Induced magnetic variations at Shillong in relation to regional geology

The Shillong plateau and Mikir Hills form a conspicuous feature in the geologically complex region of Northeastern India. From observations of geomagnetic variations at Shillong a consistent suppression of the vertical (Z) component of variation is noted. From previous analyses of a selected geomagnetic storm observed at Shillong, Ujjain and Jaipur, stations at nearly the same latitude, the complex demodulates ofZ variation at Shillong demonstrate this suppression. Results from a comparative study of bays and storm sudden commencements are also cited. An attempt to calculate induction vectors at Shillong was made but they were found to be indeterminate. However, a case for the presence of induced current concentrations near Shillong is strong, when these characteristics of geomagnetic variations are considered in the context of regional geology. Shillong and the Mikir Hills are the intruded northeastern remnants of the Indian Shield, that have been transported into the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis. But the present data are insufficient to delineate the path of induced currents in the Shillong region or to estimate their intensity.     

Determining shallow aquifer vulnerability by the DRASTIC model and hydrochemistry in granitic terrain,southern India

Shallow aquifer vulnerability has been assessed using GIS-based DRASTIC model by incorporating the major geological and hydrogeological factors that affect and control the groundwater contamination in a granitic terrain. It provides a relative indication of aquifer vulnerability to the contamination. Further, it has been cross-verified with hydrochemical signatures such as total dissolved solids (TDS), \(\hbox {Cl}^{-},\, \hbox {HCO}_{3}^{-},\, \hbox {SO}_{4}^{2-}\) and \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}/\hbox {HCO}_{3}^{-}\) molar ratios. The results show four zones of aquifer vulnerability (i.e., negligible, low, moderate and high) based on the variation of DRASTIC Vulnerability Index (DVI) between 39 and 132. About 57% area in the central part is found moderately and highly contaminated due to the 80 functional tannery disposals and is more prone to groundwater aquifer vulnerability. The high range values of TDS (2304–39,100 mg/l); \(\hbox {Na}^{+}\)(239– 6,046 mg/l) and \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}\) (532–13,652 mg/l) are well correlated with the observed high vulnerable zones. The values of \(\hbox {Cl}^{-}/\hbox {HCO}_{3}^{-}\) (molar ratios: 1.4–106.8) in the high vulnerable zone obviously indicate deterioration of the aquifer due to contamination. Further cumulative probability distributions of these parameters indicate several threshold values which are able to demarcate the diverse vulnerability zones in granitic terrain.     

Groundwater and surface water interactions in an alluvial plain, Tuul River Basin, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Drinking water supplies in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, are completely dependent on groundwater sourced from pumping wells located in an alluvial plain of the Tuul River which flows through Ulaanbaatar. The interaction between groundwater in the alluvial plain and river surface water was investigated using a hydrological and multi-tracers approach. The observed groundwater contour map clearly shows that the Tuul River recharges the floodplain groundwater and groundwater flows from east to west. The similarity of chemical and stable isotopic compositions suggests that groundwater is mainly recharged by Tuul River water in the vicinity of the river. In addition, considering groundwater contours and chemical composition, groundwater in the northern and southern mountain sides contribute to floodplain groundwater. Stable isotopic information suggests that winter season precipitation also contributes to the groundwater, because groundwater in a specific region has a considerably lower isotopic ratio. Using the End Member Mixing Analysis applying oxygen-18, SiO₂ and HCO₃ ^- as tracers, the contribution ratios of the Tuul River, groundwater in the northern and southern mountain regions, and winter season precipitation to floodplain groundwater are estimated to be 58% to 85%, 1% to 54%, 0% to 16%, and 0% to 12%, respectively.     

Estimates of current status of forest types in Kolli Hill using remote sensing

The vegetation of Kolli Hill, has been classified for its forest cover types using landsat TM FCCs of two season namely summer (March) and winter (November). The FCCs of two seasons were interpreted visually based on the standard interpretation elements. Extensive field checks were done and corrections were made in both the maps wherever found necessary’. Finally the forest cover type map of Kolli Hill on 1:50,000 scale was drawn by overlaying the interpreted maps of the two seasons The different types of forest were named following Champion and Seth’s classification scheme and the areas of different forest types estimated.     

Rapid simultaneous observations of Feii and Balmer emission lines of X Oph

Sudden brightening of FeII and Balmer (H and H) lines of X Oph was observed on 28–29 May, 1986. Equivalent width of FeII and H lines increased by a factor of two and that for H line by a factor of four, during the brigtening phase of the star. This brightening phenomena has been explained in the framework of Coronal Radiative Instability.     

Proposed relation between anomalous geomagnetic variations and the tectonic history of South India

Anomalous geomagnetic variations have been observed at all geomagnetic stations in South India and they have earlier been attributed to ocean and crustal conductors. The spectral character of induced variations indicate that, in addition to coastal effects and channelling of currents through the Palk Straits, there is a concentration of currents in a conducting body at deeper levels in the crust or mantle.Current thinking on crustal evolution and the influence of Precambrian lineaments on tectonism and mineralisation up to recent times, provides support for the conjecture that zones of high electrical conductivity exist in the crust, which are related to tectonic and mineral influences. The Eastern Ghats and granulite terrain of South India and Sri Lanka are probably associated with such a zone of fundamental weakness in the crust. Extended graphite mineralisation along the Eastern Ghats, occurrence of economic graphite deposits near Trivandrum and in Sri Lanka and the association of alkaline and ultrabasic metallic minerals with deep faults in South India are indications of the possible chemical causes of high electrical conductivity in some regions of the crust.Similar relations between induced anomalous variations and tectonism and mineralisation in the Precambrian crystalline crust have been found in North America and Scotland. However, the regions of high electrical conductivity have not yet been mapped in detail in South India to confirm such a relationship.     

Assessing the copula selection for bivariate frequency analysis based on the tail dependence test

The flood characteristics, namely, peak, duration and volume provide important information for the design of hydraulic structures, water resources planning, reservoir management and flood hazard mapping. Flood is a complex phenomenon defined by strongly correlated characteristics such as peak, duration and volume. Therefore, it is necessary to study the simultaneous, multivariate, probabilistic behaviour of flood characteristics. Traditional multivariate parametric distributions have widely been applied for hydrological applications. However, this approach has some drawbacks such as the dependence structure between the variables, which depends on the marginal distributions or the flood variables that have the same type of marginal distributions. Copulas are applied to overcome the restriction of traditional bivariate frequency analysis by choosing the marginals from different families of the probability distribution for flood variables. The most important step in the modelling process using copula is the selection of copula function which is the best fit for the data sample. The choice of copula may significantly impact the bivariate quantiles. Indeed, this study indicates that there is a huge difference in the joint return period estimation using the families of extreme value copulas and no upper tail copulas (Frank, Clayton and Gaussian) if there exists asymptotic dependence in the flood characteristics. This study suggests that the copula function should be selected based on the dependence structure of the variables. From the results, it is observed that the result from tail dependence test is very useful in selecting the appropriate copula for modelling the joint dependence structure of flood variables. The extreme value copulas with upper tail dependence have proved that they are appropriate models for the dependence structure of the flood characteristics and Frank, Clayton and Gaussian copulas are the appropriate copula models in case of variables which are diagnosed as asymptotic independence.     

Sedimentation assessment in a multipurpose reservoir in Central Kerala,India

Dams and their reservoirs, constructed to manage the water scarcity problems of a region, sometimes lose whole or part of their functionality due to sedimentation. This issue, seen as a negative impact as far as reservoir life and its purpose is concerned, can be a boon to the construction industry, by providing a highly demanding construction material in the form of sand dredged from the reservoirs. Malampuzha reservoir, a multipurpose reservoir in the South Indian state of Kerala, is also losing considerable part of its storage due to siltation. This paper assesses the rate of sedimentation in Malampuzha reservoir, through bathymetric survey and suggests measures for utilization of the removable sediment. Our analysis has shown that the reservoir capacity is reduced from 226 to 205.19 Mm³; a reduction in capacity of 20.81 Mm³ in 55 years. The rate of sedimentation of the reservoir is estimated as 16.95 mm/year. The dead storage capacity of the reservoir has reduced to 47.5 % from the original at present. The composition of deposited sediments is also identified, based on which its productive use is recommended.     

Study the Mechanism of Surface Chlorophyll–a Variability in the Southern Tropical Indian Ocean Using an OGCM

Eleven years (1997–2007) of SeaWiFS observations and Ocean General Circulation Model sensitivity experiments are used to understand chlorophyll–a variability in the southern tropical Indian Ocean. The strong offshore Ekman transport forced by anomalous southeasterly winds are responsible for inducing higher chlorophyll-a in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. In the case of the southwest tropical Indian Ocean, Rossby waves and local upwelling are responsible for lifting the phytoplankton from deep chlorophyll maxima to the surface. Both intraseasonal dynamical response and interannual forcing are responsible for the phytoplankton blooming in the western basin, whereas the interannual forcing is mainly responsible in the east.