Identification of groundwater prospective zones by using remote sensing and geoelectrical methods in Jharia and Raniganj coalfields, Dhanbad district, Jharkhand state
Basudeo Rai 1, ∗,A Tiwari 2 and V S Dubey 3
1 The Indian Planetary Society, 404 Gorai Herumb Building, L T Road, Borivali(W), Mumbai, India.
2 Professor, Geology Department, B N College, Patna, India.
3 Professor, Geology Department, Patna University, Patna, India.
∗e-mail: drbasudeo −rai@yahoo.co.in

Abstract: The Dhanbad district in Jharkhand faces acute water scarcity and is chronically drought-prone. The groundwater resources in the area have not been fully exploited.The present study was undertaken to evaluate the groundwater prospective zones.Landsat-5 Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS)data of band 2 and band 4 and false colour composite (FCC)of band 2,3,4 were interpreted visually to  di fferentiate di fferent hydromorphogeological units and to delineate the major trends of lineaments.The di fferent geomorphic features identi fied are linear ridges, residual hills,and pediplain,buried pediment and dissected pediplain,besides lineaments.The study shows that the pediplain and buried pediments are promising zones for groundwater prospecting.The occurrence and movement of groundwater is restricted to the unconsolidated material, weathered and fractured rocks.For the selection of tube well sites,geoelectrical resistivity investigations have been carried out at the sites,which were found suitable based on hydro-geomorphological and hydrogeological studies.Twenty-six Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) have been carried out by using Schlumberger electrode con figuration,which have brought out 3 to 7 layered sub-surface layers.The resistivity of water-bearing weathered/fractured rocks varies from 120 –150 ohmm.The integrated studies have revealed that the blue colour zones are most promising for groundwater exploration and dug wells may be dug up to depths of 30 ± 5m.


Changes in the source and transport mechanism of terrigenous input to the Indian sector of Southern Ocean during the late Quaternary and its palaeoceanographic implications
M Thamban 1 ∗,S S Naik 1 ,R Mohan 1 ,A Rajakumar 1 ,N Basavaiah 2 ,Witty D’Souza 1 , Sarita Kerkar 1 ,M M Subramaniam 1 ,M Sudhakar 1 and P C Pandey 1
1 National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Headland Sada, Goa 403 804, India.
2 Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Kalamboli, New Panvel (W), Navi Mumbai 410 218, India.
∗e-mail: meloth@ncaor.org

Abstract: Changes in the terrigenous sediment source and transport mechanisms during the late Quaternary have been investigated using four sediment cores within the Indian sector of Southern Ocean, using the magnetic susceptibility (MS)and sedimentological records.Sediments deposited during the Holocene and other interglacial periods were characterised by low MS,low sand content, reduced ice-rafted detritus (IRD)input and increased illite possibly transported via hydrographic advection from the south.The glacial intervals are characterised by high MS,high sand content, increased IRD input and reduced illite clays,derived from both local as well as Antarctic sources.  Signi ficant reduction in clay fraction and illite content during glacials suggests that the erosive and transporting capabilities of the deep and bottom waters could have reduced compared to the interglacial times.The changes in terrigenous in flux to this region were signi ficantly in fluenced by the rhythmic glacial –interglacial fluctuations in bottom circulation and the position of the Polar Front .

River water quality in weathered limestone: A case study in upper Mahanadi basin, India
B K Panigrahy 1 and B C Raymahashay 2
1 Civil Engineering Department, Kakatiya Institute of Technology and Science, Warangal 550 6015 (A.P), India.
2 Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208 016 (U.P), India.

Abstract: Stromatolitic limestone and calcareous shale belonging to Chattisgarh Supergroup of Proterozoic age dominate the upper part of the Mahanadi river basin.X-ray di ffractogram (XRD)of limestone rocks show presence of a signi ficant amount of calcite,dolomite and ankerite.Shales of various colours contain calcite and dolomite.It is observed that congruent dissolution of carbonate minerals in the Charmuria pure limestone has given rise to a typical karst topography.On the other hand, limestones are also seen to support red and black soil pro files.This indicates that the limestone bedrock undergoes a parallel incongruent weathering,which leaves a residue of decomposed rock. The XRD analyses reveal that the limestone soils thus formed contain an assemblage of quartz,clays and Fe-oxides.It is likely that the silicate component trapped during deposition of the stromatolitic limestone  weathers incongruently resulting in diverse soil pro files.Carbonate and silicate mineral weathering schemes have been worked out to explain the soil formation,fixation of Al in clay minerals,and Fe in goethite.The water quality parameters such as Ca,Mg and HCO 3 in the river water suggest under saturation with respect to calcite and dolomite.The mineral stability diagrams indicate that kaolinite and Ca-smectite are stable in the river water environment,hence they occur  in suspended sediments and soils.The dominant in fluence of carbonate weathering on the water quality is observed even in the downstream part of the river  outside the limestone terrain.


Experimental technique of calibration of symmetrical air pollution models
P Kumar
National Law University,Jodhpur,Rajasthan,India.
e-mail:pkumar −mbm@redi ffmail.com

Abstract: Based on the inherent property of symmetry of air pollution models,a Symmetrical Air Pollution Model Index (SAPMI)has been developed to calibrate the accuracy of predictions made by such models,where the initial quantity of release at the source is not known.For exact prediction the value of SAPMI should be equal to 1.If the predicted values are overestimating then SAPMI is <1and if it is underestimating then SAPMI is >1.Speci fic design for the layout of receptors has been suggested as a requirement for the calibration experiments.SAPMI is applicable for all variations of symmetrical air pollution dispersion models.


Climatic control on clay mineral formation: Evidence from weathering profiles developed on either side of the Western Ghats
R Deepthy and S Balakrishnan摯瑬敳獩
Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605 014, India.
∗e-mail: sbala −2002@yahoo.com

Abstract: Many physico-chemical variables like rock-type,climate,topography and exposure age a ffect weathering environments.In the present study,an attempt is made to understand how the nature of clay minerals formed due to weathering  differs in tropical regions receiving high and low rainfall. Clay mineralogy of weathering pro files in west coast of India,which receives about 3 m rainfall through  two monsoons and those from the inland rain-shadow zones (<200 cm rainfall)are studied using X-ray di ffraction technique.In the west coast,1:1 clays (kaolinite)and Fe –Al oxides (gibb-site/goethite)are dominant clay minerals in the weathering pro files while 2:1 clay minerals are absent or found only in trace amounts.Weathering pro files in the rain shadow region have more complex clay mineralogy and are dominated by 2:1 clays and kaolinite.Fe –Al oxides are either less or absent in clay fraction.The kaolinite –smectite interstrati fied mineral in Banasandra pro files are  formed due to transformation of smectites to kaolinite,which is indicative of a humid paleo-climate.In tropical regions receiving high rainfall the clay mineral assemblage remains the same irrespective of the parent rock type.Rainfall and availability of water apart from temperature, are the most important factors that determine kinetics of chemical weathering.Mineral alteration reactions proceed through di fferent pathways in water rich and water poor environments.

Hydrography of the eastern Arabian Sea during summer monsoon 2002
D Shankar 1 ∗,S S C Shenoi 1 ,R K Nayak 1 ,P N Vinayachandran 2 ,G Nampoothiri 1 ,
A MAlmeida 1 ,G S Michael 1 ,M R Ramesh Kumar 1 ,D Sundar 1 ,and O P Sreejith 1
1 National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India.
2 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India.
∗e-mail: shankar@darya.nio.org

Abstract: Hydrographic observations in the eastern Arabian Sea (EAS)during summer monsoon 2002 (during the first phase of the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX))include two approximately fortnight-long CTD time series.A barrier layer was observed occasionally during the two time series. These ephemeral barrier layers were caused by in situ rainfall,and by advection of low-salinity (high-salinity)waters at the surface (below the surface mixed layer).These barrier layers were advected away from the source region by the West India Coastal Current and had no discernible effect on the sea surface temperature.The three high-salinity water masses,the Arabian Sea High Salinity Water (ASHSW),Persian Gulf Water (PGW),and Red Sea Water (RSW),and the Arabian Sea Salinity Minimum also exhibited intermittency:they appeared and disappeared during the time series.The concentration of the ASHSW,PGW,and RSWdecreased equatorward,and that of the RSW also decreased o ffshore.The observations suggest that the RSW is advected equatorward along the continental slope o ffthe Indian west coast.



Hydrography and water masses in the southeastern Arabian Sea during March–June 2003
S S C Shenoi 1 ∗,D Shankar 1 ,G S Michael 1 ,J Kurian 2 ,K K Varma 3 ,M R Ramesh Kumar 1 ,
A MAlmeida 1 ,A S Unnikrishnan 1 ,W Fernandes 1 ,N Barreto 1 ,C Gnanaseelan 4 ,
R Mathew 1 ,K V Praju 5 ,V Mahale 1
1 National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India.
2 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India.
3 College of Fisheries, Kerala Agricultural University, Kochi 682 506, India.
4 Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune 411 008, India.
5 Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682 016, India.
∗e-mail: shenoi@darya.nio.org

Abstract: This paper describes the hydrographic observations in the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS)during two cruises carried out in March –June 2003 as part of the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment.The surface hydrography during March –April was dominated by the intrusion of low-salinity waters from the south;during May –June,the low-salinity waters were beginning to be replaced by the high- salinity waters from the north.There was considerable mixing at the bottom of the surface mixed layer,leading to interleaving of low-salinity and high-salinity layers.The flow paths constructed following the spatial patterns of salinity along the sections mimic those inferred from numerical models.Time-series measurements showed the presence of Persian Gulf and Red Sea Waters in the SEAS to be intermittent during both cruises:they appeared and disappeared during both the fortnight-long time series.
 

Palaeoceanographic implications of abundance and mean proloculus diameter of benthic foraminiferal species Epistominella exigua in sub-surface sediments from distal Bay of Bengal fan
R Saraswat *, R Nigam Lea Barreto
Micropaleontology Laboratory, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403 004, Goa, India.
∗e-mail: rajeev@darya.nio.org

Abstract: Temporal variation in abundance and mean proloculus diameter of the benthic foraminiferal species Epistominella exigua has been reconstructed over the last ∼50,000 yr BP,from a core collected from the distal Bay of Bengal fan,to assess its potential application in palaeoceanographic reconstruction studies.The down-core variation shows signi ficant change in abundance of E. exigua during the last ∼50,000 yr BP.In view of the present day abundance of this species from areas with strong seasonal organic matter supply,we conclude that at ∼7, ∼22, ∼33 and ∼46 kyr BP,strong seasonality prevailed in the distal Bay of Bengal fan,probably indicating either strong or prolonged north –east monsoon or weakened south –west monsoon.For the first time,a strong correlation is observed in abundance and mean proloculus diameter of E. exigua Based on coherent variation in mean proloculus diameter and abundance,it is postulated that mean proloculus diameter can also be used to infer increased seasonality in organic matter production,thus variation in strength or duration of monsoon.Thus,this study establishes that the down-core variation in the abundance and mean proloculus diameter of Epistominella exigua can be used to infer past climatic variations from the distal Bay of Bengal fan.


Tides in the Mandovi and Zuari estuaries, Goa, west coast of India
D Sundar and S R Shetye
Physical Oceanography Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India.

Abstract: Mandovi and Zuari are two estuaries located in Goa,west coast of India.Variation of water level in the estuaries was monitored for a month at 13 locations using tide-poles during March –April 2003.Analysis of this data has provided for the first time,characteristics of how tidal constituents vary in the narrow and shallow estuaries,typical of those found along the west coast of India.At a distance of 45 km from the mouth the tidal range increased in both estuaries by approximately 20%.The tidal range at the upstream end of the two channels at the stations dropped sharply because of the increase in elevation of the channels.


A GIS based hydrogeomorphic approach for identification of site-specific artificial-recharge techniques in the Deccan Volcanic Province
M N Ravi Shankar and G Mohan*
Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, India.
∗e-mail: gmohan@iitb.ac.in

Abstract: The Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP)of India,as a whole,faces a severe shortage of water despite receiving a high annual rainfall,this is primarily due to excess runo ffand lack of water conservation practices.In this study,an attempt is made to identify zones favourable for the application and adaptation of site-speci fic arti ficial-recharge techniques for augmentation of groundwater through a Geographical Information System (GIS)based hydrogeomorphic approach in the Bhatsa and Kalu river basins of Thane district,in western DVP.The criteria adopted for the GIS analysis were based on the hydrogeomorphological characteristics of both basins extracted from the IRS- 1C LISS-III data supported by information on drainage pattern,DEM derived slope,lineament density,drainage density,and groundwater condition.The integrated study helps design a suitable groundwater management plan for a basaltic terrain.


Normalized impedance function and the straightforward inversion scheme for magnetotelluric data
Sri Niwas 1 ,P K Gupta 1 and V K Gaur 2
1 Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, UA 247 667, India.
2 Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore 560 034, India.
Abstract: This paper investigates the performance of normalized response function obtained by normalizing the Cagniard impedance function by a suitable factor and then rotating the phase by 45 ◦to make it purely real for homogeneous half-space and equal to the square root of the half-space resistivity.Two apparent resistivity functions based on respectively the real and imaginary parts of this response function are proposed.The apparent resistivity function using the real part contains almost the same information as that yielded by the Cagniard expression while the one using the imaginary part qualitatively works as an indicator of the number of interfaces in the earth model.The linear straightforward inversion scheme (SIS),developed by the authors employing the concept of equal penetration layers,has been used to validate the proposed apparent resistivity functions.For this purpose,several synthetic and field models have been examined.Five synthetic models are studied to establish the veracity of the new functions and two well-studied published field data sets are inverted through SIS for comparison.We noticed that the new function and SIS compliment each other and lead to better understanding of the data information and model resolution.


Energetics of lower tropospheric planetary waves over mid latitudes: Precursor for Indian summer monsoon
S M Bawiskar* ,M DChipade P V Puranik and U V Bhide
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India.
∗e-mail: bawiskar@hotmail.com

Abstract: Based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data,kinetic energy and momentum transport of waves 0 to 10 at 850 hPa level are computed from monthly mean zonal  (u )and meridional (v )components of  wind from equator to 90 ◦N.Fourier technique is used to resolve the wind field into a spectrum of waves.Correlation analysis between All India Seasonal Monsoon Rainfall (AISMR)and energetics of the waves indicates that e ffective kinetic energy of waves 1,3 and 4 around 37 .5 ◦NinFebruary has signi ficant correlation (99.9%)with the subsequent AISMR.A simple linear regression equation between the e ffective kinetic energy of these three waves and AISMR is developed.Out of 47 years ’ (1958 –2004)data,32 years (1958 –1989)are utilized for developing the regression model and the remaining 15 years (1990 –2004)are considered for its veri fication.Predicted AISMR is in close agreement with observed AISMR.The regression equation based on the dynamics of the planetary waves is thus useful for Long Range Forecasting (LRF)of AISMR.Apart from the regression equation,the study provides qualitative predictors.The scatter diagram between AISMR and effective kinetic energy of waves 1,3 and 4 around 37 .5 ◦N indicates that if the kinetic energy is more (less)than 5 m 2 s −2 ,the subsequent monsoon will be good (weak).Stream function fields indicate that high latitude trough axis along 40 ◦E(70 ◦E)leads to a good (weak)monsoon over India.