How Are Sinkholes Formed?
Context: A cave exploration team has discovered an ancient forest at the bottom of a giant karst sinkhole in Leye County in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Relevance: GS I- Geography Dimensions of the Article: About the Sinkhole in Leye County: How are sinkholes formed? Sinkholes in China and around the world About the […]
Urban Heat islands
Context: Several parts of the country are reeling under heat wave conditions. Cities, especially, are a lot hotter than rural areas. This is due to a phenomenon called an “urban heat island”. Recently, two areas in Delhi recorded temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius. Relevance: GS I- Geography Dimensions of the Article: What is an urban […]
Tropical Cyclone Asani
Context: Severe cyclonic storm ‘Asani’, packing winds above 105 kmph and setting off heavy rain, is likely to make landfall on the eastern coast of India. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: What are Tropical Cyclones? Conditions for cyclone formation: How are Tropical Cyclones […]
La Nina And El Niño
Context: This year the La Nina is being blamed for worsening the longest spell of heatwaves from March to April in north, west and Central India. In most years, meteorologists considered the La Nina to be a friend of India. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important Geophysical Phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, […]
Long Period Average
Context: The country is likely to receive a normal monsoon for the fourth consecutive year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its first Long Range Forecast (LRF) for this year. Rainfall in the four-month June-September southwest monsoon season was in the normal range in 2019, 2020, and 2021 as well. Relevance: GS I- Geographical Features & […]
No El Nino Expected This Year
Context: The southwest monsoon is likely to be “normal” in 2022, though rainfall in August, the second rainiest month, will likely be subdued, according to the private weather company Skymet. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important Geophysical Phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Impact of Climate Change) Dimensions of the article: La Niña […]
Why Sowing Maize In Spring Is Not A Good Choice For Punjab Farmers
Context: As per the initial field report of the Punjab Agriculture department, around 35,000 hectares (86,450 acres) are being used for the cultivation of spring/summer maize. Utilizing more area for maize cultivation is always a welcome move in a state like Punjab where maize is seen as an alternative to the water-guzzling paddy crop. But […]
SC keen on ending Mullaperiyar battle
Context: The Supreme court wants to strengthen and widen the ambit and responsibilities of the supervisory committee Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Interstate water disputes), GS-I: Geography (Water Sources), GS-III: Disaster management Dimensions of the Article: Key Points About Mullaperiyar Dam About the Dispute regarding Mullaperiyar river Recent developments regarding Mullaperiyar dam risk Background on […]
Par Tapi Narmada River-Linking Project
Context: The tribals in Gujarat held a public meeting in Kaprada in Valsad district to protest against the Centre’s Par Tapi Narmada (PTN) river-linking project. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Drainage System in India, Projects to improve Irrigation), GS-III: Environment and Ecology Dimensions of the Article: Interlinking of Rivers Par Tapi Narmada river-linking project Issues with the […]
ISRAEL’S HACK OF IRANIAN PORT
Why in news? Israel was behind a cyber-attack on 9 May that disrupted operations at a major port in Iran. The attack on the computer systems at the Shahid Rajaee port in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was limited in scope, creating traffic jams of delivery trucks and some delays in shipments but causing […]