Posts

Showing posts from January, 2021

Chief Requirements for Orographic Rainfall

  It occures when the saturated air mass comes across a mountain, it is forcefully lifted. With the expansion of rising air, eventually, the temperature falls, and the moisture gets condensed.  The principal characteristic of this type of rain is that the windward slopes get more rainfall. After giving rain on the windward side, when these winds reach the other slope, they drop away, and their temperature increases. Then their ability to take in moisture increases and hence, these leeward slopes remain dry and rainless. The region situated on the leeward side is known as the rain-shadow area. Movement of saturated air mass towards the hill slope. Forcefully upliftment

Global Temperature Patterns

  The Earth temperatures is largely dependent upon how much energy is received from the Sun, which varies both with latitude on the Earth and the time of year. At present, the global average surface temperature is about 15°C. At equator and its closer regions, the temperature is generally high, than regions nearer the poles, with average surface temperature 25°C or higher. In contrast, average temperature on Antarctica is way below freezing. This latitudinal temperature gradient however, generates a global transfer of heat from equator to poles via the general circulation of winds, such that the equator is kept cooler and the poles warmer than they would be if the Earth had no atmosphere. At Equator, rising air generates daily thunderstorms that consume considerable amounts of heat energy, suppressing the air temperature by several degrees Celsius. Hence, it does not passes higher temperature. The greater cloud cover also helps to reduce the amount of sunlight. In fact, the hottest pla

Water Vapour

Water vapor can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching on earth surface, and thereby cause a reduction in the solar insolation. Atmospheric water vapour decreases rapidly with increasing altitude. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, both by weight and by volume. Water vapour is also an effective greenhouse gas, as it does absorb longwave radiation and radiates it back to the surface, thus contributing to warming. When compared to other greenhouse gases, water vapour stays in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time. Water vapour will generally stay in the atmosphere for days (before precipitating out) while other greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide or methane, will stay in the atmosphere for a much longer period of time (ranging from years to centuries) thus contributing to warming for an extended period of time.

Mega Diverse Countries and Bio Diversity Hosspot

 The criteria for a mega-diverse countries is classified based on two factors : (1) Have at least 5,000 endemic plants and (2) Have a marine ecosystem within the borders. India is one of the recognized mega-diverse countries of the world, harbouring nearly 7-8% of the recorded species of the world, and representing 4 of the 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots (Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Sundaland). To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. ... It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation.

H5N8 : Outbreak of Bird flu in India.

Image
  Introduction: While the first bird flu cases were reported majorly in 2006 and India declared itself free of bird flu in September 2019, the country today is again amidst bird flu outbreak where several states have reported positive cases along with thousands of birds dying from it.   The outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, reported since the beginning of January, has affected poultry sales, particularly in North India where the daily business has been hit by as much 70 per cent in the last several days. The price of poultry has halved while that of eggs are down by up to 20 per cent. So far, bird flu has been reported from 10 States. Barring two States Kerala and Haryana the infection is mostly seen in wild birds or crows.     In Detail   Bird Flu is a word which is not new to Indians anymore, thanks to frequent outbreaks ever since the infection surfaced over a decade ago. While the first bird flu cases were reported majorly in 2006 and India declared itself free of b

India has begined its two year tenure as Non-permanent member of UN Security Council.

 Introduction India has officially began its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council along with Norway, Mexico, Ireland and Kenya.   Amidst the continued stand-off between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), come January 1, 2021, India will be at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a period of 2 years as a non-permanent member.   On 17 June, India was elected to the UN Security Council with 184 of the total 192 votes. A member country needs a two-third majority of votes in the General Assembly to become a non-permanent member. This is the eighth time India has been elected as a non-permanent member.     In Detail   India will sit in the 15-nation United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2021-22 term as a non-permanent member, the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the powerful horseshoe table.   In 2021, India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico join non-permanent members Estonia, N