Annual Report 2004-2005

Dst Scientific Institutions

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology functions Pune

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology functions as a National Centre for basic and applied research in Tropical Meteorology. Its primary functions are to promote, guide and conduct research in the field of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences in all its aspects with special reference to the tropics and sub-tropics.

Most of the projects are computer based. Institute has enhanced its computing power by acquiring a number of high end workstations for the computational needs. Also, manpower development programmes are organized by arranging specialised training programmes in different areas of atmospheric sciences. The Institute collaborated in the national and international collaborative research programmes, and also arranged field experiments of its own and through participation in the multiagency missions.

Major Scientific Achievements and Highlights

The Institute has undertaken several research programmes relating to climate change and allied topics. The Institute has been participating in various international programmes such as
Intergovernmental Programme of Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR), World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) etc. The Institute has been a part of several collaborative research programmes such as Indo-UK programme on Impact of climate change on water resources, Indo-French programme for the study of sensitivity of the Indian summer monsoon to anthropogenic climate change, Indo-US (DST-NSF) project on aerosols studies, Asia-Pacific Network (APN) for global change research etc. The Institute has also been part of many national research and observational programmes such as Indian Climate Research Programme (ICRP) of the Department of Science and Technology, Indian Ocean Modelling (INDOMOD) programme of the Department of Ocean Development, IRSP4 Applications programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Environmental Information System (ENVIS) of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Climate Change projects of the The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) etc. Considering the dynamic role of the atmospheric aerosols and trace gases in the earth’s climate system, the Institute has participated in multi-organisational field observational programmes such as Indian Ocean Expedition (INDOEX), Bay of Bengal Monsoon Experiment (BOBMEX) and Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX). Observations on aerosols, trace gases, electrical conductivity and meteorological parameters have been made in different environmental conditions.

The Institute is providing technical guidance to state governments of (i) Karnataka, (ii) Maharashtra and (iii) Andhra Pradesh in their cloud seeding operations for rain enhancement and in monitoring of post - seeding effects.

The Institute is conducting M. Tech. (Atmospheric Physics) degree course of the University of Pune in collaboration with its Department of Physics under the MoU with the University. The Institute has also provided research facilities to M. Sc. and M. Tech. Students of other universities.

Ongoing Programmes

Dynamical seasonal prediction experiments of summer monsoon 2004

Two AGCMs viz., COLA T30L18 and Portable Unified Mode (PUM) Ver. 4.5 grid point GCM from UKMO were used for carrying out Monsoon 2004 seasonal prediction over Indian Region on an experimental basis. The results from the COLA simulation showed deficient monsoon rainfall (-16 % departure from the normal). The PUM simulation also showed a decrease in the monsoon rainfall (-3.0 % departure from normal).

Numerical Weather Prediction Research and Mesoscale Modelling

Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) model was integrated for 48 hrs including two convection parameterization schemes, viz., Kain-Fritsch and Betts-Miller-Janjic scheme using input data of four weather disturbances over Indian region, viz., low pressure area, monsoon depression and two cyclonic cases during 1998. Both the schemes produced well explicit rainfall at and around the disturbance location and convective rainfall at and around the disturbance and also away from the disturbance. Inland shift of rainy area was well produced by both the schemes but location and amount were better produced by Betts-Miller-Janjic scheme.

Extended Range Weather Prediction Research

Relationship between satellite derived Antarctica sea ice extent and the Indian summer monsoon variability over various homogeneous regions was examined using data for the period 1979-2000. Results revealed that the preceding winter sea ice anomaly is inversely related with the subsequent monsoon. However, the relationship was found to be weak over southern Peninsular India. This parameter could serve as a guiding tool for long range forecasting of the Indian monsoon. A strong and significant north-south dipole structure pattern was found between the IMR and OLR field over the west Pacific during January. Significant positive (negative) correlations were found around northeast Australia (South China Sea).

Satellite Meteorology and Application of Satellite Data in Weather Forecasting

Simultaneous existence of well organized convective cloud clusters off west and east coasts of India associated with the development of offshore trough and low pressure systems created major swath of deficient rainfall. This led to the longitudinal bifurcation of clouds over India during initial advancement of monsoon 2004. Vertical velocity computed based on NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Centre data for the month of June 2004 highlighted maximum vertical velocity in the region of major convective activity off east and west coast of India. In response to maximum vertical velocity in the convective region, minimum vertical velocity due to subsidence was generated in the region of swath by Walker circulation and it was exactly matching with deficient rainfall region.

Air Sea Interactions in Tropical Monsoons

Thermodynamic parameters over southeast Arabian Sea during the onset period of southwest monsoon over Kerala during 2003 were analysed by using the radiosonde data collected by onboard ORV Sagar Kanya during ARMEX-II 2003 for the period 1 - 10 June 2003, at a stationary position 9.22°N, 74.51°E. The analysis revealed that the marine atmosphere below 850 hPa is dry with an inversion at 900 hPa on 1st June and picks up moisture progressively day by day up to 5th June. During this period, the atmosphere is conducive for deep convection. The cloud clusters induced into the region after 5th June lead to onset over Kerala on 8th June.

Regional Aspects of Global Climate Change and Variability

High resolution climate change scenarios for India were developed for two socio-economic scenarios up to the end of the 21st century, for impact assessment studies. State wise and country wise scenarios of temperature and rainfall were estimated. Using pattern scaling approach, intermediate scenarios for 2020s and 2050s were also prepared. The sensitivity of the Indian summer monsoon was studied using the CNRM coupled atmosphere-ocean model. A range of time slice experiments were performed to bring out the role of the experimental design as well as model formulations such as sea-ice treatment, soil moisture feedback, radiative forcing, interannual variability, etc. The studies indicated that the experimental design can be a potential source for errors / biases in the model-based estimates of sensitivity on regional scale. Tree-ring samples of teak (tectona grandis) collected from Parambiculam, Kerala in January 2004 were cross matched and dated. The chronology was found to go back to 1494 AD. Initial results indicated significant correlation with pre-monsoon (March-May) precipitation.

Hydrometeorological Studies of River Basins for Applications in Water and Power Resource Projects

The impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns over 3 river basins viz. the Ganga, the Godavari and the Krishna basins were assessed by using PRECIS simulated daily rainfall simulations for baseline (1960-90) and for different scenarios (2070-2100) for two experimental runs in presence of sulphur and without sulphur aerosols. Under the CWC sponsored project on ‘Preparation of generalised PMP Atlases for Krishna and Indus river basins’, the daily rainfall data for about 190 stations in the Indus basin were subjected to various quality control checks and processed for further analysis for PMP estimation. Monthly streamflow data at 17 discharge sites for the period (1972-1995) in the Krishna basin were analysed to study characteristics as well as the variability in the discharge data. Water availability at these sites was also estimated in terms of the low flow estimation. Highest areal average raindepths for different areas and durations from 9 severe rainstorms during 1891-2002 were obtained by Depth-Area-Duration (DAD) analysis. PMP raindepths at different grid points were estimated for areas measuring 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 km2, and generalised PMP maps for areas of 500 to 10,000 km2 were prepared. Teleconnections of northeast monsoon rainfall and northwest-India winter precipitation variability were studied to identify suitable predictors. Secular variations in the teleconnections have also been analysed. Longest instrumental monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall series have been prepared for 35 physiographic divisions of the country using well spread network of the raingauge stations. The longest-series goes back up to the year 1813.

Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere Using Lidar, Radiometric and Other Ground Based Techniques

Observations of aerosols and precursor gases made over Pune using Microtops-II multi-wavelength radiometers during the period 1999-2003 were compared with concurrently measured data from Total Ozone Mapping Spectroradiometer (TOMS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites. Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) at 380 and 500 nm obtained from Microtops agreed very well with TOMS observations while MODIS derived AOD appeared to be more closely associated with the 675 nm channel of Microtops. Total Column Ozone observations of TOMS and Microtops showed good agreement while PWC obtained from Microtops showed good comparison with MODIS observations. As a part of the bilateral research project entitled “Optical Remote Sensing Studies of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Characteristics using the Laser Radar”, sponsored by the Indo-Bulgarian Cooperative Research Program, joint experiments were performed at the Institute of Electronics (IE), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria in October 2004. As part of the IITM-SAC collaborative project, a special field campaign experiment was conducted along the Pune-Daund-Pune sector in synchronization with the IRS-P4/P6 satellite overhead passes on 24 May 2004, employing the multi-channel solar radiometer (MICROTOPS II) and weather monitor. Valuable observations of columnar aerosol optical depth, ozone and precipitable water vapor, near-surface meteorological parameters were carried out during the experiments.

Physics and Dynamics of Tropical Clouds

To understand the space-time variability in precipitation, the radar data were acquired from the rain enhancement experiments performed by the Government of Maharashtra over the sub-divisions of Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha during the south-west monsoon season of 2004. New software, namely, TITAN (Thunderstorm Identification Tracking Analysis and Now-casting) was used to delineate the individual convective cells and systems of meso-scale nature, cloud life cycle, convective storms based on the radar reflectivity signatures. Daily rainfall data were analyzed to examine the association between radar reflectivity and precipitation intensity (Z-R relationship) over the experimental region.

Atmospheric Chemistry, Modelling and Dynamics

Ozone and its precursors have been monitored round-the-clock since last one year. The observations revealed an interesting phenomenon called as “Ozone Weekend Effect”. On the normal scale it is expected that concentration of ozone is less on weekends, because there is considerable reduction on the road traffic. However, even though there is reduction in ozone precursors mainly NOX and NMHCs by 10 to 2.5 percent respectively, an increase in ozone concentration by an amount of ~ 9% on weekends was observed since last May. The possible and primary cause of this effect is detected as “reduction in NOx” concentration.

Studies in Air Pollution and Precipitation Chemistry

Field observations of TSP, mass size distribution of aerosols, Aitken Nuclei, surface ozone and precipitation chemistry were carried out at Delhi (New Rajender Nagar-Residential and Okhla- Industrial), Darjeeling (high-altitude) and Pune (urban) during the winter of 2001.

Measurement and Monitoring of Atmospheric Minor Constituents

Comparison of total column ozone (TCO) distribution over the Indian region during El Nino and La Nina years suggested that ozone values are found higher during El Nino years, which is considered to be due to suppressed convection.

The monthly outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) data were considered as a measure of convection and association between seasonal mean OLR and seasonal mean TCO was examined. It was noticed that this relationship holds good only during the Indian summer monsoon months.

Simulation Techniques for Cloud Physics Studies

The data obtained on distortion of water drops of different diameter in absence and presence of horizontal and vertical electric field were analysed and compared with previous results from theoretical models and experiments. The results showed that with increasing drop diameter, the axis ratio of the drop decreases in all ambient electric field conditions. The extreme positions of oscillating drop in electric field were measured from movie photographs to study the effect of direction of electric field on drop oscillation.

Surface Observations of Atmospheric Electricity and Electric Properties of Clouds

Measurements of the electric conductivity made over the Arabian Sea during May – June 2003 showed that the conductivity value increases roughly three times at the time of the onset of southwest monsoon as compared to that during the pre-monsoon period. This increase in conductivity may have been caused, in addition to small ions, by the highly charged large ions produced at the sea surface by the breaking waves due to high wind speeds prevailing over the Arabian Sea during the monsoon season. The good correlations found between the large-ion concentration and local wind speed as well as with the average wind speeds prevailing over the entire Arabian Sea belt, support such a suggestion.

Experimental Study of Exchange Processes in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over Continental and Marine Environment

ARMEX – Phase II data collected at the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa, using fast and slow sensors have been processed for sending to the ARMEX Data Centre at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, New Delhi.

Studies on Dynamical Ocean Modelling

The weekly averaged SST from ARMEX and TMI observations were used to study the premonsoon warming of the Arabian Sea during two contrasting monsoons 2002 and 2003. Quikscat near surface winds were used to examine the mass transport in the Arabian Sea and results showed that the transport is southward during southwest monsoon period and northward during winter period across 8°N. The transport of low saline water from Bay of Bengal to South East Arabian Sea by east Indian coastal current and down welling Rossby wave were found to be favorable for the formation of high SST over the region. It was found that wind driven transport plays significant role in the formation and collapse of the Arabian Sea warm pool. The modulation of the frequency of tropical storms over the southern Indian Ocean by the intra-seasonal low frequency oscillations was investigated during 1981-1995 from November of previous year to April of current year, as the frequency of the storms is higher during this period. Preliminary results showed that the strength of these low frequency
modes is significantly inversely related with the frequency of the tropical storms.

Studies on Atmospheric Energetics in Wave number and Frequency Domain

Limit of predictability over the tropical region can be measured by the predictability score. The geographical distribution of predictability score of zonal wind for India, its adjoining area and the South African region shows the limit of predictability up to 3-day forecasts during winter time whereas during summer the Indian region shows maximum up to 2-day forecasts limit and the Central Africa shows the limit up to 3-day. As far as the whole tropical region is concerned, the limit of predictability is found to be up to 3-day forecasts during both summer and winter seasons. In order to examine the unusual onset phenomena for the year 2002, the time series of area averaged vorticity was considered over the horizontal region surrounding Kerala coast in the lower levels during 1- 15 June by using NCEP reanalysed daily wind temperature and humidity data. The vorticity magnitude was found to be oscillating from 1 to 8 June and then it gradually increased with a maximum vorticity, on 12 June 2002. This computation gave indication that even though the onset of southwest monsoon for the year 2002 was declared on 29 May based on the rainfall criteria over Kerala coast, the circulation features in the lower levels were not favourable till 12 June over the region EQ-25°N, 50°-90°E.

Diagnostics and Modelling Studies of Long Term Trends and Variability of Climate over the Indian-Asia Pacific Regions

An analysis of observed typhoon tracks and daily global wind data for 55 years (1948-2003) revealed that large-scale circulation anomalies associated with the interannual variability of the Indian monsoon play an important role in influencing the tropical cyclone activity over the west Pacific. The cyclogenesis over the tropical west-central Pacific is found to be about 1.33 times higher during weak monsoon years as compared to strong monsoon years. Also, there is greater tendency for the Pacific cyclones to move northward and recurve (to the north of 20oN) during weak monsoon years. The enhanced cyclogenesis during weak monsoon years is found to be associated with enrichment of low-level cyclonic vorticity anomalies over a wide-region of the sub-tropical Pacific extending from the China Sea, Taiwan and Philippines region to the central Pacific; while the movement of the tropical cyclones is associated with anomalies of upper-tropospheric steering currents.

General Circulation Model Systematic Error Correction and Seasonal Prediction Using Artificial Neural Network

Hadley Centre Climate Model PUMvn4.5 has been installed on Silicon Graphics Origin 350 machine. The experimental ensemble forecast for monsoon season of 2004 using PUM version 4.5 has been carried out using boundary forcing of May 2004 SST. Another set of six ensemble-members experiments with same initial conditions as used in May 2004 SST experiments, is repeated with climatological SST. The rainfall anomalies for all six members of ensemble have been calculated with corresponding member of climatological SST experiment. Rainfall anomalies over Indian region averaged over six ensembles in May 2004 SST experiment showed negative anomalies of the order of 2mm/day over south peninsular region except over small portion of East coast, which shows positive anomalies. Near normal rainfall is simulated over rest of the Indian region. Positive rainfall anomalies of the order of 2-5 mm/day are noticed over South Indian Ocean. An assessment of experimental ensemble dynamical seasonal prediction with Hadley centre climate model version PUM Ver.4.5 was carried for recent four monsoon seasons namely 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. The internal variability of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) simulated by AGCMs was large. The ninemember ensemble integrations were made for all four monsoon seasons in the study. The ninemember runs carried for a particular monsoon season differs only in the initial condition but prescribed with same boundary forcing of SST. The initial condition for nine-members corresponds to 1st April of different years from long term integration of the model with climatological SST forcing. The performance of monsoons of four seasons simulated with May SST persistence was compared with corresponding integration with climatological SST. Thus, another set of nine-member ensemble integrations was also carried with climatological SST with initial conditions same as those used for set of nine-member runs carried for four monsoon seasons. The percentage departure of summer monsoon season rainfall over India with mean of all nine-members was compared with majority members’ anomaly sign method. The percentage departures of All India Summer Monsoon Rainfall (AISMR) reported by India Meteorological Department was also given to assess the seasonal monsoon prediction by the model. Results suggested that the seasonal monsoon prediction by model is in better agreement with model, when sign of rainfall anomaly by majority of the members among ninemembers is considered.

Wind Profiler /Radio Acoustic Sounding System

Under the project, Establishment of wind profiler data archival and utilization centre at IITM for wind profiler/radio acoustic sounding system (WP/RASS), wind and temperature data were generated for monsoon season. Data were processed through offline software to calculate u, v, ws and wd from raw data, and stored on 40x6 GB DAT as well as on CDs.

Other Initiatives

Sixth Session of the CLIVAR Asian – Australian Monsoon Panel (AAMP) and the inaugural session of newly constituted CLIVAR / IOC Indian Ocean Panel (IOP) were organised in February 2004. The CLIVAR /IOC Panel meetings were followed by an International Workshop on Role of Indian Ocean in Climate Variability (INDOCLIM) held during 23-27 February 2004.

International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad

The mission of ARCI is to develop unique, novel and techno-commercially viable technologies in the area of Advanced Materials and subsequently transfer them to industries. During the year, ARCI created entirely new Centres of Excellence (COEs) in Nanomaterials and Fuel Cell Technology. At the same time, existing activities have been regrouped into COEs in Engineered Coatings, Ceramics Processing and Laser Processing of Materials.

ARCI’s Centres of Excellence Centre for Nanomaterials

Considerable groundwork has been done to establish this new centre so as to make it fully operational by mid-2005. It is expected to be a state of the art centre with capability to produce nanopowders of virtually any type, as well as carbon nanotubes, in useful (kg level) quantities using a variety of techniques. Using these techniques, nanopowders of a very wide array of, alloys, intermetallics, oxides, carbides and nitrides can be synthesised in Kg quantities. The above nanopowders, will be utilized by ARCI to carryout application development in the following areas:

• Bulk nanostructured components based on powder metallurgy techniques;
  
• Bulk nanostructured ceramic components;
  
• Nanostructured coatings (thermal spray / cold spray);
• Nanocomposite coatings / films by sol-gel and related techniques;
  
• Fuel cell components based on nanomaterials; and
  
• Nanopowders and their films for water purification, filtration, self-cleaning and edical
  applications.

Application development is envisaged in other areas such as sunscreens, cosmetics, conducting inks and polymers, sensors, textiles, drug delivery, catalysts etc., by supplying nanopowders of required composition, size and morphology to various institutions carrying out research in these areas. Accordingly, in addition to a variety of synthesis techniques, special techniques for compaction (magnetic and ultrasonic), sintering (spark plasma sintering, rate controlled sintering and microwave), coating (cold spray, detonation spray, sol-gel nano coatings etc.) and characterization (field emission SEM with EBSD, nanoindentor, AFM etc.) of nanopowders are envisaged.

In the area of carbon nanotubes (CNT), facilities are envisaged for synthesis of single-wall and multi-wall CNTs and fullerenes for catalyst substrates, hydrogen storage and reinforcement composites.

Spark plasma sintering facility (Figure 10.8), nanoindentor, mechanical alloying route for synthesis of nanopowders, spray dryer for agglomeration of the nanopowders have been put in place during the year.

Centre for Fuel Cell Technology (CFCT)

The project to establish a CFCT was sanctioned in the year. CFCT is located at Chennai and is mandated to develop Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology for use in the following applications:

• UPS & Emergency power supply systems;
  
• Transportation – Auto rickshaw; and
• Decentralized power supply systems.

Facilities for development of fuel cell stacks and several of its components have already been created. Other existing technologies at ARCI pertaining to surface coatings, exfoliated graphite sheets, hydrogen storage materials, nanomaterials, heat pipes are expected to be used in fuel cell applications development.

Centre for Ceramics Processing

Technology oriented product development programmes with an aim to introduce new materials in the market have been taken-up. Additionally, work was done towards quality improvement commitments as per market requirements for already transferred technologies namely, honeycomb-based energy efficient air heaters, high purity magnesium aluminate spinel refractory grains and crucibles for carbon and sulphur analysis. Considerable efforts were made towards the transfer of technology on low expanding cordierite honeycombs for catalytic converters. Significant new developments include high temperature zirconia-spinel molten metal filters with honeycomb structures and selfregulating BaTiO3 thermistors for use as thermal relays for air conditioning applications. As part of a sponsored DST (SERC) project, studies on the extrusion process with particular emphasis on rheological and die designing aspects were conducted. Research was carried out on optimize gel casting, a shape forming process, for SiC ceramic components to make complex shapes, cost effective Si3N4 grains through SHS process, ceramic membranes, alumina-based honeycomb monolith supports, reticulated ceramic foams for molten metal filtes.

Centre for Engineered Coatings

Main accent has been on indigenous development of unique coating technologies to complement and enhance existing national capabilities in the field. The center has registered impressive results as follows:

• Fourth Detonation Spray Coating (DSC) equipment has been transferred to a company in North India;
  
• The new version of Electrospark Coating, capable of improved and more versatile performance has been designed, assembled and tested;
  
• Upscaling of the Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO) technology has been completed (Figure 10.9) and steps for transfer of technology were initiated along with filing a US patent; and
• Studies to overcome design deficiencies in Cold Spray technology as obtained from Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM), Ukraine were taken-up.

The Centre has also addressed various technology-related issues aimed at providing continuous technical support to the technology receivers such as novel coating chemistries, alternate feedstock options, thermal and hydro-power sector applications.

The Centre is primarily established to promote induction of laser into material processing industries. Presently, two continuous wave CO2 laser systems and a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, complemented with efficient CAD/CAM & CNC integration, are available catering to cutting, drilling, welding, hardening, alloying and cladding operations. Superiority of laser-based techniques over conventional alternatives has been proven for a variety of applications namely, laser cutting of titanium bone plates for Maxillofacial surgery, laser welding of solenoid valves and laser hardening of steam turbine blades. Goaloriented R&D programmes for identified industrial applications of lasers were taken-up. With the mushrooming of several private job-shops providing laser cutting service in the country, CLPM’s efforts have been devoted to cutting of materials with high-technology applications, such as Titanium alloys, Nickel-based superalloys and composites. The laser-welding efforts included investigations on extra-deep drawn (EDD) steels of interest to automotive industry in the use of tailor-welded blanks. A comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of laser treatment of the railway tracks for enhanced longevity was initiated. A study on laser hardening of camshafts for the two-wheeler industry is also being carried out. Commercial interest in the new and exciting field of pulsed laser deposition (PLD), which is a unique and versatile technique to obtain high quality, epitaxial and nearly single crystal like thin films of various materials (oxides, carbides, nitrides, metals, polymer, complex materials, multilayers, etc.) for different applications, is also being evaluated.

Technology Incubation and Commercialisation

Major objective of ARCI is to develop materials-based technologies and transfer them to industries. ARCI has evolved over the last six years several methodologies for technology transfer and commercialization resulting in transfer of 14 technologies to 24 entrepreneurs. Details of the technologies transferred during the year are given below:

• Evaporation Boat for Meatallizing Industry: M/s. Supervac Oils (P) Ltd. entered into an agreement with ARCI during February 2003 for joint development of evaporation boats and subsequent transfer of the associated technology on an exclusive basis. After successful field trials, M/s. Supervac Oils established, a commercial plant at the Advanced Materials Technology Incubator at ARCI in June 2004.
• Heat Pipes Heat Sinks: ARCI, in collaboration with M/s. Luikov Institute, Minsk, has developed the technology for production of porous heat pipe heat sinks and set up a pilot plant. The technology has been transferred to M/s. Capri Cables (P) Ltd., Hyderabad who set up the manufacturing facility in the Advanced Materials Technology Incubator (AMTI) of ARCI which was inaugurated on September 21, 2004 by Shri P G Narayanan, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests. TIFAC, DST has partially funded the project under its Home Grown Technology Programme.

Other Initiatives

• M/s. Nimra Cerglass Ltd., receiver of the catalytic convertor technology from ARCI, and M/s. Falcon Graphite Ltd., receiver of the exfoliated graphite technology from ARCI, started commercial production at AMTI during the course of the year.
• ARCI also became a partner in cooperative, multilateral research involving a number of industries, universities and R&D laboratories. One such programme, involving all the auto majors, is focused on reducing the weight of auto bodies by 25%. ARCI is taking a lead role in formulating and implementing the above programme of TIFAC.

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore (1989)

The Centre is one of the leading institutions in the country for higher learning and research in frontier areas of materials sciences, theoretical physics, molecular biology and genetics, evolutionary biology, chemical biology, and geodynamics. A new academic programme titled Project Oriented Chemical Education (POCE) has been started to infuse creativity and scientific temper among the undergraduate students. Under the Summer Research Fellowship Programme, 150 students were offered the fellowship to spend their summer in laboratories across the country. During this year, 8 students were awarded Ph. D. degrees; 5 students of Ph. D. degree and 3 students of M S (Engineering.) degree have completed the academic formalities for the award of degrees. The number of students at the Centre has grown to 70.

Major Scientific Achievements and Highlights

The Chemistry & Physics of Materials Unit of the Centre has continued to concentrate their research on nanotubes, nano wires, nano rolls, thin films, crystals, manganates and magneto resistance materials and on various other materials. In the Chemical Biology Unit, studies on the novel pepticides are being carried out. Work on bile acid synthesized from chenodeoxycholic acid is in progress. Studies on martensitic transformation, statistical methods of equilibrium, laser-induced freezing in colloidal system, spintronic materials are continued in the Condensed Matter Theory Unit. In the Theoretical Sciences Unit, a liquid-liquid phase transition has been demonstrated in supercooled silicon and the validity of continuum elasticity theory for hetero epitaxial growth has been investigated. The Education Technology Unit completed the work of CD ROMS and illustrated books on Chemistry and Geography in Kannada. The Unit was also engaged in organizing various programmes for dissemination of scientific information. The Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit of the Centre are engaged in the work on Drosophila melanogaster lithium treated flies and activity rhythms of ant, the evolutionary genetics and population ecology. In the Engineering Mechanics Unit, a new and fast code for obtaining radiant fluxes and cooling rates in the atmosphere based on a band model for radiation; from the surface upto 100 km altitude has been completed.

The laboratories in the Molecular Biology & Genetics Unit are engaged in the work on the nonsyndronic hearing loss, identification of Cx 26 gene mutations and tools to analyse large variety of human cardiovascular disorders, developing molecular and immunological diagnostic strategies and optimizing DNA vaccines, study of structure-function relationship of enzymes of Type II Fatty Acid Synthesis of plasmodium falciparum, solving the crystal structures of the parasite adenylosuccinate synthetase, identification of the domains of chromatin-associated protein essential for activation of P53 function. An innovation made in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit on Cancer, led to filing of a PCT application titled “Polyisoprelylated benzophenones and their isomers as inhibitors of Histone acetyltransferases”.

Other Initiatives

23 Discussion Meetings/Workshops were conducted during the year either wholly or partially supported by the Centre. In addition, 50 seminars were also held at the Centre.

The Centre was honoured by the visit of His Excellency, the President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, on 7th June 2003. Dr Kalam was all praise for the ongoing research activities at the Centre.

The Centre has acquired an additional land of 18.40 acres. Construction of a new hostel building has just begun. The new biology laboratory is functional. Internet connectivity has been upgraded from 1 mbps to 2 mbps bandwidth.

Raman Research Institute, Bangalore (1972)

The main fields of research are Theoretical Physics, Optics, Liquid Crystals and Astronomy & Astrophysics, Soft-Condensed Matter and Biological Physics (membranes and single-DNA segments).

Major Scientific Achievements and Highlights

Theoretical Physics

The nonequilibrium heat conducting steady state of two-dimensional disordered harmonic lattices has been studied. Work on temperature profiles and the system-size dependence of thermal conductance are continuing. The statistical distribution of the work done when a polymer is stretched at a finite rate has been computed for the case of Rouse dynamics and is being pursued further. The question of observables in causal set theory of quantum gravity was examined. Progress was made on the decoherence functional mediated quantum random walk. The question of identifying Cauchy surfaces with certain thickenings of antichains in a causal set is being investigated. The parametrised field theory path integral was constructed. The most general classical casual set dynamics was found. The vacuum was identified as a state in loop quantum gravity. The 2.5PN gravitational wave polarisations have been computed. Implications of the 3.5PN phasing of gravitational waves for detection and parameter estimation are in progress.

Optics

An Optics Laboratory has been set up for studying laser cooling and trapping of atoms, imaging through turbid media, and ultra-fast atomic processes using femtosecond (10-15sec.) laser pulses. Experiments on laser cooled atoms in a magneto-optic trap were continued. A new method has been devised for measuring the lifetime of a cold cloud from fluorescence measurements. The testing of prototypes of various sub-systems for the Bose-Einstein condensate experiment has been completed and the assembly of the experimental set-up has been taken up. Studies of optical limiting have been extended to doped glasses, where some interesting behaviour has been observed. Work has been initiated in the areas of quantum information theory and quantum cryptography. New hybrid protocols have been proposed that improve the security of quantum bit commitment and the efficiency of quantum secret sharing.

Liquid Crystals

In the field of Liquid Crystal Research, the synthesis and characterization of the mesophases exhibited by compounds composed of banana-shaped molecules especially unsymmetrical compounds containing only one terminal chain were investigated. New phases and phase sequences were obtained. The first observation of a transition from the non-switchable B7 mesophase to an antiferroelectric sub-phase was found in some new strongly polar bent-core compounds. A method of incorporating functionalised gold nanoparticles in columnar liquid crystals made of disc like molecules was developed. The weakly first order nematic-nematic transition in a mixture of highly polar compounds was found to exhibit extreme sensitivity to the sample thickness, becoming critical at a thickness of about 15µm. A new phase consisting of a lattice of cylinders with a double tilt of the director field has been theoretically predicted to occur close to the nematic-isotropic phase transition point.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Theoretical studies in the areas of cosmology, intracluster and interstellar medium, gamma ray bursts, and state of matter at high densities were carried out. A new equation of state was obtained for cold matter at very high densities, which indicates that the absolute ground state of matter may not in fact be the widely-believed state of three-flavour quark matter.

A detailed study of atomic hydrogen emission from the nearby Eridanus group of galaxies using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope revealed a significant deficiency in the gas content of these galaxies, suggesting efficient removal of gas from galaxies due to tidal interactions with close neighbours. A steroidal of the southern sky at 151.6 MHz was imaged using the Mauritius Radio Telescope with a resolution of 4’ x 4’ and a sensitivity of ~150 mJy, resulting in a catalogue of about 3000 radio sources.

Fabrication of a 12m dish using the novel concept of pre-stressed parabolic dishes is complete. A DSP based control system for the telescope was also configured. A 4 – 8 GHz front-end receiver for the 12m dish was designed which includes a feed with an octave bandwidth and a HEMT based low noise amplifier. A digital back-end receiver for the 12m radio telescope, capable of providing at least 1024 channels across a 200 MHz band a high-speed data acquisition system was developed. In Satellite Astrometry, systems were set up at Hessian, Bangalore and Kodak (GMRT campus) to enable a 3-station ranging of INSAT 3A. Continuous range measurements were obtained at 1 second interval for INSAT 3A from Hessian for over a week with a 2-3 m rams (over 2.5 million measurements) which were analyzed.

S.N.Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata

Conferences/Seminars

The most important international meeting for statistical physicists is STATPHYS, which is held once every three years in various parts of the world. The STATPHYS-2004 was held at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore from July 4 -9, 2004. Two satellite meetings of STATPHYS were also held on topics such as Complex Networks: Structure, Function and Processes and Pattern Formation in Nonequilibrium Systems. Highlights of these meetings are as below:

Complex Networks: Structure, Function and Processes (27 June-1 July 2004)

This conference was the fifth in a series of STATPHYS meetings in Kolkata and was appropriately named as STATPHYS-KOLKATA V. There were 63 registered participants; invited talks were delivered by 22 speakers, rest of the participants presented posters. Physica A has provided its continued support in publishing the Proceedings of the series of Statphys - Kolkata conferences: (I) vol. 186, 1992, (II) vol. 224, 1996, (III) vol. 270, 1999, (IV) vol. 318, 2003, as well as the present volume.

Pattern Formation in Nonequilibrium Systems (11-13 July 2004)

There has been intense research interest in the evolution of systems which are out of equilibrium. The satellite meeting focused on the evolution and characterization of nonequilibrium systems. The main themes reflected the research interests of the statistical physics group of the Centre, viz., (a) far-from-equilibrium dynamics, (b) kinetics of phase transitions, (c) pattern formation in granular materials.

Lecture Series and other Lectures

‘Kolkata Kolon’ lecture series was held on the first Friday of every month and lectures were delivered by eminent scientists on emerging topics of research.

The 4th C. K. Majumdar Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof. Guruswamy Rajasekaran, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai on Recent Discoveries in Neutrino Physics on 11th August 2004. He also gave three more lectures to the students of the Centre on ‘Is there a Final Theory?’ The 16th S. N. Bose Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof. Abhay Ashtekar, Director, Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry and Eberly Professor of Physics, Penn State University, U.S.A. on Black Holes: Surprises, Puzzles and Clues for Fundamental Physics on 3rd January 2005.

Joint Collaboration for Ph.D. in Physical Sciences

The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste, Italy, and the S. N. Bose National Center for Basic Sciences, Kolkata, India have come into an agreement to offer five fellowships to young scientists from developing countries who wish to pursue research leading towards a Ph. D. degree in Physical Sciences.

Achievements

The institute has made phenomenal progress in past six years. The Centre organised various conferences in the winter session of 2003-2004 on Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Novel materials, Interface of Chemistry and Biology, Biomedical Optics as well as the In-House Meeting. Several training activities for young students in the form of KVPY programme of the DST, National Science Day Celebrations and laboratory experiments run by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers were organised.

Other Initiatives

Construction of remaining 50% of the Phase II of its campus and expansion of the research activities in the areas of Nano and Bio-sciences, trans-disciplinary research in the areas overlapping physical and medical including Ayurvedic sciences are other initiatives proposed.

Exploration of the possibility of setting up laboratories in the areas of Nano-physics, Bio-physics and Low Temperature Physics and Medical Physics is envisaged.

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram (1980)

The objectives of the institute are promotion of biomedical engineering and technology; demonstration of high standard of patient care; and development of post-graduate training programmes of the highest quality in advanced medical specialities and biomedical engineering & technology. The Institute has a Biomedical Technology Wing for the R & D activities, a super-speciality Hospital with bed strength of 239 for cardiovascular thoracic and neurological diseases and the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences Studies for research and training in public health. A summary of the important achievements in the last one year are given below:

Major Scientific Achievements and Highlights

Technology Development

Subsequent to the accreditation of the BMT Wing test laboratories by Comite’ Francais D’Accreditation (COFRAC) of France under the international standard ISO 17025; a surveillance audit was carried out during August 2004 by COFRAC with a successful outcome. With the ISO accreditation of the biomedical technology laboratories for testing and evaluation of biomaterials and medical devices, the institute thus becoming the first such institution in South Asia.

The major R&D efforts at BMT Wing related to the development of Biomaterials and Devices are described below:

Products/ Processes and their Status

Membrane oxygenator and Haemoconcentrator: The second phase clinical evaluation of the membrane oxygenator coordinated by the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery was completed successfully in March 2004. The technology has been transferred to SIDD, Chennai. The development of a haemoconcentrator under the sponsorship of SIDD, Chennai progressed satisfactorily and based on the results of the testing, the design has been finalised for the 0.4 sq. metre model.

Centrifugal pump: The vendor development for the drive unit progressed satisfactorily with the validation of the first drive and control unit during the year. Fabrication of 4 commercial model drive units is underway by the vendor. The final in-vitro and in-vivo large animal evaluation for safety and efficacy needs to be completed with the production model pump heads, before clinical evaluation can start.

Artificial Heart Valves: The joint collaborative project for the development of three new sizes for the TTK-Chitra heart valve is underway. The prototype valves have completed 200 million cycles of accelerated life cycling.

Large Diameter Vascular Graft: Pilot production of 100 vascular grafts in six different sizes for the multicentric clinical trials was completed. As part of the technology transfer, the personnel from M/s. TTK Healthcare Ltd, Chennai, were trained in the processing and quality control of vascular grafts.

Retinal Bands: The suitable process for the flash free fabrication of silicone retinal bands has been developed and is undergoing standardization.

Fibrin glue: Two procedures for viral inactivation that have been developed were standardized as per WHO standards and the validation studies in collaboration with the Department of Clinical Virology, CMC, Vellore; completed. Results are now awaited.

Hydroxyapatite and Bioglass: A major milestone was reached with the completion of the clinical trial of bioactive glass composites (HABG) for periodontal application. The clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite burr-hole buttons for neurosurgery has been started at Department of Neurosurgery. Another clinical study on the use of bioactive glass composite (HABG) for spinal surgery and iliac crest reconstruction is progressing at Department of Orthopaedics, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin.

Dental composites: The technology transfer of the 4 dental products: Chemical cure, Light Cure, Radiopaque dental composite and Dentine bonding agent has commenced with the signing of a licence agreement for commercialisation with M/s. Anabond, Chennai as industrial partner.

Wound dressings: A licence agreement for commercialisation of Chitosan based wound dressings was entered into with M/s. Dynamic Techno Medicals Pvt. Ltd., Aluva. The development of silveroxide coated dressings in the Laboratory for Polymer Analysis has been completed under sponsorship of M/s. Dynamic Technomedicals Pvt Ltd., Aluva. Scale-up and clinical evaluation is planned.

Disposable ECG Electrodes: ECG electrodes fabricated in the laboratory were tested and were found to satisfy the requirements of the American National Standard ANSI/AAMI EC 12:2000. A mould is being fabricated for a combined snap connector and electrode.

Intellectual Property Rights

Four new patent applications were filed, while 5 of the earlier ones were granted. The current status of the Institute’s patents and designs is as follows:

Major On-going projects

Major projects supported by scientific agencies like DST, DBT, DRDO and others progressed satisfactorily.

Hospital Services

Hospital services continued to contribute significantly in providing care to the patients from Kerala, nearby districts of Tamilnadu and few patients from other parts of the country and abroad. The Six-Sigma initiative to improve the quality of services in the Out Patient Department has been taken and it proved to be a good endeavor and was appreciated by the patients. A Congenital Heart Surgery unit was commissioned incorporating two theatre rooms; nine bedded fully equipped Intensive Care Unit and a dedicated Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Ward. A plan has been formalized to include the hospital as a tertiary referral centre for tele-medicine services for the hospitals in Kerala. The Central Clinical Laboratory functioned round the clock providing investigative support in clinical chemistry, haematology and clinical pathology. The total number of procedures crossed five lakhs. The non invasive cardiac laboratory acquired a new 2-D Echo Doppler system. The Cardiac Catherization Laboratory has enhanced the invasive and interventional procedures like, coronary angiograms, cardiac catherization/ electrophysiology studies, PTCA + coronary stent, Balloon/metal mitral commissurotomy, coil embolisation-PDA, EPS/RFA, PDA closures, pacemaker implantations etc. The thoracic surgery complex was renovated with state-of-the-art equipments and a dedicated Paediatric Cardiac Surgery unit was set up. In the Neurology Department, a new initiative was the starting of the one-year epilepsy fellowship.

As a new initiative in the Movement Disorder Section, a 5-channel intra-operative microelectrode recording system was acquired. The major areas of focus in neurosurgery were: neuro-vascular, CP angle, skull base, endoscopy, epilepsy and movement disorder surgery and craniovertebral/spinal instrumentation. Newer surgical procedures such as transnasal endoscopic surgeries and certain state of the art surgeries including image-guided surgery and artificial disc surgery were carried out. The Radiology Department has acquired a state of the art, top of the line 1.5 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging System (MRI), a Computer Radiography System (CR) and a Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS).

The commissioning of a dedicated operation theatre complex and surgical intensive care unit for congenital cardiac surgery reinforced the Institute’s commitment to sustain and expand paediatric and neonatal cardiology. The ongoing clinical and basic science research on coronary artery disease, atherogenesis, cardiomyopathy, myocardial mechanics, epilepsy, movement disorders and cerebrovascular abnormalities made satisfactory progress.

Academic Activities

The student strength for DM/MCh degree, Postdoctoral Certificate Courses and Post DM/MCh Fellowship during the year was 60. The Master of Public Health degree programme has 33 scholars. The Institute has, as of now, 25 scholars for the PhD programme, 12 scholars enrolled for the Post Basic Nursing Certificate Programme and 31 scholars for the various diploma programmes. The Master of Applied Epidemiology programme, an off-campus course of SCTIMST at the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai has 15 scholars on rolls.

Health Sciences Studies

The Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences Studies continued its excellence in public health training and research. The duration of the MPH programme has been extended to 2 years from the existing one and a half year. Besides, short courses and training programmes have been planned. Some of the ongoing research projects in public health undertaken by the Centre are (a) Demand side financing for reproductive and child health programme; (b) Establishment of sentinel surveillance system for cardiovascular disease in Tranvancore Titanium Products Ltd; (c) Independent evaluation of the National Malaria Control Program; (d) Political decentralization and status of reproductive health in Kerala; (e) Research, training and advocacy for gender sensitisation of medical education and capacity building of health professional for reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity; (f) Sentinel health monitoring centres in India; (g) Situational analysis of MTP services in Kerala: provider perspectives; (h) Small grants program on gender and social issues in reproductive health; (i) Strengthening health research in non-government organizations in India; and (j) Tobacco cessation training and research in India and Indonesia.

Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun

The Institute has been promoting research activities in six thrust areas.

Major Scientific Achievements & Highlights

Geodynamics and Crustal Evolution

The structural investigations, including the clay model studies, along with geochemical and mineralogical inputs from Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal were used to understand the geodynamic and crustal evolution of the Himalayas. The structural studies carried out in eastern Ladakh reveal that the obduction has occurred in two phases. It was found that the true magnitude and direction of particle movement paths can be obtained only by choosing a fix point outside the deforming body undergoing translation.

The geochemical and mineralogical studies carried out on gabbroic rocks of the Nidar Ophiolitic sequence suggest that they have island arc affinity. For the first time, ‘plagiogranites’, considered to be end products of differentiation of tholeiitic magmas, were reported to the north of Kyun Tso in eastern Nidar Ophiolitic sequence. The P-T estimates of the host crystalline rocks in the Dudatoli- Almora region indicate temperature in the range of 500 to 650oC, and pressures in the range of 6 to 8 kbar. Further, the mineralization studies carried out in the Dudatoli-Almora crystallines suggest that, these are potential source of tin and tungsten mineralization. From the studies carried out so far, it is envisaged that the idea of fluids vis-à-vis source rock chemistry, metamorphism and deformations coupled with lithotectonic set-up will help to locate new occurrences of the Sn-W mineralization and polymetallic sulphides in the crystalline rocks of Uttaranchal Himalaya.

Basin Evolution

Tracing the evolution of hearing in cetaceans (whales, dolphins etc.) was established in a joint collaborative work with an international team of scientists. The ear is the most important sense organ for toothed whales and directional hearing is absolutely critical for them, since they locate their prey using echo location: a blind dolphin can find food without much trouble; a deaf dolphin will starve. The palaeontolgical studies of the Himalayan Foreland basin indicate that the process of extinction and migration of the Pinjor Fauna (2.58 Ma to 0.6 Ma) started respectively at 1.72 Ma and completed at 0.6 Ma. Pinjor Fauna is widely compared with the equivalent faunas from Mynamar, Java, South China, Japan and Taiwan. Evidence indicates that about 45 k years back, the present course of River Yamuna had a depression, which acted as route for the migration of the faunas. Thus the eastern route for migration, which opened for the first time probably in the Pinjor, became dominant in post-Siwalik times.

Natural Hazards

The Institute is engaged in studies of Natural Hazards in various sectors of the Himalaya. During the current year, work on geo-environmental studies of the Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh progressed satisfactorily. Analysis of data shows increase in flash floods since 1988 with average recurrence interval of three years. This, far exceeds the reported occurrence in the nearly 40 year’s interval between 1902 and 1945, indicating a rapid environmental change in the region in the recent decades. Eighty five after shocks recorded by the strong motion array for the Dharamsala earthquake of 1986, Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991, and Chamoli earthquake of 1999 were analyzed and their source parameters estimated.

The measured concentration of radon in an active landslide located along Pindar river in the Chamoli District of Uttaranchal in Garhwal Lesser Himalaya landslide zone, varies from 3.1 Bq/l to 18.4 Bq/l in spring water and from 2.3 to 12.2 kBq/m3 in the soil gas of the debris. The relatively low concentration of radon both in soil-gas and water in the toe portion of the landslide is indicative of the high porosity of the debris material, which does not allow radon to accumulate in the soil and water.

The studies of potential aquifer along the Rudraprayag-Pokhri sector showed that the aquifers consist of fractured and weathered gneisses and schists having secondary porosity and permeability, while the studies along the Rudraprayag – Guptkashi sector showed that sand, gravel and un derlyingweathered bed rock having primary porosity and permeability form aquifers. The Static Water Level (SWL) in the handpumps / borewells range from 15 to 74 m b.g.l.

Glaciology and Natural Resources

Himalaya is bestowed with enormous wealth of natural resources. The water resources in Himalayan region are strongly dependent upon the glaciers and rainfall. In continuation of the monitoring programme of the Chorabari glacier in Garhwal Himalaya, field work was carried out in the month of May-June 2004. Stake network made over the accumulation / ablation area in October 2003 was re-monitored for determination of net winter precipitation and snow/ ice melting during the period. Snow/ice density was also measured at different elevations. The strength of stake has been increased and 32 stakes were placed right from glacier snout to accumulation zone. Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) has been mapped, which is found at the attitude of 4950 m. The data is under process for annual mass balance calculation. Snout of the glacier was monitored and it has been observed that it has receded about 10 m at center and 5 to 6 m at the left and right margins. The data collected for mass balance and snout recession for the year 2003-04 is being processed for final calculation. From the geomorphological mapping of Chorabari glacier and surrounding areas, a number of glacial landforms such as lateral moraines, terminal moraines, crevasses, debris covered, supraglacial melt water channel, snow covered, demarcation of present ELA, hanging glaciers and avalanche paths etc. were identified and mapped. Digitization of Chorabari glacier catchment map was initiated to generate a DEM.

Paleoclimate and Environment

The aim of the thrust area is to study the Late Quaternary vegetation and climatic change history. The study of radiocarbon dates of 1.04 m thick Dayara peat profile indicate that, the peat profile (sampled at one-cm interval) reveals past 6000-year sub-decadal climate history of the Bhagirathi valley. Pollen spectra of this peat sequence are represented by arboreal taxa comprising conifers (Abies, Picea, Pinus and Cedrus), brown oak (Quercus semecarpifolia), alder (Alnus nepalensis), birch (Betula utilis), and tree Rhododendrons; and herbaceous members representing grasses, Polygonaceae, Umbeliferae, Balsaminaceae and Labiateae. Preliminary interpretation of the pollen diagram (based on absolute concentration), LOI, and magnetic susceptibility (÷lf) collectively reveal that the climate was significantly cool and dry between ca. 5200 – 3700 cal yr BP.

Northeast Himalayas

The structural and tectonic studies carried out in the Arunachal Himalaya (Siang, Syom and Subansiri Valleys) reveal that the Eastern syntaxis represents a major antiformal structure across the Siang River. Crystalline rocks occupy the hinge zone of the syntaxis exposed in southern Tibet. The Bame Fault is the latest structure and represents a neo-tectonic dextral tear fault. Depositional sedimentary models have been prepared on the basis of the stromatolitic build-ups and the sedimentary structures in the Buxa Dolomite from the Ranjit window in Sikkim. The microbial assemblages present in the Buxa Dolomite have been identified and systematic descriptions have been finalised. The C and O isotope values strongly indicate primary marine signatures during the formation of these carbonates and the diagenetic features have not altered the original fabric in oolites and stromatolitic laminae.

Neotectonic investigations between HFT (Himalayan Frontal Thrust) and Main Central Thrust (MCT) reveal that the Arunachal region is tectonically active in eastern and western Siang districts and western Kameng district. The Seismicity of the Himalaya is mainly related to major thrusts which include HFT, MBT and MCT. Neotectonic movements have been recorded along the boundary thrusts that defines the boundaries of lithotectonic terrains and along tear faults.

Other Initiatives

64 research papers were published and 84 research papers communicated to both National and International journals. At present, a total of 28 Sponsored Research Projects are in progress. Five Ph.D. theses were awarded, and seven M.Tech. Dissertation submitted during this year. Sixteen Scientists went abroad to attend workshop/training courses. Field studies for 15 days in Tibet – Lhasa – Nyalam section were also carried out.

Expert group meeting on ‘Landslide Hazard Mitigation’ for Uttaranchal State was held on April 14-15, 2004. The Institute organized a two-day post workshop of 17th International workshop on “Electromagnetic Induction in Earth” at NGRI, Hyderabad on October 24-25, 2004 on “Multidisciplinary studies in Himalaya”. Also, “WInGeo-2004: Workshop on Indian Geotransects” was organised on November 25-26, 2004 and a workshop cum training course on “Landslide Hazards and Mitigation” was organised from December 6-12, 2004.

The Institute has brought out Himalayan Geology vols. 25 (1) and 25 (2); Ashmika (Hindi magazine) vol. 10; and Annual Report for 2003-2004 (both in Hindi and English). The ‘National Technology Day’ was celebrated on 11th May and Open Day was observed. Shri. V.K. Raina, Ex-Deputy Director General, GSI delivered the Foundation Day Lecture on “Glaciers in the Himalayas – Gangotri Glacier” on 37th Foundation Day Function on 29th June, 2004. Eminent Visitors to the Institute included Shri Narain Dutt Tiwari, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttaranchal and Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, DST.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), New Delhi (1998)

NABL is mandated to provide accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories in India. Accreditation services provided by NABL conform to international standards. Thus, NABL is required to implement accreditation system in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 58 and the laboratories accredited by NABL have to conform to the standard ISO/IEC 17025:1999. NABL accreditation process involves adequacy review of quality system management, pre-assessment and final assessment of the laboratory by NABL trained assessors.

Evaluation of NABL by APLAC Evaluation Team

NABL attained APLAC (Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement) signatory status based on APLAC evaluation of implementation of ISO/ IEC Guide 58 by NABL and ISO/IEC Guide 25 (this has been subsequently replaced by ISO/IEC 17025:1999) by the laboratories accredited by NABL in July 2000. To continue APLAC MRA status, NABL underwent re-evaluation by a four member APLAC team during 25th – 30th July 2004. The APLAC committee has recommended that NABL remain in APLAC MRA for calibration and testing.

NABL was selected for International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) MRA status in November 2000, with continuation of APLAC MRA status for NABL, its ILAC MRA status is also expected to continue. Under these arrangements, 46 accreditation bodies in 37 countries recognize the certificates issued by NABL accredited laboratories as equivalent to the certificates issued to the laboratories accredited by them. This process is expected to facilitate trade across the national boundaries.

Contract from Ministry of Industry and International Trade, Republic of Mauritius

NABL received a contract for conducting awareness seminars on importance of accreditation, assessors update workshop on ISO/IEC 17025:1999 and internal auditor training courses for Mauritius Accreditation Service (MAURITAS). The contract was awarded to NABL by the Ministry of Industry and International Trade, Republic of Mauritius after reviewing bids received from other accreditation bodies. To fulfill this contractual obligation, NABL faculty conducted two awareness seminars during 2-3 April 2004, one assessors update workshop during 12-14 April 2004 and three internal auditor training courses during 10-15 May 2004.

Other Initiatives

NABL granted accreditation in 76 disciplines to 54 new facilities in testing. Competence of testing laboratories in 79 disciplines was re-assessed. In calibration, accreditation has been granted in 30 disciplines to 24 new facilities. Competence of 13 calibration facilities in 15 disciplines was reassessed. All accredited laboratories undergo two annual surveillances in a three year accreditation cycle.

NABL conducts 5 days training courses for training assessors and 4 days training courses for training laboratory personnel in quality system management and internal audit. In addition, a reorientation course for medical laboratory assessors was held as NABL plans to introduce ISO 15189:2003 standard for medical laboratories shortly. 12 training courses for laboratory personnel were held. Other courses organized by NABL included, a course on measurement of uncertainty in chemical testing, courses on measurement of uncertainty in hardness and force calibration etc.

12 proficiency testing programmes for testing laboratories and 4 proficiency testing programmes for calibration laboratories, initiated during last financial year are continuing.

Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi

The main objectives of TIFAC include identifying priorities and strategies for research, technology development and technology import; setting up suitable information collection, analysis and implementation groups; and carrying out promotional activities, including programmes for research and technology development.

Major Scientific Achievements and Highlights

TIFAC Reports

TIFAC has been carrying out Technology Forecasting (TF), Technology Assessment (TA) and Technology Vision studies. TIFAC also generates special reports in select areas. Recent studies finalized include Transgenic Plants – Prospects and Concerns, Demand Projection of Refractory for the Next Ten Years, Fuel Cells, Technology Forecasting for Cement Industry, A survey on the DNA Micro Array (Biochips) with a Focus on Technology Transfer. Detailed monograph on Rare Earth Metals was released during the year through joint initiative of TIFAC & Indian Institute of Metals (IIM).

New links were introduced in TIFAC Website (www.tifac.org.in) for Success Stories, National Mission for Bamboo Applications, IT-SAP, TIFAC Reports and Technology Expert Network.

Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC)

In its efforts to create awareness about IPR at the national level, PFC organized 20 Patent
Awareness Workshops, facilitated Patenting/IPR Protection Activity and brought out IPR Bulletin.

During the year, a two day training program on drafting of patents specifications was organized at National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi in September 2004 for the officers of Patent Information Centers, science departments and women scholarship holders. Under Women Scientist Scheme, 15 women scientists from all over the country are undergoing rigorous training in IPR and related areas. Ekaswa-A and Ekaswa-B databases are now available online through the PFC website www.indianpatents.org.in . Two more Patent Information Centres (PICs) were set up in the states of Goa and Haryana. With these, seventeen (17) PICs have been set up by PFC.

Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP)

TePP is a joint activity between TIFAC and the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR). TePP support is given to any individual innovator having an original idea/ invention/ know how and wishing to develop it further. 11 new projects have been initiated.

Home Grown Technology (HGT)

Home Grown Technology activity supports Indian industry to achieve competitive strength through technological innovation. Some of the projects recently initiated are Hydrophobic Coating on Glass, Evaporation Boats for Metalizing industry, Dehydration of Fruits and Vegetables by Continuous Explosion Puffing Process.

Sugar Technology Mission

The Sugar Technology Mission aims to focus on technology upgradation in the Indian Sugar industry.

Technology Upgradation of Sugar Factories : Preparation of draft detailed project report for setting up of a new modern sugar plant of 5000 tcd capacity has been taken up on request of Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd. The plant has been proposed to be installed at District Bijnor, U.P.

Replications: After successful trials, there have been about 30 replications of the eight successfully evaluated technologies in different sugar factories during 2003-04.

Sugar Technology Mission has surveyed the status of Sugar Industry in both Guyana and Fiji. Road map for revival and technology upgradation of the sugar industry in both countries have been prepared and submitted. The proposal of Fiji is under implementation. STM is also assisting the Government of India in identifying actions required for revitalization of Sugar Industry in India.

Fly Ash Utilisation Programme

Fly Ash Utilisation Programme continued its activities with focused thrust towards confidence building in gainful utilisation and safe disposal of fly ash in association with stakeholder agencies. During 2003-04, four ongoing Technology Demonstration Projects (commissioned during earlier years) and six consultancy projects were completed. Also, 8 new projects covering various areas of ash utilisation and 4 consultancy projects were commissioned. Recent highlights are as follows:

• 4 projects and 2 consultancy assignments were commissioned;
  MoU signed with Maharashtra State Electricity Board for providing them guidance for fly ash utilisation at their