Assessment of mining activities on tree species and diversity in hilltop mining areas using Hyperion and Landsat data

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The tree species and its diversity are two critical components to be monitored for sustainable management of forest as well as biodiversity...     

Coal fly ash utilization: low temperature sintering of wall tiles

We present here a study of the sintering of fly ash and its mixture with low alkali pyrophyllite in the presence of sodium hexa meta phosphate (SHMP), a complex activator of sintering, for the purpose of wall tile manufacturing. The sintering of fly ash with SHMP in the temperature range 925-1050 degrees C produces tiles with low impact strength; however, the incremental addition of low alkali pyrophyllite improves impact strength. The impact strength of composites with 40% (w/w) pyrophyllite in the fly ash-pyrophyllite mix satisfies the acceptable limit (19.6J/m) set by the Indian Standards Institute for wall tiles. Increasing the pyrophyllite content results in an increase in the apparent density of tiles, while shrinkage and water absorption decrease. The strength of fly ash tiles is attributed to the formation of a silicophosphate phase; in pyrophyllite rich tiles, it is attributed to the formation of a tridymite-structured T-AlPO(4) phase. Scanning electron micrographs show that the reinforcing rod shaped T-AlPO(4) crystals become more prominent as the pyrophyllite content increases in the sintered tiles.     

Geomorphological and geophysical approach for locating favorable groundwater zones in granitic terrain, Andhra Pradesh, India

The increasing demand for fresh water has necessitated the exploration for new sources of groundwater, particularly in hard rock terrain, where groundwater is a vital source of fresh water. A fast, cost effective and economical way of exploration is to study and analyze remote sensing data. Interpreted remote sensing data was used to select sites for carrying out surface geophysical investigations. Various geomorphologic units were demarcated and the lineaments were identified by interpretation of remote sensing satellite images. The potential for occurrence of groundwater in the watershed areas was classified as very good, good, moderate and poor by interpreting the images. Sub-surface geophysical investigations, namely vertical electrical soundings, were carried out to delineate potential water-bearing zones. Integrated studies of interpretation of geomorphologic and geophysical data were used to prepare a groundwater potential map. The studies reveal that the groundwater potential of shallow aquifers is due to geomorphologic features and the potential of deeper aquifers is determined by lineaments such as faults and joints.     

Transformation of 4-nonylphenol isomers during biosolids composting

4-Nonylphenol, a degradation intermediate of commercial surfactant and known endocrine disruptor, has been frequently detected at levels up to several thousand microgl(-1) in surface waters and up to several hundred mgkg(-1) (dry weight) in soil and sediment samples. Large quantities of 4-NP can be quickly sorbed by the organic rich solid phase during wastewater treatment and are concentrated in biosolids, a possible major source for 4-NP in the environment. Microbial transformation in culture studies followed different mechanisms for different 4-NP isomers, which have different estrogenic activity. Composting is a process of solid matrix transformation where biological activity is enhanced by process control. This approach has been used successfully in remediation of contaminated soils and sludges. In this study, the transformation kinetics of 4-NP and its isomers were characterized during biosolids composting. Five distinctive 4-NP isomer groups with structures relative to alpha- and beta-carbons of the alkyl chain were identified in biosolids. Composting biosolids mixed with wood shaving at a dry weight percentage ratio of 43:57 (C:N ratio of 65:1) removed 80% of the total 4-NP within two weeks. At this biosolids/wood shaving ratio (B:WS), the transformation of total 4-NP and its isomers followed second-order kinetic. Higher B:WS ratios yielded significantly slower 4-NP transformation which followed first-order kinetic. Isomers with alpha-methyl-alpha-propyl structure transformed significantly slower than those with less branched tertiary alpha-carbon and those with secondary alpha-carbon, suggesting isomer-specific degradation of 4-NP during biosolids composting.     

RESERVOIR OPERATION ANI EVALUATION OF DOWNSTREAM FLOW AUGMENTATION1

ABSTRACT: Operation of a storage‐based reservoir modifies the downstream flow usually to a value higher than that of natural flow in dry season. This could be important for irrigation, water supply, or power production as it is like an additional downstream benefit without any additional investment. This study addresses the operation of two proposed reservoirs and the downstream flow augmentation at an irrigation project located at the outlet of the Gandaki River basin in Nepal. The optimal operating policies of the reservoirs were determined using a Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP) model considering the maximization of power production. The modified flows downstream of the reservoirs were simulated by a simulation model using the optimal operating policy (for power maximization) and a synthetic long‐term inflow series. Comparing the existing flow (flow in river without reservoir operation) and the modified flow (flow after reservoir operation) at the irrigation project, the additional amount of flow was calculated. The reliability analysis indicated that the supply of irrigation could be increased by 25 to 100 percent of the existing supply over the dry season (January to April) with a reliability of more than 80 percent.     

Water management in the highlands of India

Conclusions In addition to this natural water-holding capacity of completely forested mountains, development for conservation of water should insure man-made mountain water storage systems, consisting of tanks, ponds, small dams and reservoirs, and artificial lakes at varying altitudes in the Himalayas. An elaborate system of canals would be needed to carry clean water for drinking and cultivation. Alternatively, adjacent highland lakes may be linked up by canals provided with wiers and sluice gates, to carry water to all levels.