Cloudbursts and Floods in Uttarakhand
Context: A number of cloudbursts caused several homes and roads in a number of villages in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, Tehri and Rudraprayag districts to be flooded with water and debris in early May 2021. Cloudburst-like events have hit Uttarakhand since May 2021 and have caused considerable damage in the four hilly districts of Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, […]
Cyclone ‘Tauktae’
Context: Tauktae – an ‘Extremely severe cyclonic storm’ moved north-northwestwards and hit the Gujarat Coast with maximum wind speeds gusting up to 185 – 210 km/h. Along the cyclone’s path, several people died in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka due to electrocution and wall collapse. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: […]
Two tornadoes strike China
Context: Two tornadoes that struck central and eastern China killed at least 12 people and injured more than 400. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena) Dimensions of the Article: What is a Tornado? Distribution of tornadoes Differences between a Tornado and a Cyclone What is a Tornado? A tornado is a […]
Assam earthquake
Context: Several houses and buildings were damaged after an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Assam. Six aftershocks, of magnitude ranging from 3.2 to 4.7, occurred in the two-and-a-half hours following the main tremor. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management (Earthquakes) GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical Phenomena) Dimensions of the Article: About the Fault line […]
BRO reports glacier break in Uttarakhand
Context: There are reports of a glacier breaking off in the Sumna area, located close to the Indo-China border in Uttarakhand. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Commander concerned had informed them that reports of such an incident had been received and teams were being sent to the area. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Distribution of […]
Fossils of Cynodonts found in Tiki Formation
Context: The Tiki Formation in Madhya Pradesh, a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils, has now yielded a new species and two genera of cynodonts, small rat-like animals that lived about 220 million years ago. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Geomorphology, Origin & Evolution of Earth) Dimensions of the Article: Tiki Formation New Species found: The Study […]
Monkeydactyl
Context: The new pterosaur fossil was discovered in the Tiaojishan Formation of Liaoning, China, thought to be 160 million years old, has been named Kunpengopterus antipollicatus, also dubbed “Monkeydactyl”. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Geomorphology) Dimensions of the Article: About Pterosaurs About the Monkeydactyl Fossil (Kunpengopterus antipollicatus) Tiaojishan Formation Opposability of the Thumb Back to basics: […]
MEGHALAYA VILLAGES OPPOSE DAM ON INDIA’S CLEAREST RIVER
Context: People of at least a dozen villages fear the death of Umngot River and their tourism-based livelihood if the 210 MW hydroelectric project on Umngot (considered India’s clearest river) comes up. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Important rivers and drainage system of India), GS-III: Industry and Infrastructure (Dams, Hydroelectricity projects) Dimensions of the Article: About […]
EARTHQUAKE IN SIKKIM
Context: An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck the Sikkim-Bhutan border and the tremors were felt in the districts of north Bengal including Siliguri, Malda and Darjeeling districts. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Geomorphology, Important Geographical Phenomenon, Earthquakes), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: Earthquake Earthquake Waves Earthquake zones of India Measurement of earthquakes […]
ASIAN DESERT DUST AND INDIAN SUMMER MONSOON
Context: A new study has shown how dust coming from the deserts in the West, Central and East Asia plays an important role in the Indian Summer Monsoon. The researchers also explain how the Indian Summer Monsoon has a reverse effect and can increase the winds in West Asia to produce yet more dust. Relevance: […]