Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

G. Philip ¹, R. P. Gupta ¹, A. Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IN
2 National Remote Sensing Agency. Balanagar. Hyderabad 500037, IN

Abstract

An area in the Middle Ganga Basin, lying around Monghyr, Bihar, has been selected for delineation of fluvial palaeofeatures. The investigation is based on aerial photographs LANDSAT MSS and TM data products and ground data. Digital enhancement of LANDSAT MSS and TM data by linear contrast stretching and ratioing has been found to be highly powerful in identification and mapping of subtle fluvial palaeofeatures. Based on the above interpretation, a summary of the fluvial palaeo-history is presented.

Keywords

LANDSAT, Ganga Basin, Geomorphology, Bihar.

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R. P. Gupta ¹, R. Chander ¹, A. K. Tewari ², A. K. Saraf ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences. University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, IN
2 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247667, IN

Abstract

Liquefaction in saturated sandy soils as a result of earthquake-induced shaking, poses a major threat to men and materials. Many parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains have experienced such catastrophes repeatedly. The border region of southern Nepal-northern Bihar (India) is a typical existing setting prone to soil liquefaction in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The Bihar-Nepal earthquake of 1934 (M_s>8) and the earthquake of 1988 (M_b = 6.7) induced extensive liquefaction in the terrain in living memory. Characteristics of soil in this area of nothern Bihar have been determined from field samples. Various parameters (e.g. clay content, D₅₀ - and C-values) indicate high susceptibility to liquefaction among soils in the area.

A close study of remote sensing data (Landsat TM and MSS) products reveals that the boundaries of liquefaction zone in the Bihar-Nepal region during the 1934 earthquake are identifiable on the remote sensing images. This is due to a combination of several inter-related factors, such as landform, soil type, soil moisture and vegetation. These clues have been applied as guides on the adjoining remote sensing images for delineating areas on a regional scale, where liquefaction might possibly occur in the Ganga plains, in the event of future Himalayan earthquakes.

Keywords

Earthquakes, Ganga Plains, Remote Sensing, Seismology.

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R. K. Samadder ¹, S. Kumar ², R. P. Gupta ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee - 247 667, IN
2 National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee - 247667, IN

Abstract

Study of aquifer geometry is essential for proper development and utilization of groundwater resources. In this study, a systematic approach has been made in the analysis of shallow aquifer geometry in the western Ganga Plains, Uttar Pradesh, by integrating the well-Log and remote sensing data. The study includes mapping of neotectonic lineaments from remote sensing data, and determination of aquifer depth and lithological details from the well-Log data. The well-Log data indicate that the region has varying thickness of alluvium composed of alternating sand, kankar and clay strata. By integrating the remote sensing and well-Log data sets, sub-Surface geological sections have been developed to interpret the aquifer geometry. The aquifers are found to show significant variation in nature and geometry from place to place. At some places, the lineaments on remote sensing images are in conformity with faults interpreted from well-Log data, whereas at others, buried faults have been interpreted. The aquifers formed by paleochannels is particularly striking, being unconfined in nature and mainly consisting of medium to coarse sand, along with pebbles, cobbles and kankar.

Keywords

Well-Log, Remote Sensing, Aquifer Geometry, Buried Faults, Lineaments, Paleochannel, Ganga Plains, Uttar Pradesh.

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R. P. Gupta ¹, R. Sinha ², M. S. Roohani ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667, IN
2 Engineering Geology Group, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT, Kanpur - 208 016, IN

Abstract

In the Himalayas, snowmelt runoff makes a dominant contribution to the total annllal stream flow. An early prediction of the amount of runoff to be derived from the snow pack is, therefore, of great importance for proper management of water resources. The area selected for the present investigation is the Punjab Himalayas comprising three major catchments of the Beas, Ravi, and Chenab rivers. Landsat imageries have been used to map snow cover in these three catchments. Data from a number of discharge gauging stations on the Beas, Ravi and Chenab rivers have been used to yield snowmelt runoff. Unique relationships between satellite snow cover and snowmelt runoff have been obtained for each of the sub-catchments. The studies show that geomorphometric parameters have a systematic influence on the relationship between snow cover area and subsequent runoff. The relationships are interpreted for their physical implications.

Keywords

Geomorphology, Geohydrology, Satellite Data, Punjab Himalaya.

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