Morphotectonic Appraisal of Yamuna River Basin in Headwater Region: A Relative Active Tectonics Purview

In the present paper integrated appraisals of landform evolution and their geomorphic features, drainage networks across the upper part of Yamuna river basin have been attempted by using various geomorphic indices such as watershed, drainage density (D), drainage texture, stream-gradient index (SL), hypsometric integral (HI), drainage basin asymmetry (AF), mountain front sinuosity (Smf), sinuosity index (SI), valley floor height and width ratio (Vf) and data of historical earthquakes in characterizing the basin in view of relative index of active tectonics (RIAT) on DEM in geographic information systems (GIS) environment to assess the influence of recent tectonics on geomorphologic growth of the basin.The substantiated RIAT classes through some field observations and corroborated by recent seismicity reveal the recent activation of Yamuna tear faults in the basin with delineation of four RIAT classes such as class-1 (inactive 9.8% of the area), class-2 (low active; 16.40% of the area), class-3 (moderately active; 42.38% of the area) and class-4 (very active; 31.62%). The results suggest that the Himalayan frontal thrust (HFT) and Yamuna tear (YT) located in the basin is morphogenic in nature and got activated several times as evidenced by number of seismic activities in the basin and adjoining regions. The incision, and sharp turning of rivers, crenulations and warping of cross beddings/laminations and silt/clay beds and lenses, megascopic and mesoscopic faulting in sediment sequences suggest a very active nature of the HFT and YT till date in association with three prolific microseismogenic weak zones These active discontinuities appear to support the formation and development of different deformational features in sediment sequences which may be indirectly related to subduction and underthrusting of Indian plate under Eurasian plate below the Himalayan mountain chain.     

Probabilistic rainfall thresholds in Chibo,India: estimation and validation using monitoring system

The Himalayan region has been severely affected by landslides especially during the monsoons. In particular, Kalimpong region in Darjeeling Himalayas has recorded several landslides and has caused significant loss of life, property and agricultural land. The study region, Chibo has experienced several landslides in the past which were mainly debris and earth slide. Globally, several types of rainfall thresholds have been used to determine rainfall-induced landslide incidents. In this paper, probabilistic thresholds have been defined as it would provide a better understanding compared to deterministic thresholds which provide binary results, i.e., either landslide or no landslide for a particular rainfall event. Not much research has been carried out towards validation of rainfall thresholds using an effective and robust monitoring system. The thresholds are then validated using a reliable system utilizing Microelectromechanical Systems(MEMS) tilt sensor and volumetric water content sensor installed in the region. The system measures the tilt of the instrument which is installed at shallow depths and is ideal for an early warning system for shallow landslides. The change in observed tilt angles due to rainfall would give an understanding of the applicability of the probabilistic model. The probabilities determined using Bayes' theorem have been calculated using the rainfall parameters and landslide data in 2010-2016. The rainfall values were collected from an automatic rain gauge setup near the Chibo region. The probabilities were validated using the MEMS based monitoring system setup in Chibo for the monsoon season of 2017. This is the first attempt to determine probabilities and validate it with a robust and effective monitoring system in Darjeeling Himalayas. This study would help in developing an early warning system for regions where the installation of monitoring systems may not be feasible.     

Coastal morphology and beach stability along Thiruvananthapuram,south-west coast of India

Shoreline changes are largely dependent on coastal morphology. South-west coast of India is a high energy coast characterised by monsoon high waves, steep beach face and medium-sized beach sand. Waves are generally from west and west south-west during rough monsoon season and from south-west during fair weather season. Shoreline change along this coast is studied with reference to coastal morphological features. Various morphological features, modifications and chronological positions of shoreline are analysed with the information derived from multidated satellite imageries, toposheets and GPS shoreline mapping along with extended field survey. Image processing and GIS techniques have been used for the analysis of data and presentation of results. Sediment accumulation on the leeward side of artificial structures such as harbour breakwaters and groynes is used as a sediment transport indicator. Artificial structures such as seawalls, groynes and harbour breakwaters modify morphology. Shoreline south of headlands/promontories and breakwaters are stable or accreting due to net northerly longshore sediment transport while erosion tendency is observed on the north side. Lateritic cliffs fronting the sea or with seasonal beach undergo slumping and cliff edge retreat as episodic events. Spits adjoining tidal inlets are prone to shoreline variations due to oscillations of inlet mouth. Interventions in the form of inlet stabilization and construction of coastal protection structures trigger erosion along adjoining coasts. Seawalls constructed along highly eroding coasts get damaged, whereas those constructed along monsoon berm crest with frontal beaches for protection against monsoon wave attack are retained. Fishing gaps within seawalls are areas of severe temporary erosion during rough monsoon season. Accretion or erosion accompanies construction of harbour breakwaters in a stable coastal plain. Close dependence of shoreline changes on morphology necessitates detailed understanding of impacts on morphology prior to introducing any intervention in the coastal zone.     

Estimation of ground response and local site effects for Vishakhapatnam,India

Natural Hazards - Ground motion intensity due to an earthquake changes as it disseminates through the soil media from bedrock to the surface. As the ground motion intensity and damage levels mainly...     

Geotechnical Facets of Active Sediments and its Bearing on Natural Hazards and Mitigation Measures: An Approach on Sediments of the Nubra Valley (Ladakh), Trans-Himalaya,India

Slope stability has been identified as a major obstacle to construction in the rapidly developing countries of Indonesia and Malaysia. In these countries, slope failure has been identified as one of the most commonly occurring natural disasters, leading to financial losses and deaths. Slope failure is often related to prolonged rainfall events where rainfall infiltration increases pore water pressure, reducing soil strength. This failure mechanism will accelerate with the existence of cracks, which are usually caused by differential settling, drying and shrinking of soil, and associated construction activities, among other causes. The existence of cracks on slopes usually provides an easy pathway for rainfall infiltration into soil, allowing rain to infiltrate to deeper layers than in the absence of cracks. The moisture content in deep layers is therefore higher in cracked slopes than in slopes without cracks. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of cracks on slope stability when subjected to rainfall. The influence of crack location, depth, size, and direction on pore water pressure distribution and slope stability was studied by imposing different rainfall intensities. Analysis of seepage and stability were conducted using the GEO STUDIO 2007 softwares SEEP/W and SLOPE/W. Results suggested that pore water pressure and slope stability were influenced by the existence of cracks. Analysis showed that slope factors of safety decreased sharply when cracks were located adjacent to the slope crest, as compared to when cracks were located in the middle of the slope. Furthermore, slope factors of safety decreased with increasing crack depth. Pore water pressure and slope factors of safety decreased further when slopes were subjected to small rainfall intensities for long periods, as compared to when slopes were subjected to high rainfall intensities for short periods. The present study shows that study of cracks should be an integral part of the slope stability analysis.     

Bianchi type-VI0 perfect fluid cosmological model in a modified theory of gravity

A spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-VI₀ space-time filled with perfect fluid in general relativity and also in the framework of f(R,T) gravity proposed by Harko et al. (in arXiv:1104.2669 [gr-qc], 2011) has been studied with an appropriate choice of the function f(R,T). The field equations have been solved by using the anisotropy feature of the universe in Bianchi type-VI₀ space time. Some important features of the models, thus obtained, have been discussed. We noticed that the involvement of new function f(R,T) doesn’t affect the geometry of the space-time but slightly changes the matter distribution.     

The study of reflection/transmission phenomena in a corrugated interface between two magnetoelastic transversely isotropic media

In this paper, an integrated approach has been carried out with an intent to study the reflection and transmission phenomena of plane SH-type wave on a corrugated interface separating two magnetoelastic transversely isotropic half-space. Closed form expressions for reflection and transmission coefficients have been derived for both plane and corrugated surface. Rayleigh’s method of approximation have been incorporated to deduce equations for the first- and second-order approximation of corrugation. Analytical solutions for both the half-spaces have been worked out. All possible cases have been apprehended specially for anisotropic and an isotropic medium. The effects of magnetoelastic coupling parameter, angle at which the wave crosses the magnetic field, corrugation amplitude, frequency factor and wave number have been explained by collaborating with graphical analysis.     

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.     

Early warning system using tilt sensors in Chibo,Kalimpong, Darjeeling Himalayas,India

The National Flash Flood Prevention Project, which mainly consists of non-structural and supplementary structural measures, has been conducted for 6 years in China. Some preliminary achievements have contributed to the prevention of flash flood in China. Based on the latest information, this article introduces China’s flash flood prevention system, primarily from the perspective of its development process, components, investment, and characteristics. To date, the system has incorporated many distinguished large-scale features such as the largest rain gauge network (approximately 0.5 million stations) in the world, massive disaster observation and preparedness networks, people-and-expert combined monitoring and forecasting data integration system, and a vast implementation area. Based on its early achievements and some typical case investigations of such flash flood prevention system, the article also discusses China’s prospects for preventing flash flood disasters in the future.