Contents Preface
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CESS Annual Report 2006-2007 Contents Preface....................................................................................................................................... i-iii 1 Earth System Dynamics 1.1 Crustal Evolution and Geodynamics 1.1.1 Evolution of supracrustal rocks and associated gneisses of Wayanad Schist belt, northern Kerala...................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Metasedimentary rocks of the Kerala Khondalite Belt, Southern India: petrology and geodynamics of their formation.............................................. 2 1.1.3 Geochemical and palaeomagnetic studies of mafic dykes from Bundelkhand and Baster cratons, Central India: implications for lithospheric evolution and Meso & Palaeoproterozoic continental reconstructions................ 3 1.1.4 Tectonic and hydrologic control on late Pleistocene-Holocene land forms, plaeoforest and non-forest vegetation: Southern Kerala............................................................................. 4 1.1.5 Quaternary evolution of Thiruvananthapuram coast, Kerala.................................................. 4 1.1.6 GPS constraints on the strain rate across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.......................... 5 1.1.7 Provenance discrimanation of southwest beach placers based on the varietal studies of ilmenite.................................................................................. 9 1.2 Minerological Studies 1.2.1 Value-Addition of Selected Placer Minerals (Ilmenite & Zircon) with special reference to the ‘Kayamkulam-Thottappally’ deposit of Kerala.......................... 10 1.2.2 Graphite Mineralization in the Karimukal area, Ernakulam District, Kerala with special emphasis on graphitization process and genesis....................................... 10 1.3 Atmospheric Processes 1.3.1 Measurement of Cloud Parameters and Cloud Modeling........................................................ 11 1.3.2 Characterisation of tropical rainfall in terms of raindrop size distribution and rain rate......... 12 1.3.4 Continuous measurement of ambient carbon monoxide in a tropical coastal station............... 13 1.4 Coastal Processes 1.4.1 Study of coastal processes and hazards along Kerala coast with particular reference to disaster preparedness.................................................................. 13 Annual Report 2006-07 i Committed to Our Earth Our Future CESS Annual Report 2006-2007 1.4.2 Tracking the past disasters and tsunami along the parts of Tamil Nadu coast........................... 14 1.4.3 Flood height levels for demarcation of vulnerability line........................................................ 15 2 Natural Hazards 2.1 Landslides 2.1.1 Field investigations of land disturbances in various parts of Kerala........................................ 17 2.2 Earthquakes 2.2.1 Seismic monitoring in Kerala State and the broadband station at Peechi.................................. 17 2.2.2 Developing an improved database for seismic hazard assessment............................................ 18 2.3 Lightning 2.3.1 Investigation on the cause of high lightning in Kerala.............................................................. 18 2.4 Radioactivity Studies 2.4.1 Natural radioactivity risk assessment in the living environment of the people of SW coast of India............................................................................................ 20 2.5 Coastal erosion 2.5.1 Shoreline management plan for the west coast of India............................................................. 21 2.6 Tsunami 2.6.1 Mapping of inundation area on Tamil Nadu – Kerala border.................................................. 22 2.6.2 Preparation of High Resolution Bathymetry for the Kerala Coast........................................... 23 3 Natural Resources and Management 3.1 Water Resources 3.1.1 Submarine groundwater discharge across a coastal segment south of Thiruvananthapuram.................................................................................. 24 3.1.2 Synchronized beach profiling and ground water-table monitoring between Adimalathura & Poovar............................................................................ 25 Committed to Our Earth Our Future ii Annual Report 2006-07 CESS Annual Report 2006-2007 3.2 Watershed Development 3.2.1 Watershed characteristics, landuse pattern and water quality parameters of upstream and selected down stream stretches of the Vamanapuram river......................... 26 3.3 Terrain Analysis and Landuse Studies 3.3.1 Landscape evaluation in relation to fluvio-estuarine and denudational systems: A case study of Periyar basin, Kerala.................................................... 26 3.3.2 Landuse/landcover changes and water quality: a case study in the Western Ghats provenances of Central South Kerala rivers.................................................... 26 3.3.3 Impact of landscape alterations on watersheds and ecosystem implications: A case study of Western Ghats provenances of Idukki district Kerala.................................... 26 3.4 Environmental Resources 3.4.1 Landuse/Landcover change and its impact: Kakkiar – Agasthyamalai segment....................... 27 3.4.2 Pathiramanal Biodiversity conservation and Bio-park project: An Action Research Program.................................................................................................... 28 3.4.3 State of the Environment and Action Plan for Kochi Urban Area........................................... 28 3.4.4 Formulation of model development master plans for selected local bodies in coastal plain areas.......................................................................................... 29 3.4.5 Heavy metal and REE abundance in edible plants of Kollam and Alapuzha district.............. 29 3.4.6 River sand mining and management....................................................................................... 29 3.4.7 Lime shell resources of Vembanad Lake with special reference to the future of lime shell based industries of Kerala....................................................................... 30 3.5 Environmental Pollution 3.5.1 Methane emission flux from wetlands in Kerala....................................................................... 31 3.5.2 Nutrient flux studies in the Ashtamudi estuary................................................................ 32 3.6 Carrying Capacity Studies 3.6.1 Tourism carrying capacity study of Varkala, Kerala................................................................. 33 3.7 Coastal Zone Management 3.7.1 Conservation and nourishment of beaches of selected tourism locations of Kerala............... 33 Annual Report 2006-07 iii Committed to Our Earth Our Future CESS Annual Report 2006-2007 3.7.2 Coastal Engineering Strategy for Shore Protection for Kerala -A Pilot Project..................... 34 3.8 Pollution Studies 3.8.1 Monitoring of water and sediment quality in the Cochin harbour region................................. 34 3.8.2 Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMAPS)............................................... 34 3.8.3 Geochemical investigations on anthropogenic mercury and other heavy metals in Vembanad lake sediments.................................................................... 36 3.8.4 Nutrient flux studies in the Ashtamudi estuary........................................................................ 38 3.9 Biophotonic Applications 3.9.1 Early discrimination of oral cancer using laser induced autofluorescence spectral ratio reference standard................................................................. 39 3.9.2 Investigation of dental erosion.................................................................................................. 41 3.10 Sand Characterisation 3.10.1 Resource evaluation and inventory of manufactured sand from Kerala State......................... 42 3.11 GIS Application in Natural Resources Management 3.11.1 High resolution remote sensing data and information technology for local level planning..... 42 3.11.2 Generation of natural resources and environmental database for local level planning........... 43 3.11.3 Bio-Geographical Information System (BGIS) for Thrissur District...................................... 43 3.11.4 Preparation of city base maps for the five Municipal Corporations of Kerala........................ 44 3.11.5 Spatial and non-spatial database for health surveillance in the Vengannur Grama Panchayat........................................................................................ 45 3.11.6 Creation of a digital data bank at CESS.................................................................................. 46 3.11.7 District spatial information system for Kasaragod district of Kerala...................................... 47 3.11.8 Resource atlas of Thiruvanathapuram district, Kerala............................................................ 47 Committed to Our Earth Our Future iv Annual Report 2006-07 CESS Annual Report 2006-2007 4 Consultancy Programmes 4.1 Environmental Studies 4.1.1 Feasibility study for hard rock quarrying operations at Keezhayikonam, Nellanad, Venjaramoodu, Thiruvananthapuram........................................................................ 49 4.1.2 Environmental appraisal of a granite crusher unit at Vellavoor, Manimala, Kottayam District.................................................................................................... 49 4.1.3