ID: 53167
Title: What drives the increased phytoplankton biomass in the Arabian Sea?
Author: S.Prasanna Kumar, Raj P. Roshin, Jayu Narvekar, P.K.Dinesh Kumar and E.Vivekanandan
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 1, 10 July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Aerosol optical thickness, chlorophyll pigment concentration, iron fertilization, monsoon wind, nutrients, upwelling
Abstract: The seasonal variability of phytoplankton biomass in the Arabian Sea, though a well researched topic, its inter-annual variability is less explored and understood. Analysis of the satellite-drived chlorophyll pigment concentraion in the Arabian Sea during 1997-2007 showed a weak increasing trend. Contrary to the earlier hypothesis, our analysis showed that this increased phytoplankton biomass was not driven by the strengthening winds during summer monsoon. In fact, the basin-averaged chlorophyll concentrations during summer monsoon tend to decline, whereas those in September-October and during the winter monsoon showed an increasing trend. Based on the analysis of wind and aerosol opticla thickness data, we attribute the increased phytoplankton biomass during September-October to dust-induced iron fertilization when there is sufficient buildup of nitrate in the upper ocean. During winter, the enhanced evaporative cooling under the strengthening winds led to the increased convective mixing. Subsequent supply of subsurface nutrients to the euphotic zone coupled with the increased dust delivery support the observed increase in phytoplankton biomass duirng winter.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53166
Title: Brick kiln industry in long-term impacts biomass and diversity structure of plant communities
Author: Shachi Gupta and Rup Narayan
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 1, 10 July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Brick kiln, disturbance, dry tropics, peri-urban, plant biomass, species diversity
Abstract: Brick kiln sites in an Indian dry tropical peri-urban region, differing in the period of exposure to industrial activity and distance from the brick baking centre, were investigated seasonally for their impact on plant biomass (aboveground and belowground), diversity structure and soils. A total of 72 angiospermic plant species distributed over 25 families were recorded across different sites and seasons. The working brick kiln site, which experienced exposure to industrial activity for short term, showed highest total plant biomass (349-812 gm-2), and higher mean soil organic C (0.77%), total N (0.05%) and moisture content (2.75% in summer). In contrast, the abandoned brick kiln site, which witnessed long-term disturbance, had highest belowground biomass (179-253 g m-2) with relatively poor soil resources (mean soil organic C (0.20%), total N (0.05%). Belowground biomass of plant communities significantly declined with increasing soil organic C and total N. Higher species diversity was found at sites with low as well as high plant biomass. Thus, this study revealed that long-term brick kiln industrial activity affected the soil characteristics, and concomitantly teh structure of plant biomass (particularly the below ground), and species diversity. This structural alteration is suggestive of adaptational implications for plant communities in anthropoecosystems.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53165
Title: Fossil fruits from early Eocene Vastan lignite, Gujarat, India: taphonomic and phytogeographic impliations
Author: H. Singh, M. Prasad, K. Kumar, R.S.Rana and S.K.Singh
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 98, No 12, 25 June 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Cambay Shale Formation, Early Eocene, fossil fruits, Gujarat, Vastan Lignite Mine
Abstract: A small collection of fossil fruits of dicotyledonous plants, having close affinity with modern taxa, Ziziphus xylopyros Willd. (Rhamnaceae), Combretum decandrum Roxb. and Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) and Lagerstroemia flos-reginae and Lager-stroemia parviflora (Lythraceae) is reported from the subsurface beds of the Cambay Shale Formation exposed in an open-cast lignite mine at Vastan village near Surat, Western India. Well preserved fossilized fruits have limited transport to burial histories from their plant producers and therefore have great potential to provide excellent data about the character of forests such as the one that may have contributed to the formation of the extensive Lower Eocene lignite deposits of western India. The fossilized fruits from Vastan are referred here to four new form species, viz.Ziziphus eocenicus, Combretum vastanensis, Terminalia cambaya and Lagerstroemia sahnii. The habitat and present day distruibution of extant comparable taxa suggest the prevalence of tropical deciduous forest with moisture-loving plants in the Vastan mine area during the Early Eocene period. Such deciduous forests presently occur in South Coimbore, Palghat and major parts of mysore region of southern India.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53164
Title: Winter temperature and precipitation trends in the Siachen Glacier
Author: A.P. Dimri and S.K.Dash
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 98, No 12, 25 June 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Accumulation, climate interaction, glacier response, transition and ablation zones
Abstract: To examine changes in the wintertime seasonal (December, January and February) temperature and precipitation over the Siachen Glacier, one of the largest glaciers outside the polar region, an analysis of its temperature and precipitation indices is planned. In the present study, temperature and precipitation indices over a period of 23 years (1984-2006) at six stations are computed after stringent quality control checks. Various indices are analysed at these stations representing glacier accumulation, transition and ablation zone. Results show rate of increase in number of warm days at A3 (station in accumulation zone) and A1 (station in ablation zone) though slower at A3 than at A1. Further warm nights show significant decrease, cold days show increasing trends whereas cold nights show significant increase at A3. In case of ablation zone (A1), these indices show reverse trend. In case of precipitation, numbers of consecutive dry (wet) days have decreased (increased) in the A1 and reverse is observed at A2 and A3 (stations in transition and accumulation zones respectively). Based on the regional temperature and precipitation changes, it is hypothesized that the transition zone between the accumulation and ablation zones fluctuates and moves towards the accumulation zone thereby extending the ablation zone and shrinking the accumulation zone. As a result, properties of the accumulation zone slowly get converted into those of the ablation zone.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53163
Title: Anomalous cooling over the Arabian Sea during February 2008
Author: Anant Parekh
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 98, No 12, 25 June 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Arabian Sea, Ekman flow, heat flux, sea surface temperature
Abstract: Satellite observations over the Arabian Sea revealed anomalous cooling in February 2008 associated with the anomalous north westerly winds from the coninent. Land-sea air temperature contrast (relative humidity difference) between Arabia and Arabian Sea is 6-80C (40%) during the cooling event. This condition supports a loss of heat flux (180-200 W/m2) from ocean to atmosphere via evaporation. Enhancement of biological activity associated with the cooling is also confirmed. Deepening of the mixed layer via convective and wind forced mixing is observed. Advective heat flux analysis deduces that heat gain via Ekman flow is slightly higher at southern boundary but geo-strophic meridional overturning (diffusion of heat flux) is close to the climatic mean. Heat gains via Ekman flow oppose cooling. Thus resultant cooling is mainly due to loss of heat flux (65-95 W/m2) to the atmopshere; major contributor is latent heat flux.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53162
Title: Bio-business in brief: the debate over biosimilars
Author: Gayatri Saberwal
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 98, No 12, 25 June 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Biotechnology, biosimilars, drug company, follow on biologics, pharma industry
Abstract: Biogenerics, or biosimilars, are a contentious subject. Some of the issues in this debate are outlined here such as should they be allowed onto the market or should they not. The biosimilars that have already been approved in India and in Europe are also listed.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53161
Title: Impact of climate change on biodiversity of insects and environment
Author: K. Murugan
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 98, No 12, 25 June 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53160
Title: Energy efficient chulha in rural Arunachal Pradesh
Author: J.S.Rawat, Dhruba Sharma, G.Nimachow and Oyi Dai
Editor: P.Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 98, No 12, 25 June 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53159
Title: Bacteriological quality in drinking water sources and point of use of Mysore city, Karnataka, India
Author: N.S.Raju, C.Roopavathi, K. Ramachandra Kini and S.R.Niranjana
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Water analysis, coliform, hygiene, drinking water
Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the quality of drinking water of Mysore city. A total of 226 drinking water samples were randomly collected from 72 bore wells (hand pump), 77 taps from consumer points and 78 stored household water. The samples were analyzed for bacterial contamination. Among all the samples collected 20% of tap watre samples were contaminated, followed by bore well water 11% and stored household water 73% contaminated with enteric bacteria. During the study 232 isolates fo enteric bacteria were identified of which 61 of E.coli, 76 of Klebsiella, 74 of Citrobacter and 21 of Salmonella were isolated. Coliform contaminations in household water were high even when source water was of good quality. The present study highlights the population ' s hygiene, health behaviour and environmental sanitation.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53158
Title: Mineralogical, Chemical and Morphological studies of fly ashes from Thermal Power Stations of India
Author: Ritesh Kumar
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Fly ash, environment, morphology, thermal power stations, XRD, chemical composition
Abstract: Mineralogical, chemical and morphological characteristics of fly ash collected from three thermal power stations viz. Bokaro Thermal Power Station (BTPS), Chandrapur Thermal Power Station (CTPS) and Durgapur Thermal Power Station (DTPS) of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), India have been well addressed in the present paper through analytical studies. The study reflects that all three samples are F type of fly ashes. According to mineralogical study quartz is the major component in all the three fly ash samples while the minor components are magnetite and hematite. Morphological study using scanning electron microscopy technique has revealed that the fly ash samples consist of spherical (solid or hollow spheres), oval or irregularly shaped particles of varying size. The study has also shown that the fly ashes from these thermal power stations can be used for various purposes such as backfilling in open cast mines, stowing in underground mines, cement manufacture, in paints as an extender, reclamation of subsided land etc.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53157
Title: Heavy metal removal from Municipal Raw Sewage by activated sludge treatment process and effects of sewage on the metal contents of Buckingham Canal Water across different seasons at Kalpakkam (India)
Author: A. Yudhistra Kumar and M.Vikram Reddy
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Municipal sewage, heavy metals, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Buckingham canal, activated sludge treatment process
Abstract: Removal of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cr) from municipal raw sewage by extended aeraton activated sludge treatment process and the effects of the treated effluent in relation to the raw sewage on the heavy metal contents of water of the receiving water body, Buckingham canal at Kalpakkam was monitored seasonally during pre-monsoon, monsoon, winter and summer. It was found that the concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cr were 0.12, 0.063, 0.57, 0.63 and 0.019 ppm, respectively in the raw sewage, which were reduced considerably at each phase of the treatment, at aeration tank with a removal efficiency (RE) of 17, 13, 14, 33 and 31%, respectively, and in secondary clarifier with RE of 67, 73, 72, 87 and 47%, respectively. The concentrations of these heavy metals have increased in the downstream compared to that of its upstream of the canal in both treated as well as untreated sewage outfall zones, and were higher in the later zone. The concentrations of these heavy metals were higher during pre-monsoon and mondsoon seasons followed by that of summer and winter in the canal water.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53156
Title: A Remediation technique for removal of Fenvalerate from contaminated soil
Author: M. Geetha and M.H. Fulekar
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Fenvalerate, bioremediation, activated biomass, surface soil, treatment unit
Abstract: Fenvalerate is a synthetic pyrethroid used for controlling pests in agriculture. Fenvalerate has the property to adsorb soil particles and when it comes in contact with aqueous environment causes pollution leading to the toxicity in soil-water environment. The technique for removal of fenvalerate from soil has been developed in the present study. Fenvalerate is amended in the soil at varying concentration viz. 25 ppm, 50 ppm and 100 ppm and taken in the surface soil treatment unit. The activated cow-dung slurry is used as a source of microbial consortium for bioremediation of fenvalerate amended soil. The physico-chemical parameters have been maintained for bioremediation of fenvalerate in contaminated surface soil. The research finding shows that the fenvalerate was degrading over a period of seven days with the formation of prominent intermediates such as 4-chloro-alpha (1-methylethyl) benzene acetic acid and 3-phenoxy-benzoic acid. These intermediates are less toxic than the parent compound and further on longer acclimatization in the environment would be mineralized into inorganic, biomass and CO2. This technique has been proved successful for bioremediation of pesticides in particular fenvalerate from contaminated agricultural surface soil.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53155
Title: pH and Temperature effect on transport parameters of Zn retention by NF membrane
Author: Ben Fares Naima, Baroudi Moomen and Taha Samir
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Nanofiltration, zinc, temperature, pH, transport parameter
Abstract: The objective of our study was to take knowledge about the possible influence of various operating parameters on the performance of the membrane process through evolution of transport parameters in order to understand the mechanism which governs the separation of the zinc ions by nanofiltration. The operating parameters to be considered in this study were temperature and pH. The experiments were performed on zinc nitrate solutions prepared at 10 mg/L in Zn2+. The results have shown that an increase in the temperature generates a reduction in the solute retention (68% at 130C and 23% at 360C). The study on the pH effect have shown that the Zn ions retention decreases when the pH increases (90% at pH 2 and 60% at pH 6), while that of the nitrate ions retention increases (17% at pH 2), reached a maximum (67% at pH 4) and then decreases (56% at pH 6). These results were related to the calculation of solute transport parameters in order to know more comprehensive retention and transfer mechanism.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53154
Title: Physico-chemical characterization of water quality of Eutrophied surface water body and Ground water around the Field Crop Research Station, Burdwan, West Bengal
Author: J.K.Datta, S. Layek, A.Banerjee, N.K.Mondal and S.Gupta
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Surface water body, water quality, crop field, eutrophication
Abstract: A study on water quality of eutrophied surface water body of Kalna farms as well as ground water quality of the area was done to investigate the level of pollution and contamination that have occurred in these two sources of fresh water systems. Several physicochemical parameters viz., pH, temperature, TDS, turbidity, nitrate nitrogen, phosphate, sodium and potassium content were measured in groundwater samples. For surface water analysis, DO, BOD and COD were mediated to evaluate the pollution load of the surface water bodies surrounding the Kalna farm. Results indicate that all the surface water body was nutrient enriched in terms of sodium (14.73-27.98), potassium (6.59-10.31 mg/L) and phosphate content (0.52-0.73mg/L) in the water whereas ground water contains more salt content than its surface water counterpart. Surface water body was found to be alkaline in nature (8.09-8.68) whereas ground water was found to be little acidic to neutral range (6.52-7.89). COD values (142-224 mg/L) were found to be higher than BOD values (2.42-5.64 mg/L) indicating presence of higher load of non-biodegradable wastes in the surface water bodies around Kalna farm.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 53153
Title: Inorganic elements and radioisotopes in the environment: Measurement techniques and applications
Author: M. Someshwar Rao, Bhishm Kumar and U.K.Singh
Editor: Prof V. Subramanian
Year: 2010
Publisher: Capital Publishing Company, Vol 7, No 2, July 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Science,Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12
Reference: None
Subject: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution
Keywords: Radionuclide, environmental pollution, XRF, PIXE, NAA, Nal (TI), Si(Li), Ge(Li), HPGe, SDD
Abstract: In this review paper, modern nuclear techniques are discussed for the analysis of inorganic elements of tracers, including radioactive species in the environment. Nuclear techniques allow many trace elements to be analyzed in parts per 106 to parts per 109 range in both field and laboratory measurements. For laboratory and in-situ field measurements, techniques of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), neutron activation analysis (NAA) and radionuclide detection using NaI (TI) spectrometer, Ge (Li), silicon drift detector (SDD) spectrometer and HPGe spectrometer are discussed. The paper also includes some of the studies carried out using these techniques in various parts of the world. These studies are important not only from the environmental contamination point of view, but also for various other applications.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None