Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention Impact on Global Food Production
Tag: GS-3 Environment
In News
A recent publication in the journal Nature Food sheds light on the possible impacts of employing a geoengineering method called stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) on global food production.
Key Highlights of the Study
- Stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) is a climate intervention method considered a contingency plan for addressing climate change if traditional mitigation strategies prove inadequate.
- SAI aims to imitate the cooling effect of volcanic eruptions by introducing sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere, a layer of the Earth’s atmosphere spanning from around 10 to 50 kilometres in altitude.
- In the stratosphere, sulfur dioxide undergoes oxidation, forming sulfuric acid, which subsequently transforms into reflective aerosol particles.
- For example, is the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 2001, which discharged approximately 15 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, leading to the formation of aerosol particles.
- According to data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this volcanic event resulted in a global average temperature decrease of about 0.6 degrees Celsius over the following 15 months.
Impact on Agriculture
- The impact of stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) on agriculture is highly diverse and contingent on factors such as precipitation and solar radiation.
- Understanding the optimal global temperature ranges for crop production is vital for making informed decisions regarding SAI.
- Researchers employ computer models to assess the consequences of different SAI scenarios on various crops, including maize, rice, soybean, and spring wheat.
- In a scenario of uncontrolled climate change, crop production thrives in colder, high-latitude regions such as Canada and Russia.
- Moderate levels of SAI could potentially boost food productivity in mid-latitude temperate regions like North America and Eurasia.
- Extensive SAI measures might result in increased agricultural production in tropical regions. These regions encompass Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the northern half of South America, most of Africa, portions of the Middle East, the majority of India, Southeast Asia, a significant part of Australia, and numerous island nations in Oceania.
| Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention |
| Stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) is a proposed solar geoengineering technique aimed at mitigating global warming. It involves injecting aerosols into the stratosphere, which can induce cooling effects by enhancing global dimming and albedo, a process that naturally occurs during volcanic eruptions. SAI may bring about unintended adverse effects on both the environment and human society. These consequences could encompass impacts on the ozone layer, changes in the hydrological cycle, alterations to monsoon systems, and potential fluctuations in crop yields. |
| UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Q. In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere? (2019) (a) Creating the artificial rains in some regions (b) Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones (c) Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth (d) Reducing the global warming Answer: (d) |
Coral Reef Breakthrough
Tags: GS – 3: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution)
Why in News
Recently, the Coral Reef Breakthrough has been launched by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in partnership with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC).
Coral Reef Breakthrough
- The Coral Reef Breakthrough is a scientific project with specific objectives for state and non-state actors to jointly conserve, protect, and restore coral reefs, ensuring their essential contributions to the future of mankind.
- This initiative aims to safeguard at least 125,000 square kilometres of shallow-water tropical coral reefs by 2030 through investments of at least US$12 billion.
- Coral polyp colonies make up coral reefs, which are underwater ecosystems. Massive limestone formations known as coral reefs are created by coral polyps. They are frequently referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” since they are home to around 25% of all known marine species.
- These sea invertebrates have calcium carbonate-based rigid exoskeletons. They are sessile, which means they are set in situ for all time.
Four Action Plan for Coral Reef Breakthrough
- Action point 1: Stop drivers of loss: Mitigate local drivers of loss including land-based sources of pollution, destructive coastal development, and overfishing.
- Action point 2: Double the area of coral reefs under effective protection: Bolster resilience-based coral reef conservation efforts by aligning with and transcending global coastal protection targets including 30by30.
- Action point 3: Accelerate Restoration: Assist the development and implementation of innovative solutions at scale and climate smart designs that support coral adaptation to impact 30% of degraded reefs by 2030.
- Action point 4: Secure investments of at least USD 12 billion by 2030 from public and private sources to conserve and restore these crucial ecosystems.
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
- A global alliance of nations and organisations which works to protect coral reefs and associated ecosystems all over the world.
- Eight governments—Australia, France, Japan, Jamaica, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America—founded the Initiative in 1994.
- At the First Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994, it was announced.
- There are 101 members of ICRI, representing 45 nations, including India.
High-Level Climate Champions (HLCC)
- They have been appointed by the UN to help non-state entities including corporations, local governments, and financial institutions support the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR)
- The GFCR is a hybrid financial tool to mobilise money and action for the preservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems.
- In order to promote sustainable interventions to safeguard coral reefs and the communities that depend on them, it distributes grant financing and private resources.
| UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Prelims Q. 1 “Biorock technology” is talked about in which one of the following situations? a. Restoration of damaged coral reefs b. Development of building materials using plant residue c. Identification of areas for exploration/extraction of shale gas d. Providing salt licks for wild animals in forests/protected areas Answer: (a) Q.2 Consider the following statements: (2018) Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a. 1 and 2 only b. 3 only c. 1 and 3 only d. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (d) Q.3 Which of the following have coral reefs? (2014) Andaman and Nicobar Islands Gulf of Kachchh Gulf of Mannar Sundarbans Select the correct answer using the code given below: a. 1, 2 and 3 only b. 2 and 4 only c. 1 and 3 only d. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: (a) Mains Q. Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples. (2019) |
Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS) and Kasturi Cotton Program
Tags: GS – 3: Indian Economy (Agriculture)
Why in News
In conjunction with Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and the EU-Resource Efficiency Initiative, the Ministry of Textiles recently organised a conference on World Cotton Day (7 October 2023) that covered environmentally conscious methods and best practises in the cotton value chain.
Bale Identification and Traceability System (BITS)
- The BITS is a technological initiative in the cotton industry that utilizes Blockchain Technology to assign unique QR codes to cotton bales.
- It was put in place to make sure that important characteristics regarding cotton bales, such their quality, variety, origin, and processing methods, are clear and readily available to both local and foreign buyers.
- By scanning the QR code, stakeholders, including cotton buyers, textile manufacturers, and others, can trace the entire journey of the cotton bale from its origin to the final product.
- It is implemented by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders such as State Governments.
Kasturi Cotton Program
- It is an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Textiles in India to promote the production and availability of premium quality cotton with traceability.
- The Ministry of Textiles’ TEXPROCIL, working with CCI, is in charge of managing this program’s implementation.
- It is certified to meet certain quality standards, which may include fibre length, strength, colour, and other characteristics that make it suitable for premium textile products.
Cotton Production
- It is a Kharif Crop which requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
- Conditions required:
- Temperature: Between 21-30°C.
- Rainfall: Around 50-100 cm.
- Soil Type: Well-drained black cotton soil (Regur Soil)
- Producers:
- Global: India is the top Cotton producer in the world (India > China > US).
- National: Gujarat is the leading cotton producer state in India (Gujarat > Maharashtra > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh > Rajasthan).
- Species:
- Four cultivated species of cotton: Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum and G.barbadense.
- Gossypium arboreum and G.herbaceum are known as old-world cotton or Asiatic cotton.
- G.hirsutum is also known as American cotton or upland cotton and G.barbadense as Egyptian cotton. These are both new world cotton species.
- Hybrid Cotton: Cotton made by crossing two parent strains that have different genetic characters.
- Bt Cotton: It is a genetically modified organism or genetically modified pest-resistant variety of cotton.
| UPSC CSE Previous Year Question Prelims Q1. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of (2011) a. brown forest soil b. fissure volcanic rock c. granite and schist d. shale and limestone Answer: (b) Q2. A state in India has the following characteristics: (2011) a. Its northern part is arid and semi-arid. b. Its central part produces cotton. c. Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops. Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics? a. Andhra Pradesh b. Gujarat c. Karnataka d. Tamil Nadu Answer: (b) Q3. With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements: (2019) a. Area under rice cultivation is the highest. b. Area under cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds. c. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane. d. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased. Which of the statements given above are correct? a. 1 and 3 only b. 2, 3 and 4 only c. 2 and 4 only d. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: (a) |
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
Tags: GS –2 International Relations
Why in news?
Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 23rd Council of Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for October 2023, in Colombo.
About
- The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an intergovernmental organization established in 1997, comprising 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners.
- Members: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
- Dialogue Partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
- Secretariat: Ebène, Mauritius
- IORA’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) which meets annually.
- Six Priority and Two Focus Areas:
More Information
- Bangladesh held the chairmanship from November 2021 – November 2023.
Dancing Frogs
Tags: GS –3 Environment
Why in news?
According to the Wildlife Trust of India the dancing frogs are the most threatened amphibian genus of India.
About
- Dancing frogs, specifically from the Micrixalus genus, are a group of frogs.
- Dancing frogs are endemic to the Western Ghats.
- The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot spread across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is rich in amphibian diversity.
- Habitat:
- They prefer habitats with a thick canopy cover, typically around 70-80 %, and are often found near slow-moving perennial streams within the Western Ghats.
- Behavior and Mating Display:
- Dancing frogs exhibit a unique mating behavior characterized by foot flagging, where males extend their hind legs and wave their webbed toes.
- This visual display helps in attracting female mates and signaling to rival males.
- This act is called “foot flagging” and gives the species their name.
- Amphibians on the brink of extinction:
- It is the fifth most threatened genus in the world with 92 per cent of its species in the threatened category.
- Around 41% of amphibian species are on the brink of extinction.
- This means around two out of every five amphibian species are at risk of extinction.
- Out of 426 amphibian species assessed in India, 139 are threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable).
- After the dancing frogs, the Nyctibatrachidae (night frogs) are the most threatened.
- Significance:
- Frogs are valuable in the food chain and also provide other ecological services.
- Major Threat:
- These species are threatened by invasive species like the mosquito fish, land use change, variation in temperature and humidity, extreme weather events such as floods and excess rainfall, infectious diseases, water pollution, light pollution, and infrastructure projects.
Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
Tags: GS –2 International Relations
Why in news?
Recently, India has been elected president of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference (GC) for the third successive term.
About
- The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) is a unique regional intergovernmental organization servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.
- It was established in 1977 under the aegis of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- Objective:
- The AIBD is mandated to achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and resource development.
- Founding Organizations:
- The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) are founding organizations of the Institute, and they are non-voting members of the General Conference.
- Members: It currently has 92 member organizations from across 44 countries.
- This includes 26 Government Members (countries) represented by 48 broadcasting authorities and broadcasters and 44 Affiliates (organizations) represented by 28 countries and regions in Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, Arab States and North America.
- Secretariat:
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- India and AIBD: India is one of the founding members of AIBD.
- Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster is the representative body of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting at AIBD.
- Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body, established under the Prasar Bharati Act in 1997.
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan
Tags: GS –1 Important Personalities, Modern Indian History
Why in news?
Recently, The Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary.
About
- Jayaprakash Narayan born on 11th October 1902, in Sitabdiara, Bihar, popularly referred to as JP or Lok Nayak (People’s Leader), was an Indian Independence activist, social reformer and political leader.
- Influenced by both Marxist ideas in the US and Gandhian ideology.
- Contribution to Freedom Struggle:
- Joined the Indian National Congress in 1929 and participated in the civil disobedience movement and Quit India Movement.
- He played a key role in the formation of the Congress Socialist Party (1934), a left-wing group within the Congress Party.
- Post-Independence Role:
- In 1948, he left the Congress Party and initiated an anti-Congress Campaign.
- In 1952, he formed the Praja Socialist Party (PSP).
- In 1954, he devoted his life exclusively to the Bhoodan Yajna Movement, of Vinoba Bhave, which demanded land redistribution to the landless.
- In 1959, he argued for a “reconstruction of Indian polity” by means of a four-tier hierarchy of village, district, state, and union councils (Chaukhamba Raj).
- He led the movement against the Indira Gandhi Regime in response to electoral law violations, promoting a program of ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ or total revolution in 1974.
- The ‘Total Revolution’ had seven components: political, social, economic, cultural, ideological, educational, and spiritual.
- Objective:
- His objective was to bring about societal change in line with the ideals of Sarvodaya, a Gandhian philosophy emphasizing progress for all.
- Awards:
- Jayaprakash Narayan was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999.
- Died: 8th October 1979.
Nanaji Deshmukh
Tags: GS –1 Important Personalities, Modern Indian History
Why in news?
Recently, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh on his Jayanti.
About
- Birth: 11th October 1916 in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district.
- Influenced by: Lokamanya Tilak and his nationalist ideology and Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, founding Sarsangha-chalak (head) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
- His life’s work was deeply rooted in the principle of “Antyodaya,” advocating for uplifting the last person in society.
- He embodied this philosophy through his tireless efforts, focusing primarily on the concept of “Gramodaya” – the development of villages.
- Political Participation:
- He was a leader of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
- He actively participated in Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement.
- Deshmukh was the main force behind Jayaprakash Narayan’s agitation for total revolution.
- Social Activism:
- He was a social reformer with focus on health, education and rural self-reliance.
- He established Chitarkoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot – India’s first rural University and served as its Chancellor.
- He established Saraswati Shishu Mandir (SSM), which runs a chain of private schools in India and is said to be the educational wing of the RSS.
- He started the country’s first SSM at Gorakhpur in 1950.
- He was the founder of the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) situated at Chitrakoot.
- Electoral Politics:
- He was one of the main architects of the Janata Party.
- Awards:
- 1999: He was awarded Padma Vibhushan.
- 2019: He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.
- Death: 27th February 2010.
Operation Ajay
Tags: GS –3 Security
Why in news?
Recently, India has launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of citizens from Israel amid a full-blown war with the Hamas group in Gaza.
About
- Operation Ajay is not technically an evacuation operation. It is an operation to repatriate its citizens from Israel.
- Special chartered flights will bring back the Indians.
- Indian Navy ships will be deployed if the need arises.
- Indians in Israel who wish to return will be facilitated in this operation.
- There are around 18,000 Indians in Israel including students, professionals and traders.
- The announcement was made concurrently with Israel’s ongoing military operations targeting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
- These actions were undertaken in response to a severe and violent attack that occurred within the borders of Israel.
- This marks the second evacuation operation of the year, following Operation Kaveri, which brought back Indian citizens from Sudan earlier.
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