Rann Of Kachchh Research Articles

Sabarmati and its connection with the Harappan port Lothal and the Nal corridor: A study using multi-sensor data, cloud-computing and multi-platforms

Lothal is situated approximately 30 km inland from the Gulf of Khambhat on the western coast of India in Gujarat. It served as a bustling port during the Bronze Age Harappan period (2600 BCE to 1900 BCE) and was connected to a series of Harappan production and distribution centres dotted along the Gulf of Kachchh and the Rann of Kachchh. Artefacts of foreign nature found in Lothal attest to its intercultural trade relation. Further, Lothal is renowned for its well-preserved brick-walled dockyard and warehouse. However, different views for and against the dockyard are available in archaeological literature. This study revisits the dockyard theory from the landscape perspective and integrates information extracted from early maps, multi-spectral and multi-temporal satellite data of different spatial resolutions, and Digital Elevation Models to understand the larger context of the palaeolandscape around Lothal, including both fluvial and coastal areas. The findings offer fresh perspectives on the hydrographic dynamics of the region, highlighting an evident direct connection between Lothal and the former course of River Sabarmati, one of the major rivers in Gujarat that currently flows 20 km east of Lothal. The reconstruction of the palaeolandscape, both fluvial and coastal, complements and verifies certain interpretations related to the dockyard theory, partially bridging the ‘credibility gap’ in the broader discussion and strengthening the arguments in favour of the dockyard theory. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of integrating various types of geospatial data to understand past landscapes. Further investigation of the reconstructed palaeolandscape, particularly the complex hydrographic network including rivers and creeks, of this historically important region has the potential to contribute to new insights into existing archaeological and geomorphological interpretations and may guide us about the past human adaptation to the natural dynamics.

Bacillus subtilis ER-08, a multifunctional plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, promotes the growth of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) plants under salt and drought stress.

Sustainable agriculture and meeting the world's food needs face considerable obstacles from abiotic stresses such as soil salinity and drought. This critical issue was addressed by our current study, which sought to uncover multi-trait bioinoculants from hostile ecosystems that could help mitigate salinity and drought stresses at the same time. The Bacillus subtilis ER-08 (BST) strain was isolated from the halotolerant plant Fagonia cretica which was collected from the Little Rann of Kachchh, India. Various biochemical and molecular approaches were applied for the detailed characterization of the BST isolate. The BST isolate demonstrated notable plant growth-promoting qualities. Fenugreek seed biopriming was performed using the BST isolate. The effect of BST seed treatment on fenugreek developmental indices as well as abiotic alleviation was examined under greenhouse conditions. The BST produced 83.7 g ml-1 gibberellins (GA3) and 176.1 g ml-1 indole-3 acetic acid. Moreover, hydrogen cyanide, siderophore, exopolysaccharides (EPS), ammonia, cellulase, protease, pectinase, and chitinase were also produced by the BST strain. Interestingly, 52% of Fusarium oxysporum mycelial growth was suppressed by the BST isolate under in vitro conditions. Furthermore, BST isolates functioned well under several abiotic stress conditions, for instance, salinity (4 and 6 ds m-1), pH (5, 7, and 9), drought (PEG6000 at 10%, 20%, and 30%), and temperature (25°C, 35°C, 37°C, and 55°C). This study indicates that the BST strain might serve as an effective bio-inoculant for minimizing the detrimental effects of abiotic stresses.

Depositional Environment of Jurassic Beds of Bela Island, Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India Using Ostracodes

The present study focuses on understanding the depositional environment of Jurassic beds of Bela Island, Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India which is deduced mainly based on evidence furnished by ostracode fauna. Based on the distribution of 57 ostracode species in Jurassic beds of Bela Island, three biozones, in ascending order, Cytheropteron micropunctata Range Zone (early-middle Bathonian), Progonocythere laeviscula Range Zone (late Bathonian- early Callovian) and Habocythere mouwanaensis Range Zone (early-middle Callovian), have been established. The beds of lowermost Zone were deposited in shallow brackish water environment in the initial phase of marine transgression; the beds of middle zone were deposited at moderate rate of sedimentation in shallow sublittoral environment during the transgressive phase of sedimentary cycle; and the beds of uppermost zone were deposited in the shallow and brackish water condition in regressive phase of sedimentary cycle. Keywords: Ostracode, Depositional Environment, Jurassic Beds, Bela Island, Rann of Kachchh

Check-list of Pteridophytes from Gujarat State, Western India

Gujarat is the westernmost state of India and is known for varied climatic conditions starting from moist deciduous forest to pure desert conditions as in the Greater Rann of Kachchh. A major part of the geographical area of Gujarat is a semi-arid region with dry climatic conditions; but studies on pteridophyte diversity of Gujarat state have always been neglected by botanists. Consequently, the diversity of pteridophytes in the state was poorly represented with 12 genera and only 16 species reported in previous literature. The present investigation was carried out to document species diversity and to update the checklist of pteridophytes occurring in Gujarat state. A total of 50 naturally occurring species or subspecies representing 23 genera in 14 families were collected from different regions of the state. An additional 13 species cultivated in the University Botanical Garden or in homes and gardens have also been noted. Among the indigenous species, Aleuritopteris anceps, A. formosana, Ceratopteris thalictroides subsp. thalictroides, Ophioglossum indicum, O. lancifolium, O. lusoafricanum and O. petiolatum are reported as new distributional records for the state. The maximum diversity was observed in south Gujarat, followed by Central Gujarat and the Saurashtra region whereas less diversity was observed in the North and Kachchh regions. Results of our study are compared to findings made by earlier workers.

Palaeoclimatic and sea-level fluctuations from the last deglaciation to late Holocene from western India: Evidence from multiproxy studies

• At least 4 episodes of marginal marine sedimentation environments are reported between last deglaciation to the late Holocene in Western India.. • The first phase of deposition under marine influence is at ~20 ka BP, the second phase between ~11,210 and 9759 cal yr BP and third phase of sea level rise at around ~6118 cal yr BP. The final phase of marine to marginal marine conditions are noted to be of post ~2650 ± 180 cal yr BP until ~1530 ± 350 cal yr BP. • There were coeval dry climatic conditions of the Older Dryas and Younger Dryas periods besides the warm and humid conditions of the Bolling-Allerod period. • During the last deglaciation to late Holocene times, at several times the Gulf of Kachchh extended inland and the rivers debouched into these extended gulfs rather than in the Little Rann as seen at present. A sediment core from a palaeochannel distributary of the Saraswati River basin in western India was investigated through a multi-proxy study using palynology, phytoliths, sedimentology, geochemistry, magnetic mineralogy and chronology. The site is located at the eastern margin of the Little Rann of Kachchh in the northwestern part of the Gujarat Alluvial Plains. The goal was to reconstruct the paleoclimatic and sea level flucutations spanning from the last deglaciation to the late Holocene in the area. The core records suggest at least four episodes of marginal marine environment between the last deglaciation and the late Holocene. The first phase of sediment deposition under marine influence was observed post LGM. The signatures of coeval dry climatic conditions of Older Dryas and Younger Dryas periods besides warm and humid conditions of Bølling-Ållerød period are reflected in the core records. The second phase of rise in sea level occurred between ~11,210 and ~9795 cal yr BP, which falls within the period of high gradient of sea-level rise of western India. The third phase of global sea level rise in the area is at around ~5747 cal yr BP which coincides with a high sea level phase along the west coast of India. The final recurrence of sediments with predominant marine signatures post ~2650 ± 180 cal yr BP until ~1530 ± 350 cal yr BP suggests marine to marginal marine conditions in the area.

Active tectonics of eastern segment of the South Wagad Fault Zone, Kachchh, Western India

The present study describes the active tectonic features of the eastern segment of the South Wagad Fault Zone (SWFZ) of the Kachchh Rift Basin (KRB). The SWFZ defines the southern margin of the Wagad uplift with a series of small domes and anticlines forming a low hill range. Geomorphologically, the SWFZ is expressed by the presence of the South Wagad Hill range to the north and the south sloping Samkhiyali and Lakadia plains to the south. The easternmost part of the SWFZ consists of domes and anticlines having a rugged topography, which comprises of Mesozoic to Neogene rocks and is practically unexplored as far as their active tectonic characterizations are concerned. The geomorphic expression of the SWFZ in the eastern segment consists of the Gagodar, Kanmer, Guan and Mardak domes and anticlines. They are exposed as a series of linear mounts projected amidst the Little Rann of Kachchh and surrounded by the alluvial sediments of easterly flowing rivers as well as the Rann sediments. The active nature of the eastern SWFZ is portrayed by warping, flexuring, alluvial fans, tilted Quaternary deposits, scarps, gullied surfaces, slickensides and knickpoints. Presence of wave cut cliff and notches at Mardak Bet suggests that the eastern segment of SWFZ is marginally uplifted during Middle to Late Holocene period. We provided a detailed morphotectonic map of the eastern segment of SWFZ, which can be used for future infrastructural development, town planning and seismic hazard assessment in the region. Further, the study suggests that the seismically silent eastern segment of the active SWFZ is capable of generating a large magnitude earthquake similar to the 2001 Bhuj earthquake or the 1819 Allah Bund earthquake in the future, owing to long-term stress accumulation.

Cyanobacterial diversity in mat sample obtained from hypersaline desert, Rann of Kachchh.

Rann of Kachchh (RoK) is a unique geoformation, which is exposed to dynamic environmental changes such as salinity, temperature, and nutrients throughout the year. In this study, the pooled mat sample was examined for the cyanobacterial community structure using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. Taxonomic profiling was studied using amplicon sequencing that revealed the enrichment of Pseudanabaenales and Oscillatoriales by QIIME and MG-RAST, respectively. Other abundant orders were represented by Chroococcales, Nostocales, and unclassified cyanobacteria by both approaches. Nine cyanobacterial cultures were isolated from mat samples showing 90-98% similarities with available sequences in GenBank. The culture-dependent study suggested that mat was dominated by cyanobacterial orders such as Oscillatoriales-filamentous and Chroococcales-unicellular. Our results from the culture-dependent approach also indicated that despite high similarities in gene sequences, six cyanobacteria fall into the separate clade in the phylogenetic analysis that could be signs of evolution due to an extreme environment. Cultured isolates are correlated well with abundant taxa from amplicon sequencing. Further, protein profiling was done specifically for phycobiliproteins which will be helpful to elucidate their roles in light harvesting and energy transfer mechanism in the unique environment of RoK.

Faunal Diversity of the Little Rann of Kachchh (LRK), Gujarat, India

The International Scientific Research Organization for Science, Engineering and Technology (ISROSET) is a Non-Profit Organization; The ISROSET is dedicated to improvement in academic sectors of Science (Chemistry, Bio-chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Science, Bioscience, Bioinformatics, Biometrics, Biostatistics, Microbiology, Environmental Management, Medical Science, Forensic Science, Home Science, Library Science, Material Science Military Science, Physical Science, Physical Education Science, Educational Science, Fisheries, seed technology, Agriculture, Forestry Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Geology/Earth Science), Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology, Commerce, Management, Economics Sociology and Social Science.

Unravelling the Hidden Truth from Vigukot in the Great Rann of Kachchh, Western India by Surface and Sub-Surface Mapping

Unravelling the Hidden Truth from Vigukot in the Great Rann of Kachchh, Western India by Surface and Sub-Surface Mapping

Long-distance dispersal capability of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor between India and Africa: genetic inferences for future conservation plans

We examine genetic differentiation of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, a colonial and vagrant waterbird confined to four populations in the Old World, in order to provide a first insight into geographic connections between the two major breeding populations. Sixty-nine flamingos, sampled from Lake Bogoria (Kenya) and Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat, India), were analysed by sequencing mitochondrial markers (cytb and ND2) and genotyping six nuclear loci. We globally found low levels of polymorphism, revealing congruent patterns of starburst radiation around the most frequent haplotypes. We estimated that average demographic expansion of the African and Indian populations was around 141 000 years ago. Analyses of nuclear DNA highlighted lack of population genetic structure and asymmetric gene flow, precluding genetic isolation between the breeding sites. Here, we showed that limited numbers of individuals (2-3 migrants per generation) may move between Kenya and Gujarat (and vice versa) providing genetic evidence that supports the observations of occasional birds along Indian Ocean and Arabian peninsula coastline countries and that the Lesser Flamingo population in the Rift Valley acts as a ‘centre of connec­tivity' between the remote populations. The Lesser Flamingo is considered Near Threatened, so this knowledge may be important for future management of conservation strategy plans.

<I>Yucca decipiens</I> Trel., a New Host of Florida Red Scale <I>Chrysomphalus aonidum L.</I> in India

Baqri, q.H. & P. BoHra (2002): Deserts: Rann of Kachchh. Pp. 111–122. In: Alfred, J.R.B., A.K. Das and A.K. Sanyal (Eds): Ecosystems of India. ENVIS, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Jayaram, K.C. (1999): The Freshwater Fishes of the Indian Region. Narendra Publishing House, Delhi, India. 551 pp. meena, r.L., y.L. Verma, V.T. KorVadiya, B.J. PaTHaK & a.r. KsHaTriya (2005): Kachchh Biosphere Reserve Management (A Plan for Protection, Conservation, Research and Development). Gujarat State Forest Department, Gujarat. singH, H.s., B.H. PaTeL, r. ParVez, V.C. soni, niBa sHaH, KeTan TaTu & d. PaTeL (1999): Ecological Study of Wild Ass Sanctuary. Technical Report. GEER Foundation, GFD, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. TaLwar, P.K. & a.g. JHingran (1991): Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. Vols I & II. 1158 pp. Surendernagar, 29.xii.2012, Coll.: S. Kumar & H.S. Banyal, Reg. No. V/3001. Diagnostic Characters: D xv 10; A iii 11; P 14; V i 5 Snout long; forehead with relatively large scales, starting with 2 scales between the eyes followed by 9 scales up to the dorsal fin; 14 lower gill-rakers; pharyngeal teeth very fine, a duckbill-like snout due to enlarged jaws, often causing the upper profile to become concave in male specimen.

Liquefaction Identification Using IRS-1D Temporal Indices Data

One of the major after effect of Bhuj Earthquake which occurred on January 26, 2001 was wide spread appearance of liquefaction of soil in the Rann of Kachchh and the coastal areas of Kandla port covering an area of more than tens of thousands of kilometers. Remote sensing data products allow us to explore the land surface parameters at different spatial scales. In this work, an attempt has been made to identify the liquefied soil area using conventional indices from IRS-1D temporal images. The same has been investigated and compared with Class Based Sensor Independent (CBSI) spectral indices, while applying fuzzy based noise classification as soft computing approach using supervised classification. Seven spectral indices have been investigated to identify liquefied soil areas using temporal multi-spectral images. The result shows that the temporal variations can be accounted by using appropriate remote sensing based spectral indices. It is found that CBSI based TNDVI using temporal data yields the best results for identification of liquefied soil areas, while CBSI based SR gives best results for water body identification.

SOFT COMPUTING APPROACH FOR LIQUEFACTION IDENTIFICATION USING LANDSAT-7 TEMPORAL INDICES DATA

Abstract. A strong earthquake with magnitude Mw7.7 that shook the Indian Province of Gujarat on the morning of January 26, 2001, caused widespread appearance of water bodies and channels, in the Rann of Kachchh and the coastal areas of Kandla port. In this work, the impact of using conventional band ratio indices from Landsat-7 temporal images for liquefaction extraction was empirically investigated and compared with Class Based Sensor Independent (CBSI) spectral band ratio while applying noise classifier as soft computing approach via supervised classification. Five spectral indices namely, SR (Simple Ratio), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation index), TNDVI (Transformed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), SAVI (Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index) and Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) were investigated to identify liquefaction using temporal multi-spectral images. It is found that CBSI-TNDVI with temporal data has higher membership range (0.968–0.996) and minimum entropy (0.011) to outperform for extraction of liquefaction and for water bodies extraction membership range (0.960–0.996) and entropy (0.005) respectively.

Geoseismological investigation of the January 26, 2001 Bhuj earthquake in western peninsular India

Of the intraplate seismic events, the January 26, 2001 Bhuj earthquake (Mw 7.7) would be remembered as one of the deadliest, in which 13,805 human lives were lost, 0.177 million injured and a total of 1,205,198 houses were fully or partly damaged in 16 districts of Gujarat state with an estimated overall loss of Rs. 284, 23 million. The brunt of the calamity was borne by five districts, namely Kachchh, Ahmadabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surendranagar, where 99 % of the total casualties and damage occurred. In the neighbouring parts of Sindhh Province of Pakistan, 40 human casualties were reported, and some buildings cracked in the Karachi city as well. In the Kachchh district of Gujarat state, the telecommunication links and power supply were totally disrupted, road and rail links partially impaired and water supply snapped at many places. The Bhuj airbase had to be closed for some time due to damage to the infrastructure. The macroseismic survey carried out by the Geological Survey of India in an area as large as 1.2 million sq km indicated an epicentral intensity as high as X on the MSK scale in an area of 780 sq km in the central part of Kachchh rift basin. Apart from damages to civil structures, the January 26 earthquake induced conspicuous terrain deformation in the form of liquefaction features, structural ground deformation and low-order slope failures that were mainly prevalent within the higher intensity isoseists. Liquefaction occurred in an area of about 50,000 sq km. The extensive plains of Rann of Kachchh, the marshy tracts of the Little Rann and the shallow groundwater table zones of Banni Land provided the most conducive geotechnical environments for the development of seismites. The liquefaction activity was profuse in seismic intensity zones X and IX, widespread in intensity VIII, subdued in intensity VII and stray in intensity VI. The common forms of liquefaction were sand blows/boils, ground fissures, craters, lateral spreading and slumping. Ground deformation of tectonic origin was witnessed in the epicentral tract. Such features, though much less subdued in comparison with the 1819 large earthquake (Mw 7.8) in region, occurred along the Kachchh Mainland fault (KMF) and along a transverse lineament, referred to as Manfara–Kharoi fault. The manifestations were in the form of fractures, displacement of strata, linear subsidence, upheaval, formation of micro-basins/micro-ridges, ripping off of rock surface, and at places violent forms of liquefaction. The localities where coseismic deformations were observed include Bodhormora, Sikra, Vondh, Chobari, Manfara and Kharoi. The 2001 event has demonstrated the role of local geology in influencing the ground motion characteristics and, therefore, the hazard estimation.

Earthquakes in India and the Himalaya: tectonics, geodesy and history

The record of earthquakes in India is patchy prior to 1800 and its improvement is much impeded by its dispersal in a dozen local languages, and several colonial archives. Although geological studies will necessarily complement the historical record, only two earthquakes of the dozens of known historical events have resulted in surface ruptures, and it is likely that geological data in the form of liquefaction features will be needed to extend the historical record beyond the most recent few centuries. Damage from large Himalayan earthquakes recorded in Tibet and in Northern India suggests that earthquakes may attain M = 8.2. Seismic gaps along two-thirds of the Himalaya that have developed in the past five centuries, when combined with geodetic convergence rates of approximately 1.8 m/cy, suggests that one or more M = 8 earthquakes may be overdue. The mechanisms of recent earthquakes in Peninsular India are consistent with stresses induced in the Indian plate flexed by its collision with Tibet. A region of abnormally high seismicity in western India appears to be caused by local convergence across the Rann of Kachchh and possibly other rift zones of India. Since the plate itself deforms little, this deformation may be related to incipient plate fragmentation in Sindh or over a larger region of NW India.

Geomorphology of the Little Rann of Kachchh, W. India: Implication for basin architecture and Holocene palaeo-oceanographic conditions

Geomorphology of the Little Rann of Kachchh, W. India: Implication for basin architecture and Holocene palaeo-oceanographic conditions

Studies on Phytodiversity of Little Rann of Kachchh with Special Reference to Wild Ass Sanctuary, Gujarat

The floristic studies of any protected area viz . National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve etc. are important for the effective assessment of phytodiversity and the resultant data act as precursor for sustainable habitat management and to formulate future planning strategies for conservation of Biodiversity. The present paper envisages an account of vegetation, floral composition of vascular plants comprising 372 species belonging to 224 genera under 72 families. Besides this, economically important plants of bioperspective nature have been given. The present study also envisages a list of 20 crop/cultivated plants along with their 24 wild relatives occurring in the sanctuary area. The present paper also analysed rare and threatened taxa and their conservation in the area. At last management constraints and recommendations have also been dealt.

Geodetic constraints on the Bhuj 2001 earthquake and surface deformation in the Kachchh Rift Basin

GPS measurement of historic survey points in the region of the Mw 7.6 Bhuj earthquake of 26 January 2001 reveal a rupture area 25 km × 15 km, with the top of the rupture located at least 9 km beneath the surface. The geodetic data also reveal north‐south convergence of ∼18 mm/yr across the Rann of Kachchh since 1856. Convergence and the occurrence of south‐dipping reverse earthquakes on the northern edge of the Kachchh mainland suggest that the region is one of incipient or ongoing tectonic uplift. The small rupture of the Bhuj earthquake indicates that other earthquakes are likely to occur in the region, although few clues exist to indicate the progression of future ruptures.

Helium, radon and radiocarbon studies on a regional aquifer system of the North Gujarat–Cambay region, India

The study reports the age evolution of groundwater as it flows from the recharge area through a regional alluvial aquifer system in North Gujarat–Cambay region in western India. Radiocarbon ( 14C), 4He and 4He / 222Rn dating methods have been employed. Sediments from a drill core in the Cambay Basin were also analysed for uranium (U) and thorium (Th) concentrations and the measured values have been used to estimate the 4He and 222Rn production rate for groundwater age calculations. Additionally, factors controlling the distribution of 222Rn, 4He and temperature anomalies in groundwater, vis-à-vis their relation to the tectonic framework and lithology of the study area, have also been examined. The multi-isotope study indicated a reasonable correspondence in groundwater age estimates by the three methods employed. The groundwater 14C ages increased, progressively, in the groundwater flow direction: from the foothills of Aravalli Mountains in the east, and reached a value of ∼35 ka towards the region of lowest elevation, linking Little Rann of Kachchh (LRK)–Nalsarovar (NS)–Gulf of Khambhat (GK) in the western part of the study area. In this region, groundwater ages obtained for free flowing thermal wells and springs employing 4He and 4He / 222Rn systematics are in the order of million years. Such anomalous ages are possibly due to enhanced mobilisation and migration of ‘excess helium’ from hydrothermal circulation vents along deep-seated faults. Excluding such anomalous cases and considering all uncertainties, presently estimated 4He and 4He / 222Rn groundwater ages are in reasonable agreement with 14C age estimates in the Cambay Basin for helium release factor ( Λ He) value of 0.4 ± 0.3. The 4He method also indicated west-southwards progression of groundwater ages up to ∼100 ka beyond the Cambay Basin. Large ‘excess helium’ concentrations are also seen to be generally associated with anomalous groundwater temperatures (> 35 °C) and found to overlie some of the basement faults in the study area, particularly along the east and the west flanks of the Cambay Basin. Groundwater 222Rn activities in most of the study area are 800 ± 400 dpm/l. But, a thermal spring at Tuwa on the east flank of the Cambay Basin, having granitic basement at shallow depth, recorded the highest 222Rn activity (∼63,000 dpm/l).

Middle Jurassic Ostracoda from the Northern Island Belt, Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Middle Jurassic Ostracoda from the Northern Island Belt, Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat, India