Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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Global warming and climate change are affected air, water, soil, seasons and eventually plant and animal life.

News

• Plants absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during photosynthesis. Some of this carbon is transferred to soil as plants die and decompose.
• Plants and soil absorb roughly a quarter of the greenhouse gases that humans release into the atmosphere.

Findings

• Recent research has found that under a warming climate they may start absorbing less greenhouse gases.
• As the climate warms, soils across much of the planet gradually gets drier. When the soil is dry, plants are stressed and cannot absorb as much CO2.
• Further, microorganisms in the soil are more productive when it’s warm. They release more CO2, further accelerating global warming.
• The life cycles of animals and plants are aligned with seasons and resource availability. During cold winters, to cope with food scarcity and to conserve energy some animals hibernate while birds migrate to a warmer place.
• As climate change alters the length of seasons, it will affect availability of food and shelter for hibernating animals.
• Climate change can alter the cues used by species to regulate their behaviour.
• Climate change is a major threat to agriculture. Worldwide, farmers are struggling to keep up with shifting weather patterns and increasingly unpredictable water supplies. Farms are more likely to face attacks from diseases, invasive species and pests, which affect yield. Extreme events such as flooding or reduced water supply also threaten crop yields.
• Extreme weather patterns also affect our health and lives. Heavy rains, floods, drought and heatwaves destroy life, property and livelihood. They also help disease-causing agents multiply.

Aftereffects

• Sea-level rise:A warmer atmosphere causes glaciers and polar ice sheets to melt rapidly. This contributes to unusual rise in sea level. The impact of sea-level rise includes flooding of coastal areas, increased soil erosion, disappearance of some low-lying islands, saltwater intrusion and habitat destruction in coastal areas. Rising sea levels also make storm surges capable of much greater damage.As sea ice disappears, ice-dependent mammals such as polar bears struggle to survive.
• Coral bleaching:Oceans are getting hotter as they absorb 90 % of the extra heat in the atmosphere. This shift causes the oceans to expand, contributing to higher sea levels. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae living in their tissues and will turn colourless. This is called coral bleaching. It is the algae that give colours to the coral reefs. The algae also give coral polyps the food they need to survive.
• Ocean acidification: Oceans are also a major carbon storage system for carbon dioxide. As carbon dioxide emissions end up in the oceans, it triggers a chemical change that makes the water more acidic and reduce the saturation states of calcium carbonate minerals. These chemical reactions are called ocean acidification. Calcium carbonate minerals are the building blocks for the skeletons and shells of many marine organisms. Continued acidification can affect the ability of these organisms to produce and maintain their shells.
• Impact on migrating birds:Migratory bird species require suitable conditions throughout their annual cycle: on their breeding grounds and along migratory routes. Migrating birds are arriving at their breeding grounds earlier as global temperatures rise. But arriving at the wrong time, even by a few days, may cause them to miss out on vital resources such as food and nesting places. This, in turn, affects the timing of offspring hatching and their chances of survival.
• Impact on turtles:An increase in nesting beach temperatures will have an impact on sea turtles. Females come ashore to lay their eggs on sandy beaches during the nesting season. Sea turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination, meaning the developing turtle’s gender depends on the temperature it is exposed to. Warmer temperatures produce female hatchlings, while cooler temperatures produce male hatchlings. With climate change, experts find that there are more female sea turtles than males and this may threaten the survival of the species.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

India, China lead global greening effort

News

• India and China are leading the global greening effort, which is quite contrary to the general perception worldwide, a study based on NASA satellite data has said, observing that the world is a greener place than it was 20 years ago.

Findings

• China and India account for one-third of the greening but contain only 9% of the planet’s land area covered in vegetation. That is a surprising finding, considering the general notion of land degradation in populous countries from over exploitation.
• Satellite data (2000 – 2017) revealed a greening pattern strikingly prominent in China and India and overlapping with croplands worldwide.
• China alone accounts for 25% of the global net increase in leaf area with only 6.6% of global vegetated area.
• The greening in China is from forests (42%) and croplands (32%), but in India it is mostly from croplands (82%) with minor contribution from forests (4.4%), the study said.
• China is engineering ambitious programmes to conserve and expand forests with the goal of mitigating land degradation, air pollution and climate change.
• Food production in China and India has increased by over 35% since 2000 mostly owing to an increase in harvested area through multiple cropping facilitated by fertiliser use and surface or groundwater irrigation.
• The greening trend may change in the future depending on various factors. As the groundwater is depleted, the trend may change.
• The researchers also pointed out that the gain in greenness around the world does not necessarily offset the loss of natural vegetation in tropical regions such as Brazil and Indonesia.

India signs contract with U.S. firm for 72,400 assault rifles

 News

• After repeated attempts to equip the infantry soldier with a basic rifle, the Army signed a contract with Sig Sauer of the U.S. for 72,400 SIG 716 assault rifles for the frontline soldier deployed in operational areas.

 Beyond News

• Of the 72,400 rifles, 66.400 are for the Army, 2,000 for the Navy and 4,000 for the Indian Air Force. The broad parameters for the assault rifle are an effective range of 500m and weigh less than 3kg. The entire quantity would be delivered within 12 months from the date of signing the contract.
• The SIG 716 features an improved gas system, lightweight handguard, and an overall weight reduction of more than two pounds and weighs 3.9 kg. The deal for carbines is also in an advanced stage.
• The new assault rifles will replace the indigenous INSAS (Indian National Small Arms System) rifles in use and are meant for troops deployed in forward and counter insurgency areas.
• Separate tenders are under way for 5.5 lakh assault rifles and 3.5 lakh carbines, bulk of them to be procured from the Indian industry under ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ category and a small share from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
• The Defence Acquisition Council approved initial approval for the procurement of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbinesat an estimated cost of ₹3,547 crore on fast track basis. The assault rifles are of 7.62mm calibre while the Carbines will be of 5.56mm calibre. The deal for carbines is in an advanced stage.
• Under the SP model, the selected Indian private company will team with the OEM to build the platforms in India.

Government introduces bill in Rajya Sabha to amend Cinematograph Act; jail term, fine for film piracy

News

• The government introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabhato amend the Cinematograph Act and impose strict penalty to combat the menace of film piracy.

Beyond News

• The Bill seeks to amend provisions of Cinematograph Act, 1952, in order to tackle film piracy by including penal provisions for unauthorised camcording and duplication of films.
• To check piracy, particularly the release of pirated versions of films on the internet that causes huge losses to the film industry and the exchequer, the bill proposes to make film piracy offences punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fines that may extend to ₹10 lakh or both.
• The proposed amendment states that any person, who without the written authorisation of the copyright owner, uses any recording device to make or transmit a copy of a film, or attempts to do so, or abet the making or transmission of such a copy, will be liable for such a punishment.
• The Cabinet last week had approved the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s proposal for introducing the bill.
• The proposed amendments would increase industry revenues, boost job creation, fulfil important objectives of India’s National Intellectual Property policy and will give relief against piracy and infringing content online, an official statement had said.
• The film industry has been demanding for a long time that the government consider amendments to the law preventing camcording and piracy.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Zoologist discovers ‘crying’ snake in Arunachal

News

• A new species of ‘crying’ snake has been discovered in Lepa-Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Beyond News

• Non-venomous Crying Keelback, whose zoological name is Hebius lacrima.
• The name for this keelback was suggested because of a dark spot under its eyes looking like black tear that interrupts a white stripe running along the upper jaw to the back of its head and beyond.
• The Crying Keelback had to be compared with 44 species of snakes worldwide under the genus Hebius.
• The Crying Keelback can be differentiated from all other species of the genus Hebius by the combination of a distinctive broad, white, interrupted stripe along its body, three rows of irregular dark blotches (not vertically aligned) on each side, six cream, elongated spots on its anterior part and a smooth dorsal scale row.
• The snake, preferring to live near streams along paddy fields, was found to feed on small fish, tadpole, frogs and geckos.
• Globally snakes are represented by 3,709 species. The northeast is home to some 110 species, with Arunachal Pradesh accounting for 55.

The birds are not coming anymore

News

• With waterbodies and wetlands disappearing fast or the lakes getting contaminated, the number of birds migrating to Mysuru has seen a drastic fall.
• Drop in water quality (entry of sewage) is another reason cited for the drop in bird count.

Beyond News

• In the last 10 years, the bird count has declined by at least 70 per cent. The congregation seen in the past is a rare sight now. If the trend continues, migratory birds may turn away even from the last remaining water bodies.
• Pin tailed duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose or Cotton Teal, Eurasian Teal or Common Teal, Shovelers, Common Coots were among the ducks sighted in lakes of Mysuru. Painted storks, Sandpipers, Godwits, Pelicans were the other migrant birds spotted here.
• At least 210 bird species used to seen in the Karanji lake ecosystem during bird watching sessions about eight to nine years ago. Not more than 48 species could be located now, some naturalists say.
• The development works in and around the lakes also caused the drop in bird count. Disturbance of any kind threatens the birds that are sensitive enough to foresee danger to their habitat.
• The lakes have to be in good health (without contamination) from sewage to support food for the winged beauties which breed on the tree top abutting the lakes.
• Though the lakes under the care of Forest Department were more or less protected for birds, the remaining ones need to be maintained properly for attracting more winged beauties.

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