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The launch of the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS-P4 (Oceansat-1) has opened up many important applications. Meteorological navigation is one of the new avenues, which was suffering due to the lack of a synoptic wave database. The research in this area was hindered mainly by the unavailability of real-time wind data. Now, it has become feasible to carry out routine wave forecasting. The Multi-frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) channel of the satellite gives scalar wind information. This is analysed at the National Center for Medium-range Weather Forecast (NCMWF), India and converted to vector wind information. The 6-hourly u-and v-components of wind in a 1.5° grid covering both the north and south Indian Ocean are available to the research community for further application. In the present study the information has been used to force a third generation spectral wave model (WAM). The simulations are performed for the rough weather month of July 1999 for the regional grid system of the Indian Ocean. This simulated wave climate formed the basis for computing effective ship velocity in the irregular seaway. This study gives a quantitative estimation of change in ship velocity in the open Indian Ocean for a tanker. The optimal path is charted using Dijkstra's algorithm for the optimum route voyage from Calcutta to Singapore and vice versa.

An assessment of human interference in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) showed huge dependence of local communities on forest fringes. KWLS is under active consideration as a national park because of its unique flora and fauna. Studies have evidenced habitat destruction and successional changes in the area because of ongoing unsustainable harvesting and logging. The present study provides an integrated approach towards evaluating resource extraction and management of the sanctuary. The study was based on in-depth semi-structured interviews and group discussions with local inhabitants of six villages and with forest officials. In addition, regeneration patterns and vegetation analysis was conducted in three land tenurial systems: community forest (CF), reserve forest (RF) and protected forest (PF). Key issues identified were wildlife offences, encroachment, pressure from unsustainable harvesting of resources and lack of livelihood opportunities. Ecological studies showed continuous change in regeneratio...

Model metalworking fluids, characterized by phase separation of functional components at elevated temperatures, were studied. Results of membrane filtration experiments with three oils of differing chemical nature confirm the feasibility of specific removal of finely dispersed contaminant oils without the simultaneous loss of active components from adequately formulated fluids. Prerequisites are that membrane materials and pore sizes be suitably chosen and that operating temperatures be kept below the cloud point of the least soluble component. The most suitable filter in the present study was a hydrophilic regenerated cellulose membrane with a NMWL of 100,000 dalton. Complete oil removal was attained if membrane pore sizes did not exceed 0.1 μm. It was also found that intrinsically water-soluble boundary lubricants of the polyglycol ether type are retained by membranes in the presence of PPG-1800, which serves as a precipitation promoter above the cloud point. This is of considerable practical importance...

A novel reaction for the dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as well as most other chlorinated aromatic and aliphatic compounds is evaluated and discussed in terms of its potential for analytical purposes. The active dechlorinating agent is prepared through the reaction of molten sodium or potassium with polyethylene glycols (MW >200), in the absence of oxygen, to form the corresponding alkali metal glycolate, a powerful nucleophilic agent. Special emphasis is given to the mechanistic aspects of the reaction and their importance in terms of achieving high and reproducible yields with analytical quantities of substrate, in short periods of time. The contribution of the techniques: ESR, NMR, IR, UV, MS, GC-ECD, LC-EC, CIDNP-NMR, conductimetry and chloride analysis (amperometric) in elucidating the reaction mechanism and providing valuable kinetic data is illustrated. This reaction can potentially be applied to the determination of PCBs in waste oils.

HARYANA-tourism narrative is both interesting and inspiring; re-assuring confidence in research-based planned development. Tourism brings positve gains economically, socially and ecologically, provided that the planners and the developers have rapport, leaving few gaps between promises and performances. None but Mr. S. K. Misra would chronicle this theme authoritatively as he was at once the planner, designer and the architect and at the same time commanding acumen of bringing together various forces that shape wholesome tourism: sights not blights. Immediately he, assumed the office of the Chairman of India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. This CENTRE solicited a contribution on Haryana Tourism chronicle a model that could be tested operationally on other States of India. An idea also surfaced that if Haryana does it why not India, particularly when Misra should be the helmsman. Here is a story intensely realistic and yet sounds stranger than fiction, more so in Indian context.Editor