Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – December 7, 2018

Statement 1 is Correct:

Barrier reefs are extensive linear reef complexes that parallel a shore, and are separated from it by lagoon. Barrier reefs are far less common than fringing reefs or atolls, although examples can be found in the tropical Atlantic as well as the Pacific.

Statement 2 is Incorrect:

The largest coral reef in the world is located off the Australian coast and is called the Great Barrier Reef. The GBR is not actually a single reef as the name implies, but rather a very large complex consisting of many reefs.

Mountain Features:

• Ridge: A long narrow top of a mountain or series of mountains.
• Crag: A mass of rock that projects outward from a rock face or cliff.
• Moraine: A collection of rocks and dirt left behind by glaciers.
• Hom: A Hom is a sharp peak formed from multiple glaciers.

Bering Strait- Separates Asia and North America and it connect – East Siberian Sea with Bering Sea.

• Luzon Strait – Separates Taiwan and Luzon (Philippines) and it connect- South China Sea with Pacific Ocean.
• Strait of Jahore- Separates Singapore and Malaysia and it connect- South China Sea with strait of Malacca
• Strait of Dardanelles-Separates Asia and Europe and it connect Sea of Marmara with Mediterranean Sea.

All the above statements are correct:

• Acid rain refers to any precipitation (rain, fog, mist, snow) that is more acidic than normal

(pH of less than 5.6. [pH below 7 = acidic]).

• Acid rain is caused by atmospheric pollution from acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen emitted from burning of fossil fuels.
• The pH scale is a measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) a solution is.
• It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral.
• A pH less than 7 is acidic, and a pH greater than 7 is basic.
• It is based on hydrogen ion concentration in an aqueous solution
• The exchange between hydrogen ions and the nutrient cations like potassium and magnesium in the soil cause leaching of the nutrients, making the soil infertile. This is accompanied by a decrease in the respiration of soil organisms.

The index is a part of the governments Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The index measures eight major pollutants, namely, particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, ammonia and lead. Earlier, only particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide were being measured.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA)

• The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established in 1994, under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Authority has its headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
• It was established to regulate, organize and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of a country’s national jurisdiction, an area underlying most of the world’s oceans.
• It governs non-living resources of seabed lying in international waters.
• There are 168 members of the International Seabed Authority. The United States has not yet ratified the Law of the Sea Convention and is not a member of the International Seabed Authority.
• India is a member of ISA

• Polymetallic nodules are Fe-Mn oxide deposits, potato shape, porous, black earthy colour with size ranging from 2 to 10 cm in diameter
• These are considered as the precipitates of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from deep interior of the oceanic crust, discharged through mineralized paths.
• The nodules were christened manganese nodules in view of the largest component being manganese. However, since it was discovered that they contain many more important metals (although in lower percentages) the term currently in use is polymetallic nodules.