12 Aug | UPSC Current Affairs: Kilimanjaro, A23a Iceberg, Great Barrier Reef, Megaquake Advisory & More

UPSC GS 1

Kilimanjaro

• News: A team of climbers from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) in Darjeeling scaled the highest peak of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania recently.
• About Mount Kilimanjaro: 
  • • Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain, meaning it is not part of a mountain range. 
    • It is situated in northeastern Tanzania, close to the Kenya border.

• Dimensions: 
  • • Kilimanjaro extends approximately 50 miles (80 km) from east to west.
• Type:
  • •  It is a stratovolcano and comprises three volcanic cones:
    • Kibo:  The tallest of the three cones, and it is a dormant volcano.
    • Mawenzi: An extinct volcano.
    • Shira: Also an extinct volcano.
• Uhuru Peak:
  • •  Located on the Kibo cone, Uhuru Peak is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest free-standing peak in Africa.
• Vegetation Zones:  Mount Kilimanjaro features five main vegetation zones, each with distinct ecological characteristics:
  • • Lower Slopes: Characterized by tropical forests.
    • Montane Forest: Rich in diverse flora and fauna.
    • Heath and Moorland: Vegetated with shrubs and grasses.
    • Alpine Desert: A harsh, arid environment with minimal vegetation.
• UNESCO World Heritage Status:
  • • The Kilimanjaro National Park, encompassing Mount Kilimanjaro, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 due to its outstanding natural beauty and ecological significance.

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A23a Iceberg

• News: For more than 30 years, the world’s largest iceberg, A23a Iceberg has been stuck in the Antarctic and is spinning in place.
• Origin: The iceberg known as A23a first broke off the Antarctic coast in 1986. It holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest and largest iceberg.
• Shape: A23a has a distinctive tooth-shaped profile.
• Dimensions: The iceberg spans nearly 4,000 square kilometers, which is approximately twice the size of Greater London. Its thickness varies, reaching up to 400 meters in some places.
• Volume: A23a contains an estimated one trillion tons of freshwater.
• Current Location: The iceberg is spinning near the South Orkney Islands (in the Southern Ocean), about 375 miles northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Why did the A23a begin ‘spinning’?
  • • Typical Iceberg Path: Icebergs in the Southern Ocean usually drift through an area called Iceberg Alley. They are typically swept into the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is the largest ocean current in the world. This current carries icebergs eastward into warmer waters, where they gradually melt and break apart.
    • Taylor Column: Instead of following this usual path, A23a encountered a Taylor column. A Taylor column forms around seamounts, which are underwater mountains. As ocean currents flow around a seamount, they create a special kind of column of stagnant, slowly rotating water above it.
    • Rotation Mechanism: The flow of water around the seamount diverges, creating a cylinder of water that rotates counterclockwise. This rotation is due to the way water moves around the bump of the seamount.
    • Seamount Characteristics: The seamount that A23a is interacting with is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) wide and rises about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) from the deep sea floor.

• What is an Iceberg?
  • • An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater ice that has broken off from glaciers or shelf ice and is floating in open water. 
    • To be classified as an iceberg, the ice must meet certain criteria. 
    • It must be at least 16 feet above sea level, have a thickness ranging from 98 to 164 feet, and cover an area of at least 5,382 square feet.
    • Large Antarctic icebergs are designated by A, B, C and D depending on where in Antarctica they originate, and they receive a number only once they’ve reached a big enough size. 

Great Barrier Reef

• News: Water temperatures in and around the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, in the past decade have been the warmest in the past 400 years.
• About the Great Barrier Reef:
  • • The Great Barrier Reef is a vast complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets situated in the Pacific Ocean. 
    • It is located off the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea. 
    • The reef is renowned for its immense size and ecological significance.

• Size and Structure: 
  • • Size: The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef complex in the world and is also the largest living structure on Earth. It covers an area of approximately 350,000 square kilometers.
    • Dimensions: The reef stretches more than 2,300 kilometers in a northwest-southeast direction. Its offshore distance ranges from 16 to 160 kilometers, and its width varies from 60 to 250 kilometers.
    • Composition: It consists of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and over 900 islands.
• World Heritage Status: 
  • • It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
• Management: 
  • • Much of the reef is a marine protected area managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of Australia.
• Biodiversity: 
  • • Fish: The reef is home to approximately 2,000 species of fish.
    • Coral: There are around 600 different species of coral.
    • Mollusks: It hosts about 4,000 species of mollusks.
    • Shrimp: Over 250 different shrimp species inhabit the reef.
    • Sea Turtles: The reef supports six of the seven known species of sea turtles.
    • Sea Snakes: More than a dozen species of sea snakes live in the reef’s waters.
    • Birds: Nearly two dozen species of birds are found on or around the reef.
• Coral Reefs in India: India has four coral reef areas: Gulf of Mannar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep islands and the Gulf of Kutch.

Megaquake Advisory

• News: After a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook southern Japan recently, the country’s meteorological agency issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory”.
• Nankai Trough: 
  • • A trough is a long hollow in the seabed, like a trench. 
    • The Nankai Trough is an underwater subduction zone (nearly 900 km long) where the Eurasian Plate collides with the Philippine Sea Plate, pushing the latter under the former and into the Earth’s mantle.
    •  This accumulates tectonic stress which can cause a megaquake — an earthquake with a magnitude larger than 8.
    • The Nankai Trough runs along the seafloor off Shizuoka prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, to Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu. 

• Can Earthquakes Be Predicted?
  • • No. An accurate prediction of an earthquake needs a precursory signal from within the earth, indicating a big quake is on the way.
    •  The signal must also occur only before large earthquakes so that it does not indicate every small movement within the earth’s surface.
    • Currently, there is no equipment to find such precursors.
• Subduction Zone:  A subduction zone is a collision between two of Earth’s tectonic plates, where one plate sinks into the mantle underneath the other plate.

Baba Siddhnath Temple

• News: Seven devotees died in a stampede at the Baba Siddhnath Temple on Banavar hillock in Bihar.
• Baba Siddhnath Temple:
  • • It is also known as the Shiva Temple.
    • It was originally known as Siddheshwar Nath Temple.
• Location:
  • • It is located at one of the highest peaks in the range of the Barabar Hills.

• Built By:
  • • The temple was built during the Gupta period in the 7th Century A.D. 
    • The local legends attribute the construction of the temple to Bana Raja (the father-in-law of the legendary king Jarasandha of Rajgir.)
• Barabar Caves: 
  • • These are situated in the hilly area near Makhdumpur, 25 km south of Jehanabad. 
    • These ancient rock-cut Buddhist chambers date back to 3rd Century A.D.
    • They are renowned as the place of origin of the Ajivika sect.

UPSC GS 2

Udara Shakti 2024

• News: The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent returned to India recently after successfully participating in Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 in Malaysia’s Kuantan.
• About Exercise Udara Shakti: 
  • • Exercise Udara Shakti was a joint air exercise conducted in collaboration between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). 
    • The exercise took place at Kuantan, Malaysia.
• Objectives: 
  • • Operational Efficiency: The primary aim was to enhance the operational efficiency of both air forces.
    • Maintenance Practices: Technical experts from both air forces engaged in the exchange of maintenance practices and technical expertise.
• Key Activities: 
  • • Air Combat Missions: During the exercise, IAF’s Su-30MKI fighter jets participated in air combat missions alongside RMAF’s Su-30MKM fighters.
    • Familiarization: The exercise allowed the crews from both air forces to become familiar with each other’s operational protocols.
    • Enhancing Interoperability: The joint operations aimed at improving interoperability and commonality in the operations of Su-30 aircraft, thereby increasing overall effectiveness.

UPSC GS 3

Asceua Tertia

• News: A new species of ground-dwelling spider, Asceua tertia, has been recently discovered in the Western Ghats, specifically within the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.
• About Asceua tertia
  • • Asceua tertia is the third species of the genus Asceua to be documented in India. 
    • The other two species in this genus are Asceua cingulata (Simon, 1905) and Asceua thrippalurensis (Sankaran, 2023).
    •  This genus is part of the ant-eating spider family, Zodariidae.
    •  Notable characteristics of Asceua tertia include its small size, laterally compressed bulbs, well-developed cymbial folds, long and convoluted copulatory ducts, and dual femoral glands.

• Size: 
  • • The males measure approximately 2.54 mm, while the females are slightly larger, at around 3.2 mm.
• Male Appearance: 
  • • Males have a yellow-brown prosoma and creamy white to yellow-brown leg and palp segments with broad brown patches and narrow longitudinal stripes. 
    • Their abdomen is marked by three pairs of narrow, creamy white stripes arranged obliquely, a white dot near the rear, and numerous tiny creamy white spots on the sides.
• Female Appearance:
  • •  Females feature a dark brown prosoma and a wide, oval abdomen adorned with four pairs of creamy white stripes. 
    • They also have small anterior and broad posterior creamy white patches on the sides.

Fruit Rot Disease

• News: The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, has issued an advisory to farmers to control ‘kole roga’ (fruit rot disease) in arecanut plantations.
• About Fruit Rot Disease:
  • • Fruit rot is a plant disease that can lead to significant economic losses for farmers by reducing crop quality and making it unmarketable.
    •  In severe cases, it can even cause the death of the plant. 
    • This disease is caused by a variety of pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and viruses, making it challenging to prevent and treat.

• Conditions Favoring Fruit Rot: 
  • • Heavy Rainfall: Continuous heavy rainfall creates a moist environment conducive to disease development.
    • Temperature: Low temperatures ranging from 20 to 23 °C are favorable for fruit rot.
    • Humidity: High relative humidity (>90%) promotes the growth of pathogens.
    • Intermittent Rain and Sunshine: Fluctuating weather conditions can further support the disease’s spread.
• Symptoms:
  • • Brown or Black Spots: Discoloration appears on the fruit.
    • Softening: The fruit becomes soft and mushy.
    • Shrivelling: The fruit may shrivel up.
    • Mould Growth: Visible mould growth on the surface of the fruit.
• Common Pathogens: 
  • • Botrytis cinerea: This is the most common fungus responsible for fruit rot. It affects a wide range of fruits such as grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers.
    • Infection Process: The fungus enters the plant through wounds in the leaves or fruit lesions. It thrives in humid conditions and spreads rapidly once established.
    • Toxicity: Some fungi causing fruit rot can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals.
• Arecanut Plantations:
  • • Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) is one of the important commercial crops grown in parts of Karnataka (largest producer) Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
    • India is the largest producer and consumer of arecanut in the world holding 62% of the area and 60% of the production.
    • The arecanut palm is the source of common chewing nut, popularly known as betel nut or Supari.

• • • Agroclimatic zone: Western Plains and Ghats as well as the North Eastern Hills. The cultivation of arecanut is mostly confined to 28° North and South of the equator.
    • Temperature: Arecanut grows in a wide range of temperature between a minimum of 4°C and a maximum of 40°C.
    •  Rainfall: Arecanut requires abundant rainfall and grows well where annual showers may go upto or even more than 4500 mm. But it also survives in low rainfall areas having 750 mm annual precipitation. 
    • Soil: Laterite, red loam and alluvial soils are most suitable. 

See: The Great Nicobar Island Development Project | UPSC

Ceropegia Shivrayiana

• News: A new flowering plant species from ‘ceropegia’ genus has been discovered inside the Vishalgad premises and named ‘ceropegia shivrayiana’ in a nod to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• About Ceropegia Shivrayiana:
  • • Ceropegia shivrayiana is a flowering plant species named in honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the renowned Maratha king. 
    • The plant was discovered at one of his notable forts, Vishalgad.
• Flowers: 
  • • The plant is characterized by its unique tubular flowers, which are specially adapted to attract moths for pollination. These flowers play a crucial role in the plant’s reproductive process.
• Growing Conditions:
  • •  Ceropegia shivrayiana thrives in rocky terrains and is well-suited to growing in less nutrient-rich or poor soils. 
    • This adaptability helps it survive in challenging environments.
• Family: 
  • • The plant belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family, known for including many medicinal plants. 
    • This family holds significant ecological importance due to its diverse range of species and their roles in various ecosystems.
• Conservation Status:
  • •  The plant faces ongoing threats from habitat loss, making its conservation crucial to ensure its survival and continued presence in its native habitat.
• Vishalgad Fort:
  • • Vishalgad Fort, also known locally as Khelna or Khilna, is an ancient fort situated in Vishalgad village in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
    • Construction: The fort was originally built in 1058 by the Shilahara king Marsinh and was initially known as Khilgil.
    • Historical Rule: Over the centuries, Vishalgad Fort came under the control of various rulers, including:
    • Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri
    • Allauddin Khilji
    • Vijayanagar Empire
    • Adil Shahi Dynasty
    • Maratha Empire: In 1659, Shivaji Maharaj captured the fort from Adil Shah and renamed it Vishalgad.
    • Famous Structures:  Dargah of Hazrat Sayed Malik Rehan Meera Saheb: This prominent structure within the fort attracts thousands of tourists each year.
    • Temples: The fort is also home to several notable temples: Amruteshwar Temple, Shri Nrusinha Temple, and Sati`s Vrindavan.