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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

Monthly DNA

07 Dec, 2023

14 Min Read

Cyclone Michaung

GS-I : Physical Geography Cyclone

Recently the Cyclone Michaung made landfall over Nellore in Andhra Pradesh as a super-cyclonic storm.

Cyclone

  • As per National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), cyclones result from atmospheric disturbances surrounding a low-pressure area characterised by rapid and often destructive air circulation
  • Air circulation- The air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Occurrence- Cyclonic winds move across nearly all regions of the Earth except the equatorial belt.
  • Conditions of the cyclone-
    • Large and continuous supply of warm and moist air that can release enormous latent heat.
    • Strong Coriolis force that can prevent filling of low pressure at the centre (absence of Coriolis force near the equator prohibits the formation of tropical cyclone between 0 -5 latitude).
    • Unstable condition through the troposphere that creates local disturbances around which a cyclone develops.
    • Absence of strong vertical wind wedge, which disturbs the vertical transport of latent heat
  • Cause- By atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and often destructive air circulation.
  • Eye of the cyclone- Low-pressure center of the cyclone
  • The lower the pressure in the eye, the more intense is the cyclone.
  • Eye-wall- Surrounds the eye with the strongest winds and heaviest rain and is the most destructive part of the cyclone.
  • Storm surge- The abnormal rise in sea level due to cyclonic storms.
  • Cyclone prone areas- India’s east and west coasts are affected by cyclones annually, mostly in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
  • Indian tropical storms- Climatologically, about 5 cyclones develop in the North Indian Ocean basin comprising the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea every year.

How the Cyclone Michaung formed?

  • Origin- The cyclone developed from a low pressure area in the southwest Bay of Bengal. It gradually intensified into a deep depression, a cyclonic storm, and finally a super-cyclonic storm.
  • Intensification- They were aided by warm sea surface temperatures and the Madden-Julian oscillation, a weather anomaly that influences rainfall patterns.
  • Course of action- It moved northward towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, while bringing heavy rain and strong winds to north Tamil Nadu. It made landfall near Bapatla district, and weakened into a depression over land.
  • Naming convention-The name Michaung was suggested by Myanmar symbolises strength and resilience following the list of names prepared by World Metrological Organisation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
  • The name of each cyclone is picked from this list and cycles through each country's suggestion.
  • Super-cyclonic storm- It was the 4th tropical cyclone of the year over the Bay of Bengal, and the first super-cyclonic storm since 1999. It reached a peak intensity of 90-100 km/hr winds gusting to 110 km/hr at the time of landfall.

Severe Tropical Cyclones in 2023

Name of the cyclone

Location

Mawar and Bolaven

Western Pacific Ocean

Hurricane Lee

Atlantic Ocean

Hurricane Jova and Otis

Eastern Pacific Ocean

Cyclone Mocha

North Indian Ocean

Cyclone Freddy

Southern Indian Ocean

Why did the Cyclone intensify?

Cyclogenesis, is the development or strengthening of cyclonic circulation in the atmosphere

  • Cyclone intensification events- They are a source of uncertainty in cyclone models because they alter the storm’s future course. They depend on several factors, such as sea surface temperature, vertical wind shear, upper-level divergence, etc.,
  • Global warming- It has already resulted in a detectable increase in the number of higher intensity cyclones as well as their intensification.
  • Climate change- It has increased the sea surface temperature, which is conducive to cyclone intensification. A study found that tropical cyclones with wind speeds above 185 km/hr had become 15% more likely since 1979.
  • Cyclone engine-Cyclones are like engines that convert the heat and moisture from the ocean into kinetic energy of winds.
  • The rising air cools and condenses, forming clouds and releasing latent heat, which makes the air lighter and causes it to rise further. The surrounding air moves in to fill the low pressure, creating surface winds.
  • Madden-Julian oscillation- It throw seeds of rotational low-pressure systems over the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, this indicated favourable conditions for the cyclone.
  • Rapid intensification- It is defined as an increase in maximum sustained winds by at least 55 kilometre / hour in a 24-hour period.
  • Unpredictable- The cyclone spent more time over the water before landfall, as Cyclone Michaung did off the coast of north Tamil Nadu.

What is the consequences of the intensification?

  • Complicated forecast models-Due to rapid intensification, the cyclone deviated from its expected track and speed increased the uncertainty and complexity of cyclone preparedness.
  • Prolonged rains- It allows storms to make landfall with more energy, move further inland, survive longer, and extend their on-ground devastation to previously ‘inaccessible’ areas.
  • Heavy damage- It brought heavy rain and winds with a sustained speed of 90-100 km/hr, in the process uprooting trees and electric poles. It caused heavy to extremely heavy rain in several parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and southern Odisha.
  • Stronger winds -The wind speed of a cyclone is related to its central pressure, the lower the pressure, the stronger the wind.
  • Cyclone Michaung reached a peak intensity of 90-100 km/hr winds gusting to 110 km/hr at the time of landfall.
  • Higher storm surge- The cyclone generated storm surge and tidal waves up to 1.5 metres, along with flash floods in low lying areas.
  • Human impact- It affected around 40 lakh people, many people stranded in flood without access to basic amenities like food, water etc.,
  • Economic impact-It resulted in widespread damage to infrastructure, crops and livelihoods.

Source:

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Kerala

GS-I : Social issues Women

  • Kerala breaks the general assumption that educated women have fewer children than uneducated women.
  • The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) among educated women is remarkably higher than that among the illiterate women.
  • Kerala is the only State in the country with high Total Fertility Rate among educated women.

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive years (15-49 years).

Source:

Article 99 of the UN Charter

GS-II : International organisation United Nation

Amid Israel’s ongoing military attacks on the Gaza Strip, United Nations (UN) has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter in a bid to establish a ceasefire.

  • It has been invoked for the 1st time in decades as Israel attacks Gaza.
  • Article 99 - “The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”
  • It is seen as a discretionary power of the Secretary-General.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) comprises 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members appointed for specific periods. On a rotational basis, each of these 15 countries holds the presidency for a month. The South American country of Ecuador is the President for December 2023.

  • Impact – The President of the UNSC is under the obligation to call a meeting of the Council.
  • Earlier Invocations
    • During the upheaval in the Republic of the Congo in 1960 following the end of Belgium’s colonial rule.
    • During a complaint by Tunisia in 1961 against France’s naval and air forces launching an attack.

UN Charter

  • It is the founding document of the United Nations.
  • Launched in – June 1945 and came into force on October 1945.
  • It has been amended 3 times in 1963, 1965, and 1973.
  • Legality – It is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it but in practice, there is little that member countries can be forced to do.
  • It consists of a preamble and 111 articles grouped into 19 chapters.
  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) functions in accordance with the Statute of the International Court of Justice, which is annexed to the UN Charter.

For a UN resolution to be adopted, it needs at least 9 votes in favour and no vetoes by the 5 permanent members (US, UK, France, China and Russia).

Source:

Global Climate 2011-2020:Decade of Acceleration

GS-III : Biodiversity & Environment Climate Change

According to a report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the decade from 2011-2020 was the warmest ever in history.

  • The report provides a longer-term perspective and transcends year-to-year variability in our climate.
  • It reports how extreme events undermines sustainable development and how improvements in early warnings and disaster management reduced the number of casualties.
  • Released byWorld Meteorological Organisation (WMO) at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), COP28.
  • It complements WMO’s annual State of the Global Climate report.
  • Data source – Physical data analyses and impact assessments from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, Regional Climate Centres, National Statistics Offices and UN partners.
  • Key messages of the report
    • 2011-2020 was warmest decade on record
    • It recorded the lowest number of deaths from extreme events
    • Heatwaves caused the highest number of human casualties
    • Tropical cyclones caused the most economic damage
    • Glaciers around the world thinned by approximately 1 metre per year on average between 2011 and 2020
    • Ocean heat and acidification damaged marine ecosystems
    • This was the 1st decade that the depleted ozone hole visibly showed recovery
    • Public and private climate finance almost doubled
  • Recommendations – It emphasizes the need to try to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era.
  • Climate finance needs to increase at least 7 times by the end of this decade to achieve climate objectives.

Source:

"Nari Adalat"

GS-II : Government policies and interventions Government Schemes & Programmes

  • It is a women only court that address individual cases and also raise awareness about social schemes.
  • Though it does not hold any legal status, has its primary focus on reconciliation, grievance redressal and creating awareness of rights and entitlements.

It is an initiative of Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti.

Source:

Julian Felipe Reef

GS-I : Physical Geography World Geography

  • Julian Felipe Reef is a reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.
  • It lies in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Philippines.
  • It's also known as Whitsun Reef, Whitson Reef, and Whitsum Reef.

It's the largest reef in the Union Banks.

Source:

Railway Protection Force (RPF)'s Operations

GS-II : Government policies and interventions Government policies and interventions

Operation Jeevan Raksha

To protect the lives of passengers, who had accidently fallen while deboarding or boarding.

Operation Yatri Suraksha

To improve the security of passengers traveling by Indian Railways.

Operation NARCOS

It is pan-India drive against smuggling of Narcotics through Rail.

Operation Uplabdh

To curb the illegal sale of railway tickets.

Operation Sanraksha

To enhance the safety of passengers.

Operation Seva

To assist those who (elderly citizens, women, physically disabled and sick/injured persons) in need in their travel.

Operation Satark

To stop the transportation of illegal items through railway networks.

Operation AAHT

To curb Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts.

Source:

Pompe Disease

GS-III : S&T Health

  • It is also known as Glycogen Storage Disease Type II.
  • It is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) (crucial for breaking down glycogen into glucose within the lysosomes of cells).
  • Its prevalence estimates range from 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 300,000 births.

Currently, there is no cure for Pompe disease and to improve quality of life Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) is a standard treatment.

Source:

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

GS-III : Biodiversity & Environment Conservation

  • The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is situated in Karnataka which holds the 2nd highest Tiger population in India.
  • It was established in the year 1974 as a forest tiger reserve under the Project Tiger.
  • It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

3 rivers flow through the main area of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve - Nugu River, Moyar River and Kabini River.

Source:

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