What Is Lightning?
Context: Seventeen people have been killed by lightning over the last two days in various parts of Bihar Of all the atmospheric phenomena, lightning perhaps is the most dangerous and mysterious. In India, lightning kills about 2,000-2,500 people every year. Relevance: GS I- Geography Dimensions of the Article: What is Lightning? More about Clouds that […]
The Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh Enclave
Context: Recently, Armenia’s Prime Minister and Azerbaijan’s President announced that their respective countries would be setting up border security and delimitation commissions, signalling a step towards resolution of a decades-long conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh Enclave. Relevance: Prelims, GS-II: International Relations (Important Foreign Policies and Developments), GS-I Geography (Maps), GS-I: History (World History) Dimensions of the […]
Onset of Monsoon
Context: The southwest monsoon has arrived in Kerala three days before its normal onset date of June 1. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) records, this is only the fourth time since 2010 when the monsoon has arrived well ahead of its normal date. Relevance: GS I- Indian Geography Dimensions of the Article: What […]
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 […]