Cape Comorin Research Articles

THE MAPPILA COMMUNITY AND THEIR CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF INDIA, KERALA

This study mainly focused on lively society of kerala known as Mappila in southern India. The major parts of Mappila community reside in the Kerala state. Their culture and language of Mappila are known as Malayalam and the people are famous as Malayalis. The original homeland of the Mappilas it included from Cape Comorin to Mangalore part of Karnataka State but here given important for Mappilas living inside the land of kerala. The early history of Mappilas goes through to the Arab people when they landed in the coastal shores of Kerala and rest of history continues from them. Early historian noted that these kerala shore was the main trade of spices and ginger for Arab traders which was the main reason caused for repeated visits of Arabs to Kerala. The cultural point of Kerala Hindu people they opened doors both Islam and Christianity, same time kept religious harmony each other. This paper focusing mainly the significant role of Mappila community, history and development of their culture among kerala society.

Assessment on impact of sewage in coastal pollution and distribution of fecal pathogenic bacteria with reference to antibiotic resistance in the coastal area of Cape Comorin, India

Sewage is one of the biggest contributors to coastal pollution. The study was aimed to assess the impact of sewage on coastal water quality of Kanyakumari, the southernmost part of India. A bacteriological survey was made on distribution and abundance of fecal indicators and human pathogenic bacteria and seasonal influence on the bacterial load and antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Samples were collected from sewage discharge point along the eastern shore of Kanyakumari Coast from February 2019 to January 2020. Nine pollution indicator bacteria and pathogenic species such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Aeromonas spp., Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella spp. and Flavobacterium spp. were isolated from the samples. These isolates were tested against 10 antibiotics, using Kirby Bauer method. All the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics. The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has been used as bio-indicators of pollution. Hence it is clear that the domestic sewage entering the coast is untreated which might lead a serious impact on human and marine wildlife along coastlines.

Census of Sacred Groves in Cape Comorin, Peninsular India

Sacred groves are tracts of virgin forest that are left untouched by the local communities, harbours rich biodiversity and are protected by the local people for their spiritual and religious significance. They are the immaculate patches of native biodiversity that are preserved in their original state. They are the sites to conserve habitats and serve as sanctuaries for endemic species. During the field survey, 289 sacred groves were identified from Kanyakumari district in which Vilavancode taluk possess 155 (54%), followed by Kalkulam 101 (35%), Thovalai 19 (6%) and Agateeswaram 14 (5%) taluks of the district. Totally 614 plant species were recorded from the studied groves. Most of the sacred groves are governed by a single family (Thani Kaavu). Nagaraja was worshiped commonly as main deity or along with other deities. Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa were the dominating sacred trees. These conservation pockets of biodiversity are on the verge of extinction. So we should take necessary steps to conserve biodiversity by conserving these precious groves.

Easterly wave activity and associated heavy rainfall during the pre-monsoon season of 2005

Waves in easterlies are a tropical disturbance, which are moving from east to west or west-northwest (WNW). Over the Indian region, easterly waves occur mainly in winter, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. These easterly waves have attracted the attention of many researchers due to the associated heavy rainfall, lightning and thunder squalls. Influence of easterly waves is less explored during pre-monsoon season. It is seen that during years 2001–2015, a total of 80 cases of trough in easterlies were witnessed by southern peninsular India in the pre-monsoon season. The maxima occurred in March (43 cases), followed by April (25 cases) and May (12 cases). It is observed that the year 2005 witnessed the longest spell of easterly waves for 18 days during 24 March to 10 April 2005, which is quite unusual. The event has claimed a death toll of 55 people in the two states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and heavy rains associated with this event damaged many houses and huts in Tamil Nadu. The unusual nature of the event has prompted us to undertake the study in details. In all, the event witnessed six systems as troughs in easterlies with their movement westwards from south Andaman Sea region to Lakshadweep and southeast Arabian Sea and Sri Lanka and adjoining Cape Comorin area. An attempt has been made to study the event of easterly waves during the year 2005 by exploring winds, temperature advection, vorticity, moisture convergence and potential instability. The causative reason is due to culmination of positive temperature advection, its multiple interactions with deep convective clouds and moisture incursion from anticyclonic flow close to eastern coast of south peninsular region of India. Observing the waves with the internal mechanism makes the study useful for operational forecasting and provides a better understanding of easterly waves.

Active tectonics and its impacts over groundwater systems in the parts of Tamil Nadu, India

The relation between the fracture systems and the groundwater movement has been well demonstrated all over the world. Though studies have been carried out on the morphology, chronology and the dynamics of the fractures and their control over groundwater in hard rock aquifer systems, the role of active tectonics over groundwater has not been studied much and the groundwater has been targeted accordingly. In this connection, in the present study, database was generated on the annual mean water levels of 1800 observation wells for the years 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995 from the state of Tamil Nadu, the overall mean water levels were worked out for the 5 years for these 1800 wells and digital elevation model was generated using GIS on such overall mean water level. The same indicated that groundwater levels occur as alternately arranged East–West trending elliptical domes/ridges and elliptical basins/valleys, from Cape Comorin in the south to Chennai in the north. Though these groundwater valleys and ridges broadly follow the cymatogenic arches and deeps, the groundwater valleys significantly coincide with Ramanathapuram and Chennai post collision East–West trending cymatogenic arches and the groundwater ridges coincide similarly with the cymatogenic deeps/grabens. The digital elevation models generated for the mean water level data individually for the above 5 years, for a test site in the parts of northern Tamil Nadu in proximity to Chennai arch region, indicated similar alternately aligned E–W local groundwater ridges and valleys. The axes of these E–W trending groundwater ridge and valley features of 1975 gradually attained an hourglass shape in 1995 with the axes of the southern groundwater valleys attaining northerly convexity and the northern valleys the southerly convexity. In addition, the groundwater cone of 60 km radius seen amidst many groundwater valley features in the DEM in proximity to Chennai arch region appears to have gradually shrunk from 1975 to 1995. All these indicate that these are the reflections of ongoing tectonic arching and deepening due to the still active northerly to north north-easterly oriented compressive force which has originally drifted the Indian plate towards northerly. From this, it can be further surmised that instrument-based finer water level monitoring could give indications on active tectonics, from which not only potential groundwater zones can be located but also seismicities can be predicted.

Attitude of the Tourists towards the Availability of Facilities in and around Madurai Region - A Study

The early history of tourism is the story of the development of mobility of man. Both in the pre-historic era and later, man searched for things he wanted and he travelled for food, shelter or just for curiosity. ‘Attitude’ is an abstract concept; it cannot be directly measured in quantitative terms. There is no fixed value or score which will help measure the attitude. But the attitude can be measured indirectly with the help of scaling technique. The level of attitude may vary from one tourist to another and from time to time. A comprehensive study has been made to highlight the level of attitude, the variation in the levels of attitude and their relative importance to each component identified for measuring the level of attitude. This paper presents the attitude of tourists towards tourist facilities available in and around Madurai region. An airstrip with facilities for landing and takeoff, of mini planes and helicopters of private travel agencies at least should be established at Cape Comorin. It will put the entire district on the international and national tourist map.

Devasahayam: The First Martyr For Jesus Christ In Travancore

Travancore was the first and foremost among the princely states of India to receive the message of Jesus Christ. According to tradition, St. Thomas the Apostle came to India in 52 A.D. He made many conversions along the west coast of India. It had to the beginning of Christian Community in India from the early Christian era. He attained martyrdom in 72 A.D. at Calamina in St. Thomas mount, Madras. He was the first to be sacrificed for the sake of Christ in India. During the close of the second century A.D. the Gospel reached the people of southern most part of India, Travancore. Emperor Constantine deputed Theophilus to India in 354 A.D. to preach the Gospel. During this time the persecution of Christians in Persia seemed to have brought many Christian refugees to Malabar coast and after their arrival it strengthened the Christian community there. During the 4th century A.D. Thomas of Cana, a merchant from West Asia came to Malabar and converted many people. During the 6th century A.D. Theodore, a monk, visited India and reported the existence of a church and a few Christian groups at Mylapore and the monastery of St. Thomas in India. Joannes De Maringoly, Papal Legate who visited Malabar in 1348 has given evidence of the existence of a Latin Church at Quilon. Hosten noted many settlements from Karachi to Cape Comorin and from Cape Comorin to Mylapore. The Portuguese were the first European power to establish their power in India. Under the Portuguese, Christians experienced several changes in their general life and religion. Vas-co-da-gama reached Calicut on May 17, 1498. His arrival marked a new epoch in the history of Christianity in India. Many Syrian Catholics were brought into the Roman Catholic fold and made India, the most Catholic country in the East. Between 1535 to 1537 a group of Paravas were converted to Christianity by the Portuguese. In 1544 a group of fishermen were converted to Christian religion. St. Francis Xavier came to India in the year 1542. He is known as the second Apostle of India. He laid the foundation of Latin Christianity in Travancore. He could make many conversions. He is said to have baptized 30,000 people in South India. Roman Congregation of the propagation of Faith formed a Nemom Mission in 1622. The conversion of the Nairs was given much priority. As a result, several Nairs followed Christian faith particularly around Nemom about 8 k.m. south of Trivandrum. Ettuvitu pillaimars, the feudal chiefs began to persecute the Christians of the Nemom Mission. Martyr Devasahayam, belonged to the Nair community and was executed during the reign of Marthandavarma (1729-1758). It is an important chapter in the History of Christianity in South India in general, and of Travancore in particular.

La pointe nord de Sumatra et la côte orientale de l’Inde : horizons économiques (XIIe s.-XVIIe s.)

The northern Tip of Sumatra and the eastern Coast of India : economic opportunities (12th-17th centuries). This article considers the economic history of the northern tip of Sumatra in the longue durée by focusing on its interactions with the east coast of India, defined here as the coastline between Chittagong and Cape Comorin, from the twelfth to the seventeenth centuries. It is based on two assumptions : these interactions were continuous during the period under study here, and detailed contemporaneous archaeological data from neighbouring areas, especially from Barus on the west coast, are relevant to remedy the paucity of data available for the northern tip itself. Indian inscriptions and Western sources, whether travelogues or trading companies archives, especially from the VOC, complete the corpus of sources. Three aspects are considered : the bases of the economic positioning of the northern tip of Sumatra in relation to the eastern coast of India, the various categories of actors involved in this economic history, and finally the main trading places on the eastern coast India for which economic contacts with the northern tip of Sumatra were likely or attested during the period under study here.

Biosorption and Bio-Kinetic Properties of Solar Saltern Halobacterial Strains for Managing Zn2+, As2+ and Cd2+ Metals

Halobacteria are extreme halophilic archaeobacteria belonging to the family Halobacteriaceae. Geomicrobiologists are concerned about saline tolerant organisms with metal toxicity and bioremediation. Soil samples of Cape comorin coast were analyzed and the zinc, arsenic and cadmium biosorbent halobacterial strains were isolated. Among the fifty-six halobacterial strains isolated, Halobacterium saccharovorum, Hb. salinarium and Natronobacterium gregoryi showed maximum resistance up to 0.01, 0.001 and 0.001 mM against zinc, arsenic and cadmium, respectively. Biokinetic feature such as maximum specific growth rate (μmax. d−1), the rate of trace metal removal [s], and half velocity constant [Ks] were calculated. The SEM-EDS pictures show the metal uptake of the halobacterial isolates. It assumes that Hb. saccharovorum, Hb. salinarium and Natronobacterium gregoryi isolated from the salt pan of Rajakkamangalam coast Tamilnadu in India can be used as metals bioremident.

Geochemical and Isotopic Signatures of Surficial Sediments from the Western Continental Shelf of India: Inferring Provenance, Weathering, and the Nature of Organic Matter

Abstract Bottom sediments from thirteen transects sampled mainly at depth contours of 30, 100, and 200 m along the western continental margin of India, falling in two offshore sectors from Dwaraka to Goa and Cape Comorin to Goa, were analyzed for calcium carbonate, major elements in silicate fraction, trace and rare earth elements in the bulk fraction, and carbon and nitrogen isotopes in organic matter to understand the provenance of sediments, weathering patterns in the source areas, and nature of organic matter. Major elements such as Si, Ti, Mg, and discrimination plots involving alkalies and silica have shown a distinct north–south provinciality, with the source signatures pointing at Deccan basalt for sediments in the north (from Dwaraka to Goa) and gneisses and granulites of South India in the south. Shale-normalized REE patterns and REE content suggest additional local sources mainly in the southwest coast of India. Degree of alteration determined using Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA), and A-CN-K plots have suggested that the sediments are moderately weathered despite the intense orographic rainfall in the source area. Variability in degree of chemical weathering is seen with the change in provenance. In general, the sediments north of Goa with a provenance of Deccan basalts show a higher chemical weathering index. Corg/N molar ratios are mostly between 10 and 12 (minimum and maximum being 6.9 and 14 respectively), which are closer to values for marine organic matter. This is corroborated by marine δ13C values (−18.2 to −21.6‰). While they broadly fall within the marine values, heavier values are seen in northern transects off Porbandar and Dwaraka, where the sediments have a provenance different from those in the south. This could be due to a higher contribution from C4-type vegetation in the north, consistent with heavier δ13C values in terrestrial plants in source regions. Heavier δ15N values are observed for the northern transects (north of Ratnagiri), which is supported by the intense denitrification in the northern Arabian Sea.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants along the Southwest Coast of India

ABSTRACT An intensive enthopharmaoclogical survey was conducted among siddha, ayurveda, traditional practitioners, and local people along the coastal areas of Cape Comorin to evaluate the potential of flora in the coastal lands to treat diseases and illness. A total of 40 informants, ranging in age from 60 to 90 years of age, were interviewed using an informal questionnaire. Responses to the survey reported 129 medicinal genera in 56 families used for medicinal purposes in the coastal region. Of these plants, 19 were reported as being used for the treatment or control of livestock ailments. The remaining plants were reported as used to treat human ailments, such as skin diseases (8 species), leukorrhea (6 species), inflammation (15 species), diabetes (5 species), jaundice (4 species), rheumatism (9 species), kidney stones (5 species), and wound healing (6 species). The remaining plants were used to treat other ailments, including migraines, intestinal cancer, scabies, body pain, venereal disease, premature ejaculation, liver disease, malarial fever, cough, worms, chicken pox, dandruff, hydrocele, rabies, abscesses, and teeth and gums. A single plant Marsilea quadrifolia L. was reported as a pteridophytic member.

Evidence of reworking and resuspension of carbonates during last glacial maximum and early deglacial period along the southwest coast of India

A gravity core collected from the upper slope of southwest of Quilon at a water depth of 776 m (Lat: 8°12′263″N, Long: 76°28′281″E) was analysed for texture (carbonate free), calcium carbonate and organic carbon. Variation in silicic fraction seems to be controlled by silt, i.e., enrichment from 15 ka BP to 10 ka BP and then constant in Holocene. Below 15 ka BP, the silicic fraction gets depleted compared to the Holocene section with a minimum around 21 ka BP. Clay content remains nearly constant except in the Holocene where it shows an enrichment. Carbonate content of less than 63 micron when computed by subtracting coarse fraction content from the total carbonate suggests that the total carbonates are mainly concentrated in the finer fraction. All these carbonate phases show an inverse relationship with silicic fraction except in Holocene. Below 15 ka BP, CaCO3 dominates in sediments comprising more than 65%, such an increase is also seen in the coarse fraction. Coarse fraction from these sections contains abundant nodular type aggregates encrusting small forams. This period is marked by a high sedimentation rate comparable to Holocene. These parameters suggest that the productivity and precipitation have increased in the Holocene due to the intensification of the southwest monsoon. During the last glacial maximum and early deglacial period the high sedimentation rate indicates redeposition of the carbonates from the existing carbonate lithofacies situated between Quilon and Cape Comorin probably due to the slope instability.

Rock magnetic records of the sediments of the eastern Arabian Sea: Evidence for late Quaternary climatic change

Rock-magnetic measurements along with grain size, acid-insoluble residue (AIR), organic carbon (OC), CaCO 3 and δ 18O of the planktonic foraminifers of the sediments were determined for 15 gravity cores recovered from the western continental margin of India. Magnetic susceptibility (MS) values in the surficial sediments reflect the land-derived input and, in general, are the highest in terrigenous sediment-dominated sections of the cores off Saurashtra–Ratnagiri, followed by the sediments off Indus–Gulf of Kachchh and then Mangalore–Cape Comorin. The down-core variations in mineral magnetic parameters reveal that the glacial sediments off the Indus are characterized by low MS values/ S-ratios associated with high AIR-content, low OC/CaCO 3 contents and relatively high δ 18O values, while those off SW India are characterized by low MS values/high S-ratio% associated with low AIR content, and relatively high OC, CaCO 3 and δ 18O values. Conversely, the Early Holocene sediments of all cores are characterized by high MS values/ S-ratio% associated with high AIR content, low OC, CaCO 3 contents and gradually decreased δ 18O values. These results imply that during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the cores off northwestern India received abundant continental supply leading to the predominance of eolian/fluvial sedimentation. In the SW region the influence of hinterland flux is less evident during this period, but convective mixing associated with the NE monsoon resulted in increased productivity. During the early Holocene intense SW monsoon conditions resulted in high precipitation on land, which in turn contributed increased AIR content/MS values in the continental margin sediments. A shallow water core off Kochi further suggests that the intense SW monsoon conditions prevailed until about 5 ka. The late Holocene organic-rich sediments of the SW margin of India were, however, subjected to early diagenesis at different intervals in the cores. Therefore, caution is needed when interpreting regional climatic change from down-core changes in sediment magnetic properties.

Significance of relic carbonate deposits along the central and southwestern margin of India for late Quaternary environmental and sea level changes

Environmental and sea level indicators were investigated using dredge samples from late Quaternary carbonate deposits along the shelf break between Goa and Cape Comorin, India. Geomorphic features in the area were identified from sonar profiles and included isolated patch reefs with a relief of up to 10 m, and linear reefs with reliefs between 2 and 15 m. The main clast types recovered from these features include fragmented corals and carbonate nodules dominated by either encrusted foraminifera or coralline algae. Some of these clast types are clearly of shallow-water origin. Fragments of reef-forming Poritid corals, for example, were collected off Mangalore at depths of 110–105 m and dated between 11,520 and 12,610 14C years BP (13.42–14.77 ka). Nodules of similar age dominated by Lithothamnium and capped by foraminiferal veneers were also collected at −90 m off Cape Comorin. Their altered algal tissues are consistent with formation in shallow water, high-energy conditions. In contrast, nodules recovered off Kochi and Mangalore–Goa are of deeper water origin, younger in age (10,980–7350 14C years BP), and are dominated by Gypsina encrustations with volumetrically less algal encrustation. They show cyclic succession of foraminiferal–algal, or foraminiferal–algal–coral laminations in which the algal species are typical of deeper waters. The age and elevation of corals and shallow-water nodules are both consistent with published glacio-eustatic sea-level curves. In addition, the alternate micro-encrustations of foraminifera, algae and encrusting corals could indicate changing conditions from nutrient-rich and turbid to nutrient-poor and clear water that may be attributable to seasonal variations in sediment flux caused by monsoons.

Late Quaternary sea level and environmental changes from relic carbonate deposits of the western margin of India

Relic carbonate deposits along the western margin of India occur as dolomite crusts, aragonite sands (pelletal / oolitic) and aragonite-cemented limestones, oyster shells, corals, encrusted coralline algal and foraminiferal-dominated nodules. The petrology and mineralogy of the deposits indicate that except for aragonite sands and foraminiferal nodules, the others were formed in shallow marine conditions and serve as sea level indicators. Radiocarbon dates were measured for 62 relic deposits covering the entire margin. The age of these deposits on the continental shelf off Cape Comorin and Mangalore, between 110 and 18 m depth, ranges between 12, 61014C yr BP and 6,39014C yr BP. On the northwestern margin of India, especially on the carbonate platform (between 64 and 100 m), the age ranges from 17,250 to 6,73014C yr BP. The relic deposits of the Gulf of Kachchh at depths between 35 and 25 m are dated at 12,550–9,63014C yr BP. The age vs. depth plot of the relic deposits further indicates that the Gulf of Kachchh was inundated much early, atleast by 15 ka, after the Last Glacial Maximum, and was subjected to uplift and subsidence during the Holocene. The carbonate platform subsided during the early Holocene. Some of the relic deposits between Cape Comorin and Mangalore plot on or, closely follow the glacio-eustatic sea level curve. Despite abundant siliciclastic flux discharged by the Narmada and Tapti during the early Holocene, the platform off these rivers is largely devoid of this flux and carbonate sedimentation continued until 6,70014C yr BP. We suggest that the river-derived sediment flux diverted southwards under the influence of the SW monsoon current and, thereby, increased the turbidity on the shelf and slope southeast of the carbonate platform and facilitated the formation of deeper water foraminiferal nodules off Vengurla-Goa.

History at Land's End: Lemuria in Tamil Spatial Fables

This paper seeks to address the theme of this volume by exploring the place of the fabulous in the imaginary geographies of a lost world in the Indian Ocean.I begin with three enchanted flights of imagination that seek to convey a useful truth. All three are occasioned by travel to a real place—Kanyakumari, the “Cape Comorin” of colonial atlases, and the land's end of the Indian peninsula and of its Tamil-speaking region (“Tamil Nadu”).

Holocene and Late Pleistocene relative sea level fluctuations along the east coast of India

Abstract Hermatypic coral colonies and intertidal fossil bearing grainstone, packstone and sandstone beds of Holocene and of a Late Pleistocene highstand are exposed above the present High Tide Level (HTL) at a number of locations along the east coast of India from Cape Comorin to Rameswaram. Being a passive margin boundary, free from indications of Late Quaternary seismogenic movements, this sector provides a benchmark for defining minor relative sea level perturbations during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene highstands along a tropical coast lying between latitudes 5°N and 10°N. A series of marine terraces, carved on and locally blanketted by Late Pleistocene biotic and terrigenous accumulations, occur at different elevations (up to 4.4 m) above LTL at Manappad Point, possibly signifying discrete stillstand episodes followed by abrupt intervals of rising/falling sea level. Sea level indicators of the Holocene highstand occur in this sector, as well as along the fringes of the Godavari delta further north. The Holocene highstand reached nearly 3 m above LTL at 7.3 ka, remained stable for approximately 1.7 kyr and was followed by a relative sea level fall. Between 5.2 and 4.2 ka, there was a second pulse of relative sea level rise of a few metres leading to a fresh spurt in coral growth along the northern coast of Mandapam and Rameswaram. This was nearly contemporaneous with fresh melting of ice sheets of Antarctica. The Little Ice Age (LIA) witnessed a minor (>1 m) relative sea level fall along this coast, resulting in rapid diagenetic hardening and infiltration of goethite into the emerged foreshore sand at Karikovil and its neighbourhood. This was followed by a rise of the sea level during the last few centuries.

Microstrain stability of Peninsular India 1864–1994

We report the results of the South Indian Strain Measuring Experiment (SISME) designed to determine whether strain related to microseismicity in the past century may have deformed the networks of the 19th century Great Trigonometrical Survey of India (GTS). More than a dozen GTS points were measured between Mangalore, Madras, and Kanyakumari in southernmost India using GPS geodesy to determine regional deformation. Detailed measurements were made near two of the original baselines of the survey to determine the reliability of dilatational strain data for the network. The regional measurements revealed negligible regional dilatational (+ 11.2 + 10 microstrain) and shear strain changes (0.66± 1.2μradians) in the southernmost 530 km of India. In addition to these measurements, we determined the rate of northward and eastward motion of a point in Bangalore (1991–1994) in the ITRF92 reference frame to be 39 ± 3.5 mm/year, and 51 ± 11 mm/year respectively. This is consistent with NUVEL-1A plate motion estimate for India. Simultaneous measurements to a point near Kathmandu reveal that the Indian plate and the Southern Himalaya are moving approximately in unison, placing an upper limit on the rate of creep processes beneath the lesser Himalaya of ≈6 mm/year, and suggesting relatively rigid behavior of the Indian plate north of Bangalore. The stability of the Indian plate is confirmed by the absence of significant changes in the lengths of the two baselines at Bangalore and Cape Comorin, which, within the limits of experimental error have not changed since 1869. The measurements place an upper limit for recent deformation in the southern peninsula, and hence a lower limit for the renewal time for intraplate earthquakes in the region of approximately 10,000 years, assuming shear failure strain of approximately 100 μradians. This, in turn, implies that recurrence intervals for Peninsular Earthquakes far exceed the length of the written historic record, suggesting that the characterisation of seismic recurrence intervals from historical studies is likely to be fruitless. In contrast, the SISME experiment demonstrates that the noise level of geodetic studies based on 19th century GTS data is less than 0.02 μstrain/year, providing considerable scope for delineating regions of anomalously high seismogenic strain, by GPS measurements at all available trig points of the 19th century GTS survey.

Survey of Cyanobacterial Flora of the Southern East Coast of India

A preliminary survey was made of over 500 kilometers of the southern east coast of India starting from Nagore in the Bay of Bengal (19°50'N and 79°50'E) and ending at Cape Comorin in the Indian Ocean (8°5'N and 77°33'E) including Palk Strait, Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. The survey of cyanobacteria in each region included different areas viz. open sea, stagnant sea water ponds and puddles, backwaters and salt pans. During the survey the nature of the sea shores in all the regions were examined and representative samples of sea water were taken from different regions for chemical analysis (...)

Carbonate mineralogy and faunal relationship in tropical shallow water marine sediments: Cape Comorin, India

The carbonate mineralogy of Recent sediments from the western and eastern continental shelves around Cape Comorin off the southern tip of India was determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. The results show that in the sediments where benthic foraminifera are the most abundant component, as on the extreme western side and on a narrow strip between the depths of 40 and 50 m, on the eastern side (Gulf of Manaar), the carbonate mineralogy is dominated by high magnesium calcite. In sediments where molluscs exceed other components, as on the eastern shelf between 10 and 40 m, the most abundant mineral is aragonite. Low-magnesium calcite does not appear to be related to depth or carbonate components.