Aerosol Characteristics at a high-altitude station Nainital during the ISRO-GBP Land Campaign-II

During the second land campaign (LC-II) organised by ISRO-GBP, extensive ground-based measurements of aerosol characteristics were carried out over Manora Peak (29.4oN; 79.5oE; 1951 metres above mean sea level), Nainital (a high altitude station located in the Shivalik ranges of Central Himalayas) during the dry, winter season (December) of 2004. These measurements included the spectral aerosol optical depths (AOD), columnar water vapour content (W), Total Columnar Ozone (TCO), total number concentration (NT) of near surface aerosols, mass concentration of black carbon (MB), aerosol mass loading (MT), and Global Solar Radiation. Based on these measured parameters, we present the results on the near-surface and columnar properties of atmospheric aerosols at Nainital.Comment: Published in the Proceedings of the ISRO-GBP Land-Campaign-II meeting, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmadabad (Inida), March 200

Retrieval of columnar aerosol size distributions from spectral attenuation measurements over Central Himalayas

Extensive measurements of spectral aerosol optical depths (AODs) were made at Manora Peak, Nainital (29.4°N, 79.5°E, ~1958 m above mean sea level) in the central Himalayas, using a ten channel multi-wavelength solar radiometer during January 2002 to December 2005. Using these spectral AOD values, the columnar size distribution [CSD; nc(r)] function of aerosols have been derived. The CSD, retrieved from spectral AODs are, in general, bimodal (combination of power law and unimodal log normal distribution) with a prominent secondary (or coarse) mode occurring at a fairly large value of radius (r >0.5 µm), while the primary (or fine) mode either does not appear explicitly or perhaps occurs below the radius ≅ 0.1 µm. The bimodal nature of CSDs indicates the presence of fine as well as coarse mode aerosols over the observational site. The effective radius, total aerosol number content and columnar mass loading computed from deduced CSD shows minimum values during winter (November to February) and maximum during summer (March to June) months. The share of sub micron and super micron aerosols to the total aerosol number concentration (Nt) indicates the dominance of sub micron aerosols to the Nt and it accounts for > 90% during the study period

Feeding habits of anophelines (Diptera: Culicidae) in 1971-78, with reference to the human blood index: a review

A synoptic view is given of the data amassed by WHO, with technical assistance from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, on the origins of blood-meals in Anopheles samples collected from 1971 to 1978. Attention is focused on the proportion of each sample found to contain human blood and on the problems of interpreting from this the human blood index or degree of biting-contact with man exhibited by vector populations. The difficulties of overcoming bias in sampling, which are formidable in unsprayed areas, are further compounded where the dwellings are treated with a slow-acting residual insecticide which knocks down many engorged mosquitoes before they can be collected from their daytime resting places. There is evidence to suggest that the host-selection patterns of those vectors which are ‘opportunistic' feeders may be heavily influenced, even from village to village or from month to month, by the changing availability of alternative hosts, particularly cattle. This suggests in turn that the possibilities of manipulating the degree of mosquito-man contact by encouraging deflection to animals (zooprophylaxis) or by measures to afford a degree of personal protection should not be under-estimated by malaria strategists. It may sometimes be found less difficult to reduce the vector's human blood index than it is to measure it, but in view of the epidemiological importance of this parameter, suggestions are put forward for improving entomological field practice in this area. They include a quantitative survey of the biotopes available to the mosquito population as diurnal shelters, a longitudinal survey of the densities of blood-fed females per biotope, and a survey of the numbers and the respective distribution of people and domestic animals available as hosts. The work-load entailed by such a thorough form of investigation, to be repeated where necessary at different seasons of the year, underlines the necessity to concentrate efforts on a small number of localities, carefully chosen for the malaria situations they represent and the vector populations they support. A large-scale blood-meal sampling programme, confined to these selected localities, is most likely in our estimation to yield information of value for controlling malaria vector

Ascorbic acid Beta-Carotene and Amino acids in Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) during fruit development in Himalayan Hills

Capsicum varieties viz HC-201 & HC-202 developed at ARU, Almora took 35 days from fruit set to ripening. Results showed significant positive correlation for ascorbic acid and Beta-carotene with days to maturity. Out of eight ninhydrin positive products, only seven could be identified viz, hydroxyproline, proline, lysine, 5-alanine, arginine, threonine and methionine, at the later stages of the fruit development. All amino acids except methionine were found either absent or in traces at the earlier stages of fruit development

Renewable Energy Options among Rural Households in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh: An Overview

In developing countries the energy problems are both widespread and serious. Lack of access to sufficient and sustainable supplies of energy impacts around 90% of the population of many developing countries. People are compelled to live without regular and good quality electricity supply. The rural population remains dependent on fuels such as animal dung, crop residues, fuel wood and charcoal to cook their daily meals. Without efficient, clean energy, people are undermined in their efforts to engage effectively in productive activities and improve their quality of life (Barnes and Floor, 1996). India is home to the largest rural population in the world with approx. 68.84% of the total population residing in rural areas (Census, 2011). In order to contribute to the overall development in India, access to modern energy and cleaner fuel for rural households is important. There is a need to bridge the access gap by expanding energy systems to meet the energy requirements of the fast growing population and mitigate the threat of climate change. The best possible solution to the energy poverty challenges lies in the shift towards sustainable energy technologies. In the present scenario, the uncontrollable increase in use of non-renewable energies such as fossil fuel, oil, natural gas has led to fluctuation of demand and supply. This negative energy balance for decades has forced India to purchase energy from other countries to fulfill the needs of the entire country. Hence, energy access is an important component of poverty alleviation and an indispensable element of sustainable human development. Government of India has initiated numerous development programmes, focusing on providing sustainable energy solutions to rural communities often deprived of clean and uninterrupted energy supply for their daily energy requirements. The study entitled ‘Renewable Energy Options among Rural Households\u27 was conducted in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh states. The outcomes of the study provide a roadmap for future programmes promoting the use of clean, efficient and modern energy technologies, to be implemented more effectively. Findings would further benefit the primary and secondary key stakeholders involved in research and development, formulation of policies and regulations, promoting sale and purchase and provide financial assistance to future energy programmes meant to popularize the use of Renewable Energy Technologies