• Volume 119, Issue 6

December 2010,   pages  753-905

• Chemistry of snow and lake water in Antarctic region

Surface snow and lake water samples were collected at different locations around Indian station at Antarctica, Maitri, during December 2004-March 2005 and December 2006-March 2007.Samples were analyzed for major chemical ions. It is found that average pH value of snow is 6.1. Average pH value of lake water with low chemical content is 6.2 and of lake water with high chemical content is 6.5.The Na+ and Cl are the most abundantly occurring ions at Antarctica. Considerable amount of SO$^{2-}_{4}$ is also found in the surface snow and the lake water which is attributed to the oxidation of DMS produced by marine phytoplankton.Neutralization of acidic components of snow is mainly done by NH$^{+}_{4}$ and Mg2+. The Mg2+, Ca2+ and K+ are nearly equally effective in neutralizing the acidic components in lake water.The NH$^{+}_{4}$ and SO$^{2-}_{4}$ occur over the Antarctica region mostly in the form of (NH4)2SO4.

• Estimation of infiltration rate, run-off and sediment yield under simulated rainfall experiments in upper Pravara Basin, India: Effect of slope angle and grass-cover

The main objective of this study is to measure the effect of slope and grass-cover on in ﬁltration rate, run-off and sediment yield under simulated rainfall conditions in a badland area located in the upper Pravara Basin in western India. An automatic rainfall simulator was designed following Dunne et al (1980) and considering the local conditions. Experiments were conducted on six selected experimental ﬁelds of 2 × 2 m within the catchment with distinct variations in surface characteristics –grass-covered area with gentle slope, recently ploughed gently sloping area, area covered by crop residue (moderate slope), bare badland with steep slope, gravelly surface with near ﬂat slope and steep slope with grass-cover. The results indicate subtle to noteworthy variations amongst the plots depending on their slope angle and surface characteristics. An important ﬁnding that emerges from the study is that the grass-cover is the most effective measure in inducing inﬁltration and in turn minimizing run-off and sediment yield. Sediment yields are lowest in gently sloping grass-covered surfaces and highest in bare badland surfaces with steep slopes. These ﬁndings have enormous implication for this area, because over 2/3 area is characterized by bare and steep slopes.

• Verification of cloud cover forecast with INSAT observation over western India

Since the beginning of the summer monsoon 2009, experimental mesoscale weather forecasts in real time are being generated using WRF model by the Meteorology and Oceanography Group at the Space Applications Centre (ISRO)and are disseminated through MOSDAC (www.mosdac.gov.in) to various users. To begin with, the 12 h, 24 h and 48 h forecasts for the western India region are made available. A study is undertaken to comprehensively assess the cloudiness prediction performance of WRF model. The evaluations have been made over the three months period during monsoon 2009. INSAT cloud imagery data has been used as a reference for these evaluations. The veriﬁcation strategy includes computation of various skill scores. It is seen that probability of detection (POD)of cloud is 84% and the false alarm rate (FAR) is around 18%. It is hoped that this assessment will provide information on the use of these forecasts in various applications.

• Investigating origin of the inadequate medium range predictability of the lower tropospheric ultra-long waves in tropics

The predictability of planetary or ultra-long scale waves is limited by the large growth of errors in these scales in almost all the medium range forecast models. Understanding the cause for the enormous build up of error is, therefore, a necessary task for improving the prediction of planetary waves. A diagnostic analysis of the systematic error energetics has been performed in the Global Forecast System model to investigate the reasons for poor predictability of the lower tropospheric ultra-long waves (wavenumber bands 1 –4)in tropics using the analysis –forecast system of horizon- tal wind ﬁeld at 850 hPa level during the boreal summer period. For this purpose, systematic error energy is computed in spatial as well as in wavenumber domain. Non-linear inter-scale transfer of error has been formulated and evaluated through energy exchanges among participating triads. The study reveals that the error is generated in the prognostic model initially with a small magnitude at the different locations around tropical convergence zone (TCZ) attributed to the inaccuracy in representing different physical processes like cumulus convection applied in the model. At subsequent evolution of forecasts, error increases and spreads along the TCZ due to its non-linear advection to the higher scales and eventually to the ultra-long scales attributed to the inherent dynamics of the model evaluated through the process of wave –wave exchange of error energy in terms of the triad interactions. The continuous generation and then, non-linear propagation of error up to the planetary scales in the course of prediction increase the uncertainty in ultra-long scales which actually inhibit to predict accurately the planetary scale waves in tropics during medium range forecasts. This work suggests caveats to the modeler’s community in the predictability study of tropical ultra-long waves.

• Seaward dipping reflectors along the SW continental margin of India: Evidence for volcanic passive margin

Multi-channel seismic reﬂection proﬁles across the southwest continental margin of India (SWCMI) show presence of westerly dipping seismic reﬂectors beneath sedimentary strata along the western ﬂank of the Laccadive Ridge –northernmost part of the Chagos –Laccadive Ridge system. Velocity structure, seismic character, 2D gravity model and geographic locations of the dipping reﬂectors suggest that these reﬂectors are volcanic in origin, which are interpreted as Seaward Dipping Reﬂectors (SDRs).

The SDRs; 15 to 27 km wide overlain by ∼1 km thick sediment; are observed at three locations and characterized by stack of laterally continuous, divergent and off-lapping reﬂectors. Occurrence of SDRs along western ﬂank of the Laccadive Ridge adjacent to oceanic crust of the Arabian Basin and 2D crustal model deduced from free-air gravity anomaly suggest that they are genetically related to incipient volcanism during separation of Madagascar from India.

We suggest that (i)SWCMI is a volcanic passive margin developed during India –Madagascar breakup in the Late Cretaceous, and (ii)continent –ocean transition lies at western margin of the Laccadive Ridge, west of feather edge of the SDRs. Occurrence of SDRs on western ﬂank of the Laccadive Ridge and inferred zone of transition from continent to ocean further suggest continental nature of crust of the Laccadive Ridge.

• Mafic dykes at the southwestern margin of Eastern Ghats belt: Evidence of rifting and collision

The southwestern margin of the Eastern Ghats Belt characteristically exposes ma ﬁc dykes intruding massif-type charnockites. Dykes of olivine basalt of alkaline composition have characteristic trace element signatures comparable with Ocean Island Basalt (OIB). Most importantly strong positive Nb anomaly and low values of Zr/Nb ratio are consistent with OIB source of the maﬁc dykes. K –Ar isotopic data indicate two cooling ages at 740 and 530 Ma. The Pan-African thermal event could be related to reactivation of major shear zones and represented by leuco-granite vein along minor shear bands. And 740 Ma cooling age may indicate the low grade metamorphic imprints, noted in some of the dykes. Although no intrusion age could be determined from the present dataset, it could be constrained by some age data of the host charnockite gneiss and Alkaline rocks of the adjacent Prakasam Province. Assuming an intrusion age of ∼1 .3 Ga, Sr –Nd isotopic composition of the dykes indicate that they preserved time-integrated LREE enrichment. In view of the chemical signatures of OIB source, the ma ﬁc dykes could as well be related to continental rifting, around 1.3 Ga, which may have been initiated by intra-plate volcanism.

• Modal analysis and geochemistry of two sandstones of the Bhander Group (Late Neoproterozoic) in parts of the Central Indian Vindhyan basin and their bearing on the provenance and tectonics

The Neoproterozoic Bhander Group in the Son Valley, central India conformably overlying the Rewa Group, is the uppermost subdivision of the Vindhyan Supergroup dominantly composed of arenites, carbonates and shales. In Maihar –Nagod area, a thick pile of unmetamorphosed clastic sedimentary rocks of Bhander Group is exposed, which provides a unique opportunity to study Neoproterozoic basin development through provenance and tectonic interpretations. The provenance discrimination and tectonic setting interpretations are based on modal analysis and whole rock geochemistry. The average framework composition of the detrital sediments composed of quartz and sedimentary lithic fragments are classiﬁed as quartz arenite to sublitharenite. The sandstone geochemically re ﬂects high SiO2 moderate Al2O3 and low CaO and Na2O type arenite. The high concentration of HFSE such as Zr, Hf , and Th/Sc, Th/U ratios in these sandstones indicate a mixed provenance. The chondrite normalized REE pattern shows moderate to strong negative Eu anomaly which suggests that major part of the sediments were derived from the granitic source area. The sandstone tectonic discrimination diagrams and various geochemical plots suggest that the provenance of the lower and upper Bhander sandstone formations was continental interior to recycled orogen.

• Field evidences of secondary surface ruptures occurred during the 20 February 1956 Eskişehir earthquake in the NW Anatolia

Surface rupture and source fault of the 20 February 1956 Eskişehir earthquake have been a matter of debate that potentially contributes towards the understanding of the active deformation and seismic risk in the highly populated NW Anatolia. Field observations on the two fault segments (namely Kavacık and Uludere faults) in the north of the Eskişehir graben revealed evidences of co-seismic surface rupture and mass movements during the Eskişehir earthquake. Surface rupture was observed as a 2.5 m wide, a 100 m long and ca.20 cm deep asymmetric depression in the Gümüşlü valley, 2 km east of the Uludere village. A trench dug on this depression con ﬁrms a prominent high-angle south dipping fault (dominantly left lateral strike slip) and two faint north-dipping antithetics as clear noticeable shear zones in organic-rich thick soil. Mass failures are particularly observed in spring depressions ﬁlled with loose torrent and carbonaceous material in front of the fault scarp. Some rock slides of several tens of meters in size that obviously require signiﬁcantly high ground shaking were also developed on steep fault scarps. The orientation of the principal stress tensor as deduced from the surface rupture of the Eskişehir earthquake displays clear inconsistency with the geometry of prominent faults in the area. We concluded that this disagreement may be explained by a curved surface rupture. The western and eastern tips of this rupture are EW trending and the probable NW-running part in the middle would correspond to the bounding zone between two right-stepping faults.

• Relationship between chemical composition and magnetic susceptibility in the alkaline volcanics from the Isparta area, SW Turkey

Potassium-rich volcanic rocks in the Isparta area (SW Turkey)consist mainly of older (Pliocene) volcanic rock suites (e.g., lamprophyre, basaltic trachyandesite, trachyandesite, trachyte) and younger (Quaternary) caldera forming lava dome/ﬂows (e.g., tephriphonolite, trachyte) and pyroclastics (ash/pumice fall deposits and ignimbritic ﬂows). The magnetic susceptibility (𝐾) was performed for both groups. The magnetic susceptibility value of the less evolved rocks characterized by SiO2 &gt; 57 wt%(e.g., basaltic trachyandesite, tephriphonolite, lamprophyric rocks) and having mostly maﬁc phenocrysts such as pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite-phlogopite is over 10 ($10^{−3}$ [SI]). Fine to medium-grained and subhedral to anhedral opaque minerals are scattered especially in the matrix phase of the less evolved volcanic rocks. However, the 𝐾 value of the more evolved rocks (e.g., trachyte and trachyandesites) with SiO2 over 57 wt%vary between 0.1 and 28, but most of them below 10.SI values are negatively correlated with SiO2, Na2O, but positively correlated with Fe2O3, CaO, MnO, P2O5 and MgO contents, suggesting inverse variation of SI with fractionation of potassic magma. That is to say that less evolved volcanic rocks have relatively higher magnetic susceptibility values in the volcanic suite.Fine to medium-grained and subhedral to anhedral Fe-Ti oxides are scattered mainly in the matrix phase of the less evolved volcanics, presumably cause the pronounced relatively higher magnetic susceptibility.

• An overview on geochemistry of Proterozoic massif-type anorthosites and associated rocks

A critical study of 311 published WR chemical analyses,isotopic and mineral chemistry of anorthosites and associated rocks from eight Proterozoic massif anorthosite complexes of India, North America and Norway indicates marked similarities in mineralogy and chemistry among similar rock types.The anorthosite and maﬁc-leucomaﬁc rocks (e.g.,leuconorite,leucogabbro, leucotroctolite,anorthositic gabbro,gabbroic anorthosite,etc.)constituting the major part of the massifs are characterized by higher Na2O + K2O, Al2O3, SiO2 Mg#and Sr contents,low in plagioclase incompatible elements and REE with positive Eu anomalies. Their 𝛿18O %0 (5.7 –7.5), initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7034–0.7066)and 𝜀Nd values (+1.14 to +5.5)suggest a depleted mantle origin. The Fe-rich dioritic rocks occurring at the margin of massifs have isotopic, chemical and mineral composition more close to anorthosite –maﬁc-leucomaﬁc rocks. However, there is a gradual decrease in plagioclase content, An content of plagioclase and XMg of orthopyroxene, and an increase in maﬁc silicates, oxide minerals content, plagioclase incompatible elements and REE from anorthosite – maﬁc-leucomaﬁc rocks to Fe-rich dioritic rocks. The Fe-rich dioritic rocks are interpreted as residual melt from mantle derived high-Al gabbro melt, which produced the anorthosite and maﬁc-leucomaﬁc rocks. Mineralogically and chemically, the K-rich felsic rocks are distinct from anorthosite –maﬁc-leucomaﬁc-Fe-rich dioritic suite. They have higher 𝛿18O values (6.8 –10.8%) and initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7067-0.7104). By contrast, the K-rich felsic suites are products of melting of crustal precursors.

• Subject Index

• Author Index

• Acknowledgements

• # Journal of Earth System Science

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