Daily Quiz #12 UPSC Prelims Marathon – September 14, 2019

Explanation: The nitrogen cycle contains several stages:
•Nitrogen fixation
Atmospheric nitrogen occurs primarily in an inert form (N2) that few organisms can use; therefore it must be converted to an organic – or fixed – form in a process called nitrogen fixation. Most atmospheric nitrogen is ‘fixed’ through biological processes. First, nitrogen is deposited from the atmosphere into soils and surface waters, mainly through precipitation. Once in the soils and surface waters, nitrogen undergoes a set of changes: its two nitrogen atoms separate and combine with hydrogen to form ammonia (NH4+). This is done by microorganisms that fall into three broad categories: bacteria living in symbiotic relationships with certain plants, free anaerobic bacteria, and algae. Crops, such as alfalfa and beans, are often planted in order to remedy the nitrogen-depletion in soils, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria employ an enzyme, known as nitrogenase, to split atmospheric nitrogen molecules into individual atoms for combination into other compounds. A small amount of nitrogen is ‘fixed’ through a process of high energy fixation that occurs primarily as lighting strikes converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia (NH4+) and nitrates (NO3-). Nitrogen can also be fixed through man-made processes, primarily industrial processes that create ammonia and nitrogen-rich fertilizers.
•Nitrification
While ammonia can be used by some plants, most of the nitrogen taken up by plants is converted by bacteria from ammonia – which is highly toxic to many organisms – into nitrite (NO2-), and then into nitrate (NO3-). This process is called nitrification, and these bacteria are known as nitrifying bacteria.
•Assimilation
Nitrogen compounds in various forms, such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and ammonium are taken up from soils by plants which are then used in the formation of plant and animal proteins.
•Ammonification
when plants and animals die, or when animals emit wastes, the nitrogen in the organic matter reenters the soil where it is broken down by other microorganisms, known as decomposers. This decomposition produces ammonia which is then available for other biological processes.
Denitrification
Nitrogen makes its way back into the atmosphere through a process called denitrification, in which nitrate (NO3-) is converted back to gaseous nitrogen (N2). Denitrification occurs primarily in wet soils where the water makes it difficult for microorganisms to get oxygen. Under these conditions, certain organisms – known as denitrifiying bacteria – will process nitrate to gain oxygen, leaving free nitrogen gas as a byproduct.

Explanation: The World Energy Council was created in 1923, when visionary Daniel Dunlop brought together 40 countries to discuss the problems facing the global energy industry. Ever since, the World Energy Council has been non-governmental and non-commercial. The Council has withstood many changes, from geopolitical and economic upheavals to a complete shift in the way people understand and use energy. It has had to adapt to a changing world. Throughout history, it has never strayed from the initial concept of an organization that is impartial, objective and realistic. As a result, its analyses and agendas for action have always promoted sustainable energy for all. Today, The World Energy Council has almost 100 national member committees. Its member list includes governments, businesses and expert organizations. The World Energy Congress, held over 20 times since the organization’s founding, is the world’s premier energy gathering. The World Energy Council continues to build on its long, stable history as a key player on the global energy scene. The World Energy Council has developed an interactive tool – The World Energy Issues Monitor. The Monitor is an annual reality check of 2,000+ leaders worldwide focusing on the challenges of energy transition.

Explanation: AGROPOLIS-MUSEUM was conceived as a museum of the world’s food and agriculture’s by Louis MALASSIS as of 1986, and with the support of the scientific community of Montpellier. In a building that was inaugurated in 1993 several mussel sections were successively added to constitute a top level scientific and pedagogic entity which had to close in July 2010 due to lack of funding. As a result the present site was last updated in May 2011 to only retain pertinent scientific information gathered over the years by various contributors. Agropolis located in the South of France at Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon Region is a confederation gathered together under a unique name. The confederation is made up of the three universities, the Science Research Institutes, and the institutions for higher education so-called “Ecoles Nationales Supérieures”. All of them deal with similar topics such as ecology, agriculture, agronomy, food and nutrition.

Explanation: The Land-Cover/Land-Use Change Program (LCLUC) Program was initiated as a cross-cutting scientific research theme within NASA’s Earth Sciences program. It currently falls within NASA’s Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Focus Research Area, although aspects of land cover and land use research can be found throughout the Earth Science Program, albeit with an emphasis on aspects of the program element under which they are funded e.g. hydrology, biodiversity, carbon cycle, biogeochemistry, water resources or agriculture. LCLUC-related research could also be found in the Earth Science interdisciplinary studies (IDS), the NASA Applied Sciences Program and in various program data initiatives such as the ESIPS, ACCESS and MEASURES. In addition LCLUC research is undertaken in the NASA Education Program, through its New Investigator Program (NIP), the graduate level, NASA Earth System Science Fellowships (NESSF) and SERVIR. A major challenge for the LCLUC program management is to pull together the various land-cover and land-use research activities from the various NASA programs and help the science community to be aware of the different projects and science results that are being generated in different parts of the program. To this end and since its inception, the program has held annual Science Team meetings both for scientists funded directly by LCLUC and those undertaking LCLUC research in other parts of the NASA Program to come together and share their findings.

Explanation: Soil-Net.com is a free and compelling environmental Internet resource for Key Stages 1-4 providing teachers and students extensive curriculum-based information about soil. As one of the three major natural resources, alongside air and water, soil is vital to the existence of life on earth. Soil-Net.com will help you discover what soil is, the teeming life in soil and about the many environmental threats facing soils. Remember, soil is all around us, just under our feet! As a topic, soil is increasingly making its way up the political agenda in the UK and in wider Europe. At this time, when forthcoming UK legislation and the proposed EU Soil Framework Directive will make specific reference to sustainable soil management, there is a lack of sound advice and reference on how soil affects our lives, for all age groups. We often read about air pollution and water pollution but only more rarely do we hear of soil pollution or the importance of soil management and yet as the third ‘media’ of our natural environment, protecting the scarce and fragile soil resource is now more important than ever. This free internet resource, developed by Cranfield University’s National Soil Resources Institute in the UK, provides teachers and students with extensive information and activities about soil, from what soil is to life in soil to the threats that soil faces.