Annual Report 2001 - 2002

Scientific Research

Himalayan Glaciology

Himalayan Glaciology programme is aimed at understanding the ehaviour of glaciers and their interaction with climate and hydrological system and also to train manpower and create research and development related facilities in this vital area of societal relevance.The programme is overseen by the Programme Advisory and Monitoring Committee on Himalayan Glaciology( PAMC-HG). During the period under report one meeting of the PAMC-HG was organised. wherein progress of the ongoing projects on Gangotri Glacier was reviewed and important issues relating to interaction meet on Glaciology, introduction of Glaciology in Post-Graduate level etc were dicussed.

The significant achievements during the period under report are as follows:

Integrated Studies related to Gangotri Glacier

In the recently initiated multi-disciplinary projects related to the Gangotri glacier particularly dealing with remote sensing, microwave remote sensing, isotopic and chemical studies, palaeo-climatology, climate change etc for long term studies, some significant field data has been acquired. Two more projects dealing with monitoring and modelling of melt runoff and microbial-biodiversity and environmental quality studies have been sanctioned. A brief of the progress made under individual project on Gangotri Glacier is given below:

Establishment and operation of mountain meteorological observatory at Gangotri Glacier

The aim of this project was to establish high altitude observatories at Bhojbasa near Gangotri Glacier and also to establish Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at :near snout, ablation zone and accumulation zone..Under this project Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), a DRDO built a permanent station at Gangotri near Bhojbasa. The observatory at Bhojbasa has been made functional and all weather parameters are recorded twice a day as per WMO standards manually by the trained observers. Three Automatic Weather Stations(AWS) have been established in the area: Bhojbasa(Photo-1), Kalindipass and Nandaban. One VHF radio communication link has been established between the observatory at Bhojbasa and R.D.C. SASE, Chandigarh. The communication link is used for transmitting manually observed snow and meteorological data to R.D.C; SASE for archival of both manually observed and the automatic data. Attempt is being made to make the data available to all users through internet.

Monitoring and Modelling of Melt Runoff from Gangotri Glacier:

The most suitable site for establishing the guaging site was selected near Bhojwasa. It was noted that the pattern of the river flow was uniform and flow was free from very big boulders. Mannual observations for gauge, velocity were started just in the upstream of this site. Suspended sediment data was also collected at the gauging site. Suspended sediment concentration, load, and particle size distribution were determined. The work of development of a hydrological data base has been started.

Isotopic and chemical studies on Gangotri Glacier : Implicatins to Environmental changes (PRL, Ahmedabad)

The net deposition of chemical constituents in the glacier is governed by local environmental factors as well as the long-range atmospheric transport from natural and anthropogenic sources. In this context, Himalayan glaciers provide immense potential from which to recover the short & long term records of the past environment and climate of Central Asia. A comprehensive study involving measurement of chemical constituents and isotope tracers has been initiated in the Gangotri glacier. Spatial samples of snow have been collected in ultra-clean polyethelene bottles during August 2000 along a traverse with increasing altitude ranging from 4400 to 5800 m. Concentrations of Na and K in snow samples range from 870-5810 and 820-2850 ng g-1; respectively. Analysis of other chemical constituents is in progress.

Equally important, large-volume bulk-aerosol sampling has been initiated at a high altitude station set up at GBIHED, Almora for isotopic (7Be, 210Pb) and chemical studies. This has an important bearing on snow chemistry vis-à-vis atmospheric chemistry In the time-series aerosol samples collected during September-November 2000 from Almora, the 7Be (a cosmogenic isotope) concentration varies from 1.3 to 4.9 mBq m-3. Such a study is advantageous in order to determine the present-day trends in deposition of chemical species in Himalayan glaciers.

Microbial -biodiversity and environmental quality studies at Gangotri Glaciers.Water samples have been collected from 17 sites along the river from Gomukh to Haridwar. In certain stations drastic reduction in microbial content was observed which may be due to several reasons viz.time of sampling, location of sampling in the channel.

Glaciological studies of Dokriani Bamak glacier in Garhwal Himalayas

Ongoing studies on Dokriani Bamak in the Bhagirathi River catchment by the WIHG team focused on glacier mass balance, glacier runoff and its effects on the river hydrologic regime, sediment transfer from glacierised and non- glacierised regions and hydrometeorogy of Din Gad catchment. Observations were initiated in 1998 ablation period and continued in 1999.Three discharge and three meteorological stations were established in the Din Gad cathcment to monitor discharge, suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and meteorological parameters. .

The salient results of these studies are given below:

Runoff studies

The results show that the discharge at the glacier snout during the ablation period (May-October) reduced remarkably through the observation years (62.3x 106m3 in 1994, 53.4x 106m3 in 1998 and 43.3x106m3 in 1999. This reduction is mainly due to reduced winter precipitation during these years. In 1998 contribution from the glacier catchment to the Gujjar hut and Tela stations was 47% and 17% respectively, where as in 1999 it was 60% and 20%. Rainfall contributions in the glacier discharge has been separated and found to be 7.34 (13%) and 11.7 x 106 m3 (27%) in 1998 and 1999 respectively. Corresponding total rainfall were 1382mm and 1152mm. Higher total rainfall component from lower total rainfall in 1999 is found to have resulted from the lower slope lapse rate temperature experienced in 1999. This study has provided better understanding of the factors responsible for lowering bulk runoff from Dokriani glacier during the observation years.

Sediment Transfer studies

Sediment flux studies in the above refered three stations during 1998 observation period show that 79% of sediment flux at Gujjar Hut station and 49% at Tela station were contributed from the glacier catchment. During the peak flow period of July and August these values were 75% and 54% at Gujjar Hut station and Tela station respectively. . It is important to mention that in 1994 observation period (May-October), the sediment flux at snout station was 15x104 tonnes. Where as these values were drastically reduced during 1998 and 1999 ablation period to 3.17 and 4.4 x104 tonnes respectively. These results indicate the prominent influence of glaciers for the higher sediment flux in headwaters of Himalayan rivers. This study also shows extreme year to year variability in the glacial sediment transfer. This type of data is extremely important for the development of run -off- the river type hydropower projects. Another important fact that has emerged from this study is the limited influence of monsoonal rains on sediment transfer from glacier basin.

Hydrometeorological studies

Data collected from the three stations were used to calculate the slope lapse rate of the catchment during summer months of 1998 and 1999. Slope lapse rates were calculated from mean daily temperature and averaged for the monthly values. For Tela- Base camp pair slope lapse rate was also calculated from daily maximum and minimum temperatures. It is found that the lapse rate derived from maximum and minimum temperature were very low and concluded that these method may not be suitable for mountain areas of high relief. Base camp- Gujjar Hut pair shows almost 50% reduction in monthly lapse rate in 1999 from June to September compared to the same period in 1998. These results emphasis the fact that the selection of slope lapse rate values for modeling purposes needs to be done judiciouly.

Study of diurnal variations of wind direction were carried out for the base camp station in 1998 and 1999 ablation period. At 0530 hrs down slope winds from glacier (NE) were dominant in every month.. From 0830 onwards winds from SW direction gain dominance. These SW winds are most dominant during the monsoon season.

Mass Balance studies

The net mass balance during 1998-99 has shown a negative value of (-) 3.58x106m3 (w.e), which is higher than the previous years (2.50 x106m3). In 1999 ELA has been calculated at 5015m as established by mass balance estimations.Altitude versus accumulation / ablation clearly shows that the net mass balance is negative in the both the years, however in 1999, melting decreased in the lower altitudinal zones, 3900-4300m and increased in the upper altitudinal zone,4300-5000m of the the glacier. The net average snow accumulation measured from several pits at different altitude in October 1999 recorded as 40.6 cm (w.equi) for the year 1998-99.

Snout fluctuations

The snout of the glacier was monitored by EDM to measure the recession during the year 1998 to 1999. The total recession of the snout at center was 19m where as on the left and right flank it has receded about 7m and 10m respectively. The present snout elevation is 3891m.

Study of Atmospheric Deposition on Dokriani- Bamak Glacier, Garhwal Himalayas

• The study has been carried out by a group at PRL Ahemedabad. Records of spatial and temporal variations in the chemical (Na+. K+. Ca2+, Mg2+. Cl-. NO3- and SO42-) and isotopic ( d18O, 210Pb) composition of snow, sampled along a traverse at an elevation of 3800-4700m, have been studied from Dokriani-Bamak (DB) glacier (31o49'N, 78o47'E) in the Garhwal Himalaya (UP). The conditions of sampling and analysis of more than 100 samples were carefully controlled in order to avoid contamination problems.
• The seasonal variations in chemical records from DB glacier are characterized by relatively higher concentrations of ionic species when compared to Biafo glacier in the Karakoram. The ionic concentrations in fresh snowfall during Nov. 1993 are consistently higher than those in surface snow sampled during May-June 1994. These regional and seasonal trends demonstrate the greater influence of monsoonal sources of moisture along the southern slopes of Himalaya. The Cl-, NO3- and SO42- concentrations in snow range from 340-2100, 30-1800 and 210-1360 ng g-1; respectively. The Cl:Na and SO4:Na ratios are distinctly higher than those found in sea-salts; thus suggesting dominance of anthropogenic inputs transported to the Himalaya with monsoonal circulation. High Ca2+ concentration in snow are indicative of dust derived from the arid regions of Indian sub-continent. The ionic concentrations in the surface snow show an "altitude-effect" with concentrations peaking at 4300 m. Records from such glaciochemical investigations are important for understanding of the regional sources and distribution of chemical species in the atmosphere.

Isotopic study on Dokriani-Bamak glacier, Central Himalyas : Implications to climatic changes and Ice Dynamic

Systematic measurements of natural and artificial radioisotopes (32Si, 210Pb and 137Cs) and oxygen isotopes ( d18O) have been carried out on surface snow and ice, shallow snow pits and ice core collected from the Dokriani-Bamak glacier, Central Himalayas, to study the dynamics of glacier ice and short term climatic changes.

Using 32Si and 210Pb concentrations in the meltwaters, the radiometric model age of the surface snout ice is calculated to be 400 years and average past flow rate is ~14 m/yr for surface ice. The past and present day flow rates have been evaluated in terms of the dynamics of the glacier ice. The 137Cs activity, emanated in 1963, measured in the surface ice at the equilibrium line (4380 m altitude) yields the flow rate of 32 m/yr. The depth variation of 137Cs concentrations in a shallow ice core, yields a mean accumulation rate of 0.43 m/yr for the glacier ice over the past one decade.

The d18O of snout ice (~13.4‰) is significantly depleted compared to the average value of -9.2‰ in the shallow ice core, indicating that relatively cooler climatic conditions were prevalent around 1600 AD. The altitude effect of 0.9‰ per 100 m in d18O variation has been observed on this temperate Himalayan glacier. The isotopic study suggests that the Himalayan glaciers are sensitive repository for the climate interpretation in the temperate regions during past few centuries, covering a time span of Little Ice Age (LIA).

Brain Storming Session on Mathematical modelling in Glaciology
In order to create awareness about mathematical modelling of the various processes related to glaciers a Brain storming session was organised by the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad. The main objectives of the Brain Storming Session was to examine in depth the immediate areas of studies like: Water balance and water resources : Weather , Climate and Environment in relation to Himalayan Glaciers. Some of the modelling problems that were discussed in the Brain Storming Session are as follows:

Geophysical processes associated with glaciers; Glacier atmosphere boundary layer modelling; Modelling of snow atmosphere interaction; Mathematical modelling in glaciology; Glacial flow model; Glacial hydrological model; Mass balance models; Research programme with Antarctic experiments; Mathematical modelling of flow mechanism of glaciers; Modelling of suspended sediment transport through the glacier melt stream; The model thermo-mechanical behaviour of glaciers and energy balance models over the gaciers etc.

Training Programme

The 5th Training Course in Glaciology was organised by Geological Survery of India during August / September,2000.The training programme contained theoretical as well as field component . The field component aimed at carrying out experiments on Himtah Glacier, H.P. Fourteen scientists were trained during this training programme drawn from various academic / research institutions in the country which include: University of Lucknow, Patna University, SASE, Chandigarh, B.S.I.P., Lucknow, N.I.H., Roorkee, UPRSAC, Lucknow, CWC, New Delhi, SAC, and G.S.I.

Archival search information system for Himalayan Glaciology

Hardware and Software for taking up the proposed work has been procured. Data entery form for documentation of the relevant literature has been devised. Scanning of 350 abstracts has been completed and formated through tool in readily usable form. Work is in progress for scanning and formating of about 200 abstracts. Final product will be available to users in CDs during 2001, which may be of immense use to the scientific community .

Inventory of Glaciers

The D.S.T. , assigned a task to Survey of India to prepare an inventory of major Glaciers in Indian Himalayas. The inventory was published by the Survey of India during April,2000. The inventory has been prepared statewise in order of their locations in J&K and Laddakh Himalayas including Karakoram range, Himachal Pradesh Himalayas, Garhwal & Kumaon Himalayas of Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim Himalayas. In all, the 327 major valley glaciers for the present have been identified here in Indian Himalayas. Out of these glaciers, 60 are from J&K and Laddakh Himalayas, 85 from Himachal PradeshHimalayas, 162 from U.P. hills and 20 from Sikkim Himalayas. The distribution of these glaciers over the Himalayas has accordingly been shown separately on five different maps on 1:1Million scale.

National Centre for Field Operations and Research in Himalayan Glaciology (NCFOR-HG):

Significant contributions have been made in understanding the glacial phenomenon, through the studies supported by the DST under its Himalayan Glaciology Programme. However, it is being felt for the last few years that an integrated effort needs to be made in the direction of setting up the National Centre for Field Operations and Research in Himalayan Glaciology (NCFOR-HG) to give proper direction to glaciological research in the country.

The proposal for setting up NCFOR-HG came up for a specific mention during the meeting of the Steering Committee on Integrated Development of Himalaya, held on 06th July,1999, under the Chairmanship of a Member of the Planning Commission.To give this idea a concrete form, the Planning Commission constituted a Sub-Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary,DST. The recommendations of the Sub-Committee were forwarded to the Planning Commission. The proposal is now under active consideration of the Planning Commission. Seismicity Programme

Recognizing the importance of earthquake studies in the Himalayan region, the Department of Science & Technology had initiated a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary programme in 1982. Several initiatives were taken up to provide phillip to the science of seismology. These efforts have resulted into new data sets to refine our understanding of earthquakes processes & mechanism. Several site specific studies have provided high resolution data to refine models and provide scientific and engineering inputs to developmental projects. With these initiatives, a broad base at national level has been created to study various facets of seismology including earthquake engineering studies. Modern technologies such as Global Positioning System, SAR Interferometry and other collaborative geophysical studies were initiated. Keeping in view the recurrent seismicity of the Indian peninsular region, several important initiatives were taken. Some of the major initiatives taken up under the seismicity programme are listed below:

• Several seismological observatories have been established in North-west Himalayas and North Eastern part of India. Local dense clusters of seismic instruments including telemetry systems have been set up in selected geological windows like the Garhwal and Kumaun Himalayas and some sectors of North-East India.
  
• More than 200 strong motion instruments have been set up in various parts of Himalayas and tall building instrumented at selected location for structural response studies. These instruments have generated valuable data sets on the recent major earthquakes including the latest events of Chamoli (March 1999) and Bhuj (January 26th, 2001).
  
• In order to have near-real time access to the seismological data a project for linking up the existing seismological network and National Seismological Data Center (NSDC), IMD, through V-SATs has been sanctioned to National Informatics Center Services Inc., New Delhi. Presently, the installation of V-SATs at about 37 observatories is underway.
  
• The seismological data project database have been established at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun and Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat, to collate and integrate data.
  
• In addition to the Himalayan sector, Delhi and its surrounding area have been taken up for instrumentation. A 16-element telemetry network, for Delhi region, is under installation by IMD. Ten stations have been installed and are in operational mode.

Jai-Vigyan Technology Mission project on Natural Hazard Assessment in Himalayas

Jai-Vigyan Technology Mission Project was launched in 2000 with the following approved activities.

Setting up of six new seismological observatories in the North Eastern Region.
Establishment of Geophysical Research Laboratory at Allahbad.
Geotechnical investigations for landslides control measures.
Setting up of a composite multi-parametric geophysical observatory.

• The project for setting up of the six seismological observatories has been sanctioned to NGRI, Hyderabad. The procurement of the equipment for these observatories has just been initiated by NGRI.
• The project for setting up of Geophysical Research laboratory at Allahbad was sanctioned to Indian Institute of Geopmagnetism, Mumbai. Construction of permanent building for GRL is under way. Temporary Magnetic Observatory is already functional at the Govind Vallabh Pant Institute, Allahbad.
• Under the landslides component, five new proposals are being supported to institutes / Universities in NE region.

National Programme on Global Positioning System (GPS)

The Department of Science and Technology had launched a national programme on GPS and other geodetic studies for monitoring the crustal deformation due to earthquake occurrences and other geodynamic phenomena. The objectives of the programme are:-

• To establish the rate of movement of the tectonic plates relative to each other.
  
• To establish the strain rates in different tectonic domains of India and to constrain strain partitioning in discrete tectonic domains/block and identify the area of higher strain build up/ release.

Achieved objectives

• Permanent GPS Stations at Hanle, Almorah, Kodaicanal, Leh, Dharmasala, Dehradun, Itanagar, Pune, Bhubaneswar and Trivandrum. Establishment of Permanent Stations at Lucknow, Jabalpur, Delhi, Shillong and Dhanbad are under progress.
  
• A national GPS data center at Geodetic and Research Branch, Survey of India campus at Dehradun has been established for storage, dissemination and management of huge amount of GPS data to be generated from the permanent stations. Archieving of GPS data, being regularly received from the three permanent GPS stations at Pune, Bhubaneswar and Trivandrum is being done regularly.

Studies for the peninsular shield

After the Latur earthquake of September 1993, the Department of Science and Technology had launched another major programme to intensify the seismological and geophysical studies in the peninsular shield region with the World Bank assistance. Under this programme the major attention was paid to the upgradation of the existing seismological networking and procuring of state of the art seismological and geophysical equipments. The achievements made under this programme are highlighted below.

• Upgradation of seismological observatories of IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal agency in the country for providing services. It maintains a national network of 45 seismological observatories spread over the country. Out of 45 observatories, 22 are located in Himalaya and its adjoining region, the rest being in the peninsular India. The threshold of detection and location of earthquakes in Himalayas is estimated to be 4.0 magnitude. The 10 existing seismological observatories of National Network of IMD have been upgraded to Global Seismograph Network (GSN) Standards during 1996-97. These are located at Ajmer, Bokaro, Bilaspur, Bhopal, Bhuj, Chennai, Pune, Karad, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram.

Another fourteen existing seismological observatories of national network of IMD were also upgraded with Digital Broad Band seismographs. These stations are Akola, Mumbai, Jhansi, Latur, Goa, Mangalore, Bhubneswar, Kolkata, Allahabad, Nagpur, Shimla, Shillong, Kodaikanal and Delhi. The upgraded stations have generated effective digital broadband data sets for important earthquakes like Jabalpur earthquake of 1997, Chamoli earthquake of 1999 and Bhuj earthquakes of 2001

• Establishment of new Seismological Observatories

Besides the above network, ten new seismological observatories have been established in the peninsular shield region which are maintained by various institutes and universities viz., Geological Survey of India, National Geophysical Research Institute, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Gujarat Engineering and Research Institute, Center for Earth Sciences Studies, Osmania University and National Institute of Rock Mechanics. These Observatories are located at Bikanoor, Dharoi, Dharwar, Jabalpur, Kolhapur, Kothagudem and Trissur.

• National Seismological Data Center

One Central Receiving Station (CRS) and National Seismological Data Center (NSDC) have been established at IMD headquarters, New Delhi by installing the state-of-art servers and workstations operating on multi-user and multitasking environment. The digital data recorded at the upgraded observatories are being analyzed, processed and disseminated at this center.

A computing facility has also been established at NGRI for handling the huge digital data sets and the data analysis, processing and interpretation is being carried out with the state of the art software.

• d) Local monitoring of seismic activity

Twenty three digital portable field seismograph systems have been procured for deployment in the field and monitoring of micro-earthquake, aftershock and swarm type activities. Some of these units were deployed in Pandhana tehsil of Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh during, September, 98 - February, 99 for monitoring micro tremor activity, Chamoli and nearby regions of the U.P. Hills for monitoring the aftershocks of Chamoli earthquake of 29-03-99. During March 2000 and July/August 2000, these systems were deployed in Koyna, Maharashtra and Rupa, West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, respectively to monitor local earthquake activity. Some of these systems are deployed in Bhuj and Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.

• Structural Response Studies

Twelve strong motion seismographs for structural response studies of the buildings were procured and installed in various buildings in selected cities by Department of Earthquake Engineering, University of Roorkee. The cities chosen for this study are Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Roorkee, Pune, Goa and Ahmedabad.

• Telemetry systems at Khandwa and Koyna-Warna regions.

Three digital telemetered arrays are being established at Khandwa and Koyna-Warna region and at Tejpur. This project is being implemented by Geological Survey of India, National Geophysical Research Institute and Tejpur Universty. The network at Koyna-Warna region consists of 6 field stations and one stand-alone digital broadband seismograph at Latur will be maintained and operated by NGRI. The Khandwa telemetry network will be installed and maintained by GSI to study the tectonic activity related to Narmada-Son lineament and Satpura horst structure. This network consists of 9 field stations and one stand-alone broadband system.

• Collateral Geophysical Studies

Global Positioning Systems

In order to monitor the crustal deformation and strain accumulation in the peninsular shield region, 22 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) were procured. Survey of India and Indian Institute of Geomagnetism were entrusted the task of covering the regions around Latur and some parts of Maharastra. Several stations have been occupied and repeated Surveys are being conducted.

Controlled Source Audio Magnetotelluric Studies

The conductivity of the subsurface structure plays a vital role in understanding the geodynamic process. With a view to map the conductivity structures in the active regions of Peninsular shield, Controlled Source Audio Magneto-Telluric (CSAMT) was procured. A research proposal for this purpose was funded to Osmania University. A total of about 40 MT soundings in Latur and Osmanabad districts. The data analysis and interpretations are being carried out. New field surveys in other places are also being planned.

Major achievements emerged out of R&D projects

• The seismic observatories upgraded under WB project have improved the location and detection capabilities in terms of time and precision.
  
• These observatories have generated good amount of data sets which can be utilized to investigate various problems in seismology, e.g., waveform modeling, earthquake mechanism, composition of earth's interior.
  
• The data base created at NSDC is available for R & D purpose to interested scientists.
  
• The computing facility at NGRI is being fully utilized by scientists of NGRI and other institutes.
  
• The building instrumentation data will be useful for earthquake engineers especially in designing the earthquake resistant structures.
  
• The building instrumentation has also generated a good amount of data in respect of Bhuj earthquake.
  
• Thirty old existing geodetic triangulation stations, spread evenly throughout Gujarat were reocuppied for GPS observations. The data indicate that the maximum deformation of 11.1m in an almost southern direction had occurred apparently in an anticlockwise swing.
  
• It has been reported that IIT, Mumbai had acquired GPS data at 12 stations in Bhuj region and the data analysis and interpretation are being attempted.
  
• IIG, Mumbai had carried carried out GPS work in the Bhuj region and informed that 14 GPS sites were established by IIG for repeat GPS observations. Amongst these, 12 sites are located in the Kutch reigon. In addition to the campaign mode, GPS data is being collected continuously at three sites viz. Bhuj, Rapar and Ahmedabad. Analysis and interpretation are under way.
  
• From the paleo-seismological studies the Earthquake recurrence period for Kutch region was estimated to be about 800-1000 years.
  
• The crustal deformation measurements through the GPS network in western Maharastra will be useful in ascertaining the potential zones.
  
• Magnetotelluric studies conducted in Killari region depict that a thin low resistivity zone between 8-10 km depth.

International Collaboration

• ndo-French Collaboration on Natural Disaster Management

An Indian delegation visited France for discussions with French scientists and science administrators, aimed at defining a few high impact collaborative programmes in natural hazard research as well as design and development of necessary S&T infrastructure facilities that would help as follows and implement knowledge based approaches to mitigate the adverse impacts of natural hazards. Accordingly, the first meeting of the Indian working group for developing Indo-French collaboration on Natural Disaster Management was held in DST, New Delhi. After thorough decisions on the various matters including the French proposal and the report of Indian delegation. The Indian working group made the following recommendations:

• Preparation of Indo-French proposal on Seismic Risk.
  
• Creation of Natural hazard database.
  
• Training programme on Risk Evaluation & Management.
  
• Concretisation of short term feasibility projects.
  
• Creation of lay term programmes.

Action on the above recommendations are being taken up.

• Indo Italian Programme

Indo-Italian workshop on Seismic Risk Evaluation was held at National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad during 6-8 March, 2001. There were 16 technical presentations in all by scientist from India and Italy (8 from each side). The above mentioned workshop recommended three Indo-Italian Research project as follows:

• Microzonation of selected cities in India.
  
• Site specific seismic hazard assessment for mega cities using modeling techniques.
  
• Estimation of vulnerability and seismic risk assessment for selected mega cities of high hazard.

• Indo-Russian Programme

An Expert team of senior scientists from various Indian institutes visited Russia during 26-30 March, 2001 to discuss various issues with their Russian counter parts and to work out collaborative projects in this field of seismic instrumentation. GIS applications and earthquake precursory studies. One of this major recommendation of the above group was to establish an Indo-Russian Centre for earthquake studies in India. An expert group was constituted by DST to formulate a proposal for setting up of Indo-Russian center for earthquake studies. The expert group unanimously recommended setting up an Indo-Russian center for earthquake studies in India.

A comprehensive proposal to set up Indo-Russian Centre for Earthquake Studies is being evolved through an Expert Committee.

New Projects funded

The following R&D projects have been funded to different organizations during the year 2001-2002:

• Monitoring of earthquakes in and around Mizoaram.
  
• Bhuj earthquake of 26th Jan, 2001- post- earthquake reconnaissance.
  
• Aftershock studies i.e. GPS, Geomagnetic leveling & tidal observatories etc. in the affected region of Bhuj earthquake of 26-01-2001.
  
• Micro-seismic zonation mapping.
  
• Performance based seismic design procedures for bridges.
  
• Modelling of earthquake source & motion in chedran fault & its neighbourhood through integrated seismographic network of broad band & strong motion instrumentations; An approach towards the estimation of earthquake hazard in NER India.
  
• Micrometers study for the evaluation of site response in National Capital Region (NCT).
  
• Post earthquake rehabilitation scenario of structures in Gujarat".
  
• Telemetry system for Koyna-Warna region.
  
• Study of ultra low frequency electromagnetic precursors of earthquakes.
  
• Khandwa digital telemetry seismic network.
  
• Paleoseismicity & deformation cycle in the Andaman Nicobar Arc: An integrated study of active tectonic process.
  
• Establishing of a broad band seismographic station to monitor seismic activity around Jammu.
  
• Earthquake hazards assessment through geological evidence along active fault zones (paleoseismicity) in part of North Western Himalaya.
  
• Proposal for film on earthquakes.
  
• Differential SAR Interferometry to Study co-seismic crustal deformation due to earthquakes in and around India
  
• Non-linear forecasting approach to distinguish chaos and Random fractals from earthquakes.
  
• Crustal structure & regional tectonics in parts of seismically actives Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt (EGMB) from gravity surveys.
  
• Seismic studies in Manipur & adjoining areas.
  
• Morphotectonic study of main seismic source area in Chamoli Garhwal.
  
• Site specific response studies for seismic microzonation of National Capital Region (NCR).
  
• Study of Seismicity in & around Chandigarh by establishing a network of 3 BB seismographs.
  
• Study of earthquake source processes, delineation of active seismic zones and velocity structure in Northwest Himalayas.
  
• Development of remote sensing based geothermic technique in earthquake studies.
  
• Advanced technology based strong motion recorder development of accelerographs.
  
• Determination of transformation parameters between Everest Spheroid and World Geodetic System-1984(WGS-84) BY SOI, India
  
• GPS Campaign for Crustal movements in and around Palaghat Gap shear
  Zone,Southern peninsular India BY CESS,Trivandrum.
  
• GPS studies from crustal deformation in Maharastra BY IIT,Mumbai
  
• Gravity and GPS aided, geoid studies in Ladakh, NW Himalaya by WIHG,Dehradun.
  
• Microzonation and risk assessment of the landslide affected areas between Banderdeva -Gohpur in Itanagar Capital Complex, Arunachal Pradesh using GIS and Remote Sensing techniques.

Initiatives after Bhuj earthquake of January 2001

Foreign Advisory Team

A three member foreign advisory team (FAT) of experts from USA, Mexico and France was constituted by DST to formulate suggestions for strengthening seismological and other geophysical studies in the country. Members of the team, Professors Max Wyss, Michel Campilo and Sreekrishna Singh were in India during April 1-15, they visited the earthquake hit areas and also held discussions with scientists involved in various programmes and officials of Gujarat state Government. The FAT has submitted its report with several recommendations to improve research capabilities in earthquake related studies.

Microzonation studies in Delhi region

The project involves a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional participation. The implementation mechanism is being worked.
Earthquake Risk Evaluation Center(EREC)

An Earthquake Risk Evaluation Center is being established at India metierological Department, New Delhi. The main mandate of the center is to collate and integrate all the existing seismological and collateral geophysical data and prepare the earthquake risk maps for the country. The construction related activities of the permanent building is being initiated.

GPS studies

After the recent Bhuj Earthquake, the Department of Science and Technology initiated an extensive programme for GPS campaign in the Rann of Kutchh. It is proposed to establish 25-30 GPS stations in the area and a few reference stations outside the earthquake affected region. The aim of establishing these stations is to monitor the deformation of the region near the epicenter of the Bhuj Earthquake. Several projects in this regard have been supported to various institutes viz., IIG, Mumbai, IIT, Mumbai and SOI, Dehradun.

Training Programmes /Workshops/Conferences

• International conference on Seismic hazard with particular reference to Bhuj earthquake of January 26, 2001 was held at New Delhi duri ng 3-5 October 2001
  
• A training programme on "The Global Positioning System and its applications" was organized during 9-19th May 2000 at IIT, Mumbai.
  
• A short term training course on GPS for crustal deformation study is being organized in the at Itanagar to train the local scientists of the North Eastern region.
  
• A Workshop on "Earthquake strategies with particular reference to India' was held at India Inernational Centre , Lodi Road during 6th-7th July 2001.