Geography related articles in News
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Red Book

  • 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. 
  • Copper Industry in India
    December 7, 2024
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    News: Copper industry in India faces a major copper shortage following the implementation of the Quality Control Order (QCO) on refined copper from December 1, 2024.

    Japan, which supplies 80% of India’s copper imports, is still awaiting BIS certification, causing a potential supply disruption.

    About Copper

    Copper
    Source- ET
    • Copper is a reddish-brown metal known for its high thermal and electrical conductivity.
    • Properties:
      • Malleability and Ductility: Copper can be easily shaped into wires and sheets without cracking.
      • Corrosion Resistance: When exposed to air, copper develops a protective layer of copper oxide that prevents further corrosion.
      • Recyclability: Copper is one of the few materials that can be recycled repeatedly without any loss of quality, making it an eco-friendly metal.

    Copper mining and processing

    • Open-pit Mining: Used for extracting surface-level copper deposits.
    • Underground Mining: Applied for deeper copper reserves.
    • Leaching: A chemical method to extract copper from ores.
    • Refining: Involves smelting and electrolytic refining to produce pure copper.

    Applications of Copper

    • Electrical Industry: Copper’s excellent conductivity makes it ideal for wiring, motors, generators, transformers etc.
    • Plumbing: Copper pipes are durable, corrosion-resistant, and commonly used in water supply lines and refrigeration systems.
    • Construction: Used in roofing, cladding, gutters, and decorative elements due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and ability to form alloys like brass and bronze.
    • Electronics: Copper is essential in devices like smartphones, computers, and TVs. Its thermal conductivity helps manage heat from electronic circuits.

    Major Copper mines in India

    • Malanjkhand Mine- largest copper mine in India (Madhya Pradesh)
    • Kolihan Mine (Rajasthan)
    • Khetri Mine (Rajasthan)
    • Banwas Mine (Rajasthan)
    • Surda Mine (Jharkhand)

    Largest Copper Exporters Worldwide

    • Chile: Leads with over 30% of global copper production.
    • Peru: Renowned for vast copper mines.

    Current issues with copper industry in India

    • India imports 30-40% of its refined copper, with Japanese suppliers accounting for 80% of imports.
    • Reasons for Copper Shortage:
      • Quality Control Order (QCO): Imports of refined copper are stalled due to pending BIS certification, causing potential supply issues.
      • Sterlite Plant Closure: The shutdown of Tamil Nadu’s Sterlite smelter, which once supplied 36% of India’s copper, has reduced domestic production.
    • Consequences of Supply Shortage:
      • Production Disruptions:Industries like wire, cable, and electrical equipment manufacturing may face operational halts, rising input costs, and project delays.
      • Economic Impact:The shortage is likely to heavily affect domestic industries, particularly small and medium enterprises reliant on refined copper.
  • Lake Effect Snow
    December 5, 2024
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    Lake Effect Snow

    News: The Great Lakes region in the United States is experiencing extreme winter weather, with heavy lake-effect snow and freezing temperatures.

    About Lake Effect snow

    Lake effect snow
    Source- National weather service
    • It is a localized weather phenomenon that causes heavy snowfall due to the interaction between cold air and the warmer waters of large lakes.
    • This phenomenon is common in areas near the Great Lakes in the United States, especially in states such as New York, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
    • Formation process:
      • Cold air, usually from Canada, flows over the warmer, unfrozen waters of the Great Lakes.
      • The warm water transfers heat and moisture to the lower atmosphere.
      • As the air rises and cools, it forms narrow bands of clouds that produce snowfall at rates of 2–3 inches per hour or more.
    •   Contributing factors:
      • Wind direction: Determines the areas that will experience snowfall.
      • Cold air-The intensity of the snow depends on how much colder the air is compared to the lake’s surface temperature.
      • Geography– Physical Features such as the size of the lake, the depth of the water, and the landscape around the lake (like mountains or valleys) can influence how much snow is produced.

    About Great Lakes of North America

    Great lakes
    Source- Britannica
    • The Great Lakes of North America are a group of large, interconnected freshwater lakes.
    • They are linked to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River and to the Mississippi River basin via the Illinois Waterway.
    • The five great lakes are—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
    • Four of the Great Lakes are on the border between Canada and the United States of America.The other, Lake Michigan, is completely inside the United States.
    • Hydrologically, Michigan and Huron form a single body of water, connected at the Straits of Mackinac.
    • The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater lake system in the world by total area and the second-largest by volume, holding 21% of the Earth’s surface freshwater.
  • Cyclone Fengal
    November 30, 2024
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    Cyclone Fengal

    News: A depression in the southwest Bay of Bengal has grown into a deep depression and may soon become Cyclone Fengal.

    Cyclones

    • Cyclones are a fast inward air movement around a low-pressure area. In the Northern Hemisphere, the air circulates anticlockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it moves clockwise.
    • Cyclones are typically associated with intense storms and severe weather.
    • There are two types of cyclones:
      a. Tropical cyclones-These form over warm ocean waters in tropical and subtropical regions. They are characterized by low pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.
      b. Extra Tropical cyclones– They are also known as wave cyclones, mid-latitude cyclones, or temperate cyclones. They develop in the mid and high latitudes, outside the tropics. They are less intense than tropical cyclones.

    Origin of the Name ‘Fengal’

    • Proposed by– Saudi Arabia
    • The name Fengal is rooted in Arabic, reflecting the region’s linguistic and cultural identity.

    Cyclone Naming Process

    Cyclones in the Arabian Sea vs. Bay of Bengal

    • Cyclones occur less frequently in the Arabian Sea than in the Bay of Bengal, mainly due to variations in sea surface temperature, wind patterns, and geographical conditions.
    • The Bay of Bengal has more favorable conditions for cyclone formation, such as warm waters and low vertical wind shear.

    Cyclone prone regions in India

    Cyclone prone regions
    Source-IMD
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