003600   Manglik A;Verma S K;Singh K H (NO, National Geophysical Research Institute (Council of Scientific and In, Hyderabad-500 606, Email: ajay@ngri.res.in) : Detection of sub-basaltic sediments by a multi-parametric joint inversion approach. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(5), 551-62.

In many parts of the world sedimentary horizons with potential for hydrocarbon are located below flood basalt provinces. However, the presence of high velocity basaltic overburden makes delineation of sediments difficult due to the low velocity layer problem. Electrical and electromagnetic methods have been used in such scenarios because of the good electrical conductivity contrast between basalts and underlying sediments. However, mapping of the target sediments becomes difficult when the layer is thin as the data errors due to inherent noise lead to equivalent solutions. To tackle such difficult situations, a joint inversion scheme incorporating seismic reflection and refraction, magnetotelluric and deep electrical resistivity datasets is presented. Efficacy of the scheme is tested for a model comprising a thin sedimentary layer sandwiched between a thick basalt cover and a granitiac basement. The results indicate that the parameters of the target sedimentary layer are either poorly resolved or equivalent solutions are obtained by the inversion of individual datasets. Joint inversions of seismic reflection (RFLS) and refraction (RFRS), or DC and MT dataset pairs provide improved results and the range of equivalent solutions is narrowed down. Combination of any three of the above datasets leads to further narrowing of this range and improvements in mean model estimates. Joint inversion incorporating all the datasets is found to yield good estimates of the structure. Resolution analysis is carried out to appraise estimates of various model parameters obtained by jointly inverting diferent combinations of datasets.

6 illus, 2 tables, 31 ref

003599   Mandal A;Ray A (Geology Dep, Presidency College, Kolkata-700 073) : Petrology of mafic-ultramafic rocks along north Puruliya Shear zone, West Bengal. J Geol Soc India 2009, 74(1), 108-18.

North Puruliya Shear zone (NPSZ) is characterized by occurrence of mafic-ultramafic rocks aligned parallel to the shear zone, intruding the high grade Proterozoic rocks of Chhotanagpur Gneissic Complex. The ultramafic rocks occur as small lenses, pockets, veins, thin dykes and are intimately associated with mafic (gabbro, norite) rocks. Pyroxenites (viz. olivine websterite, websterite, plagioclase websterite) and hornblendite are the two important members of the ultramafic rocks containing clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, plagioclase, amphibole, phlogopite and ilmenite. The mafic-ultramafic rocks show evidence of shearing and retrogressive metamorphism. Linear correlation of chemical attributes suggests fractionation-controlled magmatic differentiation. Enrichment of LILE and LREE in the mafic-ultramafic suite suggests an enriched mantle source and pronounced negative Eu-anomalies in all the rock types except hornblendite suggest fractionation of plagioclase under low fO₂ condition. Progressive iron enrichment trend in rocks of the mafic-ultramafic suite also indicate magmatic differentiation under low fO₂ condition. Early fractionation and accumulation of clinopyroxene and plagioclase from a basaltic magma may have given rise to the ultramafic rocks of the area. Little change in the Nb/Zr and Ce/Zr ratios of ultramafic and mafic rocks (except alkali norite) strongly support low crustal contamination. A few samples of norite and gabbro-norites appeared to be variably contaminated by a crustal component or affected by late granitic intrusion resulting in enrichment of alkali in the former.

11 illus, 4 ables, 17 ref

003598   Mallick M;Dutta S;Greenwood P F;Bertram N (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, Powai, Mumbai-400 076) : Pyrolytic and spectroscopic studies of Eocene resin from Vastan lignite mine, Cambay Basin, Western India. J Geol Soc India 2009, 74(1), 16-22.

Molecular structure of an Eocene fossil resin (Vastan, Cambay basin, Western India) has been investigated with complimentary spectroscopic techniques. The FTIR spectrum shows strong aliphatic CH_x (3000-2800 and 1460-1450 cm^-1) and CH₃ (1377 cm^-1) absorptions and less intense aromatic C=C (1560-1610 cm^-1) absorptions. The major products from analytical pyrolysis are cadalene based bicyclic sesquiterpenoids including some bicadinenes and bicadinanes. The polycadinane products confirm the fossil material as an Angiosperm dammar resin, associated with inputs of tropical rain forests supported by past climates.

3 illus, 1 table, 20 ref

003597   Madhavi T;Satish Kumar T;Rasheed M A;Kalpana G;Patil D J;Dayal A M (NO, National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR), Hyderabad-500 606) : Light hydrocarbons geochemistry of surface sediment from petroliferous region of the Mehsana block, North Cambay Basin. J Geol Soc India 2009, 74(1), 7-15.

Study was carried out to test the usefulness of surface geochemical methods as regional evaluation tools in petroliferous region of the Mehsana block, North Cambay Basin. A suite of 135 soil samples collected from the depth of 2.5 m, were analyzed for adsorbed light gaseous hydrocarbons and carbon isotopes (δ¹³C_methane and δ¹³C_ethane). The light gaseous hydrocarbon analysis show that the concentration ranges 402 ppb, 135 ppb, 70 ppb, 9 ppb and 18 ppb of C₁, C₂, C₃, iC₄ and nC₄, respectively. The value of carbon isotopic ranges of methane -29.5 to -43.0% (PDB) and ethane -19.1 to -20.9% (PDB). This data, when mapped, indicates patterns coinciding with major known oil and/or gas field of Sobhasan/Linch in this study area. The existence of un-altered petroliferous microseeps of catagenetic origin is observed in the study area. A regional study, such as the one described here, can provide important exploration facts concerning the regional hydrocarbon potential in a block. This method has been confirmed and can be applied successfully in frontier basins.

11 illus, 4 tables, 31 ref

003596   Kuniyal J C;Thakur A;Thakur H K;Sharma S;Pant P;Rawat P S;Krishna Moorthy K (NO, G.B.P Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Developemnt, Himacha, Mohal-Kullu-175 126, Email: kuniyaljc@yahoo.com) : Aerosol optical depths at Mohal-Kullu in the northwestern Indian Himalayan high altitude station during ICARB. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(1), 41-8.

First time observations of spectral aerosol optical depths (AODs) at Mohal (31.9°?N, 77.11αE; altitude 1154m amsl) in the Kullu valley, located in the northwestern Indian Himalayan region, have been carried out during Integrated Campaign for Aerosols, gases and Radiation Budget (ICARB), as a part of the Indian Space Research Organisation-Geosphere Biosphere Program (ISRO-GBP). AODs at six wavelengths are obtained using Microtops-II Sunphotometer and Ozonometer. The monthly mean values of AOD at 500 nm are found to be 0.27 ± 0.04 and 0.24 ± 0.02 during March and April, 2006 respectively. However, their monthly mean values are 0.33 ± 0.04 at 380 nm and 0.20 ±0.03 nm at 870 nm during March 2006 and 0.31 ±0.3 at 380 nm and 0.17±0.2 at 870 nm during April 2006, showing a gradual decrease in AOD with wavelength. The Angstrom wavelength exponent `α' had a mean value of 0.72 ± 0.05, implying reduced dominance of fine particles. Further, the afternoon AOD values are higher as compared to forenoon values by ~ 33.0% during March and by <126> 9.0% during April 2006 and are attributed to the pollutant lifted up from the valley by the evolving boundary layer. Besides the long-range transportation of aerosol particles by airmass from the Great Sahara and the Thar Desert regions to the observing site, the high values of AODs have also been influenced by biomass burning and frequent incidents of forest fire at local levels.

6 illus, 22 ref

003595   Kumaravel V;Sangode S J;Siva Siddaiah N; Rohtash Kumar (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33, General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehra Dun-248 001, Email: Sangode@unipune.ernet.in) : Major element geochemical variations in a Miocene-Pliocene Siwalik Paleosol sequence: implications to soil forming processes in the Himalayan foreland basin. J Geol Soc India 2009, 73(6), 759-72.

Elemental mobility based on major element geochemistry from 58 horizons related to six paleosols profiles in a typical miocene - Pliocene Siwalik fluvial sequence in the NW Himalaya has been reported here. The paleosols developed over felsic parent material of fine to medium grained sandstone indicate notable enrichment of sesquioxides (Al₂O₃₂O₃ = 54%) depicting significant leaching and dissolution. The depletion of base cations (mean wt% of Na₂O = 0.24; CaO = 0.51) and SiO₂ (mean wt% -63.6) in the pedogenic layers and its enrichment in the parental material (mean wt% of Na₂O -0.44; CaO = 1.3; SiO₂ = 70.1) shows a good gradient of elemental mobility due to pedogenesis. Bivariate plots of the base ratios (Na₂ O/K₂O, CaO/K₂, and MgO/K₂O) vs. Al₂O₃ reveal independent distribution for parent material, pedogenic horizons and the incipient zone indicating the gradual addition/removal of immobile/mobile elements with varying pedogenesis. Discontinuous and segmented pattern of the geochemical parameters enzbles discrimination of multiple pedogenic episodes and recognition of soil welding processes in the multistorey composite paleosols. We also test the applicability of the geochemical climofunctions the Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) and Mean Annual Temperature (MAT); that demands more data for calibation in the Swalik paleosols.

9 illus, 1 table, 48 ref

003594   Krishnakanta A;Vallinayagam G (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Northeast Unit, Itanagar-791 113, Email: kk_luwang@rediffmail.com) : Radioactive element distribution and rare-metal mineralization in Anorogenic acid Volcano-Plutonic rocks of the Neoproterozoic Malani Felsic Province, western Peninsular India. J Geol Soc India 2009, 73(6), 837-53.

The Anorogenic Malani Felsic Province (MFP) of western Peninsular India consists of peralkaline, metaluminous to mildly peraluminous A-type granites-acid volcanics with minor basic volcanics and dykes. The suite is bimodal in nature that characterized by volcano-plutonic ring structures and radial dykes. The granitoids of Siwana and Kundal areas of MFP are traversed by numerous quartz veins with fluoride, iron encrustations, druses and knots of pegmatite phases. Petrographically, they show cloudy, patchy perthitic textures; spherulite form of alkali amphibole and alkali pyroxenes; alteration of K-Na-feldspar to kaolin/sericite, magnetite to haematite; growth of granophyres/perthite/ rapakivi like textures. They are enriched in SiO₂, Na₂O+K₂O, Fe/Mg, Rb, Zr, Y, Ga, REE (except Eu) and depleted in MgO, CaO, Mg#, P, Ti, Sr, Ni, Cr, Co and V. Uniform REE patterns, parallel to sub-parallel, LREE enriched over HREE and prominent negative Eu-anomalies are the characteristics of these granitoids. Geochemical parameters satisfy the A-type nature of granitoids and crustal origin of these rocks. These granitoids are high heat producing granitoids because of their high content of radioactive elements (U, Th, K), and can be classified as granite (Type I) (avg. 7.18 μWm^-3), rhyolite and trachyte (Type II) (avg. 4.47 μWm^-3) and acid dyke (Type III) (avg. 14.53 μWm^-3). The average total heat generation unit (HGU) of Type I (17.10 HGU), Type II (10.64 HGU) and Type III (35.31 HGU) are much higherthan the average value of continental crust (3.8 HGU), which imply a possible linear relationship among the surface heat generations in the MFP. Field, petrography and whole rock geochemical characteristics suggest potentiality for rare metals and rare earth elements mineralization in the studied granitoids of the MFP.

7 illus, 2 tables, 101 ref

003593   Khole A M;Gaikwad J M (Zoology Dep, B Raghunath College, Boralkar Nagar, Jintur Road, Parbhani-431 401) : Analysis of medicinally important warm spring water of Unakeshwar spring in Nanded dist, Maharashtra. J Aquatic Biol 2009, 24(2), 229-33.

Unakeshwar warm springs are situated on the bank of the penganga, 220 km away from Nanded city. It lies between 19°34' to 19° 40 N latitude and 78.22° to 78.34°E longitude. Unakeshwar is famous for its natural perennial warm water springs situated on a hillock abounding in natural beauty. Warm water spring tanks have a composition of chemical elements, such as SO4, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Zn etc. Some of these chemicals are helpful for curing the skin and abdominal diseases. Physico-chemical and microbial parameters of Unakeshwar springs were studied every month of two sampling stations, one of warm spring and another is cold spring water in the year 2007. High percentage of Sulphur is the master ecological factor of the Unakeshwar warm springs. The physico-chemical parameters of warm and cold springs water studies includes atmospheric temperature, water temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Dissolved Carbon dioxide, Total Hardness, TDS, Calcium hardness, Mg hardness, COD, BOD, Salinity and Sulphur. The quality worked out according to the standard method of APHA (1985).

1 table, 15 ref

003592   Kabir A S M S;Hossain D (Geophysical Div, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX), 10th Floor, Shahjalal Tower, 80/A-B, Siddeshwari Circular Road, Dhaka-1217, Bangladesh) : Geophysical interpretation of the Rashidpur structure, Surma Basin, Bangladesh. J Geol Soc India 2009, 74(1), 39-48.

Rashidpur structure is located in the southern part of the Surma Basin, Bangladesh. Presents an integrated interpretation of seismic and other geophysical data considering the available geologic information in terms of hydrocarbon potential of this structure. The study area lies within a gravity high and a high magnetic intensity. Fifteen seismic sections of the study area have been analyzed to interpret the subsurface geology, structure and stratigraphy. Based on the analysis of seismic sections and correlation with well data, four prominent reflecting horizons have been identified. The litho-stratigraphy of the Rashidpur structure is prepared on the basis of well information. The lithological sequences encountered in the Rashidpur structure range in age from Miocene to Plio-Pliestocene. The gas producing sands of the structure are within Bokabil to Bhuban Formations of the Miocene age. The seismic study indicates that the Rashidpur structure is a narrow, NS elongated anticline affected by a major reverse fault on the eastern flank. It is an asymmetrical anticline with the axis swinging slightly to the east on the northern plunge and thus attaining a slight concavity to the east. There are various geophysical indications of hydrocarbons in this structure.

8 illus, 1 table, 16 ref

003591   Johny C J;Sarkar S K;Punyasesudu D (Radio and Atmospheric Sciences Div, National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K S Krishnan Marg, New Delhi-110 012, Email: johnycj@rediffmail.com) : Atmospheric phenomena deduced from radiosonde and GPS occultation measurements for various application related studies. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(1), 49-59.

Tropopause height and tropopause temperature are sensitive to temperature changes in troposphere and stratosphere. These are the measures of global climatic variability. Atmospheric profiles of temperature, refractivity and water vapour are always needed for communication, navigation and atmospheric modeling studies. The tropopause characteristics over the Indian region have been studied using radio occultation measurements (CHAMP) on the basis of cold point criterion. Tropopause height shows large variation in the latitude range <126>30°-40°N during winter. Tropopause temperature less than -82°C, assumed to facilitate troposphere to stratosphere air transport, is observed at a number of tropical Indian locations and no seasonal pattern is observed in its occurrence. The bias in temperature and refractivity deduced from radiosonde and radio occultation measurements is also presented.

9 illus, 1 table, 23 ref

003590   Hajalilou B;Moayyed M;Hosseinzadeh G H (Geology Dep, Payame Noor University, Tabriz, Iran) : Petrography, geochemistry and geodynamic environment of potassic alkaline rocks in Eslamy peninsula, northwest of Iran. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(6), 643-57.

Eslamy peninsula, 360 km² in area, is located in the eastern coast of Urmieh lake in the northwest of Iran. This peninsula is a complex stratovolcano with a collapsed center, which is elevated due to later intrusions of sub-volcanic masses with trachytic to microsyenitic composition. The composite cone consists of a sequence of leucite tephrite, tephrite, leucite basanite, basanite and related pyroclastic rocks. Magmatic activities in the Eslamy peninsula begin with potassic alkaline to ultrapotassic and basic, silica-undersaturated shoshonitic rocks and they are followed by intrusions of lamprophyric dykes and end with acidic magmatism including trachytic, microsyenitic, syenitic and phonolitic domes. The original magma of the Eslamy peninsula rocks has a potassic alkaline nature (Roman type) rich in LREE and LILE and depleted of HREE. These characteristics suggest that the origin of magma can be from deep mantle with a garnet lherzolite composition, a low partial melting rate which has been contaminated by crustal materials in its way up. Fractional crystallization of olivine, diopsidic clinopyroxene and leucite played an important role in the evolution of magmas. Scrutinizing the geodynamic environment of Eslamy peninsula rocks in discrimination diagrams indicates that these rocks must have been formed in a post-collision magmatic arc setting.

11 illus, 2 tables, 43 ref

003589   Garg N (Applied Mathematics Dep, University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra Univer, Kurukshetra-136 119, Email: ng_99@rediffmail.com) : Existence of longitudinal waves in pre-stressed anisotropic elastic medium. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(6), 677-87.

In a pre-stressed anisotropic elastic medium, three types of quasi-waves propagate along an arbitrary direction. In general, none of the waves is truly longitudinal. The study finds the specific directions in a pre-stressed anisotropic elastic medium along which longitudinal waves may propagate. Demonstrates how the propagation of longitudinal waves is affected by various pre-stresses present in the medium. The study establishes the explicit expressions defining the existence and propagation of longitudinal waves in pre-stressed anisotropic elastic medium. These expressions involve not only the direction and elastic stiffness of the medium, but also the prestresses present in the medium. Changes in conditions for the existence of longitudinal waves in orthotropic, monoclinic and triclinic anisotropies are discussed in detail. The most important part of the study is a practical aspect suggested to calculate the specific directions for the existence of longitudinal waves in pre-stressed anisotropic elastic medium. In this approach, only those parameters are used that can be observed by the receiver in a geophysical experiment of wave propagation. The existence of longitudinal waves has been shown graphically using a numerical example for three types of anisotropic symmetries in elastic medium.

3 illus, 23 ref

003588   Dutta S K;Das S;Kar S C;Mohanty U C;Joshi P C (NO, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida-201 307) : Impact of vegetation on the simulation of seasonal monsoon rainfall over the Indian subcontinent using a regional model. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(5), 413-40.

Change in the type of vegetation fraction can induce major changes in the local effects such as local evaporation, surface radiation, etc., that in turn induces changes in the model simulated outputs. The study deals with the effects of vegetation in climate modeling over the Indian region using the MM5 mesoscale model. The main objective of the study is to investigate the impact of vegetation dataset derived from SPOT satellite by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) versus that of USGS (United States Geological Survey) vegetation dataset on the simulation of the Indian summer monsoon. The study has been conducted for five monsoon seasons (1998 -2002), giving emphasis over the two contrasting southwest monsoon seasons of 1998 (normal)and 2002 (deficient). The study reveals mixed results on the impact of vegetation datasets generated by ISRO and USGS on the simulations of the monsoon. Results indicate that the ISRO data has a positive impact on the simulations of the monsoon over northeastern India and along the western coast. The MM5-USGS has greater tendency of overestimation of rainfall. It has higher standard deviation indicating that it induces a dispersive e?ect on the rainfall simulation. Among the five years of study, it is seen that the RMSE of July and JJAS (June -July-August-September) for All India Rainfall is mostly lower for MM5-ISRO. Also, the bias of July and JJAS rainfall is mostly closer to unity for MM5-ISRO. The wind fields at 850 hPa and 200 hPa are also better simulated by MM5 using ISRO vegetation. The synoptic features like Somali jet and Tibetan anticyclone are simulated closer to the verification analysis by ISRO vegetation. The 2 m air temperature is also better simulated by ISRO vegetation over the northeastern India,showing greater spatial variability over the region. However, the JJAS total rainfall over north India and Deccan coast is better simulated using the USGS vegetation. Sensible heat flux over north-west India is also better simulated by MM5-USGS.

24 illus, 2 tables, 41 ref

003587   Dogan H M (Faculty of Agriculture, Soil Science Dep, GIS and RS Unit, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tasliciftlik 60240, Tokat, Turkey, Email: hmdogan@hotmail.com) : Mineral composite assessment of Kelkit River Basin in Turkey by means of remote sensing. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(6), 701-10.

Utilizing remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) tools, mineral composite characteristics (ferrous minerals (FM), iron oxide (IO), and clay minerals (CM)) of the Kelkit River Basin (15913.07 km²) in Turkey were investigated and mapped. Mineral composite (MC) index maps were produced from three LANDSAT-ETM+ satellite images taken in 2000. Resulting MC index maps were summarized in nine classes by using `natural breaks' classification method in GIS. Employing bi-variety correlation analysis, relationships among index maps were investigated. According to the results, FM and IO index maps showed positive correlation, while CM index map is negatively correlated with FM and IO index maps. Negative correlations between iron and clay variables suggested that the dominant clay minerals of the study area might be smectite, illite, kaolinite, and chlorite, which have little or no iron content. Using field data for which their geographic coordinates had been determined by global positioning system (GPS), developed MC maps were verified, and found dependable for environmental and ecological modeling studies.

5 illus, 4 tables, 39 ref

003586   Dey S;Rai A K;Chaki A (Applied Geology Dep, Indian School of Mines University, Dhanbad-826 004, Email: geodeys@gmail.com) : Geochemistry of granitoids of Bilgi area, northern part of eastern Dharwar craton, southern India - example of transitional TTGs derived from depleted source. J Geol Soc India 2009, 73(6), 854-70.

Mildly deformed granitoids exposed around Bilgi in the northernmost part of the eastern Dharwar craton are divided into two groups viz. granodiorites and monzogranites. The granodiorites contain microgranular enclaves and amphibolite xenoliths, and show low-AI ITG affinity with high SiO₂ (71-74 %), Na₂O, Y and Sr/Y, moderate to moderately high Mg#, Cr and Ni, low to moderate LILE, and low Nb and Ta. However, compared to similar TTGs from different cratons the Bilgi granodiorites have distinctly higher K₂O, K₂O/Nap, Rb and lower REE and Th. The amphibolite xenoliths are characterized by variable enrichment of K₂O, Rb, Ba and Th and depletion of Ti, Zr and P compared to MORB. The microgranular enclaves are quartz diorite to granodiorite in composition with high Mg, Ni and Cr, and compared to MORB, are enriched in LILE and depleted in Ti and Y. The monzogranites, compared to the granodiorites, display higher SiO₂, K₂O and Rb with lower Mg#, although still maintaining the high Nap, Ni and Cr and low REE character. The Bilgi granodiorites are explained as transitional ITGs late synkinematic with respect to regional deformation. Geochemical signatures and regional geological set up suggest that they are probably derived from partial melting of a highly depleted slab material (metabasalt) followed by variable contamination or assimilation of intermediate crustal rocks in a subduction zone set up. Late stage fluid activity on the granodioritic magma is probably responsible for the generation of monzogranites. The amphibolite xenoliths predate the granodiorites and possibly represent fragments of a schist belt carried away by the granitic magma. They are probably island arc basalt derived from mantle source that has been metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. The microgranular enclaves are coeval with the Bilgi granodiorites and also likely to be island arc magmas derived from mantle variably enriched in slab-derived and within-plate components.

11 illus, 4 tables, 54 ref

003585   Dey R C (NO, , Greennwood D-7, 315-B Upen Banerjee Road, Kolkata-700 060, Email: raneshdey@gmail.com) : Nagaur - tertiary interface under Punjab-Haryana semi-desertic plains in western India. J Geol Soc India 2009, 74(1), 131-7.

Subsurface Nagaur Basin in northwest Haryana and southwest Punjab hosts evaporite sequence, conformably overlain by Nagaur red beds and grey beds. A polymictic conglomerate intervenes the Nagaur sequence and the overlying Tertiary sequence. The focus is on the new finds of distinctive `grey beds' overlying ubiquitous red beds, `Malout conglomerate and grit' horizon (Palaeocene-Miocene) marking an unconformity over the Nagaur Group (early Cambrian) and `entrapped gas and dried-up leaves/carbonaceous flakes' in the conglomerate unit and succeeding Tertiary rocks. Palaeoenvironmental significance has been discussed. The Nagaur `red beds' has been likened to `continental red beds' of Schreiber (1978) and `reworked red beds' of Krynine (1949). The `grey beds' are channel fillings, fresh material having been derived from fresh cuttings by streams/rivers following structural grains in the Aravalli landscape where the interfluves provided weathered (oxidised) materials for the red beds. Association of continental red beds and grey beds is known in the Newark Series (Triassic) of the Eastern United States and the Keweenawan `late Precambrian' of the Lake Superior region.

5 illus, 1 table, 24 ref

003584   Deshpande S M;Gondwale V (Geology Dep, Government Institute of Science, Caves Road, Aurangabad-431 004) : Physico chemical analysis of ground water the Chikhalthana industrial complex, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. J Aquatic Biol 2009, 24(2), 99-102.

The accelerated growth of industries and the discharge of the industrial wastewater around the chikhalthana area causing heavy damage to the groundwater quality available in the areas. Deterioration in the groundwater quality seriously affects its utility, so that a systematic study of the problem and for suitable solution monitoring of groundwater quality is very much essential. Considering these aspects a study was carried out on dug wells and bore wells of the Chikhalthana area for physicochemical examination. The chemical analysis of ground water of various dug wells and bore wells in the study area revealed higher values of pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, chloride and Alkalinity content in the groundwater. The present study indicates that the available groundwater is not satisfactory and the physicochemical analysis confirms that ground water is highly polluted and not fit for drinking purpose however there is a urgent need to reduce pollution level before it becomes unmanageable.

2 tables, 7 ref

003583   Chakraborty D;Sen G K;Hazra S (NO, Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Indian Space Research Organiz, Kharagpur-721 302, Email: deba.isro@gmail.com) : High-resolution satellite image segmentation using Holder exponents. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(5), 609-17.

Texture in high-resolution satellite images requires substantial amendment in the conventional segmentation algorithms. A measure is proposed to compute the Holder exponent (HE) to assess the roughness or smoothness around each pixel of the image. The localized singularity information is incorporated in computing the HE. An optimum window size is evaluated so that HE reacts to localized singularity. A two-step iterative procedure for clustering the transformed HE image is adapted to identify the range of HE, densely occupied in the kernel and to partition Holder exponents into a cluster that matches with the range. Holder exponent values (noise or not associated with the other cluster) are clubbed to a nearest possible cluster using the local maximum likelihood analysis.

1 illus, 1 table, 32 ref

003582   Chakrabarti G;Shome D;Bauluz B;Sinha S (Geology Dep, Durgapur Government College, Durgapur-713 214) : Provenance and weathering history of mesoproterozoic clastic sedimentary rocks from the basal Gulcheru formation, Cuddapah Basin, India. J Geol Soc India 2009, 74(1), 119-30.

Geochemical analysis for the Mesoproterozoic clastic sedimentary rocks of the basal Gulcheru Formation of the Cuddapah Basin in the Gugudu-Dadithota-Parnapalle-Palkonda region (extending atleast 40 km) have been performed to highlight their provenance and weathering history. The low K₂O/Al₂O₃ ratios of the representative samples points to the recycled nature of sediments and illite clay in the sediments indicate an overall cold climate (low chemical weathering degree). All the provenance diagrams indicate a mixed source of the Gulcheru sediments with felsic dominancy and Upper continental crust (UCC) signature.

14 illus, 3 tables, 25 ref

003581   Bhuyan B;Hazarika S (Chemistry Dep, North Lakhimpur College, Lakhimpur-787 031, Email: Bhabajitb@redifmail.com) : Distribution pattern of some water quality parameters in Dhakuakhana sub-division of Lakhimpur district, Assam, India. Int J chem Sci 2009, 7(2), 1268-76.

A comprehensive study has been carried out with reference to some water quality parameters like pH, arsenic, fluoride, iron, chloride, sulphate and nitrate in the groundwater of Dhakuakhana subªdivision of Lakhimpur district, Assam. Fifteen water samples collected from five different locations of Dhakuakhana sub-division have been studied separately. Normal distribution analysis (NDA) and reliability analysis (correlation and covariance matrix) have been employed to find out the distribution pattern, localisation of data and other related information. Statistical observations show that all the parameters under investigation exhibit non uniform distribution with a long asymmetric tail either on the right or left side of the median. The width of the third quartile was consistently found to be more than the second quartile for each parameter. Differences among mean, mode and median, significant skewness and kurtosis value indicate that the distribution of various water quality parameters in the study area is widely off normal. It is also observed that correlation among some of water quality parameters in the study area is significant at the 0.05 level. Thus, the inherent quality of groundwaters in Dhakuakhana sub-division of Lakhimpur district, Assam is not encouraging due to unsymmetrical distribution of various water quality parameters ,in the study area.

5 tables, 6 ref

003580   Babar H T;Raje G B (Zoology Dep, D.B.J. College, Chiplum-415 605) : Water quality indices of some stagnant water bodies in Chiplun tehsil, Maharashtra. J Aquatic Biol 2009, 24(2), 124-30.

Chiplun tehsil of Ratnagiri district is surrounded by Western Ghats on eastern, southern and northern sides and by Dabhol Creek on western side. Due to hilly region water run off is very fast and hence very few regions hold back waters naturally and create ponds. Most of the land in Chiplun Tehsil has a bed of porous and fragile laterite; hence rate of percolation of water is very high, leading to drying of aquatic bodies in few months after Monsoon is over. By considering the above facts Government of Maharashtra has constructed several earthen dams to fulfill water needs of local population for domestic and agricultural purpose. Water, from most of the dams, has been used by local people for drinking purpose, but its characterization has not been done. Hence three dams such as Phanaswadi dam, Malghar dam and Morawane dam along with one ancient pond, Ramtirth were selected for study during October 2006 to September 2007. From the selected water bodies samples were collected and analyzed (APHA, 1985) for physico-chemical parameters viz. P^H, Electrical conductivity, BOD, COD, Total hardness and Chlorinity. Annual average values of these parameters were further used for calculating Water Quality Indices (WQI). The WQl of Phanaswadi dam, Malghar dam and Morawane dam were 128.7, 135.1 and 126.9 respectively; while for Ramtirth pond it was 268.2. Hence, as compared to Standard Water Quality Index, the status of water at all the dams and Ramtirth pond was unfit (above 100) for human consumption, but can be used for domestic and agricultural purpose.

5 tables, 30 ref

003579   Arora V;Bose P (Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), , Gandhinagar, Email: vishalarora.gis@gmail.com) : Comparative study of hydro-morphological parameters extracted from digital elevation model (DEM) generated from stereo pair of cartosat-I satellite mission (SRTM) and GTOPO. J Envir Res Dev 2010, 5(1), 60-7.

Hydro-morphologic parameters such as the flow direction, flow accumulation and basin boundary are the most important for hydrological study of an area. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is an important tool for delineation of hydro-morphologic parameters. Recent days there are various sources from where the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data can be acquired. In the present study the hydro-morphologic parameter which has been derived from the DEM of Cartosat-1 stereo data has been compared with the parameter derived from the DEM of Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) and GTOPO data. The study shows that Cartosat -1 data gives a better result for the extraction of Hydrological parameters as compared to SRTM and GTOPO.

6 illus, 1 table, 17 ref

003578   Ahmed I;Umar R (Geology Dep, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002) : Groundwater flow modelling of Yamuna-Krishni interstream, a part of central Ganga Plain Uttar Pradesh. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(5), 507-23.

Groundwater is a major source of water for agricultural and domestic requirements in western Uttar Pradesh. Due to increasing agricultural requirements the abstraction of groundwater has increased manifold in the last two-to-three decades. The quaternary alluvium hosts the aquifer in the region. The study area forms a part of Yamuna-Krishni interfluve. Although the area hosts potential aquifers these have been adversely affected by poor management. For effective ground water management of a basin it is essential that a careful water balance study should be carried out. Keeping this in mind groundwater flow modelling was attempted to simulate the behaviour of the flow system and evaluate the water balance. The groundwater flow modelling was carried out. The horizontal flows, seepage losses from unlined canals, recharge from rainfall and irrigation return flows were applied using different boundary packages available in Visual MODFLOW, Pro 4.1. The river aquifer interaction was simulated using the river boundary package. Hydraulic conductivity values were applied to specific zones and these ranged from 9.8 to 26.6 m/day. Recharge due to rainfall and irrigation returns were assigned to respective zones. Pumping rates of 500 m³ / 1000 m³ /1500 m³ /2000 m³ / and 2500 m³/ day were applied to appropriate areas of the model to simulate areas of stress. The zone budget shows a water balance deficit for the period June 2006 to June 2007. The total recharge to the study area is 160.21 million m 3 (Mcum). The groundwater draft through pumping is of the order of 233.56 Mcum, thus leaving a deficit balance of - 73.35 Mcum. The sensitivity of the model to input parameters was tested by varying the parameters of interest over a range of values, monitoring the response of the model and determining the root mean square error of the simulated groundwater heads to the measured heads. These analyses showed that the model is most sensitive to hydraulic conductivity and recharge parameters. Three scenarios were considered to predict aquifer responses under varied conditions of groundwater bstraction.

10 illus, 2 tables, 24 ref

002326   Zhao S;Qin Q;Yang Y;Xiong Y;Qiu G (Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System, Peking Univ, Beijing-100 871, China) : Comparison of two split-window methods for retrieving land surface temperature from MODIS data. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 345-53.

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key parameter in environment and earth science study, especially for monitoring drought. The objective of this work is a comparison of two split-window methods: Mao method and Sobrino method, for retrieving LST using MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data in North China Plain. The results show that the max. min and mean errors of Mao method are 1.33 K, 1.54 K and 0.13 K lower than the standard LST product respectively; while those of Sobrino method are 0.73 K, 1.46 K and 1.50 K higher than the standard respectively. Validation of the two methods using LST product based on weather stations shows a good agreement between the standard and Sobrino method, with RMSE of 1.17 K. whereas RMSE of Mao method is 1.85 K. Finally, the study introduces the Sobmao method, which is based on Sobrino method but simplifies the estimation of atmospheric water vapour content using Mao method. The Sobmao method has almost the same accuracy with Sobrino method. With high accuracy and simplification of water vapour content estimation, the Sobmao method is recommendable in LST inversion for good application in Ningxia region, the northwest China, with mean error of 0.33 K and the RMSE value of 0.91 K.

4 illus, 1 tables, 29 ref

002325   Waghmare S Y W;Pimprikar S D;Gawali P B;Carlo L;Patil A G (NO, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, New Panvel (W), Navi Mumbai-410 218) : Tectonomagnetic study in the seismoactive area of Narmada-son lineament, central India: preliminary results on repeat field observations. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(3), 261-72.

Repeated measurements of the total geomagnetic field on the five profiles have revealed a picture of stress-induced tectonomagnetic effect in the form of secular variation of the total geomagnetic field in the tectonically and seismically active area of Jabalpur and adjoining areas of the Narmada-Son lineament (NSL), central India. For this experiment, a reference base station was established within the study area at Jabalpur. Using proton precession magnetometers with a sensitivity of 0.1 nT, simultaneous measurements of total geomagnetic field were made annually at the base and all field stations. Five cycles of repeated observations have been performed between 2003 and 2007. For data analysis, a difference method has been applied and the residuals have been calculated as secular variations of the total geomagnetic field with values ranging from ±0.1 nT to about ±14.6 nT/yr over the different stations. The anomalies in secular variation of the total geomagnetic field may be related to anomalous accumulation of tectonic stresses and tensions on the deep fault zones and crustal blocks due to recent geodynamic processes and active geological inhomogeneities in the NSL.

8 illus, 45 ref

002324   Viswanath K;Santosh G E G;Rao R S; Krishnamacharyulu S K G (NO, School of Earth Sciences, SRTM Univ, Nanded, maharashtra) : Study on the application of neural networks for classivication and origin of bauxite deposits. Indian Min Engng J 0000, 48(8), 127-30.

Geochemical data reflects some inherent noise and, perhaps, information about the mineralization process of interest. To find the pattern processes two methodological approaches generally followed in geochemical data interpretation. These are unspervised and supervised approaches. In unsupervised approach the data is generally processed to identify the procces patterns. In supervised approach, data from known subgroups such as rock type, mineralized and nonmineralized, and different types of mineralization are used and the results are extended to unknown samples to classify into these subgroups. Different statstical and mathematical techniques are useful in using supervised and unsupervised approaches. To locate patterns of interest, removal of masking patterns, noise elimination is improtant in unsupervised approach. Logarithmic transformation, use of different filters, regression analysis, standardization or normalization of the data, is one of the recommended methods for this task. In many situations, missing censored data can be estimated using multiple regression of other uncensored variables on the variable with censored values. In supervised learning approach, the methodoligies like discriminant analysis and neural networks are useful. This helps in testing the consistencies and therby identfying the unbiased estimates for possible existence of mineralization at different locations. This paper presents the application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Methdolgy in the bauxite mineralization using a supervised geochemical interpretation approach. Single value decomposition technique is used in this approach.

6 tables, ref

002323   Swamy K V;Radhakrishana Murthy I V;Krishna K S;Murthy K S R;Subrahmanyam A S;Malleswara Rao M M (Geo-informatics Dep, Adikavi Nannaya Univ, Rajahmundry-533 105) : Magnetic anomalies of offshore Krishna-Godavari basin, eastern continental margin of India. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 405-12.

The marine magnetic data acquired from offshore Krishna- Godavari (K-G) basin, eastern continental margin of India (ECMI), brought out a prominent NE-SW trending feature, which could be explained by a buried structural high formed by volcanic activity. The magnetic anomaly feature is also associated with a distinct negative gravity anomaly similar to the one associated with 85°E Ridge. The gravity low could be attributed to a flexure at the Moho boundary, which could in turn be filled with the volcanic material. Inversion of the magnetic and gravity anomalies was also carried out to establish the similarity of anomalies of the two geological features (structural high on the margin and the 85 °E Ridge) and their interpretations. In both cases, the magnetic anomalies were caused dominantly by the magnetization contrast between the volcanic material and the surrounding oceanic crust, whereas the low gravity anomalies are by the flexures of the order of 3-4 km at Moho boundary beneath them. The analysis suggests that both structural high present in offshore Krishna Godavari basin and the 85 ° E Ridge have been emplaced on relatively older oceanic crust by a common volcanic process, but at discrete times, and that several of the gravity lows in the Bay of Bengal can be attributed to flexures on the Moho. each created due to the load of volcanic material.

7 illus, 22 ref

002322   Singh K K;Singh J;Patel R P;Singh A K;Singh R P;Rajesh Singh;Ganai P A (Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Physics Dep, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005) : Quasi-periodic VLF emissions observed during daytime at a low latitude Indian ground station Jammu. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(3), 209-16.

This paper reports quasi-periodic pulsing hiss emissions recorded during daytime in the frequency rangeof 50Hz-15 kHz at low latitude station Jarnmu (geomag. lat. = 22°26'N; L = 1.17). It is noted that pulsing VLF emissions are a rare phenomena at low latitudes. The various spectrograms of pulsing VLF hiss emissions presented in this paper clearly show band limited spectrums regularly pulsing with almost equal period of the order of few seconds in the frequency range of <126>3-8 kHz. Generation and propagation mechanism of these emissions are briefly discussed.

5 illus, 33 ref

002321   Sairam K;Swamynaidu D;Anil Babu C;Viswanath K (NO, , Plot no: 144 Ayodhyanagar, A.S. Rao nagar, Hyderabad-60) : A study on the geochemistry of red mud from damanijodi (NALCO) bauxite Processing. Indian Min Engng J 0000, 48(8), 107-11.

Bauxite, formed from weathering of khondalite, forms the raw material from which almost all the alumina used in the production of primary aluminium is obtained. Red mud is the characteristically coloured tailings after the bayer's alumina extraction. In the extraction of alumina from bauxite by bayer's process, rejects like red mud and undigested sand are generated at different stages. These tailing create enormous problems in their waste disposal and cause environmental pollution. Red mud is a fine-grained toxic tailing. Red because of high ferric iron content and muddy due to water and clay matter, it is called red mud world over. Major, miner, trace and REE were determined for the bulk and various size fractions of the red mud. Mineralogical studies & geochemical data are discoursed in detail to under stand the nature of red mud which may be indicative of their utility as part of mineral economics and pollution control.

4 tables, 5 ref

002320   Rao G K (Geology Dep, Andhra Univ, HIG 218/4 M.V.P. Colony, Visakhapatnam-530 017) : Weathering processes with special reference to genesis of bauxite. Indian Min Engng J 0000, 48(8), 113-7.

4 illus, 5 ref

002319   Ramakrishnan D;Bandyopadhyay A;Kusuma K N (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Powai, Mumbai-400 076) : SCS-CN and GIS-based approach for identifying potential water harvesting sites in the Kali watershed, Mahi river basin, India. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 355-68.

The Kali sub-watershed is situated in the semi-arid region of Gujarat, India and forms a part of the Mahi River Watershed. This watershed receives an average annual rainfall of 900 mm mainly between July and September. Due to high runoff potential, evapo-transpiration and poor infiltration, drought like situation prevails in this area from December to June almost every year. In this paper, augmentation of water resource is proposed by construction of runoff harvesting structures like check dam, percolation pond, farm pond, well and subsurface dyke. The site suitability for different water harvesting structures is determined by considering spatially varying parameters like runoff potential, slope, fracture pattern and micro-watershed area. GIS is utilised as a tool to store, analyse and integrate spatial and attribute information pertaining to runoff, slope, drainage and fracture. The runoff derived by SCS-CN method is a function of runoff potential which can be expressed in terms of runoff coefficient (ratio between the runoff and rainfall) which can be classified into three classes, viz.. high (<62>40%), moderate (20-40%) and low (<60>20%). In addition to IMSD, FAO specifications for water harvesting/recharging structures, parameters such as effective storage, rock mass permeability are herein considered to augment effective storage. Using the overlay and decision tree concepts in GIS, potential water harvesting sites are identified. The derived sites are field investigated for suitability and implementation. In all, the accuracy of the site selection at implementation level varies from 80-100%.

11 illus, 3 tables, 29 ref

002318   Pradhan G K (NO, Petroleum Conservation & Research Association, Kolkata) : Bauxite mining in India-an overview. Indian Min Engng J 0000, 48(8), 131-9.

Bauxite mining in India, which has been traditionally a low key and low mechnaised intensive till the opening up of Nalco's Panchpatmali Mine, is now on a growth path. This growth is simultaneous with the increase in investment for alumina and aluminium metal production. Nalco not only is operating on one of the rich deposit but also has introduced some of the best techniques of exploration, mining, mine planning, environmental management, ore handling system, etc. Today, it has set a new trend for the upcoming mines to go for state-of-the-art techniques leading to highly productive, eco-friendly method of bauxite production. In this paper an attempt has been made to present some of the special features of mining of bauxite in India. Other bauxite mining organizations operating on smaller lease hold have also fine tuned their opetations to adopt mechanised operations so as to meet the economics of mining. The growing awareness amongst the community living around these mines and also various laws governing maintenance of ecological balance, had also been effectively implemented in some of these mines. As an example, Durgamanvadi Mines in Kolhapur district has totally gone for blasting-free mining, BALCO's abandoned operations in Amarkantak and NALCO's mined out areas are now a green belt leaving no scar of mining activities. An atternpt has been made to highlight some of the special features of bauxite mining and also on blasting-free mining.

2 illus, 6 tables, 3 ref

002317   Pattanaik D R;Rama Rao Y V (India Meterological Dep, Mausam Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003) : Track prediction of very severe cyclone 'Nargis' using high resolution weather research forecasting (WRF) model. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 309-29.

The recent very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) 'Nargis' over the Bay of Bengal caused widespread destruction over Myanmar after hitting the coast on 2 May 2008. The real time forecasting of the VSCS Nargis was a very difficult task as it did not follow the normal westerly/northwesterly track. In the present study, a detailed diagnostic analysis of the system 'Nargis' is carried out initially to investigate the features associated with this unusual movement and subsequently the real time forecast of VSCS 'Nargis' using high resolution advanced version weather research forecasting (WRF) model is presented. The advanced research WRF model was run for 72 h at 27 km and 20 km resolutions with 28. 29. 30 April and 1 May as the initial conditions. The diagnostic study indicates that the recurvature of the system 'Nargis' was mainly associated with: upper level southerly/southwesterly steering wind at 200 hPa level associated with anticyclonic circulation over southeastern sector of the centre of the system, 1. higher SST (29°C or more) with higher positive anomalies over the region to the northeast of the cyclone centre, and 2. large negative 24 h pressure changes and large vorticity maximum to the east of the system. The real time track forecast using the WRF model run at 27 km and 20 km resolution based on the initial conditions of 28 April (when the system was only 550 km away from the Indian coast) indicated that the system had a northeasterly forecast track and was not expected to cross the Indian coast. Similarly, based on 29 April initial condition the system showed east/east-northeasterly movement towards the Myanmar coast. The east/east-northeasterly movement of the 'Nargis' was persisting in the forecast based on 30 April and 1 May initial conditions with respective landfall errors of 85 km and 50 km with 27 km resolution, which reduces to 30 km and 40 km respectively with 20 km resolution, however, with a landfall time delay of about 10 h. Improvement, of mean forecast errors at different forecast hours is noticed in WRF model run at higher resolution compared to that run at lower resolution. Thus, it is very clear that the advanced version WRF model had captured movement of the system reasonably well almost 3 days in advance. Consistence with the diagnostic analysis the WRF model forecast also indicates southerly/southwesterly strong steering wind at 200 hPa level and maximum pressure fall to the east of the system.

15 illus, 3 tables, 23 ref

002316   Pai D S;Nair R M (NO, National Climate Centre, Pune, Maharashtra-411 005, Email: sivapai@hotmail.com) : Summer monsoon onset over Kerala: new definition and prediction. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(2), 123-35.

The summer monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK) marks the beginning of the rainy season for the country. Associated with the MOK, significant transitions of large scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns are observed over the Asia -Pacific region. In this study, a new method for the objective identification of MOK, based on large scale circulation features and rainfall over Kerala, is discussed. Further, a set of empirical models based on the principal component regression (PCR) technique was developed for the prediction of the date of MOK by keeping in mind the IMD's operational forecasting service requirements. Predictors for the models were derived using correlation analysis from the thermal, convective and circulation patterns. Only five predictors pertaining to the second half of April were used in the first model (Model-1) so that the prediction of MOK can be prepared by the end of April itself. The second model (Model-2) used four additional predictors pertaining up to the first half of May along with two predictors used in the Model-1 for update prediction at the end of the first half of May. To develop each of the PCR models, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of the respective predictor data was carried out followed by regression analysis of first two principal components (PCs) with the date of MOK. Both these models showed good skill in predicting the date of MOK during the independent test period of 1997-2007. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the predictions from both the models during the independent test period was about four days which was nearly half the RMSE of the predictions based on climatology.

6 illus, 3 tables, 39 ref

002315   Mondal N C;Singh V S;Sarwade D V;Nandakumar M V (NO, National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500 606) : Appraisal of groundwater resources in an island condition. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(3), 217-29.

A group of 36 coral islands is being scattered in the Arabian Sea off the western coast of India. On such islands, groundwater is the only source of fresh water for the islanders. The demand for groundwater is increasing every year due to growing population and urbanization. On the other side the peculiar hydrologic, geologic and geomorphic features restrict the availability of groundwater. Thus a proper understanding of the groundwater condition is important in order to meet this increasing demand and also to formulate future development and management strategies. Detailed hydrogeological, geophysical and hydrochemical studies had been carried out to identify potential fresh groundwater resources and quantify vulnerable parts of Andrott Island, Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Systematic collection and analysis of hydrological, geophysical and hydrochemical data gives an early signal of deterioration in groundwater quality in the peripheral parts of eastern and western coasts of this island and it suggests immediate measures for arresting the deterioration in groundwater quality as well as augmentation for restoration of aquifer in some parts of the island.

12 illus, 3 tables, 24 ref

002314   Mondal N C;Singh V S;Rangarajan R (NO, National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500 606) : Aquifer characteristics and its modeling around an industrial complex, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India: a case study. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(3), 231-44.

Anthropogenic pollution of shallow groundwater resources due to industrial activities is becoming a cause of concern in the east coastal belt of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Integrated hydro-geological, geophysical and tracer studies were carried out in the coastal region encompassing an industrial complex. The objective has been to gain knowledge of aquifer characteristics, ascertaining groundwater movement and its flow direction, which would in turn reveal the possibility of contamination of groundwater regime and its better management. The results of multi-parameters and model study indicate that the velocity of groundwater flow ranges from 0.013 m/d to 0.22 m/d in and around the industrial complex in upstream western part of the catchment and 0.026 m/d to 0.054 m/d in the downstream eastern part, near the coast. These parameters are vital for the development of groundwater management scheme.

14 illus, 3 tables, 20 ref

002313   Moghimi S;Masihabadi M H;Damavandi A A (Soil Science, Islamic Azad University of Branch, Agricultural Faculty, Iran, Email: sm_moghimi1010@yahoo.com) : Land suitability evaluation for dry and irrigated winter wheat in Khoramdareh agribusiness areas of Zanjan province. Int J Agric Envir Biotechnol 2009, 2(3), 219-21.

The aim of the study is to determine the land suitability evaluation classes for dry and irrigated winter wheat in Khoramdareh agribusiness areas. In this study the physical and chemical characteristics of soiis arid the climatic characteristics have been surveyed. Detailed Soil survey results were used as the base information in this research. Based on the survey results the studied area Is occupied by 7 soil Family and 20 soil units. Limitation methods (Simple limitation & Number and intensity of limitation) and parametric methods (Square root and Storie) were used as land evaluation methods. The results of the Square root method are closest with the real condition in the area. The units for irrigated wheat are Highly suitable (SI), Moderately - suitable and Marginally suitable. The limiting factors for this crop are topographic and physical characteristics. The suitability classes for dry wheat are Moderately suitable and Marginally suitable. The climate and physical characteristics of soil are limitingfactors.

2 tables, 9 ref

002312   Matin A;Mazumdar S (Geology Dep, Calcutta Univ, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700 019, Email: amatinindia@yahoo.com) : Deformation mechanisms in the frontal lesser himalayan duplex in Sikkim Himalaya, India. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 379-90.

Understanding deformation mechanisms in Himalayan rocks is a challenging proposition due to the complex nature of the deformed rocks and their genesis. Crustal deformation in the Himalayan thrust belt typically occurs in elastico-frictional (EF) or quasi-plastic (QP) regimes at depths controlled mainly by regional strain-rate and geothermal gradient. However, material property, grain-size and their progressive changes during deformation are also important controlling factors. We present evidence of EF deformation from Gondwana rocks developed during the emplacement of one of the frontal horses (Jorthaug horse) in the Lesser Himalayan Duplex (LHD) structure associated with Lesser Himalayan rocks in the footwall of the Ramgarh thrust in the Rangit window near Jorthang in the Sikkim Himalaya. The rocks in the horse exhibit systematic changes in micro-aud meso-stractures from an undeformed protolith to cataclasite suggesting that it was emplaced under elastico-frictional conditions. Meso- to micro-scale shear fractures are seen developed in Gondwana sandstone and slate while intercalated fine-grained shale-coal-carbonates are deformed by cataclastic flow suggesting that material property and grain-size have played an important role in the deformation of the Jorthang horse. In contrast, the hanging wall schists and quartzites of the Ramgarh thrust exhibit quasi-plastic deformation structures. This suggests that the Jorthang horse was emplaced under shallower crustal conditions than the antiformally folded Ramgarh thrust sheet even though the Ramgarh sheet presently overlies the Jorthang horse.

12 illus, 40 ref

002311   Mathew G;Nair A;Gundu Rao T K;Pande K (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Bambay, Powai, Mumbai-400 076, Email: gmathew@iitb.ac.in) : Laboratory technique for quantitative thermal emissivity measurements of geological samples. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 391-404.

Thermal infrared spectroscopy is a powerful technique for the compositional analysis of geological materials. The spectral feature in the mid-IR region is diagnostic of the mineralogy and spectral signatures of mixtures of minerals that add linearly, and therefore, can be used as an important tool to determine the mineralogy of rocks in the laboratory and remotely for planetary exploration. The greatest challenge in the emission measurement lies in the measurement of the weak thermal photons emitted from geological materials in a laboratory setup, and accurately records the temperature of the rock sample. The present work pertains to the details of a new Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) laboratory that has been developed under the ISRO Planetary Science and Exploration (PLANEX) programme, for emission related mineralogical investigations of planetary surfaces. The focus of the paper is on the acquisition and calibration technique for obtaining emissivity. and the deconvolution procedure to obtain the modal abundances of the thermal emission spectra in the range of 6-25 μm using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The basic technique is adopted from the work of Ruff et al (1997). This laboratory at the Department of Earth Sciences. IIT-Bombay is currently developing pure end mineral library of mineral parti-culates (<60> 65 μm), and adding new end members to the existing ASU spectral library. The paper argues the need for considering Lunar Orbiter Thermal Emission Spectrometer (LOTES) for future Indian Moon mission programme (Chandrayan-II) to determine evidences of varied lithologies on the lunar surface.

9 illus, 49 ref

002310   Mahmud M (Earth Observation Centre, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Kebangsaan Malaysia Univ, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia-436 00, Email: mastura@pkrisc.cc.ukm.my) : Mesoscale model simulation of low level equatorial winds over Borneo during the haze episode of september 1997. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 295-307.

The large-scale vegetation fires instigated by the local farmers during the dry period of the major El Nino event in 1997 can be considered as one of the worst environmental disasters that have occurred in southeast Asia in recent history. This study investigated the local meteorology characteristics of an equatorial environment within a domain that includes the northwestern part of Borneo from the 17 to 27 September 1997 during the height of the haze episode by utilizing a limited area three-dimensional meteorological and dispersion model, The Air Pollution Model (TAPM). Daily land and sea breeze conditions near the northwestern coast of Borneo in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia were predicted with moderate success by the index of agreement of less than one between the observed and simulated values for wind speed and a slight overprediction of 2.3 of the skill indicator that evaluates the standard deviation to the observed values. The innermost domain of study comprises an area of 24,193 km², from approximately 109°E to 111°E, and from 1°N to 2.3°N, which includes a part of the South China Sea. Tracer analysis of air particles that were sourced in the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo verified the existence of the landward and shoreward movements of the air during the simulation of the low level wind field. Polluted air particles were transported seawards during night-time, and landwards during daytime, highlighting the recirculation features of aged and newer air particles during the length of eleven days throughout the model simulation. Near calm conditions at low levels were simulated by the trajectory analysis from midnight to mid-day on the 22 of September 1997. Low-level turbulence within the planetary boundary layer in terms of the total kinetic energy was weak, congruent with the weak strength of low level winds that reduced the ability of the air to transport the pollutants. Statistical evaluation showed that parameters such as the systematic RMSE and unsystematic RMSE between the observed and simulated values indicated the modest skill of the model in simulating the low level winds. Otherwise, the equatorial meteorological parameters such as wind speed and temperature were successfully simulated by the model with comparatively high correlation coefficients, lower RMSEs and moderately high indices of agreement with observed values.

7 illus, 26 ref

002309   Kessarkar P M;Purnachandra Rao V;Shynu R; Ahmad I M;Mehra P;Michael G S;Sundar D (NO, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa-403 004, Email: uprao@nio.org) : Wind-driven estuarine turbidity maxima in Mandovi estuary, central west coast of India. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 369-77.

Systematic studies on the suspended participate matter (SPM) measured on a seasonal eyrie in the Mandovi Estuary. Goa indicate that the average concentrations of SPM at the regular station arc <126> 20 mg/1.5 mg/l. 19 mg/l and 5 mg/l for June-September. October January. February April and May. respectively. SPM exhibits low-to-moderate correlation with rainfall indicating that SPM is also influenced by other processes. Transect stations reveal that the SPM at sea-end stations of the estuary are at least two orders of magnitude greater than those at the river-end during the monsoon. Estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) of nearly similar magnitude occurs at the same location in two periods, interrupted by a period with very low SPM concentrations. The ETM occurring in June-September is associated with low salinities: its formation is attributed to the interactions between strong southwesterly winds (5.1 -5.6 ms^-1) and wind-induced waves and tidal currents arid, dominant easterly river flow at the mouth of the estuary. The ETM occurring in February - April is associated with high salinity and is conspicuous. The strong NW and SW winds (3.2-3.7 ms^-1) and wind-driven waves and currents seem to have acted effectively at the mouth of the estuary in developing turbidity maximum. The impact of sea breeze appears nearly same as that of trade winds and cannot be underestimated in sediment resuspension and deposition.

5 illus, 34 ref

002308   Kasipathi C (Mineral Exploration Div, Geology Dep, Andhra Univ, Visakhapatnam-530 003) : Geoscientific state of the art on a better deal for the tribal development in the bauxite bearing agency areas of the eastern ghats region, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Min Engng J 2009, 48(6), 17-22.

India has been an important resource for bauxite and has been one of the leading producers of alumina in the world. Andhra Pradesh, as a part of Eastern Ghats, is really resourceful and rich in bauxite zones on the hill ranges along with Orissa. Andhra Pradesh can play a predominant role in the production of alumina in the country due to its -huge reserves. Due to misconceptions in the local rural and tribal segments; the Government even though trying its level best for the betterment of the locals, the matters are not moving fast positively. The genetical aspects, uses, Indian reserves, nature of Eastern Ghats, dimension of Andhra Pradesh reserves, the nature of mining to be taken up, processing and metallurgical treatments of bauxite and the lacunas of this industry with reference to Andhra Pradesh are examined in detail in this article.

6 ref

002307   Goswami P K;Pant C C;Pandey S (Geology Dep, Kumaun Univ, Nainital-263 002, Email: drpgoswami@yahoo.com) : Tectonic controls on the geomorphic evolution of alluvial fans in the Piedmont zone of Ganga plain, Uttarakhand, India. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(3), 245-59.

The Piedmont Zone is the least studied part of the Ganga Plain. The northern limit of the Piedmont Zone is defined by the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) along which the Himalaya is being thrust over the alluvium of the Ganga Plain. Interpretation of satellite imagery, Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and field data has helped in the identification and mapping of various morpho-tectonic features in the densely forested and cultivated Piedmont Zone in the Kumaun region of the Uttarakhand state of India. The Piedmont Zone has formed as a result of coalescing alluvial fans, alluvial aprons and talus deposits. The fans have differential morphologies and aggradation processes within a common climatic zone and similar litho-tectonic setting of the catchment area. Morphotectonic analysis reveals that the fan morphologies and aggradation processes in the area are mainly controlled by the ongoing tectonic activities. Such activities along the HFT and transverse faults have controlled the accommodation space by causing differential subsidence of the basin, and aggradation processes by causing channel migration, channel incision and shifting of depocentres. The active tectonic movements have further modified the landscape of the area in the form of tilted alluvial fan, gravel ridges, terraces and uplifted gravels.

13 illus, 54 ref

002306   Franchito S H;Brahmananda Rao V;Asques A C V; Santo C M E;Conforte J C (Centro de Previsao de Tempo de Estudos Climaticos, CPTEC Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais INPE CP 515, 12245-970, Sao Jose Campus, SP. Brazil, Email: sergio.franchito@cptec.inpe.br) : Diagnosis of rainfall over south America during 1997/98 E1 nino and 1998/99 La nina events: comparison between TRMM PR and GPCP rainfall estimates. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(3), 193-207.

A comparison between TRMM PR rainfall estimates and rain gauge data from ANEEL and combined gauge/satellite data from GPCP over South America (SA) is made. In general, the annual and seasonal regional characteristics of rainfall over S A are qualitatively well reproduced by TRMM PR and GPCP. It is found that over most of SA GPCP exceeds TRMM PR rainfall. The largest positive differences between GPCP and TRMM PR data occur in the north SA, northwestern and central Amazonia. However, there are regions where GPCP rainfall is lower than TRMM PR, particularly in the Pacific coastal regions and in southern Brazil. We suggest that the cause for the positive differences GPCP minus TRMM PR, rainfall are related to the fact that satellite observations based on infrared radiation and outgoing longwave radiance sensors overestimate convective rainfall in GPCP and the cause for the negative differences are due to the random errors in TRMM PR. Rainfall differences in the latter phases of the 1997/98 El Nino and 1998/99 La Nina are analyzed. The results showed that the rainfall anomalies are generally higher in GPCP than in TRMM PR, however, as in the mean annual case, there are regions where the rainfall in GPCP is lower than in TRMM PR. The higher positive (negative) differences between the rainfall anomalies in GPCP and TRMM PR, which occur in the central Amazonia (southern Brazil), are reduced (increased) in the El Nino event. This is due to the fact that during the El Nino episode the rainfall decreases the central Amazonia and increases in the southern Brazil. Consequently, the overestimation of the convective rainfall by GPCP is reduced and the overestimation of the rainfall by TRMM PR is increased in these two regions, respectively.

9 illus, 2 tables, 43 ref

002305   Dey S;Ghosh S;Debbarma D;Sarkar P;Marfai M A; Maiti S (Geography and Disaster Management Dep, Tripura Univ, Suryamaninagar-799 130, Email: sudip_geo@rediffmail.com) : Some observations from radiometric '8 bit' data of sediment thin sections based on alternative petrographic image analysis method. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(2), 163-73.

Deals with the experiment of sediment mierostructure analysis especially microfabric mapping by digital imaging. For that purpose the greyscale images (Red band from RGB com-binatiou) of the thin sections have been prepared from the selected 12 samples. The basis of this mapping is the reflectance capacity of different sediments which is influenced by the physical parameters like grain size and colour. The reflectances of different sediments are represented in digital format by different DN values from 0- 255 within the radiometric ranges of '8 bit' data. Density slicing has been chosen as the method of mierostructure mapping in this research. This study shows that lower DN values normally present dark coloured coarser sand and clay while higher DN values present light coloured finer sediment samples. In the selected samples for this study the maximum DN value has been found from micaceous materials. Another remarkable thing observed from the microfabric mapping is that the presence of coarser sediments forms complex microfabric pattern than the finer sediments in the study area. Though this method have some demerits, still its simple technique can be very useful for accurate mierostructure analysis.

5 illus, 3 tables, 40 ref

002304   Bhagavan S K;Viswanath G V G K;Satyanaryana K P (Geology Dep, Andhra Univ, Visakhapatnam) : Study of the geology of Panchpatmali area, Koraput district, Orissa, with special reference to bauxitisation. Indian Min Engng J 0000, 48(8), 119-25.

1 illus, 8 ref

002303   Bawiskar S M;Chipade M D;Puranik P V (NO, Indian Institute of Meterology, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune-411 008, Email: bawiskr@hotmail.com) : Energetics of lower tropospheric ultra-long waves: a key to intra-seasonal variability of Indian monsoon. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(2), 115-21.

Analysis of fifty four (1951-2004) years of daily energetics of zonal waves derived from NCEP/ NCAR wind (u and v) data and daily rainfall received over the Indian landmass (real time data) during southwest monsoon season (1 June-30 September) indicate that energetics (momentum transport and kinetic energy) of lower tropospheric ultra-long waves (waves 1 and 2) of low latitudes hold a key to intra-seasonal variability of monsoon rainfall over India. Correlation coefficient between climatology of daily (122 days) energetics of ultra-long waves and climatology of daily rainfall over Indian landmass is 0.9. The relation is not only significant but also has a predictive potential. The normalised plot of both the series clearly indicates that the response period of rainfall to the energetics is of 5-10 days during the onset phase and 4-7 days during the withdrawal phase of monsoon over India. During the established phase of monsoon, both the series move hand-in-hand. Normalised plot of energetics of ultra-long waves and rainfall for individual year do not show marked deviation with respect to climatology. These results are first of its kind and are useful for the short range forecast of rainfall over India.

8 illus, 18 ref

002302   Bawiskar S M (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune-411 008, Email: bawiskar@hotmail.com) : Weakening of lower tropospheric temperature gradient between Indian landmass and neighbouring oceans and its impact on Indian monsoon. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 273-80.

The study shows that in the scenario of global wanning temperature gradient (TG) between Indian landmass and Arabian Sea/Bay of Bengal is significantly decreasing in the lower troposphere with maxima around 850 hPa. TG during pre-monsoon' (March to May) is reducing at a significant rate of 0.036°/year (Arabian Sea) and 0.030°/year (Bay of Bengal). The above alarming results are based on sixty years (1948-2007) of daily temperature and wind data extracted from CDAS-NCEP/NCAR reanalysis datasets. TG based on ERA-40 data also indicates a decreasing trend of 0.0229°/year and 0.0397°/year for Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal respectively. As TG is not governed by any type of significant oscillation, there is a possibility of TG tending to zero. It is further observed that the rate of warming over the oceans is more than that over the land which has resulted into the weakening of TG.

7 illus, 2 tables, 17 ref

002301   Balaji C;Deiveegan M;Venkateshan S P;Gairola R M;Sarkar A;Agarwal V K (Mechanical Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036) : Polarized microwave forward model simulations for tropical storm Fanoos. J Earth Syst Sci 2009, 118(4), 331-43.

In the study, forward radiative transfer simulations are carried out for the tropical cyclone Fanoos that hit the coast off south India in December 2005. The in-house radiative transfer package used for this study employs the doubling and adding method to calculate radiances leaving the top of the one dimensional precipitating atmosphere. The particle drop size distribution is assumed to follow a modified gamma distribution in respect of the cloud liquid water and cloud ice water content. For precipitation, the Marshall-Palmer particle size distribution is used. All the hydrometeor particles are assumed to be spherical and Lorentz Mie theory is used to evaluate the interaction parameters like absorption, scattering coefficients and polarized scattering matrix. In order to validate the drop size distributions and interaction parameter calculations, the simulated brightness temperatures are compared with the TMI measured brightness temperatures for all the channels. For carrying out this exercise, vertical hydrometeors retrieved by TMI are used as input. The differences between simulated and measured brightness temperatures are found to be within ±10%. The maximum difference in the brightness temperatures between the present work and the Edding-ton model which the TRMM algorithm employs is about 4.5 K. This may become significant when retrieval of precipitation is attempted by combining the forward model with a suitable retrieval strategy, under tropical conditions.

8 illus, 5 tables, 20 ref

002300   Arora A;Jaya R;John Paul K;Lakshmi Prasad T; Reddy K S N;Aruna Kumar P;Sarath Babu P (Geology Dep, Acharya Nagarjuna Univ, Guntur-522 510) : Geochemical and mineralogical studies of laterites around Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian Min Engng J 0000, 48(8), 141-6.

The main objective of this investigation is to study the process of lateritisation, Laterites are ohsen/ed very prominently around Guntur district, particularly kolanukonda and mangar-gin areas. To accomplish this object, rock and laterite samples have been collected from different locations of the study area. The elevation range of those laterite patches is between 20m and 40m above MSL. The early Pre-Czmbrian rocks- Khondalites, Charnockiets and Quartz/fas arc the major rock types of this area. The /afeotes have been studied by optical, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal and analytical methods. The secondary minerals produced during lateritisation process of primary rocks are kaolinite, halloysite, montimonllonite. goethite, hematite and Hmo-nite. The chemical data clearly showed that there is enrichment of iron without substantial loss of Na₂O, K₂O, CaO, MgO and Al₂O₃.

3 illus, 1 table, 13 ref