2nd Edi on
#02 GEOGRAPHY NEWS-LETTER A Fortnightly Ini a ve!
An Initiative to upgrade the Discipline of Geography TOPICS: for CSE Exam & to observe Water Scarcity In India the Surroundings via Forest Fires All About EIA Geographical Lens. Prelims Corner-2021
011-45586829 9718793363 9540226688 www.guidanceias.com From Director's Desk… Dear CSE Aspirants [Not TVF Aspirants], CSE Prelims has been postponed to 10th October 2021. We got many calls, messages from students a er the postponement of Prelims exam. The only thing, I can infer is that many of you are full of Anxiety, Nervousness, and ge ng impa ent with respect to your Prepara on. The mes of Pandemic can be a genuine reason for all of this. However, it is me to not lose your Nerves, to hold your ground with convic on and courage. And not to succumb to the Nega vity and Helplessness prevailing. Remember Prelims'21 postponement gives an opportunity to prepare Prelims and Mains in the most integrated manner. But this requires changes in the way we see our Prepara on Horizon and calls for a renewed strategy. Therefore, you can prepare for Mains in the next 2 months and get an extra edge in Mains'21 exam, by giving due focus to your Op onal, Essay and Ethics Paper along with other G.S. Papers. Now a er Taking rest for few days. It's me to Re- Strategize and Re-Orient your Prepara on now. Give a truthful check to your Strengths and Weaknesses. Be Mindful!!!
With Compe on just ge ng harder and trickier. Here are some of the ps: Ø Keep revising your strong areas from sources you have already read. Don't add new sources. Ø Keep prac cing more and more MCQs to make your strong areas stronger. Ø Try to master your weak areas during this me by prac cing more and more MCQs, especially those who were not pre y confident with respect to Prelims. Ø Don't ignore current affairs. You need to cover CA from prelims perspec ve ll Mid- September and start preparing from Main's perspec ve now as most likely gap between Prelims and Mains will be reduced. Remember, don't be impa ent, hard on yourself! It takes me to design and strategize the courses keeping in mind the present reali es. Well going ahead, Guidance IAS has come up with following Programmes: Geography Op onal 500+ programme. 120+ Applied Answer wri ng Programme. Geography op onal Test series (Discussions included). Geography Op onal Founda on course. NCERT preparatory Classes. All-important outlines for the Programmes and detailed strategy in the renewed scenario has been dealt in a logical and doable manner on our YouTube Channel. Do watch it! Till next me. Work Smart, Prac ce Harder!!! All the Best. Himanshu Sharma GEOGRAPHY NEWSLETTER 02 A Fortnightly Ini a ve! By Himanshu Sir #1 Topic - WATER SCARCITY IN INDIA
INTRODUCTION Ø Water Scarcity is either the lack of enough water (quan ty) or lack of access to safe water (quality). Ø There are two types of WATER SCARCITY - Physical & Economic Scarcity.
Economic water scarcity Physical scarcity of water A situation where human, institutional, and A situation in which water resources financial capital limit access to water even development is approaching or has exceeded though water in nature is available locally to sustainable limits. In this situation the supply meet human demands. of water for human needs and the ecosystem is not nearly equal to the demand.
Economic scarcity of water is characterised by It often arises in dry, arid regions. It could also insufficient investment in infrastructure meant happen in areas where there is enough water to supply and distribute water equitably in but just not enough to meet the growing needs areas where inhabitants do not have the of the human population like irrigation and monetary wherewithal to use a source of water energy generation for which there is that is adequate for them. overdevelopment of hydraulic infrastructure.
Ø In India, both Physical and Economic Scarcity manifest from a variety of geophysical, socio-economic and poli cal factors. Ø The problem of water scarcity in India is a growing one. As more people put ever-increasing demands on limited supplies, the cost and effort to build or even maintain access to water will increase. And water's importance to poli cal and social stability will only grow with the crisis. Ø Areas facing Economic Scarcity include the dry land areas of India(lack of local harves ng), areas where surface run off is not checked like Western slopes of Deccan and Meghalaya Plateau etc.( lack of infrastructure) and also those areas having poor governance/ infrastructure. Ø Areas facing Physical Scarcity include those regions where ground water tables have gone rapidly due to excessive pumping and surface water is under stress due to irriga on - Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan Gujarat. Deccan Plateau Interiors, Rayalaseema, Marusthali, Northern Karnataka etc. suffer from it due to Subdued rains.
01 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com . ASSESSING WATER SCARCITY • Typically water scarcity is assessed by looking at the popula on-water equa on. • This is done by comparing the amount of total available water resources per year to the popula on of a country or region. • The problem is deeply enrooted in India, Water Stress - a Two Fold Situa on which hosts 17% of the world's popula on for only 4% of the global water resources. The demand for water When the poor quality exceeds the current of water restricts its us • India is placed thirteenth among the world's available resource 17 'extremely water-stressed' countries, according to the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas released by the World Resources Ins tute High Water Stress Areas (WRI). coincide with those having • Considering the high physical scarcity or approaching it.. amount of Water Stress, India is increasingly gravita ng towards an eminent Water crisis when there will not enough Water to share in healthy levels. (Ex - The Shimla water crisis of 2 0 1 8 w h e r e i n t h e demand was of around 45 M L D w h e r e a s t h e installed capacity was of only 35 MLD). • Water availability per person is dependent on popula on of the country and for India, per capita water availability in the country is reducing due to increase in popula on. • The average annual per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1816 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters respec vely which may further reduce to 1486 cubic meters and 1367 cubic meters in the years 2021 and 2031 respec vely. • The average annual per capita water availability is bound to decrease in coming years due to following factors- 1. Global warming has altered the rainfall pa ern in India drama cally. Previously, average monsoon rainfall spanned 45 days. This number has now decreased to 22 days, with each monsoon having a smaller intensity of rain. 2. Construc on of dams, other hydroelectric projects, and water diversion for irriga on has led to systema cally destroying large river ecosystems. 3. India uses more groundwater than any other country in the world and groundwater exploita on has causes accelerated drying of aquifers. The total groundwater used for irriga on has risen from 30% in the 1980s to nearly 60% today.
02 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com (India, the world's largest groundwater user, is seeing levels declining across the country with farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan facing the prospect of having no groundwater le for irriga on by 2025. Groundwater, the source of 40% of India's water needs, is deple ng at an unsustainable rate, according to Ni Aayog. India accounts for 12% of global groundwater extrac on, pumping some 230 billion cubic metres each year. At this rate, by 2030, nearly 60% of the aquifers will be in a cri cal state.In addi on to irriga on, groundwater exploita on has also resulted from rapid urbanisa on as well as extreme groundwater usage by so drink companies such as Coca-Cola.) 4. River basins, catchments, and watersheds have not been properly u lised for water and soil conserva on purpose, which in turn affect the hydrology of the river basins. 5. Despite being a populous country with a diverse geography and climate, India does not have a comprehensive water policy. There are no proper guidelines available for usage of surface water and groundwater by different sectors and different states. 6. Cul va on of Water Intensive Crops in Water Stressed regions like Marathwada (Sugarcane), Rice and Wheat in the GR belt is bound to deplete surface and groundwater water resources adding to ecological problems like soil alkalisa on. Marathwada Case Study In 2018-19, Marathwada produced 14.7 million metric tonnes of sugarcane out of the state's produc on of 91.7 million metric tonnes. Sugarcane occupies 5.74% of Marathwada's total cul vable area which is also 28% of its total irrigated area. Across Maharashtra, it occupies 4% of farms and consumes 70% of the irrigated water. The total drinking water requirement for Marathwada is at 590 mm3 annually, and the average water consump on of sugarcane at 6,159 mm3 – more than 10 mes the drinking water requirement. If 50% of sugarcane area were brought under drip irriga on, it would save 3,080 mm3 of water, which is more than the storage capacity of Marathwada's biggest dam – the Jayakwadi Dam (2,909 mm3).If things con nue unchanged, water-stressed regions such as Marathwada could be heading towards deser fica on.More than 85% of Maharashtra's land consists of hard rock. It has li le water-carrying capacity and its permeability is limited. Cul va ng 12- month crops like sugarcane, we are extrac ng groundwater through borewells round the year which is adverse for environment).
7. Overall, mismanagement and lack of governance has led to the water crisis spreading from the southern regions of the peninsula to the northern, water-rich Himalayan regions.
Falkenmark Indicator or Water Stress Index • Defines water scarcity in terms of the total water resources that are available to the popula on of a region; measuring scarcity as the amount of renewable freshwater that is available for each person each year. • If the amount of renewable water per person per year in a country is - ◦ Below 1,700 m3, the country is said to be experiencing water stress. ◦ Below 1,000 m3, it is said to be experiencing water scarcity. ◦ Below 500 m3, it is experiencing absolute water scarcity.
03 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com India's Water Resources Average annual Precipitation 4000 BCM Avg. precipitation during Monsoon (Jun-Sept) 3000 BCM Natural Runoff 1986.5 BCM Estimated utilizable surface water resources 690 BCM Total utilizable ground water resources 433 BCM (> 240 BCM is already being used for irrigation) Total annual utilizable water resources 1123 BCM
• Being an agrarian country, irriga on by far is the largest user of India's water reserve with hooping usage of 78% of total water reserve, followed by domes c sector (6%) and industrial sector (5%). • According to the projec ons by Na onal Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD) the irriga on sector alone is going to need addi onal 71 BCM by 2025 and 250 BCM of water by 2050 compared to the demands of 2010. SOLUTIONS
Water Scarcity problem must be addressed at various levels and sectors across the country to be properly rec fied:- 1. Increased awareness by ci zens (par cularly in urban areas) is crucial. Solving this crisis means that each ci zen must be aware of the crisis and take part in proper conserva on, stopping water mis-usage, and elimina ng usage of bo led water. 2. At the community level, water conserva on is absolutely necessary to reduce pressure from groundwater and to supply water for human consump on. Thus, development of community level water harves ng structures like water bodies is important. Unique Water Conserva on techniques in India: • Jhalara: Jhalaras are typically rectangular-shaped stepwells that have ered steps on three or four sides. These stepwells collect the subterranean seepage of an upstream reservoir or a lake. Jhalaras were built to ensure easy and regular supply of water for religious rites, royal ceremonies and community use. The city of Jodhpur has eight jhalaras, the oldest being the Mahamandir Jhalara that dates back to 1660 AD. • Talab/Bandhi: Talabs are reservoirs that store water for household consump on and drinking purposes. They may be natural, such as the pokhariyan ponds at Tikamgarh in the Bundelkhand region or man made, such as the lakes of Udaipur. A reservoir with an area less than five bighas is called a talai, a medium sized lake is called a bandhi and bigger lakes are called sagar or samand. • Johads: Johads, one of the oldest systems used to conserve and recharge ground water, are small earthen check dams that capture and store rainwater. Constructed in an area with naturally high eleva on on three sides, a storage pit is made by excava ng the area, and excavated soil is used to create a wall on the fourth side. Some mes, several johads are interconnected through deep channels, with a single outlet opening into a river or stream nearby. This prevents structural damage to the water pits that are also called madakas in Karnataka and pemghara in Odisha. 04 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com • Bhandara Phad: Phad, a community-managed irriga on system, probably came into existence a few centuries ago. The system starts with a bhandhara (check dam) built across a river, from which kalvas (canals) branch out to carry water into the fields in the phad (agricultural block). Sandams (escapes outlets) ensure that the excess water is removed from the canals by charis (distributaries) and sarangs (field channels). The Phad system is operated on three rivers in the Tapi basin – Panjhra, Mosam and Aram – in the Dhule and Nasik districts of Maharashtra. • Bamboo Drip Irriga on: Bamboo Drip irriga on System is an ingenious system of efficient water management that has been prac sed for over two centuries in northeast India. The tribal farmers of the region have developed a system for irriga on in which water from perennial springs is diverted to the terrace fields using varying sizes and shapes of bamboo pipes. Best suited for crops requiring less water, the system ensures that small drops of water are delivered directly to the roots of the plants. This ancient system is used by the farmers of Khasi and Jain a hills to drip-irrigate their black pepper cul va on.
3. Employing agricultural prac ces such as plan ng crops that require less water, se ng up irriga on systems without leakages, and developing farm-based water conserva on structures is very important. This can aid in the protec on of forests and development of hor culture. 4. Local governments (e.g. gram panchayat) can take part in water conversa on by u lising watershed development and monitoring groundwater usage by farmers. 5. At the district and state levels, it is important to encourage farmers to choose crops wisely, help to harvest water by using watersheds and provide necessary mechanisms for the protec on and conserva on of: • Water bodies/ Ponds • Forests • Groundwater • Rivers and streams WATERSHED MANAGEMENT A watershed or a catchment is a piece of land or an area that drains rainwater into a lake, river or stream. Watershed management is thus appropriate use and management of soil, water and vegeta on to result in op mum use of water and for preserva on of the soil layer. Integrated watershed management is a community approach that works towards improving the life of people in different areas, whether the water supply of the region is in excess, or whether it is deficient. Appropriate use of land and water will also provide employment to people. This way water can be used op mally, which will eventually lead to economic development. Means of integrated watershed management: (i) Urban and rural planning by the government needs to be such that it avoids wastage of water. This involves proper distribu on of water among regions. (ii) Trea ng industrial wastewater with filtra on or ultrafiltra on to remove contamina on from the water before it is released into the seas. (iii) Undertaking afforesta on ac vi es to avoid soil erosion and for preven on of floods. (iv) Industries should use technology that prevents contamina on of water. They should not dump chemical wastes into water bodies. They should use water op mally for their industrial processes. (v) Appropriate agricultural prac ces like terrace farming and bunds should be encouraged to preserve the top soil layer and avoid wastage of water on the hills. (vi) Dams and reservoirs can help maintain the water level. They avoid wastage of water and help in equitable distribu on of water.
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Purposes of watershed management: (a) Watershed management helps to maintain the groundwater level for the future. With the increasing popula on, the need for water is increasing but water as a resource is declining. Watershed management will help meet this divide. (b) If sufficient water is not available, it can lead to social as well as economic problems in the future. People will be figh ng for water and farmers will be in a poor situa on if water is not made available. (c) Watershed management not only helps to maintain the soil surface of the earth, it also helps in retaining overflowing water for use in the future. (d) If we want to maintain the food cycle of the planet, we have to ensure that water is not contaminated and wasted. If rains are not tapped by afforesta on, we will spoil the land's surface. This will also lead to problems for species that require water and soil for existence.
6. Finally, at the centre and state level, development of a formal water policy is crucial. This will provide guidance to the administra on and ci zens for proper usage of surface water and groundwater. It is also necessary to create management strategies for interstate and trans-boundary rivers. Jal Jeevan Mission & Composite Water Index of NITI AAYOG, Swa Jal and Inter-linking of River etc. are ini a ves in this direc on.
Jal Jeevan Mission
• Envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connec ons by 2024 (HAR GHAR JAL) to all households in rural India. • The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water (House hold Discharge)management, water conserva on, rain water harves ng. • The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Informa on, Educa on and communica on as a key component of the mission. • As of 2021, 3.04 crore rural households have been provided with new piped water connec ons across India. (crea on of water supply infrastructure so that every rural household has Func onal Tap Connec on (FHTC) by 2024 and water in adequate quan ty of prescribed quality is made available on regular basis is an Important component of JJM).
06 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Other Objec ves Include: • To provide func onal tap connec on to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings. • To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribu on in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan). • To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M. • To empower and develop human resource in the sector such that the demands of construc on, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protec on, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term. • To bring awareness on various aspects and significance of safe drinking water and involvement of stakeholders in manner that make water everyone's business. • Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure, reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmenta on of exis ng sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system, technological interven ons for removal of contaminants and Grey Water Management are important components of it. • Goa is the first state in India to a ain the status of "HAR GHAR JAL" State.(All rural districts in GOA now have FHTC).
Composite Water Management Index • The Na onal Ins tute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has develop ed the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) to enable effec ve water management in India n states in the face of this growing crisis. • The CWMI is envisioned to bring about much-required improvements in water resource management and conserva on in India in a coherent and collabora ve manner. The Index will be a public pla orm that provides an annual snapshot of the water sector status and the water management performance of the different states and UTs in India. • The Index is expected to promote the spirit of 'compe ve and coopera ve federalism' in the country, and ensure sustainable and effec ve management of water resources. • The Index comprises nine themes (each having an a ached we i g ht ) w i t h 2 8 different indicators covering ground water and surface water restora on, major and medium irriga on, watershed development, par cipatory irriga on management, on-farm water use, rural and urban water supply, and policy and governance.
07 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com • For the CWMI, the repor ng states were also divided into two special groups - Non-Himalayan states and North-Eastern and Himalayan states, to account for the different hydrological condi ons across these groups. • According to CWMI 2.0 Gujarat ranks first followed by AP, MP, GA, KA &TN. In North-Eastern and the Himalayan States, Himachal Pradesh has been awarded rank 1 followed by U arakhand, Tripura and Assam. • For the first me, Union Territories have submi ed their data and Puducherry has been declared the top performer. • 80% of the states have shown improvement in their water management scores over the last three years.
SWAJAL • Under the Na onal Rural Drinking Water Programme, the Ministry in February 2018 has ini ated a project in the name of "Swajal" that is designed as a demand driven and community centred program to provide sustainable access to drinking water to people in rural areas. • It is envisaged that the State government in partnership with rural communi es; shall plan, design, construct, operate and maintain their water supply and sanita on schemes; so that they get potable water and a ain health and hygiene benefits. • The main objec ve is o provide de-centralised, preferably solar energy based piped water supply in 117 aspira onal districts through community designed, implemented, maintained and safely managed single village water supply scheme. The programme would also sustain the ODF status.
The interlinking project aims to link India's rivers by a network of reservoirs and canals that will allow for their water capaci es to be shared and redistributed. According to some, this is an engineered panacea that will reduce persistent floods in some parts and water shortages in other parts besides facilita ng the genera on of hydroelectricity for an increasingly power hungry country. Components of IRL project: Since the 1980s, the interlinking project has been managed by India's Na onal Water Development Agency (NWDA) under the Ministry of Water Resources. It has been split into three parts: 1. A northern Himalayan rivers interlink component. 2. A southern peninsular component. 3. An intra-State rivers linking component. The NWDA has studied and prepared reports on 14 projects for the Himalayan region, 16 projects for the peninsular India component and 36 intra-State river interlinking projects under the Na onal Perspec ve Plan(NPP).
08 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com BENEFITS OF ILR 1. India receives most of its rain during monsoon season from June to September, most of it falls in northern and eastern part of India, the amount of rainfall in southern and western part are compara vely low. It will be these places which will have shortage of water. Interlinking of rivers will help these areas to have water throughout the year. 2. The main occupa on of rural India is agriculture and if monsoon fails in a year, then agricultural ac vi es come to a stands ll and this will aggravate rural poverty. Interlinking of rivers will be a prac cal solu on for this problem, because the water can be stored or water can be transferred from water surplus area to deficit. 3. The Ganga Basin, Brahmaputra basin sees floods almost every year. In order to avoid this, the water from these areas has to be diverted to other areas where there is scarcity of water. This can be achieved by linking the rivers. There is a two way advantage with this – floods will be controlled and scarcity of water will be reduced. 4. Interlinking of rivers will also have commercial importance on a longer run. This can be used as inland waterways and which helps in faster movement of goods from one place to other. 5. Interlinking creates a new occupa on for people living in and around these canals and it can be the main areas of fishing in India.
Issues with Regards to ILR
1. Interlinking of rivers will cause huge amount of distor on in the exis ng environment. In order to create canals and reservoirs, there will be mass deforesta on. This will have impact on rains and in turn affect the whole cycle of life. 2. Usually rivers change their course and direc on in about 100 years and if this happens a er interlinking, then the project will not be feasible for a longer run. 3. Due to interlinking of rivers, there will be decrease in the amount of fresh water entering seas and this will cause a serious threat to the marine life system and will be a major ecological disaster. 4. Due to the crea on of Canals and Reservoirs, huge amount of area which is occupied by the people will be submerged leading to displacement of people and government will have to spend more to rehabilitate these people. 5. The amount required for these projects is so huge that government will have to take loans from the foreign sources which would increase the burden on the government and country will fall in a debt trap.6. Also, the possibility of interstate disputes for water sharing (TN & KA) cannot be ruled out.
09 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Issues with Regards to ILR (Case Study Ken Betwa link project) Ø The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first project under the Na onal Perspec ve Plan for interlinking of rivers. Ø The Ken-Betwa Link Project has two phases. Under Phase-I, one of the components — Daudhan dam complex and its appurtenances like Low Level Tunnel, High Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa link canal and Power houses — will be completed. While in the Phase-II, three components — Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha barrage — will be constructed. Ø According to the Union Jal Shak Ministry, the project is expected to provide annual irriga on of 10.62 lakh hectares, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower. Ecological problems associated with the project: Ø Close to 9,000 hectares will get submerged because of the project and of that 6,000 hectares will be that of Panna ger reserve. Ø It will submerge the most cri cal breeding ground of gers. Ø The reserve is also home to endangered vulture popula ons and gharials. Many other rare and endangered species are found here. Ø Several studies indicate the Ken has a unique geology. Some geologists have even called the river a "geological marvel". Ø Rather than benefi ng Bundelkhand, the project is designed to feed areas of the upper Betwa regions of Vidisha, Raisen and Bhopal.
Mains Ques on Desk!
1. What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (15 Marks) 2. Examine the reasons for rising incidents of Forest fires in India and steps that can be taken to contain them? [10 Marks] 3. Explain the role of EIA in achieving sustainable development. [15 Marks]
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GEOGRAPHY NEWSLETTER 02 A Fortnightly Ini a ve! By Himanshu Sir
#2 Topic - FOREST FIRES
What is forest fires? Ø It is one of the most common hazards that happens in the forest and surrounding area. The phenomenon is not new and has been affec ng the forest ecosystem since me immemorial. Ø The major cause of concern is vast loss of greenery, produc ve output from forest i.e. loss of floral and faunal species.
Causes of Forest Fires
Natural Causes: Anthropogenic Ac vi es: Many forest fires start from natural causes fire caused by burning ac vi es such as lightning which set trees on fire. like flame, tourist boon fire, However, rain ex nguishes such fires chemical tes ng, controlled fire without causing much damage. High etc. such type of forest fires is very atmospheric temperatures and dryness d e v a s t a ng and massive (low humidity) offer favorable damage to forest ecosystem circumstance for a fire to start.
Classifica on of Forest Fires Global Dimension of Forest Fire 1. Natural of Controlled forest fire 1. Climate change and Global warming due to anthropogenic acitivity 2. Forest fires caused by heat generated in the 2. Increased Heat waves due to local and litter and other biomes in summer through regional climatological changes carelessness of people 3. Forest fires purposely caused
Types of Forest Fires 1. Surface fire: burns primarily on surface and spread along the ground. 2. Underground fire: fire of low intensity and burning the organic ma er beneth. 3. Ground fire: These fires are fires in the sub surface organic fuels, such as duff layers under forest stands, Arc c tundra or taiga, and organic soils of swamps or bogs. 4. Crown fire: A crown fire is one in which the crown of trees and shrubs burn. 5. Firestorm: the fire spreading most rapidly is the firestorm, which is an intense fire over a large area.
11 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com . Recent Events of Forest Fires in the Context of World and India: 1. Australian bushfires: killed and displaced 3 billion animals. 2. Forest fire in Kerala killing 3 forests and fire department official. 3. Bushfire in Sichuan province in southwest China, killing 19 security personal. 4. Arizona wildfire. 5. Amazon wildfire Number of fires in the Amazon rainforest rises 20% in June to a 13-year monthly high and a total of 2,248 fires detected - up from 1,880 in June 2019. 6. The Pantanal wetlands in Brazil burned at their fastest rate in October since record-keeping started in 1998. 7. U rakhand forest fires are s ll burning.
Case Studies regarding Forest fires: Amazon Forest fires: lungs of the earth, s ll burning
Before studying fire first understand some basic physical geographical aspects of the Amazon: 60% por on of amazon biomes is under Brazil.
Ø Other than this biome is shared by 8 countries Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname, who have their own social-poli cal issues. Ø 30% of world-known species and 390 billion trees are part of the Amazon biome.
12 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Why fire when always evergreen: Ø The Amazon rainforest does have a dry season. However, this dry season s ll has a lot of water, just markedly less than the wet season which sees daily monsoons occur. Ø Other than this most fire in the Amazon basin is more of anthropogenic nature rather than a natural one. Workers cut the tree keep to become dry and then put them on fire during the dry season. Ø The second aspect is of slash and burns technique. This process is used to clear forest area for agriculture, livestock, logging, and mining. Ø Though these ac vi es are illegal, on ground things are happening. For the natural cause of fire in amazon, there are 3 major factors: 1. Dry environment (During the phase of El-Nino periods). 2. Lightning strike (A most frequent cause of fire in Amazon). 3. Volcanic erup ons. Fire in the amazon forest has 2 major impacts: 1. Environmental effect: burning green forest has a tremendous or massive amount of carbon forma on, which is easily carried away with the prevailing wind causing a massive amount of pollu on and the smog-like situa on in nearby ci es and areas. It not only affects the health dimension of society but also affects the economical aspects. 2. Poli cal effect and economical effects: rubber planta on and growth of livestock are worst affected by this scenario, which put tremendous pressure on the economic and poli cal ac vity of the region. Australian Bushfires: or Black Summer Fires or Fire season Ø As it is way too common to have and not a new episode to Australia, but the severity of fires shows that how climate change is a new reality. First, understand the Australian ecosystem: Ø The con nent is home to 244 species that are not found anywhere else. The region also has the highest rate of na ve mammals becoming ex nct over the past 200 years. With a unique dryness feature in the ecosystem. So what is an Australian bushfire? Ø The natural ecosystem of Australia provides an easy breeding ground for fires. There are two types of fires in Australia, 1. Bushfires: bushfires are slow-moving fire which takes 5 to 10 minutes to cover area and start burning. The most unique feature of these fires is they can go on burning for months. The main cause of bushfires is a small spark, fric on etc. 2. Grassfire: faster than bushfire, generally end up in 5 to 10 sec. the main area of the fire is the livestock fodder zone, dry grass zone and it does not cause huge damage. The main reason for the Australian Bushfire: Do you know: Ø These bushfires were sparked in late October at Gospers mountain in New South Wales and due to dry condi ons, this became a devasta ng India ocean dipole or Indian Nino is an Ocean atmospheric event. phenomenon, where difference in Ø This mega-fire was supported by dry season it was observed that there tempreture of sea surface has been an increase of 1°C temperature averagely over a while. Now happenes in two different parts Arabian sea (Western Dipole) and the main reason behind this increase in temperature and mega-fire in Eastern Indian ocean. Australia is Indian ocean Dipole or Indian Nino.
13 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Physical and Economic impact Ecological and Ecosystem Loss approx 18 million hactare of 3 billion loss of faunal ans floral aspects. as Australia is agricultural land is lost in a biodiversity hotspot there has been a tremendous addi on to loss of infrastrutural set. loss to it. It is evident that burning of the forest cover on such a large scale Effect of Fire on Australia: will have cataclysmic effects on the wildlife popula on here. impact on agriculture Public health loss Australia’s agriculture industry is likely to suffer the most due to tremendous smoke from fire a severe level of due to the devasta on of pastures and vineyards as well as cardio-vascular diseases and a acks were reported. due to the massive loss of livestock. followed by this massive hike in carbon concentra on were recorded.
U rakhand forest fire case study: s ll burning Fact Ø The season between winter and monsoon referred to as the 'forest fire Do you know U rakhand season', is now increasing. Climate change and consequently scarce ranks 2nd only a er MP in rainfall in the Himalayan regions plays a huge role. terms of ac ve instances of forest fires. Role of temperature and rainfall in U rakhand forest fire: Ø For rainfall, U arkhand received only 10.9 millimetres of rainfall from January-March 2021 against the usual 54.9 mm, a deficit of nearly 80 per cent. Ø For temperature, due to dry spells, there is a con nuous rise of temperature in U arakhand and other Himalayan states. The year 2020 was the second consecu ve year for the warm year for the state. Why forest fire occurred? Ø During the forest fire season(usually ll mid- June in the summer), the dry leaves were shedding from the trees and were ge ng accumulated, though forest fire is not new in jungles of U arakhand, l o c k d o w n d u e t o COVID-19 made low human foo all in the j u n g l e , w h o w e r e relying on forest for these dry leave as a f u e l . W i t h t h e c o n n u o u s a c c u m u l a o n a n d other natural factors, fi r e s e r u p t e d a n d Forest fire alerts from April 1-14, 2021 in India as recorded by the Global Forest caused a devasta ng Watch, an open-source monitoring application effect.
14 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Ø India recorded 82,170 forest fire alerts from April 1-14, 2021 nearly double the number reported during the same period last year, according to Global Forest Watch (GFW), an open-source monitoring applica on. Ø States like MP, Maharastra, Manipur, Odisha etc. are worst affected by forest fires. Ø As a major outcome of scien fic update, rising temperature in north India is a major reason for a forest fire. Forest fires as a boon: 1. Well, thought and controlled burning help the forest to regain soil reten on, nutri on etc. 2. Control fire also helps in controlling massive forest fire by burning away dry leaves or other dry fuel. 3. The fire burns tall more aggressive vegeta on and makes room for new growth beneficial for the ecosystem. 4. Fires o en remove alien invasive species which are in con nuous compe on with na ve species. 5. Ashes from trees act as new manure for land and ground, paving way for new vegeta on and faunal growth.
Government Ini a ve to Control Forest Fires: Forest fire alert system or FAST 3.0: With basic ac vity to monitor forest fires on a large scale Some forest cover with high prone to fire are; · Extremely Fire-Prone : Mizoram > Tripura · Very Highly Fire-Prone : Mizoram > Manipur · Highly Fire-Prone : Nagaland > Manipur · Moderately Fire-Prone : Punjab > Nagaland
Na onal ac on plan on forest fire 2018: Ø Under: The ministry of environment forest and climate change. Ø Objec ves: Informing, Enabling and Empowering forest fringe communi es and Incen vizing them to work in tandem with the State Forest Departments (SFDs). Ø The plan proposes nine strategies to address the issue, including the establishment of a “Centre of Excellence on Forest Fire Management” at the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
Forest fire preven on and management schemes: Ø A centrally funded program specifically dedicated to assis ng the state government in dealing with forest fires. Ø Funds allocated under the FPM are according to a centre-state cost-sharing formula, with a 90:10 ra o of central to state funding in the Northeast and Western Himalayan regions and a 60:40 ra o for all other states. Ø It also provides the states with the flexibility to direct a por on of the Na onal Afforesta on Programme (NAP) and Mission for Green India (GIM) funding toward forest firework. Ø Na onal green mission: under India's Na onal Ac on Plan on Climate Change, the government has commi ed to increasing forest and tree cover. Ø Na onally determined contribu on: India has commi ed to bringing 33% of its geographical area under forest cover and to create addi onal sinks of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tons worth of CO2 stored in its forests by 2030.
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All About Environment Impact Assessment What is Environment Impact Assessment? E As per the standard defini on of EIA according to UNEP is a “toolkit used to iden fy the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project before decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design”. Do You Know? USA was the first country in the world to start with Environment assessment Historical aspects of EIA: during the year of 1970's. 1976-77: started with planning commission view on impact for river valley projects. 1990-91: LPG started and impact assessment was need of the hour. 1994: EIA was completely under central government discre on and lacked legisla ve backup. 1994: the then Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, under the Environmental (Protec on) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA no fica on making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory in Schedule 1 of the no fica on. Do you know? 2006: new regula ons and amendments were introduces. EIA comes under N o fi c a o n o n Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of developmental projects 1994 under the provisions of Environment (Protec on) Act, 1986.
16 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com EIA Process: Ø EIA process is cyclical in nature, which means there is lots of interac on between the various process. A streamlined sequence men oned below tries to explain this.
Salient features of proposed 2006 EIA amendment no fica on: Ø No fica on for 2006 has decentralised the environmental clearance projects by categorizing the developmental projects into two categories, i.e., Category A (na onal level appraisal) and Category B (state-level appraisal). Ø A er 2006 no fica on following 4 cycles of EIA is to be done; · Screening. · Scoping. · Public hearing. · Appraisal. 17 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Category A: mandatory environment clearance with screeing. Category B: with screening and 2 subdivisions; Ø Category B1 (EIA must). Ø Category B2 (EIA not needed). CASE STUDIES RELATED TO EIA: Vizag, Dahej, Baghjan: Death by a thousand cuts: For the case of Vizag: leakage of styrene gas during lockdown was a major disaster. As it was found in the report that no technician was able to control or operate those pieces of equipment. Other aspects that came to foresight was EIA processes were manipulated and regional human popula on ra o and setup were not taken into account. For the case of Dahej: at the site of Yashashvi Rasayan Pvt Ltd on June 3. There were more than 200 workers on site when the blast occurred. Eight workers were killed, with more than fi y injured, when a huge fire broke out a er a blast in the boiler of the factory. In this case, also no proper EIA was done. For the case of Baghjan: fire in the Baghjan oil field of Upper Assam's Tinsukia district, operated by Oil India Ltd (OIL) on May 27. The fire broke out two weeks a er a gas well in the area started leaking gas and condensate uncontrollably, with two firefighters losing their life. The region is a biodiversity hotspot and could have harmed India's most endangered migratory bird species. Dibru-Saikhowa na onal park was close to the site of the accident. The major outcome of all 3 accident was “Environmental clearances are o en given on the premise that environmental damage will not happen, or if it does happen, it will be mi gated. This spill shows us how there's li le ability to mi gate.” Need or importance of EIA 1. It links environment and development with changing need of society and geography. 2. It gives a complete way out to reduce adverse effects of the project, minimise or eliminate the drawback in any term whether human, social, geomorphological etc. 3. It helps decision-makers to effec vely analyse the regional, spa al geography and create a blueprint of development. 4. Faster adapta on and mi ga on is provided 5. Community par cipa on and awareness genera on is promoted by EIA. 6. A safe, sound and sustainable environment is the key to EIA assessment. Shortcomings of EIA 1. Many projects are excluded from this no fica on because they are not included under schedule I or because their investments are lower than those outlined in the no ce. 2. Lack of experts in the team for EIA study. Most of the me it is found that the team compromises more of a generalist rather than the specialist. 3. Local ground-level involvement of village community, tribals and other sec on of society is not taken into considera on and if it is done their viewpoints are not considered in the report. 4. Nexus of the local mafia, poli cian and state machinery also affects the EIA report 5. Lack of credibility that is most of the me fraudulent reports are prepared and submi ed, with very li le chance of final assessment. 6. Monitoring, state compliance is not properly done. With nill or no emergency preparedness. 18 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com PRELIMS SCORE: 2021 1. India A ends Third Arc c Science Ministerial
About Arc c Science Ministerial It is an interna onal venue to debate Arc c research and collabora on. CYCLONES IN NEWS: Aims F To provide the many stakeholder's chances, including academics, indigenous communi es, governments and policymakers. F To promote community understanding of the Arc c environment, con nual monitoring and observa ons. Earlier Mee ngs Do you know? ASM1 (2016) USA and ASM2 (2018) Germany A mooring system is made up of a mooring line, anchor and connectors, ASM3 and is used for sta on keeping of a ship o Organised by Iceland and Japan. or floa ng pla orm in all water depths. o Theme: Knowledge for the Sustainable Arc c. India's perspec ve for the Arc c in mee ng: · Shared its vision and long-term plans for research in the arc c. · Con nuous role in deepening shared understanding of the Arc c through observa on, research. · Shared its plans to contribute observing systems in the Arc c, both in-situ and by remote sensing. o Will deploy open ocean mooring in the Arc c for long-term monitoring . o Con nue contribu ng to the Sustained Arc c Observa onal Network (SAON). o In collabora on with NASA and ISRO. Some historical facts about the Arc c and India: 1920: signing of the Svalbard Treaty in Paris. 2008: India has had a permanent research sta on in the Arc c called Himadri. 2013: India has enjoyed 'Observer' status in the Arc c Council. 2014: India deployed the IndARC 2021: new, Arc c Dra policy by India for expanding scien fic research, sustainable tourism and explora on.
(Image courtesy: NOAA) Few related facts regarding India-Arc c News: NASA-ISRO Synthe c Aperture Radar: NASA and ISRO are collabora ng on developing an SUV- sized satellite called NISAR, which will detect movements of the planet's surface as small as 0.4 inches.
19 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Arc c Council Intergovernmental forum to promote coopera on, coordina on and interac on towards sustainable development and environmental protec on in the Arc c. Established in 1996 and the first country to chair it was Canada (1996-1998). India's observer status was renewed for another five-year term in 2018. Dra Arc c Policy · Abides by the rules and regula ons of the Arc c Council. · Aims. · Create opportuni es for businesses, commerce and share tradi onal knowledge. · Cultural exchange between the Arc c people and Himalayan people. Five Pillars: o Science and Research. o Economic and Human Development. o Transporta on and Connec vity. o Na onal Capacity building. o Governance and Interna onal Coopera on. · It has been synchronised and adapted to the Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 11. About: 2. Beema Bamboo In strength and intensity, Cyclone Nisarga would be much weaker thanDeveloped Cyclone Amphan by N that Bharathi struck on May 20 and passed through West Bengal on its way to Bangladesh. About Beema Bamboo: Cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal side of the north Indian Ocean are more frequent and stronger · Itthan is a those clone, on theselected Arabian from Sea side. Bambusa balcooa which is higher biomass yielding bamboo species. The rela vely cold waters of the Arabian Sea discourage the kind of very strong cyclones that are · Theformed major on benefit the Bay ofof thisBengal bamboo side; Odisha is that and it will Andhra work Pradesh as a carbon face sinkthe brunt for Carbon of these monoxide. cyclones every Posi veyear. aspects: Do you know? · FiveProvides cyclones permanent originated green in the areacover. in 2019 — Vayu, Hikka,The Kyarr, bamboo's Maha calorificand Pavan value is equal to that of coal. Cement industries are buying this bamboo · The year 2019 was slightly unusual as the Arabian Sea saw the most frequent and intense cyclonic Adaptable to different soil and clima c condi ons. species for their boilers. ac vity in more than 100 years. · Mi gates Global Warming. The name 'Nisarga' has been suggested by Bangladesh. Bamboo is a versa le grass which act as a poor man's mber: Bamboo is part of rural livelihood in 3. CYCLONE NIVARmany countries as it is grown on 10 million Government ini a ve for bamboo: hectares in India and covers almost 13 per cent of Why in News? Na onal Bamboo Mission the total forest area. The Bay of Bengal will see its second Severe Cyclone of the year, a er Super Cyclone Amphan formed · A sub-scheme of Mission for Integrated Development of Hor culture (MIDH). earlier this year. It has made landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast. · Under the agesis of Department of Agriculture & Coopera on (DAC), Ministry of About: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The IMD has forecasted the development of a cyclone in the Southwest region of the Bay of Bengal, · It is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme. off Tamil Nadu coast.
20 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Amendment in The Indian Forest Act · The Indian Forest Act 1927 was amended in 2017 to remove bamboo for the category of trees.
Mul farious Economical benefit 1. Energy sources in form of charcoal and ac vated Cul va on in non-forested area lead to income growth carbon of farmers and incresed green cover. 2. Edible itmes (shoots and rice) 3. decora ve itmes 4. construc on Aspects of Bamboo
Agro-benefits Benefits to Tribals 1. 12.6 million hactares waste land will be covered. 1. As they a right to forest produce, but bamboos earlier 2.Help farmer and other individual take up classifica on posed problem for them. With new planta on/Block planta on of suitable bamboo species amendment they can sustain thier rights. on degraded land. 2. it will act as a link between organised and unorganised sector with forward backward linkage.
3. Renewable Energy in India: Capacity Addi on Halved in 2020 India's capacity has declined by 50% since 2019. The main reason behind the fall is due to construc on delays brought on by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to Interna onal Energy Agency's (IEA) Renewable Energy Market Update. The main challenge was to integrate it with a grid connec on. Renewable Energy Market Update Report 2021 · Published by the Interna onal Energy Agency (IEA). · It forecasted new global renewable power capacity addi ons for 2021 and 2022. Major Highlights of the Report · Global perspec ve o Renewables were the only energy source for which demand increased in 2020 despite the pandemic. o Globally, annual renewable capacity addi ons increased 45 per cent in 2020. o Main addi on by solar and wind energy, which amounted to 135GW and 115GW respec vely. · India's Perspec ve o Photovoltaic (PV) capacity addi on is expected to be three mes in 2021 compared with 2020.
Image Courtesy: IEA
21 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Why decline · primarily due to construc on delays by Covid-19. · the financial health of power distribu on companies (discom). · administra ve and regulatory challenges in mul ple states. · Integra ng renewable energy into the grid. Renewable power stand of India: · As of the year 2020, we have a total installed capacity of 90GW excluding the hydropower capacity. · The Govt. of India target a 175GW power genera on from renewable energy by 2022. Which will include 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydropower. · India's wind power poten al at a hub height of 120 meters is 695 GW. 4th largest wind References: power capacity in the world. 1. Down to Earth. Major Policies by Govt. of India on Renewable energy Sectors: 2. Yojana. · Na onal solar mission. 3. Kurukshetra. · Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam U haan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM): providing 4. The Hindu and Indian Express. water and energy security to farmers. 5. Research Gate. · Atal Jyo Yojana (AJAY) Phase-II: installa on of solar street light. 6. Internet. · Solar park scheme: To facilitate large scale grid-connected solar power projects. · Scheme for procurement of blended wind power from 2500 MW ISTS connected projects. · Green energy corridors: To facilitate renewable power evacua on and reshaping the grid.
· The cyclone was formed over the Southeast Arabian sea heading Gujrat and Maharastra with very severe category status. · As the geographical impact is on the Arabian ocean worst affected landscape will be of the western coast and western states. mmmmm · The name is given from a Burmese word 'Tauktae' suggested by Myanmar, which means gecko, a lizard known for its dis nc ve vocaliza ons. Note: for detailed reading on cyclone please refer to Geography Newsle er #1.
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5. A Snippet for Israel and Pales ne: Land of Infinite Conflicts
An important loca on in Israel and Pales ne: Golan Height Gaza West Bank Sea of Galilee Dead sea Mediterranean sea
23 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com 6. Ocean Rewilding · It is a phenomenon in which the natural state of water bodies is restored e.g. grasses, algae, seas etc. · Under this process, plant and animal life in the oceans and allowing them to grow without human interference. · The project was first started by France in 2012 and con nued by the UK.
7. The Agricultural Aspect of Geography: Direct Seeding of Rice · The ini a ve of direct seeding of rice has been started by the Punjab government by se ng aside one million hectares of land for this year crop. Main Objec ve behind DSR: · Govt. will be able to save or conserve 10 to 15% of irriga on water. · Conserva on of groundwater and reduced power supply consump on. What is Direct Seeding of Rice: · Direct seeding is a method under which pre-germinated seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine.
8. Facts to Remember Statehood of Sikkim-> Part of seven sisters Loca on: Northeast India (mainly eastern Himalayas). Capital: Gangtok. Sikkim is the least populous and second smallest Indian state, the first being Goa. Borders: o North and Northeast: Tibet (China). o Southeast: Bhutan. o South: West Bengal. o West: Nepal. Physical Geography: o Mount Kanchenjunga (India's highest peak and the world's third-highest mountain) is situated here. o Kanchenjunga Na onal Park (KNP) is India's high-eleva on conserva on area. · In 2016, UNESCO declared KNP as a World Heritage Site under the 'mixed' category. Image courtesy: Sikkim NIC o Major Rivers: Teesta River and its tributaries such as the Rangit, Lhonak, Talung, and Lachung.
24 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com 9. World's Largest Iceberg Breaks off in Antarc ca as Glaciers Retreat · It is a phenomenon in which the natural state of water bodies is restored e.g. grasses, algae, seas etc. · Under this process, plant and animal life in the oceans and allowing them to grow without human interference. · The project was first started by France in 2012 and con nued by the UK.
· An enormous iceberg has calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf, lying in the Weddell Sea, in Antarc ca. · In News: The world's largest iceberg A-76 has calved from Antarc ca. · Loca on: The iceberg broke off the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarc ca's the Weddell Sea. Hypothesis: · Iceberg calving is part of a natural process where a huge chunk of iceberg breaks off from the main ice forma on or ice shelf. It has nothing to do with Climate change aspects. What is the difference between Ice shelves, Icebergs and Sea Ice? Ice shelves: Do you know? · An ice shelf is a floa ng extension of land ice. The If a new ice berg breaks off from old ice shelf it Antarc c con nent is surrounded by ice shelves. It does not increase the sea level, as it is already a part of a floa ng ice shelf. covers 11% of the total area of the Antarc c and receives 20% of snow. If Antarc ca's en re ice sheet were to melt, it could raise Sea Levels by Nearly 190 Feet.
Difference between sea ice and Ice Shelves?
Sea Ice Ice Shelves 1. sea ice is free-floa ng; the sea freezes and unfreezes each year. 1. Ice shelves are firmly a ached to the land 2. Sea ice contains icebergs, thin sea ice and thicker mul -year and have more of accumulated origin. sea ice.
25 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarc ca (LIMA) showing the loca on of key ice shelves. Image courtesy: h p://www.antarc cglaciers.org/
Icebergs: it is a floa ng chunk of ice in the water body. It generally breaks apart from ice shelves or dewater glacier. Some interes ng features of icebergs: 1. 90% of the mass of an iceberg is underwater. 2. Small chunks of ice are called 'bergy bits' , larger ones (fridge-sized) are called 'growlers' , and chunks of ice greater than 5 m across are called 'icebergs' . 3. Float in a stable posi on. 4. Iceberg delivers food, freshwater, marine minerals. 5. With the movement of icebergs surfaces phytoplankton ac vi es increase. 6. Tracking of icebergs helps with informa on for ocean currents.
26 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com Facts about Antarc ca:
Image source: Britannica Ø The fi h-largest con nent on the earth surface. Ø Got its name as opposed to the Arc c. Ø Centred on the south pole it is covered by the Pacific, Indian, Atlan c and southern Antarc c ocean from 3 sides. Ø Shape wise the con nent is roughly circular in shape. Ø The Land: Antarc c Con nent is the highest of all the con nents, averaging 6000 feet in eleva on. An ice sheet covers 95% of Antarc ca, and exposed areas are rugged and mountainous. Ø The main mountains chain is the Trans-Antarc c which divides the con nent into almost two equal parts. Ø Antarc ca's highest peak, the Vinson Massif (5,140m). Ø Mt. Erebus, the only ac ve volcano, is located on Ross Island. Do you know? India in Antarc ca: 1. Antar ca is also called as 'White Con nent', due to India started its India-Antarc ca research permanent ice cover. program in 1981 under The Na onal Centre for 2. It is most windiest place on earth. Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is an 3. The Antarc c Ice Sheet is the single biggest mass of ice in the world. important R&D ins tu on under the Ministry of 4. Antarc ca is home to Mount Erebus - the southern- Earth Sciences. most ac ve volcano in the world.
27 011-45586829, 9718793363 website: www.guidanceias.com 1981 : Expedi on started. 1983 : India- Antarc ca treaty. 1983 : First Antarc c research base named Dakshin Gangotri. 1989 : Maitri sta on. 2012 : Bhar is the 3rd sta on. Note: Bhara and Maitri are the two ac ve Antarc c research sta ons India has. Geography Behind Ice shelf Flow: Source of Ice for Ice Shelf: Flow of ice from the con nent Surface accumula on (snow fall) Freezing of marine ice
to their undersides. Do you know?
Ice shelf loosing Ice: Mel ng from below (from rela vely warm ocean currents) Mel ng above (from warm air temperatures) From calving icebergs.
Theory Behind Receding Ice Shelves: Natural Geographical Aspect Anthropogenic Ac vity 1. These ice shelves are warmed from below by 1. Carbon emission and its impact on polar regions changing ocean currents, thinning them and that is Arc c and Antar c. making them vulnerable. During warm 2. Transport shipment in cold polar water also create summers, ice shelves calve large icebergs – and a damaging effect on ice shelf. in some cases, can caastrophically collapse. 3. Human scien fic and research like controlled blast and drilling has adverse affect to. Sources and References: 1. h ps://www.britannica.com/science/water 2. h ps://www.indiawaterportal.org/ar cles/water-scarcity-and-security-india 3. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/india-s-water-crisis-the-clock-is- cking-65217 4. h ps://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/bamboo-ceases-to-be-a-tree-freed-of-forest- act/ar cle20716924.ece 5. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/forests/the-indian-forest-act-1927-amendment-will-create-new-markets- generate-millions-of-jobs-for-poor-communi es-59712 6. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/renewable-energy-in-india-capacity-addi on-halved-in-2020-76878 7. h ps://www.hindustan mes.com/world-news/worlds-largest-iceberg-3- mes-the-size-of-delhi-breaks-off-in- antarc ca-101621497626358.html 8. h ps://edi on.cnn.com/2021/05/19/world/iceberg-a-76-antarc ca-intl/index.html 9. h p://www.antarc cglaciers.org/glacier-processes/glacier-types/ice-shelves-sea-ice-icebergs/ 10. h ps://blogs.worldbank.org/water/agriculture-holds-key-tackling-water-scarcity#:~:text=Sustainable%20 improvements%20of%20agricultural%20water,afforesta on%2C%20and%20sustainable%20grazing%20management 11. h ps://vikaspedia.in/energy/environment/know-your-environment/forest-fires 12. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/video/climate-change/s ll-burning-forest-fires-con nue-to-rage-in-u arakhand- 76487 13. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/forests/forest-fires-in-india-alerts-since-april-1-nearly-double-that-of-2020- 76559 14. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/roasted-and-poached-15928 15. h ps://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/vizag-dahej-baghjan-death-by-a-thousand-cuts-72646 16. down to earth 17. The Hindu
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