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fatehbaz · 2 months

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Scientific knowledge and technology played a significant role in the expansion of colonial rule in India and the consequent incorporation of the Indian sub-continent into the [commercialized, imperial] world-system [...]. The colonization of nature, territory and people in British India led to a mutually constitutive interplay [...].

By the time the East India Company managed to establish a foothold in Bengal in 1757, [...] [a]fter the acquisition of the formal rights to collect revenues in the states of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, the issue of obtaining accurate information about the extent of the produce, the population and other social statistics assumed significance. The detailed scientific surveys [...] were possible due to the large number of amateur scientists employed by the Company. Over time, these surveys played a major role in the transformation of a trading company into a colonial state [...] and the incorporation of India into the modern world-system. [...]

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Considered the founder of British geography, James Rennell arrived in India in 1760 barely three years after the decisive battle of Plassey. Rennell’s cartographic skills caught the attention of the governor of Bengal presidency, who was ‘anxious to inaugurate some system for correcting and revising the geography of Bengal’ [...]. Rennell’s mapping out in great detail the area under the Company was indispensable for the rationalization of the extraction of surplus, administrative strategies and techniques of control. [...] In 1777 he left for England, and two years later he published the Bengal Atlas that led to his election to the Royal Society. [...] With reference to the ‘science wars’, [...] Rennell’s work was also incorporated in the key text[s] of the time, C. Lyell’s Principles of Geology (1830) [...] [and] the work of [...] Humboldt and Carl Ritter. Rennell’s surveys contributed to the organized [...] surveys [across wider regions of India] that followed after the defeat of Tipu Sultan of Mysore in 1799. [...] [Mysore's] sustained resistance to British power had a major impact on the general consciousness in Britain. [...]

Thomas de Quincey extolled the virtues of the ‘British bulldog’ against [...] the tyrannical ‘Bengal tiger’ [...]. The scientific knowledge that emerged as a consequence of the surveys of Mysore contributed [...] to the consolidation of administrative power [...]. The key figures associated with the surveys [included] Colin Mackenzie [...]. Mackenzie’s ethnographic notes contributed to imperial perceptions of the [...] [people of South Asia] and the grid of anthropological knowledge through which administrative power was deployed. [...]

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Nature, culture and colonial power were inextricably implicated in the production of scientific knowledge and of colonial society. [...] The establishment the Public Works Department in 1854 provided fresh impetus for the deployment of science and technology in grappling with problems precipitated by colonial rule. Declining revenues for the Company focused attention on gigantic irrigation and other public works projects. [...]

The irrigation projects were expanded to include the railways (1849), the telegraph (1852), and the postal system (1850). Together, they represented the largest state-sponsored enterprise undertaken anywhere at that time. Lord Dalhousie, under whose tenure these projects were inaugurated, declared the railways, the telegraph and the postal system as the ‘three great engines of social improvement’.

His predecessor William Bentinck had already termed the railways ‘the great engine of moral improvement’ in a country ‘cursed from one end to the other by the vice, the ignorance, [...] the barbarous and cruel customs that have been the growth of ages under every description of Asian misrule’ [...]. Later observers were to wax ever more eloquent on the role of the railways in the modernization of India. For W. A. Rogers of the Indian Civil Service, railways ‘are opening the eyes of the people … they teach them that speed attained is time, and therefore money, saved or made’ (Adas1989: 226). The importance of a network of railways, connecting the cotton plantations of the Deccan region to the ports became significant especially during the 'cotton famine' of 1846 [...].

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Almost immediately after Dalhousie left India, secure in the belief that the double engines of moral improvement and legitimacy were at work, the rebellion of 1857 put an end to such expectations. The rebellion was partly triggered in response to the wide-ranging transformations [...] triggered off by the introduction of [these] new [colonial infrastructures] [...].

In the end, the rebellion was violently suppressed by the very technologies that had precipitated it in the first place. [...]

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All text above by: Zaheer Baber. "Colonizing nature: scientific knowledge, colonial power and the incorporation of India into the modern world-system". British Journal of Sociology 52(1), pages 37-58. April 2001. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

#ecology #abolition #multispecies #landscape #geography #temporal #temporality #colonial #imperial

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akasanata · 16 days

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Una vez más omite información que creo no debería ser omitida...

The books were of the most varied kind—history, geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law—all relating to England and English life and customs and manners. There were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the "Red" and "Blue" books, Whitaker's Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and—it somehow gladdened my heart to see it—the Law List.

Los libros, por su parte, trataban de los más diversos temas: historia, geografía, política, economía política, botánica, geología, derecho... y todos se referían a Inglaterra, a la vida y las costumbres inglesas.

El segundo párrafo se lo salta por completo. Aunque sea debió haber dejado que Jonathan se alegró al ver un libro de leyes inglesas xD

#dracula daily #dd #dd en español #may 7 #y

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harker-jonathan · 16 days

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7 May. —It is again early morning, but I have rested and enjoyed the last twenty-four hours. I slept till late in the day, and awoke of my own accord. When I had dressed myself I went into the room where we had supped, and found a cold breakfast laid out, with coffee kept hot by the pot being placed on the hearth. There was a card on the table, on which was written—

“I have to be absent for a while. Do not wait for me. D.” I set to and enjoyed a hearty meal. When I had done, I looked for a bell, so that I might let the servants know I had finished, but I could not find one. There are certainly odd deficiencies in the house, considering the extraordinary evidences of wealth which are round me. The table service is of gold, and so beautifully wrought that it must be of immense value. The curtains and upholstery of the chairs and sofas and the hangings of my bed are of the costliest and most beautiful fabrics, and must have been of fabulous value when they were made, for they are centuries old, though in excellent order. I saw something like them in Hampton Court, but they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten. But still in none of the rooms is there a mirror. There is not even a toilet glass on my table, and I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before I could either shave or brush my hair. I have not yet seen a servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolves. Some time after I had finished my meal, I do not know whether to call it breakfast of dinner, for it was between five and six o’clock when I had it, I looked about for something to read, for I did not like to go about the castle until I had asked the Count’s permission. There was absolutely nothing in the room, book, newspaper, or even writing materials, so I opened another door in the room and found a sort of library. The door opposite mine I tried, but found locked.

In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and newspapers. A table in the center was littered with English magazines and newspapers, though none of them were of very recent date. The books were of the most varied kind, history, geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law, all relating to England and English life and customs and manners. There were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the “Red” and “Blue” books, Whitaker’s Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and it somehow gladdened my heart to see it, the Law List.

Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count entered. He saluted me in a hearty way, and hoped that I had had a good night’s rest. Then he went on.

“I am glad you found your way in here, for I am sure there is much that will interest you. These companions,” and he laid his hand on some of the books, “have been good friends to me, and for some years past, ever since I had the idea of going to London, have given me many, many hours of pleasure. Through them I have come to know your great England, and to know her is to love her. I long to go through the crowded streets of your mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that makes it what it is. But alas! As yet I only know your tongue through books. To you, my friend, I look that I know it to speak.”

“But, Count,” I said, “You know and speak English thoroughly!” He bowed gravely.

“I thank you, my friend, for your all too-flattering estimate, but yet I fear that I am but a little way on the road I would travel. True, I know the grammar and the words, but yet I know not how to speak them.

“Indeed,” I said, “You speak excellently.”

“Not so,” he answered. “Well, I know that, did I move and speak in your London, none there are who would not know me for a stranger. That is not enough for me. Here I am noble. I am a Boyar. The common people know me, and I am master. But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one. Men know him not, and to know not is to care not for. I am content if I am like the rest, so that no man stops if he sees me, or pauses in his speaking if he hears my words, `Ha, ha! A stranger!’ I have been so long master that I would be master still, or at least that none other should be master of me. You come to me not alone as agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, of Exeter, to tell me all about my new estate in London. You shall, I trust, rest here with me a while, so that by our talking I may learn the English intonation. And I would that you tell me when I make error, even of the smallest, in my speaking. I am sorry that I had to be away so long today, but you will, I know forgive one who has so many important affairs in hand.” Of course I said all I could about being willing, and asked if I might come into that room when I chose. He answered, “Yes, certainly,” and added.

“You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, except where the doors are locked, where of course you will not wish to go. There is reason that all things are as they are, and did you see with my eyes and know with my knowledge, you would perhaps better understand.” I said I was sure of this, and then he went on.

“We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange things. Nay, from what you have told me of your experiences already, you know something of what strange things there may be.”

This led to much conversation, and as it was evident that he wanted to talk, if only for talking’s sake, I asked him many questions regarding things that had already happened to me or come within my notice. Sometimes he sheered off the subject, or turned the conversation by pretending not to understand, but generally he answered all I asked most frankly. Then as time went on, and I had got somewhat bolder, I asked him of some of the strange things of the preceding night, as for instance, why the coachman went to the places where he had seen the blue flames. He then explained to me that it was commonly believed that on a certain night of the year, last night, in fact, when all evil spirits are supposed to have unchecked sway, a blue flame is seen over any place where treasure has been concealed.

“That treasure has been hidden,” he went on, “in the region through which you came last night, there can be but little doubt. For it was the ground fought over for centuries by the Wallachian, the Saxon, and the Turk. Why, there is hardly a foot of soil in all this region that has not been enriched by the blood of men, patriots or invaders. In the old days there were stirring times, when the Austrian and the Hungarian came up in hordes, and the patriots went out to meet them, men and women, the aged and the children too, and waited their coming on the rocks above the passes, that they might sweep destruction on them with their artificial avalanches. When the invader was triumphant he found but little, for whatever there was had been sheltered in the friendly soil.”

“But how,” said I, “can it have remained so long undiscovered, when there is a sure index to it if men will but take the trouble to look? “The Count smiled, and as his lips ran back over his gums, the long, sharp, canine teeth showed out strangely. He answered.

“Because your peasant is at heart a coward and a fool! Those flames only appear on one night, and on that night no man of this land will, if he can help it, stir without his doors. And, dear sir, even if he did he would not know what to do. Why, even the peasant that you tell me of who marked the place of the flame would not know where to look in daylight even for his own work. Even you would not, I dare be sworn, be able to find these places again?”

“There you are right,” I said. “I know no more than the dead where even to look for them.” Then we drifted into other matters.

“Come,” he said at last, “tell me of London and of the house which you have procured for me.” With an apology for my remissness, I went into my own room to get the papers from my bag. Whilst I was placing them in order I heard a rattling of china and silver in the next room, and as I passed through, noticed that the table had been cleared and the lamp lit, for it was by this time deep into the dark. The lamps were also lit in the study or library, and I found the Count lying on the sofa, reading, of all things in the world, and English Bradshaw’s Guide. When I came in he cleared the books and papers from the table, and with him I went into plans and deeds and figures of all sorts. He was interested in everything, and asked me a myriad questions about the place and its surroundings. He clearly had studied beforehand all he could get on the subject of the neighborhood, for he evidently at the end knew very much more than I did. When I remarked this, he answered.

“Well, but, my friend, is it not needful that I should? When I go there I shall be all alone, and my friend Harker Jonathan, nay, pardon me. I fall into my country’s habit of putting your patronymic first, my friend Jonathan Harker will not be by my side to correct and aid me. He will be in Exeter, miles away, probably working at papers of the law with my other friend, Peter Hawkins. So!”

We went thoroughly into the business of the purchase of the estate at Purfleet. When I had told him the facts and got his signature to the necessary papers, and had written a letter with them ready to post to Mr. Hawkins, he began to ask me how I had come across so suitable a place. I read to him the notes which I had made at the time, and which I inscribe here.

“At Purfleet, on a by-road, I came across just such a place as seemed to be required, and where was displayed a dilapidated notice that the place was for sale. It was surrounded by a high wall, of ancient structure, built of heavy stones, and has not been repaired for a large number of years. The closed gates are of heavy old oak and iron, all eaten with rust.

“The estate is called Carfax, no doubt a corruption of the old Quatre Face, as the house is four sided, agreeing with the cardinal points of the compass. It contains in all some twenty acres, quite surrounded by the solid stone wall above mentioned. There are many trees on it, which make it in places gloomy, and there is a deep, dark-looking pond or small lake, evidently fed by some springs, as the water is clear and flows away in a fair-sized stream. The house is very large and of all periods back, I should say, to mediaeval times, for one part is of stone immensely thick, with only a few windows high up and heavily barred with iron. It looks like part of a keep, and is close to an old chapel or church. I could not enter it, as I had not the key of the door leading to it from the house, but I have taken with my Kodak views of it from various points. The house had been added to, but in a very straggling way, and I can only guess at the amount of ground it covers, which must be very great. There are but few houses close at hand, one being a very large house only recently added to and formed into a private lunatic asylum. It is not, however, visible from the grounds.”

When I had finished, he said, “I am glad that it is old and big. I myself am of an old family, and to live in a new house would kill me. A house cannot be made habitable in a day, and after all, how few days go to make up a century. I rejoice also that there is a chapel of old times. We Transylvanian nobles love not to think that our bones may lie amongst the common dead. I seek not gaiety nor mirth, not the bright voluptuousness of much sunshine and sparkling waters which please the young and gay. I am no longer young, and my heart, through weary years of mourning over the dead, is attuned to mirth. Moreover, the walls of my castle are broken. The shadows are many, and the wind breathes cold through the broken battlements and casements. I love the shade and the shadow, and would be alone with my thoughts when I may.” Somehow his words and his look did not seem to accord, or else it was that his cast of face made his smile look malignant and saturnine.

Presently, with an excuse, he left me, asking me to pull my papers together. He was some little time away, and I began to look at some of the books around me. One was an atlas, which I found opened naturally to England, as if that map had been much used. On looking at it I found in certain places little rings marked, and on examining these I noticed that one was near London on the east side, manifestly where his new estate was situated. The other two were Exeter, and Whitby on the Yorkshire coast.

It was the better part of an hour when the Count returned. “Aha!” he said. “Still at your books? Good! But you must not work always. Come! I am informed that your supper is ready.” He took my arm, and we went into the next room, where I found an excellent supper ready on the table. The Count again excused himself, as he had dined out on his being away from home. But he sat as on the previous night, and chatted whilst I ate. After supper I smoked, as on the last evening, and the Count stayed with me, chatting and asking questions on every conceivable subject, hour after hour. I felt that it was getting very late indeed, but I did not say anything, for I felt under obligation to meet my host’s wishes in every way. I was not sleepy, as the long sleep yesterday had fortified me, but I could not help experiencing that chill which comes over one at the coming of the dawn, which is like, in its way, the turn of the tide. They say that people who are near death die generally at the change to dawn or at the turn of the tide. Anyone who has when tired, and tied as it were to his post, experienced this change in the atmosphere can well believe it. All at once we heard the crow of the cock coming up with preternatural shrillness through the clear morning air.

Count Dracula, jumping to his feet, said, “Why there is the morning again! How remiss I am to let you stay up so long. You must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of England less interesting, so that I may not forget how time flies by us,” and with a courtly bow, he quickly left me.

I went into my room and drew the curtains, but there was little to notice. My window opened into the courtyard, all I could see was the warm grey of quickening sky. So I pulled the curtains again, and have written of this day.

#dracula daily #dracula #My Good Friend the Count

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greaseonmymouth · 2 months

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tumblr hivemind, do any of you know how I can go about finding definite proof of either where a photo was taken or whether it was perhaps AI generated?

specifically I want to find out what's up with one of apple's live wallpapers, the Icelandic coastline one - here it is on youtube in all its glory - because I strongly suspect it's fake.

nowhere in Iceland looks like that that I know of

the geology of those mountains just looks Wrong. our mountains are very long and flat, they don't tend to go up and down like that

what's up with all those random lakes? you telling me we've got a row of mountains by the coast, behind them some random lakes, and then another row of mountains???? that's not how icelandic geography works????

where are the waterfalls???? there are always little springs of water everywhere and there isn't a single one here??? as a kid i used to amuse myself counting how many tiny waterfalls i saw between x and y and it was always a lot

where are the roads, the power lines, the the farms. the sheep. the birds?? there are roads along the entire coast, you expect me to believe there isn't a single road in this entire landscape??

why is the water as sleek as a mirror? where are the waves? you're trying to tell me that fake ass looking water is the atlantic ocean?

I did try to find out where this photo/drone footage was taken, but uh the only things I found were websites clearly designed to suck up to apple that just refer to the 'location labelled under the screensaver in system settings' which lmao, seriously.

I'm sure many other of their wallpapers are fake but this particular one offends me

#i know they have other wallpapers featuring iceland #i've only had a quick look at those and i'm not convinced they're 100% real either #how many of the others are also fake?#apple #mac os sonoma

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mourninglamby · 2 years

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What's your favourite rock

im a boring neurodivergent person and i dont fixate on cool shit like geology/geography/space im sorry i wish i did. although when i was younger/throughout my entire life rose quartz has consistently followed me, whether in jewelry, a gift from my grandma, or my first college roommates' rose quartz that i accidentally broke because she put them on our window sill and when i put the curtain down it fell and despite apologizing and offering to buy her a new one she still used it against me, well. it certainly feels like a consistent presence.

yes i know rose quartz is technically Not A Rock i cant think of any actual rocks. im sure if u showed me a cool one tho id love it. no frame of reference for faves tho.

#i feel like i talk too much

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dryas-glacialis · 1 year

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anything ending in -logy is a branch of learning or the study of a particular subject, like how geology is the scientific study of basically anything to with the earth, geo.

a -nomy is essentially a system of rules or a body of knowledge concerning whatever the suffix is attached to, like how geonomy refers to the physical laws and properties of the earth.

a rarer case is -nymy, which appears at the end of words to mean the study or formation of words and names, such as in geonymy, the set of place names or the set or rules used in their formation.

the suffix -graphy means a field of study, something that describes, with geography relating to the physical features of the earth. in words such as autobiography it refers to something written or recorded.

-metry at the end of a word implies measurements, such as in geometry, which is a branch of mathematics concerned with shapes, sizes, and dimensions.

a -sophy is a system of thought, with 'sophia' meaning wisdom. geosophy, which i was surprised to find is an actual word, is "the study of geographical knowledge from any or all points of view" or "the study of the world as people conceive of and imagine it".

#too many geos #science

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ubaid214 · 1 month

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Surveying Instruments for Accurate Topographic Mapping

Topography, the study and mapping of the Earth's surface features, is crucial for various fields including geography, geology, urban planning, civil engineering, and environmental science. To accurately assess and depict landforms, elevation, and other geographical characteristics, professionals rely on a range of specialized equipment. In this article, we'll explore the essential topography equipment used in modern surveying and mapping practices. surveying equipment

Total Stations: Total stations are multifunctional surveying instruments used to measure angles and distances. They integrate electronic theodolites with distance measurement capabilities, often employing infrared or laser technology. Total stations enable precise positioning and are fundamental tools for creating detailed topographic maps.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): GNSS receivers, such as GPS (Global Positioning System) and GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), provide accurate positioning data by receiving signals from satellites. GNSS technology is crucial for establishing control points, referencing coordinates, and georeferencing topographic surveys.

Digital Levels: Digital levels, also known as automatic levels or dumpy levels, are instruments used for measuring height differentials between points. These devices feature internal electronic sensors for precise height measurements, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of topographic surveys.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): UAVs, commonly referred to as drones, have revolutionized topographic mapping by offering aerial perspectives with high-resolution imagery. Equipped with cameras and GPS technology, drones capture detailed images and data, facilitating the creation of 3D terrain models and orthophotos.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): LiDAR systems utilize laser pulses to measure distances to the Earth's surface. LiDAR technology enables rapid and precise terrain mapping, even in densely vegetated or inaccessible areas. It provides highly accurate elevation data for generating detailed topographic maps and analyzing landscape features.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Ground Penetrating Radar systems use electromagnetic pulses to image subsurface structures and features. GPR is valuable for mapping buried utilities, geological formations, and archaeological sites, complementing surface-level topographic surveys with subsurface insights.

Field Tablets and Data Collectors: Field tablets and data collectors are portable devices used to collect, manage, and process survey data in the field. They facilitate real-time data capture, enabling surveyors to validate measurements and ensure data integrity during topographic surveys.

Mapping Software: Mapping software plays a critical role in processing, analyzing, and visualizing topographic data. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, such as ArcGIS and QGIS, allows for the creation of digital terrain models, contour maps, and spatial analyses based on topographic survey data.

Conclusion: Topography equipment has evolved significantly, leveraging advanced technologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and versatility in surveying and mapping applications. From traditional total stations to cutting-edge LiDAR and UAVs, these tools empower professionals to navigate and understand the Earth's complex terrain with unprecedented precision. As technology continues to advance, topography equipment will play an increasingly vital role in shaping our understanding of the natural and built environment.

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netzerobulletin · 1 month

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The world’s first river-linking project: Lessons in water management from Udaipur

By: Mr. Raju Mansukhani Senior Journalist and Writer on Heritage

When the soft-spoken Dr Narpat Singh Rathore presents his paper on water conservation and management, audiences at major conferences are rarely prepared for the fascinating, unique stories he shares on river-linking from the historic city of Udaipur in south Rajasthan, India.

A former professor of geography, ML Sukhadia University in Udaipur, Dr Rathore spent decades researching and documenting watershed management, river diversion and river linkage in the region of Mewar since the last 700 years. Udaipur, he explains, is actually a network of eight man-made lakes which have given the heritage city its character and sustainability. Well, that is why Udaipur is known as the ‘city of lakes’.

It is when an archival photograph of 1890 is seen that the drama begins: On August 13th, a delegation led by Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was visiting Udaipur. Prince Arthur, the third son of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army. To commemorate his visit Maharana Fateh Singh, the reigning ruler of State of Udaipur, requested the royal dignitary to lay the foundation stone of a dam at Devali near Udaipur. The Maharana, in honour of Prince Arthur, named the dam as ‘Connaught Dam’. Prince Arthur complimented a British engineer, Campbell Thompson working on the project.

A feeder canal called ‘Chikalwas feeder’ was constructed to divert the surplus rain water of Ahar river towards the Devali Talab now being renovated. The 200-year-old Devali Talab had seen disuse and destruction. Prince Arthur, in turn, requested the Maharana to rename the lake as ‘Fateh Sagar’ to cement their friendly ties. Today, 134 years after the historic event, the entire project is referred to as the world’s first river-linking project.

“It’s a unique example of water conservation and management anywhere in the world,” explained Dr. Rathore. Decades later in 1933 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was founded in the US, as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. Campbell Thompson who worked on the Udaipur projects, migrated to the US and was employed by TVA. The microhistory of water resource management in Mewar is filled with fascinating dots which are waiting to be joined together.

Dr Rathore’s paper on ‘Water Resource Management: A study of the world’s first man-made river links, river diversion and micro watershed of Udaipur basin’ lists the eight linkages: Goverdhan Sagar to Lake Pichola; Lake Pichola is linked to Doodh Talai, Amarkund and Kumharia Talab with channels; Kumharia Talab is linked to Rang Sagar; Rang Sagar, in turn, has link channels to Amar Kund and Swaroop Sagar; it is Swaroop Sagar that overflows into the Fateh Sagar through the eighth link channel.

In the 14th century CE: The story begins with Maharana Lakha who was instrumental, in today’s terminology, in watershed area planning. Between 1382-1385, Lake Pichola was constructed across the Kotra or Sisarma river. It has a total water body area of almost 7 sq. km. “It is the creation of a natural asset,” said Dr Rathore, “the city of Udaipur gets defined by Lake Pichola and successive generations of Maharanas of Mewar provided more lakes, in fact more lifelines for the city from the 14th to 20th centuries.”

The expertise demonstrated in the construction of Lake Pichola as a water body in the 14th CE is in sync with scientific and technological developments at the zinc mines of Zawar, as detailed in Dr Paul T Craddock’s report titled ‘The production of lead, silver and zinc in ancient India’. A good working knowledge of hydrology, pneumatics, hydrostatics, geology and competence in mathematics would have been essential for these achievements, wrote Dr Craddock. Following the example of Maharana Lakha, the network of lakes was constructed which can best be understood as micro watershed units.

Geography has played an important role in these micro-historical feats in Udaipur and the region of Mewar. Udaipur basin is located on the ‘great India water divide line’ at the confluence of four rivers, i.e., Ahar, Morwani, Amarjok and Kotra (Sisarma) that flow through the well-defined Girwa region along eastern slopes of south-central Aravallis, one of the oldest mountain range of the world.

Girwa means ‘girdle of hills’ and the Udaipur basin is saucer-shaped in the form of a valley, surrounded by Aravalli hill ranges. “Metamorphic rocks of the region ensure that there is no underground leakage or seepage of water from these lakes,” said Dr Rathore.

Ahar is the only major river that flows through this region, originating from the hills of Gogunda, flowing for 30 kms and joining Udai Sagar lake in the east. The construction of Connaught Dam in 1890 assumes significance when known how highly erratic and uncertain is the rainfall every year.

“Erratic rainfall is only one of the challenges we face in the 21st century,” said Dr Rathore. “Explosive population growth, encroachment of lake-beds and rapid urbanization have compounded the problems that a heritage city like Udaipur faces, year after year,” he said. Measures to save lakes need to be taken through water conservation techniques and construction of new link channels.

Said Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur, trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, “Lessons from our past have to be learnt and shared with the world. We salute the Custodians of Mewar and leaders whose names are linked to water bodies that have sustained our cities, and positively impacted the lives and livelihoods for centuries. This is sustainability in action and we are always open to sharing our knowledge with the world, especially when water is becoming the most precious asset.”

In the present, it is a delight to see the bounty of monsoons, the rains which will fill up the lakes of Udaipur, and the movement of the overflowing waters. Fateh Sagar, connected with Swaroop Sagar with a link channel and the Ahar river, makes headlines in the local media when it overflows! For residents-tourists to the heritage city, lakes filled to the brim are thrilling sights to remember. Rajasthan, though synonymous with the Thar desert, springs this surprise with the ‘city of lakes’ whose microhistory of water resource management is as significant as it is sustainable and life-giving.

#sustainability #solar energy #net zero #breaking news

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mudthing · 5 months

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so i saw a post today that had a quote from donna haraway about the chthulucene (a term proposed to describe the modern era), and i remembered reading that same passage from one of my art history classes. i have mixed feelings. so i wanna talk about it.

first, context. i'm not a scientist, but some very cursory research produces a few pieces of information. the holocene, the current geological epoch, has lasted ~11,700 years, since the end of the last ice age. the previous epoch, the pleistocene, lasted around 2.6 million years, according to the most recent definition. as i understand it, epochs are delineated by world-altering shifts in climate or geology, though it seems the holocene is a largely arbitrary distinction based on human presence, as the pleistocene has had multiple continuous ice age/warm period cycles without anything different about this one. (really, they're all subjective divisions - 'science' isn't universal truth, it's people deciding which truths to tell and how, but whatever.)

the anthropocene (allegedly coined in the 60s, gained visibility and use in the 2000s) is the unofficial term generally used to refer to the period in which human activity has radically altered the earth and its climate. various official bodies have examined using it as an official term, but with little agreement over when it should have begun. the effects of human activity have compounded gradually, so there is no single beginning date or inflection point. the industrial revolution is when coal-burning on an unprecedented scale began to significantly alter the atmosphere.

the term 'capitalocene' has been proposed to describe how we live in an era defined by capitalism itself, as a destructive force that reshapes the world. it affects us in many more ways than just carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and tracing the origin of capitalism means going back tens of thousands of years. the term calls for a shift in the way we think and talk about it.

'chthulucene' is a term originated by donna haraway, who rejects the anthropocene and capitalocene as labels and argues for a way of thinking that i'll summarize as 'humans are just animals, other animals actively affect our world, and we need to be aware of mutual interrelations rather than imposing our human wills on everything.' she chooses chthulucene for the root 'cthonic,' meaning 'of the earth,' and for its associations with the tangled relationships of nonhuman organisms. but you can read her own words in her essays here and here.

i have mixed feelings about it. i think she's right in a lot of what she says, i just don't like the term 'chthulucene,' for several reasons.

the first is that the immediate association is with cthulhu, the h p lovecraft monster. she acknowledges that, and argues it has other meanings that take precedence. i don't think it's that easy to shoulder out that association. personally, i think a lot more people would think 'cthulhu the eldritch squid thing' than would think 'chthonic, like the greek underworld deities,' and that has a lot of unwanted connotations for her ideas. why are we giving lovecraft more cultural space, of all people? fuck that guy.

the second is that 'chthulucene' isn't really a geological period (and capitalocene isn't either). the reason the anthropocene exists at all as a term is to define 'a period in which the planet was altered by human activities to such an extent that it will be permanently visible in the geological and fossil records.' changing atmospheric composition, rising ocean levels, artificially altered geographies, mass species die-offs - these things will leave traces for millions of years. we have entered a period of climatic change significant enough to be measured on the scale of geological time. that's a timescale where you have to count in the hundreds of millions of years in order to get to the next interesting thing happening, and it took us a tiny fraction of that time to become a very interesting thing for whoever comes after us. see this comic for a visual depiction of how jarring this change is, over just the last 22,000 years.

i take issue with the name because the chthulucene is using naming conventions of existing periods - the holocene, pleistocene, etc - to describe something that isn't any kind of geological period. it's trying to say something about How the World Is, Generally. but who's to say the chthulucene won't end ten years from now, to be replaced by the orochicene or the cosmocene or some other miscellaneous greek- or latin-derived word, that has a better theory to argue with?

that leads into the third thing, which is - donna haraway just came up with a name she liked. that's how everything ever has been named, so it's not unusual. it's just that it isn't any more accurate than anything else. the point she's arguing - that we need new ways of thinking and relating to the world, framing humans as part of a whole-earth ecosystem where we need every other part, rather than humans as masters of a passive nature - is entirely correct. but if the goal is specifically to resist enlightenment concepts of dominance through intellectual mastery, why are you also suggesting we have an official name for the period? if we're trying to find ways of knowing that don't require western scientific authority, why is this new age following the same convention as every older one, using the '''official''' linguistic jargon of western scientific authority?

maybe i just don't like the way that harraway writes. i mean -

"Bacteria and fungi abound to give us metaphors; but, metaphors aside (good luck with that!), we have a mammalian job to do, with our biotic and abiotic sym-poietic collaborators, co-laborers. We need to make kin sym-chthonically, sym-poetically. Who and whatever we are, we need to make-with—become-with, compose-with—the earth-bound (thanks for that term, Bruno Latour-in-anglophone-mode).13" from here

which is, uh, a lot. and yet she says in the other essay that "Anthropocene is a term most easily meaningful and usable by intellectuals in wealthy classes and regions; it is not an idiomatic term for climate, weather, land, care of country, or much else in great swathes of the world, especially but not only among indigenous peoples."

honestly, if you're complaining about intellectuals and you're using phrases like 'abiotic sym-poietic collaborators' and 'make kin sym-chthonically,' you're an intellectual. sorry not sorry but that's how it is. also, tell me you honestly think that 'chthulucene' is a term that's going to be meaningful and usable to people across the world? please.

anyways in summary i think haraway is right about a lot of what she's saying, i just can't stand the way she says it most of the time, and i'm less concerned about a lack of scientific rigor than i am annoyed by people who claim to be fighting established institutions of something-or-other and yet whose writing is incomprehensible to anyone without a liberal arts degree

#donna haraway #anthropocene #chthulucene

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thecountriesof · 9 months

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Exploring the Diversity of Countries: A Comprehensive Overview

In an increasingly globalized world, the countries that make up our planet are as diverse as the people who inhabit them. From cultural richness to geographical wonders, each country has a unique story to tell. In this article, we will embark on a journey to explore the remarkable aspects of countries around the world. This comprehensive guide will not only provide you with insightful information but also highlight the importance of understanding our global neighbors.

Introduction: The Tapestry of Nations

Countries are the building blocks of our world. They vary in size, population, culture, and history, creating a rich tapestry of diversity. Whether you're an avid traveler, a student of geography, or simply curious about the world, delving into the intricacies of different countries can be a fascinating and enriching experience.

The Beauty of Cultural Diversity

One of the most captivating aspects of countries is their cultural diversity. Each nation has its own set of traditions, customs, and beliefs that shape its identity. From the vibrant festivals of India to the stoic tea ceremonies of Japan, culture is a window into the soul of a nation.

Exploring Cultural Gems:

1. India: The Land of Festivals

India, often referred to as the "Land of Festivals," boasts a calendar full of celebrations. Diwali, Holi, and Eid are just a few examples of the colorful and lively festivals that bring the nation together.

2. Japan: The Art of Serenity

Japan's culture is deeply rooted in simplicity and mindfulness. The traditional tea ceremony, known as "chanoyu," exemplifies the Japanese way of life, emphasizing grace and tranquility.

3. Brazil: The Rhythm of Samba

Brazil is synonymous with the energetic rhythm of Samba. The annual Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world-renowned spectacle of music, dance, and vibrant costumes.

Natural Wonders: From Mountains to Oceans

Beyond cultural diversity, countries of also offer a breathtaking array of natural wonders. From the highest peaks to the deepest oceans, our planet is a treasure trove of awe-inspiring landscapes.

Unveiling Natural Marvels:

1. Switzerland: The Majesty of the Alps

Switzerland is home to the majestic Alps, a haven for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts. The Swiss Alps offer breathtaking vistas, pristine lakes, and thrilling winter sports.

2. Australia: The Great Barrier Reef

Off the coast of Australia lies the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system on Earth. Its vibrant marine life and crystal-clear waters make it a diver's paradise.

3. Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice

Iceland's dramatic landscapes include volcanoes, glaciers, and geothermal springs. The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa, is a testament to Iceland's unique geology.

Historical Significance: Tracing the Past

Countries also bear the marks of their historical significance. From ancient ruins to modern marvels, history has left an indelible imprint on our world.

Navigating Historical Signposts:

1. Egypt: The Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza stand as a testament to Egypt's ancient civilization. These colossal structures have puzzled archaeologists and fascinated tourists for centuries.

2. Italy: The Colosseum

Rome's Colosseum, an architectural marvel, is a symbol of ancient gladiatorial combat and Roman engineering prowess. It continues to attract millions of visitors each year.

3. China: The Great Wall

The Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spans thousands of miles. Its construction, primarily during the Ming Dynasty, is a remarkable feat of human engineering.

The Importance of Global Understanding

In our interconnected world, understanding other countries is more crucial than ever. It fosters tolerance, empathy, and cooperation. It allows us to appreciate the beauty of our planet's diversity while recognizing our shared humanity.

Conclusion: Embracing the World

Countries are not merely dots on a map; they are living, breathing entities with stories to tell. Exploring the cultures, natural wonders, and historical significance of different nations enriches our lives and broadens our horizons. So, whether you're an armchair traveler or a globe-trotting adventurer, take the time to learn about the world's countries and embrace the beauty of our global community.

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rabbitholesitrippedon · 9 months

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The modern water cycle

It goes without saying that the water cycle will soon become one of the most important topics of the modern age, with clean drinkable water being one of the most valuable resources in the world. The issue comes in the fact that the water cycle isn’t working like it used to anymore, not necessarily in the bad way, but an interesting way to be sure!

First, the model as described by every overworked teacher in modern history. The sun shines from above and causes the water in the oceans to evaporate, this leaves behind all the fish and salt and causes the water to float up into the atmosphere.

Once the air gets cold, the water wants to stop being in the air anymore, so if it can find something to turn back into a liquid it will, this is often done on small particles in the air. These water covered particles becomes small drops of water, then big drops, until finally they can’t stay up there anymore and fall to the surface.

Rain that lands on ground instead of the ocean will always try to flow downwards, often towards the ocean. Most water will either get soaked into the ground, or evaporate back into the air but a large portion (approx. 20%) will flow along the surface, down towards the ocean and eventually into streams, rivers, estuaries, and finally back to the salty blue.

This explanation excludes things like ice, fog/humidity, but it also excludes geology that plays a much larger part in how water flows than ice or humidity. AH HA THIS WAS A GEOLOGY POST ALL ALONG!!

I mentioned off-handedly that most water gets absorbed by the soil, but that’s not quite true. Initially water gets absorbed by soil and other porous materials in the ground, but sooner or later it'll hit a massive slab of something that can’t absorb water, once it does the water flows like it will above ground, but instead along the hard rock surface, through the porous substrate.

When that rock face ends, it can sometimes end in the ground, where the water will fall to the next impassable barrier, or above ground, leaving a spring of water flowing from the earth as if by magic. Because the water flows much slower underground than above it, it means that the spring is producing water days and days after rain. Then, indeed, it flows to the ocean like any other rain.

But as any geography or geology nerd can tell you in a heartbeat, the land is not flat, or predictable. There can be a plethora of arrangements of large impassable rock that cause the water to flow in unexpected ways. Some examples:

-If the rock surface is fairly flat and close to the surface of the earth then the water can’t escape quickly and can’t flow very deep creating a swampy area, even in places far from areas you’d expect to see swamps

-If rock surfaces come together to create an underground bowl shape then it will pool up into something akin to an underground lake. Very good for deep rooted plants and wells.

Perhaps the most interesting arrangement of non-porous rock is a layer of soil, a layer of rock, a layer of porous material, then another layer of rock. What can happen in these cases is water can flow into the porous material in the middle and get trapped, sometimes for millenia, creating a pocket of water often referred to as an aquifer.

Tapping an aquifer requires pretty deep drilling, but once you're down there you can pump boatloads of water up and into areas that have not seen rain in decades, it’s how many places get their main source of water.

An important thing to note though, if your aquifer is not open at one end, such that rain elsewhere can refill an aquifer, it can lead to the aquifer being drained completely dry by these drilling and pumping efforts.

In the coming decades and centuries water won’t necessarily become more or less important, but where that water is concentrated might change, especially in regions that are draining aquifers faster than they can be refilled.

Look up your local region and try to determine where your water comes from, you might be surprised. Though if you live in a mountainous region you might not be surprised, as lakes and rivers are often the source of water for such regions.

#rabbit hole #geology #water consumption

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evolveias1 · 1 year

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Geography Optional Test Series: A Comprehensive Approach to Crack the Civil Services Examination

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of the most coveted exams in India. The exam comprises three stages- the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the interview. The main exam has nine papers out of which one is an optional paper. The optional paper is an opportunity for the candidates to showcase their expertise in a subject of their choice. Geography is a popular optional subject among the candidates who appear for the civil services examination. To excel in geography, it is important to have a comprehensive approach and that is where the geography optional test series comes in handy.

Geography as an Optional Subject

Geography is a social science that studies the earth, its physical features, and its inhabitants. It is an interdisciplinary subject that includes aspects of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and anthropology, among others. Geography has emerged as a popular optional subject in the civil services examination. It is a scoring subject that offers a good opportunity to the candidates to secure good marks in the optional paper.

Benefits of Geography Optional Test Series

The geography optional test series is a comprehensive approach to prepare for the civil services examination. It offers a number of benefits to the candidates, such as:

Thorough Revision: The geography optional test series offers a platform for the candidates to revise the entire syllabus. It provides a structured approach to revise the concepts and theories that are essential for the examination.

Practice: The test series provides ample opportunities to practice and hone the analytical and problem-solving skills required for the examination. It offers a simulated environment that helps the candidates to get familiar with the actual exam pattern.

Feedback and Analysis: The geography optional test series provides feedback and analysis of the answers submitted by the candidates. It helps the candidates to identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on them accordingly.

Time Management: The test series helps the candidates to manage their time effectively. It enables them to complete the paper within the stipulated time and allocate time to each question as per its weightage.

Confidence Building: The geography optional test series helps the candidates to build their confidence and overcome the fear of the exam. It helps them to assess their performance and identify areas that need improvement.

Preparation Strategy for Geography Optional Test Series

The preparation strategy for the geography optional test series should be focused and structured. Here are some tips that can help the candidates to prepare for the test series:

Conceptual Clarity: The candidates should have a clear understanding of the concepts and theories related to geography. They should refer to the standard textbooks and other study material to develop a strong foundation in the subject.

Current Affairs: Geography is a subject that is closely linked to current affairs. The candidates should keep themselves updated with the latest developments in the field of geography, such as climate change, natural disasters, and environmental issues, among others.

Map Practice: Maps play an important role in geography. The candidates should practice drawing and labeling maps to improve their accuracy and speed.

Answer Writing Practice: Answer writing is a critical aspect of the civil services examination. The candidates should practice writing answers to the previous years' question papers and the mock tests provided in the test series.

Revision: Regular revision is important to retain the concepts and theories. The candidates should revise the syllabus at regular intervals and make notes for quick revision.

Conclusion

Geography is an important subject for the civil services examination. The geography optional test series provides a comprehensive approach to prepare for the exam. It helps the candidates to revise the entire syllabus, practice and hone their analytical and problem-solving skills, and manage their time effectively. The test series provides feedback and analysis of the answers submitted

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