Inter sensor comparison between RESOURCESAT LISS III, LISS IV and AWiFS with reference to coastal landuse/landcover studies

Coastal zone assumes importance due to high productivity of ecosystems, man-made developmental activities, natural hazards and dynamic nature of the coast. As costal ecosystems are unique and fragile, understanding the impact of developmental activities on the sustainability of the coastal zone is very important. Remote sensing, because of repetitive and synoptic nature is an ideal tool for studying this. Time series data analyses for monitoring coastal zone require different type of sensors. Present study deals with atmospheric correction of satellite data, reflectance, selection of coastal features like, mudflat, mangroves, vegetated dune, coastal water, etc. and their inter-comparison using different sensor data of RESOURCESAT sensors. Reflectance values give better separateability for various coastal features in comparison to DN values. LISS IV can be used in place of LISS III or merged (LISS III + PAN) for long-term coastal zone studies.     

On the pH-dependent formation constants of iron(III)-sulfur(IV) transient complexes

An experimental study is described of Fe(III)-S(IV) formation constants measured as a function of pH (1–3), ionic strength (0.2–0.5 M) and [Fe(III)] _T (2.5–5.0×10^–4 M) using a continuous-flow spectrophotometric technique to make observations 160 ms after mixing. Preliminary experiments using pulse-accelerated-flow (PAF) spectrophotometry to measure rate constants on a microsecond timescale are also described. The conditional formation constant at 25 °C can be modeled with the following equation: {ie307-1} where {ie307-2}K ₇ andK ₈ can be interpreted as intrinsic constants for the coordination of HSO ₃ ^– by FeOH²⁺ and Fe³⁺, respectively, but until further evidence is obtained they should be regarded as fitting constants. PAF spectrophotometry showed that the initial reaction of Fe(III) with S(IV) (pH 2.0) is characterized by a second-order rate constant of 4×10⁶ M^–1 s^–1 which is comparable to rate of reaction of FeOH²⁺ with SO ₄ ^2– . However, the PAF results should be regarded as preliminary since unexpected features in the initial data indicate that the reaction may be more complex than expected.     

东昆仑造山带中地壳存在古洋壳俯冲的深反射地震证据

INDEPTH Ⅳ深反射地震测线横跨可可西里-巴颜喀拉地块和东昆仑-柴达木地块,为揭示青藏高原东昆仑造山带深部构造提供了直接地球物理证据。针对地表和地下"双复杂"地质构造条件,地震数据处理中通过剩余折射波静校正技术、异常振幅噪声衰减技术和CRS优化叠加技术,获得了较高信噪比的地震反射叠加剖面。INDEPTH Ⅳ深反射地震剖面揭示,在东昆仑造山带岩石圈上、下地壳之间存在不连续的古洋壳反射同相轴,该反射界面应属古特提斯域松潘-甘孜洋壳向北俯冲遗迹,不连续特征反映中生代东昆仑-柴达木地块南缘属于被动大陆边缘碰撞带。利用INDEPTH Ⅳ深反射地震单炮、速度和叠加剖面等成果,综合解译数据,提出东昆仑造山带隆升过程的另一种模式,以助于深化东昆仑造山模式认识。     

Remote sensing and information value (IV) model for regional mapping of fluvial channels and topographic wetness in the Saudi Arabia

This study aims to map regions of near surface fluvial channels, mega-basins and topographic wetness in Saudi Arabia using remote sensing data and an information value (IV) model, which is a modified approach of weight of evidence. We used the new version of the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) to delineate the fluvial channels, mega-basin, and slope. These hydrological parameters were used to index the topographic wetness of each mega-basin in the region based on IV in a Geographic Information System. We validated our method using the Space Imaging Radar-C and Landsat 8 images and compared the textural features (fluvial channels) evident from SRTM digital elevation model and to determine whether these patterns were different. Our results revealed that the region is drained by nine tributaries and that the Err Rub Al Khali and Sahba mega-basins have the highest value of the IV and topographic wetness values; the Arran and coastal mega-basins have the lowest value of the IV and topographic wetness values. An integrated approach is timely and economically effective and can be applied throughout the arid and semi-arid regions to help hydrologists and urban developers.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of the franciscana dolphin,Pontoporia blainvillei,in Southern Buenos Aires,Argentina

The franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, is endemic to the coastal waters of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and the most endangered dolphin in the area. Four Franciscana Management Areas (FMAs) are currently recognised; however, results of genetic studies suggest the requirement for additional FMAs and highlight the need for more detailed studies in the southern extreme of the species distribution. With this aim, we studied the genetic diversity and population structure of the species analysing an mtDNA control region fragment (434?bp) in 44 individuals collected in four sampling sites located in Southern Buenos Aires. Haplotype diversity (H?=?0.75?±?0.05) was mostly higher than the observed in endangered or near threatened odontocetes. Population structure analyses suggest that three different genetic populations should be recognised within FMA IV: Northern, Eastern and Southern Buenos Aires. Altogether, these results should be taken into account in future conservation plans for the species.     

The Influence of Oxalate on Fe-Catalyzed S(IV) Oxidation by Oxygen in Aqueous Solution

This study demonstrates that oxalate has a strong inhibiting effect onFe-catalyzed S(IV) oxidation by oxygen in aqueous solution. While thepseudo-first order rate constant of S(IV) oxidation was determined to be1.6 × 10³ M^-1 s^-1 in experimentswithout oxalate, the oxidation of S(IV) was totally inhibited at a molarconcentration ratio of iron:oxalate = 1:5 at an oxalate concentration of 4M. Under these conditions, the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio remained nearlyconstant during the observed reaction time. The determined rate constants wereindependent of the initial oxidation state of iron. However, with increasingconcentrations of oxalate, a longer induction period is observed forexperiments with iron initially in the Fe(II) oxidation state.     

Influence of alcohols on the extraction of cerium(IV) by Aliquat-336 in kerosene

Tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat-336) diluted with kerosene was used to extract cerium(IV) from nitric acid medium. Various alcohols were used as modifiers to overcome the third phase problem. The different parameters affecting the extraction process including nitric, nitrate, hydrogen ion, extractant and metal concentrations as well as the temperature were separately investigated. The effect of the investigated alcohols on the extraction process was also studied in detail at two different concentrations and correlated to their physical constants. Based on the obtained results, the extraction equilibrium was deduced and the optimum conditions for the extraction of cerium(IV) were proposed. The method was tested and applied to the separation of cerium from the hydrous oxide cake resulting from monazite sand.     

Progress in the Study of Deep Profiles of Tibet and the Himalayas (INDEPTH)

This paper introduces 8 major discoveries and new understandings with regard to the deep structure and tectonics of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau obtained in Project INDEPTH, They are mainly as follows. (1) The upper crust, lower crust and mantle lithosphere beneath the blocks of the plateau form a "sandwich" structure with a relatively rigid-brittle upper crust, a visco-plastic lower crust and a relatively rigid-ductile mantle lithosphere. This structure is completely different from that of monotonous, cold and more rigid oceanic plates. (2) In the process of north-directed collision-compression of the Indian subcontinent, the upper crust was attached to the foreland in the form of a gigantic foreland accretionary wedge. The interior of the accretionary wedge thickened in such tectonic manners as large-scale thrusting, backthrusting and folding, and magmatic masses and partially molten masses participated in the crustal thickening. Between the upper crust and lower crust lies a large detachment (e.g     

INDEPTH IV深反射地震揭示的东昆仑造山带隆升过程

INDEPTH IV深反射地震数据处理的重点和难点是近地表风化壳静校正和异常振幅噪音衰减,通过初至波剩余折射静校正技术、异常振幅噪声衰减技术和CRS优化叠加技术获得了信噪比较高的地震剖面.由INDEPTH IV深反射地震剖面揭示,东昆仑造山带上地壳地层具有挤压走滑、断展褶皱等动力学特点,岩石圈上、下地壳之间存在不连续的松潘-甘孜古洋壳反射特征,东昆仑山下偏南局部Moho面以上低频异常反射特征指示局部熔融、低速高导体存在.综合INDEPTH IV深反射地震剖面和其他地球物理数据分析认为,东昆仑造山带隆升过程非常复杂,隆升过程至少经过两次主期变形,一期是中生代三叠纪松潘-甘孜洋向北俯冲引发被动大陆边缘造山,另一期是新生代古近纪印度-欧亚板块碰撞致使羌塘地块北移造成的上地壳挤压隆升.利用INDEPTH IV深反射地震单炮、速度和叠加剖面等成果,综合解译数据,最终提出东昆仑造山带隆升过程的另一种模式,以有助于深化对东昆仑造山模式的认识.     

A Simple Kinetic Model for Autoxidation of S(IV) Oxides Catalyzed by Iron and/or Manganese Ions

The reaction kinetics of S(IV) autoxidation catalyzed by single metal ions of Mn(II) and Fe(II) or Fe(III) and by a mixture of Mn(II) and Fe(II) under the conditions representative for acidified atmospheric liquid water was investigated. A simple power law kinetic model based on the stability constants for metal-sulfito complexes formed during the first step of a radical chain mechanism predicts well the kinetics for the reactions catalyzed by single metal ions. The calculated stability constants for iron (5.7×10³ dm³ mol^–1) and manganese (10×10⁴ dm³ mol^–1) sulfito complexes are close to those reported in the literature. The catalytic synergism between Mn(II) and Fe(II) was confirmed. For this system the following power law rate equation was suggested:r_tot = S_Fe · r_Fe + S_Mn · r_Mn ,where r_Fe and r_Mn are the reaction rates in the presence of Fe(II) and Mn(II), respectively. S_Fe and S_Mn are proportional factors, which account for the synergistic effect. The proposed power law rate equation predicts the reaction kinetics very well. The values of S_Fe (1.35) and S_Mn (15) indicate that the influence of Fe(II)/Fe(III) on Mn(II)/Mn(III) cycling is larger than, vice versa, agreeing with the reaction mechanism proposed for the S(IV) autoxidation catalyzed by mixed metal ions.