Space tourism race and suborbital flight explained
Context: British businessman Richard Branson beat rival Jeff Bezos to reach the edge of space, giving space tourism an official kickstart. But experts and space enthusiasts are in doubt whether the height to which he travelled can be termed ‘space’. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography), GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: Layers of […]
Lightning: Biggest natural disaster-linked killer in India
Context: Nearly 68 were reportedly struck dead by lightning on a single day in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, according to reports from States in July 2021. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management, GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important Geophysical Phenomenon) Dimensions of the Article: What is Lightning? More about Clouds that generate lightning and how they are […]
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)
Context: Saudi Arabia has thrown its weight behind Egypt and Sudan in their bitter dispute with Ethiopia over a massive hydropower dam built by the latter on the Blue Nile, the Nile River’s main tributary. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Maps) Dimensions of the Article: Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) About the Nile River Significance of […]
‘Heat dome’ causing record ‘Heat waves’ in N. America
Context: Regions of North America including some parts of Canada recorded temperatures around 47 degrees, causing a “historic” heat wave which is a result of a phenomenon referred to as a “heat dome”. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical Phenomenon, Climatology) Dimensions of the Article: About Heat Waves Criteria for occurrence of Heat waves What is […]
Atlas of glacial lakes in Ganga basin released
Context: With concerns mounting over the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has released an updated atlas of glacial lakes that are part of the Ganga river basin. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Distribution of Key Natural Resources, Water Resources, Important Geophysical Phenomena) Dimensions of the Article: What is […]
GSI: Chamoli disaster caused by avalanche
Context: The Geological Survey of India said that the flash flood (February 2021) in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand was due to large mass of snow, ice and rock avalanche along with a hanging mass of rock crashing into the Raunthi Garh valley floor. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management, GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Important Geophysical Phenomena), Dimensions of […]
China turns on second-biggest dam in world
Context: The first two generating units of the world’s second-biggest hydroelectric dam were officially turned on in southwestern China. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography, GS-II: International Relations Dimensions of the Article: About China and its large hydropower dams Important Rivers of China About China and its large hydropower dams China is the world’s leader in hydropower […]
Energy inefficiency can short circuit cooling India
Context: More frequent and intense heat waves are expected with a rise in global temperatures due to climate change. The India Cooling Action Plan projects the number of room air conditioners to become about four times in the next 10 years, and about 10 times in the next 20 years, making India the world’s largest […]
‘Southern Ocean’ recognized as globe’s fifth ocean
Context: The National Geographic magazine has recognised the ‘Southern Ocean’ as the world’s fifth ocean June 8, 2021 hoping others will soon follow suit. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (World relief features, Oceanography) Dimensions of the Article: National Geographic Society International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) About the Southern Ocean Antarctic Circumpolar Current National Geographic Society The National Geographic […]
Southwest monsoon is early
Context: The monsoon hit the Kerala coast two days behind schedule in 2021, but has already covered two-thirds of the country. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical Phenomenon, Climatology) Dimensions of the Article: How far has the monsoon progressed? Why is it early this year? Is this early onset of Monsoon unusual? Does early onset mean […]