The Karnataka government has stated that the drought situation in the state is grim. Deficient rainfall during kharif and rabi seasons in 2018–19 has had led to water crisis in several parts of the state and worsened the condition of farmers. Drought is generally considered as a deficiency in rainfall over an extended period resulting… Continue reading Drought situation ‘grim’ as 156 taluks in Karnataka face water crisis
Category: Factly: Environment
This category contains all Current Affairs Factly Articles for Prelims, related to the Environment. You can find all relevant Environment related updates on this page. This page is specifically useful for UPSC Prelims exam.
Fires are a crucial component of some forest systems: says group of scientists
A group of scientists have advocated that forest fires are crucial components of some forest systems and forms an important tool for forest management. The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), India defines forest fire as an unclosed and freely spreading fire that consumes the natural fuels. Forest fires can be caused by both natural (e.g. Lightning)… Continue reading Fires are a crucial component of some forest systems: says group of scientists
Antarctica to lose an iceberg 30 times the size Manhattan
NASA scientists have been observing two enormous cracks in Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf which are accelerating towards each other. When they converge, a piece of ice about 1709 square km in size could break off the ice shelf. The Brunt Ice Shelf borders the Antarctic coast of Coats Land between Dawson-Lambton Glacier and Stancomb-Wills Glacier… Continue reading Antarctica to lose an iceberg 30 times the size Manhattan
Droughts less probable this year: Skymet
According to private weather forecaster Skymet, there is unlikely to be a drought in 2019. This is because the El Nino is expected to diminish gradually by the beginning of monsoon. Recently, the U.S. National Climate Centre had issued a forecast that an El Nino had formed and would last up to spring 2019. El… Continue reading Droughts less probable this year: Skymet
Warming imperils clouds that deter ‘hothouse’ conditions
According to a recent research published in the journal Nature Geoscience, stratocumulus clouds could disappear if the amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere increases threefold. This could result in steep increase (by about 8 degree Celsius) in Earth’s temperature in addition to the global warming that comes from increased greenhouse concentrations. This would further lead to… Continue reading Warming imperils clouds that deter ‘hothouse’ conditions
Bandipur, Wayanad forest face fire fury
A major fire broke out in Bandipur Tiger Reserve which has now spread to Wayanad wildlife sanctuary destroying acres of forest land. According to officials the reason for forest fire are(a) lack of summer rain has lead to high temperatures (b) heavy wind and withered undergrowth caused the fire to spread rapidly and (c)human involvement… Continue reading Bandipur, Wayanad forest face fire fury
Ganga basin States stare at rising crop failures
According to a report submitted to the Central Water Commission by the World Bank, Ganga river basin could see crop failures rise three-fold and drinking water shortage rise by as much as 39% in some States between now and 2040. The Ganga river basin is the largest river basin in India and provides over a… Continue reading Ganga basin States stare at rising crop failures
‘Flying bulldog’: world’s largest bee refound
Wallace’s giant bee- the world’s largest bee- has been rediscovered in a remote part of Indonesia. The bee lives in the Indonesian island region of North Moluccas. The bee has been spotted for the first time in almost 40 years The Wallace bee was discovered in the 19th century by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.… Continue reading ‘Flying bulldog’: world’s largest bee refound
Travel on a jet, using a little cooking oil
Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun has successfully completed a pilot test to convert used cooking oil into bio-aviation turbine fuel (Bio-ATF) or bio-jet fuel. Bio-ATF is a biofuel used for aircraft. It can be blended with conventional ATF and used as aircraft fuel. Biofuel that can be used as jet-fuel can be prepared using… Continue reading Travel on a jet, using a little cooking oil
Where are the ‘green crackers’? asks Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over inabilities of CSIR-NEERI and PESO to find out formulae for green crackers. This comes in the backdrop of cracker factories being closed down in Tamil Nadu and about four lakh workers rendered jobless. Green crackers are so named because they do not contain harmful chemicals that would cause… Continue reading Where are the ‘green crackers’? asks Supreme Court
