002384   Sharma A;Ghodke G;Murugesh Prabhu T S (Advanced Computing Training School (ACTS), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), une, Maharashtra, Email: ashish.sharma5689@gmail.com) : Monitoring volume fluctuations of Indian reservoirs from space. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 342-55.

Lakes and reservoirs, a prime source of water supply for many settlements, are to be monitored at regular intervals of time for efficient usage. But many of these are remote and inaccessible for regular supervision. Remote sensing has been a breakthrough in the field of surveying, making it possible to directly monitor the volume of these water resources from space. In this paper, we estimate the volume of selected reservoirs in India using radar altimetry data and optical satellite imagery (such as Landsat). Two prominent reservoirs Ujjani and Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar were selected for the volume estimation and monitoring. The estimated volume was compared with the ancillary data (published reports) and the results are promising for "Indian Reservoir Monitoring from Space". We further developed a Quantum GIS plugin to support a fast and efficient reservoir volume monitoring with changing water-levels. The limitation of the methodology outlined is that the reservoir volume can be estimated only up to the deepest radar altimetry data available for the reservoirs of interest. The paper also outlines the commercial and scientific potential of this technology, particularly in Indian reference. Using satellite images with higher spatial resolution, the surface areas of the reservoirs could be more accurately measured and hence the volume computed.

13 illus, 2 tables, 8 ref

002383   Saravanan;Dharanirajan K;Yuvaraj E; Karpoorasundarapandian N (1,3,4-Dep of Disaster Management, Pondicherry Univ, Brookshabad, Port Blair, 744112, Andaman, Email: saravanarangat@gmail.com) : Quantifying the dynamic changes of landuse and landcover in Neil Island, Andaman and Nicobar, India. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 427-34.

Study aims at assessing the dynamics of land use land cover change of Neil Island in Andaman using remote sensing and GIS. Survey of India (SOI) toposheet (1979) was used to prepare the base map. Geocoded satellite imageries 1D LISS III (1998) and IRS - P6 LISS III (2010) on 1:50,000 scales were visually interpreted based on image characteristics. The image characteristics were studied using interpretation keys. Neil Island covers a total area of 18.90 sq. km. and a shore length of 18.6 km. It possesses various resources such as forests, corals, mangroves, creeks, sandy beaches and agricultural lands. The present status of these resources is as follows: Coral reef has an areal extent of 402.03 ha. km., sandy beaches cover 21.60 ha., mangroves have an areal extent of 5.27 ha., reserved forests cover 959.03 ha., and settlement with agricultural land covers an area of 350.98 ha. Coral reefs and mangroves are extremely productive ecosystems with a rich biodiversity. While the fringing reef of this island has decreased by 17.00 ha., the mangrove forests exhibit a decreasing trend with a loss in area of 2.64 ha. Sandy beach area has increased by 10.12 ha., This study shows many of the resources are on the decline and change in the landuse. Thus this study reveals that GIS and remote sensing are extremely useful tools for assessing LULC within limited time durations.

3 illus, 1 table, 17 ref

002382   Sarate O S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: ossarate@yahoo.co.in ) : Deep-seated coal deposits of the Chintalapudi sub-basin, Godavari valley coalfield, Andhra Pradesh, India and their petrographic significance. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 219-28.

The present work has been undertaken to generate coal petrographic database regarding the constitution and rank of the deep-rooted subsurface coal seam succession encountered in three bore-holes (MCP-1, 2 and 3) at closer vicinity of Chintalapudi area of Godavari Valley Coalfield. Deposition of coal in the valley is mostly confined to the Barakar Formation. However, the recent sub-surface explorations have shown the existence of the Kamthi sediments in the Ramagundam and Chintalapudi areas of the Coalfield. The coal seam encountered at the maximum subsurface depth of 560.43 m has been petrographically analysed during the present investigations. The study has revealed that coal seam D of (B. H. No. MCP-1), seams, LK-2, LK-3, LK-6, LK-7 and LK-8 (B. H. No. MCP-2) and the seam I and F (B. H. No. MCP-3), contain vitrinite group of macerals in abundance (40-77%). Seam G, despite having comparatively low frequency of vitrinite (35%) but retain dominance. The middle region of seam D (B. H. No. MCP-3), however, contains inertinite in abundance which points towards a distinct change in the climatic scenario in the basin. Liptinite (11-18%) and inertinite (5-7%) macerals in general are sparsely distributed. Mineral matter has been recorded between 16 and 27%, barring seam, LK-2 and D which contain its higher frequency (32-33%). Generally, a wide range of variation in random (R₀ mean%) vitrinite reflectance, i.e. 0.43% to 0.59% has been recorded, which indicates the attainment of sub-bituminous B and high volatile bituminous C rank. Abrupt increase in reflectance has been noticed (0.69%) in the coals of seam LK-6 (pellet No. 6), indicating the attainment of high volatile bituminous B stage. Most of the coal seams of this area have vitrinite rich (vitric) constitution. However, a few coal samples viz., seam LK-7 (pellet No. 4), seam D (pellet Nos. 4 & 5) and the coal representing seam G contain mixed type of coal. The palaeo-depositional model, however, has indicated the existence of wet moor with intermittent moderate to high flooding, as the dominating phase with occasional invasions of brackish water influx and a few alternating dry spells, causing oxic and anoxic moor condition.

8 illus, 8 tables, 48 ref

002381   Prasad M;Khare E G;Singh S K (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mahesh_bsip@yahoo.com) : Plant fossils from the deccan intertrappean sediments of Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, India: their palaeoclimatic significance. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 229-40.

Investigation on the leaf and fruit impressions collected from Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaon Kalan and Keria in Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, revealed the occurrence of significant taxa like, Miliusa veluntina Hook. F. & Th., Polyalthia simiarum Benth. & Hook. (Anonaceae), Kayea floribunda Wall. (Clusiaceae), Atlantia monophylla Correa. (Rutaceae), Spondias accuminata Roxb. (Anacardiaceae), Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. (Euphorbiaceae), Ficus ramentacea Roxb. (Moraceae), Cocos nucifera Linn. and Pinanga insignis Becc. (Arecaceae) and Musa sapientum Linn. (Musaceae). The present day distribution of the above taxa indicates the existence of tropical evergreen to moist deciduous forest during their deposition. Presence of palm plants (Cocos nucifera. and Pinanga insignis) indicates characteristics of tropical vegetation.

2 tables, 70 ref

002380   Pandey D K;Alberti M;Fursich F T (Geology Dep, Rajasthan Univ, Jaipur-302 004) : Ammonites from the Oxfordian (Bifurcatuszone) strata of Gangta bet, Kachchh, Western India. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 139-74.

Gangta Bet, an islet situated in the salt marshes of the Great Rann of Kachchh, western India, is composed of Jurassic strata containing a rich fauna of Upper Oxfordian ammonites which are very rare in other parts of the Kachchh Basin. A detailed bed-by-bed collection yielded 148 ammonites belonging to 21 taxa which are briefly described and illustrated. The assemblage is strongly dominated by members of the genus Perisphinctes Waagen, 1869, which are excellent guide fossils enabling intrabasinal and intercontinental correlations e.g., with the ammonite zonation of Europe. While the oldest beds on the Gangta Bet did not yield ammonites indicative of a certain biozone, most of the recorded taxa can be assigned to the Bifurcatus Zone (Stenocycloides and Grossouvrei subzones) of the Upper Oxfordian.

23 illus, 17 tables, 79 ref

002379   Ojha A;Rout J;Samal R N;Rajesh G;Pattnaik A K;Despatanaik P (NO, SPMU-ICZMP, Odisha) : Evaluation of landuse/landcover dynamics of Chilika catchment. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 388-96.

Land use and land cover is an important component in understanding the interactions of the human activities with the environment and thus it is necessary to be able to simulate changes. Empirical observation revealed a change in land use land cover classification in Chilika Catchment. An attempt is made to study the changes in land use and land cover in this Catchment over 40 years period (1975 -2012). The study has been done through Remote sensing approach using SOI toposheet and LandSat imageries of 1975 and 2009, 2012. GIS software is used to prepare the thematic maps. Ground truth observations were also performed to check the accuracy of the classification. The present study has brought to light that landuse and landcover exerts considerable influence on the various hydrologic phenomenons such as interception, infiltration, evaporation and surface flow. Various aspects of hydrological problems (i.e. Rainfall-Runoff modeling, Sedimentation studies, etc.) can be studied if information on landuse/landcover is available for a catchment. In the present study, a landuse/landcover maps of Chilika catchment for the years 1975, 99 and 2012 is prepared by Image processing and visual interpretation technique.

5 illus, 3 tables, 4 ref

002378   Nikam S P;Purohit R C;Sinde M G;Gavit B H; Singh P K (Soil and Water Engineering Dep, College of Technology and Engineering, MPUAT, Udaipur-313 001) : Evaluation of geomorphological parameters of selected watersheds from Tapi basin using GIS. Bioinfolet 2014, 11(1A), 79-82.

In this study twelve geomorphological parameters of ten watersheds of Tapi basin were evaluated using Geographical Information System (GIS). The selected geomorphological parameters were average slope of the watershed (Sa), elongation ratio (Re), circulatory ratio (Rc), basin shape factor (Sb), relief ratio(Rf), relative relief (Rr), ruggedness number (R_N), main stream channel slope (Sc), drainage factor (Df), stream length ratio (Rl), bifurcation ratio (Rb), and length width ratio (Lbw). Toposheets of the study area were obtained from the Survey of India (SOI), Dehradun and Geological Survey of India, Pune regional office in the 1: 250000 and 1: 50000 scale. These toposheets were used for digitization and georeferencing with the help of ArcGIS 9.3 software for evaluation of the parameters. These parameters can be used for development of geomorphological models to study various hydrological processes.

3 tables, 9 ref

002377   Murthy S;Vijaya;Vethanayagam S M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, Univ Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: murthy_srikanta@yahoo.com) : Palynostratigraphy of permian succession in the Pench valley coalfield, Satpura Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 241-56.

The coal-horizon Barakar Formation exposed in the Shivapuri opencast coal mine near Parasia town, Chhindwara district, Pench Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin, is worked out for its spore-pollen content. Approximately 47.00 m thick Gondwana sediments comprising the carbonaceous shales, shales, claystones, siltstones, fine to medium-grained sandstones and coal seams, have shown levels of changing patterns in the spore-pollen groups in the Barakar Formation. Dominance of radial monosaccate pollen taxa (Parasaccites and Plicatipollenites) along with significant spore species in the lower part of the section within 16 m depth leads us to infer the strata of the Upper Taichir and Karharbari formations of Early Permian age in the coalfield. In the up-section (31 m depth), an abundance of Striatopodocarpites, Indotriradites and Scheuringipollenites suggests occurrence of the Barakar Formation which is considered the late Early Permian in age. In the top section, an abundance of striate bisaccate pollen taxa (Crescentipollenites, Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites) represents the Bijori Formation, which is equivalent to the Raniganj Formation of the Damodar Basin. According to the FADs of Arcuatipollenites spp., Klausipollenites schaubergeri and Playfordiaspora cancellosa observed between samples SPO 34 and 36, the end of Permian is suggested as these species mark the transition of the Permian level into the Lower Triassic.

4 illus, 2 tables, 14 ref

002376   Mohammed J (School of Planning, Duhok Univ, Duhok city, Kurdistan, Iraq, Email: jambaly@gmail.com) : Rapid urban growth in the city of Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan region: an integrated approach of GIS, remote sensing and Shannon entropy application. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 325-41.

The study aims to measure and analyze the urban growth patterns in Duhok using four satellite Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imageries for 1984, 1998, 2007 and 2011, with an integrated application of remote sensing and GIS techniques, and statistical Shannon entropy (an urban sprawl index). It is also to provide the planners with reliable data for effective planning purposes. Urban/built-up area for each year was extracted and the entropy values were calculated on the basis of a locational factor (distance from the core city center) that was visualized by creating buffers of different sizes and forms. Different models of the entropy have been applied for measuring and analyzing the urban extent from 1984 to 2011, determining the growth patterns in terms of compactness and sprawl, and verifying the results. The entropy values obtained for different zones are almost closer to the threshold values indicating that the study area has been experiencing an increased sprawl in all directions since 1984 with its peak occurring on 1998-2007. Thus, the entropy method has been proved as an effective tool for identifying the urban growth pattern and the findings can help in preparing effective plans for a more systematic urban growth of the city.

15 illus, 4 tables, 33 ref

002375   Milankumar Sharma K;Patnaik R (Geology (C.A.S.), Dep, Panjab Univ, Chandigarh-160 014, Email: milankumar.sharma@gmail.com) : Record of a late miocene suid, Tetraconodon intermedius from the Baripada beds (Mayurbhanj, Orissa): age implications. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 213-18.

The highly fossiliferous marine deposits of the Baripada Beds have been assigned ages ranging from Eocene to Pleistocene primarily based on biostratigraphically long-ranging foraminfers, molluscs and selachians. We describe here a short ranging (Late Miocene) suid, Tetraconodon intermedius from these beds for the first time. A detailed comparison and biostratigraphic correlation of our finding with similar finds from the Nagri-Dhok Pathan transition of the Siwalik of Jammu and the Irrawaddy beds of Myanmar allows us to provide a smaller age window of <126>10-8 Ma to these beds.

6 illus, 1 table, 35 ref

002374   Maikhuri R K;Negi V S;Rawat L S;Maletha A (NO, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Garhwal Unit, Post Box 92, Srinagar-Garhwal-246 174, Email: rkmaikhuri@rediffmail.com) : Sustainable development of disaster-affected rural landscape of Kedar valley (Uttarakhand) through simple technological interventions. Curr Sci 2014, 106(7), 915-16.

^ssc1 ref

002373   Linshy V N;Saraswat R;Kurtarkar S R;Nigam R (Micropaleontology Laboratory, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa-403 004, Email: linshy@gmail.com) : Experiment of decipher the effect of heavy metal cadmiumon coastal benthic foraminifer Pararotalia nipponica (asano). J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 205-4.

The response of benthic foraminifer Pararotalia nipponica to heavy metal cadmium is observed in laboratory experiment. The results indicate that under a given set of conditions, heavy metal cadmium is deleterious to benthic foraminifera. Gradual increase in cadmium (Cd) concentration mainly affected normal growth and caused morphological abnormalities which were consistent from 4 μg/l to 14 μg/l. The intensity of deformation was severe exhibiting a peculiar change in coiling direction with increase in cadmium concentration. The presence of <62> 50% deformed specimens at the lowest cadmium concentration (2 μg/l) indicates that the threshold of Cd concentration which is detrimental to P. nipponica is <60> 2 μg/l.

4 illus, 96 ref

002372   Karudu T K;Jagannadha Rao M;Ganesh B; Avatharam P;Naidu A G S S (Delta Studies Institute, Andhra Univ, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh) : Textural characteristics of Erra Kalva river, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh East coast of India. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 280-95.

The detailed textural study of Errakalva river (lat. 16° 50' - 17° 20' N: long. 81° 0'- 81° 40' E) has been carried out. A total of forty samples from thirteen stations were collected along the river profile from different locations indicate that the sediments possess a mean grain size range of granule to medium sand; moderately sorted to poorly sorted; very coarsely skewed to very finely skewed; very platykurtic to very leptokurtic in nature. The area of sediment bar, channel bar sediment samples and depositional energy conditions were also studied. Frequency Distribution Curves and scatter plots drawn between different textural parameters clearly established that the sediments are of unimodal nature and are having very coarse to medium sand (mean 1.5 ΦF). The sediments are deposited under tractive current conditions with dominant bottom suspension and rolling mechanisms.

14 illus, 3 tables, 32 ref

002371   Jain C;Mendiratta R (Life Science Dep, Boston College for Professional Studies, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh) : Evaluation and assessment of ground water of shivpuri town in Madhya Pradesh. Trends Biosci 2013, 6(1), 56-8.

This paper aims to the assess physico-chemical properties of underground drinking water of Shivpuri town of Madhya Pradesh in India. Underground water samples were collected from the various places of Shivpuri town and nearby area. The physico-chemical properties such as color, pH, total dissolved solid, salinity, electrical conductivity, acidity, alkalinity, chloride, iron, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness were studied and analyzed. The results obtained were compared with permissible limits of the drinking water set by Bureau of Indian Standards. Some water samples were found within desirable limit. Water from these sources can be used for drinking purpose. However some sources of water have some parameters more than permissible level and water from these sources can't be used for drinking purpose without special treatment.

5 illus, 1 table, 6 ref

002370   Hughes N C;Sell B K;English L T;Myrow P M; Singh B P (Earth Sciences Dep, California Univ, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA, Email: nigel.hughes@ucer.edu) : Cambrian trace fossils from the parahio formation (tethyan himalaya) in its type section and elsewhere. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(2), 175-93.

Trace fossils newly recovered in situ and from talus in sections of the Parahio Formation at its type location in Spiti and in Zanskar confirm the occurrence of ichnofossils at multiple horizons within the second and third Series of the Cambrian System. Their occurrence is consistent with other records in Cambrian rocks worldwide, and with the palaeoenvironmental interpretation for this formation based on physical sedimentology. The trace Ctenopholeus kutcheri is recorded for the first time in the Himalayan Cambrian. The occurrence of Psammichnites gigas in Zanskar constrains the lower part of the Parahio Formation in that region to be no older than late in the Terreneuvian (series 1) and no younger than series 2 of the Cambrian System, a result which is also consistent with the trace fossils and trilobites at the base of the Parahio Formation in the type section in the Parahio Valley. All body and trace fossils yet recorded from the Parahio Formation occur significantly above the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary. With the exception of P. gigas and Astropolichnus, no Himalayan Cambrian trace fossil described to date aids in refining the Cambrian biostratigraphy of the Himalaya, because the stratigraphic ranges of these forms elsewhere extend beyond the Cambrian System. In fact, most trace fossils found in Cambrian rocks provide only coarse biostratigraphic resolution, indicating Phanerozoic or Palaeozoic age, and require other kinds of chronostratigraphic data to constrain their stratigraphic positions more exactly. The recent claim that trace fossils localize the position of the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary in the Parahio Valley is refuted.

5 illus, 69 ref

002369   Gomathi R;RamMohan V;Backiaraj S (Geology Dep, Madras Univ, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, Email: rammohan.muniv@gmail.com) : Landslide susceptibility zonation in Kukalthurai Halla watershed, Moyar sub-basin in Nilgiris mountains, South India using remote sensing and GIS. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 366-78.

Landslides occur frequently due to heavy rains in Nilgiri mountains in South India. Though, the landslide hazard is moderate, occurrence of landslide events lead to considerable loss of life, damage to property and disruption of communication. The death toll and damage to houses are increasing during the recent years necessitating the need for preparing a Landslide Susceptibility Zonation map in which safe zones wherein developmental activities can be taken up are identified. A Geographical Information System based study has been carried out in Kukulthurai Halla macro-watersheds in Nilgiri mountains using the Frequency Ratio (FR) method. The Zonation map prepared with 75% of the landslides was validated using the remaining 25% of the landslides.

5 illus, 3 tables, 17 ref

002368   Dawod G M (NO, Umm Al-Qura Univ, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia, Email: gmmahmoud@uqu.edu.sa) : Suitability analysis for tourist infrastructures utilizing multi-criteria GIS: a case study in Al-Had city, Saudi Arabia. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 313-24.

Now a days, GIS is widely recognized as a valuable decision support system that enables the determination of suitable spatial locations for a specific objective based on a group of criteria. This paper aims to utilize such a comprehensive approach for delineating suitable sites to set up future tourist infrastructures in Al-Hada city, southwest Saudi Arabia. Several recent databases have been gathered, integrated, processed, and analyzed for that city. Six criteria have been designed and applied for finding safe, homogenously-distrusted, and economical optimal locations for potential tourist facilities in the study area. A suitability map has been developed based on a weighted integration of the chosen six criteria. The accomplished results show that there exist 124 candidate sites with a suitability index ranges from 5 to 10 on a 10-point scale. It is recommended that these findings being considered in the development plan of Al-Hada city, and the developed GIS mutlicriteria suitability analysis being applied for all Saudi tourist cities.

14 illus, 17 ref

002367   Chakravortty S (Information Technology Dep, Govt. College of Engineering & Ceramic Technology, 73, Abinash Banerjee Lane, Kolkata-700 010, Email: csomdatta@rediffmail.com) : Application of hyperspectral data for development of spectral library of mangrove species in the Sunderban Delta. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 305-12.

Remote sensing has played a crucial role in mapping and understanding of the spatial pattern of mangrove forests and changes in its areal extent caused by natural disasters and anthropogenic forces. So far traditional pixel-based classification of multispectral imagery has been widely applied for broad mapping of mangrove covers. But the recent and more advanced hyperspectral data taken from sensors (like Hyperion) is expected to demonstrate the potential for reliable and detailed characterization of mangrove forests including species level classification. This paper demonstrates the potential of hyperspectral imagery for species level identification of mangroves in the Henry Island of Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal. After pre-processing of hyperspectral data, the spectral signature of each species have been extracted from the Hyperion data after which a spectral library has been developed comprising the seven dominant mangrove species of the region namely Excoeocaria Agallocha, Avicennia Officinalis, Ceriops Decandra, Avicennia Marina and Phoenix Paludosa, Brugueira Cylindrica, Aegialitis.

4 illus, 20 ref

002366   Brar G S (Center of Advanced Study in Geography, Panjab Univ, Chandigarh-160 014, Email: jalaleana@gmail.com) : Detection of and use and land cover change with remote sensing and GIS: a case study of Punjab Siwaliks. Int J Geomatics Geosci 2013, 4(2), 296-304.

The term land use relates to the human activities or economic functions associated with a specific piece of land while land cover is the physical material at the surface of the earth. Land cover includes grass, asphalt, trees, bare ground, water, etc. The change in spatial pattern of any material related to land-use and land cover is called land-use and land cover change (LULCC) also known as land change. It is a general term for the human modification of Earth's terrestrial surface. The emergence of geospatial technology has provided an easy way to detect land use and land cover change. Remote sensing is an essential tool of land-change detection because it facilitates observations across larger extents of Earth's surface in short time periods which is not possible by ground-based observations. GIS is further beneficial for analyzing land-use and land cover. In this study the emphasis on the role of remote sensing and GIS in detection of land-use and land cover. The area of Punjab Siwaliks (between river Satluj and Ghaggar) is selected for the study. Satellite imageries for the year 1989 and 2005 are used for this purpose. Changes are found everywhere in the study area and it is found that natural vegetation is losing its extent at a rapid rate.

4 illus, 1 table, 21 ref

002365   Bharati K T (Chemistry Postgraduate Dep, Sangamner Nagarpalika Arts, D.J. Malpani Commerce & B.N. Sarda Scienc, Sangamner-422 605, Email: bharatik007@gmail.com) : Potable groundwater quality in Jorve village of Sangamner, Mahrashtra, India : focus on fluoride. Rasayan J Chem 2013, 6(1), 20-3.

Health diseases occurring due to high fluorine concentration in drinking water are a widespread problem in the world. To get the information of the fluoride concentration in ground water was determined in 10 samples of Jorve village Sangamner, Maharashtra India. The fluoride concentration in the underground water of these village varied from 0.01-2.13 mg/L. various other water quality parameters, viz., Temperature, pH, electrical conductance, total dissolved solids, fluoride, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, sulphate, nitrate, DO, etc. were also measured. TDS and Hardness of the samples do not comply with Indian as well as WHO standard for most of the water quality parameters measured. Overall water quality was found unsatisfactory for drinking purpose. Fluoride content was higher than the permissible limit in 50% samples.

4 tables, 18 ref

001228   Valdiya K S (Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, , Bangalore-560 064, Email: valdiya@jncasr.ac.in) : River Saraswati was a Himalayan-born rive. Curr Sci 2013, 104(1), 42-54.

Giosan and co-workers contend that the `mythical' Saraswati River was not a glacier-fed Himalayan river. Questioning the findings of Indian archaeologists and geologists, they postulate that the Saraswati was a monsoonal river originating in the foothills of the Siwalik Hills and did not water the heartland of the Harappan Civilization. Reduction in its discharges due to weakening of the monsoon rains resulted in its drying up, leading to the demise of the Harappa Civilization. I have put forth a number of evidence gathered in the last 10-15 years to show that their arguments are not acceptable and by giving eloquent examples have asserted that the climate is not the only cause of all changes occurring on the surface of the Earth, and that there are other factors, some more powerful, which bring about changes.

12 illus, 68 ref

001227   Tomar A S;Singh U C (NO, , ) : Land resource evaluation and site suitability criteria development around the Shivpuri City (M.P.), India, study using Remote Sensing and GIS. J Remote Sensing GIS 2014, 5(2), 1-7.

Recent research indicates that the human induced conversions and modifications of land cover around the Shivpuri city. Land resource evaluation and Site suitability, though land use is mainly controlled by various biophysical factors like soil, climate, relief and vegetation but the human activities are mainly responsible for the change of attributes of land use modification and conversion. In this paper focuses on weightages overlay GIS techniques for land resource evaluation and site suitability analysis. In order to provide greater details, the input information such as land use/land cover classes, geomorphic units, lithology, soil types and slope have been generated from IRS 1D LISS-III satellite data and SRTM data. These details are categories based on ranking method for various land use/land cover analysis and development. The dynamics of land resource evaluation - 59 - processes are governed spatial characteristics of inputs and outputs of the land use conditions. The main objectives of the study were: To develop an integrated Remote Sensing and GIS technique to evaluate the relationship between land uses, To identify factors influencing and controlling role in the study area, To evaluate the nature resource categories, To have a quantitative assessment of land resources, To suggest suitable sites for various land use development, The study provides important input for effective decision making for land suitability, future planning and resource allocation.

001226   Sudhakar T;Dash S K;Rao R R;Srinivasan R; Zacharia S;Atmanand M A;Subramaniam B R;Nayak S (National Institute of Ocean Technology, , Pallikaranai, Chennai-600 100, Email: tata@niot.res.in) : Detection of sea-surface temperature anomaly in the equatorial region of Bay of Bengal using indigenous Lagrangian drifter. Curr Sci 2013, 104(2), 177-8.

3 illus, 6 ref

001225   Sneha C;Santhoshkumar A V;Sunil K M (College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, , Vellanikkara, Thrissur-680 656, Email: santhoshkumar.av@kau.in) : Quantifying water stress using crop water stress index in mahogany(Swietenia macrophylla king) seedingss. Curr Sci 2013, 104(3), 348-51.

The present study was made to quantify water stress in mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) seedlings using crop water stress index (CWSI). Seedlings were provided with four different levels of irrigation as treatments - irrigation at irrigation water (IW)/evapotranspiration (ET) = 1, 0.6 and 0.3 at weekly intervals and a control with no irrigation (IW/ET = 0). Canopy-air temperature difference (CATD) was recorded using an infrared thermometer. The non-water-stressed baseline (NWSB) was derived from CATD and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in the well-watered treatment (irrigation at 1.0 IW/ET). The lower base-line equation for CATD was -0.25VPD - 2.9 and the upper baseline equation was -0.01VPD + 6.1. CWSI responded to irrigation events along the whole season and clearly detected mild water stress, suggesting extreme sensitivity to variations in plant water status. The present study reveals the potential of CWSI for early, non-destructive and less time-consuming estimation of water stress.

2 illus, 3 tables, 21 ref

001224   Singh Y T;Mazumdar-Leighton S;Nair S (Botany Dep, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796 004, Email: tungin9@yahoo.co.in) : Loktak, the largest floating lake of the world, needs restoration. Curr Sci 2013, 104(1), 10-11.

^ssc1 illus, 13 tables

001223   Sharma A;Vinod Kumar;Sharma P P;Singh S;Hooda R S (NO, , ) : Remote Sensing and GIS application for detection and delineation of waterlogging in Rohtak district. J Remote Sensing GIS 2014, 5(2), 8-14.

Waterlogging is becoming a serious problem in irrigated command areas of India which causes farm, regional and national level effect on crop production and economic growth. An attempt has been made to make an assessment of the major land degradation process, i.e., waterlogged and those areas sensitive to waterlogging during the pre and post monsoon periods in the Rohtak district using remotely sensed and field data. IRS P6- LISS-III digital data were analyzed to assess the areas affected by waterlogging and validation of derived waterlogged areas was done using available water table depth data and other field information. The study area has been analyzed by slope assessment and DEM using spot height from the SOI Toposheet. The results obtained from this study indicate that in Oct. and Mar. 2005-06, Oct. and Mar. 2008-09, some 7 km^{2 and 1.36 km2 area was permanently waterlogged and about 222 km2 and 69 km2 area was seasonally waterlogged, respectively. The results show that waterlogging has decreased by 6.69 km2and seasonal waterlogging has decreased by 153 km2. The study concludes that - 58 - water logging has proper urban planning with its thrust on sufficient canal and drainage network with aforestation is suggested to avoid waterlogging.}

001222   Satheesh S K;Krishna Moorthy K;Suresh Babu S; Srinivasan J (Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, ndian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, Email: satheesh@caos.iisc.ernet.in) : Unusual aerosol characteristics at Challakere in Karnataka. Curr Sci 2013, 104(5), 615-21.

During a series of measurements, simultaneous measurements were made of spectral aerosol optical depths (AOD),black carbon (BC) mass concentration, total and size segregated composite aerosol mass concentrations at the second campus of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Challakere, Karnataka. Surprisingly, most of the aerosol mass is found in the submicron size range, which is unusual for a dry region. Unexpectedly large enhancement in BC aerosol oncentration was observed during the morning hours (6-8 a.m.), both during summer and winter, which is mysterious and hence requires further study. However, BC mass fraction, which is one of the most important climate-relevant parameters was 3.3 of total aerosol mass, implying a significantly low aerosolinduced absorption of solar radiation and hence sequent atmospheric warming. Based on our initial measurements as well as 11 years of satellite data analysis, we conclude that this location is best suited for establishing a climate observatory.

9 illus, 40 ref

001221   Roy A;Chakrabarti S;Sen R (Te-Kaihau (NGO), Global Enterprise Trust, , Lower Hutt, 5010 New Zealand, Email: sharad_presi@rediffmail.com) : Self-organized criticality and the Sikkim earthquake (2011) with comparative exemplars. Curr Sci 2013, 104(5), 600-3.

The phenomenon of self-organized criticality (SOC) has been pursued in this article in the context of the Sikkim earthquake of September-October 2011. The relatively smaller recursive fluctuations later on in macroscopic - 57 - strain energy along the mountain chain are deemed as perturbations ex-pressed by lower seismic potency. Comparative examples are analysed from the recent earthquakes (September 2010, Decemer 2011) at Christchurch, New Zealand to unravel the systemic similarity, if any. The key connotation of such SOC systems in nature is a complexity in their evolution. The com-plexity is reflected by the plurality of their manifestations carried over a wide range of scales - both spatial and temporal. SOC can occur only in large interactive dynamic systems. The complex-ity of the earthquake systems and their fractal growth are ascribed to the dynamic mechanism of the principles of critical self-organization. In fact, SOC constitutes a fundamental framework to explain the abstruseness and criticality in the earthquake systems and in nature as a whole.

22 ref

001220   Rawat K S;Gopal Krishna;Mishra A;Singh J; Mishra S V (Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, Email: ksr.kishan@gmail.com) : Effect of DEM data resolution on low relief region sub-watershed boundaries delineating using of SWAT model and DEM derived from CARTOSAT-1 (IRS-P5), SRTM and ASTER. J appl nat Sci 2014, 6(1), 144-51.

Watersheds are natural integrators of hydrological, biological, and geological processes and as such require an integrated approach to data analysis and modeling, which usually starts delineating accurately a polygon vector layer of watershed boundaries as input. In that way, Garrah sub-watershed in Shahjahanpur district of U.P., India, had been isolated with the objective of evaluate the accuracy of sub-watershed boundaries derived from three different sources: One was delineated by 2.6 m resolution CARTOSAT-1 DEM (IRS-P5) and other two were derived from a 30 m ASTER DEM and a 90 m SRTM DEM, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. In this analysis we found that the accuracy of CARTOSAT-1 DEM is so best for accurate delineation of a sub -watershed in the management of the watershed, and the coarse spatial resolution SRTM DEM (90 m) performed much better and significantly than the high spatial resolution ASTER DEM (30 m) it's cause of the errors in the ASTER DEM, map algebra was used to define where the "Fill" tool had filled the sinks finding that the errors in the stream network occurred where some especially large fills had occurred. Not only the visual interpretation of the produces figures indicate the SRTM DEM delineated sub-watershed as relatively more accurate from ASTER DEM delineated sub-watershed boundaries, also statistics for the SRTM DEM elevation turned in significantly higher than that of the ASTER DEM. Overall SRTM DEMs offer more precise elevations while, ASTER DEMs offer more details. Therefore, the accuracy of the sub-watershed delineation depends on the first place on the accuracy of the DEM.

19 illus, 4 tables, 21 ref

001219   Prasad V S;Gupta A;Rajagopal E N;Basu S (National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, , A-50, Sector 62, Noida-201 309, Email: prasadvs@gmail.com) : Impact of OScat surface wind data on T574L64 assimilationand forecasting system - a study involving tropical cyclone Thane. Curr Sci 2013, 104(5), 627-31.

Ocean surface wind vector data from Scatterometer (OScat) on-board India's Oceansat-2 - 56 - satellite are available to global meteorological and oceanographic community on near real-time basis from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad. The quality of these wind vectors has improved recently and now is almost equivalent to that of any other pre-sent-day scatterometer sensors. The OScat winds are available in real-time and hence analysis procedures are developed for assimilating these winds into T574L64 Global Data Assimilation and Forecasting (GDAF) system at NCMRWF, Noida. In this study an attempt is made to quantify the impact of the OScat data through an observational system experiment using the procedure developed. The impact has been examined for the 17 December 2011-1 January 2012 involving the case of tropical cyclone Thane. This case study clearly demonstrates that the inclusion of OScat data is beneficial to the GDAF system, especially in simulating active cyclonic systems in both analysis and forecast.

6 illus, 3 tables, 6 ref

001218   Ojha A;Rout J (NO, , ) : Morphometric analysis of Ansupa Lake, Odisha using GIS technique. J Remote Sensing GIS 2014, 5(2), 15-22.

Basin morphometry is a means of numerically analyzing or mathematically quantifying different aspects of a drainage basin. In the present study, morphometric analysis of the Ansupa lake Catchment has been carried using earth observation data and geographical information system (GIS) techniques. The morphometric parameters considered for analysis includes the linear, areal and relief aspects of the basin. The study has strengthened in understanding the hydrological, geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Ansupa lake Catchment. This study attempts to perform the drainage analysis on a terrain model for Ansupa Catchment situated in Cuttack district of Odisha. It is a fresh water lake and there are a number of small lakes around it. The lake falls in Survey of India toposheet No. 73/H11 (1:50000) and 73H11NW (1:25,000). It is bounded by 20°26'06'' to 20°28'03''N latitude and 85°35'09'' to 85°36'06'' E longitude. The lake represents the characters of a typical ox-bow lake and back swamp by lying within the alluvial plain of river Mahanadi on its left.

001217   Nimit Kumar;Madhu V R;Meenakumari B (NO, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Ocean Valley, Pragathi Nagar (BO), Nizampet (SO), Hyderabad-500 090, Email: meenakumarib@gmail.com) : Co-occurrence of species in catches from multi-day trawlers along north-east arabian sea - implications for resource predictions. Fish Technol 2014, 51(2), 82-6.

Conventional approaches for prediction of fishery resource abundance use remote sensing data of chlorophyll concentration along with secondary parameters such as sea surface temperature, wind speed and direction. The knowledge of co-occurrence of species can help as an input for developing ecological models for species specific predictions. This study attempts to understand abundance and co-occurrence of species in fish catches from commercial multiday bottom-trawling operations carried out over the shelf off Gujarat, based on data collected during 2004-2008. We found that ribbon-fish dominated the fishery in this region and was accompanied by lizard-fishes, cuttlefishes and perches; indicating a co-occurrence of species based on the prey preferences.

2 illus, 3 tables

001216   Nayak S;Mandal M;Adhikari A;Bhatla R (Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur-721 302, Email: mmanda@coral.iitkgp.ernet.in) : Estimation of Indian coastal areas inundated into the sea due to sea-level rise during the 20th century. Curr Sci 2013, 104(5), 582-3.

^ssc2 illus, 1 table, 12 ref

001215   Khanna T C (National Geophysical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Ind, , Hyderabad -500 007, Email: khannangri@gmail.com) : Geochemical evidence for a paired arc-back-arc association in the Neoarchean Gadwal greenstone belt, eastern Dharwar craton, India. Curr Sci 2013, 104(5), 632-40.

Neoarchean Gadwal greenstone belt is situated in the eastern Dharwar craton, southern India. A well-preserved volcanic sequence which includes a boninite- adakite suite and normal tholeiitic to calc-alkaline basalt-andesite-dacite/rhyolite suite occurs in this belt. The focus of this study is the basaltic rocks from Gadwal greenstone belt. Based on their high field strength element and rare earth element (REE) data the basalts have been broadly grouped into two types: type I basalts are characterized by relatively high Nb/Th (5-9.2) and display slightly depleted to flat chondrite normalized REE patterns, whereas type II basalts display light-REE enriched patterns and Nb/Th ratio <60> 4. Both the types display uniform Nb/Y (~0.12) over a narrow range of Zr/Y (<3) ratios, and collectively exhibit negative Nb, Ti and minor Zr anomalies on a primitive mantle normalized trace element variation diagram. Alteration, metamorphism and contamination by assimilation of Archean upper continental crust in the study area can be ruled out as the cause of these anomalies. The incompatible trace element characteristics are consistent with a subduction related intraoceanic-arc setting for these volcanic rocks. The geochemical variations in Gadwal basalts cannot be explained by a two-stage mantle melting model as recently proposed for certain basalts from elsewhere (e.g. Pickle Crow Assemblage, Canada). The geochemical behaviour is attributed to the lateral variation and batch melting of a primitive mantle source involving subduction zone components. The Gadwal data together withrecently published data on basaltic rocks from Archean and Phanerozoic subduction regimes have been used to suggest a Neoarchean paired arc-back-arc association in - 55 - the eastern Dharwar craton.

10 illus, 2 tables, 55 ref

001214   Jitendra Kumar (NO, , ) : Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS for land use/land cover mapping in Rewari District, Haryana. J Remote Sensing GIS 2014, 5(2), 40-5.

Spatial information is very important for the implementation of planning and development activities. Land use planners are always keen to know land use/cover types and their change detection in time series for sustainable land management. Remote sensing with its multispectral, multi-temporal and synoptic view has the potential to provide accurate spatial and temporal information on land-use/land cover of a region in a time and cost effective manner for the sustainable development of the region. The present study is a case study of Rewari district which is located in the NCR region of Haryana state. This study has analyzed the land use pattern of Rewari district. Both spatial and non-spatial data have been used for the conduct of present study. Spatial data include topographical sheets and satellite imageries that have been used to detect land-use/land cover from the study area whereas non-spatial data include census population data. Study reflect that majority of area in the district are agricultural. All other category like; built-up area, forest/grassland, water body and wasteland constitutes only 10 percent of the study area. The district lacks forest cover which spread over only 0.5 percent of the study area.

001213   Goswami T K (Applied Geology Dep, Dibrugah University, Dibrugarh-786 004, Email: taposgoswami@gmail.com) : Geodynamic significance of leucogranite intrusions in the Lohit batholith near Walong, eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India. Curr Sci 2013, 104(2), 229-34.

Trans Himalayan Lohit batholith in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh exhibits a zone of intense shearing at Walong area in Anzaw district. Along the zone, intrusions of leucogranites are well documented in the area between Yasong and Walong of the Lohit valley. Sillimanite and garnet-bearing gneisses of the Yasong area represent the lithology of the host Asian crust. The 5 km wide leucogranite intrusion in the shear zone indicates tight to open asymmetric shear-related folds with boudinaged limbs and veins showing extension fractures. The pre-existing folds of the deformed Lohit batholith show transposition from the wall to the interior of the subvertical high-strain shear zone with a dominant dextral sense. The two-feldspar thermometry of the leucogranites gives a temperature range of 400±50°C. This temperature of inversion from K-feldspar to microcline must have prevailed at high stress conditions at the time of emplacement of leucogranites. Melting of the metapelitic crust at higher temperatures is related to - 54 - shear heating towards the end phase of development of NW-SE trending dextral shear zone in the region.

4 illus, 2 tables, 26 ref

001212   Ghodpage R N;Taori A;Patil P T;Gurubaran S (Medium Frequency Radar, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Shivaji Uni, , , Email: taori@narl.gov.in) : Simultaneous mesospheric gravity wave measurements in OH night airglow emission from Gadanki and Kolhapur - Indian low latitudes. Curr Sci 2013, 104(1), 98-105.

Simultaneous photometric measurements of mesospheric OH night airglow emissions have been made from two stations, Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) and Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E), India during February-March 2010 to study the differences in the observed wave characteristics. Our results reveal the wave periodicities to be similar at both locations, which ranged from 2 to 8 h. The inferred Krassovsky parameters (χ = <157>χ<157>e^{i<106>) show large variability, with ranges of <157>χ<157> varying from 2.4 to 4.2 over Gadanki and from 2.2 to 6.3 over Kolhapur. The phase values of Krassovsky parameter, ϕ, exhibit variation from -101° to -202° in Kolhapur data and -38° to -93° in Gadanki data. The deduced vertical wavelengths indicate that the observed waves were propagating upwards with vertical wave-lengths varying from -26 to -62 km. We note that the observed night-time OH emission profile shows the peak of emission at ~85 km in Kolhapur and at ~90 km in Gadanki in the corresponding months. These observed characteristics of waves and the cause of noted differences are discussed.}

5 illus, 1 table, 32 ref

001211   Gaur A S;Sundaresh;Triopati S (NO, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa-403 004, Email: asgaur@nio.org) : Ancient coastal transportation system along the Western Saurashtra coast: evidence from of Navibandar. Curr Sci 2013, 104(2), 190-3.

A recent maritime archaeological exploration around Navibandar yielded - 53 - evidence of ferry/jetty points. These points were well connected with the stone-paved roads. Interestingly, the roads have evidence of the use of bullock carts. Navibandar is situated on the eastern bank of the River Bhadar which joins the Arabian Sea about half a kilometre west of the village. The evidence recorded suggests that Navibandar played an auxiliary role to Porbandar port in maritime activities during the medieval period.

7 illus, 13 ref

001210   Chatterjee A;Bhattacharya S (Geology Dep, , Presidency University, Email: alokesh@yahoo.com) : Identification of regional-scale cuspate-lobate folds in Singhbhum region, India using satellite remote sensing. Curr Sci 2013, 104(1), 31-4.

5 illus, 14 ref

001209   Bidwai R;Sharma U P;Sinha P K;Majumdar A;Roy M K (Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, , AMD Complex, Pratap Nagar Sector-V, Sanganer, Jaipur-302 030, Email: rbidwai.amd@gov.in) : New sub-surface find of uranium mineralization in Devri area, Proterozoic Surguja Crystalline Belt, Surguja district, Chhattisgarh. Curr Sci 2013, 104(2), 234-8.

New find of uranium mineralization associated with granite mylonite and cataclasite near Devri area (23 °31'35'', 83°08'35'', 64M/2), Surguja district, Chhattisgarh is significant in enhancing the uranium potential known from the Proterozoic Surguja Crystalline Complex (SCC). Scanty radioactive surface outcrops extending for 30 m length with 10 m width were observed within paddy fields and soil-covered area. Shielded probe logging of the trench dug at the radio-active outcrop indicated mineralization of 0.014% eU₃O₈x5.6 m. Initial exploratory core drilling has indicated strike and dip continuity of mineralization at depth for at least 260 and 100 m respectively, with the number of mineralized intercepts varying from 0.010% eU₃O₈x1.0 m to 0.028% eU₃O₈x4.68 m. Extensive shearing, cataclasis, mylonitization, calcitization, ferruginization and sericitization is associated with mineralized shear zone at depth. Data obtained so far in Devri area indicate a satellite uranium deposit in addition to the Jajawal deposit in the west and Dumhath in the east established earlier within the SCC. Gravity, magnetic and IP geophysical surveys along the main ENE-WSW structural grain may help in establishing high resistivity, low magnetic zones and deciphering the shear zones. This would help in tracing the shear zone for establishing uranium mineralization.

2 illus, 1 table, 4 ref

001208   Bhagat V S (NO, , ) : Geo-spatial predictions of soil organic carbon. J Remote Sensing GIS 2014, 5(2), 23-39.

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) plays an important role in conservation of biophysical environment, i.e., biogeochemical cycles, soil fertility, water quality, atmospheric carbon control, temperature control, sustainable land management and food production. Geo-statistical techniques can be useful for precise - 52 - estimations and preparation of high quality SOC maps essential for planning and monitoring the biophysical environment. Several studies have used geo-statistical techniques successfully for description of spatial patterns, quantitative modeling, spatial predictions and uncertainty assessments of SOC at local, regional and global scale. However, the results are still susceptible to: 1) sufficient number of samples representing variability of soils and land use, 2) suitable methods and techniques selected for laboratory analyses, 3) selection, availability, precision and correlations of used ancillary data used for modeling, and 4) selected geo-statistical techniques for SOC predictions. Therefore, the reported success studies are very site-, data- and situation-specific and insufficient to reach global conclusions. The field is active, attractive, challenging and interesting area of research for soil fertility and climate change management.

^iia

001207   Babu K N;Shukla A K;Sridhar V N;Damiri A B; Reyes F J O (Marine, Geo and Planetary Sciences Group, Space Applications Centre (I, , , Email: kn_babu@sac.isro.gov.in) : Post-launch calibration of Ocean Colour Monitor 2 using Kavaratti CAL-VAL site observations. Curr Sci 2013, 104(1), 23-8.

Oceansat-2 mission is envisaged to provide continuity of services for the operational users of Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) data as well as enhance the application potential in other areas. It was successfully launched by PSLV-C14 flight on 23 September 2009 from Shriharikota launch pad. It carried three payload instruments, viz. OCM 2, a Ku-band scatterometer (OSCAT) and a Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmosphere (ROSA) which has been developed by the Italian Space Agency. A controlled calibration and validation site is envisaged in southeast Arabian Sea to monitor the OCM 2 sensor stability owing to its post-launch performance and ageing-related problems in orbit. This site measures hyper-spectral optical radiances (both in air and underwater), meteorological parameters and CIMEL 318 sun-photometer for sun and sky radiation in automated mode. All these datasets are received from the site via satellite communication. These measurements are analysed along with top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) radiance measured by OCM 2 sensor. The OCM 2 sensor performance is monitored against the radiance computed at TOA through a forward radiative transfer model for the period spanning from 23 September 2009 to 24 April 2010.

6 illus, 4 tables, 27 ref

001206   Babu Govindha Raj K;Remya S N;Vinod Kumar K (Geosciences Div, RS - Applications Area, National Remote Sensing Cent, , Hyderabad-500 037, Email: babugovindraj@gmail.com) : Remote sensing-based hazard assessment of glacial lakes in Sikkim Himalaya. Curr Sci 2013, 104(3), 359-64.

Glacial lake is a water body formed in/under/besides and/or in front of a glacier due to glacial dynamics. Such high-altitude glacial lakes are hazardous to humanity and infrastructure as they can drain instan-taneous and create devastating floods in the down-stream. The formation of moraine-dammed glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is major concern in countries such as Bhutan, Tibet (China), India, Nepal and Pakistan. The temporal satellite data SS III shows the glacier receded 1.9 km from 1962 to 2008 and the formation of a moraine-dammed glacial lake at the snout of South Lhonak glacier, Sikkim Himalaya. The lake outburst probability shows a very high value of 42% for the lake and peak discharge estimated using the empirical formula shows a discharge of 586 m^{3/s. A systematic inventory of glacial lakes using high-resolution satellite data and in situfield survey is recommended and adaptation measures like early warning systems and mitigation measures are required in potential GLOF areas.}

6 illus, 3 table, 30 ref

000137   Venkatanathan N;Natyaganov V (Faculty of Physics, Physics Dep, SASTRA Univ, Thirumalaisamdrum, Thanjavur-613 401, Email: physics16972@gmail.com) : Outgoing longwave radiations as pre-earthquake signals: preliminary results of 24 september 2013 (M 7.7) earthquake. Curr Sci 2014, 106(9), 1291-7.

Outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) measurement, a satellite-based measurement can be used as a tool to identify the earthquake preparation process. OLR anomaly normally appears 1 to 30 days before the occurrence of earthquakes as revealed by analysis of previous earthquakes like the 2010 Haiti and 2011 Tohoku earthquakes. This communication presents the preliminary analysis of OLR anomaly prior to the recent 24 September 2013 (M 7.7) earthquake which occurred 63 km NNE of Awaran, Pakistan. The results show encouraging signs and forecasting of earthquakes is likely to be no longer 'elusive',

3 illus, 50 ref

000136   Takarkhede A G;Kamble R K (Environmental Science Dep, Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya, Chandrapur-442 402) : Water quality and statistical correlation of hydrological parameters of Nag river, Nagpur. Indian J envir Prot 2013, 33(1), 9-19.

Major stretch of the Nag river flows through the urban part of Nagpur city. The city's sewage and industrial effluents are discharged into the river making it a drain to carry out all the effluents of the city. Nag river water quality has become a matter of concern due to its continuous changing aquatic environment and increasing social and industrial activities that influence the water quality directly or indirectly. This investigation was undertaken to study the effects of domestic sewage and effluent from different parts of Nagpur city on the water quality of Nag river. Three surface water sampling sites were selected and water sampling was carried out by grab sampling method from July 2002 to July 2004 at monthly interval. Different physico-chemical parameters were assessed for water quality and statistical correlation between them was carried out. The results indicated seasonal variations in physico-chemical parameters of water quality. The water quality of the river has deteriorated. A significant positive correlation between electrical conductivity with total solids and total dissolved solids at all sampling sites throughout the sampling period was observed. Total solids and total dissolved solids also showed a positive correlation (r = 0.99). Chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand had shown positive correlation (r = 0.95). Nitrate and alkalinity had shown negative correlation (r - 42 - = -0.89) whereas nitrate and temperature had shown positive correlation (r = 0.83) at sampling site S1 and S2.

10 tables, 9 ref

000135   Sridhar P;Reddy K S;Padma Kumari K (Civil Eng Dep, JNTUK, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Email: meteorologist@rediffmail.com) : Computation of morphometric parameters of Kadam reservoir catchment area, Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh using GIS tool. Envir Ecol 2013, 31(2), 444-8.

The computation of morphometric parameters was key role in the watershed planning and management of the hydrological behavior, such as runoff, soil erosion and sediment yield. The study area, semi-arid region of Kadam watershed was covered in Godavari River basin and delineates twenty one sub-watersheds and morphometric parameters were analyzed in GIS environment The acquisition of the data was compute and calculated using by formulae based on input values. The drainage density, drainage frequency, bifurcation ratio, elongation ratio, circularity ratio and form factor 2.45 to 6.38, 3.7 to 13.15, 2.86 to 8.17, 0.56 to 0.71, 0.16 to 0.64 and 0.25 to 0.40 respectively, these are appearing significantly lower to higher values. Results are dissimilar of each distinct sub-watershed are higher to low runoff, sediment yield and infiltration capacity and also prove the Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques are competent tool in morphometric analysis.

1 illus, 3 tables, 7 ref

000134   Shankar R;Vijayagopal B;Anil Kumar (Academy of Scientific and Innovation Research, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad-500 007, Email: anilkumar@ngri.res.in) : Precise Pb-Pb baddeleyite ages of 1765 Ma for a Singhbhum 'newer dolerite' dyke swarm. Curr Sci 2014, 106(9), 1306-10.

The Singhbhum craton in eastern India hosts a number of mafic dyke swarms popularly called 'newer dolerites'. Previous attempts to obtain emplacement ages of these rocks were limited to a few poor-precision K-Ar whole-rock and Rb-Sr isochron ages. Here, two prominent dykes from the WNW-ESE trending swarm in the south central region of the craton were dated using Pb-Pb baddeleyite thermal extraction-thermal ionization mass spectrometer method. These dykes yielded identical baddeleyite Pb-Pb ages of 1766.2 ± 1.1 Ma (SKJ-10) and 1764.5 ± 0.9 Ma (SKJ-15) respectively, which are interpreted as the time of emplacement of the WNW-ESE trending 'newer dolerite' dyke swarm. The predominantly parallel dyke trend in this - 41 - swarm for over 100 km along strike indicates these dyke fractures were formed due to horizontal compressive stresses in a region that may have been associated with a palaeo compressional system. Coeval ~1770 Ma magmatism in the Singhbhum craton and in China, Australia, Brazil and Uruguay confirms this event was globally widely dispersed. The timing of this event also coincides with orogenic activity in majority of continents that may have formed during the assembly of supercontinent Columbia.

3 illus, 1 table, 34 ref

000133   Reddy K S;Sridhar P (Research Associate, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Santhoshnagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Email: meteorologist@rediffmail.com) : Priority of soil conservation measures bhaskar rao kunta for micro-watershed based using sediment yield index and geographical information system (GIS) watershed, Nalgonda district, India. Envir Ecol 2013, 31(2), 592-5.

Semi-arid region of Bhaskar Rao Kunta watershed has been delineated to seven micro-watersheds (1a, 1b. 1c, 1d, 1e and 1f). Sediment yield index formula was adopted with help of soil maps in GIS environment. Priorities are arrived based on sediment yield index values, the micro-watersheds with the highest sediment yield index value is given the highest priority and vice versa. Results are found to be under three micro-watershed (1a, 1c and 1e) are in order to 'high, medium and low priorities', remaining four micro-watersheds (1b. 1d, 1f and 1g) found to be under very low priorities were arrived. It is concluded that the soil conservation measures can first be applied to high priority micro-watershed and remaining subwatersheds are depending upon their priority in order. In this rapport GIS techniques are proved to be a competent tool for planning and management of soil conservation measures.

^ssc5 illus, 2 tables, 3 ref

000132   Nanda A C (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun-248 001, Email: nandaac@rediffmail.com) : Upper siwalik mammlian faunas of the Himalayan foothills. J Palaeont Soc India 2013, 58(1), 75-86.

The Tatrot and Pinjor faunas belonging to the Upper Siwalik Subgroup are well known from Pakistan, India and Nepal. The faunas along with proposed biostratigraphic interval-zones/range-zones/faunal-zones for the Upper Siwalik Subgroup of Potwar Plateau, Mangla-Samwal area and Pabbi Hills (all in Pakistan), Chandigarh-Jammu regions (India), and Surai Khola, Rato Khola and Kathmandu Valley (all in Nepal) are discussed. Despite the presence of a two-million year unconformity at the base of the Tatrot Formation, the type locality has yielded rich Tatrot Fauna. The Mangla-Samwal, Chandigarh-Jammu, Surai Khola and Rato Khola areas have yielded both Tatrot and Pinjor faunas, whereas - 40 - Pabbi Hills and Lokhundol Formation of the Kathmandu Valley have yielded Pinjor Fauna. The Pinjor Fauna is well developed in the type locality of Chandigarh as compared to other localities in Pakistan, India and Nepal. In the last five decades, 54 characteristic taxa for the Pinjor Fauna are recorded from the Chandigarh region. In Pakistan, abundant magnetostratigraphic data are available and workers clubbed mammalian taxa and proposed biostratigraphic zones for the Middle and Upper Siwalik subgroups. However, the rich Tatrot and Pinjor faunas are known from the Chandigarh and Jammu regions, but magnetostratigraphic data are scanty. Two biostratigraphic interval-zones, Elephas planifrons Interval-Zone (3.6-2.6Ma) and Equus sivalensis Interval-Zone (2.6-0.6 Ma), are recognized for the Indian Upper Siwalik. In Nepal, scanty Tatrot and Pinjor faunas are developed and the associated magnetostratigraphic dates do not tally with the recovered characteristic mammalian taxa. Thus, it is not possible to recognize the interval-zones in Nepal.

3 illus, 6 tables, 87 ref

000131   Krishna K S (NO, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa-403 004, Email: krishna@nio.org) : Two decades of indian research on ninetyeast ridge reveal how seafloor spreading and mantle plume activities have shaped the Eastern Indian ocean. Curr Sci 2014, 106(9), 1178-9.

1 illus, 16 ref