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πŸ”† Oil Pollution

πŸ“ Examples
βœ… Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010): Largest marine oil spill in Gulf of Mexico.
βœ… Ennore Oil Spill (2017): Collision off Chennai coast, impacting marine life and fishermen.
βœ… MV Wakashio Spill (2020): Ship ran aground off Mauritius, spilling oil in a biodiversity-rich area.

πŸ“ Causes
βœ… Oil spills from tankers, offshore rigs.
βœ… Leakages from drilling, transportation.
βœ… Ballast water discharge, pipeline ruptures.

πŸ“ Consequences
βœ… Environmental: Marine life death, long-term damage to ecosystems.
βœ… Economic: Livelihood loss, high cleanup costs.
βœ… Health Hazards: Skin disorders, respiratory issues, contamination of seafood.

πŸ“ Steps Taken
βœ… International: MARPOL Convention, OPRC, IMO standards.
βœ… India: NOS-DCP, INCOIS oil spill trajectory model.

πŸ“ Way Forward
βœ… Enforce safety regulations, improve warning systems, develop response capacity, promote bioremediation techniques.

#environment #mains


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πŸ”† Key Glaciers of Antarctica: Features & Significance

βœ… Lambert Glacier (East Antarctica):
β€’ World’s largest glacier by volume and length (over 400 km long).
β€’ Flows into the Amery Ice Shelf.
β€’ Vital for studying ice dynamics and climate change.
β€’ Major drainage outlet for the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

βœ… Pine Island Glacier (West Antarctica):
β€’ Rapidly thinning and retreating glacier.
β€’ Part of the Amundsen Sea Embayment.
β€’ Key contributor to global sea-level rise.
β€’ Monitored closely for ice sheet instability.

βœ… Thwaites Glacier (West Antarctica):
β€’ Known as the β€œDoomsday Glacier” for its potential to cause sea-level rise.
β€’ Melting rapidly due to warm ocean currents.
β€’ Critical for understanding future sea-level changes.
β€’ Subject of extensive international research collaborations.

#Glaciers #Antarctica #ClimateChange #SeaLevelRise
πŸ”† Rain-Bearing Systems

πŸ“ Arabian Sea Branch
βœ… Divides into three streams:
β€’ Western Coast: Heavy rainfall (250 cm) due to orographic effect.
β€’ Narmada-Tapi troughs: Narrow valley system in central India.
β€’ Aravalli Range: Minimal rainfall impact.

πŸ“ Bay of Bengal Branch
βœ… Splits into two streams:
β€’ Ganga-Brahmaputra delta: Heavy rainfall, Cherrapunji (1,221 cm) holds record.
β€’ Himalayan foothills: Deflected by mountains, widespread rainfall to Ganges Plain.

πŸ“ Monsoon Break
βœ… Dry spells during monsoon, known as break in monsoon, common after a few days of rain.

πŸ“ Retreat in Monsoon
βœ… Withdrawal of monsoon winds, known as retreating monsoon, occurs in October-November.

#Geography

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πŸ”† Global Distribution of Earthquakes

πŸ“ Major Seismic Belts
βœ… The circum-Pacific seismic belt found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean is the world’s greatest earthquake belt. Around 81% of the world’s largest earthquakes occur here. Known as the β€œRing of Fire”.

βœ… The Alpide earthquake belt spreads from Java to Sumatra, through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and into the Atlantic. It causes about 17% of the world’s earthquakes.

βœ… The third belt is the mid-Atlantic Ridge, a submerged divergent plate boundary where tectonic plates are spreading apart.

πŸ”† Seismic Mapping of India

πŸ“ Seismic Zonation Insights
βœ… About 59% of India’s land area is prone to earthquakes.

βœ… The seismic map classifies India into 4 seismic zones based on intensity.

βœ… Zone V is the most active (Very High Risk), while Zone II is the least active.

➀ Approx. 10.79% in Zone V, 17.49% in Zone IV, 30.79% in Zone III, and 40.93% in Zone II.

#Geography
#disaster_management
πŸ”† India Unlikely to Ratify β€˜High Seas Treaty’ (BBNJ)

πŸ“ Key Update
βœ… India signed the BBNJ (High Seas Treaty) in 2024, but ratification is pending.
βœ… Delay due to legal amendments (e.g. Biological Diversity Act).

πŸ“ Global Status
βœ… 49 countries have ratified it (as of June 10); 60 required for legal enforcement.

πŸ“ Contentious Issues
βœ… Treaty covers resources beyond EEZ, not under any country’s jurisdiction.
βœ… India seeks clarity on equitable economic benefit sharing before ratifying.
πŸ”† Cold Lava (Lahar): A Silent but Deadly Force

πŸ“ Context: The Mount Kanlaon volcano in the Philippines recently witnessed rivers of cold lava, also known as lahars.

πŸ“Œ What is Cold Lava (Lahar)?
βœ… A fast-moving slurry of water, volcanic ash, rock fragments, and pumice.
βœ… Forms when volcanic ash mixes with heavy rain or when glacial ice melts, even without eruptions.
βœ… Moves at high speeds, reaching hundreds of km/h, making it more dangerous than slow-moving lava.
βœ… Hot & destructive**β€”traps heat, **burns everything in its path, causes property damage & loss of life.
βœ… Creates floods by damming rivers, harming ecosystems, and increasing flood risks.

⚠️ How to Mitigate Lahars?
βœ… Early warning systems & engineering solutions can reduce damage.
βœ… Community education on lahar-prone zones saves lives.

πŸŒ‹ Lava vs. Magma:
🟠 Magma – Found inside the Earth (molten rock in the mantle).
πŸ”΄ Lava – Magma that has reached the surface through a volcanic vent.


#ColdLava #Lahar #VolcanoHazards #DisasterPreparedness #Geography
πŸ”† Cold Lava (Lahar): A Silent but Deadly Force

πŸ“ Context: The Mount Kanlaon volcano in the Philippines recently witnessed rivers of cold lava, also known as lahars.

πŸ“Œ What is Cold Lava (Lahar)?
βœ… A fast-moving slurry of water, volcanic ash, rock fragments, and pumice.
βœ… Forms when volcanic ash mixes with heavy rain or when glacial ice melts, even without eruptions.
βœ… Moves at high speeds, reaching hundreds of km/h, making it more dangerous than slow-moving lava.
βœ… Hot & destructive**β€”traps heat, **burns everything in its path, causes property damage & loss of life.
βœ… Creates floods by damming rivers, harming ecosystems, and increasing flood risks.

⚠️ How to Mitigate Lahars?
βœ… Early warning systems & engineering solutions can reduce damage.
βœ… Community education on lahar-prone zones saves lives.

πŸŒ‹ Lava vs. Magma:
🟠 Magma – Found inside the Earth (molten rock in the mantle).
πŸ”΄ Lava – Magma that has reached the surface through a volcanic vent.


#ColdLava #Lahar #VolcanoHazards #DisasterPreparedness #Geography
πŸ”†Brahmani River:
βœ…It is one of the major rivers in eastern India, primarily flowing through
βœ…The river is known as Dhamra in its lower reaches.
Course:
βœ…It is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers near the major industrial town of Rourkela in Odisha.
βœ…Both the sources of the Brahmani River are on the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
βœ…The Sankh River has its origins near the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border, along with the South Koel River, which also rises in Jharkhand.
βœ…The basin flows through Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, draining a total area of 39,033 sq.km. before it outfalls into the Bay of Bengal.
βœ…Together with the rivers Mahanadi and Baitarani, it forms a large delta before emptying into the Bay of Bengal at Palmyras Point, Odisha.
βœ…The Brahmani delta is the site of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for its estuarine crocodiles.
Length: The total length of its run is about 799 km, of which 541 km are in Odisha itself.
βœ…It is one of the few rivers that cut across the Eastern Ghats and has formed a minor gorge at Rengali in Odisha, where a dam has been built.
βœ…Tributaries: The principal tributaries of this river are Sankh, Tikra, and Karo.

#River_Series
#Places_in_news

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πŸ“Schengen area

βœ…The zone is known after Schengen, the tiny Luxembourg village bordering France and Germany, where the agreement was signed in 1985 among five of the six EU founding members except Italy.

βœ…Currently, it is an area encompassing 27 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders.

βœ…It mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under a common visa policy for international travel purposes.

βœ…Croatia, a EU member since 2013, joined Schengen in 2023, while Romania and Bulgaria, EU members since 2007, will gain partial Schengen entry from 31 March 2024.
πŸ”† Factors Responsible for Localization of Agro-Based Food Processing Industries in North-West India
(UPSC Mains 2019)

πŸ“ Region Covered: Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Rajasthan

πŸ“ Key Contributing Factors

βœ… Raw Material Availability
β€’ Fertile alluvial plains enable intensive agriculture
β€’ Rich in wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits & vegetables

βœ… Irrigation & Water Resources
β€’ Extensive canal networks like Indira Gandhi Canal
β€’ Widespread tubewell irrigation ensures reliable water supply

βœ… Favorable Climate
β€’ Temperate conditions support perishable crop cultivation (fruits, vegetables)

βœ… Well-Developed Transport Network
β€’ Dense rail & road systems help raw material procurement and market linkage

βœ… Policy Support
β€’ States like Punjab & Haryana offer subsidies, tax benefits, & infrastructure via food processing policies

βœ… Mandis & Cold Chains
β€’ Strong presence of regulated mandis
β€’ Expanding cold storage and logistics chains enhance supply-chain efficiency

βœ… Skilled & Semi-Skilled Workforce
β€’ Availability of local & migrant labor for production, packaging, and logistics

βœ… Proximity to Large Markets
β€’ Delhi NCR & major cities act as key consumption hubs for processed food

βœ… Research & Extension Support
β€’ Institutions like Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) aid with R&D, innovation, and farmer outreach


πŸ”† Conclusion
A synergistic mix of agri-resource richness, policy incentives, market access, and infrastructure has made North-West India a hub for agro-based food processing industries.

#Geography
πŸ”† Ocean Pollution: A Global Environmental Threat

πŸ“ What is Ocean Pollution?
Ocean pollution refers to the introduction of plastics, toxic metals, chemicals, and agricultural runoff into marine ecosystems, leading to ecological imbalance and human health risks.

πŸ“ Key Impacts

βœ… Microplastics Menace
β€’ Account for 80% of ocean debris
β€’ Ingested by marine animals, reaching humans via seafood
β€’ Detected at 100m depth, disrupting the carbon cycle
πŸ“– Source: Nature (2023)

βœ… Harmed Marine Life
β€’ Ingestion leads to reduced feeding and poor health
β€’ Pollutants destroy habitats, threaten biodiversity

βœ… Oxygen Depletion
β€’ Decomposing waste consumes oxygen, suffocating marine life

βœ… Risks to Human Health
β€’ Contaminated seafood
β€’ Toxic aerosols from sea spray may affect coastal populations

πŸ“ Mitigation Measures

βœ… Climate Change Action
β€’ Cut greenhouse gas emissions to ease ocean stress

βœ… Enhanced Monitoring
β€’ Invest in data, satellite tech to track oxygen levels & pollution sources

βœ… Awareness & Behaviour Change
β€’ Public education to reduce plastic use & marine dumping

πŸ“ Global Action & Treaties

βœ… MARPOL – Regulates pollution from ships
βœ… UNCLOS – Ensures sustainable ocean governance
βœ… High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement, 2023)
β€’ Adopted under UNCLOS
β€’ Focus: Conserve marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction
β€’ Targets: Reduce pollution, support sustainable use of high seas resources

πŸ“ Fact Sheet

βœ… Plastic = 80% of all marine pollution
βœ… 8–10 million metric tons/year plastic enters oceans
βœ… By 2050, plastic could outweigh all fish
πŸ“– Source: UNESCO, Environmental Studies

#environment
πŸ”† Weather in Indian Summer Season: Key Drivers

πŸ“ 1. Surface Pressure & Winds
βœ… Sun shifts northward β†’ wind pattern reverses over India.
βœ… A low-pressure belt (ITCZ) moves northwards by July.
βœ… Result: Westerly jet stream withdraws from Indian skies.

πŸ“ 2. Jet Stream & Upper Air Circulation
βœ… A strong easterly jet appears over southern India in June.
βœ… Speed: Up to 90 km/h, shifts north from 15Β°N to 22Β°N by Sept.
βœ… These easterlies don’t reach above 30Β°N in the upper air.

πŸ“ 3. Tropical Depressions & Rainfall
βœ… Easterly jet guides tropical depressions into India.
βœ… These cause monsoon rains in major parts of the country.
βœ… The track, intensity, and frequency of these depressions determine how much & where rainfall happens during the southwest monsoon.

#Geography
πŸ”† Winter Weather in India: Key Drivers & Effects

πŸ“ 1. Surface Pressure & Winds
βœ… High-pressure zone forms in Central & West Asia.
βœ… Cold continental winds blow into India from the north.
βœ… These collide with trade winds β†’ unstable zone forms.
βœ… Result: Northwest India experiences dry, cold North-Westerlies.

πŸ“ 2. Jet Stream & Upper Air Circulation
βœ… Westerly jet streams dominate Asia in winter.
βœ… Tibetan Himalayas split jet into two:
β€ƒπŸ”Ή North branch flows over Tibetan Plateau.
β€ƒπŸ”Ή South branch crosses south of the Himalayas.
βœ… Subtropical westerly jet brings winter rain to northwest India.

πŸ“ 3. Western Disturbances & Cyclones
βœ… Western disturbances (from the Mediterranean) hit north & northwest India.
βœ… Bring light winter rain β†’ great for wheat crops.
βœ… Tropical cyclones still possible in Oct–Nov, driven by easterlies.
βœ… Hit east coast states – TN, AP, Odisha with heavy rain + wind.

#Geography
2025/06/27 21:56:22
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