Article Tags

You searched “Important Geophysical Phenomena”. Your tag search matches the following results:

Winter Solstice

Why in News 21st December or the Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The same day marks the Summer...

22 Dec 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
El Niño & Drought

Why in News In a recent study by Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc) Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CAOS), it has been found...

14 Dec 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Cyclone Burevi

Why in News Recently cyclone Burevi has made a landfall on Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces, before heading towards south...

04 Dec 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Provisional Report on the State of the Global Climate 2020: WMO

Why in News According to the latest State of the Global Climate provisional report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the year 2020 is...

04 Dec 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Subdued Northeast Monsoon

Why in News Rainfall over the southern peninsular region has been deficient so far, indicating that the northeast monsoon has remained subdued this...

26 Nov 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Cyclone Nivar

Why in News Recently, the tropical cyclone Nivar has made landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast. Landfall refers to the phenomenon of a...

26 Nov 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Earthquake Concentrations in Dharchula Region

Why in News Recently, scientists at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) have unearthed large concentrations of micro and moderate magnitude...

10 Nov 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Hurricane Eta

Why in News Recently, Hurricane Eta has hit northeastern Nicaragua with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding...

05 Nov 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Tectonically Active Zone of Himalayas

Why in News Recently, a group of scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun have found that the Indus-Tsangpo Suture...

28 Oct 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
World Risk Index 2020

Why in News According to the World Risk Index (WRI) 2020, India is ‘poorly prepared’ to deal with ‘climate reality’, due to...

24 Sep 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Typhoon Maysak and Typhoon Haishen

Why in News Recently, Korean Peninsula and Japan were hit by two typhoons named Maysak and Haishen. Typhoons Typhoons are a kind of storm. The...

10 Sep 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Temperature Inversion

Meaning Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with increase in altitude in the troposphere at a rate of 1 degree for every 165...

29 Aug 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Hurricane Laura

Why in News Hurricane Laura, has made landfall in southwestern Louisiana (South Central United States) with wind speeds reaching up to 250 km (about...

28 Aug 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
High Temperature at Death Valley

Why in News Recently, Death Valley (USA) registered a temperature of 54.4°C which, once verified, could be the highest temperature in more than...

18 Aug 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Sunspots

Why in News A massive Sunspot group ‘AR2770’, which was detected recently, has emitted minor space flares. These flares have not...

11 Aug 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Landslide near Eravikulam National Park

Why in News Recently, landslides have been reported at the Nayamakkad tea estate at Pettimudy which is located about 30 km from Munnar, adjacent to...

08 Aug 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
IMD Forecasts Surplus Rains

Why in News According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall in the “second half of the monsoon” is likely to be 104% of...

06 Aug 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Earthquake

An earthquake in simple words is the shaking of the earth. It is a natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that...

30 Jul 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Seismicity Study of Arunachal Himalaya

Why in News Recently, a study by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), pertaining to the exploration of the elastic properties of rocks...

27 Jul 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena
Day 2

Indian Physiography Every year several questions have been asked from different physiographic locations of India. The scope of questions that can be...

21 Jul 2020 Important Geophysical Phenomena

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'amonth' => 'January',
	'ayear' => '2021',
	'articles' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'tags' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'title' => 'Article Tags'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/estore/test-series-en/upsc-mains-english/sociology-optional-mains-online-en',
		'title' => 'Sociology Mains Test Series 2020 - Join Now',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/estore/test-series-en/upsc-prelims-english/prelims-test-series-2021-online',
		'title' => 'Prelims Test Series 2021 (Online) - Join Now',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://bit.ly/drishtibooks',
		'title' => 'Get Drishti Publications books & magazines on Amazon - click here!',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://bit.ly/joindrishti',
		'title' => 'Click here for Online Inquiry form to join Drishti IAS programmes',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$amonth = 'January'
$ayear = '2021'
$articles = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7274,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Winter Solstice',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>21<sup>st</sup> December</strong> or the <strong>Winter Solstice</strong> marks the<strong> shortest day of the year</strong> in the<strong> Northern Hemisphere.</strong> The same day marks the <strong>Summer Solstice,</strong> the year's <strong>longest day,</strong> in the <strong>Southern Hemisphere.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Solstice:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>Latin word</strong> that means<strong> &lsquo;stalled sun&rsquo;.</strong> It is a natural phenomenon that occurs<strong> twice every year,</strong> once in the summer and again during winter, in each hemisphere of the earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Winter Solstice:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608637600_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1608637600_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the<strong> shortest day and longest night</strong> of the year in the<strong> Northern Hemisphere</strong> and is also known as the <strong>&lsquo;first day of winter&rsquo;</strong> in the Northern Hemisphere as well as <strong>&lsquo;Hiemal solstice or Hibernal solstice&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>During this, <strong>countries in the Northern Hemisphere are farthest from the Sun</strong> and the Sun shines overhead on the <strong>Tropic of Capricorn</strong> (23.5&deg; south).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At latitudes of 23.5&deg; are the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, north and south of the Equator.</li>
<li>At 66.5&deg; are the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, to the north and south.</li>
<li>Latitudes are a measure of a location&rsquo;s distance from the Equator.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This situation will be reversed on<strong> 21<sup>st</sup> June,</strong> when the <strong>Northern Hemisphere</strong> will see the <strong>Summer Solstice,</strong> the year&rsquo;s <strong>longest day</strong> and the<strong> Southern Hemisphere</strong> will see the year&rsquo;s <strong>shortest day.</strong></li>
<li>In <strong>Vedic tradition,</strong> the northern movement of the Earth on the celestial sphere is implicitly acknowledged in the<em><strong> Surya Siddhanta</strong></em>, which outlines the <em><strong>Uttarayana</strong></em> (the period between <em>Makar Sankranti</em> and<em> Karka Sankranti</em>). Hence, Winter Solstice is the<strong> first day of<em> Uttarayana.</em></strong></li>
<li><strong>Special Winter Solstice 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>2020,</strong> the day is special as it coincides with a<strong> celestial event,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jupiter-saturn-great-conjunction" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Great Conjunction&rsquo;</strong></a> of <strong>Jupiter and Saturn,</strong> happening after nearly 400 years.</li>
<li>The two planets <strong>come in conjunction when they have the same right ascension or celestial longitude</strong> and that is known as &lsquo;Great Conjunction&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geography Behind:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reason behind the changing lengths of the days is the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s tilt.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> Earth&rsquo;s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5&deg; to its orbital plane.</strong> This tilt, combined with factors such as Earth&rsquo;s spin and orbit, <strong>leads to variations in the duration of sunlight,</strong> due to which any location on the planet receives different lengths of days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Northern Hemisphere spends half the year tilted in the direction of the Sun, getting direct sunlight during long summer days. During the other half of the year, it tilts away from the Sun, and the days are shorter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> tilt is also responsible for the different seasons on Earth.</strong> This phenomenon <strong>causes the movement of the Sun from the northern to the southern hemisphere</strong> and vice versa<strong> bringing in seasonal changes</strong> in the year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-winter-solstice-which-made-dec-21-the-shortest-day-of-the-year-7113787/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'winter-solstice',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7200,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'El Niño & Drought',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a recent study by<strong> Indian Institute of Science&rsquo;s</strong> (IISc) <strong>Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences</strong> (CAOS), it has been found that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong></a> was <strong>not the only cause for droughts</strong> during the Summer <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monsoon</strong></a> in the Indian Subcontinent.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong> is a recurring climate event during which<strong> abnormally warm equatorial Pacific waters pull moisture-laden clouds</strong> away from the <strong>Indian subcontinent.</strong></li>
<li>It is the usual <strong>suspect</strong> for <strong>failing Indian summer monsoons</strong> between <strong>June and September.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>43% of the droughts that occurred during the Indian summer monsoon season in the past century may have been driven by <strong>atmospheric disturbances</strong> from the <strong>North Atlantic region.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These<strong> droughts</strong> that India faced occurred during years <strong>when El Ni&ntilde;o was absent.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause of these Drought:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sudden and steep drop in rainfall in late August that was linked to an <strong>atmospheric disturbance in the mid-latitude region over the North Atlantic Ocean,</strong> creating a <strong>pattern of atmospheric currents</strong> that move over the indian subcontinent and <strong>&ldquo;derail&rdquo; the monsoon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Change in Drought Pattern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o year drought:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> rainfall deficit</strong> begins <strong>mid-June</strong> and spreads throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Normal year Drought Condition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is normal rainfall during the monsoon season but a <strong>sudden and steep decline was observed in August.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Causes for this August decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An unusual <strong>atmospheric disturbance</strong> in the<strong> mid-latitudes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The middle latitudes are spatial regions on Earth <strong>located between the latitudes 23&deg; and 66&deg; north.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The disturbance emerges from<strong> winds in the upper atmosphere</strong> interacting with a <strong>cyclonic circulation</strong> above abnormally<strong> cold North Atlantic waters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The resulting wave of air currents, called<strong> a Rossby wave, moves from the North Atlantic</strong> towards the<strong> Tibetan plateau</strong> and <strong>hits the Indian subcontinent </strong>around<strong> mid-August, suppressing rainfall and causing drought-like conditions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Atmospheric Circulations that Impact Monsoon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined by the<strong> difference in sea surface temperature between two areas</strong> (or poles, hence a dipole) &ndash; a western pole in the <strong>Arabian Sea</strong> (western Indian Ocean) and an <strong>eastern pole</strong> in the eastern Indian Ocean <strong>south of Indonesia.</strong></li>
<li>IOD develops in the equatorial region of Indian Ocean<strong> from April to May</strong> peaking in October.</li>
<li>With a <strong>positive IOD</strong> winds over the Indian Ocean blow from east to west (from Bay of Bengal towards Arabian Sea). This results in the <strong>Arabian Sea</strong> (western Indian Ocean near African Coast) being much <strong>warmer and eastern Indian Ocean around Indonesia becoming colder and dry.</strong></li>
<li>In the <strong>negative dipole</strong> year (negative IOD), <strong>reverse happens</strong> making Indonesia much warmer and rainier.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930138_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930138_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole effect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was demonstrated that a <strong>positive IOD index</strong> often negated the effect of El Nino, resulting in increased Monsoon rains in several El Nino years like the 1983, 1994 and 1997.</li>
<li>Two poles of the IOD &ndash; the<strong> eastern pole</strong> (around Indonesia) and the <strong>western pole</strong> (off the African coast) were independently and cumulatively affecting the quantity of rains for the Monsoon in the Indian subcontinent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Impact of IOD on<strong> Cyclogenesis</strong> in Northern Indian Ocean:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Positive IOD (Arabian Sea warmer than Bay of Bengal) results in <strong>more cyclones than usual in Arabian Sea.</strong></li>
<li>Negative IOD results in<strong> stronger than usual <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tropical Cyclones</a></strong> in the Bay of Bengal. Cyclonic activity in Arabian Sea is <strong>suppressed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Madden&ndash;Julian Oscillation (MJO), is an eastward <strong>moving band of rain clouds</strong> that travels around the globe spanning 12,000&ndash;20,000 km across the tropical oceans returning to its initial starting point in 30 to 60 days.</li>
<li>In its journey, it interacts with<strong> surface waters</strong> of the Indo-Pacific ocean, the <strong>largest pool of warm water in the globe.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930099_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930099_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The MJO consists of two parts, or phases: one is the <strong>enhanced rainfall</strong> (or convective) phase and the other is the <strong>suppressed rainfall phase.</strong></li>
<li>Strong MJO activity often<strong> dissects the planet into halves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One half within the<strong> enhanced convective phase</strong> and the other half in <strong>the suppressed convective phase.</strong> These two phases produce opposite changes in clouds and rainfall and this entire dipole propagates eastward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects of MJO on global weather phenomenon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can modulate the<strong> timing and strength of monsoons.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> Influences tropical cyclone</strong> numbers and strength in nearly all ocean basins.</li>
<li>It can result in <strong>jet stream changes</strong> that can lead to cold air outbreaks, extreme heat events, and flooding rains over the United States and North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/43-indian-droughts-influenced-by-north-atlantic-air-currents/articleshow/79673081.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TOI</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'el-niño-drought',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7131,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Cyclone Burevi',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently <strong>cyclone Burevi</strong> has made a landfall on Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Northern and Eastern provinces, before heading towards south India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This comes days after <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-nivar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone Nivar</strong></a> hit the Puducherry coast.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Named by:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Maldives</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Burevi vs Nivar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cyclone Burevi would <strong>not strengthen beyond the intensity of a cyclonic storm</strong> because of <strong>upwelling</strong> caused by Nivar.</li>
<li>Upwelling is the process in which <strong>cooler waters from lower ocean surfaces are pushed towards upper ocean surfaces.</strong></li>
<li>In the absence of warm sea surface conditions, any cyclone, in this case Burevi, will <strong>not get enough fuel to intensify</strong> further while at sea.</li>
<li>Further, interaction with land mass has slowed its movement and intensity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tropical Cyclone</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates <strong>over warm tropical oceans</strong> and is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.</li>
<li>A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the<strong> eye,</strong> a central region of clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure.</li>
<li>Storms of this type<strong> are called</strong> hurricanes in the North Atlantic and eastern Pacific and typhoons in SouthEast Asia and China. They are called tropical cyclones in the southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean region and Willy-willies in north-western Australia.</li>
<li>Storms rotate <strong>counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere </strong>and<strong> clockwise in the southern hemisphere.</strong></li>
<li>The conditions favourable for the formation and intensification of tropical storms are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Large sea surface with<strong> temperature higher than 27&deg;C.</strong></li>
<li>Presence of the Coriolis force.</li>
<li>Small variations in the vertical wind speed.</li>
<li>A pre-existing weak low- pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.</li>
<li>Upper divergence above the sea level system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/burevi-weakens-into-a-deep-depression/article33244118.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'cyclone-burevi',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7129,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Provisional Report on the State of the Global Climate 2020: WMO',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the latest <strong>State of the Global Climate provisional report by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-global-climate-wmo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Meteorological Organization</a> (WMO),</strong> the year<strong> 2020 is set to be among the three warmest</strong> on record. Also, the <strong>decade 2011-2020 would be the warmest</strong> ever.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> final report</strong> will be published in <strong>March 2021.</strong> The <strong>State of the Global Climate report</strong> is published <strong>annually</strong> to keep a track of global warming.</li>
<li><strong>WMO</strong> is one of the specialized agencies of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations (UN).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rise in Global Temperature:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The global mean surface temperature for January-October 2020 was<strong> 1.2 degree Celsius higher</strong> than the pre-industrial baseline (1850-1900).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is at least a one in five chance of it <strong>temporarily exceeding 1.5 &deg;C</strong> by 2024.</li>
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a> central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>2020 will be one of the three hottest,</strong> just behind<strong> 2016 and 2019.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The record heat in 2020 has been <strong>despite near-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Ni&ntilde;a</a></strong> conditions prevailing in the equatorial Pacific Ocean since August and <strong>moderate La Ni&ntilde;a</strong> conditions prevailing since October.</li>
<li>The<strong> La Ni&ntilde;a phase of the <a href="/printpdf/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">El Ni&ntilde;o Southern Oscillation (ENSO)</a></strong> phenomenon generally has a cooling effect on many parts of the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Temperature over Ocean Surfaces:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>80%</strong> of ocean areas have experienced at least one <strong>marine heat wave (MHW)</strong> so far in 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Heat wave</strong></a> is a period of prolonged abnormally high surface temperatures relative to those normally expected.</li>
<li>At the time of<strong> MHW,</strong> the average temperature of the ocean surface (up to a depth of 300 feet or more) rises by <strong>5-7&deg;C</strong> above normal.</li>
<li>MHWs can be<strong> caused by</strong> locally formed heat fluxes between the atmosphere and the ocean or due to large-scale drivers of the Earth&rsquo;s climate like the <strong>ENSO.</strong></li>
<li>There were also much more strong MHWs<strong> (43%)</strong> over the oceans in 2020 than moderate ones <strong>(28%).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global sea-level rise</strong> was also similar to 2019 value.This was mainly <strong>due to the increased melting of the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong> Scientific evidence indicates<strong> increasing temperatures</strong> are a direct result of <strong>human-led <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global warming</a></strong> which is an impact of the <strong>emission of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greenhouse-gas-levels-reach-record-highs-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greenhouse gases (GHG).</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After <strong>record GHG levels of 2019,</strong> there has been a slight<strong> dip this year</strong> due to measures taken by many countries to fight the ongoing <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronaviruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">novel coronavirus</a> disease <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(Covid-19 pandemic).</a></strong></li>
<li>However, data from specific locations, including Mauna Loa (Hawaii) and Cape Grim (Tasmania) indicate that levels of <strong>Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), Methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) and Nitrogen dioxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) continued to increase</strong> in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consequences of Global Warming in 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Extreme weather events</strong> such as <strong>tropical cyclones, floods, heavy rainfall and droughts</strong> impacted many parts of the world and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-change-and-forest-fire-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cases of wildfire</strong></a> have also increased this year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Atlantic Hurricane Season:</strong> The<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-laura#:~:text=The%20Atlantic%20hurricane%20season%20runs,as%20a%20Category%201%20storm." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> season</a></strong> witnessed <strong>30 named storms</strong> from June to November which is the <strong>highest number ever</strong> recorded.</li>
<li><strong>Heavy Rains:</strong> There was heavy rainfall and flooding in many parts of <strong>Asia and Africa.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Droughts:</strong> South America experienced<strong> severe droughts</strong> with northern Argentina, Paraguay and western areas of Brazil being some of the worst affected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sea-level rise:</strong> Melting of ice resulted in sea level rise which is an existential concern for the small island nations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A significant sea-level rise by the end of the century will mean that these countries will drown in the oceans and their respective populations will be homeless.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Loss to Humanity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Population Movements:&nbsp;</strong>The climate and weather events have triggered significant population movements and have severely affected vulnerable people on the move, including in the Pacific region and Central America.</li>
<li><strong>Agricultural Losses:</strong> Brazil alone recorded agricultural losses of 3 billion American dollars.</li>
<li><strong>Loss of Human lives, Property and Livelihoods:</strong> The most affected were the Sahel and Greater Horn regions of Africa and China, India, Korea and Japan regions of Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Environmental ethics should take precedence over other issues like national and strategic interest or economic interest.</li>
<li><strong>Oil, gas and coal production must fall six percent a year</strong> in order to limit catastrophic global warming, as per the <strong>UN's annual Production Gap assessment,</strong> which measures the difference between the Paris goals and countries' fossil fuel production plans.</li>
<li>There needs an enhanced commitment from nations more than their pledged INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) under the <strong>Paris Agreement.</strong> However, it must not be used to pressurize developing countries to ramp up their global warming mitigation targets.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/weather/2020-set-to-be-one-of-warmest-years-on-record-7076661/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'provisional-report-on-the-state-of-the-global-climate-2020-wmo',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7075,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Subdued Northeast Monsoon',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Rainfall over the southern peninsular region has been deficient so far,</strong> indicating that the northeast monsoon has remained subdued this year.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pattern of Rainfall in India:</strong> India receives rainfall during<strong> two seasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About <strong>75% of the country&rsquo;s annual rainfall</strong> is received from the<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Southwest monsoon</strong></a> between<strong> June and September.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Northeast monsoon</strong> occurs during <strong>October to December,</strong> and is a <strong>comparatively small-scale monsoon,</strong> which is confined to the <strong>Southern peninsula.</strong> It is called the<strong> winter monsoon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Northeast Monsoon and Rainfall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>After the<strong> complete withdrawal of the Southwest monsoon</strong> from the country takes place by<strong> mid-October,</strong> the <strong>wind pattern rapidly changes</strong> from the<strong> south-westerly to the north-easterly direction.</strong></li>
<li>The period after the Southwest monsoon season, from October to December, is the <strong>peak time for cyclonic activity in the North Indian Ocean region</strong> covering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The winds associated with the formation of low pressure systems, depressions, or cyclones <strong>influence this monsoon,</strong> and therefore, the rainfall.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regions associated with Northeast Monsoon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rainfall associated with the Northeast monsoon is important for <strong>Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, north interior Karnataka, Mahe and Lakshadweep.</strong></li>
<li>Tamil Nadu records about<strong> 48% of its annual rainfall</strong> during these months, making it the key factor for<strong> undertaking agricultural activities and reservoir management</strong> in the state.</li>
<li>Some South Asian countries such as <strong>Maldives, Sri Lanka and Myanmar,</strong> too, record rainfall during October to December.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for deficient rainfall this Northeast monsoon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Prevailing La Ni&ntilde;a conditions in the Pacific Ocean:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>La Ni&ntilde;a conditions <strong>enhance the rainfall associated with the Southwest monsoon,</strong> but has a<strong> negative impact</strong> on rainfall associated with the<strong> Northeast monsoon.</strong></li>
<li>La Ni&ntilde;a (Spanish for &lsquo;little girl&rsquo;) refers to the <strong>large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean,</strong> coupled with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation, namely winds, pressure and rainfall.</li>
<li>It usually<strong> has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-threatens-monsoon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">El Ni&ntilde;o</a></strong>, which is the warm phase of the so-called <strong>El Ni&ntilde;o Southern Oscillation (ENSO).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong> (Spanish for &lsquo;little boy&rsquo;) is the<strong> abnormal surface warming observed along the eastern and central regions of the Pacific Ocean</strong> (region between Peru and Papua New Guinea).</li>
<li>La Nina and El Nino are <strong>large-scale ocean phenomena</strong> which influence the global weather winds, temperature and rainfall.</li>
<li>They have the <strong>ability to trigger extreme weather events</strong> like droughts, floods, hot and cold conditions, globally.</li>
<li>Each cycle can last anywhere <strong>between 9 to 12 months, at times extendable to 18 months</strong> and re-occur after<strong> every three to five years.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inter Tropical Convective Zone (ITCZ):</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The current position of the ITCZ has also contributed to the poor rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season.</li>
<li>The ITCZ is <strong>a low-pressure belt,</strong> whose northward and southward movements along the equator determine the precipitation in the tropics.</li>
<li>Currently, the <strong>ITCZ is located to the north of its normal position.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Important Atmospheric Circulation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/madden-julian-oscillation-mjo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO)</strong></a>: The MJO can be defined as an eastward moving 'pulse' of clouds, rainfall, winds and pressure near the equator that typically recurs every 30 to 60 days.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-northeast-monsoon-rainfall-deficiency-explained-7063467/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'subdued-northeast-monsoon',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7074,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Cyclone Nivar',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tropical cyclone</strong> </a><strong>Nivar</strong> has made landfall along the <strong>Tamil Nadu-Puducherry</strong> coast.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Landfall refers to the phenomenon of a cyclone&rsquo;s outer wall moving over the coastline and beyond.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Tropical Cyclone:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that <strong>originates over warm tropical oceans</strong> and is<strong> characterized by</strong> low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.</li>
<li>A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the <strong>eye,</strong> a central region of clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure.</li>
<li>Storms of this type are called<strong> hurricanes in the North Atlantic</strong> and eastern Pacific and <strong>typhoons in SouthEast Asia</strong> and China. They are called <strong>tropical cyclones</strong> in the <strong>southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean region</strong> and <strong>Willy-willies in north-western Australia.</strong></li>
<li>Storms<strong> rotate anticlockwise</strong> in the<strong> northern hemisphere</strong> and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyclone Nivar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>fourth cyclone</strong> that has taken shape in the North Indian Ocean region this year. The first three cyclones were <strong>Cyclone Gati</strong> (made landfall in Somalia in November), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-amphan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone Amphan</strong></a> (eastern India witnessed it in May), and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-nisarga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone Nisarga</strong></a> (in Maharashtra).</li>
<li>Nivar will be the <strong>second cyclone to hit Tamil Nadu in two years</strong> after <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-gaja" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone Gaja</strong></a> in 2018.</li>
<li>The storm has been <strong>named Cyclone Nivar,</strong> based on the <strong>guidelines of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).</strong> Nivara has been <strong>selected from the list of names given by Iran.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to WMO guidelines, countries in every region are supposed to give names for cyclones.</li>
<li>The North Indian Ocean Region covers tropical cyclones formed over Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.</li>
<li>The <strong>13 members,</strong> which come under the region, are Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.</li>
<li>A <strong>total of 169 cyclones were named</strong> by these countries for this year, with <strong>13 names from each country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 km per hour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606382334_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606382334_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="700" height="407" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Government Steps:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Tamil Nadu government</strong> has announced a <strong>public holiday</strong> under the <strong>Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881,</strong> in 16 districts, including Chennai, considering the impact of Cyclone Nivar.</li>
<li><strong>Fishing activities</strong> have been <strong>restricted and residents evacuated</strong> in coastal areas hit by the cyclone. The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-disaster-management-authority-ndma-" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)</strong></a> has deployed its teams in the affected regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-puducherry-brace-for-cyclone-nivar-7064447/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'cyclone-nivar',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6964,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Earthquake Concentrations in Dharchula Region',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, scientists at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tectonically-active-zone-of-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology</strong></a> (WIHG) have unearthed large concentrations of micro and moderate magnitude <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/earthquake-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>earthquakes</strong> </a>in the Dharchula region and adjoining areas of Kumaon Himalaya.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WIHG is an autonomous institute under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong> </a>(DST), Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The major concentration is in an area <strong>around 45 km from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-road-to-kailash-mansarovar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new Kailash Mansarovar road</a></strong>, connecting <strong>Dharchula in Uttarakhand to Lipu Lekh on the China border.</strong></li>
<li>The region is known as the<strong> Central Seismic Gap</strong> (CSG)<strong> region,</strong> despite the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/re-measuring-mount-everest#:~:text=China%20and%20Nepal%20are%20soon,and%20announce%20the%20findings%20together." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Himalayas</strong> </a>being one of the most tectonically and seismically active regions in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A gap is a term used to<strong> denote an area with little tectonic activity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Methodology:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Scientists started investigating and mapping the region precisely to find out the <strong>reason behind the occurrence of crowded</strong> (closely located and frequently felt) <strong>earthquakes.</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>established a seismological network of 15 broadband seismological stations</strong> along the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kalapani-territory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kali River</strong></a> valley to investigate the subsurface configuration in the Kumaon Himalaya region with support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These large concentrations of earthquakes are <strong>&ldquo;release of stress&rsquo;&rsquo;</strong> building up in the region and the geological structure behind it.</li>
<li>The Dharchula region <strong>falls between two knee-like structures, </strong>which<strong> traps the stress in this region.</strong></li>
<li>This is the reason why there have been crowded earthquakes here within a span of years and numerous smaller earthquakes have occurred here and the stress keeps building up.</li>
<li>For the stress to be finally released, there is a<strong> likelihood of a high magnitude earthquake in the region.</strong> However it is not possible to predict the scale or the exact time that an earthquake will occur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Earthquake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An earthquake in simple words is the<strong> shaking of the earth.</strong> It is a <strong>natural event which is caused due to release of energy,</strong> which generates <strong>seismic waves</strong> that travel in all directions.</li>
<li>The location below the earth&rsquo;s surface where the earthquake starts is called the <strong>hypocenter,</strong> and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the <strong>epicenter.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Types of Earthquakes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on <strong>reasons behind their origins:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Fault Zones Earthquake.</li>
<li>Tectonic Earthquake.</li>
<li>Volcanic Earthquake.</li>
<li>Human Induced Earthquakes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Based on the <strong>depth of focus:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Shallow Earthquakes (0-70 km deep)</li>
<li>Intermediate Earthquakes (70-300 deep)</li>
<li>Deep Earthquakes (300-700 km deep).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Measurement of Earthquakes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Seismometers</strong> detects seismic waves below the instrument and records them as a series of zig-zags.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scientists can determine the time, location and intensity of an earthquake from the information recorded by a seismometer. This record also provides information about the rocks the seismic waves traveled through.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The earthquake events are<strong> scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>magnitude scale is known as the Richter scale.</strong> The magnitude relates to the energy released during the quake. The magnitude is <strong>expressed in absolute numbers, 0-10.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>intensity scale is named after Mercalli,</strong> an Italian seismologist. The intensity scale takes into account the visible damage caused by the event. The <strong>range of intensity scale is from 1-12.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Earthquakes in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is<strong> one of the highly earthquake affected countries</strong> because of the presence of <strong>tectonically active young fold mountains, Himalayas.</strong></li>
<li>India has been divided into<strong> four seismic zones (II, III, IV, and V)</strong> based on scientific inputs relating to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in the past and tectonic setup of the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604996922_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604996922_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/stress-build-up-in-dharchula-region-scientists-warn-of-major-earthquake-7036837/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'earthquake-concentrations-in-dharchula-region',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6927,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Hurricane Eta',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Recently, Hurricane Eta</strong> has hit northeastern <strong>Nicaragua</strong> with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding occurring over <strong>portions of Central America.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567853_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> It is categorised as a <strong>Category 4 hurricane.</strong> A Category 4 storm has wind speeds between <strong>130-156 mph</strong> and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hurricanes that reach category three or higher are classified as major hurricanes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567793_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over warm Equatorial water.</li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Low-Pressure Creation:</strong> When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of low air pressure below.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.</li>
<li>An <strong>eye forms</strong> in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.</li>
<li>This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean&rsquo;s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.</li>
<li>Such storm systems rotate faster and faster. Storms that form towards the north of the equator <strong>rotate counterclockwise, w</strong>hile those that form to the<strong> south spin clockwise</strong> because of the rotation of the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604567892_image3.jpg" width="550" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/hurricane-eta-slams-into-nicaragua-grinds-inland-6936772/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'hurricane-eta',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6866,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Tectonically Active Zone of Himalayas',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a group of scientists from the <strong>Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology</strong> (WIHG), Dehradun have found that the<strong> Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ) of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/re-measuring-mount-everest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Himalaya</a></strong>is<strong> tectonically active.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The suture zone of Himalaya was conventionally thought to be locked.</li>
<li>WIHG is an <strong>autonomous institute</strong> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Department of Science and Technology</strong> </a>(DST), Government of India.</li>
<li><strong>Tectonics</strong> is the <strong>scientific study of the deformation of the rocks</strong> that make up the Earth&rsquo;s crust and the forces that produce such deformation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It deals with the <strong>folding and faulting</strong> associated with mountain building, the large-scale, <strong>gradual upward and downward movements</strong> of the crust and <strong>sudden horizontal displacements</strong> along faults.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Geological Features that Support the Finding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sedimentary beds are tilted and thrust broken.</li>
<li>Rivers are associated with uplifted terraces.</li>
<li>Bedrock shows brittle deformation at much shallower depths.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>These deformed geological features were <strong>dated using the technique of Optically Stimulated Luminescence</strong> (OSL) and data of <strong>seismicity</strong> and <strong>denudation rate</strong> was also reviewed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Optically-Stimulated Luminescence:</strong> It is a late <strong>quaternary</strong> (geological time period that encompasses the most recent 2.6 million years) dating technique used to date the last time quartz sediment was exposed to light. As sediment is transported by wind, water or ice, it is exposed to sunlight and zeroed of any previous luminescence signal.</li>
<li><strong>Seismicity:</strong> It is the worldwide or local distribution of<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/earthquake-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> earthquakes</strong></a> in space, time, and magnitude. More specifically, it refers to the measure of the frequency of earthquakes in a region.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50th-foundation-day-of-dst">Denudation:</a></strong> It is a long term process in which the wearing and tearing of the surface of the Earth take place. It includes all those processes that lower relief and acts both chemically <strong>(chemical weathering)</strong> and physically <strong>(mechanical weathering).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The region of the ITSZ has been neo-tectonically active since the last 78000-58000 years.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ITSZ is a suture zone in the <strong>Ladakh region</strong> and marks the limit of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seismicity-study-of-arunachal-himalaya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian plate</a></strong> <strong>where it collides with the Eurasian plate</strong> and is subducted below the latter.</li>
<li>The ITSZ can be traced for<strong> more than 200 km</strong> and a wide variety of rock association along the ITSZ indicates that the collision at the plate boundary was of very <strong>complex nature.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ITSZ was conventionally believed to be a locked zone till now.</li>
<li>This will have <strong>major implications</strong> in terms of earthquake study, prediction, understanding the seismic structure of the mountain chains well as its evolution.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Suture Zones</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A suture zone is a<strong> linear belt of intense deformation,</strong> where distinct terranes, or tectonic units with different plate tectonic, metamorphic, and paleogeographic histories join together.</li>
<li>These zones also <strong>provide the only record of deep oceanic crust and of ancient seafloor processes</strong> for roughly the first 90% of Earth&rsquo;s history.</li>
<li>Their study provides a means to understand the end-product of<strong> plate tectonic processes</strong> in time and space. In plate tectonics, sutures are seen as the remains of subduction zones together with the terranes possibly representing fragments of different tectonic plates.</li>
<li>The suture zone is often <strong>represented on the surface by a mountain range comprising intensely deformed rocks.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Iapetus Suture from Great Britain,</strong> which is now concealed beneath younger rocks, and <strong>Indo-Tsangpo Suture</strong> well exposed in the Himalayas are some of the best examples of suture zones.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1667585" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'tectonically-active-zone-of-himalayas',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6572,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Risk Index 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <strong>World Risk Index (WRI) 2020,</strong> India is &lsquo;poorly prepared&rsquo; to deal with<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &lsquo;climate reality&rsquo;,</strong> </a>due to which it is vulnerable to extreme natural disasters.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>World Risk Index:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is calculated on a<strong> country-by-country basis,</strong> through the multiplication of exposure and vulnerability and <strong>describes the disaster risk</strong> for various countries and regions.</li>
<li><strong>Released annually since 2011,</strong> it indicates which countries are in the greatest need to strengthen measures for coping with and adapting to extreme natural events.</li>
<li>It is <strong>part of the World Risk Report 2020</strong> released by the <strong>United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security</strong> (UNU-EHS), Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft and the University of Stuttgart in Germany.</li>
<li><strong>Among continents, Oceania is at the highest risk,</strong> followed by Africa and the Americas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Oceania:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600940450_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600940450_image7.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Small island states, <strong>especially in the South Pacific and the Caribbean,</strong> are disproportionately represented among high-risk countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Vanuatu</strong> (South Pacific Ocean) is the country with the <strong>highest disaster risk worldwide.</strong> It is followed by Tonga (South Pacific Ocean) and Dominica (Caribbean Sea).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are at a<strong> high exposure to extreme natural events</strong> which include the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/large-population-and-assets-to-be-affected-by-sea-level-rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> rise in sea level</strong></a> as a result of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>global warming.</strong></a></li>
<li>The small island states have <strong>limited financial resources and have made small contributions to climate change,</strong> but are<strong> affected the most</strong> by its consequences.</li>
<li>They are <strong>needed to be compensated for the climate damage and losses</strong> already incurred and merely providing financial resources for adaptation to climate change is not sufficient.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Africa:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been identified as a hotspot of vulnerability<strong>. More than two-thirds of the most vulnerable countries in the world are located on the continent.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>size of semiarid regions in Africa is expected to increase,</strong> with over half of Africa&rsquo;s land area <strong>vulnerable to <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desertification.</a></strong></li>
<li>Large areas of Africa are<strong> marginalized </strong>and<strong> already under significant financial stress.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Central African Republic is the most vulnerable</strong> country, followed by Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Guinea-Bissau.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>South Asia and India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India has ranked 89<sup>th</sup> among 181 countries</strong> on the WRI 2020 and is<strong> fourth-most-at-risk in South Asia,</strong> after Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.</li>
<li><strong>Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives have fared better than India</strong> in their <strong>abilities to cope with extreme disasters. India also lags behind </strong>these three neighbours in terms of<strong> lack of adaptive capacities or the preparedness to deal </strong>with extreme events.</li>
<li>A comparison with the WRI 2019, shows tha<strong>t all south Asian countries have slipped</strong> on their <strong>ability to adapt</strong> to the reality of climate emergency.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries with a<strong> score above 52.73, are &lsquo;very poor&rsquo;</strong> in their <strong>adaptive capacities</strong> for extreme natural disasters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India has also slipped on strengthening adaptive capacities </strong>which is <strong>concerning as it highlights the inability of systems, institutions, and other organisms to adjust</strong> to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It becomes more important given that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-climate-change-over-the-indian-region-moes#:~:text=Recently%2C%20the%20first%20Assessment%20of,subcontinent%20in%20the%20coming%20century." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's first ever comprehensive climate change assessment report</strong></a> highlighted the impacts of the climate crisis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/how-ready-is-india-for-climate-change-not-much-says-this-report-73502" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'world-risk-index-2020',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6439,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Typhoon Maysak and Typhoon Haishen',
		'description' => '<p>Why in News</p>
<p>Recently, <strong>Korean Peninsula</strong> and<strong> Japan</strong> were hit by two typhoons named<strong> Maysak</strong> and <strong>Haishen.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Typhoons</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Typhoons are a kind of<strong> storm.</strong> The storms, depending on where they occur, may be called <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-laura" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurricanes</a>, typhoons or cyclones.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Typhoons:</strong> In the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Hurricanes:</strong> In the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Tornados:</strong> In the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA.</li>
<li><strong>Willy-willies:</strong> In north-western Australia and</li>
<li><strong>Tropical Cyclones:</strong> In the Indian Ocean Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scientific name for all these kinds of storms is <strong>tropical cyclones.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Tropical cyclones</strong> are intense circular storms that originate over the warm tropical oceans with speed more than 119 kilometres per hour and heavy rains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599730742_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599730742_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="614" height="328" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Categorisation:</strong> Both typhoons were categorised as a <strong>Category 4 hurricane storm.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Category 4 storm has <strong>wind speeds between 130-156 mph</strong> and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
<li>Hurricanes are categorized on the <strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale,</strong> which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed. Hurricanes that reach category <strong>three or higher</strong> are classified as<strong> major hurricanes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Naming:</strong> The <strong>Maysak</strong> typhoon takes its name from a <strong>Cambodian word</strong> for a type of <strong>tree.</strong> While, Haishen means<strong> sea god</strong> in <strong>Chinese.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Typhoon Maysak and Haishen are referred to as typhoon number 9 and 10 in Japan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background of Naming:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>Japan</strong> the first typhoon to occur after January 1<sup>st</sup> of the year is called typhoon number 1.</li>
<li>In the <strong>USA,</strong> hurricanes are referred to by English names.</li>
<li>The intergovernmental organisation called the <strong>Typhoon Committee</strong> which has 14 members including Japan, USA and China uses Asian names for typhoons that are contributed by the member countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Haishen was a name recommended by China, while Maysak is a Combodian name.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/typhoon-pummels-south-korea-with-flooding/article32510493.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'typhoon-maysak-and-typhoon-haishen',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6333,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'Temperature Inversion',
		'description' => '<h3>Meaning</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with increase in altitude in the troposphere at a rate of 1 degree for every 165 metres. This is called <strong>normal lapse rate.&nbsp;</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>But on some occasions, the situations get reversed and temperature starts increasing with height rather than decreasing. This is called <strong>temperature inversion.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Temperature inversion:</strong> It is a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere. Under this meteorological phenomenon a layer of warm air lies over the cold air layer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is caused in stac atmospheric conditions while some times, it occurs due to <strong>horizontal or vertical movement of air.</strong></li>
<li>Temperature inversion is usually of short duration but quite common nonetheless.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694790_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694790_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="326" /></a></p>
<h3>Favourable Conditions for Temperature Inversion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Long winter nights:</strong> Loss of heat by terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night may exceed the amount of incoming solar radiation.</li>
<li><strong>Cloudless and clear sky</strong>: Loss of heat through terrestrial radiation proceeds more rapidly without any obstruction.</li>
<li><strong>Dry air near the ground surface:</strong> It limits the absorption of the radiated heat from the Earth&rsquo;s surface.</li>
<li><strong>Slow movement of air:</strong> It results in no transfer or mixing of heat in the lower layers of the atmosphere.</li>
<li><strong>Snow covered ground surface:</strong> It results in maximum loss of heat through reflection of incoming solar radiation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of Temperature Inversion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Temperature inversion occurs in several conditions ranging from ground surface to great heights. Thus there are several kinds of temperature inversions. </li>
<li>The following are classified on the basis of relative heights from the earth&rsquo;s surface at which it occurs and the type of air circulation:</li>
<li><strong>Non-Advectional</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Radiation Inversion (Surface Temperature Inversion)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Surface temperature inversion develops when air is cooled by contact with a colder surface until it becomes cooler than the overlying atmosphere; this occurs most often on clear nights, when the ground cools off rapidly by radiation. If the temperature of surface air drops below its dew point, fog may result. </li>
<li>It is very common in the higher latitudes. In lower and middle latitudes, it occurs during cold nights and gets destroyed during day time.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694827_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694827_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="402" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidence Inversion (Upper Surface Temperature Inversion)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When a widespread layer of air descends, it is compressed and heated by the resulting increase in atmospheric pressure, and as a result the lapse rate of temperature is reduced.</li>
<li>The air at higher altitudes becomes warmer than at lower altitudes, producing a temperature inversion. This type of temperature inversion is called subsidence inversion.</li>
<li>It is very common over the northern continents in winter (dry atmosphere) and over the subtropical oceans; these regions generally have subsiding air because they are located under large high-pressure centers.</li>
<li>It is also called upper surface temperature inversion because it takes place in the upper parts of the atmosphere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694848_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694848_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="450" height="343" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Advectional</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Valley inversion in intermontane valley</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In high mountains or deep valleys, sometimes, the temperature of the lower layers of air increases instead of decreasing with elevation along a sloping surface.</li>
<li>Here, the surface radiates heat back to space rapidly and cools down at a faster rate than the upper layers. As a result the lower cold layers get condensed and become heavy.</li>
<li>The sloping surface underneath makes them move towards the bottom where the cold layer settles down as a zone of low temperature while the upper layers are relatively warmer.</li>
<li>This condition, opposite to normal vertical distribution of temperature, is known as Temperature Inversion.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694867_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694867_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="400" height="200" /></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Frontal or Cyclonic inversion</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When the warm and cold fronts meet, then the warm front rises up and being heavier the cold front sinks down. It results in formation of Frontal Inversion.</li>
<li>It has considerable slope, whereas other inversions are nearly horizontal. It often takes place in the temperate zone and causes cyclonic conditions which result in the precipitation in different forms.</li>
<li>A frontal inversion is unstable and is destroyed as the weather changes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694888_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598694888_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="432" /></a></p>
<h3>Effect</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Temperature inversion determines the precipitation, forms of clouds, and also causes frost due to condensation of warm air due to its cooling.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Dust particles hanging in the air:</strong> Due to inversion of temperature, air pollutants such as dust particles and smoke do not disperse on the surface.</li>
<li><strong>Stops the movement of air:</strong> It causes the stability of the atmosphere that stops the downward and upward movement of air.</li>
<li><strong>Less rainfall:</strong> Convection clouds can not move high upwards so there is less rainfall and no showers. So, it causes a problem for agricultural productivity.</li>
<li><strong>Lower visibility:</strong> Fog is formed due to the situation of warm air above and cold air below, and hence visibility is reduced which causes disturbance in transportation.</li>
<li><strong>Thunderstorms and tornadoes:</strong> Intense thunderstorms and tornadoes are also associated with inversion of temperature because of the intense energy that is released after an inversion blocks an area&rsquo;s normal convention patterns.</li>
<li>Diurnal variations in temperature tend to be very <strong>small.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
		'posturl' => 'temperature-inversion',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6320,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Hurricane Laura',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Hurricane Laura, has made landfall in southwestern Louisiana (South Central United States) with wind speeds reaching up to 250 km (about 150 miles) an hour.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Description:</strong> Hurricane Laura is a<strong> Category 4 storm.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Category 4 storm has wind speeds between 130-156 mph and can uproot trees and bring down power lines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale:</strong> Hurricanes are categorized on the <strong>Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale,</strong> which rates them on a scale of 1 to 5 based on wind speed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hurricanes that reach category<strong> three or higher</strong> are classified as<strong> major hurricanes.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is because of their potential to cause devastating damage to property and life.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598603530_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598603530_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650]" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Timings of Hurricane:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two seasons of hurricanes are observed in the Atlantic and Pacific regions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Atlantic hurricane season</strong> runs from 1<sup>st</sup> June to 30<sup>th</sup> November .</li>
<li>The <strong>Eastern Pacific hurricane season</strong> runs from 15<sup>th</sup> May to 30<sup>th</sup> November. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hurricane-hanna" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hurricane Hanna:</strong> </a>It was the last storm which made landfall on the Texan coast reaching wind speeds of up to 90 mph, and was listed as a <strong>Category 1</strong> storm.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was the <strong>first</strong> hurricane of the 2020 <strong>Atlantic hurricane season.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hurricane:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use<strong> warm, moist air as fuel,</strong> and therefore <strong>form over warm Equatorial water.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Low-Pressure Creation:</strong> When the <strong>warm, moist air rises upward</strong> from the surface of the ocean, it creates an area of<strong> low air pressure below.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>When this happens, the <strong>air from the surrounding areas rushes</strong> to fill this place, eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.</li>
<li>An <strong>eye</strong> forms in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When the <strong>warm air rises and cools off,</strong> the moisture forms clouds. This system of clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.</li>
<li>This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean&rsquo;s heat and the water that evaporates from its surface.</li>
<li>Such storm systems rotate faster and faster.</li>
<li>Storms that form towards the north of the equator rotate<strong> counterclockwise,</strong> while those that form to the <strong>south spin clockwise because</strong> of the rotation of the Earth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Worldwide Terminology of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tropical Cyclones</a>:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598603498_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598603498_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Depending on where they occur, hurricanes may be called typhoons or cyclones. They are given many names in different regions of the world: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Typhoons:</strong> tropical cyclones are known as Typhoons in the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Hurricanes:</strong> In the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Tornados:</strong> In the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA.</li>
<li><strong>Willy-willies:</strong> In north-western Australia and</li>
<li><strong>Tropical Cyclones:</strong> In the Indian Ocean Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/hurricane-laura-louisiana-category-4-storm-6571980/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'hurricane-laura',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6215,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'High Temperature at Death Valley',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Death Valley</strong> (USA) registered a temperature of 54.4&deg;C which, once verified, could be the <strong>highest temperature in more than a century.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The temperature was recorded at the <strong>USA National Weather Service&rsquo;s automated weather station at Furnace Creek</strong> on 16<sup>th</sup> August 2020.</li>
<li>The Death Valley in <strong>southeastern California is the lowest point in the North American continent,</strong> and is a National Park. It is also the <strong>hottest and driest</strong> part of the continent.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597746150_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597746150_image6.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The temperature has been<strong> termed as preliminary and not final as it awaits verification.</strong></li>
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-of-the-global-climate-wmo#:~:text=The%20World%20Meteorological%20Organization%20(WMO,1873%20Vienna%20International%20Meteorological%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Meteorological Organization</strong> </a>(WMO), Death Valley&rsquo;s <strong>all-time record high is 56.7&deg;C taken on 10<sup>th</sup> July 1913</strong> at Greenland Ranch.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It still stands as the <strong>hottest ever recorded on the planet&rsquo;s surface.</strong></li>
<li>However, since the temperature-recording mechanisms a century ago were not as advanced, many have doubted if that reading was reliable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The high temperature is a result of a<strong> &lsquo;heat dome&rsquo;</strong> that is smothering the west coast of the USA.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Heat Domes:</strong> High-pressure circulation traps hot ocean air like a lid or a cap trapping heat at the surface and favouring the formation of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves#:~:text=The%20heat%20wave%20is%20considered,to%20be%20heat%20wave%20condition." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>heat wave.</strong></a></li>
<li>Higher daily peak temperatures and longer, more intense heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent globally due to <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-melting-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects of Extreme Heat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization</strong></a> (WHO), extreme heat can <strong>exacerbate pre-existing health conditions,</strong> including respiratory diseases, heart conditions and kidney disorders.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>immediate effects</strong> on the human body are heat cramps, dehydration and even potentially fatal heat strokes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It can also have a <strong>severe impact on agriculture and forests.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It either causes <strong>vegetables to wilt and die </strong>or<strong> encourage the spread of plant diseases.</strong></li>
<li>It causes <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wildfires-in-uttarakhand" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>wildfires</strong> </a>which lead to<strong> forest cover reduction and death of fauna.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>affects infrastructure too</strong> by straining power grids and causing blackouts. It can ground planes, melt roads and cause the inside of vehicles to overheat to dangerous levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/at-54-4-c-death-valley-in-us-sees-hottest-temp-since-1913/story-5gmrGAlR6D83bYngRadMQK.html#:~:text=Death%20Valley's%20all%2Dtime%20record,surface%2C%20according%20to%20the%20WMO." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'high-temperature-at-death-valley',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6157,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Sunspots',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A massive <strong>Sunspot group &lsquo;AR2770&rsquo;,</strong> which was detected recently, has <strong>emitted minor space flares.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These flares have<strong> not caused any major impact on the Earth.</strong> However, these have <strong>led to minor waves of ionization</strong> to ripple through the <strong>Earth&rsquo;s upper atmosphere.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597133991_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597133991_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sunspots:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sunspots (some as large as 50,000 km in diameter) are areas that <strong>appear dark on the surface of the Sun (photosphere).</strong> They appear dark because they are <strong>cooler than other parts of the Sun&rsquo;s surface.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the temperature of a sunspot is still very hot &mdash;around 6,500 degrees Fahrenheit.</li>
<li><strong>Photosphere</strong> is a visible surface of the Sun, from which is emitted most of the Sun&rsquo;s light that reaches Earth directly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are relatively cool because they <strong>form at areas where magnetic fields are particularly strong.</strong> These magnetic fields are so strong that they keep some of the heat within the Sun from reaching the surface.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597134012_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597134012_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="250" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Magnetic field in such areas is about <strong>2,500 times stronger than Earth&rsquo;s.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They typically<strong> consist of a dark region</strong> called the<strong> &lsquo;umbra&rsquo;,</strong> which is <strong>surrounded by a lighter region</strong> called the<strong> &lsquo;penumbra&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>In every <strong>solar cycle,</strong> the <strong>number of Sunspots increases and decreases.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>current solar cycle,</strong> which<strong> began in 2008,</strong> is in its <strong>&lsquo;solar minimum&rsquo;</strong> phase, when the number of Sunspots and solar flares is at a routine low.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solar Flares:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>magnetic field lines near sunspots often tangle, cross, and reorganize.</strong> This can cause a<strong> sudden explosion of energy called a solar flare.</strong></li>
<li>The solar flare explosion&rsquo;s energy can be <strong>equivalent</strong> to a trillion <strong>&lsquo;Little boy&rsquo; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/75th-anniversary-of-hiroshima-bombing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.</a></strong></li>
<li>Solar flares release a lot of radiation into space. Solar flares, when powerful enough, <strong>can disrupt satellite and radio transmission on the Earth,</strong> and more severe ones can cause<strong> &lsquo;geomagnetic storms&rsquo;</strong> that can <strong>damage transformers in power grids.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A geomagnetic storm is a <strong>major disturbance of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/1-d-simulation-code-to-study-earth-s-magnetosphere" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earth&rsquo;s magnetosphere</a></strong> that occurs when there is a very efficient <strong>exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space surrounding Earth.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Magnetosphere is a region around the Earth dominated by the Earth&rsquo;s magnetic field.</li>
<li>It protects the Earth from solar and cosmic radiation as well as erosion of the atmosphere by the solar wind - the constant flow of charged particles streaming off the Sun.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Solar flares are sometimes accompanied by a<strong> Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CMEs are huge bubbles of radiation and particles from the <strong>Sun&rsquo;s Corona (outermost region of the Sun&rsquo;s atmosphere).</strong> They explode into space at very high speed when the Sun&rsquo;s magnetic field lines suddenly reorganize.</li>
<li>They can trigger intense light in the sky on Earth, called<strong> auroras.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the energy and small particles travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere.</li>
<li>There, the particles<strong> interact with gases in the atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky.</strong> Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.</li>
<li>The aurora in Earth&rsquo;s northern atmosphere is called an <strong>aurora borealis or northern lights.&nbsp;</strong>It&rsquo;s southern counterpart is called an <strong>aurora australis or the southern lights.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597134039_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597134039_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="283" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Solar Cycle</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Sun is a huge ball of electrically-charged hot gas. This charged gas moves, generating a powerful magnetic field. The Sun's magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle.</li>
<li><strong>Every 11 years or so,</strong> the Sun's magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun's north and south poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun&rsquo;s north and south poles to flip back again.</li>
<li>The <strong>solar cycle affects activity on the surface of the Sun, such as sunspots</strong> which are caused by the Sun's magnetic fields. As the magnetic fields change, so does the amount of activity on the Sun's surface.</li>
<li>One way to track the solar cycle is by counting the number of sunspots. <strong>The beginning of a solar cycle is a solar minimum, or when the Sun has the least sunspots.</strong> Over time, solar activity&mdash;and the number of sunspots&mdash;increases.</li>
<li>The <strong>middle of the solar cycle is the solar maximum,</strong> or when the Sun has the most sunspots. As the cycle ends, it fades back to the solar minimum and then a new cycle begins.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-are-sunspots-and-why-they-occasionally-spark-worry-6548800/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'sunspots',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6142,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Landslide near Eravikulam National Park',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-conference-on-landslides-risk-reduction-and-resilience" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>landslides</strong></a> have been reported at the <strong>Nayamakkad tea estate</strong> at Pettimudy which is located about <strong>30 km from Munnar,</strong> adjacent to the <strong>Eravikulam National Park (ENP), Kerala.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of ENP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is located in the <strong>High Ranges (Kannan Devan Hills) of the Southern Western Ghats</strong> in the Devikulam Taluk of<strong> Idukki District, Kerala.</strong></li>
<li>It spreads over an area of<strong> 97 square km</strong> and hosts<strong> South India's highest peak, Anamudi</strong> (2695 m), in its southern area.</li>
<li>The <strong>Rajamalai region</strong> of the park stays open to the public for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/tourism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tourism</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>History:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government of Kerala acquired the area from the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company under the <strong>Kannan Devan Hill Produce (Resumption of lands) Act 1971.</strong></li>
<li>It was declared as <strong>Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary in 1975</strong> and was elevated to the status of a <strong>National Park in 1978.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Topography:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main body of the park comprises a <strong>high rolling plateau</strong> (plateau at different elevation or with varying heights) <strong>with a base elevation of about 2000 m</strong> from mean sea level.</li>
<li>Three major types of <strong>plant communities</strong> found in the park are: <strong>Grasslands, Shrub Land and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exotic-trees-eating-up-western-ghats-grasslands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shola Forests</a></strong> (mosaic of montane evergreen forests and grasslands).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The park represents the <strong>largest and least disturbed stretch of unique Montane Shola-Grassland vegetation</strong> in the Western Ghats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flora:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It houses the special <strong>Neelakurinji flowers</strong> <em>(Strobilanthes kunthianam)</em> that<strong> bloom once every 12 years</strong> and the next sighting is expected to be in 2030.</li>
<li>Apart from that, it has rare terrestrial and epiphytic orchids, wild balsams, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An epiphyte is an organism that <strong>grows on the surface of a plant</strong> and <strong>derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris</strong> accumulating around it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fauna:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The park holds the <strong>largest viable population of the endangered</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nilgiri-tahr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nilgiri Tahr</strong></a> <em>(Nilgiritragus hylocrius).</em></li>
<li>It has other little known fauna such as Nilgiri Marten, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Clawed Otter, Dusky Striped Squirrel, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>regionally important</strong> as a<strong> catchment area for both east</strong> (tributaries of River Pambar) and <strong>west</strong> (tributaries of River <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mullaperiyar-dam#:~:text=The%20Periyar%20River%20is%20the,stream%20bed%20all%20year%20round." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Periyar</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/athirapally-hydel-electric-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chalakkudy</strong></a>)<strong> flowing rivers.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Locally,</strong> it is important for<strong> maintaining the climate and providing drinking water</strong> to the surrounding estates and for<strong> irrigation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Proximity:</strong> The park is in continuity with the neighboring<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/butterfly-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary</strong></a>, Anamudi Shola National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park, Kurinjimala Sanctuary and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/species-rich-forests-offer-stable-carbon-capture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai Tiger Reserve.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596883099_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596883099_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="655" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Landslides<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596883081_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596883081_image4.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="283" height="250" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A landslide is defined as the <strong>movement of a mass of rock, debris or earth down a slope.</strong> Landslides are a type of <strong>mass wasting</strong> (a geomorphic process) which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.</li>
<li><strong>Causes:</strong> Slow weathering of rocks as well as soil erosion, earthquakes and volcanic activity.</li>
<li>Continent-wise, <strong>Asia suffers the maximum damages/losses</strong> due to landslides and within that, <strong>South-Asian nations are the worst sufferers including India</strong> which is one of the worst affected by landslides.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/many-killed-in-munnar-mishap/article32291655.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'landslide-near-eravikulam-national-park',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6117,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'IMD Forecasts Surplus Rains',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the<strong> India Meteorological Department (IMD)</strong> rainfall in the &ldquo;second half of the<a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> monsoon</strong></a>&rdquo; is likely to be 104% of the<strong> Long Period Average (LPA).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This falls within the &ldquo;normal&rdquo; range of rainfall.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Long Period Average (LPA): It</strong> is the <strong>average rainfall recorded during the months from June to September, calculated during the 50-year period,</strong> and is kept as a <strong>benchmark</strong> while forecasting the quantitative rainfall for the monsoon season every year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IMD maintains an independent LPA for <strong>every homogeneous region</strong> of the country, which ranges from 71.6 cm to 143.83 cm.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>IMD maintains five rainfall distribution categories on an all-India scale. These are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Normal or Near Normal:</strong> When per cent departure of actual rainfall is +/-10% of LPA, that is, between 96-104% of LPA.</li>
<li><strong>Below Normal:</strong> When departure of actual rainfall is less than 10% of LPA, that is 90-96% of LPA.</li>
<li><strong>Above Normal:</strong> When actual rainfall is 104-110% of LPA.</li>
<li><strong>Deficient:</strong> When departure of actual rainfall is less than 90% of LPA.</li>
<li><strong>Excess:</strong> When departure of actual rainfall is more than 110% of LPA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This year increased rainfall is attributed to the commencement of<strong> La Nina</strong> like conditions by the second half of the monsoon season.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>La Nina is a climate pattern that describes periods of<strong> below-average sea surface temperatures</strong> across the <strong>east-central Equatorial Pacific.</strong></li>
<li>La Nina is considered to be the counterpart to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-receive-normal-monsoon-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>El Nino</strong></a>, and its impacts tend to be <strong>opposite those of El Ni&ntilde;o.</strong></li>
<li>Together, they form the <strong>"cold" (La Nina) and "warm" (El Nino)</strong> phases of the <strong>El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596707769_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596707769_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="584" height="1125" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India Meteorological Department</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IMD was established in <strong>1875.</strong></li>
<li>It is an agency of the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> of the Government of India.</li>
<li>It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology</li>
</ul>
</div>',
		'posturl' => 'imd-forecasts-surplus-rains',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6055,
		'category_id' => (int) 26,
		'title' => 'Earthquake',
		'description' => '<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An earthquake in simple words is the shaking of the earth. It is a natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.</li>
<li>The vibrations called seismic waves are generated from earthquakes that travel through the Earth and are recorded on instruments called seismographs.</li>
<li>The location below the earth&rsquo;s surface where the earthquake starts is called the <strong>hypocenter,</strong> and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the <strong>epicenter.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Types of Earthquake and Causes</h3>
<p><strong>Fault Zones:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The release of energy occurs along a fault. A fault is a sharp break in the crustal rocks.</li>
<li>Rocks along a fault tend to move in opposite directions. As the overlying rock strata press them, the friction locks them together.</li>
<li>However, their tendency to move apart at some point of time overcomes the friction. As a result, the blocks get deformed and eventually, they slide past one another abruptly.</li>
<li>This causes earthquake in the form of release of energy, and the energy waves travel in all directions.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596106918_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596106918_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fig: Earthquakes in the faults</p>
<p><strong>Tectonic Earthquakes:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The most common ones are the <strong>tectonic earthquakes.</strong></li>
<li>Although the Earth looks like a pretty solid place from the surface, it&rsquo;s actually extremely active just below the surface.</li>
<li>The Earth is made of four basic layers (generally three): a <strong>solid crust, a hot, nearly solid mantle, a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107013_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107013_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tectonic plates (Lithospheric plates) are constantly shifting as they drift around on the viscous, or slowly flowing, mantle layer below.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107229_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107229_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This non-stop movement causes stress on Earth&rsquo;s crust. When the stresses get too large, it leads to cracks called faults.</li>
<li>When tectonic plates move, it also causes movements at the faults. Thus, the slipping of land along the faultline along convergent, divergent and transform boundaries cause earthquakes.</li>
<li>The point where the energy is released is called the <strong>focus of an earthquake,</strong> alternatively, it is called the <strong>hypocentre.</strong> The energy waves travelling in different directions reach the surface.</li>
<li>The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called<strong> epicentre.</strong> It is the first one to experience the waves. It is a point directly above the focus.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107262_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107262_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Volcanic Earthquake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A special class of tectonic earthquake is sometimes recognised as volcanic earthquake. However, these are confined to areas of active volcanoes.</li>
<li>Earthquakes produced by stress changes in solid rock due to the injection or withdrawal of magma (molten rock) are called volcano earthquakes.</li>
<li>These earthquakes can cause land to subside and can produce large ground cracks. These earthquakes can occur as rock is moving to fill in spaces where magma is no longer present.</li>
<li>Volcano-tectonic earthquakes don't indicate that the volcano will be erupting but can occur at any time.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Human Induced Earthquakes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In the areas of<strong> intense mining activity,</strong> sometimes the roofs of underground mines collapse causing minor tremors. These are called<strong> collapse earthquakes.</strong></li>
<li>Ground shaking may also occur due to the explosion of chemical or nuclear devices. Such tremors are called <strong>explosion earthquakes.</strong></li>
<li>The earthquakes that occur in the areas of large reservoirs are referred to as reservoir <strong>induced earthquakes.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Earthquakes based on the depth of focus</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The earthquakes are divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep based on their depth which range between 0 &ndash; 700 km.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Shallow earthquakes</strong> have a focus 0 &ndash; 70 km deep.</li>
<li><strong>Intermediate earthquakes</strong> have a focus 70 &ndash; 300 km deep.</li>
<li><strong>Deep earthquakes</strong> have a focus 300 &ndash; 700 km deep.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Wadati&ndash;Benioff zone</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Deep earthquakes (300-700 km) are produced in this zone.</li>
<li>It is a zone of subduction, along which earthquakes are common, which are produced by the interaction of a downgoing oceanic crustal plate against a continental plate.</li>
<li>Some of the most powerful earthquakes occur along this zone.</li>
<li>These earthquakes can be produced by slip along the subduction thrust fault or by slip on faults within the downgoing plate as the plate is pulled into the mantle.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107385_image8.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107385_image8.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="297" height="243" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fig: Cross-section of the Benioff zone.</p>
</div>
<h3>Distribution of Earthquakes</h3>
<p>Earthquakes can strike any location at any time, but history shows they occur in the same general patterns year after year, principally in three large zones of the earth:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The world's greatest earthquake belt, the<strong> circum-Pacific seismic belt,</strong> is found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where about 81 percent of our planet's largest earthquakes occur. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has earned the nickname <strong>"Ring of Fire".</strong></li>
<li>The belt exists along boundaries of tectonic plates, where plates of mostly oceanic crust are sinking (or subducting) beneath another plate. Earthquakes in these subduction zones are caused by slip between plates and rupture within plates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> Alpide earthquake belt (mid Continental belt)</strong> extends from Java to Sumatra through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This belt accounts for about 17 percent of the world's largest earthquakes, including some of the most destructive.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The third prominent belt follows the submerged<strong> mid-Atlantic Ridge.</strong> The ridge marks where two tectonic plates are spreading apart (a divergent plate boundary). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Most of the mid-Atlantic Ridge is deep underwater and far from human development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107476_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107476_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fig: Distribution of Earthquake</p>
<p><strong>Measurement of Earthquakes</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The energy from an earthquake travels through Earth in vibrations called<strong> seismic waves.</strong></li>
<li>Scientists can measure these seismic waves on instruments called <strong>seismometers.</strong></li>
<li>A seismometer detects seismic waves below the instrument and records them as a series of zig-zags.</li>
<li>Scientists can determine the time, location and intensity of an earthquake from the information recorded by a seismometer. This record also provides information about the rocks the seismic waves traveled through.</li>
<li>The earthquake events are scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock. The magnitude scale is known as the <strong>Richter scale.</strong> The magnitude relates to the energy released during the quake. The magnitude is expressed in absolute numbers, 0-10.</li>
<li>The intensity scale is named after <strong>Mercalli,</strong> an Italian seismologist. The intensity scale takes into account the visible damage caused by the event. The range of intensity scale is from 1-12.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Seismic Waves (Earthquake Waves)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seismic waves are the waves of energy caused by earthquakes or an explosion. They are the energy that travels through the earth and is recorded on seismographs.</li>
<li>Earthquake waves are basically of two types &mdash; <strong>body waves and surface waves.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Body waves</strong> are generated due to the release of energy at the focus and move in all directions travelling through the body of the earth. Hence, the name body waves. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are <strong>two types of body waves.</strong> They are called <strong>P and S-waves. </strong></li>
<li><strong>P-waves</strong> move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface. These are also called &lsquo;primary waves&rsquo;. The P-waves are similar to sound waves. They travel through gaseous, liquid and solid materials.</li>
<li><strong>S-waves</strong> arrive at the surface with some time lag. These are called secondary waves. An important fact about S-waves is that they can travel only through solid materials.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate a new set of waves called <strong>surface waves.</strong> These waves move along the surface.</li>
<li>The surface waves are the last to report on seismographs. These waves are more destructive. They cause displacement of rocks, and hence, the collapse.</li>
<li>Thus, the characteristics of the seismic waves are quite important. It has helped scientists to <strong>understand the structure of the interior of the earth.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107533_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107533_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Effects of Earthquake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earthquakes are a natural hazard. If a tremor of high magnitude takes place, it can cause heavy damage to the life and property of people. The following are the immediate hazardous effects of earthquake:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ground Shaking</li>
<li>Differential ground settlement</li>
<li>Land and mudslides</li>
<li>Fires</li>
<li>Ground lurching</li>
<li>Avalanches</li>
<li>Ground displacement</li>
<li>Floods from dam and levee failures</li>
<li>Structural collapse</li>
<li>Tsunami</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Earthquake in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is one of the highly earthquake affected countries because of the presence of technically active young fold mountains - Himalaya.</li>
<li>India has been divided into <strong>four seismic zones (II, III, IV, and V)</strong> based on scientific inputs relating to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in the past and tectonic setup of the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107581_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1596107581_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'earthquake-4',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6015,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Seismicity Study of Arunachal Himalaya',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a study by the <strong>Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology</strong> (WIHG), pertaining to the exploration of the elastic properties of rocks and seismicity in <strong>Arunachal Himalaya,</strong> has revealed that the area is <strong>generating moderate earthquakes at two different crustal depths.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>WIHG is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST), Government of India.</li>
<li>The region has been placed into <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/earthquakes-and-delhi-ncr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seismic Zone V</a></strong>, thus most vulnerable to earthquakes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Study:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WIHG has installed 11 broadband seismic stations (connected through the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-visual-positioning-system#:~:text=region%20under%20navigation.-,Global%20Positioning%20System,to%20civilian%20and%20military%20users." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Positioning System</strong></a>) along the <strong>Lohit River Valley of Arunachal Himalaya</strong> to understand the elastic properties of rocks and seismicity in the<strong> easternmost</strong> part of India.</li>
<li>It used both<strong> teleseismic (earthquakes that occur more than 1000 km from the measurement site)</strong> and <strong>local earthquake data</strong> with the help of <strong>seismometers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>seismometer is an instrument</strong> that responds to ground motions, such as caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Latest Findings:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Two Different Crustal Depths: Low magnitude earthquakes</strong> are concentrated at <strong>1-15 km depth,</strong> whereas slightly higher than<strong> 4.0 magnitude earthquakes</strong> are mostly generated from <strong>25-35 km depth.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> intermediate-depth is devoid of seismicity</strong> and coincides with the zone of fluid/partial melts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Poisson&rsquo;s Ratio:</strong> Extremely <strong>high Poisson&rsquo;s ratio</strong> was also obtained in the higher parts of the <strong>Lohit Valley,</strong> indicating the presence of fluid or partial melt at crustal depths.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Poisson's ratio</strong> is a measure of the Poisson effect that describes the expansion or contraction of a material in directions perpendicular to the direction of loading.</li>
<li>A <strong>high Poisson&rsquo;s ratio denotes</strong> that the material exhibits large elastic deformation, even when exposed to small amounts of strain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significnace:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Underthrusting of the Indian Plate:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Himalaya is a result of collision between the Indian and the Eurasian plates about 50-60 million years ago. Due to continuous underthrusting of Indian plate beneath the Eurasian plate, stresses are increasing and accumulating progressively in the Himalayas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>The Eurasian Plate is a tectonic plate</strong> which includes most of the continent of Eurasia (a landmass consisting of the traditional continents of Europe and Asia), with the exceptions of the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian subcontinent, and the area east of the Chersky Range in East Siberia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This process keeps <strong>modifying the drainage patterns and landforms</strong> and is the pivotal reason for causing an<strong> immense seismic hazard in the Himalayan mountain belt</strong> and adjoining regions, necessitating assessment and characterization of earthquakes in terms of <strong>cause, depth and intensity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Tuting-Tidding Suture Zone:</strong> TTSZ is a<strong> major part of the Eastern Himalaya,</strong> where the Himalaya takes a sharp southward bend and <strong>connects with the Indo-Burma Range.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This part has gained importance in recent times due to the <strong>growing need of constructing roads and hydropower projects,</strong> therefore emphasising the need for understanding the pattern of seismicity in this region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crustal Thickness:</strong> The crustal thickness in this area varies from 46.7 km beneath the Brahmaputra Valley to about 55 km in the higher elevations of Arunachal, with a marginal uplift of the contact.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This marginal uplift defines the boundary<strong> between crust and the mantle,</strong> technically called the <strong>Moho discontinuity.</strong></li>
<li>The Moho discontinuity has been defined by the <strong>distinct change in velocity of seismological waves</strong> as they pass through changing densities of rock.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641185#:~:text=A%20study%20by%20the%20Wadia,moderate%20earthquakes%20at%20two%20different" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'seismicity-study-of-arunachal-himalaya',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 5943,
		'category_id' => (int) 71,
		'title' => 'Day 2',
		'description' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Indian Physiography</h2>
<p>Every year several questions have been asked from different physiographic locations of India. The scope of questions that can be expected from this topic is very broad. However, by analysing the previous year questions it can be depicted that a lot of times questions are asked on those locations/phenomenon which have remained in news. Thus, we have picked some current affairs for this type of questions.&nbsp;</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/effects-of-changing-groundwater-levels-on-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Effects of Changing Groundwater Levels on Himalayas</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hindu-kush-himalayan-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hindu-Kush-Himalayan Region</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-urges-plan-to-save-himalayan-springs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development in the Indian Himalayan Region</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-melting-himalayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>In Depth &ndash; Melting Himalayas</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-the-eastern-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change and The Eastern Ghats</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/green-wall-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green Wall of India</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kutch-desert" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kutch Desert</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/indias-coastal-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Coastal Security</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andaman-nicobar-islands-rich-faunal-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands' Rich Faunal Diversity</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/aravallis-a-mountain-lost" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aravallis: A Mountain Lost</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Also, for map based questions, one can refer<a href="/images/dlp-demo/upsc/prelims/gs-pack-3/Geography-Map-Book.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Drishti Map Book&rdquo;</strong></a></p>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions Indian Physiography</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only.</li>
<li>Western Ghats are spread over five States only.</li>
<li>Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 3 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1 and 3 only</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Consider the following pairs: (2013)</p>
<ol>
<li>Nokrek Biosphere Reserve : Garo Hills</li>
<li>Logtak (Loktak) Lake : Barail Range</li>
<li>Namdapha National Park : Dafla Hills</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<p>(d) None</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. When you travel in the Himalayas, you will see the following: (2012)</p>
<ol>
<li>Deep gorges</li>
<li>U-turn river courses</li>
<li>Parallel mountain ranges</li>
<li>Steep gradients causing landsliding</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 1, 2 and 4 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 and 4 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. If there were no Himalayan ranges, what would have been the most likely geographical impact on India? (2010)</p>
<ol>
<li>Much of the country would experience the cold waves from Siberia.</li>
<li>The Indo-gangetic plain would be devoid of such extensive alluvial soils.</li>
<li>The pattern of monsoon would be different from what it is at present.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Important Water Bodies</h2>
<p>It has been a very interesting area from world geography where UPSC asks questions. A lot of questions have been asked over the years. Questions on important water bodies and the countries surrounding them have been repeatedly asked in successive years. So it is always a hot topic from this year&rsquo;s prelims point.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read more about important water bodies in recent news:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/odisha-s-lake-conservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Odisha's Lake Conservation</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-properties-of-river-ganga" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Special Properties of River Ganga</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trans-Boundary Water Conflicts</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Important Water Bodies</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following pairs Wildlife Naturally found in (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>Blue-finned Mahseer : Cauvery River</li>
<li>Irrawaddy Dolphin : Chambal River</li>
<li>Rusty-spotted Cat : Eastern Ghats</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 1 and 3 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Consider the following pairs: Sea Bordering Country (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>Adriatic Sea : Albania</li>
<li>Black Sea : Croatia</li>
<li>Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan</li>
<li>Mediterranean Sea : Morocco</li>
<li>Red Sea : Syria</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2 and 4 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 1, 3 and 4 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) 2 and 5 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? (2013)</p>
<ol>
<li>It occupies a linear rift valley.</li>
<li>It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.</li>
<li>The land slopes to the west from Central India.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the codes given below:</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3</p>
<p>(c) 1 and 3</p>
<p>(d) None</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Important Global Convention</h2>
<p>A lot of questions have been asked by UPSC on the important global conventions. One such global convention that remained in news is UNCCD COP-14 (took place in India, 2019). Therefore, this becomes important for this year from the prelims point of view. Also, the topic assumes relevance as northern India witnessed dust storms last year, which is a sign of faster rate of desertification around the world. To read more about the topic/convention refer below:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Convention to Combat Desertification: COP 14</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought#:~:text=United%20Nations%20Convention%20to%20Combat%20Desertification%20(UNCCD),-It%20was%20established&amp;text=The%20Convention's%20197%20parties%20work,mitigate%20the%20effects%20of%20drought." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/mains-practice-question/question-152" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dust Storms</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.unccd.int/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Global Conventions</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a &lsquo;Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.</li>
<li>A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.</li>
<li>The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 2 and 4 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Consider the following statements:(2019)</p>
<ol>
<li>Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.</li>
<li>The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.</li>
<li>The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 2 and 3 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. What is/are the importance/importances of the &lsquo;United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? (2016)</p>
<ol>
<li>It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.</li>
<li>It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of a major portion of financial resources to these regions.</li>
<li>It is committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(c) 1 and 3 only</span></strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Important National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries And Biodiversity Hotspots</h2>
<p>There has been a trend that quite often UPSC asks about the latest news related to Important National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries And Biodiversity Hotspots. This can be depicted from the previous year questions. Thus, in this context, knowing about the recent developments in biodiversity conservation become very important for this year's prelims.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Heritage Sites in India</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-krishna-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Extension of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/madhav-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Madhav National Park</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/papikonda-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Papikonda National Park</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gir-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gir National Park</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pobitora-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/koundinya-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sundarban-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sundarban National Park</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wayanad-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/someshwara-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cauvery-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/black-panther-in-netravali-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Panther in Netravali Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dnyanganga-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andaman-nicobar-islands-rich-faunal-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands' Rich Faunal Diversity</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/khangchendzonga-to-be-included-in-the-world-network-of-biosphere-reserves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Khangchendzonga To Be Included In The World Network of Biosphere Reserves</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries etc.</span></h3>
<p>Q. Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone? (2019)</p>
<p>(a) Manas National Park</p>
<p>(b) Namdapha National Park</p>
<p>(c) Neora Valley National Park</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Valley of Flowers National Park</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve? (2019)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park</p>
<p>(c) Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park</p>
<p>(d) Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats? (2017)</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve</strong></span></p>
<p>(b) Nallamala Forest</p>
<p>(c) Nagarhole National Park</p>
<p>(d) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic? (2015)</p>
<p>(a) Khangchendzonga National Park</p>
<p>(b) Nandadevi National Park</p>
<p>(c) Neora Valley National Park</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Namdapha National Park</strong></span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Monsoon</h2>
<p>Monsoon is the lifeline of Indian economy. Also, it impacts India in a way that no other physical phenomena does. Thus, it is always an important topic for the UPSC from both prelims and mains point of view. To know more about the Monsoon, its intricacies and impacts, go through below write ups/articles.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/pdf/1579547359-monsoon-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Monsoon</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-monsoon-respite-for-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>In Depth &mdash; Monsoon: Respite For Agriculture</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-to-receive-normal-monsoon-imd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India to Receive Normal Monsoon: IMD</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/north-east-monsoon-ends-with-30-surplus-rain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North-East Monsoon Ends with 30% Surplus Rain</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-ocean-dipole-and-the-south-west-monsoon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole and the South-West Monsoon</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Monsoon</span></h3>
<p>Q. With reference to &lsquo;Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)&rsquo; sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.</li>
<li>An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino&rsquo;s impact on the monsoon.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 2 only</strong></span></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of (2014)</p>
<p>(a) Equatorial climate</p>
<p>(b) Mediterranean climate</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Monsoon climate</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) All of the above climates</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2012)</p>
<ol>
<li>The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.</li>
<li>The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) Both 1 and 2</strong></span></p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>',
		'posturl' => 'day-2',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'articles'
	
	}
]
$tags = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'id' => (int) 272,
		'tag' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'colorcode' => 'FFFFFF',
		'posturl' => 'important-geophysical-phenomena',
		'status' => (int) 1,
		'sort_order' => (int) 5,
		'type' => (int) 0,
		'relivant' => (float) 1,
		'metatitle' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'metakeyword' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'metadescription' => 'Important Geophysical Phenomena',
		'addedby' => (int) 9,
		'updatedby' => (int) 9,
		'added' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'modified' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'tags'
	
	}
]
$title = 'Article Tags'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Articles/tags.ctp, line 61
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Tag Search Results

You searched “Important Geophysical Phenomena”. Your tag search matches the following results: