Hydraulics of sediment-laden sheetflow and the influence of simulated rainfall

Laminar sheetflows, transporting sediment at their capacity rates, both with and without rainfall disturbance, were investigated. Values of flow depth and relative submergence were very small. In the flows without rainfall, measured velocities exceeded the predictions of the smooth-surface, clear-water laminar model by an average of 12 per cent. Reduced flow resistance due to high sediment concentrations may explain this result. Velocities in the rainfall-disturbed flows were not significantly different from the predictions of the smooth-surface, clear-water model, and the velocity reduction due to rainfall was about 12 per cent. Although the uniformity of rainfall intensity under the single-nozzle rainfall simulator is high, variation of momentum and kinetic energy fluxes along the 1-5 m long flume was significant. The rainfall angle of incidence was highly correlated with deviations from expected flow velocities in the upper and lower sections of the flume.     

Dynamics of interacting generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas in brane-world scenario

In this work we explore the background dynamics when dark energy is coupled to dark matter with a suitable interaction in the universe described by brane cosmology. Here DGP and the RSII brane models have been considered separately. Dark energy in the form of Generalized Cosmic Chaplygin gas is considered. A suitable interaction between dark energy and dark matter is considered in order to at least alleviate (if not solve) the cosmic coincidence problem. The dynamical system of equations is solved numerically and a stable scaling solution is obtained. A significant attempt towards the solution of the cosmic coincidence problem is taken. The statefinder parameters are also calculated to classify the dark energy models. Graphs and phase diagrams are drawn to study the variations of these parameters. It is also seen that the background dynamics of Generalized Cosmic Chaplygin gas is consistent with the late cosmic acceleration, but not without satisfying certain conditions. It has been shown that the universe in both the models follows the power law form of expansion around the critical point, which is consistent with the known results. Future singularities were studied and our models were declared totally free from any types of such singularities. Finally, some cosmographic parameters were also briefly studied. Our investigation led to the fact that although Generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas with a far lesser negative pressure compared to other dark energy models, can overcome the relatively weaker gravity of RS II brane, with the help of the negative brane tension, yet for the DGP brane model with much higher gravitation, the incompetency of Generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas is exposed, and it cannot produce the accelerating scenario until it reaches the phantom era.     

Molecular composition and paleobotanical origin of Eocene resin from northeast India

The molecular composition of fossil resins from early to middle Eocene coal from northeast India, has been analyzed for the first time to infer their paleobotanical source. The soluble component of fossil resin was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The resin extracts are composed of cadalene-based C₁₅ sesquiterpenoids and diagenetically altered triterpenoids. The macromolecular composition was investigated using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The major pyrolysis products are C₁₅ bicyclic sesquiterpenoids, alkylated naphthalenes, benzenes and a series of C₁₇–C₃₄ n-alkene-n-alkane pairs. Spectroscopic analysis revealed the dominance of aliphatic components. The presence of cadalene-based sequiterpenoids confirms the resin to be Class II or dammar resin, derived from angiosperms of Dipterocarpaceae family. These sesquiterpenoids are often detected in many SE Asian fluvio-deltaic oils. Dipterocarpaceae are characteristic of warm tropical climate suggesting the prevalence of such climate during early Eocene in northeast India.     

How effective is new variable modified Chaplygin gas to play the role of dark energy—a dynamical system analysis in RS II brane model

Motivated by some previous works of Rudra et al. we set to explore the background dynamics when dark energy in the form of New Variable Modified Chaplygin gas is coupled to dark matter with a suitable interaction in the universe described by brane cosmology. The main idea is to find out the efficiency of New variable modified Chaplygin gas to play the role of DE. As a result we resort to the technique of comparison with standard dark energy models. Here the RSII brane model have been considered as the gravity theory. An interacting model is considered in order to search for a possible solution of the cosmic coincidence problem. A dynamical system analysis is performed because of the high complexity of the system. The statefinder parameters are also calculated to classify the dark energy model. Graphs and phase diagrams are drawn to study the variations of these parameters and get an insight into the effectiveness of the dark energy model. It is also seen that the background dynamics of New Variable Modified Chaplygin gas is consistent with the late cosmic acceleration. After performing an extensive mathematical analysis, we are able to constrain the parameters of new variable modified Chaplygin gas as m<n to produce the best possible results. Future singularities are studied and it is found that the model has a tendency to result in such singularities unlike the case of generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas. Our investigation leads us to the fact that New Variable Modified Chaplygin gas is not as effective as other Chaplygin gas models to play the role of dark energy.     

Gravitational collapse in generalized Vaidya space-time for Lovelock gravity theory

In this work, we have assumed the generalized Vaidya solution in Lovelock theory of gravity in (n+2)-dimensions. It has been shown that Gauss-Bonnet gravity, dimensionally continued Lovelock gravity and pure Lovelock gravity can be constructed by suitable choice of parameters. We have investigated the occurrence of singularities formed by the gravitational collapse in above three particular forms of Lovelock theory of gravity. The dependence of the nature of singularity on the existence of radial null geodesic for Vaidya space-time has been specially considered. In all the three models, we have shown that the nature of singularities (naked singularity or black hole) completely depend on the parameters. Choices of various parameters are shown in tabular form. In Gauss-Bonnet gravity theory, it can be concluded that the possibility of naked singularity increases with increase in dimensions. In dimensionally continued Lovelock gravity, the naked singularity is possible for odd dimensions for several values of parameters. In pure Lovelock gravity, only black hole forms due to the gravitational collapse for any values of parameters. It has been shown that when accretion is taking place on a collapsing object, it is highly unlikely to get a black hole. Finally on considering the phantom era in the expanding universe it is observed that there is no possibility of formation of a black hole if we are in the Gauss-Bonnet gravity considering the accreting procedure upon a collapsing object.     

Validation of a vegetated filter strip model (VFSMOD)

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are designed to reduce sediment load and other pollutants into water bodies. However, adaptation of VFS in the field has been limited owing to lack of data about their efficiency and performance under natural field conditions. A number of models are available that simulate sediment transport and trapping in VFS, but there is a general lack of confidence in VFS models owing to limited validation studies and model limitations that prevent correct application of these models under field conditions. The objective of this study is to test and validate a process‐based model (VFSMOD) that simulates sediment trapping in VFS. This model links three submodels: modified Green–Ampt's infiltration, Quadratic overland flow submodel based on kinematic wave approximation and University of Kentucky sediment filtration model. A total of 20 VFS, 2, 5, 10 and 15 m long and with various vegetation covers, were tested under simulated sediment and runoff conditions. The results of these field experiments were used to validate the VFS model. The model requires 25 input parameters distributed over five input files. All input parameters were either measured or calculated using experimental data. The observed sediment trapping efficiencies varied from 65% in the 2‐m long VFS to 92% in the 10‐m long filters. No increase in sediment removal efficiency was observed at higher VFS length. Application of the VFS model to experimental data was satisfactory under the condition that actual flow widths are used in the model instead of the total filter width. Predicted and observed sediment trapping efficiencies and infiltration volume fitted very well, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0·9 and 0·95, respectively. Regression analyses revealed that the slope and intercept of the regression lines between predicted versus observed infiltration volume and trapping efficiency were not significantly different than the line of perfect agreement with a slope of 1·0 and intercept of 0·0. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental investigation of runoff reduction and sediment removal by vegetated filter strips

The impact of vegetated filter strips (VFS) on sediment removal from runoff has been studied extensively in recent years. Vegetation is believed to increase water infiltration and decrease water turbulence thus enhancing sediment deposition within filter media. In the study reported here, field experiments have been conducted to examine the efficiency of vegetated filter strips for sediment removal from cropland runoff. Twenty filters with varying length, slope and vegetated cover were used under simulated runoff conditions with an average sediment concentration of 2700 mg/L. The filters were 2, 5, 10 and 15 m long with a slope of 2·3 and 5% and three types of vegetation. Three other strips with bare soil were used as a control. The experimental results showed that the average sediment trapping efficiency of all filters was 84% and ranging from 68% in a 2‐m filter to as high as 98% in a 15‐m long filter compared with only 25% for the control. The length of filter has been found to be the predominant factor affecting sediment deposition in VFS up to 10 m. Increasing filter length to 15 m did not improve sediment trapping efficiency under the present experimental conditions. The rate of incoming flow and vegetation cover percentage has a secondary effect on sediment deposition in VFS. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MONTBLEX tower observations: Instrumentation,data acquisition and data quality

Tower platforms, with instrumentation at six levels above the surface to a height of 30 m, were used to record various atmospheric parameters in the surface layer. Sensors for measuring both mean and fluctuating quantities were used, with the majority of them indigenously built. Soil temperature sensors up to a depth of 30 cm from the surface were among the variables connected to the mean data logger. A PC-based data acquisition system built at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IISc, was used to acquire the data from fast response sensors. This paper reports the various components of a typical MONTBLEX tower observatory and describes the actual experiments carried out in the surface layer at four sites over the monsoon trough region as a part of the MONTBLEX programme. It also describes and discusses several checks made on randomly selected tower data sets acquired during the experiment. Checks made include visual inspection of time traces from various sensors, comparative plots of sensors measuring the same variable, wind and temperature profile plots, calculation of roughness lengths, statistical and stability parameters, diurnal variation of stability parameters, and plots of probability density and energy spectrum for the different sensors. Results from these checks are found to be very encouraging and reveal the potential for further detailed analysis to understand more about surface layer characteristics.     

Observational constraints of modified Chaplygin gas in RS II brane

FRW universe in RS II braneworld model filled with a combination of dark matter and dark energy in the form of modified Chaplygin gas (MCG) is considered. It is known that the equation of state (EoS) for MCG is a three-variable equation determined by A, α and B. The permitted values of these parameters are determined by the recent astrophysical and cosmological observational data. Here we present the Hubble parameter in terms of the observable parameters Ω _m0, Ω _x0, H ₀, redshift z and other parameters like A, B, C and α. From Stern data set (12 points), we have obtained the bounds of the arbitrary parameters by minimizing the χ ² test. The best-fit values of the parameters are obtained by 66 %, 90 % and 99 % confidence levels. Next due to joint analysis with BAO and CMB observations, we have also obtained the bounds of the parameters (B,C) by fixing some other parameters α and A. The best fit value of distance modulus μ(z) is obtained for the MCG model in RS II brane, and it is concluded that our model is perfectly consistent with the union2 sample data.     

Geological Characterization of the Miocene–Pliocene Succession in the Semliki Basin,Uganda: Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration and Drilling in the East African Rift System

Natural Resources Research - The Albertine Graben, an active sedimentary petroliferous basin, has gained global attention as the unexplored areas are recently being targeted for hydrocarbon...