Period of delta Ceti

A period analysis of Ceti has been carried out and it has been found that the period of Ceti is increasing at a rate of 0.86 s per century. It is concluded that in its post-Main-Sequence evolution Ceti is in the early shell hydrogen-burning phase.     

Geological and geochemical examination of arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Holocene Terai Basin, Nepal

Geological and geochemical study has been carried out to investigate arsenic contamination in groundwater in Nawalparasi, the western Terai district of Nepal. The work carried out includes analyses of core sediments, provenance study by rare earth elements analyses, ¹⁴C dating, and water analyses. Results showed that distribution of the major and trace elements are not homogeneous in different grain size sediments. Geochemical characteristics and sediment assemblages of the arsenic contaminated (Nawalparasi) and uncontaminated (Bhairahawa) area have been compared. Geochemical compositions of sediments from both the areas are similar; however, water chemistry and sedimentary facies vary significantly. Extraction test of sediment samples showed significant leaching of arsenic and iron. Chemical reduction and contribution from organic matter could be a plausible explanation for the arsenic release in groundwater from the Terai sediments.     

Socio-economic and environmental implications of the hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

This paper deals with detailed analysis of the fiasco created by the Tehri High Dam in Uttarakhand, India, particularly in terms of resettlement and rehabilitation of the local inhabitants. Aspects pertaining to the environmental issues are also discussed. Currently, the river valleys in Uttarakhand state of India are the targets of increasing hydroelectric projects. Virtually all rivers are being exploited for generating environmental friendly power. Having being learned the hard lesson from Tehri Dam, it has been decided to opt for such schemes in which comparatively little submergence and tempering with the fragile eco-systems is involved.However, our observations suggest that even in such schemes if due care is not taken they may turn out to be a failure.     

An improved lunar moment of inertia determination: a proposed strategy

The current error of 0.0025 on the lunar homogeneity parameterI/MR ² is dominated by the uncertainties in theC ₂₀ andC ₂₂ gravity harmonics. This error level is equivalent to a 4.20 gm cm^–3 density uncertainty for a lunar interior model having a core 300 km in radius. Covariance analyses are performed using Doppler data from the relay satellite of the proposed Lunar Polar Orbiter mission to determine an optimum reduction strategy which obtains an order of magnitude improvement in the gravity estimates. Error studies show the long-arc reduction method obtains results which are an order of magnitude more accurate than the short-arc technique. The nominal 4000 km circular orbit of the relay satellite is very sensitive to the unmodeled effects of gravity harmonics of degree 5 through 9. Results from this orbital geometry indicate that it may not be possible to achieve the desired order of magnitude accuracy improvement. A modified orbit having the identical orbital conditions as the nominal one, but with a larger semi-major axis of 7000 km is studied. Results show the desired order of magnitude improvement can be achieved when a complete fourth degree and order model and some fifth and sixth degree terms are estimated while considering the unmodeled effects of the remaining harmonics through degree and order eight. Studies also show a 50% additional improvement inC ₂₂ can be achieved if differential differenced Doppler is also processed with the direct Doppler. The improved uncertainty inI/MR ² reduces the core density error from 4.20 gm cm^–3 to 0.1 gm cm^–3 for the case of a lunar density model having a 300 km core radius.Contribution #2885 of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, U.S.A.     

提孜那甫河流域地表太阳辐射估算及其影响因素分析

地表太阳辐射是地球表层主要能量来源,对地表能量平衡、能量交换以及生态水文过程等具有决定性意义。山区地形复杂,其地表太阳辐射时空差异较大且较难估算。采用适用于山区的地表太阳辐射模型对西北昆仑山提孜那甫河流域地表太阳辐射时空分布进行了估算,分析了该流域季节太阳辐射空间分布规律并探讨了地形和云2个重要因素对太阳辐射空间分布的影响。结果表明:（1） 地形因子中周围地形阻挡即地形开阔度（Sky view factor,SVF）与年总太阳辐射的关系最为显著,太阳辐射随SVF增加而增加。（2） 年总太阳辐射随着高程增加首先减少,再而随之增加。探究SVF随高程的变化,发现其与太阳辐射随高程的变化趋势较为一致,因此在山区复杂地形下地表太阳辐射估算中仅利用高程对其校正存在明显不足,需综合考虑地形效应。（3） 研究计算了季节云出现频率空间分布与太阳辐射空间分布的相关系数,结果表明夏季太阳辐射受云影响较其他季节显著。定量分析了地形因子以及云对地表太阳辐射空间分布影响的贡献率,周围地形阻挡SVF对地表太阳辐射空间分布的影响最大,高程和云次之。因此综合考虑地形和云对太阳辐射的影响在山区太阳辐射模拟中是非常必要的,研究可为山区地表太阳辐射模拟提供理论依据,并为山区生态水文过程研究提供方法支撑。     

Seasonal variation of pteropods from the Western Arabian Sea sediment trap

Sediment trap samples collected from the Western Arabian Sea yielded a rich assemblage of intact and non-living (opaque white) pteropod tests from a water depth of 919 m during January to September 1993. Nine species of pteropods were recorded, all (except one) displaying distinct seasonality in abundance, suggesting their response to changing hydrographical conditions influenced by the summer/winter monsoon cycle. Pteropod fluxes increased during the April–May peak of the intermonsoon, and reached maximum levels in the late phase of the southwest summer monsoon, probably due to the shallowing of the mixed layer depth. This shallowing, coupled with enhanced nutrient availability, provides ideal conditions for pteropod growth, also reflected in corresponding fluctuations in the flux of the foraminifer Globigerina bulloides. Pteropod/planktic foraminifer ratios displayed marked seasonal variations, the values increasing during the warmer months of April and May when planktic foraminiferal fluxes declined. The variation in fluxes of calcium carbonate, organic carbon and biogenic opal show positive correlations with fluxes of pteropods and planktic foraminifers. Calcium carbonate was the main contributor to the total particulate flux, especially during the SW monsoon. In the study area, pteropod flux variations are similar to the other flux patterns, indicating that they, too could be used as a potential tool for palaeoclimatic reconstruction of the recent past.     

Stellar contents of two young open clusters: NGC 663 and 654

UBVRI CCD photometry in a wide field around two young open clusters, NGC 663 and 654, has been carried out. Hα and polarimetric observations for the cluster NGC 654 have also been obtained. We use the photometric data to construct colour–colour and colour–magnitude diagrams, from which we can investigate the reddening, age, mass and evolutionary states of the stellar contents of the these clusters. The reddening across the cluster regions is found to be variable. There is evidence for anomalous reddening law in both clusters; however, more infrared and polarimetric data are needed to conclude about the reddening law. Both clusters are situated at about a distance of 2.4 kpc. Star formation in both clusters is found to be a continuous process. In the case of NGC 663, star formation seems to have taken place sequentially, in the sense that formation of low-mass stars precedes the formation of most massive stars. Whereas, in the case of NGC 654, formation of low-mass stars did not cease after the formation of most massive stars in the cluster.     

Low resolution spectroscopy of selected Algol systems

The analysis of spectroscopic data for 30 Algol-type binaries is presented. All these systems are short period Algols having primaries with spectral types B and A. Dominant spectral lines were identified for the spectra collected and their equivalent widths were calculated. All the spectra were examined to understand presence of mass transfer, a disk or circumstellar matter and chromospheric emission. We also present first spectroscopic and period study for few Algols and conclude that high resolution spectra within and outside the primary minimum are needed for better understanding of these Algol type close binaries.     

Correction to: Projection of Iron Ore Production

Natural Resources Research - The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in Equation 3.