000138   Dashora I;Singal S K;Srivastav D K (Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667, Email: ila.dashora@gmail.com) : Regional flow duration curve methods for hydropower development. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(3), 7-15.

Regionalization of flow duration curve (FDC) is a helping tool for flow estimation at ungauged sites. Various researchers have developed different methods for regionalization of flow in the past. For the estimation of regional FDC, physiographic parameters play an important role. The flow at geologically similar ungauged sites can be predicted by parametric method using regression techniques. In absence of these parameters, other methods like dimensionless flow and drainage area methods can be used. There is always an uncertainty associated with the flow estimation and this drawback of estimation procedure necessitates a reliability test. It has been found in the review that Jackknife cross validation and bootstrap resampling are highly recommended and reliable test methods. The present study is a comprehensive review of various regionalization methods of FDC for hydropower planning. A comparative analysis of validation is also carried out to estimate the errors in the reviewed FDC methods.

^iia4 illus, 65 ref

000137   Basu B;Sharma M;Gupta C S;Thippeswamy S; Jeyagopal A V;Joshi G B;Mohanty R (Atomic Energy (DAE) Dep, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Shillong-793 109, Email: bhaskarbasu.amd@gov.in) : Uranium mineralization in palaeoproterozoic khetabari formation, Bomdila group, Sie-Rimi area, West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh. Curr Sci 2015, 108(7), 4216-18.

2 illus, 3 ref

000136   Baruah J;Goswami P (NO, CSIR Fourth Paradigm Institute (Formerly C-MMACS), Belur Campus, Wind Tunnel Road, Bengaluru-560 037, Email: goswami@cmmacs.ernet.in) : Dynamical model of daily CO concentration over Delhi: assessment of forecast potential. Curr Sci 2015, 108(7), 1369-74.

Advance and accurate forecasts of air pollutant concentrations have many applications at different scales, from traffic planning to health advisories. However, such models need to incorporate local factors and must be validated against local observations for applicability. It has been shown earlier that a dynamical model successfully simulates, in forecast mode, the observed (CPCB, India) daily concentrations of SPM, RSPM, SO₂ and NO₂ over Delhi. The present work shows that the model skill is also significant in predicting CO. Together with our earlier results, the present work to the robustness and enhanced scope of dynamical forecast of air pollution.

6 illus, 2 tables, 22 ref

000135   Bandyopadhyay A;Bhadra A;Maza M;Shelina R K (Agricultural Engineering Dep, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli (Itanagar)-791 109, Email: arnabbandyo@yahoo.co.in) : Monthly variations of air temperature lapse rates in Arunachal himalaya. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(3), 15-25.

Atmospheric lapse rate is the change in temperature with altitude. In this study, decrease of air temperature with altitude was estimated by simple linear regression for maximum, minimum and mean monthly temperatures. In Arunachal Himalayan region, sixteen sites with different elevations ranging from 131 m to 3417 m were analyzed to compute the temperature lapse rate on monthly basis. For linear regression analysis, a program was developed in MATLAB and correlation between temperature and altitude was evaluated using coefficient of determination (R^{2) for each month and for the whole year. From the generated linear regression models, it was observed that the monthly near-surface lapse rale (A) varies within 0.32-0.56, 0.44-0.54, and 0.36-0.52 °C (100 m)-1 for maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures, respectively, and the annual near-surface lapse rate values were 0.464, 0.476, and 0.455 °C (100 m)-1, respectively. The temperature at sea level varies-in the range of 21.83- -33.38 12.55-26.29, and 16.44-29.23 °C for maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures, respectively, on monthly basis and the annual average values were 28.52, 20.28, and 23.80 °C, respectively. Coefficient of determination (R2) for monthly basis varies in the range of 0.46-0.88, 0.73- 0.89 and 0.70-0.89 for maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures, respectively, and its values were 0.85, 0.93, and 0.91, respectively, for annual basis. Correlation between temperature and altitude were found to be quite satisfactory in this region.}

7 illus, 6 tables, 18 ref

023413   Singh V K;Sharma M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: veerukantsingh@bsip.res.in) : Morphologically complex organic-walled microfossils (owm) from the late palaeoproterozoic - early mesoproterozoic chitrakut formation, vindhyan supergroup, Central India and their implications on the antiquity of eukaryotes. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 89-102.

Three complex Organic-Walled Microfossils (OWM) viz. Shuiyousphaeridium echinulatum Yin and Gao, 1999; Cymatiosphaeroides kullingii Knoll et al., 1991 and Trachysphaeridium sp. are recorded from the chert streaks of the Chitrakut Formation of the Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup. This assemblage has been attributed to eukaryotic remains and discussed on various possible criteria to establish their affinity. The present record is the third occurrence of such eukaryotic forms from the Late Palaeoproterozoic - Early Mesoproterozoic succession after the report of the Roper Group, Australia and the Ruyang Group, China. The Chitrakut assemblage represents the first comprehensive report of the acritarchs including Shuiyousphaeridium type acritarch from the Vindhyan Supergroup.

2 illus, 1 table, 103 ref

023412   Singh B P;Virmani N;Bhargava O N;Kishore N; Gill A (Center of Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab Univ, Chandigarh-160 014) : Yuehsienszella (cambrian series 2) trilobite from the parahio valley, spiti region (zanskar-spiti sub-basin), India, and its biostratigraphic significance. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 81-8.

Cambrian trilobite taxon Yuehsienszella Chang, 1957 (Cambrian Series 2) is reported from the Kunzum La (=Parahio) Formation in the Parahio Valley, Spiti region of Zanskar-Spiti sub-basin, Northwest Himalaya. The taxon occurs 237 m below the Oryctocephalus indicus level (Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5) and indicates a late Tsanglangpuan age (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4) for the level within the Kunzum La (=Parahio) Formation at the type section and hence revises the lower age limit to Tsanglangpuan age (Cambrian Series 2). Yuehsienszella is also known from the Cambrian succession of the Salt Range (Pakistan) where it occurs in association with the Redlichia noetlingi. In the Spiti region, Redlichia noetlingi is known from a float. The in situ specimen of Yuehsienszella from the Parahio Valley (Spiti region) supports the presence of equivalent level in the Cambrian of this area. A correlation of the lower Cambrian successions extending from the Salt Range (Pakistan) in the west to the Garhwal Himalaya in east is presented.

5 illus, 39 ref

023411   Sijagurumayum U;Raghumani Singh Y;Kachhara R P (Earth Sciences Dep, Manipur Univ, Imphal (India)-795 003, Email: yengmani@gmail.com) : Eocene molluscan fossils from the upper disang formation of imphal valley, Manipur, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 59-68.

The present paper describes fourteen molluscan species from the Upper Disang Formation of Imphal Valley, Changamdabi Hills, Manipur. Of these, five (four bil valves and one gastropod) are described as new species and nine are kept in open nomenclature. Of the latter, eight belong to Bivalvia and one to Gastropoda. The bivalve genera include Nucula, Barbatia, Protonoetia, Septifer, Aviculoperna, Venericardia, Trachycardium, Tellina, Callista, Lentidium, Pholas, whereas gastropods include Patella and Natica. Morphological comparison and a cladistic analysis place the fossils as closely related to group's last common ancestor, but they have one or more unique characteristics than their close ancestors.

2 illus, 32 ref

023410   Shukla T;Verma A;Adnan A;Pande M;Shukla U K (Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005, Email: shukla_umakant@yahoo.com) : SCARP sandstone: an example of estuarine sedimentation within the mesoproterozoic kaimur group of the vindhyan basin, (Mirzapur, U.P.), India. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 45-7.

Famous for its controversial origin, the Precambrian Scarp Sandstone Member in the studied hillock sections is 20-25 m thick. The rock successions are made up of 3-6 m thick channelized, vertically stacked and laterally shifting sand bodies. Based on primary sedimentary structures such as small to large scale trough- and- herringbone cross - beddings, wave, current and interference ripples, tidal bundles with mud drapes, four major lithofacies and at least two of them, divisible into subfacies are identified and ascribed to above the wave base shallow marine origin. However, channelized nature of the sand bodies and their hundreds of meter wide lateral extent made up of shoaling cycles, and north-west directed polymodal palaeocurrent pattern, imply deposition in sub-tidal to inter-tidal domains of estuarine setting. Nevertheless, the overall coarsening upward trend in the grain-size in the measured sections indicates tendency of deposition in a transgressive system. Sandstones show both textural and mineralogical maturity. Fine to medium-grained quartz arenites having sub-populations of both mono and polycrystalline quartz and heavy minerals such as hypersthene, olivine and zircon demand sediment supply from a provenance comprising rocks of metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous origin.

12 illus, 82 ref

023409   Sarma M;Choudhury B (Anthropology Dep, Dibrugarh Univ, Dibrugarh-786 004, Email: maitreyee.sharma@rediffmail.com ) : Continuity and change of certain culturally coded survival strategies of the misings of brahmaputra river valley of Assam. J hum Ecol 2015, 49(1-2), 129-37.

Humans being, the most intelligent creature develops default settings in terms of certain culturally coded survival strategies that may differ on the availability of raw materials of the ecology and the cognitive perception of the population. The present Mising tribe of Assam was erstwhile a hill tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, migrated to the plains of the Brahmaputra valley since time immemorial and most significantly, it is the second most populated scheduled tribe (plains) of Assam today in spite of the fact that the present Mising area is extremely prone to perennial floods. However, in their erstwhile habitat in the hills they did not face this ecological feature. Therefore, the prime purpose of this research paper is to highlight the cultural traits of the Misings that are conferring advantage to them to survive in the present habitat. The continuity of the traditional hilly cultural elements can be peeped into by examining the similarities with the Minyongs (an Adi tribe) because the Misings show striking cultural affinity with the Padam-Minyong tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The modification of the traditional cultural elements after their migration is also tried to analyze. Considering Leslie White's theoretical considerations of cultural evolution and human adaptation, infrastructural level of the Misings is tried to understand through modes of production, structural level through the political economy and the super structural level is tried to portray with the aesthetic aspects like pattern of houses and boats designed by the population.

1 table, 10 ref

023408   Rai J;Singh A;Gulati D (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53-Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: jyotsana_rai@yahoo.com) : Bartonian age calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of tanot well-1, jaisalmer basin and its implications. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 29-44.

Fairly rich and moderately diversified nannofossil assemblage comprising thirty-eight species belonging to eighteen genera and one calcareous dinoflagellate species are described from subsurface samples of Tanot <35>1 well (Oil India Limited) representing the Bandah Formation of the Jaisalmer Basin. The assemblage though contains little overgrowth in delicate forms, yet displays exceptional preservation at some levels. The assemblage is dominated by reticulofenestrids specially Cribrocentrum reticulatum. The assemblage is typically indicative of low-latitude, near-shore, shallow and warm water environment and can be assigned to zone NP17 Discoaster saipanensis Zone. This is correlatable with parts of both P13 Orbulinoides beckmanni and P14 Truncorotaloides rohri planktonic foraminiferal Zones and a part of Dll dinoflagellate Zone of Bartonian age. This nannofossil data from subsurface of Jaisalmer is coeval with more diversified nannofossil assemblage from Kachchh and less diversified assemblages from the Dilni River section, Meghalaya. Though the entire Bartonian spans (41.3-37.my) ca. four million years, it appears that the nannofossil assemblages in both western and eastern sectors of India pertain only to 1.5 my. time slice (39.5-38.0 my) of global eustatic rise. The late Eocene (Priabonian) is hiatus both in the Kachchh and Jaisalmer basins of western India, whereas the sedimentation continued in Meghalaya in the eastern sector and the sea encroached on the Cambay Basin in western India in late Eocene.

2 illus, 4 tables, 62 ref

023407   Patnaik R (CAS in Geology, Panjab Univ, Chandigarh-160 014, Email: rajeevpatnaik@gmail.com) : Phylogeny of siwalik murine rodents: implications for mus-rattus divergence time. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 15-28.

Freshwater Siwalik deposits of the Indian subcontinent, ranging in age from <126>18 Ma to <126> 0.5 Ma, have yielded over 28 murine species belonging to 14 genera, most of them showing an in situ evolution. In the present work, a cladistic analysis (using PAUP) based on 26 derived and generalized dental characters distributed among Siwalik fossil murines of the Indian subcontinent and their extant counterparts has been carried out. The cricetids, Potwarmus and Myocricetodon were used as the out-group taxa to the in-group murine rodents. The results support monophyly of murines. The basal most murine taxon Antemus shares a common ancestry with rest of the murines. Progonomys was next to diverge, followed by the split leading to two clades, one comprising Karnimata and Parapelomys and the other having mostly modern murine taxa, with Mus occupying the basal-most position. Rest of the taxa of the latter clade form another clade comprising Millardia, Cremnomy, Dilatomys, Golunda, Hadromys, Rattus, Bandicota and Nesokia. The cladogram has been calibrated using the Siwalik chronostratigraphical data. Presently, Mus-Rattus divergence date is placed between 10-12 Ma based either on the first occurrence of Progonomys or on the Progonomys-Karnimata split date. The cladogram presented here suggest a rather different scenario indicating that the first appearance datum of Mus in the geological record, which at the moment is 7.3 Ma, appears to denote the divergence date of Mus and several rat genera including the genus Rattus. Further, this younger date of Mus-Rattus split validates younger first appearance dates of fossil Millardia, Cremnomy, Dilatomys, Golunda, Hadromys, Rattus, Bandicota and Nesokia.

3 illus, 2 tables, 105 ref

023406   Mandaokar B D;Mukherjee D (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 Univ Road, Lucknow-26007, Email: bdmandokar@yahoo.com) : Palynostratigraphy of the cuddalore formation (early miocene) of panruti, Tamil Nadu, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 69-80.

Palynological studies of Cenozoic sediments from Panruti in the easternmost extension of the Cauvery Basin, Tamil Nadu, India, provide first palynological data from this region. The palynoassemblage suggests an early Miocene age. The palynoflora of Panruti subdivides the sediments into three Cenozones, namely Pteridacidites vermiverrucatus Cenozone, Malvacearumpollis bakonyensis Cenozone and Myricipites singhii Cenozone respectively. The assemblage indicates a tropical to subtropical humid climate with high rainfall and suggests deposition in a delta distributary channel under shallow marine influence. The terrestrial elements of upland flora and low-land vegetational flora tend to merge with fresh water constituents. The dominant pollen elements (Spinizonocolpites, Ctenolophonidites, Brownlowia, Malvacearumpollis) suggest evidence of brackish water mangrove swamp along the coastal line.

3 illus, 1 table, 91 ref

023405   Koley T (Palaeontology Div, Eastern Region, Geological Survey of India, Bhu-Bijnana Bhavan DK-6, Sect-II, Salt lake Kolkata-700 091) : Rare body fossil Bactryllium Heer 1853 from the ejecta of shyamnagar mud volcano, North Andaman and its status. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 109-11.

Bactryllium Heer 1853 has been treated by different authors as a fossil community under diatom, pteropods and faunal excreta. The present investigation recorded Bactryllium of. B. canaliculatum Heer 8153 as a group of tubular fossil mass trapped on a lump of sandstone ejected through the mud volcano at Shyamnagar, North Andaman, revealing a different history of faunal affinity altogether. Bactrylluim Heer 1853 sensu stricto conforms to body fossil and its age range can be extended up to Cretaceous from the Triassic.

^ssc4 illus, 8 ref

023404   Kanjilal S (Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005, Email: kanjilalsushant@rediffmail.com) : Revisiting the proposed ammonite zonation of jurassic rocks of gangta bet, wagad, eastern Kachchh. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 103-7.

The newly proposed biozones by Patel et al. (2012) have been based on the so-called characteristic index species, which have been identified incorrectly. The zonation should remain suspended till finding the true index fossils.

1 illus, 10 ref

023403   Jain S;Garg R (NO, , DG-2, 51C, SFS Flats, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110 018, Email: sreepatjain@gmail.com) : Jurassic benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy - an age-constrained template for local, regional and global correlation. J Palaeont Soc India 2014, 59(1), 1-13.

Contribution presents the first and the largest ammonite age-constrained benthic foraminiferal dataset from the Indian Jurassics. This dataset from Jaisalmer (Rajasthan, western India) is based on a study of 77 samples yielding 149 species (22 superfamilies, 33 families and 58 genera) spanning the Bajocian to Early Tithonain interval. Due to its high resolution and large time span covered, this dataset is also ideal to document the biostratigraphic relevance, if any, of benthic foraminifers that so far have only been documented from short time intervals. Here, 18 species are common with the British Jurassic, the most with any dataset, and marginally above (19) with the adjoining Kachchh Basin; surprisingly, only 7 are common between the latter and the British Jurassic. Although the benthic foraminifers are well known to be long ranging, but, the commonness of some species with the British Jurassics suggest their biostratigraphic usefulness. These include Brizalina liassica, Ammobaculites agglutinans, Ammobaculites coprolithiformis, Citharina colliezi, Citharinaflabellata, Dentalina gumbeli, Epistomina rugularis, Falsopalmulina deslongchampsi, Frondicularia franconia, Lenticulina munsteri, Lenticulina quenstedti, Lenticulina subalata, Nodosaria hortensis, Opthalmidium carinatum, Pseudonodosaria vulgate, Reinholdella crebra, Vaginulina barnardia and Verneulinoides tryphera. Additionally, because of higher ammonite dating capability of the present study, the foraminiferal species are grouped into Stage based stratigraphic categories of Restricted, First and Last Occurrences. This categorization will enable a ready and robust age-limited template of benthic foraminiferal dataset for future local, regional and global correlation.

5 illus, 2 tables, 21 ref

022553   Zhang X;Tian Q (School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Nanjing Univ of Infromation Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China, Email: zxhbnu@gmail.com) : Comparison of spectral characteristics between EO-1 ALI and IRS-P6 LISS-III imagery. Curr Sci 2015, 108(5), 954-60.

Data from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) P6 have been widely used for integrated land and water resources management. To complement and substitute data measured from other similar satellites and obtain constant measurements of the Earth's surface features, we evaluated the spectral characteristics between IRS-P6 LISS-III, a sensor of IRS P6, and EO-1 ALI by comparing their top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of three nearly simultaneous image pairs. In particular, due to the difference in NIR band design between LISS-III and ALI, the spectral characteristics of NIR band of LISS-III were compared with the two NIR bands of ALI. The results demonstrate that a distinct linear correlation exists between the spectral characteristics of LISS-III and ALI, with R^{2 values ranging from 0.976 to 0.995 for TOA reflectance and from 0.992 to 0.997 for NDVI. Therefore, a mutual complementation and substitution of the TOA reflectance and NDVI between LISS-III and ALI images is feasible. Moreover, both TOA reflectance and NDVI of LISS-III are more similar to those of ALI at band 4 than to those of ALI at band 4P due to the difference in the two NIR bands of ALI.}

4 illus, 5 tables, 24 ref

022552   Varade A M;Shende R;Lamsoge B;Dongre K;Rajput A (Post Graduate Dep of Geology, RTM Nagpur Univ, Nagpur, Maharashtra-440 001, Email: varade2010@gmail.com) : Efficacy of kumarswamy method in determining aquifer parameters of large-diameter dugwells in deccan trap region, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 461-8.

Since ancient times, withdrawal of groundwater in India is carried out from shallow level phreatic aquifers by the means of dugwells. These shallow unconfined/anisotropic aquifers, generally comprising weathered material, are tapped by the dugwells of large diameter. Such wells, specially penetrating the crystalline and basaltic terrain ensure large storage of groundwater in low permeability aquifer conditions. Therefore, proper understanding of the characteristics and behaviour of this almost omnipresent phreatic aquifer, being tapped by vast number of large diameter dugwells becomes imperative. In view of this, an attempt has been made here to analyze the pumping test data of ten (10) large diameter dugwells, falling under micro-watershed of WGKKC-2 of Kalmeshwar Tehsil, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The drawdown and recovery data, generated through pumping tests were analyzed by the empirical formula given by Kumarswamy (1973). The transmissivity (T) and specific yield (Sy) values for the large diameter dugwells, tapping the phreatic aquifer of study area were found in between 22.43-385.60 m^{2/day and 0.028-0.127 (fractions), respectively. The permeability (K) and specific capacity (C) values range in between 0.99-82.96 m/day and 68.45-526.37 Ipm/m, respectively. Subsequently, these results were compared with 'T' and 'Sy' values, reported by various workers/departments elsewhere in the basaltic terrain of Maharashtra. The range of observed values of 'Sy' and 'T' of present study confirms to those values reported earlier by the previous workers. The overall study indicates the efficacy of Kumarswamy (1973) method in determining the aquifer parameters of large-diameter dugwells tapping the basaltic aquifers.}

1 illus, 4 tables, 34 ref

022551   Sunitha V;Muralidhara Reddy B;Abdullah Khan J;Ramakrishna Reddy M (Geology & Geoinformatics Dep, Yogi Vemana Univ, Kadapa-516 003, Email: vangala_sunitha@yahoo.com) : Groundwater geochemistry in the southeastern part of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, with special reference to fluoride distribution and its impact of health. J envir Sci Engng 2014, 56(2), 153-60.

Groundwater is the major water-source for drinking and irrigation in drought-prone southeastern part of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh (India). Geochemically, the groundwater is characterized by alkaline nature, higher contents of Na^{+ over K+, Ca2+ over Mg2+ and Cl- over NO₃-, more or less equal amounts of HCO₃ and SO₄2-, and fluoride 0.5 to 5.51 mg/L, that is <126> 2-5 times over the W.H.O. (2004) prescribed limit of 1.5 mg/L for drinking. Due to high F in water, this region is severely affected by endemic fluorosis. High fluoride content in groundwater is attributed to release of F into water from F bearing rocks in this tropical region during their weathering and partial evaporation of such water. Use of this groundwater with high F- for drinking and irrigation for dry crops led to many health problems, viz. dental and skeletal-fluorosis, and deformation of bones, manifested in both children and adults. This calls for effective regional-scale defluoridation of water in this part to bring to permissible limit prior to its use, besides adoption of methods like rainwater harvesting.}

5 illus, 3 tables, 28 ref

022550   Srinivas Y;Oliver D H;Raj A S;Chandrasekar N (Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar Univ, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Email: drysv@yahoo.co.in) : Delineation of groundwater potential zones along the coastal parts of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 356-62.

Electrical resistivity method is widely used in groundwater exploration studies because it is a fast and less expensive geophysical tool. The vertical electrical soundings were carried out at 21 sites along the coast of Agastheeswaram taluk between Muttom and Vattakkotai, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu using the Schlumberger configuration. The field data were interpreted using the IPI2win software and the resistivity versus depth models for each location was prepared. Groundwater in this region occurs mainly under semi confined to confined conditions. The study was aimed at improving the success rate of boreholes. The results obtained from the interpreted data indicate three to four geoelectric layers. The thickness of the first and second layers lies between 1 to 4.7m and 1.1 to 13.3m respectively. The sounding locations showing resistivities between 18-100 ohm m are expected to be potential zones with potable water as revealed by TDS value of groundwater from the nearby wells. The areas affected by over exploitation and saline water intrusion into groundwater are also delineated by very low resistivity zones (between land 9.6 ohm m). The geoelectric sections prepared on the basis of VES results clearly delineated the fresh and saline water zones both laterally and vertically. The saline water intrusion can be reduced significantly by construction of barriers to prevent the intrusion of saline water from the nearby estuaries and salt pans. It is also necessary to construct structures to increase the groundwater level through artificial recharge. The saline water intrusion can also be reduced by adopting a suitable pumping pattern. Thus, these studies supported by available litholog data helped in suggesting suitable management techniques to prevent the groundwater degradation.

4 illus, 1 table, 15 ref

022549   Singh R N (NO, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad-500 007, Email: rnsingh@ngri.res.in) : Applications of heat conduction equation based models in Indian geology. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 469-71.

^ssc1 table, 24 ref

022548   Shukla G;Garg P K (Geomatics Engineering Group, Civil Engineering Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Email: gaur.knit@gmail.com) : Assessment of surface soil moisture through classical method and optical, thermal remote sensing techniques. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(2), 17-24.

Surface soil moisture is one of the crucial variables in hydrological and atmospheric processes, which influences the exchange of water and energy fluxes at the land surface/atmosphere interface. Accurate estimate of the spatial and temporal variations of soil moisture is critical for numerous hydrological and environmental studies. Advance in technology shown that soil moisture can be measured by a variety of ground-based and remote sensing techniques, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. This work presents a comprehensive review of the progress of surface soil moisture retrieval approaches. Approaches for surface soil moisture estimation from ground-based point measurements to space-based optical, thermal, measurements are presented in this review study. In ground-based approaches, the physical principles and comparative study on three basic scales; cost, accuracy and response time, have been discussed. Measured parameters, limitations and drawbacks of different techniques have also been summarized. Space-based approaches review study has been divided in two classes depending on data types; optical, thermal. Limitations existing in current soil moisture estimation methods have been also discussed. This review focused only on advanced optical and thermal remote sensing methods for soil moisture retrieval.

5 illus, 4 tables, 27 ref

022547   Satyavani N;Sain K;Jyothi V (NO, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500 007, Email: satyavani_nittala@yahoo.com) : Gas hydrate occurrences in the Andaman offshore, India - seismic inferences. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 440-7.

Multi-Channel Seismic (MCS) data in Andaman offshore shows a prominent bottom simulating reflector (BSR) at a depth of <126>575 meters below the seafloor (mbsf), indicating the presence of gas hydrates/free gas in the region. Based on AVO modeling and attenuation (Q^{-1), an attempt has been made to qualify if the BSR is related to gas-hydrates underlain by free gas. The travel time tomography of identifiable seismic phases has also been carried out to delineate the general distribution of gas hydrates and/or free gas along the seismic line. The increase in seismic amplitudes at BSR, almost double to that of the seafloor, indicates the presence of free gas below the BSR and the study of Q made at two locations (with and without BSR) indicates the presence of gas hydrates above the BSR. These observations are further confirmed by the results of travel time tomography where a <126> 200m free gas zone with a velocity of 1.4-1.7 km/s is found to be overlain by <126>400m. thick gas hydrate zone with a velocity of 1.8-2.2 km/s.}

6 illus, 33 ref

022546   Saini H S;Pant N C;Lal R;Mujtaba S A I (NO, Geological Survey of India, NH-5P, N.I.T., Faridabad-121 001, Email: pantnc@gmail.com) : Increasing hydrological hazards in the Himalayas: defence lies in integrated scientific preparedness. Curr Sci 2015, 108(5), 764-5.

^ssc1 illus, 5 ref

022545   Roy A B (INSA Honorary Scientist, Geology Dep, Presidency Univ, Kolkata-700 073, Email: ashitbaranroy@gmail.com) : Facts about tsunami: its origin, earthquake link and prediction: an opinion. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 330-5.

Tsunami occurs when there is a sudden and massive vertical displacement of ocean water because of tectonically induced deformation in the Ocean Crust. In spite of close association, there is no direct cause-and-effect relationship between earthquake and Tsunami. The earthquake waves which possess elastic properties cannot pass through a liquid medium, and hence are ineffective in generating a Tsunami. Tsunami may be generated because of several other non-tectonic reasons. But these are not as devastating as the tectonic types. Prevention of Tsunami is not possible, but warning signals should be seriously considered for mitigating the destruction caused by Tsunami.

8 illus, 3 ref

022544   Rekapalli R;Tiwari R K;Nandan M J;Balaji T (NO, AcSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad, Email: rekapalli@gmail.com) : Coping groundwater depletion through scientific agronomical practices in hard-rock areas of Nalgonda district, Telangana. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 434-9.

The Mandollagudem TECHVIL Cluster located in Nalgonda District, Telangana falls under drought prone area as it receives an average rainfall of 620 mm. The region is characterised by low infiltration of surface water and poor connectivity between the aquifers. Groundwater levels dropped significantly during the past decade due to the over exploitation of ground water induced by the shifting of crop pattern from Castor/ Cotton to paddy cultivation in addition to the exogenous processes. Since it is very difficult to suddenly shift to new crop, we suggest that the adoption of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method along with Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeding (DS) methods will reduce the consumption of water up to 30 percent with more grain productivity compared to continuous uncontrolled flooded field methods. From the statistical analysis of various data sets, it is concluded that the adoption of low water consuming crops and scientific irrigation practices are the most recommended solutions to mitigate the drastic depletion of groundwater levels.

5 illus, 2 tables, 8 ref

022543   Ray L I P;Bora P K;Singh A K;Singh N J;Singh R;Feroze S M (NO, (Water Resource Management) School of Natural Resource Management, Col, Umiam, Barapani-793 103, Email: lalaiswariprasadray@yahoo.co.in) : Rainfall characteristics, pattern and distribution of central Meghalaya. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(2), 9-16.

Indian agriculture is mostly rainfed (around 60% of arable land) and monsoon plays a major role not only in agriculture but also in allied day to day activities. The knowledge amount of rainfall, number of rainy days and its distribution over the cropping season are important for timely preparation of seed bed, selection of crop varieties, choice of cropping pattern. Rainfall analysis with advanced statistical methods using computer programming and software bring out many features which can be directly used for crop planning, landwater management, aquaculture and floriculture planning etc. The analysis of 28 years (1983-2010) daily rainfall data of Nongstoin station, of central Meghalaya has been done for determining the characteristics of rainfall and probability of occurrence of normal weekly rainfall.

10 illus, 3 tables, 14 ref

022542   Rao S P E;Naidu G D;Harinarayana T;Sarma S V S;Gupta A K (NO, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad-500 606, Email: pesatdive@gmail.com) : Anomalous high conductivity upper crustal body detected underneath the surajkund hot spring area from a magnetotellric study. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 425-33.

Surajkund geothermal area in Jharkhand state is considered to be an important geothermal region after Tatapani hot spring area of Chhattisgarh state, in the Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL) zone, India. It lies within the Proterozoic metamorphites with highly fractured migmatites/gneisses associated with chert. With a view to understand the subsurface electrical structure of the hot spring area and to examine its relation to the origin of hot springs, a magnetotelluric (MT) survey covering a total of 21 stations was conducted in and around the Surajkund hot spring area. Among these stations, a subset of 12 MT soundings, which fall on NW-SE trending profile passing through the hot spring location have been selected for the present study. The 2D modeling results of the MT profile brought out an anomalous, 10 km thick horizontal crustal conductor (5-10 Ohm.m) underneath the Surajkund hot spring area in the depth range of 5-15 km. The anomalous high conductive feature in this tectonically active NSL zone is inferred to be magmatic material originated from upper mantle depths and emplaced in the upper crust. This feature is suggested to be closely related to the geothermal conditions of the area and the low resistivities are attributed to partial melts and the associated fluids. Inversion results also indicate another feature, a moderately resistive ( <126> 100 Ohm.m) narrow vertical feature at shallow crustal depths (<60>5 km.), close to the hot spring. This feature, which falls over a fault/shear zone indicated from surface geology is inferred to be a fault zone connected to the horizontal high conductive body and possibly provides pathways for upward transportation of fluids from deeper levels.

8 illus, 24 ref

022541   Ramakrishnan D;Bharti R (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai-400 076, Email: ramakrish@iitb.ac.in) : Hyperspectral remote sensing and geological applications. Curr Sci 2015, 108(5), 879-91.

This article reviews the potential of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing (HRS) technique in various geological applications ranging from lithological mapping to exploration of economic minerals of lesser crustal abundance. This work updates understanding on the subject starting from spectroscopy of minerals to its application in exploring mineral deposits and hydrocarbon reservoirs through different procedures such as atmospheric correction, noise reduction, retrieval of pure spectral endmembers and unmixing. Besides linear unmixing, nonlinear unmixing and parameters attributed to nonlinear behaviour of reflected light are also addressed. A few case studies are included to demonstrate the efficacy of this technique in different geological explorations. Finally, recent developments in this field like ultra spectral imaging from unmanned aerial vehicles and its consequences are pointed out.

8 illus, 2 tables, 109 ref

022540   Prasad P P;Trupti S;Kishore P P;Srinivas K N S S S;Seshunarayana T (NO, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Hyderabad-500 007, Email: pvsspp@gmail.com) : Horizontal to vertical spectral amplitude ratio of seismic waves as an effective tool for site classification: a study from Chennai, Tamilnadu. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 387-93.

Passive and active seismic studies were carried out in and around Chennai city to estimate H/V spectral ratio for site classification for use in microzonation. Passive seismic studies included monitoring of ambient seismic noise over a period of time. Active seismic studies carried out using hammer impact as a seismic source to determine the fundamental frequency and the related amplification of soils. The results of the studies conducted at 204 sites in Chennai region revealed good correlation with with different near surface geological data. Hence, we conclude H/V spectral ratio obtained from the short duration data is adequate to classify the sites for the purpose of microzonation of a region.

6 illus, 16 ref

022539   Prasad O;Singh O P;Prasad K (NO, , 43, Ritu Apartments, A-4 Paschim Vihar, New Delhi-110 063, Email: prasadonkari123@yahoo.in) : South Indian convergence zone model: a new approach to seasonal forecasting of summer monsoon rainfall in India part VI: merits of the model and limitations in seasonal forecasting of rainfall in India. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 363-86.

South Indian Convergence Zone (SICZ) and its role in the development of Indian summer monsoon, forecast of rainfall for India as a whole, in individual meteorological subdivisions of India and districts of the meteorological sub-division of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry, role of intra-seasonal changes in Tropical Pacific Ocean in inter-annual variability of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) and relative roles of Equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans in inter-annual variability of ISMR had been discussed in Part I-V of the paper respectively. SICZ model appears to be a robust one as it has produced reasonably good forecasts, for the past 23 years, for India as a whole and in a number of meteorological subdivisions including the forecast of seasonal rainfall for the districts in the subdivision of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry for the past four years beginning from 2009. SICZ model has several advantages. Merits of SICZ model and limitations in long range forecasting of summer monsoon rainfall, because of large intra-seasonal changes in monsoon circulation system over Indian subcontinent more particularly during the second half of the season in some of the years, have been discussed in this concluding part of the paper. The Indian subcontinent experiences large variability in monsoon rainfall distribution at temporal and spatial scale. Subdivision and district level forecasts of monsoon rainfall available from the model could become an important input in planning of agricultural operations, water management and disaster mitigation strategies.

19 illus, 6 tables, 19 ref

022538   Magar R B;Jothiprakash V (AIKTC, School of Engineering and Technology, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Email: vprakash@iitb.ac.in) : NASH IUH parameters estimation using method of moments-a case study. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(2), 1-8.

Flood forecasting plays an important role in mitigating the natural disaster. Among the available methods for flood forecasting, the unit hydrograph (UH), and instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH), is widely and successfully used. In case of IUH it is assumed that the hydrograph generation was affected by number of V linear reservoirs having similar/same storage coefficient 'K' value. The IUH proposed by Nash has been widely used in rainfall-runoff (KR) simulation as well as for flood forecasting. However the success of application of Nash IUH model is based on the accuracy of the estimated parameters 'n' and 'K' for a given catchment. This study describes the development and application of Nash IUH for the Koyna watershed in Maharashtra, India. The parameters are estimated using method of moments (MOM). This IUH may be useful for predicting the flash flood in to the reservoir for a given rainfall. The obtained direct runoff hydrograph (DRH) estimated from IUH derived is compared with the observed DRH and found to be in good agreement with each other. The performance of the IUH model has been assessed using coefficient of correlation (R), Root mean square error (RMSE), error in peak inflow prediction (%MF) and time to peak flow.

3 illus, 3 tables, 25 ref

022537   Krishna Rao B;Kurothe R S;Mishra P K;Gopal Kumar;Pande V C (NO, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, VAsad-388 306, Email: b_krishnarao@rediffmail.com) : Climate change impact on design and costing of soil and water conservation structures in watersheds. Curr Sci 2015, 108(5), 960-6.

A study was carried out to determine the effect of climate change on design rainfall and its effect on design and costing of soil and water conservation structures in watersheds. For this study, the micro watershed located at Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, Research farm, Vasad was selected and rainfall data from 1957 to 2012 was used. The analysis showed that as a result of climate change, there is significant increase in number of extremely heavy rainfall days as well as rainfall amount. The design rainfall of various soil and water conservation structures has increased by 11%, 30% and 38% for design of staggered contour trenches, contour bunds and check dams respectively. The cost of construction of staggered contour trenches, contour bunds and check dams in watersheds has increased by 26%, 28% and 12% respectively. This study reveals that, there is a need to account for design and costing of soil and water conservation structures in the light of the climate change and a relook into the watershed programmes of the central Gujarat region of India.

6 illus, 4 tables, 27 ref

022536   Jha R K;Mishra S K;Pandey A (Water Resources Development and Management Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667) : Experimental verification of the effect of slope, soil, and AMC of a fallow land on runoff curve number. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(2), 40-7.

Since the inception of SCS-CN methodology, no systematic efforts appear to have been made to verify CN-validity to watersheds in other countries. Besides, slope was excluded in its original development, but it is included as a factor in the recently developed physically based models. A study was conducted on an agricultural (fallow land) experimental watershed (size: 22mx5m) located near Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, to evaluate the effect of slope, soil type, and antecedent moisture content (AMC) on the runoff curve number for the selected three grades of 5%, 3% and 1% with Hydrologic Soil Groups (HSG) A, B, and A, respectively. The computed CN II values for the plots of grades 5%, 3% and 1% are 81.46, 85.62 & 82.14 respectively. Plot of grade 3% showed the highest runoff and CN rather than others although coefficient of determination between rainfall and runoff was highest for grade 5% (R^{2 = 0.933). Soil was found to affect CN more prominently than did slope.}

6 illus, 1 table, 27 ref

022535   Jaswal A K;Naresh Kumar;Khare P (NO, , India Meteorological Dep, Shivajinagar, Pune-411 005, Email: jaswal4@gmail.com) : Climate variability in Dharamsala-a hill station in western Himalayas. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 336-55.

Climate change worries the scientific community world over as the surface air temperature increased by 0.74°C during 1906-2005. The impacts of warming in mountainous regions get magnified because of large variations in altitude within small distance. This study focuses on the variability and trends of air temperature and rainfall during 1951-2010 in Dharamsala, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh located in Western Himalaya, India. The results of the trend analysis show a statistically significant increase in monthly mean maximum temperature (January, April, November and December), mean temperature (January), mean diurnal temperature range (January to May, July to December), total monthly rainfall (June) and 24 hour heaviest rainfall (June). Statistically, significant decreasing trends are found in monthly mean minimum temperature (May to October), mean temperature (June), monthly rainfall (January and August) and rainy days (January). Seasonally, significant increasing trends are observed in mean maximum temperature (winter and post monsoon), mean temperature (winter) and diurnal temperature range (all seasons) and significant decreasing trends in minimum temperature for summer, monsoon and post monsoon. Annual mean maximum temperature and mean diurnal temperature range are significantly increasing at a rate + 0.018°C/year and +0.033°C/year, respectively, while annual mean minimum temperature is significantly decreasing by -0.018°C/year. The trend analysis of air temperature and rainfall reveals a tendency of increase in maximum temperature, decrease in minimum temperature and rainfall, which may have impacts on agriculture, water resources, human health and natural environment in Dharamsala and surrounding region.

15 illus, 5 tables, 37 ref

022534   Harikumar R;Varikoden H;Babu C A;Vishnu R; Mohan Kumar G (NO, ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, MoEs, Govt. of India, Hyderabad-90, Email: harikumar@incois.gov.in) : Investigation on the consequential features of southwest monsoon-2007 onset and super cyclone 'Gonu' using satellite, model and ground-based data. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 319-29.

Onset features of the Summer monsoon-2007 were analyzed using data from five different sources, namely, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3-hourly rainfall, National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) wind reanalysis data set, NOAA Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR), cloud imageries from the meteosat satellite, cloud base height and cloud occurrence frequency from a ground-based Vaisala Laser Ceilometer at Thiruvananthapuram. On the day of onset, 33 mm of rainfall was registered by TRMM satellite over south Kerala region with 80% cloud frequency and an averaged cloud base height of 2 km. On the next day, the formation of 'Gonu' super cyclone as a consequence of the convergence of monsoon onset surge in the Arabian Sea has caused the dissipation of cloud bands in the Arabian Sea and in the Bay of Bengal, except over the region of the system. This caused a lull situation for about ten days after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared monsoon onset. In fact, the remarkable characteristics of onset, such as deepening of westerlies and strengthening of low level jet streams were observed only after two weeks of IMD declared monsoon onset. Another unique behavior of 2007 monsoon onset was that the Arabian Sea branch of monsoon onset surge has advanced faster than the Bay of Bengal branch in the early stage.

8 illus, 27 ref

022533   Gupta M L;Sharma S R;Rao V K (NO, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad-500 007, Email: drmohanlalgupta@yahoo.com) : Conductive heat flow in the Godavari sub-basin (pranhita-Godavari valley), Indian shield and its significance. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(3), 394-404.

Godavari sub-basin (GSB) is a part of the Gondwana Pranhita - Godavari Valley (PGV) of the Indian Peninsular Shield, which is a major NW-SW lineament where sediments from Neoprotrozoic to Mesozoic are present. The objective of this paper is three fold viz; i) an examination and analysis of available measured heat flow values(HFU) of the GSB for hydro-geological perturbations and obtain the most probable true magnitude of conductive heat flow (CHF) value, in cases wherever it is possible, ii) to decipher the thermal characteristics of the GSB through a comparison of its CHF values with the other available heat flow data in its surrounding region of the Indian Shield, and iii) to infer the main deep thermal characteristics of the GSB through an examination of the results so obtained and the inferences from some reported geo-data of the GSB and PGV Based on our analysis authors obtain; i) that the CHF values at three locations of the NW part of the GSB viz; Indaram, Godavarikhani and Bellampalli areas are 50, 52, and 49 mWm^{-2 respectively and ii) that the average CHF of the GSB is of the same order as the average HFU for the Chandrapur, a NE sub-basin of the PGV ( 51 mWm-2) and the Wardha - Yavatmal Deccan Trap region ( Av = 52mWm-2), below which Gondwana sediments, likely extension of the PGV Gondwana rocks do occur. The CHF values of the GSB are similar to those that are reported for Proterozoic Bastar Craton, which lies towards NE of GSB and also similar to Mailaram high which is a large outcrop of Archaean- Proterozoic group of rocks in the SE sector of the GSB. Available data on Chemical analysis of thermal waters of the area showed their meteoric origin and association with sedimentary rocks and non-magmatic sources. Based on these observations, presence of cooling magmatic bodies within the crust of GSB and a shallow Moho below it are strongly ruled out. Available geo-data (geological, gravity, seismic etc.) of GSB are in conformity with these inferences.}

4 illus, 2 tables, 34 ref

022532   Gorain S (NO, Prize Petroleum Company Limited, 3rd floor UCO Bank Building, Sansad Marg, New Delhi) : Multi-litho attribute based inversion for reservoir classification in kalol reservoir, cambay basin, India. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 455-60.

Kalol Field, Cambay Basin India, was discovered in June 1961 and put on production in 1964. But the production history reveals that oil recovery remained hardly around 10% (Jena, 2008). Most often, the contributing factor for this low recovery is poor reservoir facies (tight silts) within the major producing sequences like Kalol IX and Kalol X. Identifying areas of better reservoir facies remained a challenging task before the geo-scientists. To tackle the above challenge, geo-scientists evolved seismic inversion. Inversion through sonic log has been a trend for many years as a litho-prediction tool. But it is often observed that sonic log alone is not fully effective in resolving the subtle differences between clastic facies like Silty Sand and Silty Shale. Conventional seismic inversion approach has been modified and a "Multi-litho Attribute based Inversion" has been developed to overcome this challenge of reservoir classification in which 3D attribute volume of petrophysical properties are calculated through Genetic Inversion algorithm using a correlation between seismic property and log property. Calculated 3D attribute volume of petrophysical properties are utilized for reservoir classification. It is known that Gamma Ray log is very effective in differentiating subtle vertical variations in clastic litho-facies in wells, whereas resistivity gives the idea of porosity. Keeping this in view, an attempt is made to develop a correlation between log property (Gamma Ray, Resistivity) and seismic property (seismic envelope) against the reservoir section in Kalol Pay and developed a "Multi-litho Attribute based Inversion" method to identify the areas of better reservoir facies within the productive sequences in the field. This approach is operative even if the reservoir is very thin beyond seismic resolution and can provide a probability distribution map of reservoir. This approach is also effective in determining the reservoir geometry and quality of reservoir, which may help in planning future drilling locations.

8 illus, 4 ref

022531   Avasthi D N (NO, SPS Consultants, New Delhi, Email: dnavasthi@gmail.com) : Active seismograph for early detection of earthquake. J Indian Geophys Union 2014, 18(4), 472-6.

Passive seismographs can detect impending earthquakes only a few minutes before the occurrence of an earthquake. In contrast, active seismographs can detect impending earthquakes months in advance. As such they are better suited to issue necessary warning with sufficient time in hand to meet the disaster that the impending earthquake may bring about. Apart from activating the disaster management to get prepared to meet the eventuality by taking steps to minimise the risks to local population, civil constructions, buildings, water and power supplies, active seismographs are found most useful for shutting off operating nuclear power plants. Such an operation in time, in the region of impending earthquake helps to ward of any catastrophic situation due to uncontrolled nuclear radiations. Active seismographs measure the response of subsurface geologic and tectonic features, which include changes in the rock properties under stress generated due to progressive increase in destabilising geologic forces. A simple, yet effective, system of active seismograph is described, which can conveniently be set up and monitored.

^ssc4 illus, 4 ref

022530   Arya V S;Arya S;Sandeep Kumar;Singh S;Hooda R S (NO, Haryana Space Applications, Hisar, Haryana, Email: aryaharsac@gmail.com) : Monitoring wastelands of Hisar district, Haryana through space technology. Curr Trends Technol Sci 2015, 4(1), 446-9.

The task of providing food security to our country's population is a serious challenge. This challenge needs to be met in the face of changing consumption patterns, impacts if the climate changes and degradation of the finite land and water resources. Thus there is a pressing need for enlarging arable area by way of reclaiming wastelands as well as for sustainable agriculture through which crop yields can be increased without adverse environmental impacts. To convert the wastelands to cultivable land, it is necessary to estimate and monitor the area under wastelands. IRS-IC/ID LISS-III digital data of three seasons i.e. Kharif, Rabi and Zaid for the years 2005-06 and 2008-09 was used. It was found that degraded grazing land in the district is 107.58 followed by open scrub. Other classes like stabilized sand dunes, waterlogged, mining area etc. were also observed. Change analysis matrix shows that the wastelands are decreased from 138.91 to 132.89 sq.km during the study period.

3 illus, 1 table, 6 ref

022529   Acharya S;Pandey A;Chaube U C (WRD&M Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247 667, Email: sarojacharya116@gmail.com) : Use of geographic information systems in irrigation management. J Indian Wat Resour Soc 2014, 34(2), 32-9.

In this study review of the Geographic Information System (GIS) based system/tools for irrigation management has been carried out. A brief review of customization of ArcGIS as irrigation management tool is also presented. Need and potential of development of the GIS based irrigation management tools to visualize and analyze irrigation management data is discussed in detail. This technique can be employed to develop thematic maps of irrigation requirements to be used by decision-makers. The relevant review literature indicates that GIS is versatile tool that can be used to provide an appropriate framework for manipulating, analyzing and visualizing spatial data and produce results in the form of map. table and graph to support planning and decision making process in irrigation management. Review of various studies revealed that GIS can be customized effectively to develop a tool capable of simulating irrigation water requirements spatially, useful in decision making process in irrigation management.

^iia1 table, 15 ref

021635   Zheng Y;Zhang R;Gu S (School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China, Email: yanli-zheng@163.com) : New PPP algorithm for deformation monitoring with single-frequency receiver. J Earth Syst Sci 2014, 123(8), 1919-26.

Considering the applications of deformation monitoring, PPP (precise point positioning) with single-frequency (SF) receivers has the advantages of stand-alone, absolute positioning and cost efficiency. However, the existing SF PPP methods can be hardly implemented for deformation monitoring directly due to their limited precision of submeter level. For this purpose, an innovative approach is presented in this paper with several improvements to the existing approaches: firstly, the SEID (Satellite-specific Epoch-differenced Ionospheric Delay) model is adopted in SF kinematic PPP to handle the ionospheric delays for SF receivers embedded in networks of dual-frequency (DF) receivers; secondly, according to the dynamic characteristic of the monitor station, a combination of kinematic PPP and sliding window based static PPP algorithm is adopted. To confirm the availability of the algorithm for deformation monitoring with SF receiver, a seismic experiment is carried out on an earthquake simulation platform. Comparable positioning precision with 1.5 cm for horizontal and 2.2 cm for vertical is achieved by SF PPP with respect to RTK (real-time kinematic) solution. The new deformation monitoring algorithm with SF receiver can be treated as an effective and low cost way to realize some types of geological hazard monitoring in a wide range.

5 illus, 1 table, 33 ref

021634   Yuaraj E;Dharanirajan K;Jayakumar S;Saravanan (Disaster Management Dep, Pondicherry University, Port Blair, Andamans-744 112, Email: yuvaerd22@gmail.com) : Geomorphic settings of mangrove ecosystem in South Andaman Island: a geospatial approach. J Earth Syst Sci 2014, 123(8), 1819-30.

Mangroves are habitats in the coasts of tropics and subtropics, hence the geomorphology of the coast in both the ocean and the land processes. To study the geomorphic setting of mangroves, it is necessary to explore both the topography of the land and the bathymetry of the sea. In this study, the geomorphic setting of mangroves in the South Andaman Island has been studied in detail using sensing and GIS technology. The ortho-rectified IRS satellite image was used to identify and to he mangroves and the associated features using the visual interpretation technique. Using the GIS technique. topographic and bathymetric DEMs (Digital Elevation Models) were created to understand morphology and its influence on the mangrove ecosystem. This DEM was interpreted with man- distribution and its associated features to create the DTM (Digital Terrain Model) of the mangrove m. Topography and bathymetry of the coast result in three dominant features like rivers, tides and waves, which play a role in shaping the geomorphic settings of mangroves, which are classified into five major types. In this study, it is identified that all the five categories of major geomorphic settings of mangrove community exist in the south Andaman. In the field surveys, ground truth of topographic ion. mangrove species, and associated coastal land cover features were identified and confirmed in geomorphic settings. It is concluded that topography and bathymetry settings of the island play an indispensable role in this fragile mangrove ecosystem.

7 illus, 1 table, 41 ref

021633   Xian-Sheng X;Guo P;Zhen-Jie H (NO, Ningbo Institute of Technology, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315 000, China, Email: xuxiansheng666@126.com) : Modified sliding spectral method and its application to COSMIC radio occultation data. J Earth Syst Sci 2014, 123(8), 1749-58.

In the moist lower troposphere, a limitation of the sliding spectral (SS) method is the restriction of the resolution of bending angle profiles because of the atmospheric multi path effect and noise. A modified sliding spectral (MSS) method is proposed in this paper to improve the inversion resolution of SS method in the moist lower troposphere. Simulation results show that the noise in the signal may cause inversion error in the classical SS method. The MSS method can decrease the influence of the noise to some extent. The SS and MSS methods were used to process COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate) atmPhs profiles from DOY (day of year) 71-DOY 100 in 2007. The retrieved refractivity profiles were compared with those from the corresponding ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) analysis. The results show that the SS method contains systematic positive biases in the 3-10 km height range and systematic negative biases below 3 km. The MSS method, in comparison to SS method, has decreased the maximum positive bias in the range of 3-10 km height from 0.37% to 0.23% in the northern hemisphere, from 1.3% to 0.25% in the tropics, and from 0.60% to 0.35% in the southern hemisphere. The biases of the MSS method are comparable to those announced for the COSMIC atmPrf profile; the latter is inverted by full spectrum inversion (FSI) method.

7 illus, 21 ref

021632   Wang Q;Han H;Gao A;Yag X;Li L (The National Key Facilities for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improv, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China, Email: lilihui@caas.cn.) : P chromosomes involved in intergenomic rearrangements of Kengyilia thoroldiana affected by the environment. J Genet 2014, 93(1), 199-201.

^ssc3 illus, 21 ref

021631   Vyshnavi S;Islam R;Sundriyal Y P (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun-248-001, Email: rislam@wihg.res.in) : Comparative study of soil profiles developed on metavolcanic (basaltic) rocks in two different watersheds of Garhwal Himalaya. Curr Sci 2015, 108(4), 699-707.

Soil profiles are rarely preserved in the Himalaya due to active tectonics and erosion. We have studied two rarely well-preserved soil profiles developed on metavolcanic rocks namely Alaknanda soil profile (ASP) and Bhilangna soil profile (BSP) in Alaknanda and Bhilangna watersheds of the Garhwal Himalaya. Geochemical studies were carried out to understand the elemental mobility with reference to the least altered rock (LAR) in both the profiles and are compared. Differences in major element behaviour noticed are depletion of Ca and K in ASP, and depletion of Ca and Na in BSP. Trace elements also show variable mobility such as leaching of Rb, U and enrichment of Sr, Ni in ASP. In BSP, behaviour of these elements is just the opposite. Accumulation of ?REEs in saprolitic layer and depletion in regolith of ASP suggest that rare earth element (REE) mobility took place during advanced stages of weathering. In BSP, increase in REE content from LAR to regolith suggests dominance of chemical weathering over physical weathering. This is also reflected in chemical index of alteration values which suggest variation of climatic parameters such as rainfall in the region.

7 illus, 2 tables, 33 ref

021630   Trishit Ruj;Dasgupta N (Geology Dep, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata-700 073, Email: neelakdg@gmail.com) : Tectonic imprints within a granite exposed near Srinagar, Rajasthan, India. J Earth Syst Sci 2014, 123(6), 1361-74.

Partial melting in the middle to lower crustal level produces melts of granitic composition during orogeny. Thrusts play a vital role in their exhumation after consolidation of these granitic melts. In this paper we focus on one such granite along the eastern margin of the Delhi Fold Belt (DFB) rocks near Srinagar, Rajasthan, India. This is the first report of granite within the area and holds a key stratigraphic position in the entire rock package. The said granite is found to be intrusive to the DFB metasediments as well as their basement popularly known as the Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC). We disentangle the deformation fabrics seen within the granite and associated DFB metasediments, suggesting that subsequent to emplacement and consolidation, the granite has co-folded along with the country rocks. Three deformational events could be identified within the DFB metasediments namely, D_1D, D_2D and D_3D. The peak metamorphism was achieved in the D_1D event. The granite magma is generated and emplaced late syn-kinematic to D_1D and thereafter is deformed by D_2D and D_3D producing D_1G and D_2G structural fabrics. These compressive deformations resulted in the collapse of the basin; the combined package of DFB rocks and the granite was thrusted eastwards over the basement rocks. The tectonic transport direction during thrusting is suggested eastwards from our structural analysis. Transverse faults developed perpendicular to the length of the granite have led to partitioning of the strain thereby showing a heterogeneity in the development of fabric within it.

11 illus, 1 table, 51 ref

021629   Suparta W;Gusrizal (Space Science Centre (ANGKASA), Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Email: wayan@ukm.edu.my) : Application of a hierarchical Bayesian spatiotemporal model for forecasting the SAA trapped particle flux distribution. J Earth Syst Sci 2014, 123(6), 1287-94.

We implement a hierarchical Bayesian spatiotemporal (HBST) model to forecast the daily trapped particle flux distribution over the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-15 data from 1-30 March 2008 with particle energies as <62>30 keV (mep0e1) and <62>300 keV (mep0e3) for electrons and 80-240 keV (mep0p2) and <62> 6900 keV (mep0p6) for protons were used as the model input to forecast the flux values on 31 March 2008. Data were transformed into logarithmic values and gridded in a 5°x5° longitude and latitude size to fulfill the modelling precondition. A Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) was then performed to solve the HBST Gaussian Process (GP) model by using the Gibbs sampling method. The result for this model was interpolated by a Kriging technique to achieve the whole distribution figure over the SAA region. Statistical results of the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and bias (BIAS) showed a good indicator of the HBST method. The statistical validation also indicated the high variability of particle flux values in the SAA core area. The visual validation showed a powerful combination of HBST-GP model with Kriging interpolation technique. The Kriging also produced a good quality of the distribution map of particle flux over the SAA region as indicated by its small variance value. This suggests that the model can be applied in the development of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO)-Equatorial satellite for monitoring trapped particle radiation hazard.

6 illus, 16 ref

021628   Subba Rao D V;Satyanarayanan M;Srinivasa Sarma D;Subramanyam K S V;Venkateswarlu K;Hanuma Prasad M (CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, , Hyderabad-500 007, Email: dvsubbarao3s@rediffmail.com) : Geochemistry of the unusual mafic intrusions in Betul Fold Belt, Central India: implications for Ni-Cu-Au-PGE metallogeny. Curr Sci 2015, 108(4), 713-22.

Report here the recent occurrence of native gold and platinoids, associated with Fe-Ni-Cu-Pb-Zn sulphides and tungsten-bearing phases in the gabbroic intrusions emplaced in the Betul-Chhindwara Belt in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ). The ore minerals are represented mainly by native gold, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, bowieite and rare phases of tungsten, cadmium and palladium, which were identified by scanning electron microscopy. The whole rock geochemistry shows anomalous Ni-Cu and platinum group elements (PGE) in which palladium is always higher in concentration than in platinum. The inter-element relation ships of PGE such as Pd versus Ir and Pt versus Ir indicate their fractionation by a sulphide phase and also suggest that the parental magmas are primitive in nature having high-Mg, low-Ti characteristics, which indicate the boninitic/picritic nature of magmas. A thorough investigation is essential for exploring the Betul maficultramafic intrusions for proving their potential as the host rocks for Au and Ni-Cu-PGE ores.

9 illus, 3 tables, 23 ref

021627   Srivastava N;Satheesh S K;Blond N (Centre of Excellence in Climatology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi- 835 215, Email: nishi.bhu@gmail.com) : Sensitivity of meteorological input and soil properties in simulating aerosols (dust, PM10, and BC) using CHIMERE chemistry transport model. J Earth Syst Sci 2014, 123(6), 1249-64.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of a European chemistry transport model, `CHIMERE' driven by the US meteorological model MM5, in simulating aerosol concentrations [dust, PM₁₀ and black carbon (BC)] over the Indian region. An evaluation of a meteorological event (dust storm); impact of change in soil related parameters and meteorological input grid resolution on these aerosol concentrations has been performed. Dust storm simulation over Indo-Gangetic basin indicates ability of the model to capture dust storm events. Measured (AERONET data) and simulated parameters such as aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angstrom exponent are used to evaluate the performance of the model to capture the dust storm event. A sensitivity study is performed to investigate the impact of change in soil characteristics (thickness of the soil layer in contact with air, volumetric water, and air content of the soil) and meteorological input grid resolution on the aerosol (dust, PM₁₀, BC) distribution. Results show that soil parameters and meteorological input grid resolution have an important impact on spatial distribution of aerosol (dust, PM₁₀, BC) concentrations.

9 illus, 1 table, 92 ref

021626   Siddiki;Ansari U R;Aziz M N (Geography and Environment Dep, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh, Email: ubaydur.siddiki@wur.nl) : Mouza based mapping and quantitative analysis of small Water bodies using GIS in a flood prone area of Bangladesh. Int J appl Sci Engng Res 2014, 3(3), 675-89.

This study is concerned with the distribution and mapping of small water bodies (SWBs), its size, shape and depth, differential uses, changes of water bodies over time and the factors associated with the changes. Manikganj is a low-lying flood prone area where flood brings a huge quantity of sand, silt and clay and infill the floodplains and associated water bodies including Khals, Canals etc. In spite of the importance of small water bodies to the local economy there is no up-to-date inventory. In view of the above, this paper attempts to address the spatial distribution pattern, characteristics and uses, management systems and related problems of SWBs at a local scale of small water bodies in the Gangaprasad and Bara Boinnya mouza of Daulatpur upazila in Manikganj district. The trend of distribution pattern of small water bodies have changed in the recent decades radically. Attempts have also been made to analyze its problems at the mouza level using both secondary data and a structured questionnaire survey. It is expected that the study will help understanding the magnitude of the problems and also will provide guidelines and strategies to address the said problems in the context of respondents' perceptions.

6 illus, 11 tables, 15 ref