The 18 August 2008 avulsion of the Kosi River draining the parts of north Bihar in eastern India may well be regarded as one of the greatest avulsions in a large river in recent years. The Kosi River shifted by ~120 km eastward, triggered by the breach of the eastern afflux bund at Kusaha in Nepal at a location 12 km upstream of the Kosi barrage. This event was widely perceived as a major flood in the media and scientific circles. Although a large area was indeed inundated after this event, it is important to appreciate that this inundation was different from a regular flooding event.
Year to year variation of Indian monsoon rainfall is described qualitatively in some ancient Sanskrit texts. Interestingly, these are cyclic with periods of 3, 5, 7, 18 and 60 years. Time series analysis of actual seasonal rainfall data shows that at very near the above periods the spectrum has significant peaks.
The low-grade meta-sedimentary sequence of the Sirohi Group comprises an ensemble of phyllite, schist and meta-carbonate rocks (including impure marble) and marks late Proterozoic tectonics in the NW Indian block. The ? 18OV-PDB values for Sirohi meta-carbonates range from
Gaumukh is the snout of the Gangotri glacier located at an altitude of 4000 m in the Himalayas from where the snow and glacier-fed Bhagirathi River emerges.
Genetic diversity was studied among 20 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces collected from different traditional farming villages of Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India, with Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Evaluation of genetic diversity is essential for conservation, management and to trace the hybrids.
This article describes the estimation of natural recharge and determination of aquifer parameters of a watershed located in coastal belt around Tuticorin town, Tamil Nadu, India, using radioactive tracer and pumping test methods. Recharge measurements were made at several spots to weathered gneiss, shale limestone, quartzite and coastal alluvium formations using tritium injection technique.
Poharkar et al.1 have reported the presence of a single genotype of avian Plasmodium spp. AP70 in 14 White-backed vultures in Central India. This result and the treatment of ill vultures with an antimalarial drug, as well as the lack of diclofenac residues implied that malaria could be an additional cause for the decline in vulture population. (Correspondence)
This article looks at the issue of climate change from a developing country perspective and develops an outline of a win-win-oriented climate policy around development priorities. It demonstrates how the great climate debate between the
The mangroves of the Bay Islands accounting for 18% (383 km2) of the total Indian mangroves were adversely affected by the December 2004 tsunami. Changes in topography, salinity and massive water inflow have led to extensive soil degradation and associated nutrient losses in these mangroves. The major
