04 Dec
< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials
Mount Marapi
GS- I >> Geography >> Volcano
Context: Recently, Indonesia’s Mount Marapi erupted, spewing white-and-gray ash plumes for more than 3,000 metres into the air.
About Mount Marapi:
- It is a volcanic mountain peak located near the centre of the island of Java, Indonesia.
- Marapi’s name is derived from the ancient Mignangkabau dialect meaning ‘Mountain of Fire’. It seems likely this complex volcano has been highly active for thousands of years.
- It rises to 2,911 metres and has steep slopes with dense vegetation on its lower flanks.
- Marapi is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
Link: https://www.voanews.com
Cyclone Michaung
GS- I >> Geography >> Cyclone
Context: The cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ is forecasted to reach the southwest part of the Bay of Bengal.
Anticipated to make landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4.
About Cyclone Michaung:
- The name ‘Michaung’ was suggested by Myanmar.
- The term signifies strength and resilience, reflecting the characteristics of the cyclonic storm.
- ‘Michaung’ is poised to become the fourth Bay of Bengal cyclonic storm and the sixth cyclone formed in the Indian Ocean in 2023.
- Highlights the active cyclone season and the need for continued monitoring and preparedness in the affected regions.
Naming process and World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
- The WMO oversees the naming process for tropical cyclones globally.
- Regional specialized meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) propose names for cyclones in their respective areas.
- Cyclones receive names from rotating lists managed by the WMO.
Link: https://www.thehindu.com
Nepal
GS- I >> Geography >> Mapping
Context: Recently, Nepal has become the first South Asian nation to formally register same-sex marriage.
Political features:
- Located along the southern slopes of the Himalayan Mountain ranges.
- It is a landlocked country located between India to the east, south, and west and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north.
Geographical features:
- The country can be divided into five major physiographic regions: the Terai, Churia hills or Siwaliks, middle hills or mid-mountains, high mountains, and high Himalayas, stretching in parallel belts in succession from south to north’.
- Major rivers – Kosi, Nārāyani (Gandak), Karnāli, etc.
- Highest Point: Mount Everest.
Source: https://ddnews.gov.in
AUKUS
GS- II >> International Relation >> Regional Grouping
Context: AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, and United States) group has signed agreement to jointly operate Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC).
- DARC will enhance collective space domain awareness.
About AUKUS:
- It is a trilateral security partnership, launched in 2021.
- It is intended to strengthen the ability of each government to support security and defence interests (such as providing nuclear submarine to Australia).
- It will promote deeper information sharing and technology sharing; and foster deeper integration etc.
Source: https://spacenews.com
Chinstrap Penguins
GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna
Context: Published in Science, the study remotely measures sleeping patterns of chinstrap penguins in their natural habitat.
About Chinstrap Penguins:
- Appearance: Medium-sized with a black head, white face. Distinguished by a black stripe under the chin.
- Size: 46–61 cm (18–24 in).
- Reproduction:
- Incubation: 33-35 days.
- After hatching, parents brood chicks for an additional 20–30 days.
- Life Span: 15-20 years.
- Range and Habitat: Circumpolar in subantarctic and Antarctic waters. Avoids pack ice and continental coasts, stays near breeding islands.
- Population and its status: Global: 6.5 million breeding pairs.
- IUCN: Not listed; CITES: Not listed.
- Features:
- Most sleep studies conducted in labs might be influenced by artificial surroundings.
- Nesting penguins protecting eggs take over 10,000 micro naps daily.
- Short naps average four seconds each, accumulating to more than 11 hours of sleep daily.
- Similar to some other birds, penguins exhibit half-brain sleep.
- Allows for certain brain functions to stay active while resting.