Integrated assessment of climate change adaptation options for water resources management using participatory and hydrological modelling approaches

Climate change adaptation (CCA) is a vital strategy for river basin water management which binds together environmental, agricultural and human water requirements in an uncertain future climate. Policy makers face a difficult task balancing demand and supply for conflicting water requirements, especially to justify present day economic costs for future benefits, like in CCA. No-regret adaptation options, applicable in both, current and future uncertain conditions, provide a way of dealing with these issues. However, determination of such options needs to be based on an integrated assessment of hydrologic, environmental, social, economic and institutional characteristics to be suitable in the future. Here, a three step process for determining no- regret options is presented, having been applied to the Kangsabati River basin in India. Firstly a participatory approach is used to identify potential CCA options, followed by a Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) to determine the no- regret and suitability characteristics for the region. This approach was replicated at three levels; community, district and state (sub-national), targeting different stakeholders. Finally, hydrological modeling using Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) model, of the high ranking adaptation options show the expected efficacy in hydrologic terms. MCA generated no-regret options show importance of currently promoted soil and water conservation measures, like afforestation and check dams and the need for future focus on cropping pattern change. Evaluation criteria important to different stakeholders were also determined in the process, a valuable by-product useful for future water management. Present and future scenario based modelling of CCA options provides comparability in terms of suitability, scale of impacts and costs. Such assessments can be valuable tool-set for policymakers to make evidence based decisions on choice of adaptation measures and their spatio- temporal applications to improve water availability in an uncertain climate

Modeling of single mode optical fiber having a complicated refractive index profile by using modified scalar finite element method

A numerical method based on modified scalar finite element method (SC-FEM) is presented and programmed on MATLAB platform for optical fiber modeling purpose. We have estimated the dispersion graph, mode cut off condition, and group delay and waveguide dispersion for highly complicated chirped type refractive index profile fiber. The convergence study of our FEM formulation is carried out with respect to the number of division in core. It has been found that the numerical error becomes less than 2 % when the number of divisions in the core is more then 30. To predict the accurate waveguide dispersion characteristics, we need to compute expression (d^2 (Vb))/(dV^2 ) numerically by the FEM method. For that the normalized propagation constant b (in terms of β) should be an accurate enough up to around 6 decimal points. To achieve this target, we have used 1 million sampling points in our FEM simulations. Further to validate our results we have derived the higher order polynomial expression for each case. Comparison with other methods in calculation of normalized propagation constant is found to be satisfactory. In traditional FEM analysis a spurious solution is generated because the functional does not satisfy the boundary conditions in the original waveguide problem, However in our analysis a new term that compensate the missing boundary condition has been added in the functional to eliminate the spurious solutions. Our study will be useful for the analysis of optical fiber having varying refractive index profile

ASAXS study of CaF2 nanoparticles embedded in a silicate glass matrix

The formation and growth of nanosized CaF2 crystallites by heat treatment of an oxyfluoride glass of composition 7.65Na2O–7.69K2O–10.58CaO–12.5CaF2– 5.77Al2O3–55.8SiO2 (wt%) was investigated using anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering (ASAXS). A recently developed vacuum version of the hybrid pixel detector Pilatus 1M was used for the ASAXS measurements below the Ca K-edge of 4038 eV down to 3800 eV. ASAXS investigation allows the determination of structural parameters such as size and size distribution of nanoparticles and characterizes the spatial distribution of the resonant element, Ca. The method reveals quantitatively that the growing CaF2 crystallites are surrounded by a shell of lower electron density. This depletion shell of growing thickness hinders and finally limits the growth of CaF2 crystallites. Moreover, in samples that were annealed for 10h and more, additional very small heterogeneities (1.6 nm diameter) were found

Integrated assessment of no-regret climate change adaptation options for reservoir catchment and command areas

The need for credible, salient and legitimate climate change adaptation options in the water sector, which target location specific adaptation requirements, is well recognized. In developing countries, the low-hanging fruit; no-regret options, should be identified with stakeholders and assessed against future changes in water availability and demand, for comparing effectiveness and robustness. Such integrated basin-scale assessments, including reservoir catchment and command areas, can suitably inform adaptation decision-making. In this study, we integrate participatory and modelling approaches for evaluation of reservoir catchment and command area no-regret options addressing water availability and demand in the Kangsabati river basin. Through multi-level stakeholder workshops we identify and prioritize options, followed by evaluation of two reservoir catchment options; check dams and increasing forest cover and three reservoir command options; changing cropping pattern, traditional ponds and waste water reuse, using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) model. We use four high resolution (~25 km) regional climate model simulations of future climatic factors, along with non-climatic factors affecting water demand, for forcing WEAP. We find that options have varied ability in addressing adaptation requirements. Amongst catchment options, increasing forest cover addresses adaptation requirements more suitably than check dams, while in the command areas we observe mixed abilities of options, leading to the inference that combining complementary options may be a more useful strategy. We conclude by discussing our experiences with this approach in a developing country context, in terms of benefits, limitations, lessons learnt and future research directions

Seeding the Green Future - Participatory organic cotton breeding

BackgroundWorldwide, India is the most important country for organic cotton production with 67% market share. In India, organic cotton production is challenged by 95% genetically modified (GM) cotton cultivation.Public breeding and seed multiplication were neglected and local non-GM seeds supply were eroded. With the continuous growth of the organic market it is important to maintain non-GM germplasm, to enlarge the offer of organic cultivars with a better performance that meet the demand of the market, and to rebuild the seed sovereignty of organic smallholder cotton farmers. Participatory breeding of Gossypiumhirsutumand traditionalG. arboreumcotton offers a great opportunity for developing locally adapted cultivars for increasing genetic diversity

The Study Over Supply Chain Management In Malls of Indore City

Supplying the right product at right time to customer is the basic aim of Indian retailers at this time. Growing competition gives the new retailer a platform of better arrangements. Supply chain management is the basic part of retail sector in India. Supply chain activities cover everything from product development, sourcing, production, and logistics, as well as the information systems needed to coordinate this activity.SCM has got the great role in supplying the products to the customers at the right time. The paper discusses some challenges and opportunities which are being faced by retail sector of India.  Different formats of Indian Retail are also discussed in the paper. Some aspects of development of SCM in malls of Indore had been discussed. Consumption pattern of Indian consumers is also highlighted. International Retailing also throws some light on FDI in retail. Key Words: SCM, Retailers, FDI, Consumers, International Retailin

Therapeutic Effects of Poetry During Lockdown: Using Catharsis and Expressive Art Theory in Context to Students and Women

Poetry is a personal expression of experiences and repressed feelings put into words. It can be a therapeutic and cathartic process for people struggling with psychological issues. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic forced the governments to shut down the economies and enforce lockdowns. When this fear of a virus, the anxiety of uncertainty, and broadcasting of deaths on news channels began, the ability of the brightest minds to comprehend the situation started failing them. The usage of social media added to the troubles of the youth. In such a situation, people started going back to their areas of interest, this included attempts to go back to the love of painting, singing, reading writing, etc. Writing, specifically taken, helped people express their repressed feelings during tough times. This paper attempts to find the answers to 3 questions; (i) How poetry brought out the repressed emotions of people stuck at home during lockdown? (ii) For people who write poetry, does it become an involuntary response when they are disturbed? (iii) Are all types of poetry therapeutic? The psychological state of mind of people during lockdown and the change in their behaviour after writing poetry will be analyzed through the expressive theory of art and catharsis