Delineation of arsenic-contaminated zones in Bengal Delta, India: a geographic information system and fractal approach

Groundwater extracted from shallow aquifers in the Bengal Delta is contaminated with arsenic. The fluviodeltaic process that creates aquifers, ironically, extends its role to also contaminating them with arsenic. The arsenic distribution maps show a spatial association of arsenic-contaminated wells with palaeo/cut-off/abandoned channels. Weight-on-evidences analysis indicates that the zones of contamination occur around palaeo-channels within a corridor of 500–700 m that contains most of the contaminated wells. These corridors are interpreted to be the zone of channel shifting. Contaminated wells represent point fractal geometry that can be separated into isolated points and clusters. Clusters occur within the zone of channel shifting as obtained by weight-on-evidences analysis. Isolated points occur within floodplain or back swamp areas. Clusters and isolated point fractals are interpreted to reflect the process of arsenic release into groundwater. The migration of biomass within the permeable sandy domain of channel deposits is proposed to be the predominant process in generating clusters. The isolated points represent restricted biomass spreading in less permeable clay-silt dominated floodplains.     

华北山地的古河道与古水系*

华北山地早第三纪地貌奠定了现代水系格局的基础。至晚第三纪晚期河流已发育到中-老年阶段。第三纪末期至第四纪早期,山地差异活动剧烈,断陷盆地形成,内、外流水系并存,遗留下垭口与顺直-曲流型宽谷。第四纪中期,河流袭夺,内陆水系先后变成外流水系,并生成“U”形宽谷。第四纪晚期,河流下切,水系变迁,现代水系形成。     

Geomorphic positioning and depositional dynamics of river systems in Lower Siwalik basin,Kumaun Himalaya

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of river systems in the Lower Siwalik sequence has enabled characterization of channel patterns, river metamorphosis and resulting sandstone body evolution in time and space. Processes related six lithofacies repeat to generate 8–10 m thick multistoried sandstone complexes deposited in perennial channel belts. Based on lateral mapping of the sandstone bodies, the surfaces of genetic significance ranging from 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th order, suggest presence of meandering, braided and anastomosing river patterns that were responsible for the Lower Siwalik sedimentation. Variation in local base-level in response to allogenic factors including climate and tectonics forced river systems to acquire different patterns. Eustasy seems to control large-scale basin level changes. Quantitatively reconstructed morphological parameters and their comparison with modern and ancient analogues, supported by other independent evidences such as stratigraphical position of sandstone bodies in vertically measured columns and mineralogical characteristics of channel sandstones, enabled to decipher the geomorphic positioning of the Lower Siwalik channels in distal parts of megafan and interfluve areas within the foreland basin setting.     

黄河中游土壤侵蚀与下游古河道三角洲演化的过程响应

根据黄土高原土壤侵蚀的周期特点，结合华北平原古河道，古三角洲的演化过程，应用泥沙输移的过程响应,分析了晚更新世以来黄河中游黄土高原土壤侵蚀与下游古河道，三角洲演化的关系，在人类历史之前，黄土高原土壤侵蚀基本上遵循自在生态环境演化规律，强裂侵蚀期发生在干冷向湿湿气候转化的过渡期，在强裂侵蚀的初期是古道形成期，强烈侵蚀期发生在干冷向温湿气候转化的过渡期，在强裂侵蚀的期是古河道形成期，强烈侵蚀的外营力迭加了人为作用，黄河下游河游泳以改道，三角洲横向扩展发生在强烈侵蚀的衰退期，人类历史时期，土壤侵蚀的外营力迭加了人为作用，破坏了地质历史时期的规律性，土壤侵蚀强度越来越强，基本上按照旱涝变化频率而演化，干冷期降雨不均匀系数增加，土训侵蚀加重，径流量较少，河床以淤积为主，是古河道形成期，正常年黄河泥少输移比接近于一，是三角洲进积期，温湿期降雨量增加，径流量加大，下游河流改道，三角洲横向发展。     

Palaeo-path investigation of the lower Ajay River (India) using archaeological evidence and applied remote sensing

Numerous palaeochannels, oxbow lakes and elongated sediment fills in Eastern India, particularly along the lower Ajay River, provide a record of channel shifting during the Late Quaternary. Proper characterization of these features is useful for discussing the dynamic evolution of the river system in the Ajay-Damodar Interfluve region. Remote sensing data, archaeological evidence and sedimentology aid in reconstructing the geomorphic history of the lower Ajay River. Archaeological studies help in calculating the rate and direction of channel migration. The channel migration rate varies from 0.32 to 3.41 m/year in the study area. Bouguer gravity anomalies suggest that the rate of channel migration may be controlled by the density variations of the basement rocks. Furthermore, neotectonics activity played a significant role in the migration of Ajay River towards north-east direction.     

Study on sea water intrusion into palaeochannels on south coastal plain of the Laizhou Bay by the Bohai Sea

The palaeochannel evolution in the study region is divided into four stages by such methods as 14C dating. Sea water intrusion through palaeochannels has been studied as a focal point. Palaeochannels are the main passageways through which the sea water intrudes at a higher speed, through many means and in a changeable dynamic state.