SUEZ CANAL TEMPORARILY HALTS NAVIGATION
Context: Egypt had to suspend navigation through the Suez canal, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, as a 400-metre-long vessel that veered off course and ran aground blocking the canal. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (World Geography, Mapping) Dimensions of the Article: About the Suez Canal About the Suez Canal The Suez Canal is an […]
BRINGING LIFE BACK TO WESTERN GHATS GRASSLANDS
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-III Environment and Ecology Introduction Tropical montane grasslands (TMG) in the Shola Sky Islands of the Western Ghats have suffered big reductions due to invasions by exotic trees such as acacias, pines and eucalyptus, shrinking the range sizes of endemic species, including plants, birds, amphibians and mammals. Some populations are being driven […]
CYCLONIC STROM “NIVAR”
Focus: GS1: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. Why in News? PM speaks to TN CM and Puducherry CM regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone […]
Why did cyclones give October a miss?
Context: October to December period is among the favourable months for the development of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. This year, however, October passed without witnessing a cyclonic storm. Relevance: GS Paper 1: Salient Features of World Physical Geography; Important Geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones); Geographical features and location; […]
LA NINA IS BACK
Focus: GS-I Geography Why in news? The La Niña weather phenomenon is back in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean after nearly a decade’s absence, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in its latest Global Seasonal update released in October 2020. The Current La Niña La Niña will result in sea surface temperatures between […]
Sardar Sarovar Dam.
Focus: GS 1; Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. Paper 1; Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. Why in News? The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated dynamic lighting for the Sardar Sarovar Dam. He unveiled the […]
AEGEAN SEA EARTHQUAKE STRIKES TURKEY
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-III Disaster Management Why in news? At least 14 people were killed in Turkey and Greece after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea in October 2020, bringing buildings crashing down and setting off tidal waves which slammed into coastal areas and islands. The Earthquake struck with a magnitude of up to […]
TYPHOON GONI AND TYPHOON MOLAVE
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-III Disaster Management Why in news? Philippine officials ordered evacuation of thousands of residents in the southern part of the main Luzon island as a category 5 storm – Typhoon Goni – that is the world’s strongest in 2020 approaches the Southeast Asian nation. Recently Typhoon Molave in October 2020 killed 22 […]
Science of monsoons
Context: The southwest monsoon 2020 has officially drawn to an end with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declaring a withdrawal of the associated winds and rainfall pattern from India on Wednesday. Relevance: GS Paper 1: Salient Features of World Physical Geography; Important Geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones); Mains questions: What characteristics can be assigned […]
MOUNTAINS THAT SUSTAIN MILLIONS
Focus: GS-II Geography, GS-I Indian Society Introduction The Himalayas region is among the 36 world biodiversity hotspots and encompasses 240 million people. The mountains are the most resilient; yet, ironically, their inhabitants are vulnerable. With few livelihood options, forests form an essential life support system for the locals. However, dwindling natural resources, unsustainable agricultural practices, […]