A reconnaissance of the Recent sediments of the Ranns of Kutch, India

The Ranns of Kutch are flat salt-covered desert areas (sabkhas) which are just above the normal tidal range and may be regarded as supratidal flats. They are flooded annually by the storm tides of the Southwest Monsoon. As the waters recede and evaporate they leave behind a crust of halite, and gypsum crystals grow within the clays and sands. The increase in salinity of the interstitial waters as they are traced inland is reflected in the higher boron content of the clays. The Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio of these waters increases from 3 on the coast, to 240 in the evaporite environment of the shoreline of Pachham Island. Much of the sediment of the Ranns was probably once derived from the Indus and Nara rivers which used to flow into the western end of the Great Rann. Clay is now probably carried in by the monsoon storm tides after being transported along shore from the Indus, and also from the rivers of Kutch and Kathiawar. Coarser siliciclastic sediment is carried into the eastern inland portion of the area by the Luni and other intermittently flowing rivers and streams. Some sand and silt is blown into the Ranns from the surrounding hilly areas. Foraminifera are found concentrated in the sandier fractions of the sediments, having been transported there primarily by tidal currents and also by the wind. One species of Ammonia is almost the only fauna found in the sediments of the very saline environment around Pachham Island.     

兰州市降水同位素变化特征及影响因素

利用2018年4月至2021年4月在兰州市4个站点收集到的349个降水事件样品,对兰州市降水同位素的变化特征和影响因素进行了研究。结果表明：兰州市降水同位素表现出夏季高冬季低的季节变化特征,并且夏半年降水同位素的空间变异性比冬半年显著。兰州市的大气降水线为δ²H=7.34δ¹⁸O+7.28（R²=0.96,P<0.01）,反映了兰州较为干旱的气候特点。在影响因素方面,兰州市降水同位素表现出温度效应。后向轨迹表明,兰州市夏半年降水受到季风水汽和西风带水汽的影响,冬半年降水主要来自于西风带水汽的输送;利用潜在源贡献因子（PSCF）分析法和浓度权重轨迹（CWT）分析法发现,潜在蒸发源区在夏半年主要分布在兰州东部区域,而冬半年几乎不存在潜在蒸发源区。此外,在夏半年,降水事件前几天的对流活动会对降水同位素产生综合影响,累积时间与对流活动的强度及频率有关,在季风初期和末期累积时间较长,季风强盛期较短;在冬半年,降水事件前几天的温度会对降水同位素产生综合影响,累积时间受到冷空气南下频率的影响。以上认识将为季风边缘区水循环过程的研究提供新的视角。     

Damage due to the Mw 7.7 Kutch, India earthquake of 2001

This paper presents a study of the damage due to the M_w 7.6–7.7 intraplate Kutch earthquake of 26 January 2001. It was a powerful earthquake with a high stress drop of about 20 MPa. Aftershocks (up to M 4) have continued for 2.5 years. The distribution of early aftershocks indicates a rupture plane of 20–25 km radius at depths of 10–45 km along an E–W-trending and south-dipping hidden fault situated approximately 25 km north of the Kutch Mainland Fault. The moment tensor solution determined from regional broadband data indicates reverse motion along a south-dipping (by 47°) fault. The earthquake is the largest event in India in the last 50 years and the most destructive in the recorded history in terms of socioeconomic losses with 13,819 deaths (including 14 in Pakistan), collapse/severe damage of over a million houses and US$10 billion economic loss. Surface faulting was not observed. However, intense land deformations have been observed in a 40×20-km meizoseismal area. These include lateral spreading, ground uplifts (about a meter), ground slumping and deep cracks. Liquefaction with ejection of sand and copious water was widespread in the Banni grassland, Rann areas (salt plains), along rivers and also in the coastal areas up to 200 km distance from the epicenter in areas of intensity VII to X+. Stray incidences of liquefaction have occurred up to distances of at least 300 km. For the first time in India, multistory buildings have been destroyed/damaged by an earthquake. The maximum acceleration is inferred to be 700 cm/s² and intensities are 1–3 units higher in soil-covered areas than expected from the decay rate of acceleration for hard rock.     

Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh,Gujarat, India,using remote sensing and geophysical techniques

The Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) in Gujarat, India, is the largest salt desert in the world, which is usually filled with seawater ingression during high tide from the Arabian Sea. As a result, the soil gets saturated with saline water that has percolated down for several meters. Groundwater exploration in Rann area is a challenging task due to the prevailing hostile environment. For this purpose, multisensor satellite data have been used to delineate the palaeochannels in search of an alternate source of drinking water. In GRK, palaeochannels represent the zone of elevated fluvial sediments with respect to the surroundings. Evolutionary history of the palaeochannels indicates upliftment of GRK area during Allah Bund faulting. For assessing the groundwater potential of the palaeochannels, high-resolution electrical resistivity tomography (HERT) surveys have been carried out with the pole-dipole method. Electrical resistivity tomograms along 710 m traverses to a depth of 250 m in Dharmsala and Gainda area show higher-resistivity zones (medium to coarse sand with brackish water) below a thick low-resistivity layer (clay with saline water). A few exploratory drillings in the area confirm the existence of the palaeochannels, which act as a confined aquifer below 100 m depth. The artesian condition of the two drilled wells at Gainda and Khardoi along the northern boundary of GRK may be attributed to hydraulic gradient along the confined layers from the Tharparkar region in Pakistan. Thus, HERT is found to be a faster and more cost-effective geophysical survey technique for study of the deep aquifer.

     

Geotechnical aspects and ground response studies in Bhuj earthquake, India

The extent of damage and affected areas in Bhuj earthquake (26th January 2001) has provided a unique opportunity to evaluate a wide range of geotechnical issues. A large area in the Rann of Kutch experienced massive liquefaction resulting in ground subsidence and lateral flow. A large number of dams in the Kutch district suffered moderate to severe damages. Many buildings were damaged and collapsed in the city of Ahmedabad situated on the bank of the Sabarmati River. In this paper, the ground response studies at a site in Ahmedabad City along with observations of geotechnical aspects such as ground cracking, sand volcanoes and liquefaction of soils associated with the Bhuj earthquake are discussed. The ground response studies indicate that the varying degree of damage to multistorey buildings in Ahmedabad in the close proximity of Sabarmati river area was essentially due to the collapse and undesirable settlement of partly saturated silty sand deposits. Large settlements are attributed to amplification of the ground and the near resonance condition. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

珠峰北坡地区近地层大气湍流与地气能量交换特征

利用珠峰北坡曲宗地区连续一年的大气观测资料（2005年4月至2006年3月）,分析了珠峰北坡地区近地层大气湍流宏观统计特征和西南季风爆发前后地气能量交换特征。研究表明在珠峰北坡地区Monin Obukhov相似定律同样适用。拟合得到了珠峰北坡曲宗地区近地层无因次风速分量方差以及温度和湿度归一化标准差和静力学稳定度的函数关系。研究得出曲宗地区能量平衡各分量（净辐射通量、感热通量、潜热通量和土壤热通量）以及地面加热场具有明显的季节变化和日变化规律。尤其是在西南季风的影响下,曲宗地区感热通量和潜热通量在季风爆发前后具有明显相反的变化趋势。其它特征参数（波文比和地表反射率）在西南季风爆发前后的变化规律也十分明显。     

Inter-annual variability of summer monsoon rainfall over Orissa (India) in relation to cyclonic disturbances

The summer monsoon rainfall over Orissa, a state on the eastern coast of India, is more significantly related than Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) to the cyclonic disturbances developing over the Bay of Bengal. Orissa experiences floods and droughts very often due to variation in the characteristics of these disturbances. Hence, an attempt was made to find out the inter-annual variability in the rainfall over Orissa and the frequencies of different categories of cyclonic disturbances affecting Orissa during monsoon season (June–September). For this purpose, different statistical characteristics, such as mean, coefficient of variation, trends and periodicities in the rainfall and the frequencies of different categories of cyclonic disturbances affecting Orissa, were analysed from 100 years (1901–2000) of data. The basic objective of the study was to find out the contribution of inter-annual variability in the frequency of cyclonic disturbances to the inter-annual variability of monsoon rainfall over Orissa. The relationship between summer monsoon rainfall over Orissa and the frequency of cyclonic disturbances affecting Orissa shows temporal variation. The correlation between them has significantly decreased since the 1950s. The variation in their relationship is mainly due to the variation in the frequency of cyclonic disturbances affecting Orissa. The variability of both rainfall and total cyclonic disturbances has been above normal since the 1960s, leading to more floods and droughts over Orissa during recent years. The inter-annual variability of seasonal rainfall over Orissa and the frequency of cyclonic disturbances affecting Orissa during monsoon season show a quasi-biennial oscillation period of 2–2.8 years. There is least impact of El Nino southern oscillation (ENSO) on inter-annual variability of both the seasonal rainfall over Orissa and the frequencies of monsoon depressions/total cyclonic disturbances affecting Orissa.     

Influence of Geo-environmental and Chemical Factors on Thermotolerant Coliforms and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E.coli</Emphasis> in the Groundwater of Central Kerala

Geo-environmental studies in parts of Ernakulam district (Kerala, India) were carried out. The study area comprises of sedimentary (Limestone, sandstone, Clay and Lignite) and crystalline (Charnockite and gneisses) rocks. The sedimentary terrain is characterized by confined and unconfined aquifers. In hard crystalline formations groundwater occurs under phreatic conditions in the shallow weathered portions and under semi confined to confined conditions in the deep-seated fractures. The study area is demarcated into five areas based on soil types. Climate is hot humid to hot summer with heavily raining monsoon. Two major rivers Periyar and Muvattupuzha drain through the area. Agricultural and industrial activities are prevalent in Ernakulam district. The major cause of pollution in the study area is due to the presence of coliforms. Detailed investigations carried out to identify the coliforms indicated spatial and seasonal changes in the distribution pattern. Monsoon and post monsoon showed significantly high total coliforms compared to pre-monsoon. Thermo-tolerant coliforms is high during monsoon season. This seasonal change could be due to the effect of rainfall, overland flow, nutrient load and temperature change. Wide variations in the coliform counts are observed in wells situated near rivers, canals, paddy fields and in water bodies lying close to pilgrimage center, fertilizer industry, and public places. It is noticed that the chemical characteristics of the groundwater influence the coliform survival. pH, nitrite, bicarbonate, hardness, and alkalinity play a significant role in controlling coliform count. At the outset, the study highlighted the impact of anthropogenic activities on ground water in a coastal district of Kerala state.     

山东青岛和日照滨岸潮间带现代生物遗迹组成与分布特征*

在山东青岛和日照滨岸潮间带可见到现代生物营造的各种遗迹。通过分析这些生物遗迹与其沉积背景的关系,取得以下成果: (1)研究区生物遗迹中,层面遗迹以腹足类动物的拖迹为主,层内遗迹以居住迹丰度最高,且类型多样。(2)建立了2个生物遗迹组合: 一是高潮区组合,主要遗迹类型包括珠带拟蟹守螺拖迹、沙蚕的拖迹、摄食迹和居住迹、四角蛤的居住迹、弹涂鱼的爬行迹和居住迹、鸭嘴海豆芽的居住迹以及螃蟹的居住迹和摄食迹;该组合产生的沉积物底层具有含泥量较高,水、氧、有机质含量均较丰富及基底较稳固等特点。二是中低潮区组合,主要由斑玉螺的拖迹和停息迹、扁玉螺的爬行迹和停息迹、寄居蟹的爬行迹、长竹蛏的居住迹、虾蛄的爬行迹和居住迹、鸭嘴海豆芽的居住迹以及螃蟹的居住迹和摄食迹组成;该组合产生的沉积物底层具有含泥量较低、粒度较粗、间隙水不易保存、有机质含量低等特点;研究区潮间带为急剧多变的海洋环境,该遗迹组合可指示温带季风气候条件下的海洋潮间带沉积环境。(3)通过分析各种造迹生物及其遗迹的组成和空间分布特征以及其与底层沉积物和沉积环境的关系,建立了研究区潮间带沉积中的生物遗迹组合及其沉积环境分布模式。     

Water surface variations monitoring and flood hazard analysis in Dongting Lake area using long-term Terra/MODIS data time series

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, and its water surface area varied very significantly during last decade. Remote sensing technology has more advantages in macro monitoring of lake water surface area than the traditional methods. In the paper, an integrated threshold method of water body extraction based on MODIS data is given, which synthesizes several factors, including vegetation index—NDVI, spectrum characters of water body, cloud and shadow, and the SRTM digital elevation information. With this method and 356 scenes MODIS 8-Day composite (MOD09Q1) image, water surface area of Dongting Lake was dynamically monitored from 2000 to 2009. The result shows that during 1 year, the water area variation in Dongting Lake area had a typical seasonal (monsoon) behavior, and during last decade, the water area decreased gradually and obviously. Based on variation monitoring, yearly max-submersion time index has been suggested to analyze flood hazard in study area. With the support of ArcGIS software, authors estimated the yearly submersion time of the Dongting Lake for each year separately and average submersion time from 2000 to 2009. The result shows 67.46% of study area is being with high flood hazard.     

Did the Harappan settlement of Dholavira (India) collapse during the onset of Meghalayan stage drought?

Radiocarbon dating of archaeological carbonates from seven cultural stages of Dholavira, Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK), the largest excavated Harappan settlement in India, suggests the beginning of occupation at ~5500 years BP (pre-Harappan), and continuation until ~3800 years BP (early part of the Late Harappan period). The settlement rapidly expanded under favourable monsoonal climate conditions when architectural elements such as the Citadel, Bailey, Lower and Middle Town were added between the Early and mid-Mature Harappan periods. Abundant local mangroves grew around the GRK sustaining prolific populations of the edible gastropod Terebralia palustris. Oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) sclerochronology of Early Harappan gastropod shell suggests seasonal mixing of some depleted (δ¹⁸O ~ −12‰) river water in summer/monsoon months (through ancient Saraswati and/or Indus distributary channels) with seawater that periodically inundated the GRK. Evaporation from this semi-enclosed water body during the non-monsoon months enriched the δ¹⁸O of water/shell carbonates. The humid fluvial landscape possibly changed due to a catastrophic drought driving the final collapse of the settlement of Dholavira exactly at the onset of the Meghalayan (Late Holocene) stage (~4300–4100 years BP ). Indeed, Dholavira presents a classic case for understanding how climate change can increase future drought risk as predicted by the IPCC working group. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the measurement of the surface energy budget over a land surface during the summer monsoon

The measurement of surface energy balance over a land surface in an open area in Bangalore is reported. Measurements of all variables needed to calculate the surface energy balance on time scales longer than a week are made. Components of radiative fluxes are measured while sensible and latent heat fluxes are based on the bulk method using measurements made at two levels on a micrometeorological tower of 10m height. The bulk flux formulation is verified by comparing its fluxes with direct fluxes using sonic anemometer data sampled at 10Hz. Soil temperature is measured at 4 depths. Data have been continuously collected for over 6 months covering pre-monsoon and monsoon periods during the year 2006. The study first addresses the issue of getting the fluxes accurately. It is shown that water vapour measurements are the most crucial. A bias of 0.25% in relative humidity, which is well above the normal accuracy assumed by the manufacturers but achievable in the field using a combination of laboratory calibration and field intercomparisons, results in about 20W m⁻² change in the latent heat flux on the seasonal time scale. When seen on the seasonal time scale, the net longwave radiation is the largest energy loss term at the experimental site. The seasonal variation in the energy sink term is small compared to that in the energy source term.     

甘孜地区雅拉河段地热系统特征及控制因素

综合应用区域地质、地震、地球化学等资料,对甘孜地区雅拉河段地热系统及其主控因素进行研究。分析认为,甘孜地区地热属于典型的对流型地热系统,雅拉河断裂破碎带及板岩中发育的大量裂隙共同构成了研究区的热储体,这些热储体沿雅拉河断裂带不均匀分布。研究区充沛的大气降水以及季节性的冰雪融水为地热系统提供充足的水源。雅拉河断裂与色拉哈断裂之间大范围相对平坦的区域以及大量储水洼地为地热系统中的水源提供存储空间。该地区地表裂隙发育,利于地表水向下渗透,是地下水的主要补给通道。色拉哈断裂的强烈活动为浅层地下水在重力作用下进一步向深层运移提供重要流体通道。雅拉河断裂带的地势相对低,断裂破碎带是深层流体上涌的重要通道。在流体供给区与出露区的重力势能差以及两条走滑断裂带压力差共同作用下,流体经深部热源加热后在流体通道内形成持续的热流体循环系统。     

鲁西豫东地区奥陶纪岩相古地理特征及其演化*

鲁西豫东地区奥陶系碳酸盐岩地层是重要的石油和地下热水储集层。受限于基础地质资料,前人对鲁西豫东地区奥陶系层序划分存在争议,缺少对岩相古地理演化的精细刻画。为明确奥陶系层序地层特征与各期岩相古地理演化特征,通过对鲁西豫东地区周缘野外地质剖面考察、19口井岩心观察以及测井曲线特征分析,在层序地层格架内,对奥陶纪岩相古地理展布及其演化特征进行了研究。结果表明,根据层序界面类型和最大海泛面发育位置,研究区奥陶系可划分为SSQ1-SSQ2共2个二级层序和SQ1-SQ4共4个三级层序; 沉积相类型为海相碳酸盐岩台地,包括局限台地、开阔台地和蒸发台地3种亚相,并进一步细分为灰坪、颗粒滩、泥灰坪、灰-云坪、云坪、潟湖、含膏云坪和膏云坪8种沉积微相; 岩相古地理单元整体表现出陆表海的沉积建造特征,各期旋回性沉积为储集层叠置发育奠定了物质基础,云坪、膏云坪、含膏云坪、颗粒滩微相易于形成有利储集空间,是区域地热资源勘探开发的重点领域。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987115000390

The demand for fresh water in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka is rapidly increasing with the enormous amount of ongoing development projects in the region. Nevertheless, the district experiences periodic water stress conditions due to seasonal precipitation patterns and scarcity of surface water resources.Therefore, management of available groundwater resources is critical, to fulfil potable water requirements in the area. However, exploitation of groundwater should be carried out together with artificial recharging in order to maintain the long term sustainability of water resources. In this study, a GIS approach was used to delineate potential artificial recharge sites in Ambalantota area within Hambantota. Influential thematic layers such as rainfall, lineament, slope, drainage, land use/land cover, lithology, geomorphology and soil characteristics were integrated by using a weighted linear combination method. Results of the study reveal high to moderate groundwater recharge potential in approximately 49% of Ambalantota area.     

Effect of saline water bodies on the hydrogeochemical evaluation of groundwater at Kalpakkam coastal site, Tamil Nadu

Geochemical signatures of groundwater in Kalpakkam plant site were used to identify the geochemistry of the unconfined coastal aquifer. Ground water samples collected from 14 borewells around the study area were studied for four different seasons viz. Summer, South-west monsoon, North-east monsoon and Post-monsoon to identify the major geochemical processes activated in the study area. Data obtained through chemical analyses of groundwater samples were used for graphical plots and geochemical calculations. Piper, Chloro alkaline indices and Chadda’s diagram were determined for geochemical classification of the groundwaters. Identified geochemical processes were verified and quantified using hydrogeochemical aqueous speciation model, PHREEQC to find out the Saturation Indices (SI) of the possible minerals of the study area. It was observed that majority of the bore well samples were under saturated with respect to minerals such as Gypsum, Aragonite and oversaturated with respect to dolomite and calcite. Parameters such as ion exchange and reverse ion exchange, saline water incursion were observed due to the presence of saline water bodies in addition to dissolution of minerals.     

Stable isotope variations in a coral (Favia speciosa) from the Gulf of Kutch during 1948–1989 A.D.: Environmental implications

The stable isotopic analyses (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) of a coralFavia speciosa spanning forty two years (1948–89 A.D.), collected from the Pirotan island (22.6°N, 70°E) in the Gulf of Kutch have been carried out to assess its potential for retrieving past environmental changes in this region. It is seen that the summer (minima) δ¹⁸O variations in the coral CaCO₃ are negatively correlated with seasonal (summer) monsoon rainfall in the adjoining region of Kutch and Saurashtra and a qualitative reconstruction of historical rainfall variations in this region can be obtained by analyzing the δ¹⁸O in this species of coral. The observed mean seasonal range of δ¹⁸O variations is 0.34 ±0.17‰ (n = 42), whereas the expected range calculated (from available SST and measured δ¹⁸O of sea water) is ∼ 1.1 ±0.15‰ The difference is due to the coarse resolution of sampling, which can be corrected. The seasonal range in δ¹³C is ∼ l‰ and is explained by changes in: a) the light intensity related to the cloudiness during monsoons and b) phytoplankton productivity.     

Thermohaline structure and circulation in the upper layers of the southern Bay of Bengal during BOBMEX-Pilot (October–November 1998)

Hydrographic data collected on board ORV Sagar Kanya in the southern Bay of Bengal during the BOBMEX-Pilot programme (October–November 1998) have been used to describe the thermohaline structure and circulation in the upper 200 m water column of the study region. The presence of seasonal Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the study area, typically characterized with enhanced cloudiness and flanked by the respective east/northeast winds on its northern part and west/southwest winds on its southern part, has led to net surface heat loss of about 55 W/m². The sea surface dynamic topography relative to 500 db shows that the upper layer circulation is characterised by a cyclonic gyre encompassing the study area. The eastward flowing Indian Monsoon Current (IMC) between 5‡N and 7‡N in the south and its northward branching along 87‡E up to 13‡N appear to feed the cyclonic gyre. The Vessel-Mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (VM-ADCP) measured currents confirm the presence of the cyclonic gyre in the southern Bay of Bengal during the withdrawing phase of the southwest monsoon from the northern/central parts of the Bay of Bengal.     

Evaluation of physical and morphometric parameters for water resource management in Gad Watershed,Western Ghats,India: an integrated geoinformatics approach

The selected study area is a coastal watershed which receives high rainfall in the monsoon season. During this period, most of the water input to the watershed drains to the Arabian Sea without any adequate use due to the rugged topography of the watershed. Hence, an attempt has been made to assess the physical properties specifically morphometric parameters of the Gad watershed using geoinformatics techniques along with field evidence for understanding the relationship between fluvial landforms and hydro-physical parameters in the region. Morphometric parameters have been analyzed and integrated with physical parameters like topography, rainfall, soil, land use–land cover, geology, and geomorphology for evaluating the potential water resource availability in the Gad watershed. The results of the study have shown that there is high surface water availability in the watershed with very low water retaining capacity, mainly in the upper region of the watershed due to presence of basaltic bedrock and steep slopes. Based on this work, a water resource management plan has been suggested at a subwatershed level which established on the physical properties and morphological characteristics of the study area.     

Seasonal variation in temperature and salinity in the Gautami-Godavari estuary

Variation of temperature and salinity in the lower 22 km stretch of the Gautami-Godavari estuary are reported during four different seasons; hot-weather, south-west monsoon, post-monsoon and winter seasons. The seasonal variation in temperature is small, with a high of about 30°C during hot-weather season and a low of about 26°C during winter season. Unlike temperatures, the salinities in the estuary show large seasonal fluctuations. During south-west monsoon surface salinities were low (0 to 8‰) due to high fresh water run off into the estuary. During hot-weather season surface salinities of 25 to 30‰ were observed due to negligible fresh water run off.