Bukutty, Y; Dr.Jacob, Chacko(Cochin University of Science and Technology, October , 1991)
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Abstract:
The present study is an attempt at investigating the intercompartmental exchange of trace metals (copper, cadmium, zinc, lead and nickel) in the Cochin estuary. The nature and extent of distribution in the different compartments with special reference to the transport from environmental compartments to biological compartments have been dealt with in detail. The suitability of the shells of Villorita cyprinoides var cochinensis (Hanely) in pollution monitoring activities has been assessed. A mathematical model (SAAMPLE - Shells in the Assessment of Aquatic Metal Pollution Levels) based on kinetic laws that govern the intercompartmental exchange has been proposed.
Description:
Chemical Oceanography Division, School of
Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology
Hareeshkumar, P V; Dr.Basil, Mathew(Cochin University of Science And Technology, January , 1992)
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Abstract:
The Arabian Sea is an area of complex air-sea interaction
processes with seasonal reversing monsoons. The associated
thermohaline variability in the upper layers appears to
control the large scale monsoon flow which is not yet
completely understood.
The variability in the thermohaline fields is known to
occur in temporal domain ranging from intra-diurnal to
inter-annual time scales and on spatial domains of few tens of
kilometers to few thousands of kilometers. In the Arabian Sea
though the surface temperature was routinely measured by both
conventional measurements and satellites, the corresponding
information on the subsurface thermohaline field is very
sparse due to the lack cw adequate measurements. In such
cases the numerical models offer promise in providing
information on the subsurface features given an initial
thermohaline field and surface heat flux boundary conditions.
This thesis is an outcome of investigations carried out
on the various aspects of the thermohaline variability on
different time scales. In addition to the description of the
mean annual cycle. the one dimensional numerical models of
Miller (1976) and Price et a1 (1986) are utilised to simulate
the observed mixed layer characteristics at selected locations
in the Arabian Sea on time scales ranging from intra-diurnal
to synoptic scales under variable atmospheric forcing.
Sheeba, Susan Mathews; Dr.Gopinatha Menon, N(Cochin University of Science and Technology, January , 1992)
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Abstract:
Prawn culture by traditional method forms an important occupation for the people in these areas, especially in the Vypeen island. Though short term studies have been made on various aspects of prawn culture field and its ecology, a study of detailed nature covering perennial, seasonal, fields and canals between coconut plantation is lacking from these areas. This study will also enable to assess the relative productivity of different systems during different seasons and the influence of the environment on the production potentials. Therefore the present study is taken upto throw more light on the ecological characteristics of these fields with special emphasis on its primary, secondary and tertiary production. The present area of investigation includes the prawn culture fields adjacent to Cochin backwater. The Cochin backwater (O9° 58'N 76° 28'E) is a shallow semi-enclosed body of water of tropical estuary. A narrow gut, about 450 M wide forms its main connection with the Arabian sea and this region is subjected to regular tidal influenceertiary production.
Shibu, Paul M; Dr.Jacob, Chacko(Cochin University of Science and Technology, April , 1992)
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Abstract:
This thesis Entitled Trace metal speciation in the cochin estuary.Natural waters provide a favourable environment for speciation studies because of the prevailing variable chemical matrix and the variety of metal forms which may exist there.An estuary is a mixing zone of riverine and oceanic waters with widely varying compositions where end members interact both physically and chemically. The trace element chemistry in the estuarine environment has been an area of considerable research in the past decades. The trace metal distribution in the Cochin estuary is considerably influenced by the tropical features of the location and by human activities. The lower Periyar river and the Cochin estuary have been particularly selected for this investigation in view of the impact of trace metals on the estuarine ecosystem as well as in attempt quantify the phenomenon of metal speciation in the waters of a tropical coastal plain waterbody. If the concentration in the water media is very low, then, many of the fractions that could be estimated by speciation schemes for metals will fall below the
detection limits, a factor which is undesirable.The study would also delineate the features of metal
speciation which modify the chemical regime of ionic elements that traverse natural boundaries in aquatic environments, especally in those tropical areas prone to multivariate geographical settings.
Description:
Chemical Oceanography Division, School of
Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology
Ramachandran,K K; Dr.Seralathan, P(cusat, April 10, 1992)
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Abstract:
The continental shelf of southwest coast of India (Kerala) is broader and . flatter compared to that of the east coast. The unique characteristic feature of the study area (innershelf between Narakkal and Purakkad) is the intermittent appearance of 'mud banks' at certain locations during southwest monsoon. The strong seasonality manifests significant changes in the wind, waves, currents, rainfall, drainage etc., along this area. Peculiar geomorphological variation with high, mid and lowlands in the narrow strip of the hinterland, the geological formations mainly consisting of rocks of metamorphic origin and the humid tropical weathering conditions play significant role in regulating the shelf sedimentation.
A complementary pattern of distri bution is observed for clay that shows an abundance in the nearshore. Silt, to a major extent, depicts semblance with clay distribution . Summation of the total asymmetry of grain size distribution are inferred from the variation of skewness and kurtosis.Factor I implies a low energy regime where the transportation and deposition phases are controlled mostly by pelagic suspension process as the factor loadings are dominant on finer phi sizes. The second Factor is inferred to be the result of a high energy regime which gives higher loadings on coarser size fractions. The third Factor which might be a transition phase (medium energy regime) representing the resultant flux of coastal circulation of the re-suspension/deposition and an onshoreoffshore advection by reworking and co-deposition of relict and modern sediments. The spatial variations of the energy regime based on the three end-member factor model exhibits high energy zone in the seaward portion transcending to a low energy one towards the coast.From the combined analysis of granulometry and SEM studies, it is concluded that the sandy patches beyond 20 m depth are of relict nature. They are the resultant responses of beach activity during the lower stand of sea level in the Holocene. Re-crystallisation features on the quartz grains indicate that they were exposed to subaerial weathering process subsequent to thei r deposition
Description:
Marine Science Division, Centre for Earth Science Studies,
Thiruvananthapuram
Lekha,P V; Dr.Ram Mohan,H S(Cochin University of Science And Technology, May , 1992)
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Abstract:
Usually, under rainfed conditions the growing period exists
in the humid months. Hence, for agricultural planning knowledge
about the variabilities of the duration of the humid seasons are
very much needed. The crucial problem affecting agriculture is
the persistency in receiving a specific amount of rainfall during a short period. Agricultural operations and decision making are highly dependent on the probability of receiving given amounts of rainfall; such periods should match the water requirements of different phenological phases of the crops. While prolonged dry periods during sensitive phases are detrimental to their growth and lower the yields, excess of rainfall causes soil erosion and loss of soil nutrients. These factors point to the importance of evaluation of wet and dry spells. In this study the weekly rainfall data have been analysed to estimate the probability of wet and dry periods at all selected stations of each agroclimatic zone and the crop growth potentials of the growing seasons have been analysed. The thesis consists of six Chapters.
Description:
School of marine sciences, Cochin University of Science And Technology
Vijayakumar, S; Dr.George, M K(Cochin University of Science and Technology, May , 1992)
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Abstract:
The thesis deals with the results of an investigation on the "BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS OF MUGIL CEPHALUS" from Cochin, Madras and Orissa. It is presented under the following major headings: Introduction, Review of Literature, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussions, Conclusions, Recommendations, Summary and References.The introduction gives a brief account of historical and modern back ground on the stock concept in fisheries research and management, followed by the importance and potential role of biochemical genetics in the identification of natural units of fisheries management.
In the review of literature published reports relevant to biochemical genetics with special reference to that of general proteins and enzyme systems of fish populations were considered. A detailed account of the source of experimental specimens, mode of collection, transportation, sample extraction, gel preparation/gel electrophoresis, buffer systems, staining procedures of proteins/enzymes, standardization of experiments, interpretation of electrophoretic data using basic formulae etc. are given in the materials and methods section. Four important conclusions were drawn on the basis of the results of the present investigation. Three recommendations were also made on the basis of evaluation
of the results.
Santhi, Thirumani S; Dr.Chandrika, V(Cochin University of Science And Technology, June , 1992)
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Abstract:
The principal interest of the present investigation was to determine
seasonal and vertical variation of chemoorganotrophic utilisation of glucose
and sodium—acetate by the natural bacterial population in the aquaculture
pond of Narakkal, Cochin using techniques which allow maintenance of
the in situ gaseous concentrations during incubation. In addition salinity,
dissolved oxygen, temperature, hydrogen—ion—.concentration, primary production,
plant pigments and total bacterial concentration were determined
seasonally and vertically because of their possible relationship to chemoorganotrophy.
Sujatha, C H; Dr.Jacob, Chacko(Cochin University of Science and Technology, July , 1992)
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Abstract:
Industrial pollutants, consisting of heavy metals, petroleum residues, petrochemicals, and a wide spectrum of pesticides, enter the marine environment on a massive scale and pose a very serious threat to all forms of aquatic life. Although, earlier, efforts were directed towards the identification of pollutants and their major sources, because of a growing apprehension about the potential harm that pesticides can inflict upon various aquatic fauna and flora, research on fundamental and applied aspects of pesticides in the aquatic environment has mushroomed to a point where it has become difficult to even keep track of the current advances and developments. The Cochin Estuarine System (CES), adjoining the Greater Cochin area, receives considerable amounts of domestic sewage, urban wastes, agricultural runoff as well as effluent from the
industrial units spread all along its shores. Since preliminary investigations revealed that the most prominent of organic pollutants discharged to these estuarine waters were the pesticides, the present study was designed to analyse the temporal and spatial distribution profile of some of the more toxic, persistent pesticides ——— organochlorines such as DDT and their metabolites; HCH-isomers; a cyclodiene compound," Endosulfan and a widely distributed, easily degradable,
organophosphorus compound, Malathion, besides investigating their sorptional and toxicological characteristics.
Although, there were indications of widespread contamination of various regions of the CBS with DDT, HCH-isomers etc., due to inadequacies of the monitoring programmes and due to a glaring void of baseline data the causative factors could not identified authentically. Therefore, seasonal and spatial distributions of some of the more commonly used pesticides in the CES were monitored systematically, (employing Gas Chromatographic techniques) and the results are analysed.
Description:
Chemical
Oceanography Division, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University
of Science and Technology