EIACP PC Hub: Kerala
State of Environment and Related Issues

Study of beach morphological changes during monsoon and development of capabilities towards its prediction is of vital importance in coastal zone management. A study of the beach erosion/accretion processes during south-west monsoon and its numerical modelling is attempted in this communication for a micro-tidal and high-energy beach. Comprehensive hydrodynamic and beach profile data measured in the field were used for the study. The beach morphological changes as a result of the high intensity monsoon waves are found to be characterized by erosion of beach coupled with deposition in the offshore leading to formation and migration offshore longshore bar. The model LITPROF of the LITPACK software of DHI is found to simulate well the beach morphological changes by adjustment of the calibration parameters.

Abstract: Investigations were carried out on the data from Braemore mountain observatory (Lat.: 8°45’N, Long.: 77°5’E) using a single lens Ceilomter (LIDAR), an Electric Field Mill and a portable Automatic Weather Station throughout the year 2010. The simultaneous data collected from the above instruments indicate the existence of strong updrafts followed by the formation of thunderclouds, a characteristic of the mountain slopes, during the thunderstorm months. Changes in atmosphere related to condensation and formation of water droplets during updraft events on the mountain slope could be detected from the Ceilometer scattering data. Results of the study point to the cause of relatively more thunderstorm activity in that zone. This seems to be due to excessive updraft which is strongly related to the lightning activity in the region.

Abstract: This study investigates the spatial distribution of various organochlorine insecticides (OCIs) and heavy metals in both sediment and a bivalve, Villorita cyprinoides var. Cochinensis, collected from three pristine areas of Lake Vembanad. The detected concentrations of OCIs in the bivalve and sediment are in the order DDT > Heptachlor > BHC and BHC > DDD > heptachlor, respectively. However the DDT concentration (28.5 ng/g) in the bivalve at Chambakkara exceeded the limit suggested by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NWQAP) and indicated an anthropogenic input source for the parent DDT. The maximum potential contamination indices for Zn and Ni in the bivalve were 267.8 mg/kg and 22.3 mg/kg, respectively. The Enrichment Factor (EF) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values of sediment indicated that Cd showed high pollution status and the Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor value of heavy metals suggested that Zn, Cu, and Cd were bio-accumulated in the bivalve's tissue. The concentrations of Zn and Cd were above the threshold levels and regarded as harmful according to the international standard for metals in mollusc compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Therefore, they create great health risk for mussel consumers.

Abstract: Kerala is a state with a lot of outstanding achievements especially in its social development. The development model in Kerala has been a topic hot debate among the academician and in the political front. The same is the case of water resources in the state. Kerala has been considered as a water surplus state with 44 rivers, back waters and a lot of lakes. But at the same time it has become the routine in the state that women and children queuing with multi colour buckets and ponds in front of water taps and water supply tankers either public or private and the govt. of Kerala declared 7 out of 14 districts in the state as drought prone in 2012.The state is now facing stringent crisis in water resources especially in drinking water. The answer to why a state with a lot of rivers and lakes is converted to the drought prone area given by the wreck less sand mining and quarrying mushrooming in the state for last two decades. The manmade disaster has grown to an ironic situation that the districts affected by drought last year are those known for their rivers and lakes. Now when we are coming to the victims of the afore mentioned crisis, we find women the single most affected or prey to bonded victimisation as a result of the imposed responsibilities on the women across culture and continents. In the case of household management, it has been imposed from above as the sole burden of the women in Kerala also. Women discharge a lot of unpaid and unattended duties in her effort to make the household management the best. It becomes a herculean task when the resources mobilisation also becomes the responsibility of women. When there is no water in the villages, no crops grown, no cattle can be feed. The women folk who are primarily engages with agriculture and relied activities as their earning, is now excluded from economic activities and they are not able to earn. And when the water becomes paid and commercialised the water become a precious commodity the rural woman dream. These force them to confine in their home as dependent on their men or male members who are migrated to the urban areas. Ramon Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh says, to solve the country’s water problem, we have to first recharge the earth’s own resource, Women play an important part here. Kerala has huge potential of women participation in managing the water resources of the state. The Kudumbashree Programme of the state the ever green model for women participation and women empowerment can contribute highly in this regard. Key words: Water crisis, water.

Abstract: The continuing low-level seismicity in the vicinity of the Idukki Reservoir, Kerala, is interesting from the perspective of hydrologically triggered earthquakes. While the frequency of triggered earthquakes in the vicinity of a reservoir usually reduces with time and the largest earthquake usually occurs within a few years on the initial filling, the triggered seismicity in the proximity of the Idukki Reservoir seems to be showing a second, delayed peak, as the 1977 (M 3.5) tremor was followed by a slightly larger event in 2011, 24 years after the first burst of activity. Quite unprecedented in the context of reservoir-triggered sequences, we consider this delayed sequence as the hydrologic response of a critically stressed hypocentral region, to monsoonal recharging. The sustained activity several decades after the impoundment and the temporal relation with the monsoon suggest that at least some parts of the reservoir region continue to retain the potential for low-level seismic activity in response to hydrologic cycles.

                  A literature-based checklist of agarics (gilled mushrooms) occurring in Kerala State, India is provided. It consists of 616 species of gilled mushrooms belonging in 112 genera and 5 orders (Agaricales, Boletales, Gomphales, Polyporales, Russulales) of the Class Agaricomycetes, Phylum Basidiomycota. The relevant original information is contained in about 122 papers, many with only limited distribution and availability. Most of these papers have been published during the last two decades. The geographical distribution of the reports covers all 14 districts of the State. At the order level, Agaricales has the highest number of species (579), followed by Russulales (21). The six most represented genera are Hygrocybe, Entoloma (41 spp. each), Lepiota (39 spp.), Marasmius (27 spp.), Leucocoprinus and Pluteus (22 spp. each). Several of the species are known only from the region and there is a possibility that many are endemic to the region as the level of endemism in the flora and fauna of Kerala is very high. This list covers only a part of the actual diversity of gilled mushrooms in Kerala as studies on the agarics of this region have been uneven, inadequate and therefore inconclusive.

Abstract: This paper discusses the abnormal changes in weather elements observed at a tropical mountain location and a coastal station in India. Abnormal changes were noticed in the atmospheric parameters at a time close to the occurrence of tsunami on the Indian coasts due to high magnitude earthquakes in the Sumatra region on 26 December 2004. Close to the time of this earthquake occurrence, uncharacteristic and large magnitude changes in weather elements were recorded at Braemore (8°45′N, 77°05′E, 360 m amsl), a mountain field station at Western Ghats. Abnormal changes were also recorded at Minambakkam (13°N, 80°18′E, 16 m SLP), close to eastern coastal belts. In the Braemore field station, simultaneous changes were observed in the atmospheric parameters; decrease in pressure by 0.6 hPa, increase in relative humidity by 30% and a prominent reduction in air temperature by more than 3°C on the day of tsunami. Also, unusually the relative humidity did not reach 100% on the previous night. However, in the Minambakkam station, the relative humidity increased by 10% associated with a sharp decrease in temperature by about 2.5°C. The changes in both the stations occurred almost at the same time and duration. Therefore, it may be concluded that these changes are associated with the high magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Abstract: Corals growing in shallow oceanic regions record the radiocarbon variations in ocean surface waters. Tracing bomb radiocarbon in various carbon reservoirs, can help understand the pathways and rates of carbon exchange between the different reservoirs. The northern Indian Ocean comprising two adjoining basins the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal demonstrates contrasting behaviour both in its hydrological condition and CO2 sequestration. In this study, coral based bomb radiocarbon records from the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman Islands in the northern Indian Ocean have been analysed. The estimatesof air-sea CO2 exchange rate based on bomb radiocarbon for the Lakshadweep is 13.4 ± 2.1 mol m−2 yr−1 and for the northern Andaman is 8.8 ± 1.3 mol m−2 yr−1. The bomb radiocarbon based air-sea CO2 exchange over the Indian Ocean follow the trend of empirical relationship with wind speed. Using the air-sea CO2 exchange rates, the net regional CO2 fluxes over the Lakshadweep and the northern Andaman region has been determined.

               Although vaccines confer protection against influenza A viruses, antiviral treatment becomes the first line of defense during pandemics because there is insufficient time to produce vaccines. Current antiviral drugs are susceptible to drug resistance, and developing new antiviral is essential. We studied host defense peptides from the skin of the South Indian frog and demonstrated that one of these, which we named “urumin,” is virucidal for H1 hemagglutinin-bearing human influenza A viruses. This peptide specifically targeted the conserved stalk region of H1 hemagglutinin and was effective against drug-resistant H1 influenza viruses. Using electron microscopy, we showed that this peptide physically destroyed influenza visions. It also protected naive mice from lethal influenza infection. Urumin represents a unique class of anti-influenza virucide that specifically targets the hemagglutinin stalk region, similar to targeting of antibodies induced by universal influenza vaccines. Urumin therefore has the potential to contribute to first-line anti-viral treatments during influenza outbreaks.

Authors and Affiliation: Jibin Pradeepa, E. Shajia, Subeesh Chandran C Sa, Ajas Ha, S.S. Vinod Chandrab, S.G Dhanil Deva, D.S. Suresh Babuc a-Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariyavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 581, India; b-Department of Computer Science, University of Kerala, Kariyavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 581, India; c-National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, India

Abstract: Climate change and other environmental disturbances are causing sea level rise all over the world. Due to sea-level rise and other unprecedented atmospheric phenomena caused by climate change, Indian coasts are vulnerable to coastal erosion. The Kerala coast, at the southern tip of India's west coast, has experienced a sea change in the last decade. To address coastal variations, we investigate coastal erosion, coastal accretion, and shoreline changes (from 2006 to 2020) along this coast between Pozhiyoor and Anchuthengu (58 km). To monitor the status and predict changes along the coast, remote sensing, GIS, field checks, and machine learning tools were used. The data analysis reveals that the shoreline configuration, rate of beach accretion, and erosion have all changed significantly. When the rate of erosion in the 58-km-long coastal stretch was examined, it was discovered that approximately accretion nor erosion and remain in equilibrium. According to the estimates, approximately 2.62 km2 of land has been eroded away from the shore over a 14-year period, while 0.7 km2 of land has been accreted. At locations where the influence of river discharge or groynes is minimal, the normal rate of accretion in the stretch is around 1–2 m/y. Nonetheless, the rate of accretion increased to 5–8 m/y where groynes or river mouths, or both, have a significant influence on shoreline stability. The normal rate of erosion in the stretch under consideration, however, is around 5 m/y. With a rate of 10.59 m/y, Pozhiyoor had the highest erosion rate. According to the data, the rate of erosion is faster between Pozhikkara and Veli. The increase in shoreline changes is primarily may be due to increased cyclone occurrences in the Arabian Sea, the formation of swell waves, changes in wave energy, and sea level rise due to climate change. The slow rate of sediment discharge by rivers, groyne construction, groyne spacing, groyne length, long shore currents, and preferential northward sediment transport all play a role in the formation and destruction of beaches along India's west coast. Using machine learning techniques, a prediction model for the year 2027 was created using data from the previous 14 years (2006–2020). According to the model, almost the entire stretch will experience severe erosion, with the rate remaining consistently high between Shanghumugham and Anchuthengu. As a result, soft and appropriate engineering solutions are required for coastal stability all along the beach, particularly at these two locations after a feasibilty study.

                  Despite being a biodiversity hotspot, the Mahanadi delta is facing groundwater salinization as one of the main environmental threats in the recent past. Hence, this study attempts to understand the dynamics of groundwater and its sustainable management options through numerical simulation in the Jagatsinghpur deltaic region. The result shows that groundwater in the study area is extensively abstracted for agricultural activities, which also causes the depletion of groundwater levels. The hydraulic head value varies from 0.7 to 15 m above mean sea level (MSL) with an average head of 6 m in this low-lying coastal region. The horizontal hydraulic conductivity and the specific yield values in the area are found to vary from 40 to 45 m/day and 0.05 to 0.07, respectively. The study area has been calibrated for two years (2004–2005) by using these parameters, followed by the validation of four years (2006–2009). The calibrated numerical model is used to evaluate the net recharge and groundwater balance in this study area. The interaction between the river and coastal unconfined aquifer system responds differently in different seasons. The net groundwater recharge to the coastal aquifer has been estimated and varies from 247.89 to 262.63 million cubic meters (MCM) in the year 2006–2007. The model further indicates a net outflow of 8.92–9.64 MCM of groundwater into the Bay of Bengal. Further, the outflow to the sea is preventing the seawater ingress into the shallow coastal aquifer system.

               Sediment from twelve stations was sampled from the Tupilipalem Coast, southeast coast of India, and the presence of a set of heavy metals was established including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd). The heavy metals were assessed by factor analysis, the results of which showed positive and/or negative correlations among Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cd. Factor analysis also indicated that heavy metals in the sediments of the study area have different natural and anthropogenic sources. Similarly, a sediment pollution assessment was done using the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). The Geoaccumulation Index indicated that the surface sediment of the Tupilipalem Coast was extremely contaminated with Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The calculation of enrichment factors showed a significant enrichment with respect to Pb, Zn, and Cd and a moderate enrichment with Cr, Cu, and Ni. The falling trend of average contents’ enrichment factors is Cd> Pb> Zn> Cu> Cr> Ni> Mn> Fe. The PLI values of the Cd show higher (>1) values due to the influence of distinct external sources like agricultural runoff, industrial activities, and other anthropogenic inputs. Ninety two percent of heavy metals under study showed the highest concentrations at station TP-5 where the Buckingham Canal and other agricultural and aquacultural effluents connect with the Bay of Bengal. This location is the second inlet which is periodically closed and it seemed that these parts of the study area are heavily affected by anthropogenic pollution

Authors and Affiliation: Manju M. N, Resmi P,  Gireesh Kumar T.R, Ratheesh Kumar C.S, Rahul R,  Joseph M. M and Chandramohanakumar N, Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India

Abstract: Water samples were collected from five selected mangrove ecosystems along Kerala coast, North of Cochin, on seasonal basis and analysed for various hydrographic parameters. To explain spatiotemporal variations and the processes controlling their distribution, ANOVA (two factor without replication), correlation and principal component analysis were carried out. Concentration of total nitrogen varied from 10.26 to 188.38 μM and total phosphorous from 1.53 to 22.88 μM, with comparatively higher concentration in monsoon season which could be attributed by land run off. Chlorophyll pigments recorded significant seasonal variation ranging from ND to 40.86 μg/L (chlorophyll a), ND to 6.00 μg/L (Chlorophyll b) and ND to 13.80 μg/L (Chlorophyll c). Both monsoon and post monsoon seasons recorded higher concentration of pheophytin compared to Chlorophyll a and the maximum concentration of chlorophyll was observed during pre monsoon. Station 2 (Pappinissery) exhibited elevated concentration of nutrients (especially NH4 +) and lower DO content which pointed towards the reducing environment by anthropogenic stress. Factor analysis revealed six components which explained 92.77% of the total variance. It also described the processes like diagenesis, sediment remineralisation, anthropogenic activities, tidal and river influx which make the ecosystem highly complex.

Abstract:

                The benthic foraminiferal diversity index was computed from Beypore estuarysediments. The abundance and diversity of Quinqueloculina lata, Textularia agglutinans, Haplophagmoides canariensis, and Quinqueloculina stelligera were dominated by stress-tolerant taxa such as Ammonia tepida, A.parkinsoniana, Nonion grateloupi, and N. scaphum in the estuary. The small-size foraminiferaprobably perished in a juvenile stage because of the high temperature and low salinity that prevailed in the ecosystem. The dominance of stress tolerant benthic foraminifera and absence of Elphidium species in the estuary suggest the prevalence of hypoxic (low-oxygen) conditions. The consistent low-diversity index of foraminifera indicates that the ecosystem is moderate to highly stressed ecologically in the Beypore estuary. The application of benthic foraminifera as a bioindicator for assessing the environmental stress in the Beypore estuary is key in monitoring these fragile coastal ecosystems.

Journal : Environ. Process. 2, 225–240.Springer International Publishing  Switzerland.

Abstract: The endosulfan-degrading bacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens was isolated, and degradation of endosulfan by freely suspended and calcium-alginate entrapped bacterial cells were investigated in batch as well as in packed bed column studies. Freely suspended Pseudomonas fluorescens cells with biomass maximum OD/OD₀ value of 1.68 at 610 nm could degrade endosulfan with an initial concentration of 350.24 ± 0.83 μg/L efficiently within 12 days, thus utilising endosulfan as the sole carbon and energy source. Degradation of endosulfan occurred concomitantly with bacterial growth. The bacteria immobilised in Ca-alginate beads in batch shake flask system were tested for their ability to degrade endosulfan at different concentrations (350.24 ± 0.83, 450.39 ± 1.95 and 550.85 ± 1.84 μg/L). A total of 125 mL of Broth minimal medium of pH 7 was inoculated with 5 g of wet Ca-alginate beads (derived from a 3-mL cell suspension of 0.72 OD at 610 nm) for the study. Almost similar trends of degradation efficiencies were shown by the immobilised cells toward different concentrations of endosulfan. The complete removal of alpha and beta-isomers of endosulfan at different initial endosulfan concentrations was observed between 9 and 11 days of the experiment. Additionally, the degradation rate in batch reactors with Ca-alginate-immobilised cells also derived from a 3-mL cell suspension of 0.72 OD at 610 nm was tested and found to be marginally higher than that of free cells. Ca-alginate immobilised cells in packed bed reactors operated in a semi-continuous mode could degrade toxic alpha and beta-isomers of endosulfan (350.38 ± 1.18 μg/L) within 6 days. Thus, the method proved effective for biodegradation of endosulfan. The metabolites formed indicated that the degradation of the pesticide follows a hydrolytic pathway.

Water hyacinth, sugarcane bagasse and rice husk are major bio-organic wastes causing severe environmental problems. For their biodegradation, Eisenia fetida was used as a vermicomposting worm in outdoor open field conditions. The above wastes were mixed separately with fresh cow dung in the ratio 1 : 5 (by weight). The mixtures were vermicomposted for 90 days in pits of size 2 × 0.5 × 0.6 m (l × b × d). The population and biomass of earthworms, and C:N ratios in the resultant vermicomposts were studied at the end of experiment.

Spirulina platensis, a cyanobacterium of economic important was studied for the tolerance to cadmium. The bioassay studies showed the EC50 value to be 1.53 mg/g. The cyanobacterium was very sensitive to low metal concentration and the productivity was also reduced. The chlorophyll pigments reduced with decreasing the algal biomass. The algal survival rate showed a marked reduction in their survival rate from 98% in the control medium to >50% at 1.6 mg/L cadmium and no growth in the culture exposed to cadmium concentration of 1.9 mg/L. The Biosorption studies showed that the algae had a great potential for adsorbing the heavy metal on to the cell. A maximum uptake of 44.56 mg/g was obtained in living cells of Spirulina platensis suggesting the possibility of the algae to be a good biosorbent. Culturing the algae in low metal concentrations can be utilized as potential tertiary treatment for metal containing effluent. The immobilized cell of Spirulina platensis was able to be more effective in absorbing the metal 47.89 mg/g to the cell. The results of the study indicate the potentiality of the algae to be a possible agent for removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

This book addresses most of the environmental impacts of sand mining from small rivers. The problems and solutions addressed in this book are applicable to all rivers that drain through densely populated tropical coasts undergoing rapid economic growth. Many rivers in the world are drastically being altered to levels often beyond their natural resilience capability. Among the different types of human interventions, mining of sand and gravel is the most disastrous one, as the activity threatens the very existence of river ecosystem. A better understanding of sand budget is necessary if the problems of river and coastal environments are to be solved.

Of the 50 million people with epilepsy worldwide, around 80% reside in resource-poor countries, which are ill-equipped to tackle the enormous medical, social and economic challenges posed by epilepsy. The capability to identify people with epilepsy and provide cost-effective care is compromised by widespread poverty, illiteracy, inefficient and unevenly distributed health-care systems, and social stigma and misconceptions surrounding the disease. Several studies have reported that a large proportion of patients with epilepsy in resource-poor countries never receive appropriate treatment for their condition, and many, although diagnosed and initiated on treatment, soon discontinue treatment. The high cost of treatment, a lack of availability of antiepileptic drugs, and superstitious and cultural beliefs contribute to a large epilepsy treatment gap. A substantial proportion of the current burden of epilepsy in resource-poor countries could be minimized by educating the public about positive features of life with epilepsy, informing primary and secondary physicians about current trends in the management of epilepsies, scaling up routine availability of low-cost antiepileptic drugs, and developing cost-effective epilepsy surgery programs. A comprehensive epilepsy care model should consider the marked heterogeneity of the disorder and its variable effects on the patient, family and community.

Journal: Elsevier Aquatic Procedia, 4 (2015), DOI 10.1016/j.aqpro2015.02.048, pp 357-364

Abstract: Driving in beach, a fascinating recreational activity is in vogue in a few special beaches in the world. Management plans are formulated for these beaches to overcome the adverse impact of beach driving on the overall coastal ecosystem and to ensure the safety of both the passengers and others who frequent the beach. The management plans for drive-in beaches often deal with the vehicle conditions such as tyre pressure, number of driving wheels and their dimensions and also the environmental conditions of the beach such as wave conditions, storms and stages of tide. However, such a management plan has not been formulated for the Muzhappilangad drive-in beach of Kerala on the southwest coast of India. Generally, this beach experiences only normal changes during the monsoon. However, during the 2013, a portion of the beach underwent severe recession which lead to the ban of vehicles to the eroded part of the beach. A portion of subsequently reformed beach became unfit for vehicle driving. Erosion brought changes to the wave breaking pattern. Plunging waves are observed at some stretches of the eroded beach; spilling breakers continued on either sides of this portion. After reformation, spilling breakers are observed in the entire length of the beach. Samples extracted from three depths by core cutter prior to erosion and after reformation revealed that the mean diameter and standard deviation of the particle changed significantly at the severely eroded portion where plunging breakers are experienced whereas; at other portion of the reformed beach, the changes in the particle size is very nominal.

Abstract: An attempt has been made to classify stratiform and convective rain using an impact type disdrometer at a tropical coastal site based on (Testud et al., 2001) method. Using this classification scheme, all rain events were analysed and computed their duration (minutes) and accumulated water (mm) in convective, stratiform, transition and mixed rain types. For the first time, in this paper an atmospheric electric field mill was used for rain type classification. The classification results were confirmed with disdrometer, Micro Rain Radar (MRR), and atmospheric electric field mill (EFM) observations. In convective rain type, non-bright band and high electric field were correspondingly observed in MRR and EFM records. Whereas bright band and shallow electric fields were detected during stratiform rain in the above observations of instruments. Other supporting evidences were observed from disdrometer also in corresponding rain types. Seasonal variations in rain duration and associated accumulated water were investigated in the four seasons (winter, pre-monsoon, summer monsoon and post-monsoon) for different rain types. General and mixed rain events were identified depending on the presence of stratiform or convective type in them. Percentage of rain duration and events for the study period were analysed with respect to (a) mean monthly rain water availability and (b) the intensity pattern in the total rainfall encountered in each month. Among the four seasons, summer monsoon received maximum rainfall followed by post-monsoon. A bimodal variation in the rainfall with a primary peak in June and secondary peak in October was observed in the annual cycle. Rainfall was intense during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons and less intense during the summer monsoon season. Also, shorter duration rain events were repeated in summer monsoon and fewer rain events of longer duration are resulted during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. In this duration, mixed rain accounts second higher in all the seasons. It was more evident in summer monsoon and least in post-monsoon. Rainfall contribution from convective rain was dominant in all the seasons except in winter. In summer monsoon, mixed and transition rain types have contributed much water among the four seasons. In mixed and transition rain types, mixed rain contributed more in duration and transition contributed more to water. From day-night variation analysis, it was observed that there was day-high and night-low in pre-monsoon and its reversal in post-monsoon season, with almost same occurrence during the summer monsoon. In the case of number of rain events, general (mixed) events were less (more) during the summer monsoon. From statistical analyses, an increase was observed in the duration of rain events from winter to post-monsoon. About 20% of duration was aggregated by longer duration events in all the seasons except during the winter.

A study was performed in Hybrid Up flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (HUASB) and Anaerobic Filter (AF) reactors to compare the start-up time and optimum HRT required for the treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater under similar loading conditions. Initially, the reactors were started at an OLR of 0.77 Kg COD/m3.d and HRT of 36 h. Loading rates were increased by reducing HRT 24, 16, 12, 10 and 8h which corresponds the OLR of 1.15, 1.74, 2.27, 2.74, 3.43 Kg COD/ m3.d. HUASB reactor showed TCOD and SCOD removal efficiencies of 80% and 86%, respectively at an optimum HRT of 10 h whereas AF reactor showed 70% (TCOD) and 79% (SCOD) at optimum HRT of 12 h. Reducing HRT beyond 10h in HUASB reactor shown sludge wash out and lower COD removal efficiencies of less than 80% and beyond 12 h in AF marked decreased efficiencies as low as 66%. HUASB and AF reactors took 120, 147 respectively, for complete start-up. The granules of 2-2.5  mm sizes were observed in HUASB and less than 1 mm were observed in AF with settling velocities ranging between 0.5-0.83 m/min and 0.5-0.65m/min, respectively. From Residence Time Distribution studies, dispersion numbers (<0.2) showed both the reactors attained plug flow regime. The present study revealed that the HUASB reactor has very good removal efficiency and less start-up time compared to that of AF reactor for the treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater.

Journal: Asian Biotechnology And Development Review, 2022

Abstract: Cooperation in areas of science & technology is a crucial element in the India-Australia strategic partnership. Both countries have promoted research & innovation in the areas of biotechnology through research grants, exchange of scholars, visits of Indian scholars to Australian institutions, etc. Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund for Collaborative Research Projects was established under the Indo-Australia innovations partnership. Research relating to Biotechnology in the fields of agriculture, food security, biomedical devices and implants, and marine sciences has been of prime focus in the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). Research promotion in biological systems is one of the crucial areas in recent initiatives taken by both countries in advancing critical and emerging technologies. Today Indian agriculture & allied sectors face numerous challenges from climate change, drought, declining water levels, and substantial losses to crop pests, including insects, rodents, nematodes, fungal pathogens, bacteria, viruses, etc. Abiotic stresses like drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, and mineral toxicity negatively impact the growth of crops. New challenges, therefore, require energizing science diplomacy for greater collaboration with nations, which have developed scientific cultures and advanced systems of facilitating and nurturing innovations in the field of biotechnology and agriculture sciences. In the broader policy framework of science diplomacy, science & technology cooperation, including new technology for the agriculture sector, has been a crucial element of Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy. In addition to bilateral initiatives, the scope for India-Australia science & technology cooperation through multilateral formats such as G20 and Quad should be explored. In this context, the article analyses the India-Australia cooperation in biotechnology and how it can be further expanded in addressing new areas. The paper also analyses India-Australia cooperation and offers an overview of Indo-Australian Career Boosting Gold Fellowships from the Department of Biotechnology and first-hand research experience of La Trobe University, Melbourne, under the programme. IACBGF has been instrumental in widening the exposure and capacity building of independent young researchers working in the domain of biotechnology in Indian academic institutions.

The present paper deals with the distribution of sediment and sediment-bound nutrients in two important coastal lagoons of southern Kerala such as the Ashtamudi Estuarine Lagoon in the Kollam district and the Kadinamkulam Lagoon in the Thiruvananthapuram district. Among the two lagoons, the former is coast perpendicular, and the latter is coast parallel. An analysis of the textural characteristics reveals that, in both lagoons, the estuarine mouth and areas close to it are dominated by sand and sand-rich sediment species, indicating a high-energy depositional regime prevailing the region. On the other hand, the silt and clay dominant arms are almost sheltered and enjoy a low-energy depositional environment. The nutrient and organic carbon contents in the sheltered areas are significantly higher than the most dynamic high-energy estuarine mouth regions. This peculiar behaviour of these coastal water bodies has to be given adequate importance while laying down strategies for the conservation and management of these fragile aquatic systems in the south-western coast of India in particular and tropical coasts of the world in general.

Abstract: Rivers are the major contributors of dissolved materials into the ocean realms. Among the dissolved components, the inorganic forms of nutrients received considerable significance in recent years, as they have a strong bearing on the productivity of the aquatic environments. Although many studies on dissolved nutrient transport are available for the major rivers, much attention has not been made in the small rivers having catchment area <10000 km2. The situation is rather worse in the case of the small rivers in the south western coast of India, especially along the Kerala coast. Therefore, an attempt has been made in this study to address the fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), nitrogen (DIN), phosphorous (DIP) and SO4 from one of the important small, mountainous rivers of Southern Kerala - the Neyyar river. On an average the main channel of the Neyyar river records an amount of 1.92 mg/l of DIC, 1065 μg/l of DIN, 158 μg/l of DIP and 6.54 mg/l SO4. The DIC, DIN, DIP and SO4 in the estuarine environment are 2.03 mg/l, 175 μg/l, 168 μg/l and 67.24 mg/1, respectively. The study reveals that distribution of these geochemical signals in the Neyyar river is function of the intensity of weathering, sedimentary and biologic processes operating in this fluvial system. Flux computation carried out as a part of this study reveals that the Neyyar discharges an amount 11000 kg of DIC, 2500 kg of DIN, 1000 kg of DIP and 500 kg of dissolved SO4 into the receiving coastal waters during summer season.