ±2.5 to 40 ±4 km in width. Three-dimensional gravity modeling of +10mgal to -30mgal Bouguer gravity highs along the intraplate Narmada-Tapti rift indicates the presence of eight small isolated high density mafic bodies with an average density of {dy2961} kg/m³. These mafic bodies are convex upward and their top surface is estimated at an average depth of 6.5 ±0.6 (between 6 and 8km). These isolated mafic bodies have an average length of 23.8 ±2.4km and width of 15.9 ±1.5km. Estimated average thickness of these mafic bodies is 12.4±1.2km. The difference in shape, length and width of these high density mafic bodies along the western continental margin and the intraplate Narmada-Tapti rifts suggests that the migration and concentration of high density magma in the upper lithosphere was much more dominant along the western continental margin rift. Based on the three-dimensional gravity modeling, it is conjectured that the emplacement of large, ellipsoidal high density mafic bodies along the western continental margin and small, isolated mafic bodies along the Narmada-Tapti rift are related to lineament-reactivation and subsequent rifting due to interaction of hot mantle plume with the lithospheric weaknesses (lineaments) along the path of Indian plate motion over the Réunion hotspot. Mafic bodies formed in the upper lithosphere as magma chambers along the western continental margin and the intraplate Narmada-Tapti rifts at estimated depths between 6 and 8 km from the surface (consistent with geological, petrological and geochemical models) appear to be the major reservoirs for Deccan flood basalt volcanism at approximately 65 Ma.