This study utilizes ML classifiers to estimate canopy density based on three decades of data (1990-2021). The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier outperformed other classifiers, such as Random Tree and Maximum Lik...This study utilizes ML classifiers to estimate canopy density based on three decades of data (1990-2021). The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier outperformed other classifiers, such as Random Tree and Maximum Likelihood. Satellite data from Landsat and Sentinel 2 was classified using a developed python model, providing an economical and time-saving approach. The accuracy of the classification was evaluated through a confusion matrix and area computation. The findings indicate a negative trend in the overall decadal change, with significant tree loss attributed to jhum cultivation, mining, and quarry activities. However, positive changes were observed in recent years due to the ban on illegal mining. The study highlights the dynamic nature of tree cover and emphasizes the need for biennial assessments using at least five time-series data. Micro-level analysis in Shallang, West Khasi hills, revealed a concerning trend of shortening jhum cycles. Automation in canopy change analysis is crucial for effective forest monitoring, providing timely information for law enforcement proposals and involving forest managers, stakeholders, and watchdog organizations.展开更多
The low to medium-rank Tertiary coals from Meghalaya,India,are explored for the first time for their comprehensive micro-structural characterization using the FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.Further,results from these coa...The low to medium-rank Tertiary coals from Meghalaya,India,are explored for the first time for their comprehensive micro-structural characterization using the FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.Further,results from these coals are compared with the Permian medium and high-rank coals to understand the microstructural restyling during coalification and its controls on hydrocarbon generation.The coal samples are grouped based on the mean random vitrinite reflectance values to record the transformations in spectral attributes with increasing coal rank.The aliphatic carbon and the apparent aromaticity respond sharply to the first coalification jump(R:0.50%)during low to medium-rank transition and anchizonal metamorphism of the high-rank coals.Moreover,the Raman band intensity ratio changes during the first coalification jump but remains invari-able in the medium-rank coals and turns subtle again during the onset of pregraphitization in high-rank coals,revealing a polynomial trend with the coal metamorphism.The Rock-Eval hydrogen index and genetic potential also decline sharply at the first coalification jump.Besides,an attempt to comprehend the coal microstructural controls on the hydrocarbon poten-tial reveals that the Tertiary coals comprise highly reactive aliphatic functionalities in the type I-S kerogen,along with the low paleotemperature(74.59-112.28℃)may signify their potential to generate early-mature hydrocarbons.However,the presence of type II-II admixed kerogen,a lesser abundance of reactive moieties,and overall moderate paleotemperature(91.93-142.52℃)of the Permian medium-rank coals may imply their mixed hydrocarbon potential.Meanwhile,anchizonal metamorphism,polycondensed aromatic microstructure,and high values of paleotemperature(~334.25 to~366.79℃)of the high-rank coals indicate a negligible potential of producing any hydrocarbons.展开更多
Palaeocene-Eocene carbonates of shallow marine sequence belonging to Shella Formation of Jaintia Group are well developed in the south of the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya and represent an excellent outcrop of shelf sedime...Palaeocene-Eocene carbonates of shallow marine sequence belonging to Shella Formation of Jaintia Group are well developed in the south of the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya and represent an excellent outcrop of shelf sediments in North Eastern Himalaya, India. These outcrops are exposed along the southern fringe of Shillong Plateau. The Prang Limestone is the uppermost lithostratigraphic unit of the Shella Formation within the Jaintia Group. It is overlain by sand-shale alternation of the Kopili Formation and underlain by the Narpuh Sandstone. A rich assemblage of larger foraminifera including Nummulites, Discocyclina etc. has been recorded earlier from the Prang Limestone and based on the foraminiferal assemblage, a Middle Eocene to Early Late Eocene age has been assigned to the Prang Limestone. Thin section analysis of the Prang Limestone revealed the abundance of well preserved coralline red algae along with other well preserved and significant biogenic elements. Morpho-taxonomical study reveals that the algal flora is represented by seven species belonging to the families Hapalidiaceae(Subfamily: Melobesioideae), Corallinaceae(Subfamily: Mastophoroideae) and Sporolithaceae. The dominance of melobesioid and mastophoroid forms is the characteristic feature of this algal assemblage. Coralline algae occur mostly in encrusting growth form with orbitoid foraminifera and occasionally the coralline algae form rhodoliths. On this basis of algal forms it can be inferred that they thrived in a shallow, warm, shelf environment of normal salinity.展开更多
In south Meghalaya, farmers maintain a variety of economically important plant species in arecanut agroforestry systems. We investigated plant species composition of arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya and encount...In south Meghalaya, farmers maintain a variety of economically important plant species in arecanut agroforestry systems. We investigated plant species composition of arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya and encountered 160 plants, which included 83 tree species, 22 shrub species, 41 herb species and 14 climber species. The study reveals that arecanut agroforests provide cash income, medicine, timber, fuelwood and edibles for household consumption as well as for sale. We conclude that these agroforestry systems serve as home for many economically important plant species, harbour rich biodiversity and mimic the natural forests both in structural composition as well as ecological and economic functions.展开更多
The Assam-Meghalaya Gneissic Complex(AMGC)of northeast India contains numerous Pan-African granitic bodies that have been attributed to post-collisional rift-related magmatism.The present study is concerned with the f...The Assam-Meghalaya Gneissic Complex(AMGC)of northeast India contains numerous Pan-African granitic bodies that have been attributed to post-collisional rift-related magmatism.The present study is concerned with the first appraisal of intermediate magmatism(diorite,monzonite,and monzodiorite)found in the Borjuri Pluton of Mikir Massif,which is the eastern extension of AMGC.The diorites are strongly metaluminous and exhibit enriched LREE([La/Yb]N=1.63–7.37)with respect to HREE([Gd/Yb]N=1.95–2.27).The studied rocks do not show any mineralogical or textural indication of metamorphism.Tectonic discrimination diagrams indicate that these rocks originated in a within-plate tectonic setting.The lower Mg#(33.49–38.69),low Cr(below detection limit),and Ni(27–41 ppm)contents along with elemental ratios such as Rb/Sr(0.32–0.95),La/Nb(0.49–4.21),and Nb/Ce(0.11–0.64)suggest a crustal source for the diorites.Discrimination diagrams coupled with elemental ratios suggest that these rocks originated due to partial melting of mafic components in the crust with possible contribution from mantle materials.The P–T conditions of diorite emplacement(7.4 kbar,688℃)were calculated using the amphibole-plagioclase geothermobarometer.Geochemical and geochronological data of the Pan-African felsic plutons reported from the AMGC indicate that these rocks were emplaced in a post-collisional extensional regime.The Borjuri Pluton is in close proximity with the Kathalguri Pluton,which has been reported as a product of PanAfrican magmatism.In view of the numerous extensional Pan-African felsic magmatism reported from the AMGC and based on the close vicinity of the Borjuri diorites with the Kathalguri granites,we speculate that the Borjuri diorites are products of the Pan-African post-collisional magmatism.展开更多
文摘This study utilizes ML classifiers to estimate canopy density based on three decades of data (1990-2021). The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier outperformed other classifiers, such as Random Tree and Maximum Likelihood. Satellite data from Landsat and Sentinel 2 was classified using a developed python model, providing an economical and time-saving approach. The accuracy of the classification was evaluated through a confusion matrix and area computation. The findings indicate a negative trend in the overall decadal change, with significant tree loss attributed to jhum cultivation, mining, and quarry activities. However, positive changes were observed in recent years due to the ban on illegal mining. The study highlights the dynamic nature of tree cover and emphasizes the need for biennial assessments using at least five time-series data. Micro-level analysis in Shallang, West Khasi hills, revealed a concerning trend of shortening jhum cycles. Automation in canopy change analysis is crucial for effective forest monitoring, providing timely information for law enforcement proposals and involving forest managers, stakeholders, and watchdog organizations.
文摘The low to medium-rank Tertiary coals from Meghalaya,India,are explored for the first time for their comprehensive micro-structural characterization using the FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.Further,results from these coals are compared with the Permian medium and high-rank coals to understand the microstructural restyling during coalification and its controls on hydrocarbon generation.The coal samples are grouped based on the mean random vitrinite reflectance values to record the transformations in spectral attributes with increasing coal rank.The aliphatic carbon and the apparent aromaticity respond sharply to the first coalification jump(R:0.50%)during low to medium-rank transition and anchizonal metamorphism of the high-rank coals.Moreover,the Raman band intensity ratio changes during the first coalification jump but remains invari-able in the medium-rank coals and turns subtle again during the onset of pregraphitization in high-rank coals,revealing a polynomial trend with the coal metamorphism.The Rock-Eval hydrogen index and genetic potential also decline sharply at the first coalification jump.Besides,an attempt to comprehend the coal microstructural controls on the hydrocarbon poten-tial reveals that the Tertiary coals comprise highly reactive aliphatic functionalities in the type I-S kerogen,along with the low paleotemperature(74.59-112.28℃)may signify their potential to generate early-mature hydrocarbons.However,the presence of type II-II admixed kerogen,a lesser abundance of reactive moieties,and overall moderate paleotemperature(91.93-142.52℃)of the Permian medium-rank coals may imply their mixed hydrocarbon potential.Meanwhile,anchizonal metamorphism,polycondensed aromatic microstructure,and high values of paleotemperature(~334.25 to~366.79℃)of the high-rank coals indicate a negligible potential of producing any hydrocarbons.
文摘Palaeocene-Eocene carbonates of shallow marine sequence belonging to Shella Formation of Jaintia Group are well developed in the south of the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya and represent an excellent outcrop of shelf sediments in North Eastern Himalaya, India. These outcrops are exposed along the southern fringe of Shillong Plateau. The Prang Limestone is the uppermost lithostratigraphic unit of the Shella Formation within the Jaintia Group. It is overlain by sand-shale alternation of the Kopili Formation and underlain by the Narpuh Sandstone. A rich assemblage of larger foraminifera including Nummulites, Discocyclina etc. has been recorded earlier from the Prang Limestone and based on the foraminiferal assemblage, a Middle Eocene to Early Late Eocene age has been assigned to the Prang Limestone. Thin section analysis of the Prang Limestone revealed the abundance of well preserved coralline red algae along with other well preserved and significant biogenic elements. Morpho-taxonomical study reveals that the algal flora is represented by seven species belonging to the families Hapalidiaceae(Subfamily: Melobesioideae), Corallinaceae(Subfamily: Mastophoroideae) and Sporolithaceae. The dominance of melobesioid and mastophoroid forms is the characteristic feature of this algal assemblage. Coralline algae occur mostly in encrusting growth form with orbitoid foraminifera and occasionally the coralline algae form rhodoliths. On this basis of algal forms it can be inferred that they thrived in a shallow, warm, shelf environment of normal salinity.
文摘In south Meghalaya, farmers maintain a variety of economically important plant species in arecanut agroforestry systems. We investigated plant species composition of arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya and encountered 160 plants, which included 83 tree species, 22 shrub species, 41 herb species and 14 climber species. The study reveals that arecanut agroforests provide cash income, medicine, timber, fuelwood and edibles for household consumption as well as for sale. We conclude that these agroforestry systems serve as home for many economically important plant species, harbour rich biodiversity and mimic the natural forests both in structural composition as well as ecological and economic functions.
基金DST-SERB grant vide Project No.CRG/2020/002635CSIR-JRF fellowship No.09/1236(11154)/2021-EMR-I。
文摘The Assam-Meghalaya Gneissic Complex(AMGC)of northeast India contains numerous Pan-African granitic bodies that have been attributed to post-collisional rift-related magmatism.The present study is concerned with the first appraisal of intermediate magmatism(diorite,monzonite,and monzodiorite)found in the Borjuri Pluton of Mikir Massif,which is the eastern extension of AMGC.The diorites are strongly metaluminous and exhibit enriched LREE([La/Yb]N=1.63–7.37)with respect to HREE([Gd/Yb]N=1.95–2.27).The studied rocks do not show any mineralogical or textural indication of metamorphism.Tectonic discrimination diagrams indicate that these rocks originated in a within-plate tectonic setting.The lower Mg#(33.49–38.69),low Cr(below detection limit),and Ni(27–41 ppm)contents along with elemental ratios such as Rb/Sr(0.32–0.95),La/Nb(0.49–4.21),and Nb/Ce(0.11–0.64)suggest a crustal source for the diorites.Discrimination diagrams coupled with elemental ratios suggest that these rocks originated due to partial melting of mafic components in the crust with possible contribution from mantle materials.The P–T conditions of diorite emplacement(7.4 kbar,688℃)were calculated using the amphibole-plagioclase geothermobarometer.Geochemical and geochronological data of the Pan-African felsic plutons reported from the AMGC indicate that these rocks were emplaced in a post-collisional extensional regime.The Borjuri Pluton is in close proximity with the Kathalguri Pluton,which has been reported as a product of PanAfrican magmatism.In view of the numerous extensional Pan-African felsic magmatism reported from the AMGC and based on the close vicinity of the Borjuri diorites with the Kathalguri granites,we speculate that the Borjuri diorites are products of the Pan-African post-collisional magmatism.
