Evaluation of geochemical impact of tsunami on Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem,southeast coast of India

The 26 December 2004-tsunami has deposited sediments in the Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem, east coast of India. Ten surface and three core sediment samples were collected within 30 days of the event and analyzed for nutrients. Water samples were also analyzed to see the impact of tsunami on the geochemical behavior of nutrients. An increase in the concentration of various nutrients namely nitrate and phosphate was observed. The geochemistry of the mangrove forest was observed to be influenced by a number of factors like rapid increase of aquaculture farms, agricultural practices and the anthropogenic discharge from the nearby-inhabited areas. Further the sediment column was disturbed due to energetic tsunami waves, which has caused a sheer increase in the dissolved oxygen in water. As a result, the change in the redox potential has resulted in change in the nutrients absorbed/associated with the sediments. In addition, role of retreating water after tsunami on the nutrient geochemistry was also evaluated.     

The Martian paleoclimate and enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide

Current evidence indicates that the Martian surface is abundant with water presently in the form of ice, while the atmosphere was at one time more massive with a past surface pressure of as much as 1 atm of CO₂. In an attempt to understand the Martian paleoclimate, we have modeled a past CO₂H₂O greenhouse and find global temperatures which are consistent with an earlier presence of liquid surface water, a finding which agrees with the extensive evidence for past fluvial erosion. An important aspect of the CO₂H₂O greenhouse model is the detailed inclusion of CO₂ hot bands. For a surface pressure of 1 atm of CO₂, the present greenhouse model predicts a global mean surface temperature of 294°K, but if the hot bands are excluded, a surface temperature of only 250°K is achieved.     

Epi- and endobiont faunal communities on an Egyptian Mediterranean rocky shore: species composition and their competition for space

The exposed calcareous rocky area of the Abu Qir Headland,east of Alexandria,Egypt which range from coarse grains,through pebbles,cobbles,and boulders to rocky platforms,was signifi cantly colonized by sclerobionts(epibionts and endobionts).The epibiont species diversity was comparatively higher than that of endobionts.Epibiont communities included bryozoans(the anascan-grade cheilostome Bifl ustra savartii),serpulid(Hydroides elegans,Spirobranchus cf.tetraceros,Vermiliopsis striaticeps and Protula or Apomatus)and spirorbid(Spirorbis)wormtubes,and balanoid barnacles(Amphibalanus amphitrite,Balanus trigonus,and Perforatus perforatus).The cheilostome bryozoan colonies,which developed extensive sheets,proliferated on the study rocky shore either encrusting the bioeroded basement directly,or encrusting other epilithic taxa,particularly balanoid barnacles and serpulid worms.Encrusters displayed a remarkable marginal competitive interaction(overgrowth and stand-off)for space on the study rocky shore.On the other hand,endobionts were not well represented on the studied rocky shore exposure.It was possible to identify three ichnotaxa:Gastrochaenolites,Maeandropolydora,and Finichnus.The fi ndings documented represent a signifi cant contribution to our knowledge of sclerobionts composition,sequence of their colonization and/or bioerosion,and their mutual relationships on the intertidal rocky shore of the Abu Qir Headland.     

Structural Setting and Kinematic Analysis of the Halaban Region,Eastern Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

The vorticity analysis technique was applied to measure the different lithological units,such as schist,metagranite and metavolcano-sedimentary rocks,which are present in the Halaban region.This work aims to interpret the relationship between the different lithologies and the tectonic setting,in order to elucidate the nature of kinematic analysis in the Halaban region.The kinematic analyses were applied to feldspar porphyroclasts,quartz and hornblende for twentysix samples.The kinematic vorticity number (W_m) for deformed rocks in the study area ranged from～0.6 to 0.9.The direction of the long axes for finite strain data (X axes) revealed a WNW trend with shallow dipping.The direction of the short axes for finite strain data (Z axes) were represented by vertical with associated horizontal foliation.The results of the kinematic vorticity and strain analyses are characterized by simple shear with different degrees of deformation in the Halaban region.Furthermore,our finite strain data shows no significant volume change during deformation.The subhorizontal foliation was synchronized with thrusting and deformation.Furthermore,throughout the overlying nappes,the same attitudes of tectonic contacts are observable,the nappes in the orogens being formed from simple shear deformation.     

Macroparasites of angelfish Brama brama (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the southern Benguela Current ecosystem

The angelfish Brama brama is a mesopelagic species distributed circumglobally in temperate to warm-temperate waters, including continental-shelf-edge and upper-slope waters of the Benguela Current ecosystem. Little is known about the parasite assemblage of Benguela B. brama, with only three parasite taxa having previously been documented from this species in the southern Benguela. This study describes the macroparasites recorded from 35 B. brama collected during research surveys off the west coast of South Africa in 2015 and 2016. A total of six macroparasite taxa were documented, including the nematode Anisakis pegreffii, the copepod Hatschekia conifera, the cestode Hepatoxylon trichiuri, an acanthocephalan from the genus Rhadinorhynchus, a monogenean from the family Diclidophoridae, and an unidentified species. Three of these (He. trichiuri, Rhadinorhynchus sp. and the unidentified species) had not previously been found to infect B. brama. The most prevalent macroparasite taxa were A. pegreffii (94%), the unidentified species (71%) and Ha. conifera (60%). Two of the parasites, Ha. conifera and He. trichiuri, showed seasonal variation in infection, and infection with the latter was positively correlated with host length. These findings increase our knowledge of B. brama biology and contribute to our understanding of the biodiversity of the southern Benguela ecosystem.     

Characteristics of air flow over Andaman islands including precipitation

The characteristics of simulated air flow over Andaman Islands are studied with a two-dimensional version of the University of Virginia meso scale model (UVMM). Using the observed synoptic data as initial conditions, 24 hr simulations are obtained for a day each in April and November. These days are chosen to study the variations in the simulated flow pattern under different synoptic conditions including precipitation effects. A large scale condensation scheme is employed to consider the effect of latent heat release on the perturbations. The results show that the latent heat released by condensation strengthens the intensity of perturbations and the topography accelerates the arrival of sea breeze by about an hour. The model-simulated results, given in graphical form, are discussed and compared with available observations.     

Atmospheric electricity measurements over the Indian Ocean

Summary Results of measurements of the atmospheric electrical conductivity and potential gradient made during the sixth Scientific Cruise of the Indian Oceanographic Ship INS Kistna in the Bay of Bengal during February–March 1963 are presented. Observations were made when the skies were generally clear and the sea calm, in the geographical area 8°N to 17°N and 80°E to 95°E, on the outward journey of INS Kistna from Madras (80°E, 13°N) to Port Blair (93°E, 12°N) and on the return journey to Madras.Over the ocean where there are no local sources of pollution, the measured values of conductivity and potential gradient are in agreement with theoretical values, assuming that an ion equilibrium exists, that ions are destroyed primarily by collision with small ions of opposite sign and that small ions are produced only by cosmic radiation. The values of electrical conductivity obtained are generally of the same order as those to be expected from theoretical considerations and in general agreement with those obtained during the Carnegie cruises in the Indian Ocean in 1920. There are, however, significant variations near the coast where the electric structure above the ocean is affected by continental sources of pollution. Conductivity values near the land are about half that in the unpolluted air over the ocean but prevailing winds prevent the extension of pollution beyond 100–200 km from the coast in this season.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über Messungen der luftelektrischen Leitfähigkeit und des Potentialgefälles berichtet, welche während der Sechsten Wissenschaftlichen Kreuzfahrt des indischen Ozeanographischen Forschungsschiffes Ins Kistna in der Bengalischen Bucht im Februar und März 1963 ausgeführt wurden. Die Beobachtungen sind im allgemeinen bei klarem Himmel und ruhiger See gemacht worden, und zwar in dem geographischen Bereich zwischen 8 und 17°N und 80 und 95°E während der Ausfahrt der INS Kistna von Madras (80°E, 13°N) nach Port Blair (93°E, 12°N) und auf der Rückreise nach Madras. In den Bereichen des Ozeans, in denen keine örtlichen Pollutionsquellen bestehen, stimmen die gemessenen Werte der Leitfähigkeit und des Potentialgefälles mit den theoretischen Werten überein, die man erhält, wenn man annimmt, dass ein Ionengleichgewicht besteht, dass die schnellen Ionen vorwiegend durch Zusammenstoss mit schnellen Ionen des entgegengesetzten Vorzeichens vernichtet werden, und dass die schnellen Ionen nur durch die kosmische Höhenstrahlung erzeugt werden. Die Werte der Leitfähigkeit stimmen mit denen überein, die man aus theoretischen Überlegungen gewinnt, und auch mit denen, die während der Kreuzfahrten des Forschungsschiffes Carnegie im Indischen Ozean im Jahre 1920 gemessen Küste sind jedoch bedeutsame Abweichungen festzustellen, wo die elektrischen Verhältenisse über dem Ozean durch Pollutionsquellen auf dem Lande beeinflusst werden. Die Leitfähigkeitswerte nahe dem Land sind nur ungefähr halb so gross wie die in der pollutionsfreien Luft des offenen Ozeans-jedoch haben die während der Mess-Jahreszeit vorherrschenden Winde eine Ausbreitung der Pollutionszone auf einen Bereich von 100 bis 200 km von der Küste beschränkt.

     

Ozone and airglow in the mesosphere region

The paper presents the results of a photometric study of the hydroxyl bands (7–2) and (8–3) in the night airglow spectrum at Mt. Abu in the winter and spring of 1966–1972. The observed nocturnal variation differs from the variation expected from the theoretical studies of Hesstvedt, Hunt, Shimazaki and others. Instead of a gradual fall in intensity after sunset to shortly before sunrise, a peak in intensity is found at a time which changes from month to month and roughly coincides with the transit times of the X-ray star TAU (XR-1)-Crab Nebula. Anexplanation of the observed phenomenon is offered in terms of the increased energy output into the D and E regions of the atmospheres, increased eddy diffusion, and production, of additional O(³P) and O₃ in the region 80–95 km. O₃ reacting with H gives rise to OH^*.     

Possibility of continuous monitoring of celestial X-ray sources through their ionization effects in the nocturnal D-region ionosphere

The electron production rates in the night-time D-region arising from the transit of strong celestial X-ray sources Sco X-1, Tau X-1 and Galactic Center are estimated and compared with the ambient electron production rates resulting from other known stable agencies. Using the experimentally measured values of the night-time electron densities, the number of additional electrons/cc expected from the passage of these sources is computed. For the 164 kHz transmission from Tashkent, received at Ahmedabad, the associated enhancement in the attenuation is calculated using the full wave admittance technique of Barron and Budden. Reasonable agreement is shown to exist between the calculated values of the attenuation and those of direct observations.