Geography related articles in News
Red Book
Red Book

  • Hydrothermal Vent
    December 19, 2024
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    News: Indian oceanographers have reached a significant milestone by capturing an image of an active hydrothermal vent situated 4,500 meters beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean.

    About Hydrothermal Vent

    Hydrothermal vent
    Source- schmidtocean
    • Hydrothermal vents are underwater springs that form in tectonically active areas where seawater interacts with magma below the ocean floor.
    • Location– Ridges, For ex. Central and Southern Ridge of the Indian Ocean, Convergent plate boundaries, Volcanic hotspots, Ocean trenches
    • Formation:
      • Cold Water Entry: Seawater at about 2°C seeps into cracks in the ocean crust caused by tectonic activity.
      • Heating by Magma: The water is heated to extreme temperatures (up to 370°C) upon contact with magma.
      • Chimney Formation: As the hot water meets cold seawater, minerals solidify, forming chimney-like structures around the vents.
    • Significance:
      • Mineral deposits: The deposits from hydrothermal venting are generally rich in copper, zinc, gold, silver, platinum, iron, cobalt, nickel and other economically-beneficial minerals and metals.
      • Ecological insights: Hydrothermal vents host unique ecosystems relying on chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis. These ecosystems support a variety of organisms, such as giant tube worms, vent crabs, clams, and shrimp, many of which are found nowhere else.
      • Scientific Research: Provides insights into deep-sea geological processes and the potential for resources, supporting strategic initiatives like India’s Deep Ocean Mission.
  • Key Facts about Moldova
    December 19, 2024
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    News: The Republic of Moldova, a country in Eastern Europe, recently opened its embassy in New Delhi.

    About Key Facts about Moldova

    Key Facts about Moldova
    Source- BBC
    • Capital– Chisinau
    • It is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.
    • It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south.
    • It is situated in the northeastern corner of the Balkan Peninsula.
    • The country lies to the east of the Carpathian Mountains.
    • Rivers: Most of Moldova is located between the Prut River, which borders Romania to the west, and the Dniester River, a major waterway in the east.
    • Notable landscapes: Bălți Steppe and Codru Hills, known for their scenic beauty and fertile lands.
    • EU Status: Moldova is not a member of the European Union but was granted EU candidate status in 2022.
    • Transnistria Region:
      • It is a breakaway territory located east of the Dniester River.
      • It is controlled by pro-Russian separatists and permanently hosts Russian troops as well as a large arms depot.
  • Cyclone Chido
    December 18, 2024
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    Cyclone Chido Explanation

    News: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, France. Cyclone Chido Explanation

    About Cyclone Chido

    • Cyclone Chido was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, in December 2024.
    • With sustained wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph) and gusts surpassing 225 km/h (140 mph), it was the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in at least 90 years.
    About Mayotte:

    • Mayotte is an archipelago located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique.
    • As a French overseas department, it comprises two main islands: Grande-Terre (the main island) and Petite-Terre (a smaller island), along with several islets.
    • Mayotte is known for its rich biodiversity, including one of the world’s largest enclosed lagoons.
    Cyclone
    Source- Forum IAS

    Cyclone Classification:

    The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) categorizes cyclones based on wind speeds

    • Depression: Wind speeds of 31–49 km/h
    • Deep Depression: 50–61 km/h
    • Cyclonic Storm: 62–88 km/h
    • Severe Cyclonic Storm: 89–117 km/h
    • Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: 118–166 km/h
    • Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: 167–221 km/h
    • Super Cyclonic Storm: Above 222 km/h
  • Santa Ana Winds
    December 16, 2024
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    News: Santa Ana winds-driven wildfires have burned over 4,000 acres and impacted approximately 22,000 people in the coastal town of Malibu, California.

    About Santa Ana Winds

    Santa Ana Winds
    Source- latimes
    • Definition– Santa Ana winds are dry and warm (often hot) winds in the Southern California area that blow in from the desert — which includes the Great Basin of the western United States, incorporating Nevada and part of Utah.
    • Seasonal Occurrence– Santa Ana conditions can occur whenever the Great Basin is cooler than Southern California, usually between September and May. However, they are most notable in October, as Southern California’s climate during autumn increases the risk of wildfires.
    • Formation and effect:
      • Santa Ana winds occur when high pressure forms over the Great Basin, located between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, while low pressure develops along California’s coast.
      • This pressure difference drives strong winds from the inland deserts of the Basin, east and north of Southern California, over the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean.
      • As the winds move down the mountains, they compress and heat up, causing their humidity to drop, often below 20% and sometimes even below 10%.
      • The resulting dry conditions turn vegetation into highly flammable material, which contributed to fueling the flames in Malibu.
  • Manganese
    December 14, 2024
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    News: A study conducted by Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Bihar has found that manganese contamination of water is leading to cancer in the Gangetic plains of Bihar. 

    About Manganese 

    Manganese
    Source- Britannica
    • It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal that is usually found in combination with iron, not as a free element in nature. 
    • The two common types of manganese ore are Pyrolusite and Psilomelane. 
    • India is the fifth largest producer of manganese in the world after China, Gabon, South Africa, and Australia. 
    • Manganese deposits occur in almost all geological formations, though they are mainly associated with Dharwar System. 
    • Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha are the leading manganese producing states. 
    • States with highest reserves of manganese are Odisha (44%), Karnataka (22%), Madhya Pradesh (12%).
    • Uses: It is an important raw material for smelting iron ore. 
      • It is also used for manufacturing ferro alloys, bleaching powder, insecticides and paints. 
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