Today’s Current Affairs Update: “ProxyGyan IAS Express”
Date: 09 August 2024.
1. Type of Cloud
2. National Coastal Scheme
3. Clouded leopard
4. Guru Ghasidas TR
Like and follow @ProxyGyan for daily CA updates.
Pyrocumulonimbus Cloud:
➢ News: The intense wildfires currently raging across the United States and Canada have led to the formation of ‘pyrocumulonimbus’ clouds, which can produce thunder and potentially ignite additional fires.
➢ About Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds
➢ Formation
o Conditions: Pyrocumulonimbus clouds typically form during extremely hot wildfires or volcanic eruptions.
o Process: The intense heat from the fire warms the surrounding air, causing it to rise into the atmosphere. This hot, buoyant air, which carries water vapor, smoke, and ash, expands and cools as it ascends. When it cools enough, the water vapor condenses on the ash, forming a grey or brown cloud known as a pyrocumulus cloud or ‘fire cloud.’
o Evolution: If there is ample water vapor and the upward movement of hot air intensifies, pyrocumulus clouds can evolve into pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These clouds can reach altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and develop their own thunderstorm systems. ➢ Characteristics
o Lightning Production: Pyrocumulonimbus clouds can produce lightning but generally generate minimal rainfall.
o Fire Risk: The lightning from these clouds can spark new wildfires many kilometers away from the original blaze. Additionally, they can trigger strong winds that accelerate and spread the wildfire in unpredictable ways.
2. National Coastal Scheme: ➢ News: The Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently provided an update to the Lok Sabha regarding the National Coastal Scheme.
➢ About the National Coastal Mission Scheme
➢ Launch Year: 2014
➢ Envisioned Under: National Action Plan on Climate Change
➢ Objective: To address the impact of climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities through a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.
➢ Components of the National Coastal Management Program
o Management Action Plan on Conservation of Mangroves and Coral Reefs: Focuses on preserving these vital ecosystems.
o Research & Development in Marine and Coastal Ecosystems: Aims to advance knowledge and solutions for managing these environments.
o Sustainable Development of Beaches: Includes the Beach Environment & Aesthetic Management Service to enhance and protect beach environments.
o Capacity Building / Outreach Program: Supports coastal states and union territories with conservation efforts and beach cleaning initiatives.
➢ Implementation
o The scheme is implemented by the State Governments of Coastal States and Union Territory (UT) Administrations, ensuring localized management and execution of the initiatives. 3. Clouded Leopard:
➢ News: During a recent event celebrating International Clouded Leopard Day, the Governor of Mizoram highlighted the pressing challenges facing wildlife conservation.
➢ About the Clouded Leopard
o The clouded leopard is a wild cat native to the dense forests of the Himalayas, extending through mainland Southeast Asia to South China.
➢ Species:
o Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
o Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi).
➢ Habitat and Distribution:
o Clouded leopards inhabit a variety of environments, including tropical evergreen rainforests, dry tropical forests, and mangrove swamps.
o Their range spans across Southeast Asia and the Himalayas, including countries such as southern China, Bhutan, Nepal, northeast India, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Bangladesh.
o In India, they are found in states like Sikkim, northern West Bengal, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
o The clouded leopard is also the state animal of Meghalaya.
o They can be encountered at relatively high altitudes in the Himalayas.
➢ Features
o The clouded leopard is a medium-sized cat, measuring between 60 and 110 cm in length and weighing between 11 and 20 kg.
o Its coat is characterized by distinctive 'clouds'—elliptical markings partially edged in black, with the inner color darker than the base color of the fur.
o The base color ranges from pale yellow to rich brown, which accentuates the darker cloud-like patterns. 4. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve: ➢ News: The Chhattisgarh government has announced the establishment of a new tiger reserve named Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
➢ About Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
➢ Location: Situated in the northern part of Chhattisgarh, bordering Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
➢ Significance: This will be the fourth tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, joining Udanti-Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati Reserves.
➢ Area: It encompasses the combined regions of the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.
➢ Fauna: Tigers, leopards, hyenas, jackals, wolves, sloth bears, barking deer, chinkara, and chital.
➢ Rivers: Origin of significant rivers such as HasdeoGopad and Baranga and a catchment area for rivers like Neur, Bijadhur, Banas, Rehand, and numerous smaller rivers and rivulets.
➢ Guru Ghasidas National Park
➢ Corridor Role: It connects Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, facilitating tiger movement between the Bandhavgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserves.
➢ History: Originally part of the Sanjay Dubri National Park, Guru Ghasidas Park became a separate entity in Chhattisgarh’s Sarguja region following the state’s formation in 2001.
Comentarios