| 1. |
- Krishan, Gopal, et al.
(author)
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Isotopes (6(18)O,6D and H-3) variations in groundwater with emphasis on salinization in the state of Punjab, India
- 2021
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 789
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The state of Punjab has a dominant agrarian economy and is considered India's bread basket. However, it is now under the problem of falling agro-economy primarily because of pervasive depletion of groundwater levels and deteriorating groundwater quality in south-west Punjab, but increasing salinity is a major concern. The irrigation requirements of crops are fulfilled by groundwater and canal water but the introduction of canal irrigation has led to waterlogging and subsequent salinization rendering large fertile-land areas becoming unproductive mainly in the south-western part of Punjab. There was an apprehension that excessive withdrawal of groundwater might have caused a reversal of natural groundwater flow pattern that might have caused ingress of saline water into fresh groundwater region of central Punjab. To address the apprehension related to the rise in groundwater salinity and its subsequent ingression in the fresh-water zone and suggest suitable management solutions, a study was undertaken to analyse the data related to salinity, isotopes, land-use and land cover (LULC) along with field and laboratory experimental results. The depth-wise isotope analysis shows that there is a large variation in isotopic signatures of shallow and intermediate aquifers and it decreases with the depth of aquifers (150-250 m). It appears that very deep groundwater (>250 m) is relatively isolated and does not show a large variation or mixing effect. Tritium analysis shows that dynamic groundwater is actively recharged through canal, river, and/or rain. The presence of modern groundwater at deeper depth indicates a good interconnection between shallow and deep groundwater. Interpretations of the results show that the canal is the main source of groundwater recharge in south-west Punjab and the evaporation process is responsible for increasing the salinity hazard. In the central parts of Punjab, groundwater and rain are the main sources of groundwater recharge, while rain is the main source of groundwater recharge in the Kandi area. In the south-west Punjab, some primary salinity has formed as a result of mineral dissolution which has further increased due to evaporative enrichment.
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| 2. |
- Kumar, Manish, et al.
(author)
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Understanding the Seasonal Dynamics of the Groundwater Hydrogeochemistry in National Capital Territory (NCT) of India Through Geochemical Modelling
- 2016
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In: Aquatic geochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1380-6165 .- 1573-1421. ; 22:3, s. 211-224
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A geochemical assessment of seasonal dynamics in the groundwater chemistry of the National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi, was attempted through geochemical modelling, mineral precipitation sequences with rainfall and water evaporation cycle. Saturation indices calculated using PHREEQC indicated that the degree of water-rock equilibrium changes significantly from pre-monsoon to post-monsoon. The schematic model of SI change with water table fluctuation showed that during monsoon, as rainwater percolates through the soil, partial pressure of CO2 becomes higher than that of the atmospheric value and led to the formation of more carbonic acid that react with the carbonate minerals to produce , Mg2+ and Ca2+. The thermodynamic stability relationships of water chemistry in the Na, K, Ca and Mg silicate systems showed that for the samples with higher EC equilibrium between clay and primary minerals is not likely to be the main processes controlling variation in the groundwater chemistry. Chloro-alkaline indices (CAI) are positive when the groundwater level is high and become negative with the lowering of water level, i.e. when water level is high, reverse ion exchange is dominant. In case of pre-monsoon season, lower and negative value of CAI-1 and CAI-2 indicates dominance of ion exchange process and increases dissolved solid concentration in groundwater. The conceptual geochemical model depicted that water table fluctuation resulting from heavy pumping/withdrawal and recharge in association with the variation in DO, and Fe regulates the water-mineral equilibrium. The conceptual geochemical model explained the hydrogeochemical processes and their variations with water table fluctuation and, thus, highlighted the descriptive capabilities of PHREEQC. The study suggested that in the subsurface environment, complex interactions are simultaneously functioning, and hence, significant seasonal variations are likely to be very influential due to monsoonal recharge and subsequent changes in the saturation states of the water.
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| 3. |
- Choudhary, Preetam, et al.
(author)
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Biogeochemical records of paleoenvironmental changes in Nainital Lake, Kumaun Himalayas, India
- 2009
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In: Journal of Paleolimnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0921-2728 .- 1573-0417. ; 42:4, s. 571-586
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rapid urbanization and increased tourism around Nainital Lake in the Kumaun Himalayan region in north India has raised concerns about sediment and water pollution. Lead-210 dated sediment cores from the lake represent similar to 95 years of accumulation and yield a mean sedimentation rate of similar to 4.7 mm year(-1). Total organic carbon (TOC), percent N and S and their atomic C/N and C/S ratios, stable isotopes (delta C-13, delta N-15, and delta S-34), and specific biomarkers (n-alkanes and pigments) were measured in the core. Organic matter is primarily derived from in-lake algal production and TOC flux varies from 1.0 to 3.5 g m(-2) year(-1). Sediments are anoxic (Eh -328 to -187 mV) and have low (0.10-0.30 g m(-2) year(-1)) N, but high (0.37-1.0 g m(-2) year(-1)) S flux. Shifts in delta C-13, delta N-15, and delta S-34 suggest in-lake microbial processes dominated by denitrification and sulfate reduction. The sediments are dominated by short-chain hydrocarbons with low Carbon Preference Index values. The pigments indicate a gradual shift to cyanobacterial domination of the phytoplankton community in recent years. Despite an increase in external input of nutrients, the trophic state of the lake has remained largely unchanged, and the perceived human-induced impacts are limited.
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| 4. |
- Routh, Joyanto, 1968-, et al.
(author)
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A sediment record of recent nutrient loading and trophic state change in Lake Norrviken, Sweden
- 2009
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In: Journal of Paleolimnology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0921-2728 .- 1573-0417. ; 42:3, s. 325-341
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Human-induced perturbations in the Lake Norrviken catchment, Sweden, over the last 100+ years have left distinctive geochemical imprints in the sediments. Disposal of sewage, industrial, and agricultural run-off into the lake since the end of the nineteenth century changed the trophic status from eutrophic to hyper-eutrophic. The primary organic matter (OM) source in the lake is in situ algal material. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations increased near the mid-section of a short sediment core collected from the deepest part of the lake, reflecting elevated epilimnetic productivity and consequent hypolimnetic anoxia. Accompanying shifts to lighter stable organic C and total N isotopic compositions suggest that cyanobacterial productivity increased during this period. The distribution of pigments in the core indicates a shift in the phytoplankton community to a cyanobacteria-dominated system. Moreover, pigments confirm that N-2-fixing versus non-N-2-fixing phytoplankton varied depending upon the external inputs of N and P. Conditions in the lake improved after sewage input was diverted and the lake is currently mesotrophic.
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