National Centre for Earth Science Studies

Urbanization leads to micro-climate changes, particularly with regard to the thermal structure of the location. Most documented among such changes is the Urban Heat Island (UHI), which has received increasing attention during recent decades. Factors leading to the excess heat of towns are changes in the thermal characteristics of the surface, modification of the air flow patterns, reduction in evaporative cooling and heat generated by human activities.

Lakes are versatile ecosystems and they are under the threat of eutrophication and siltation. The physical characteristics of a lake provide some insight into the status of the lake. Satellite imagery analysis now plays a prominent role in the quick assessment of characteristics of a lake system in a vast area.

Deciphering accurate P–T–t path of evolution of migmatitic terranes, where significant melt (leucosome) components are preserved in-situ, is a challenging task in metamorphic petrology. In a new contribution on the cordierite–orthopyroxene migmatitic gneisses of the Kerala Khondalite Belt (KKB), southern India, Sreejith and Ravindra Kumar provide novel understanding on the aspect of rheological (thermal and mechanical) modifications of the lower crust due to melt generation in collisional orogens at extremely low–P conditions. Their study follows a systematic recording of prograde and retrograde mineral assemblages of a melt-bearing segment

• Geodynamic evolution of Archean cratons, Proterozoic mobile belts, Western Ghats & Active Subduction Zones
• Internal structure of volcanic eruptive centers by Muon Tomography
• Deep lithospheric and asthenospheric structures; Insights into Indian Ocean Geoid Low & Origin of shear zones
• Early Earth differentiation processes
• Hydrocarbon fluid inclusions in sedimentary basins of India
• Slope stability and landslide
• Coastal ocean dynamics and boundary exchanges, their role on climate regulations
• Origin, evolution and paleoclimatic implications of estuarine-continental margin sediments
• Submarine Groundwater Discharge (Phase-II)
• Critical zone studies of Peninsular India
• River and ground water hydrology of Peninsular India
• Evolution and water potential of natural springs of India
• Bio-geochemistry and nutrient fluxes of rivers and coastal environments
• Thermodynamical and microphysical processes of clouds & Cloud-aerosol feedback processes and its influence on weather systems
• Dynamics of thunderstorms and lightning