ID: 58477
Title: Voluntary renewable energy certificates market potential in India
Author: Rohit Khatri and Simranjeet Singh
Editor: Mr. Mahadevan Iyer
Year: 2013
Publisher: A Chary Publication, Vol 53, No 1, January 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Electrical India
Keywords: Renewable Energy Certificates (REC),
Abstract: With increasing thrust on renewable energy in India energy mix, renewable energy market is growing at a fast pace. To develop the market, Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) mechanism was introduced in India in 2010. Since then, the RECs market has been gradually picked up with increased trading by both renewable power project developers and obligated entities, leading to formation of compliance REC markets. However, there is a very little development in terms of voluntary REC markets. With this perspective, the article aims to understand and estimate the hidden potential of voluntary REC market in India
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58476
Title: Photogrammetric techniques for the determination of spatio-temporal velocity fields at glaciar San Rafael, Chile
Author: H G Maas, G Casassa, D Schneider, E Schwalbe, and A Wendt
Editor: Russell G Congalton
Year: 2013
Publisher: ASPRS, Vol 79, No 3, March 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Keywords: monoscopic terrestrial image, intervallometer
Abstract: Glacier San Rafael in the Northern patagonia Icefield, with a length of 46 km and an ice area of 722 km2, is the lowest latitude tidewater outlet glacier in the world and one of the fastest and most productive glaciers in southern South America in terms of iceberg flux. Spatio-temporal velocity fields in the region of the glacier front were determined from monoscopic terrestrial image sequences recorded by an intervallometer mode high-resolution digital camera over several days. In these image sequences, a large number of glacier surface points were tracked by subpixel accuracy feature tracking techniques. Scaling and georeferencing of the trajectories obtained from image space tracking was performed using a multi-station GPS-supported photogrammetric network. The technique allows for tracking hundreds of glacier surface points at a measurement accuracy in the order of one decimeter, for typical glacier movement rates, and an almost arbitrarily high temporal resolution. The results show velocities of up to 16 meters per day.
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58475
Title: It used to be dark here: Geolocation calibration of the defense meteorological satellite program operational linescan system
Author: Benjamin T Tuttle, Sharolyn J Anderson, Paul C Sutton, Christopher D Elvidge and Kim Baugh
Editor: Russell G Congalton
Year: 2013
Publisher: ASPRS, Vol 79, No 3, March 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Keywords: Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), Operational Linescan System (OLS)
Abstract: Nighttime satellite imagery from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) has a unique capability to observe noctural light emissions from sources including cities, wild fires, and gas flares. Data from the DMSP OLS is used in a wide range of studies including mapping urban area, estimating informal economies, and estimations of population. Given the extensive and increasing list of applications a repeatable method for assessing geolocation accuracy would be beneficial. An array of portable lights was designed and taken to multiple field sites known to have no other light sources. The lights were operated during night time overpasses by the DMSP OLS and observed in the imagery. An assessment of the geolocation accuracy was performed by measuring the distance between the GPS measured location of the lights and the observed location in the imagery. A systematic shift was observed and the mean distance was measured at 2.9 km.
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58474
Title: Land cover dependent error in intermap IFSAR DTM: Lidar comparison and fusion potential
Author: Seamus Coveney
Editor: Russell G Congalton
Year: 2013
Publisher: ASPRS, Vol 79, No 3, March 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Keywords: Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar DTM data, GPS
Abstract: Elevation error in the Intermap X-band airborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar DTM data set is defined in a 260-hectare mixed land-cover area using external dual -frequency GPS and bare-earth lidar point-cloud validation data. Absolute elevation error is reported globally, and within land-cover classes characterized by distinctive vegetation canopy densities and depths that are considered to have the potential to affect X-band DTM elevation error in distinctive ways. Observed global and land-cover specific elevation errors are subsequently compared with an external study where land-cover dependent errors were quantified within four lidar data sets that overlapped the IFSAR DTM validation area. The results of these aboslute and comparative results are subsequently used to make recommendations regarding the potential of Intermap bare-earth IFSAR DTM data in environmental modeling applications elsewhere, and the scope for using the data in conjunction with , and as an alternative to airborne lidar data is discussed.
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58473
Title: A spatial-spectral methodology to detect narrow shadows on satellite imagery: A case study of Calgary, Canada
Author: Ying Zhang and Bert Guindon
Editor: Russell G Congalton
Year: 2013
Publisher: ASPRS, Vol 79, No 3, March 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Keywords: RapidEye imagery, shadow
Abstract: Image shadow is an important mono-scope cue in the detection and characterization of buildings from aerial and satellite imagery. Previous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of radiometric thresholding in delineating shadows cast by tall buildings on high resolution (< 1m) imagery. Thresholding is not effective when shadow width is comparable to the imaging sensor resolution since mixed shadow/illuminated pixels do not exhibit a distinct radiometric characters. A spatial-spectral shadow detection method is proposed that exploits the line-like and low radiance characteristics of shadows cast by large area commercial/industrial buildings commonly found in suburban areas of large cities. Tests conducted in shadow detection of such buildings in Calgary, Alberta using RapidEye imagery indicated that detetability rates of ~80 percent can be achieved although commission errors area significant because of the plethora of other line-like features present in industrial park settings.
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58472
Title: Hybrid object-based change detection and hierarchical image segmentation for thematic map updating
Author: D C Duro, S E Franklin, and M G Dube
Editor: Russell G Congalton
Year: 2013
Publisher: ASPRS, Vol 79, No 3, March 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Keywords: object-based change detection (OBCD), cross-correlation analysis (CCA)
Abstract: A hybrid object-based change detection (OBCD) method incorporating a hierarchical image segmentation strategy and cross-correlation analysis (CCA) is described and demonstrated. The proposed hybrdi OBCK method was used to update an existing thematic map derived from Landsat-5 and -7 imagery (circa 2000), with imagery consisting of markedly different sensor specifications (Landsat-2, circa 1976). The proposed hierarchical image segmentation strategy successfully constrained change objects within existing land cover boundaries, avoiding the production of "silver objects", an issue related to other image segmentation strategies used in OBCD. In combination with the CCA method, the hybrid OBCD method is capable of generating change thresholds for individual land-cover classes, providing a mechanism to limit the amount of spurious change detected. Two change threshold methods were tested: (a) change threshold values based on two standard deviations, and , (b) and unsupervised threshold method. No statistically significant difference was found between these threshold methods.
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58471
Title: Comparison of forest attributes derived from two terrestrial Lidar systems
Author: Mark J Ducey, Rasmus Astrup, Stefan Seifert, Hans Pretzsch, Bruce C Larson, and K David Coates
Editor: Russell G Congalton
Year: 2013
Publisher: ASPRS, Vol 79, No 3, March 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
Keywords: Terrestrial lidar (TLS)
Abstract: Terrestrial lidar (TLS) is an emerging technology for deriving forest attributes, including conventional inventory and canopy characterizations. However, little is known about the influence of scanner specifications on derived forest parameters. We compared two TLS systems at two sites in British Columbia. Common scanning benchmarks and identical algorithms were used to obtain estimates of three diameter, position, and canopy characteristics. Visualization of range images and point clouds showed clear differences, even though both scanners were relatively high-resolution instruments. These translated into quantifiable differences in impulse penetration, characterization of stems and crowns far from the scan location, and gap fraction. Differences between scanners in estimates of effective plant area index were greater than differences between sites. Both scanners provided a detailed digital model of forest structure, and gross structural characterizations (including crown dimensions and position) were relatively robust; but comparison of canopy density metrics may require consideration of scanner attributes.
Location: TE12, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58470
Title: Study of meteor characteristics over Gadanki using VHF radar observation
Author: A Guharay, K Chenna Reddy, D Chakrabarty and G Yellaiah
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Field-aligned irregularities, meteor echoes, plasma instability, radar observations
Abstract: Meteor characteristics during shower and non-shower periods in 2005-2008 have been studied using narrow bean (HPBW ~30) VHF radar at Dandanki (13.50 N, 79.20E). Various interesting echoes are illustrated and probable explanations for their behaviour are also provided. Doppler spectra of the Range Spread Trail Echo indicate a probable plasma convergence and gradient drift instability associated plasma turbulence in some cases.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58469
Title: Turnover time of Tural and Rajvadi hot spring waters, Maharashtra, India
Author: D V Reddy, P Nagabhushanam and G Ramesh
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Hot springs, radiocarbon dating, turnover time, water sampling
Abstract: Sixty hot springs are spread over 18 regions in the west coast of Maharashtra, India. The area is covered by Deccan Basalts. Periodic water sampling was done for more than 5 years from Tural and Rajvadi hot springs along with waters from other deep wells for hydrochemical and isotopic analyses to study the relation between seismicity and hydrochemistry. Residence time of hot spring waters was estimated using the 14C dating. Though the studied hot springs are located in an active seismic region, their hydrochemical, isotopic and temperature signatures did not indicate any major change during the period of the experiment. A comparison with the data collected by GSI three and a half decades ago indicates no long-term change in the hydrochemistry and temperature. Lack of long-term change in hydrochemistry reveals no major effect of seismicity on these geothermal waters. Radiocarbon dating of these two hot spring waters indicates relatively more turnover time for Tural spring (3080 +40 years BP) than the Rajvadi (1720+45 years BP). The trace element characteristics of the spring waters are close to those measured on waters of granitic terrains, thus indicating the circulation of meteoric water through the granite basement, before its discharge in the form of thermal springs in the Deccan Trap terrain.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58468
Title: How dependent is climate change projection of Idnian summer mosoon rainfall and extreme events on model resolution?
Author: K Rajendran, S Sajani, C B Jayasankar and A Kitoh
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Climate change projection, extreme events, general circulation model, ultra -high resolution
Abstract: Advances in climate modelling now provide theopportunity for utilizing global general circulation models (GCMs) at very high-resolution for projections of future climate and extreme events. Diagnostics of global atmospheric GCM simulations at different horizontal resolutions of 20, 60, 120 and 180 km reveals the marked skill of 20 km mesh GCM (MRI- AGCM3.2S) in capturing regional characteristics of climatological summer monsoon rainfall over India and its frequency distribution, and mean annual variation of rainfall over most of the homogeneous regions of India. Future projections by time-slice simulations of MRI-AGCM3.2S under global warming scenario show widespread but spatially varying increase in rainfall over interior regions of peninsular, west central, central northeast and North East India (~5-20% of seasonal mean) and significant reduction in orographic rainfall over the west coast (~10-15%, consistent with the recent observed trends). MRI-AGCM3.2S projects spatially heterogeneous increase in warm days and extreme hot events (highest decile) over India. Projected changes in extreme rainfall events (above 95 percentile) show intensification of extreme rainfall over ost parts of Inida by the end of the century with opposite change over the west coast. Ultra-high-resolution is found to be crucial not only for realistic mean summer monsoon simulation, but for achieving useful future projections of Indian monsoon and extremes. At lower resolution, the simulations fail to capture the observed characteristics of present-day monsoon rainfall and its spatial heterogeneity, and projections lack useful regional climate information. Thus, consideration of fine-scale processes are critical for reasonable probabilistic projectionof regional-scale climate change.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58467
Title: Simulation and extended range prediction of monsoon intraseasonal oscillations in NCEP CFS/GFS version 2 framework
Author: A K Sahai, S Sharmila, S Abhilash, R Chattopadhyay, N Borah, R P M Krishna, S Joseph, M Roxy, S De, S Pattnaik and P A Pillai
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Air-sea interaction, extended range prediction, monsoon intraseasonal oscillations, ocean-atmosphere coupling, sea surface termperature
Abstract: The present study investigates the role of ocean-atmosphere coupling in improving the simulation and extended range prediction skill of the monsoon intraseasonal oscillations (MISOs) using the NCEP CES (version 2) vis-a-vis its atmospheric component GFS (version 2) forced with bias-corrected sea-surface temperature (SST) derived from CFS. Though the CFS free-run analysis shows dry bias over Indian land as compared to GFS, the interactive air-sea coupling in CFS has considerably improved the simulation of large-scale dynamical fields, SST-rainfall relationship, and the northward propagation of the MISOs with respect to GFS. However, the improvement of MISO simulation in CFS over GFS has not necessarily guaranteed the improvement of real-time extended range predcition during 2011 and 2012. CFS shows better skill over GFS (forced with bias-corrected CFS derived SST) at pentad lead 4. The phases of MISOs are better predicted in GFS and the amplitude prediction skill is marginally improved in CFS. The present study also advocates the need of probabilistic category (active, normal or break) forecast at extended range.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58466
Title: Predicting the extremes of Indian summer monsoon rainfall with coupled ocean-atmosphere models
Author: Ravi S Nanjundiah, P A Francis, Mohit Ved and Sulochan Gadgil
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: ENSEMBLES project, EQUINOO-ISMR linkage, ocean-atmospheric models, rainfall, summer monsoon
Abstract: An analysis of the retrospective predictions by seven coupled ocean-atmsophere models from major forecasting centres of Europe and USA, aimed at assessing their ability in predicting the interannual variation of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR), particularly the extremes (i.e droughts and excess rainfall seasons) is presented in this article. On the whole, the skill in prediction of extremes is not bad since most of the models are able to predict the sign of the ISMR anomaly for a majority of the extremes. There is a remarkable coherence between the models in successes and failures of the predictions, with all the models generating loud false alarms for the normal monsoon season of 1997 and the excess monsoon season of 1983. It is well known that the El Nino and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation (EQUINOO) play an important role in the interannual variation of ISMR and particularly the extremes. The prediction of the phases of these modes and their link with the monsoon has also been assessed. It is found that models are able to simulate ENSO-monsoon link realistically, whereas the EQUINOO-ISMR link is simulate drealistically by only one model-the ECMWF model. Furthermore, if is found that in most models this link is opposite to the observed, with the predicted TSMR being negatively (instead of positively) correlated with the rainfall over the western equatorial Indian Ocean and positively (instead of negatively) correlated with the rainfall over the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. Analysis of the seasons for which the predictions of almost all the models have large errors has suggested the facets of ENSO and Equinoo and the links with the monsoon that need to be improved for improving monsoon predictions by these models.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58465
Title: The Indian ocean forecast system
Author: P A Francis, P N Vinayachandran and S S C Shenoi
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: General circulation model, Indian Ocean variability, Ocean forecast system, sea-surface temperature
Abstract: In order to meet the ever growing demand for the prediction of oceanographic parameters in the Indian Ocean for a variety of applications, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has recently set-up an operational ocean forecast system viz. the Indian Ocean Forecast System (INDOFOS). This fully automated system, based on a state-of-the-art ocean general circulation model issues six-hourly forecasts of the sea-surface temperature, surface currents and depths of the mixed layer and the terhmocline up to five-days of lead time. A brief account of INDOFOS and a statistical validation of the forecasts of these parameters using in situ and remote sensing data are presented in this article. The accuracy of the sea-surface temperature forecasts by the system is high in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, whereas it is moderate in the equatorial Indian Ocean. On the other hand, the accuracy of the depth of the thermocline and the isothermal layers and surface current forecasts are higher near the equatorial region, while it is relatively lower in the Bay of Bengal.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58464
Title: The most widely used fungal antagonist for plant disease management in India, Trichoderma viride is Trichoderma asperellum as confirmed by oligonucleotide barcode and morphological characters
Author: S Sriram, M J Savitha, H S Rohini and S K Jalali
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Finely warted conidia, Indian isolates, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma viride, warmer regions
Abstract: Trichoderma asperellum was described as a new species in 1999 for the isolates that produce finely warted conidia, with temperature optima of 300C and survive by producing chlamydospores, differentiating them from Trichoderma viride that produces conspicuously warted conidia, with low temperature optima (200C) and with no record of chlamydospores production. However, use of the taxonomic name T. viride is still being continued for all the isolates with warted conidia in many countries, including India. Thirty isolates identified earlier as T. viride were selected and characterized using morphological characters and their identification was confirmed by oligonucleotide barcode that employed amplification of ITS and tef1regions. All the isolates were confirmed to be T. asperellum. Analysis using sequence polymorphism - derived markers not only confirmed their identity as T. asperellum, but also showed new patterns among Indian isolates and presence of cryptic species T. asperelloides. Analysis of sequences submitted from India to GenBank as T. viride or T. asperellum using barcode also showed that they belong to T. asperellum and not to true T.viride. We confirm that the most widely used fungal antagonist in India, T. viride is actually T. asperellum or its cryptic species T. asperelloides.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58463
Title: Validation of cropSyst simulatin model for direct seeded rice-wheat cropping system
Author: A K Singh, V Goyal, A K Mishra and S S Parihar
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 104, No 10, 25 May 2013
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Biomass, CropSyst, crop simulation models, nitrogen-use efficiency, rice, wheat
Abstract: The performance and behaviour of crop models is commonly made through comparison of simulated and observed variables. The observed variables collected from field experiments conducted during 2004-05 and 2005-06 were used to study the effect of different water and nitrogen levels in direct seeded rice and wheat for rice-wheat cropping system (DSRWCS). The calibration, validation and sensitivity analysis of CropSyst model was utilized to quantify and verify the interactive effects of different water and nitrogen treatments on the productivity of direct seeded rice-wheat cropping system using the measurements from field experiments. Results showed that for direct seeded rice, the model performed well at lower levels of nitrogen(120 kg ha-1), wheras at higher levels of N treatmetn (150 kg ha-1) the predicted values underestimated the measured values. The model performed satisfactory at all levels of N in the case of wheat. Sensitivity analysis of the model for various crop parameters showed that the model is highly sensitive to the parameters like light to above biomass conversion, specific leaf area and phenological degree-days. Thus, more accuracy is required in determination of these parameters in the model. Further the root mean square error for biomass and grain yield was found to be 0.7 and 0.33 Mg ha-1, which was 9% and 13% of the observed mean respectively, in direct seeded rice, whereas for wheat crop it was 0.80 and 0.33 Mg ha-1 respectively, which in turn was 10% and 9% indicating that the CropSyst model is highly accurate in predicting the grain yield and above-ground biomass of the DSRWCS.
Location: TE15, New Biological Sciences, IISc
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None