The fields of barley, rice and wheat that feed much of India are running out of water, according to a new study based on satellite data and published online in Nature today. The heartland of last century's Green Revolution lost 109 cubic kilometers of water from its Indus River plain aquifer between August 2002 and October 2008. (Scientific American is part of the Nature Publishing Group.)
"By our estimates, the water table is declining at a rate of one foot per year averaged over the Indian states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, including the national capital territory of Delhi," an area in northwestern India that covers more than 438,000 square kilometers, says NASA hydrologist Matthew Rodell, lead author of the paper. "We are not able to estimate the total amount of groundwater in storage [in the aquifer], so we can't say when it will be gone, but residents are already feeling the effects and it will only become worse."
The consequences include wells that run dry, water shortages in India's capital and, potentially, a decline in yields from agriculture. India's Ministry of Water Resources has long suggested that tapping the aquifer for irrigation was exceeding the limited regional rainfall that replenishes its water, and the World Bank has warned that the country faces a water crisis. On a yearly basis, nearly 63 cubic kilometers of water are drawn from the aquifer, whereas the Indian government estimates that roughly 45 cubic kilometers of water recharge the aquifer annually.
The scientists relied on data from the pair of GRACE satellites—NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment orbiters launched in 2002—that measure subtle changes in Earth's gravitational field, which are often the result of shifting water, whether on the surface or deep beneath it. In addition to large-scale water losses detected in Greenland and other polar regions by the GRACE satellites, northwestern India stands out as another area of rapid water loss. "Basically, it is like we weigh Earth every month and we look at the changes," explains geophysicist Isabella Velicogna of the University of California, Irvine, part of the research team.
The primary reason for such groundwater depletion is irrigation, which has fed the Green Revolution that transformed cereal production in the region and helped sustain a growing population that has reached 114 million people. Between 1970 and 1999 irrigated fields in India tripled in overall extent to cover more than 33 million hectares.
That irrigation now looks unsustainable: "The problem is that groundwater consumption was not capped at a sustainable level and now it will be difficult to curb demand," Rodell notes.
It is also clear that global warming's accelerated melting of the nearby Himalayan glaciers is not the primary culprit in the region's water deficit. These meltwaters feed the rivers of northwestern India and beyond, but that water soon flows out of the area and is lost to it. Even with a generous assumption that all Himalayan glacial melting since 1962 (roughly 13.4 cubic kilometers per year) was concentrated in the 150-kilometer stretch of land closest to the study zone rather than spread across the entirety of the Himalayas, the scientists could explain, at most, 15 percent of the water loss in northwestern India. And the arid region's rainfall levels were above the average of 50 centimeters per year from 2002 to 2008.
The water contained in the Indus River plain aquifer, once pumped, is lost to the region via evaporation from irrigation or transpiration from irrigated plants. And GRACE has detected similar depletion in the U.S., as well, including the Ogallala Aquifer under the western plains and the groundwater in the California's Central Valley. "Groundwater resources are being rapidly depleted in many regions of the world," says U.C. Irvine hydrologist James Famiglietti, another team member. "These signals of groundwater loss, in particular in the Central Valley, are very strong."
The solution may be to impose limits on pumping aquifer water— particularly in the case of northwestern India, which uses it to fill seasonal rice paddies covering some 38,000 square kilometers. "If farmers would shift away from water-intensive crops, such as rice, and implement more efficient irrigation methods, that would help," Rodell says.
As population growth continues and food production increases, however, demand for groundwater will only increase, Famiglietti warns. Nevertheless, this research, he says, "suggests that we can keep track of rates at which groundwater reserves are dwindling the world over."
(Courtesy:SciAm.)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Paleo-Climate Labels of Late Quaternary, Southern Tamil Nadu.
Paleo-Climate Labels of Late Quaternary, Southern Tamil Nadu.
Thrivikramj.K.P. and Joseph, S
thrivikramji@gmail.com
Formerly, University of Kerala, Dept. of Geology, Kariavattom Campus, 695581
Univ. of Kerala, Environmental Sciences, Kariavattom Campus, 695581
Abstract
The planet earth, since the very early days of its history, had gone through dramatic climate shifts (like repetitive glaciations, Humid-temperate spells and periods of aridity) of widely varying amplitudes. The labels of past climate or climate shift are invariably or often hidden in the rocks, especially in fossil assemblages, mineral associations, sedimentary facies associations, geochemical attributes etc.. Further older the rock formation, harder it is for the labels to come by, which is primarily due to multiple deformations and variations in the chemistry of pervading fluids through the rock-intergranular- pores. .
The Teris of southern Tamil Nadu, a fairly contiguous and distinctly prominent sedimentary deposit, coloured in sharp or well defined shades of red, is noticed in the Tirunelveli Dist. (Table 1). Colour of the sand sheet ranges from yellowish red (5YR 4.5/6) to dark reddish brown (2.5 YR ¾) and to dark red (10R 3/6) Teris are broadly grouped into the ITD or Inland Teris Deposits (with poorly sorted, medium to coarse sand) occurring adjacent to the eastern side of the Western Ghats (area =~33.0 km2) and CTD (moderately sorted, medium sand) or coastal teri deposits (area=387.0 km2) positioned adjacent to modern or ancient shorelines of the Tirunelveli Dist.
This thick sheet sand of variable thickness especially in the CTD has been moulded into large barchans, barchanoids and transverse-subaerial-dunes, which in turn are covered by bedforms like ripples of different morphologies, suggesting the current occurrence of a dynamic surface layer of wind driven sand. This “sea of red sand” is unique to India, in that that there is no other comparable occurrence anywhere else in the rest of the country.
The Teri sand sheet rests unconformably either on variably weathered and/or eroded Precambrian basement (e.g..Kulathur) or on a calcareous sandstone (e.g., at Melmandi) or on a fossiliferous limestone bed (like at Meyyur and Menjanapuram). Inspite of the considerable thickness of the sand body (10.0 m at Sattankulam and 12.0 m at Ovari), the primary depositional structures are difficult to discern in the sections – perhaps due to shift in mass balance during pedogenesis.
The ITD has a large content of feldspar, in contrast with the CTDs wherein large presence of opaques and subordinate feldspar are noticed. Clay fraction in both ITD and CTD is not only autochthonous but display larger bulk of kaolinite and subordinate content of illite. Hematite and goethite dominate the mineralogy of cutan.
The kaolinisation (a humid climate label) and illitisation (a semi-arid climate label) processes that the teri sand underwent did not over lap instead the former preceded the latter. The scarce or intensely corroded garnet grains, altered pyriboles, opaques and feldspar in the teri sediment unequivocally point to intrastratal origin of cutan.
The ubiquitous occurrence of rhizoliths of calcrete in the teris of Syyarpuram and Sattankulam, and calcretisation of the basement crystallines rimming the teri sheet sand clearly indicate the continuation of the semi-aridity that promoted ilitisation of earlier formed kaolinite through the modern times. The 14C date of 3680+-110 yr B.P. of calcrete, is a robust timeline indicating transition from the humid to semi-arid climate in southern Tamil Nadu.
Further, in future i.e., by 2050, the extent of semi-arid zone in Tamil Nadu and rest of India are bound expand and enlarge further forced by the climate change phenomenon. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu state along with the other Indian states will have to brace itself to face up the challenges of the impending climate change by harnessing the tools and services of science and technology , and possibly a a new and appropriate life style..
-------------------------------
Thrivikramj.K.P. and Joseph, S
thrivikramji@gmail.com
Formerly, University of Kerala, Dept. of Geology, Kariavattom Campus, 695581
Univ. of Kerala, Environmental Sciences, Kariavattom Campus, 695581
Abstract
The planet earth, since the very early days of its history, had gone through dramatic climate shifts (like repetitive glaciations, Humid-temperate spells and periods of aridity) of widely varying amplitudes. The labels of past climate or climate shift are invariably or often hidden in the rocks, especially in fossil assemblages, mineral associations, sedimentary facies associations, geochemical attributes etc.. Further older the rock formation, harder it is for the labels to come by, which is primarily due to multiple deformations and variations in the chemistry of pervading fluids through the rock-intergranular- pores. .
The Teris of southern Tamil Nadu, a fairly contiguous and distinctly prominent sedimentary deposit, coloured in sharp or well defined shades of red, is noticed in the Tirunelveli Dist. (Table 1). Colour of the sand sheet ranges from yellowish red (5YR 4.5/6) to dark reddish brown (2.5 YR ¾) and to dark red (10R 3/6) Teris are broadly grouped into the ITD or Inland Teris Deposits (with poorly sorted, medium to coarse sand) occurring adjacent to the eastern side of the Western Ghats (area =~33.0 km2) and CTD (moderately sorted, medium sand) or coastal teri deposits (area=387.0 km2) positioned adjacent to modern or ancient shorelines of the Tirunelveli Dist.
This thick sheet sand of variable thickness especially in the CTD has been moulded into large barchans, barchanoids and transverse-subaerial-dunes, which in turn are covered by bedforms like ripples of different morphologies, suggesting the current occurrence of a dynamic surface layer of wind driven sand. This “sea of red sand” is unique to India, in that that there is no other comparable occurrence anywhere else in the rest of the country.
The Teri sand sheet rests unconformably either on variably weathered and/or eroded Precambrian basement (e.g..Kulathur) or on a calcareous sandstone (e.g., at Melmandi) or on a fossiliferous limestone bed (like at Meyyur and Menjanapuram). Inspite of the considerable thickness of the sand body (10.0 m at Sattankulam and 12.0 m at Ovari), the primary depositional structures are difficult to discern in the sections – perhaps due to shift in mass balance during pedogenesis.
The ITD has a large content of feldspar, in contrast with the CTDs wherein large presence of opaques and subordinate feldspar are noticed. Clay fraction in both ITD and CTD is not only autochthonous but display larger bulk of kaolinite and subordinate content of illite. Hematite and goethite dominate the mineralogy of cutan.
The kaolinisation (a humid climate label) and illitisation (a semi-arid climate label) processes that the teri sand underwent did not over lap instead the former preceded the latter. The scarce or intensely corroded garnet grains, altered pyriboles, opaques and feldspar in the teri sediment unequivocally point to intrastratal origin of cutan.
The ubiquitous occurrence of rhizoliths of calcrete in the teris of Syyarpuram and Sattankulam, and calcretisation of the basement crystallines rimming the teri sheet sand clearly indicate the continuation of the semi-aridity that promoted ilitisation of earlier formed kaolinite through the modern times. The 14C date of 3680+-110 yr B.P. of calcrete, is a robust timeline indicating transition from the humid to semi-arid climate in southern Tamil Nadu.
Further, in future i.e., by 2050, the extent of semi-arid zone in Tamil Nadu and rest of India are bound expand and enlarge further forced by the climate change phenomenon. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu state along with the other Indian states will have to brace itself to face up the challenges of the impending climate change by harnessing the tools and services of science and technology , and possibly a a new and appropriate life style..
-------------------------------
THE EMAK WORKSHOP (Nov.3-4/11/09, Trivandrum)
SUGGESTIONS TO THE DRAFING COMMITTEE OF THE EMAK WORKSHOP
(Nov.3-4/11/09, Trivandrum)
thrivikramji@gmail.com
1. With the exception of distributing CFL to the BPL segment of the society, for good reasons or no reasons the state government is not paying any serious attention to the issue of climate change and consequences to the state of Kerala. In fact being a littoral state and drained by the 41 west flowing rivers the people are endowed with decent quantities of water for irrigation, drinking and power generation. By 2050 the state may add another crore of people raising the annual water demand.
Keralites shall start feeling the consequences of CC by 2025. The erratic monsoons and the current weak NE monsoon may become the order of the day. Any decrease or unseasonal rains in Kerala will immediately be reflected in the following year in the states economy, which is an agricultural economy.
The fall production of rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom, coconut, arecanut and other farm produce will affect the SDP of the state. No need to indicate the consequences of water scarcity, spread of vectoral diseases, heat exhaustion, general unrest among the individuals in the society etc which are projected as other potential distresses.
Therefore to advice the government on policy decisions and if necessary in formulating legislations, the Govt. must create a Climate Change Commission as a statutory body., which will advice the government on measures, policies and initiatives to mitigate or adapt the consequences of climate change.
2. Along the lines of other committees of legislature, a separate Legislative Committee on climate change needs to be created to assist the state legislature in formulating mitigation and adaptation measures.
3. Essential changes in the statutes of the agriculture department should be introduced to require the sellers of pesticides in the state to give a brief cautioning the applicator to use safety gadgets like dress and masks.
4. CWRDM has launched a study of water quality in the state of Kerala. The CPCB assists the state board in doing similar water quality checks in the state. It is advisable to have the agencies collect water samples from the same collection points or sampling stations in the respective rivers to enable cross comparison and avoidance possible disparities.
------------------
.
(Nov.3-4/11/09, Trivandrum)
thrivikramji@gmail.com
1. With the exception of distributing CFL to the BPL segment of the society, for good reasons or no reasons the state government is not paying any serious attention to the issue of climate change and consequences to the state of Kerala. In fact being a littoral state and drained by the 41 west flowing rivers the people are endowed with decent quantities of water for irrigation, drinking and power generation. By 2050 the state may add another crore of people raising the annual water demand.
Keralites shall start feeling the consequences of CC by 2025. The erratic monsoons and the current weak NE monsoon may become the order of the day. Any decrease or unseasonal rains in Kerala will immediately be reflected in the following year in the states economy, which is an agricultural economy.
The fall production of rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom, coconut, arecanut and other farm produce will affect the SDP of the state. No need to indicate the consequences of water scarcity, spread of vectoral diseases, heat exhaustion, general unrest among the individuals in the society etc which are projected as other potential distresses.
Therefore to advice the government on policy decisions and if necessary in formulating legislations, the Govt. must create a Climate Change Commission as a statutory body., which will advice the government on measures, policies and initiatives to mitigate or adapt the consequences of climate change.
2. Along the lines of other committees of legislature, a separate Legislative Committee on climate change needs to be created to assist the state legislature in formulating mitigation and adaptation measures.
3. Essential changes in the statutes of the agriculture department should be introduced to require the sellers of pesticides in the state to give a brief cautioning the applicator to use safety gadgets like dress and masks.
4. CWRDM has launched a study of water quality in the state of Kerala. The CPCB assists the state board in doing similar water quality checks in the state. It is advisable to have the agencies collect water samples from the same collection points or sampling stations in the respective rivers to enable cross comparison and avoidance possible disparities.
------------------
.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Benefits of Flaxseed
The Benefits of Flaxseed
Is flaxseed the new wonder food? Preliminary studies show that flaxseed may help fight everything from heart disease and diabetes to breast cancer.
By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. That’s quite a tall order for a tiny seed that’s been around for centuries: flaxseed.
Flaxseed was cultivated in Babylon as early as 3000 BC, according to the Flax Council of Canada. By the 8th century, King Charlemagne believed so strongly in the health benefits of flaxseed that he passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it. Fast-forward 13 centuries, and some experts would say we have preliminary research to back up what Charlemagne suspected all those years ago.
These days, flaxseed is found in all kinds of foods, from crackers to frozen waffles to oatmeal. In the first 11 months of 2006, 75 new products were launched that listed flax or flaxseed as an ingredient. Not only has consumer demand for flaxseed gone up, agricultural use has also increased -- to feed all those chickens laying eggs that are higher in omega-3 fatty acids.
Although flaxseed contains all sorts of healthy components, it owes its healthy reputation primarily to three ingredients:
Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.
Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods
Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.
The Health Benefits of Flax
Although Lilian Thompson, PhD, an internationally known flaxseed researcher from the University of Toronto, says she wouldn’t call any of the health benefits of flax "well established," research indicates that flax’s possible health benefits include reducing the risks of certain cancers as well as cardiovascular disease and lung disease. Here are more details:
Cancer
Recent studies have suggested that flaxseed may have a protective effect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. At least two of the components in flaxseed seem to contribute, says Kelley C. Fitzpatrick, M.Sc., director of health and nutrition with the Flax Council of Canada.
In animal studies, the plant omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, called ALA, inhibited tumor incidence and growth.
Further, the lignans in flaxseed may provide some protection against cancers that are sensitive to hormones. Some studies have suggested that exposure to lignans during adolescence helps reduce the risk of breast cancer, Thompson says.
Lignans may help protect against cancer by:
Blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism.
Interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells.
Some of the other components in flaxseed also have antioxidant properties, which may contribute to protection against cancer and heart disease
(Courtesy:WebMD
Is flaxseed the new wonder food? Preliminary studies show that flaxseed may help fight everything from heart disease and diabetes to breast cancer.
By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. That’s quite a tall order for a tiny seed that’s been around for centuries: flaxseed.
Flaxseed was cultivated in Babylon as early as 3000 BC, according to the Flax Council of Canada. By the 8th century, King Charlemagne believed so strongly in the health benefits of flaxseed that he passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it. Fast-forward 13 centuries, and some experts would say we have preliminary research to back up what Charlemagne suspected all those years ago.
These days, flaxseed is found in all kinds of foods, from crackers to frozen waffles to oatmeal. In the first 11 months of 2006, 75 new products were launched that listed flax or flaxseed as an ingredient. Not only has consumer demand for flaxseed gone up, agricultural use has also increased -- to feed all those chickens laying eggs that are higher in omega-3 fatty acids.
Although flaxseed contains all sorts of healthy components, it owes its healthy reputation primarily to three ingredients:
Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.
Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods
Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.
The Health Benefits of Flax
Although Lilian Thompson, PhD, an internationally known flaxseed researcher from the University of Toronto, says she wouldn’t call any of the health benefits of flax "well established," research indicates that flax’s possible health benefits include reducing the risks of certain cancers as well as cardiovascular disease and lung disease. Here are more details:
Cancer
Recent studies have suggested that flaxseed may have a protective effect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. At least two of the components in flaxseed seem to contribute, says Kelley C. Fitzpatrick, M.Sc., director of health and nutrition with the Flax Council of Canada.
In animal studies, the plant omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed, called ALA, inhibited tumor incidence and growth.
Further, the lignans in flaxseed may provide some protection against cancers that are sensitive to hormones. Some studies have suggested that exposure to lignans during adolescence helps reduce the risk of breast cancer, Thompson says.
Lignans may help protect against cancer by:
Blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism.
Interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells.
Some of the other components in flaxseed also have antioxidant properties, which may contribute to protection against cancer and heart disease
(Courtesy:WebMD
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
SUGGESTIONS TO THE DRAFING COMMITTEE OF THE EMAK WORKSHOP
SUGGESTIONS TO THE DRAFING COMMITTEE OF THE EMAK WORKSHOP
(Nov.3-4/11/09)
thrivikramji@gmail.com
I1. With the exception of distributing CFL to the BPL segment of the society, for good reasons or no reasons the state government is not paying any serious attention to the issue of climate change and consequences to the state of Kerala. In fact being a littoral state and drained by the 41 west flowing rivers the people are endowed with decent quantities of water for irrigation, drinking and power generation. By 2050 the state may add another crore of people raising the annual water demand.
Keralites shall start feeling the consequences of CC by 2025. The erratic monsoons and the current weak NE monsoon may become the order of the day. Any decrease or unseasonal rains in Kerala will immediately be reflected in the following year in the states economy, which is an agricultural economy.
The fall production of rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom, coconut, arecanut and other farm produce will affect the SDP of the state. No need to indicate the consequences of water scarcity, spread of vectoral diseases, heat exhaustion, general unrest among the individuals in the society etc are projected as other potential distresses.
Therefore to advice the government on policy decisions and if necessary in formulating legislations, the Govt. must create a Climate Change Commission as a statutory body., which will advice the government on measures, policies and initiatives to mitigate or adapt the consequences of climate change.
2. Along the lines of other committees of legislature, a separate Legislative Committee on climate change needs to be created to assist the state legislature in formulating mitigation and adaptation measures.
3. Essential changes in the statutes of the agriculture department should be introduced to require the sellers of pesticides in the state to give a brief cautioning the applicator to use safety gadgets like dress and masks.
4. CWRDM has launched a study of water quality in the state of Kerala. The CPCB assists the state board in doing similar water quality checks in the states. It is advisable to have the agencies collect water samples from the same collection points or sampling stations in the respective rivers to enable cross comparison and avoidance possible disparities.
(Nov.3-4/11/09)
thrivikramji@gmail.com
I1. With the exception of distributing CFL to the BPL segment of the society, for good reasons or no reasons the state government is not paying any serious attention to the issue of climate change and consequences to the state of Kerala. In fact being a littoral state and drained by the 41 west flowing rivers the people are endowed with decent quantities of water for irrigation, drinking and power generation. By 2050 the state may add another crore of people raising the annual water demand.
Keralites shall start feeling the consequences of CC by 2025. The erratic monsoons and the current weak NE monsoon may become the order of the day. Any decrease or unseasonal rains in Kerala will immediately be reflected in the following year in the states economy, which is an agricultural economy.
The fall production of rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom, coconut, arecanut and other farm produce will affect the SDP of the state. No need to indicate the consequences of water scarcity, spread of vectoral diseases, heat exhaustion, general unrest among the individuals in the society etc are projected as other potential distresses.
Therefore to advice the government on policy decisions and if necessary in formulating legislations, the Govt. must create a Climate Change Commission as a statutory body., which will advice the government on measures, policies and initiatives to mitigate or adapt the consequences of climate change.
2. Along the lines of other committees of legislature, a separate Legislative Committee on climate change needs to be created to assist the state legislature in formulating mitigation and adaptation measures.
3. Essential changes in the statutes of the agriculture department should be introduced to require the sellers of pesticides in the state to give a brief cautioning the applicator to use safety gadgets like dress and masks.
4. CWRDM has launched a study of water quality in the state of Kerala. The CPCB assists the state board in doing similar water quality checks in the states. It is advisable to have the agencies collect water samples from the same collection points or sampling stations in the respective rivers to enable cross comparison and avoidance possible disparities.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Basu da calls for procongress votes.
The commien in WB are in deep distress so that the grand old man, Basuda is asking for congress supporters to support the leftists to stave off the win by Trinamool as well as congress candidates. Basuda is right because it is his last wish that commies come back with flying colours so that he can rest in peace. Luck has it that that kind of peace running away from the commies court to noncommies.
After 30 yr of misrule of WB or partisan rule of WB the population the aam aadmi learned well and instantly that they are madeup their minds to rout the commies.
Like they enjoyed a nonchallenegd stay in power for the last thirty tears, it is time for relaxing and brooding without power. Days are gone for the commies both in WB and Kerala. The hospitals, mansions in every town, amusement parks all are symbols of the commies attitude to aam aadmi. All we need is only a vote nothing more. Dont ask anything from us. We will promise and not give. This is the neocommies new slogan.
Well that is the way it is on the second day of Nov. 09.
After 30 yr of misrule of WB or partisan rule of WB the population the aam aadmi learned well and instantly that they are madeup their minds to rout the commies.
Like they enjoyed a nonchallenegd stay in power for the last thirty tears, it is time for relaxing and brooding without power. Days are gone for the commies both in WB and Kerala. The hospitals, mansions in every town, amusement parks all are symbols of the commies attitude to aam aadmi. All we need is only a vote nothing more. Dont ask anything from us. We will promise and not give. This is the neocommies new slogan.
Well that is the way it is on the second day of Nov. 09.
AERATE PONDS AND LAKES: RENEW THEIR LIFE AND OUR PLEASURE
AERATE PONDS AND LAKES: RENEW THEIR LIFE AND OUR PLEASURE
thrivikramji@gmail.com
Introduction
World over the ponds and lakes are destined to die biologically and to disappear to the dislike of vast majority of nature lovers as well as those making a livelihood directly or indirectly out of these. Though the reasons for the degeneration are not unknown, due to other priorities and commitments, scarcely we turn our attention to these water bodies.
However, due to reasons like scarcity of water due to rising demands and impending climate change phenomenon, this natural water harvesting structure began to attract the attention of the society and societal leaders. Yet, at least in our country especially in the semi-arid zones in our country, it seems to me that proposal regarding the clarification of these ponds has restricted itself to utilization of NREGS funds, to cut and remove manually the humus laden mud from the bed of the ponds, if and when these go dry at least partially
But given the climate of Kerala, the chances for these ponds going dry to allow complete or even partial removal of the accumulated sediment (mud) at the bottom are relatively rare. More over complete desilting of the pond bed goes contrary to the assumption of resulting higher efficiency is also grossly misplaced hydro-geologically.
By desilting process we effectively remove a seamless water seal covering the pond bed. For at least a short period of say 5 to 10 yr., the pond will be a water loosing structure after desilting. Of course there is the plus point of the pond recharging the aquifer. Unfortunately this recharge process sets in as early as the beginning of the rainy season and hence the final aim of recharging the aquifer is also missed.
In other words the aquifer will earn the water leaking from the pond bed and in turn will release it to the streams. Or else, the intent of improving or enhancing the duration of base flow will not materialize at least for a period of under a decade. It is the fine mud that seals the bottom of the pond and restricts the speedy loss to the aquifer.
Menace of Eutrophication
Incidentally, whether they be temple/public/private ponds, due to continued neglect the waters in these structures have reached the peak of eutrophication, which is result of accumulation of nutrients mainly from phosphate based bath or washing soaps, and fertilizer residues or farm discharge. Express symbol of the eutrophication is the luxurious growth of amphibious (both floating and rooted ones along the shores) vegetation, after whose death needs large quantities of oxygen/air for their decay.
Oxygen enters the water only along the water-air interface. As a consequence, eutrophication enhances the organic sedimentation in the pond/lake and attains a peak by encouraging the encroachment by the rooted amphibious plants to the dismay of the users and reduced biodiversity of fish life. When the oxygen level in waters diminishes only very small fish that can survive with little oxygen live in the pond and that too very close to the surface to harvest the little oxygen entering the waters from the air above it. Of course the larger fish cannot survive in these waters, because of the lack or reduced oxygen levels in the bottom layers of the water column.
.
.
Status of Ponds in Kerala
This concept though had been in vogue for a long time in t he western societies, had never had a chance to be considered around here in our country, primarily because of our limitations regarding the affordability and partly due to unfamiliarity or exposure. The Kerala Fisheries Development Corporation had published a multi volume set of books called Panfish and in one of those there is a list of districts of Kerala printed against the number of ponds and the aerial coverage.
Anyone who had walked along the embankment along side a pond would know for sure the degree of negligence; these heritage water harvesting structures are in. More over what is also unknown to the non-specialist is the fact that these ponds are destined to be filled over by sediment and organic debris generated in situ as well as these days dumped by the town and city cleaning staff, if periodic revival is not undertaken.
In fact with little more scientific attitude and a desire to salvage these structures, we as a society can conserve the scarce water now and by 2050 with the playing out of the consequences of climate change. Well, again with a changing climate, I very much doubt about the continuation of the pattern of precipitation that we currently receive around here in our state.
In terms of science, all the ponds or at least the majority of ephemeral ponds are in some state of eutrophication. In lay citizens parlance it is the infestation of water surface with floating and fixed or rooted weeds closer to the shoreline in the limewaters. This is the plain consequence of rising levels of nutrients in the pond waters, i.e., due to accumulation of fertilizer residues as well as use of phosphate based soap for washing clothes or bathing. With the rise in nutrients, the waters get enriched in weeds turning the pond water unusable. As the life cycle of these weeds are short, they die early and for the decay put great pressure on the oxygen levels of the water. The oxygen depletion is directly proportional to the density of weeds and inversely proportional to the fish life etc. Scientifically speaking if this process continues, the pond will turn to a marsh and become useless in so far as original intent at the time building of the pond. These ponds are in an advanced state of eutrophication.
In the early stages, the water will acquire a greenish colour from a distance and will only look turbid if taken in the cupped palm of hand. The greenishness is the direct result of presence of algae and the first km in the road to eutrophication.
Any solutions?
In this background there is a not so old a technology practiced all over the world for us to consider and adopt. This type of clarification of water bodies is by aeration or if really flush with funds, by the process of oxygenation. This technology came into being with the improvements in the waste water collection, disposal and clarification before discharging into natural water bodies like ponds, streams and rivers.
Aeration is a scaled up version of the aerator in the home aquarium. A properly conceived and design of aerator if installed in the pond/s, the onward march to eutrophication can be decelerated and even reversed in the longer run. There are several internationally known outfits undertaking such tasks, with their outposts in the country.
All the waste water and waters in the ponds and lakes that have reached peak eutrophication can be easily rehabilitated with the aeration process. The chief mechanism among the various methods of aeration is erection of fountains in the ponds and lakes (E.g., Lake Geneva, where these fountains are visible right from the windows of airplanes landing in the runway of the Geneva airport).
Though city center fountains have been considered as symbol of affluence and wealth, when built and operated in the dirty waters of community/temple/public ponds and lakes, they serve the hidden purpose of aerating the waters and reviving the water health of such water bodies
When constructed in the pond or lake, it will be a wonderful attraction to passers by the visitors and leisure seekers during the summer months. Indeed it is a pity that even the GCDA had not yet implemented a set of dancing fountains to the upstream of Venduruthy or Thevara bridges away from the ship channel and harbors in the Kayal, and other places in the lagoons coastal land of Kerala.
Equally potentially ideal locations can be located in the Pookottu kayal, Sasthamkotta kayal or Vellayani Kayal. I might even go to the extent of building such fountains in the temple ponds of most crowded temples of the state like the Padmatheertham, Guruvayoor temple pond and so on.
Summary
1. The ponds whether they be in public/temple/private ownerships, all have one thing in common, i.e., they are all under a high degree of eutrophication.
2. Eutrophication is a consequence of abundant supply of nutrients from anthopogenic sources especially in respect of the ponds/lake either close to or in the middle of towns and cities. Eutrophication is a state of a pond, where by the dissolved oxygen is at its lowest level or even absent at least at the sediment water interface. As a consequence the diversity of fish life is reduced to minimum and leaving only small fish to survive and that too along the water-air interface.
3. One of the ways of getting rid of the problem of eutrophication is to build systematically placed water fountains. These play a role very much similar to the aeration pumps we buy and maintain in the home aquarium.
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thrivikramji@gmail.com
Introduction
World over the ponds and lakes are destined to die biologically and to disappear to the dislike of vast majority of nature lovers as well as those making a livelihood directly or indirectly out of these. Though the reasons for the degeneration are not unknown, due to other priorities and commitments, scarcely we turn our attention to these water bodies.
However, due to reasons like scarcity of water due to rising demands and impending climate change phenomenon, this natural water harvesting structure began to attract the attention of the society and societal leaders. Yet, at least in our country especially in the semi-arid zones in our country, it seems to me that proposal regarding the clarification of these ponds has restricted itself to utilization of NREGS funds, to cut and remove manually the humus laden mud from the bed of the ponds, if and when these go dry at least partially
But given the climate of Kerala, the chances for these ponds going dry to allow complete or even partial removal of the accumulated sediment (mud) at the bottom are relatively rare. More over complete desilting of the pond bed goes contrary to the assumption of resulting higher efficiency is also grossly misplaced hydro-geologically.
By desilting process we effectively remove a seamless water seal covering the pond bed. For at least a short period of say 5 to 10 yr., the pond will be a water loosing structure after desilting. Of course there is the plus point of the pond recharging the aquifer. Unfortunately this recharge process sets in as early as the beginning of the rainy season and hence the final aim of recharging the aquifer is also missed.
In other words the aquifer will earn the water leaking from the pond bed and in turn will release it to the streams. Or else, the intent of improving or enhancing the duration of base flow will not materialize at least for a period of under a decade. It is the fine mud that seals the bottom of the pond and restricts the speedy loss to the aquifer.
Menace of Eutrophication
Incidentally, whether they be temple/public/private ponds, due to continued neglect the waters in these structures have reached the peak of eutrophication, which is result of accumulation of nutrients mainly from phosphate based bath or washing soaps, and fertilizer residues or farm discharge. Express symbol of the eutrophication is the luxurious growth of amphibious (both floating and rooted ones along the shores) vegetation, after whose death needs large quantities of oxygen/air for their decay.
Oxygen enters the water only along the water-air interface. As a consequence, eutrophication enhances the organic sedimentation in the pond/lake and attains a peak by encouraging the encroachment by the rooted amphibious plants to the dismay of the users and reduced biodiversity of fish life. When the oxygen level in waters diminishes only very small fish that can survive with little oxygen live in the pond and that too very close to the surface to harvest the little oxygen entering the waters from the air above it. Of course the larger fish cannot survive in these waters, because of the lack or reduced oxygen levels in the bottom layers of the water column.
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Status of Ponds in Kerala
This concept though had been in vogue for a long time in t he western societies, had never had a chance to be considered around here in our country, primarily because of our limitations regarding the affordability and partly due to unfamiliarity or exposure. The Kerala Fisheries Development Corporation had published a multi volume set of books called Panfish and in one of those there is a list of districts of Kerala printed against the number of ponds and the aerial coverage.
Anyone who had walked along the embankment along side a pond would know for sure the degree of negligence; these heritage water harvesting structures are in. More over what is also unknown to the non-specialist is the fact that these ponds are destined to be filled over by sediment and organic debris generated in situ as well as these days dumped by the town and city cleaning staff, if periodic revival is not undertaken.
In fact with little more scientific attitude and a desire to salvage these structures, we as a society can conserve the scarce water now and by 2050 with the playing out of the consequences of climate change. Well, again with a changing climate, I very much doubt about the continuation of the pattern of precipitation that we currently receive around here in our state.
In terms of science, all the ponds or at least the majority of ephemeral ponds are in some state of eutrophication. In lay citizens parlance it is the infestation of water surface with floating and fixed or rooted weeds closer to the shoreline in the limewaters. This is the plain consequence of rising levels of nutrients in the pond waters, i.e., due to accumulation of fertilizer residues as well as use of phosphate based soap for washing clothes or bathing. With the rise in nutrients, the waters get enriched in weeds turning the pond water unusable. As the life cycle of these weeds are short, they die early and for the decay put great pressure on the oxygen levels of the water. The oxygen depletion is directly proportional to the density of weeds and inversely proportional to the fish life etc. Scientifically speaking if this process continues, the pond will turn to a marsh and become useless in so far as original intent at the time building of the pond. These ponds are in an advanced state of eutrophication.
In the early stages, the water will acquire a greenish colour from a distance and will only look turbid if taken in the cupped palm of hand. The greenishness is the direct result of presence of algae and the first km in the road to eutrophication.
Any solutions?
In this background there is a not so old a technology practiced all over the world for us to consider and adopt. This type of clarification of water bodies is by aeration or if really flush with funds, by the process of oxygenation. This technology came into being with the improvements in the waste water collection, disposal and clarification before discharging into natural water bodies like ponds, streams and rivers.
Aeration is a scaled up version of the aerator in the home aquarium. A properly conceived and design of aerator if installed in the pond/s, the onward march to eutrophication can be decelerated and even reversed in the longer run. There are several internationally known outfits undertaking such tasks, with their outposts in the country.
All the waste water and waters in the ponds and lakes that have reached peak eutrophication can be easily rehabilitated with the aeration process. The chief mechanism among the various methods of aeration is erection of fountains in the ponds and lakes (E.g., Lake Geneva, where these fountains are visible right from the windows of airplanes landing in the runway of the Geneva airport).
Though city center fountains have been considered as symbol of affluence and wealth, when built and operated in the dirty waters of community/temple/public ponds and lakes, they serve the hidden purpose of aerating the waters and reviving the water health of such water bodies
When constructed in the pond or lake, it will be a wonderful attraction to passers by the visitors and leisure seekers during the summer months. Indeed it is a pity that even the GCDA had not yet implemented a set of dancing fountains to the upstream of Venduruthy or Thevara bridges away from the ship channel and harbors in the Kayal, and other places in the lagoons coastal land of Kerala.
Equally potentially ideal locations can be located in the Pookottu kayal, Sasthamkotta kayal or Vellayani Kayal. I might even go to the extent of building such fountains in the temple ponds of most crowded temples of the state like the Padmatheertham, Guruvayoor temple pond and so on.
Summary
1. The ponds whether they be in public/temple/private ownerships, all have one thing in common, i.e., they are all under a high degree of eutrophication.
2. Eutrophication is a consequence of abundant supply of nutrients from anthopogenic sources especially in respect of the ponds/lake either close to or in the middle of towns and cities. Eutrophication is a state of a pond, where by the dissolved oxygen is at its lowest level or even absent at least at the sediment water interface. As a consequence the diversity of fish life is reduced to minimum and leaving only small fish to survive and that too along the water-air interface.
3. One of the ways of getting rid of the problem of eutrophication is to build systematically placed water fountains. These play a role very much similar to the aeration pumps we buy and maintain in the home aquarium.
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