Morphostratigraphy and fan morphology of doon valley

In the present study analysis of Landsat MSS, TM and SPOT imagery and digital analysis of IRS LISS-1 data of Doon Valley was carried out. Various geomorphic features were identified and classified, morphostratigraphy of the area has been established. Main geomorphic units of the area are Mussoorie Hill Range (Denudational), Siwalik Hills (Structural), Remnant Hills (Residual). Siwalik Piedmont. Doon Piedmont, River Terraces and Flood Plain. Three large fan lobes are identified on Doon Piedmont deposits, viz., Western fan lobe, Central fan lobe and Eastern fan lobe. Average slope of these three fan lobes are 2°21′, 2°3′, and 1°24′ for the western, central and eastern fan lobes respectively. Western and central fan lobes have been affected by neotectonic activity which is reflected in transverse profiles.     

Application of remote sensing data in characterization and mapping of soil resources for watershed planning in arid Western Rajasthan

Visual interpretation of IRS-L1SS-II (January, 1995) FCC (1:50,000 scale) of spectral bands 2, 3 and 4 was carried out for the identification and mapping of major physiographic units in an arid watershed of Jodhpur district (Rajasthan). Based on image characteristics and field traverses, seven major physiographic units identified are (1) hills (2) pediments, flat to undulating (3) buried pediments, moderately deep to deep, coarse textured (4) buried pediment, shallow to moderately deep and deep, medium to fine textured, saline (5) older alluvial plains, deep and very deep, coarse textured (6) younger alluvial plains, deep to very deep, very coarse textured and (7) dune complexes. Based on physiographicvariatton and soil or site characteristics such as texture, depth, slope, erosion and underneath substrata, 41 soil mapping units were identified and mapped. Final physiography, soil, slope, drainage and landuse maps were prepared on 1:5,000 scale. Taxonomically, the soils of the watershed were classified as Para-Lithic Torriorthents, coarse-loamy, Lithic/Typic Haplocambids, fine-loamy, Lithic/Typic Haplosalids and Typic Torrifluvents and Typic Torripsamments. Land suitability for various mapping units in the watershed have been assessed on the basis of soil physico-chemical characteristics.     

Degradation of native wheat straw lignin by Streptomyces viridosporus T7A

Lignin is one of the major contributing factors toward the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass. Understanding the process of lignin degradation in natural biological processes will provide useful information to develop novel biomass conversion technologies. Functional group changes in the lignin entities during the process may contribute to the cellulose degradation (utilization) by the microorganisms. In this study, compositional and advanced Fourier transform infrared, pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and ¹³C cross polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance analysis were performed to explore the mechanism of biodegradation of wheat straw by Streptomyces viridosporus T7A. The results indicated that S. viridosporus T7A removed lignin and hemicelluloses as indicated by the increased carbohydrate/lignin ratio. Significant modification of carbonyl and methoxyl groups in the complex lignin structure was also evident. Most importantly, the quantitative results showed that lignin degradation was featured by deduction of guaiacyl unit. The results provide new insight for understanding lignin degradation by bacteria.     

Patterns of carbon sequestration in forests of western ghats and study of applicability of remote sensing in generating carbon credits through afforestation/reforestation

Satellite remote sensing is a proven tool for mapping landuse patterns and estimating vegetation biomass/carbon. Present study aims at estimating the potential of forests of Radhanagari WLS (Western Ghats, India) to sequester the atmospheric carbon-di-oxide, using ground based observations coupled with satellite remote sensing. The study area was stratified for dominant forest types based on the structure and composition of vegetation and elevation variations. Permanent sample plots were laid down in these homogeneous vegetation strata (HVS) to make different observations during time 1 and time 2. Carbon sequestration by plantations was also studied and compared with natural forests. Species and area-specific biomass equations were used for estimating carbon pool and sequestration. Among natural forests ‘mixed moist deciduous’ forests exhibited highest sequestration rate (8%), whereas, plantation as obvious had a comparatively higher sequestration rate than natural forests (20.27%). Total carbon sequestration by forests of the Radhanagari WLS between 2004 and 2006 is 78742.09 tons. Eligible land for reforestation activity under clean development mechanism (CDM) of Kyoto Protocol was identified using satellite remote sensing using 1989 and 2005 datasets and it was observed that the potential land that can be used for reforestation activity is 10080 ha.     

Space Weather: Physics,Effects and Predictability

The time varying conditions in the near-Earth space environment that may affect space-borne or ground-based technological systems and may endanger human health or life are referred to as space weather. Space weather effects arise from the dynamic and highly variable conditions in the geospace environment starting from explosive events on the Sun (solar flares), Coronal Mass Ejections near the Sun in the interplanetary medium, and various energetic effects in the magnetosphere–ionosphere–atmosphere system. As the utilization of space has become part of our everyday lives, and as our lives have become increasingly dependent on technological systems vulnerable to the space weather influences, the understanding and prediction of hazards posed by these active solar events have grown in importance. In this paper, we review the processes of the Sun–Earth interactions, the dynamic conditions within the magnetosphere, and the predictability of space weather effects on radio waves, satellites and ground-based technological systems today.     

Petrological considerations for the demineralization of Rajmahal coals with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas mendocina</Emphasis> B6-1

The present study entails the results of the petrological coniderations for demineralization of Rajmahal Gondwana coals with Psudomonas mendocina B6-1. Inertinite group macerals are the dominant constituents of these coals, followed by vitrinite group, while liptinite occurs in low concentration. The amount of Mineral matter is moderately high. The concentration of major, minor and trace elements is high when compared with Clarke values. After the treatment of these coals with Pseudomonas mendocina strain B6-1, a significant reduction in the elemental content of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur was observed. A gradual reduction of pyrite phase due to bioleaching was identified and its signatures were reflected in the XRD spectra and FTIR absorption bands. Over 5 % reduction in the ash content and decrease of major, minor and trace element to variable degrees were also noticed. Fe, As, and Ca positively correlate with the ash removal percentage indicating that the samples with high concentration of these elements were prone to demineralization with Pseudomonas mendocina strain B6-1 whereas Ni, Zn, Cr and Cu, negatively correlate with the ash removal percentage and shows that their enrichment impeded the process of demineralization. With increasing concentration of vitrinite the removal of major/minor/trace elements also increased which is attributed to the possible association of these elements with the mineral matter occurring as superficial mounting and superficial blanketing over the vitrinite macerals. This could facilitate the bacterial access to the elements to act upon and remove it to the variable extent. Some minerals occur intergrown with inertinites causing restricted bacterial action owing to the nonexposure of the mineral particles and less surface area available to the bacteria for bioleaching. Sulfur removal strongly relates with increase in inertinite content and decrease in liptinite content. This appears that sulfur associated with liptinites have shown difficult removal condition. The maximum removal of the trace elements like Cd, Cu, Co, Zn and Pb was observed from the ‘banded dull coal’ samples of the Rajmahal basin while maximum removal of major/minor elements like Fe, Ca and Mg was noticed from the ‘banded bright coal’ samples. However, maximum removal of Mn and As was also observed in the samples of ‘banded coal’.     

Cuttability assessment of hard coal seams

Summary A number of field and laboratory tests have been carried out on more than 15 coal seams of compressive strengths ranging from 19 MPa to 44 MPa to evolve methods which would help in the selection of suitable coaling machines for hard coal seams. The effect of physico-mechanical properties on cuttability were studied in the laboratory for all these coal seams to identify the relevant parameters affecting the specific energy of coal cuttability. These data were subjected to regression analysis to find the best fit for estimation of laboratory specific energy of coal samples on the basis of simple laboratory and field tests for the strength parameters. Field studies were also conducted over a large number of active mechanized coal faces to study in situ cuttability along with the geo-mining conditions of the site. The field and the laboratory data so generated were correlated and an attempt is made to establish a relationship for estimating the field specific energy for a particular capacity of coaling machines by considering the geo-mining domain of the field in totality.     

Surface and groundwater quality characterization of Deoria District,Ganga Plain,India

A water quality investigation was carried out in the Deoria district, Ganga plain, to assess the suitability of surface and groundwaters for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. As much as 50 representative samples from river and groundwater were collected from various stations to monitor the water chemistry of various ions, comprising Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻, F⁻, and trace metals, such as Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd, and Pb. The results showed that electrical conductance (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), HCO₃ ⁻, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and total hardness (TH) are above the maximum desirable limit, and apart from Fe and Mn all other trace metals are within the maximum permissible limit for drinking water. The calculated values for sodium absorption ratio (SAR), salinity, residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and permeability index (PI) indicate well to permissible use of water for irrigation. High values of Na%, RSC, and Mg-hazard (MH) at some stations restrict its use for agricultural purpose. Anthropogenic activities affect the spatial variation of water quality. Economic and social developments of the study area is closely associated with the characteristics of the hydrological network.     

Impact of Pastoral Practices on Forest Cover and Regeneration in the Outer Fringes of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary,Western Himalaya

The study reports the impact of migratory livestock in the buffer area of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. The cumulative impacts of livestock grazing, fuel wood extraction and other anthropogenic pressures on forest cover in and around camping sites have been analyzed using satellite data and field observations. Multi-date satellite data were used to map the forest cover around 16 seasonal livestock camps. An annual loss of about 7.25 ha of forest covers during 1976–1990, 13.57 ha during 1990–1999 and 11.46 ha during 1999–2005 are recorded. A loss of 108.53 ha of forestland has been estimated during 1976–1990, about 122.16 ha during 1990–1999 and 68.78 ha during 1999–2005. It is also observed that many of the isolated camping sites are now connected due to loss of vegetation. Phytosociological analysis indicates that the number of seedlings and saplings in three species of Quercus (Q. leucotrichophora, Q. floribunda and Q. semecarpifolia) as compared to mature tress is very less around cattle camping sites. The ratio of number of sapling with seedling and trees indicates that the status of sapling is nil to very poor, an indication of loss of saplings due to either trampling or grazing.