Charu C. Pant

CODA Q estimates for Kumaun Himalaya

CodaQ (Qc) estimates for the Kumaun Himalaya region have been obtained in high frequency range. Local earthquakes, recorded by a digital seismic network in the region, which fall in the epicentral distances range of 10 to 80 km and with a local magnitude range of 1.4 to 2.8, have been used. The coda waves of 30 sec window length, filtered at seven frequency bands centered at 1.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24Hz, have been analysed using the single backscattering model. The values ofQc estimates vary from 65 to 283 at 1.5 Hz to 2119 to 3279 at 24.0 Hz which showed thatQc is frequency dependent and its value increases as frequency increases.A frequency-dependentQc relationship,Qc = (92 ± 4.73)f(1.07±.023), is obtained for the region representing the average attenuation characteristics of seismic waves for Kumaun Himalaya region.

Spatial variability assessment of river‐line floods and flash floods in Himalaya

Purpose – The main objective of the study is to identify the vulnerable areas for river‐line and flash flood hazard and its mitigation through GIS Database Management System (DBMS) of geo‐hydrometeorological parameters. The Dabka watershed constitutes a part of the Kosi Basin in the Lesser Himalaya, India in district Nainital has been selected for the case illustration.Design/methodology/approach – The Dabka DBMS is constituted of three GIS (Geographic Information System) modules, i.e. geo‐informatics (consists of geomorphology, soils, geology and land use pattern, slope analysis, drainage density and drainage frequency), weather informatics (consists of daily, monthly and annual weather data about temperature, rainfall, humidity and evaporation) and hydro‐informatics (consist of runoff, sediment delivery, and denudation). The geo‐informatics and weather informatics modules carried out by comprehensive field work and GIS mapping than both modules used to carry out hydro‐informatics module. Through the int...

Tectonic evolution of Duns in Kumaun Sub-Himalaya, India: a remote sensing and GIS-based study

The tectonic evolution of the Sub‐Himalayan longitudinal intermontane valleys, called ‘Duns’, in the Kumaun region of India is not yet understood as the thick forest cover and extensive anthropogenic modifications of the landscape have made it difficult to identify the various tectonic and geomorphic features. In this paper we present a conceptual model of the tectonic evolution of Kota and Pawalgarh Duns of the region, based on interpretation of digitally processed IRS P6 LISS III imagery and analyses of Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) in a Geographic Information System (GIS), together with field investigations. The Duns were formed as the fault‐bend folded hills came up in front of the southern piedmont zone of the frontal Himalaya along the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) and the Pawalgarh Fault. The landscape of the Duns is further modified as a result of movement along subsequently developed transverse faults.

Climate change accelerating land use dynamic and its environmental and socio‐economic risks in the Himalayas

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to assess the environmental and socio‐economic impacts and risks of climate change through GIS database management system (DBMS) on land use‐informatics and climate‐informatics. The Dabka watershed constitutes a part of the Kosi Basin in the Lesser Himalaya, India in district Nainital has been selected for the case illustration.Design/methodology/approach – Land use‐informatics consists of land use mapping and change diction, i.e. decadal changes and annual changes. Climate‐informatics consists of climate change detection through daily, monthly and annual weather data for a period of 25 years.Findings – The exercise revealed that oak and pine forests have decreased, respectively, by 25 percent (4.48 km2) and 3 percent (0.28 km2) thus bringing a decline of 4.76 km2 forest in the watershed during 1990 to 2010. But, due to climate change the mixed forest taking place of oak forest in certain pockets and consequently the mixed forest in the catchment increased by 18 perce...

Composition and antibacterial activity of essential oil from Scutellaria grossa Wall ex Benth.

The chemical composition of the steam volatile oil of the whole aerial part of Scutellaria grossa Wall ex Benth. (Lamiaceae), obtained by steam distillation, has been analysed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The oil was found to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (88.6%). A total of 50 constituents were identified, representing 94.4% of the total oil composition. Linalool (37.0%) and 1-octen-3-ol (32.0%) were found to be the principal constituents. The antibacterial activity of the oil was determined against 10 bacterial strains by measuring the growth inhibitory zones. The oil showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecalis, and the Gram-negative, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica enterica. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 31.25 µL mL–1 was observed against E. faecalis.

Geomorphological features of active tectonics and ongoing seismicity of northeastern Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

The northeastern part of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India, lying between the rupture zones of 1905, Kangra and 1934, Bihar–Nepal earthquakes and known as ‘central seismic gap’ is a segment of an active fault known to produce significant earthquakes and has not slipped in an unusually long time when compared to other segments. The studied section forms a part of this seismic gap and is seismically an active segment of the Himalayan arc, as compared to the remaining part of the Kumaun Lesser Himalaya and it is evident by active geomorphological features and seismicity data. The geomorphological features of various river valley transects suggest that the region had a history of tectonic rejuvenation which is testified by the deposition of various levels of terraces and their relative uplift, shifting and ponding of river channels, uplifted potholes, triangular facets on fault planes, fault scarps, etc. Further, the seismic data of five-station digital telemetered seismic network along with two stand alone systems show the distribution of earthquakes in or along the analyzed fault transects. It is observed that the microseismic earthquakes (magnitude 1.0–3.0) frequently occur in the region and hypocenters of these earthquakes are confined to shallow depths (10–20 km), with low stress drop values (1.0–10 bar) and higher peak ground velocity (PGV). The cluster of events is observed in the region, sandwiched between the Berinag Thrust (BT) in south and Main Central Thrust (MCT) in north. The occurrences of shallow focus earthquakes and the surface deformational features in the different river valley transect indicates that the region is undergoing neotectonic rejuvenation. In absence of chronology of the deposits it is difficult to relate it with extant seismicity, but from the geomorphic and seismic observations it may be concluded that the region is still tectonically active. The information would be very important in identifying the areas of hazard prone and also planning and designing of the socio-economic projects.

Declining Changes in Spring Hydrology of Non-glacial River Basins in Himalaya: A Case Study of Dabka Catchment

Natural springs are the key source of water for the stream flows within non-glacial river basins and constitute the main source of drinking water and irrigation. Therefore, assessment and inventory on spring hydrology are essential for formulation of successful sustainable development plans in the region. Consequently the main objective of the study was to assess the geohydrological processes of the springs using GIS technology. The Dabka catchment constitutes a part of the Kosi Basin in the Lesser Himalaya , India in district Nainital has been selected for the case illustration. The results suggested that most of the perennial springs exist along the thrust/fault planes and fluvial deposit areas and the most of the non-perennial springs exist along the fracture/joints and shear zones. The water yield of these springs varies greatly but maximum rate was monitored for thrust and fault controlled springs. The changing pattern of the spring hydrology suggested drying up of some springs and the reduced discharge of others due to accelerated land use changes by anthropogenic and climate change factors during last 2 decades (1991–2011). Consequently, there is a decline in the flow of the main Dabka River and its streams by 35 %.

Terpenoid composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Inula cappa (Buch-Ham. ex. D. Don) DC

Abstract The essential oil from Inula cappa (Buch-Ham. ex. D. Don) DC (Asteraceae), growing wild in the central Himalayan region (India), was analyzed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The sesquiterpene hydrocarbons constituted almost 50% of the oil. Total fifty-four constituents were identified which represented 90.2% of the oil. β-Caryophyllene (27.5%), cis-dihydro-mayurone (6.7%), β-bisabolene (6.5%) and (E)-β-farnesene (5.6%) were found to be the principal constituents. The oil was tested against ten bacterial strains and showed significant activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Xanthomonas phaseoli, and Bacillus subtilis. This is the first report of bioactivity and essential oil composition from I. cappa.

Steam volatile oil from Scutellaria repens Buch-Ham. ex D. Don; its composition and antibacterial activity

The terpenoid composition of steam volatile oil obtained from the aerial parts of Scutellaria repens Buch-Ham. ex D. Don (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The oil was found to be rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (77.5%); aromadendrene (30.7%) and β-funebrene (15.0%) were the principal constituents. Forty-four components were identified representing 90.8% of the oil. Antibacterial activity of the oil against ten bacterial strains was determined by measuring the inhibitory zone. The oil showed significant activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Terpenoid Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Essential oil from Salvia hians Royle ex. Benth

Abstract Salvia hians Royle ex. Benth (Lamiaceae) growing wild in the central Himalayan region, was analyzed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The oil was found to be rich in sesquiterpine hydrocarbons (52.5 %). Total 64 compounds were identified representing 94.9 % of the oil; γ-cadinene (10.9 %), δ-cadinene (9.2 %), caryophyllene acetate (9.7 %) and cubenol (6.1 %) were found to be the principal constituents. The oil was tested against ten bacterial strains and showed significant activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Agrobacterium tumefaciens.