Test 04 With Answers

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Approach – Answer: General Studies Mains Mock Test 4 – 617 (2015)

All the questions are compulsory and carry 12.5 marks each. NOT MORE THAN 200 WORDS.

1. "Community based disaster management, which seeks to empower community directly to enhance

their indigenous coping mechanisms, is a must". Elaborate.

Approach:

• Explain CBDM and importance of CBDM

• Ways to achieve CBDM – mock drills, capacity building etc.

• Benefits of CBDM – use of traditional knowledge etc.

• Government steps – legal, budgetary allocation etc.

• Give examples where communities succeeded or failed

Answer:

Community Based Disaster Management (CBDM) is a process, which leads to a locally appropriate and

locally "owned" strategy for disaster preparedness and risk reduction. The first responder to any

disaster is invariably the disaster-hit community itself which is also a repository of traditional

knowledge. This approach should work in harmony with the top-down approach.

It is necessary to educate the community about the entire disaster risk reduction and even to impart

skills and assign specific roles to the members of the community, so that the first response from the

community is a well coordinated one. This could be achieved by:

• Undertaking location specific training programmes for the community – Village panchayats, should

be entrusted this responsibility.

• Mainstreaming crisis management in education – through textbooks, training exercises, conducting

workshops and mock drills.

CBDM empowers community to actively engage in supporting each other by giving them the knowledge

and resources they need. It helps the community to

1. Become effective first responders

2. To evaluate their own situation based on local experiences

3. Community becomes part of planning and implementation

• Integration of traditional knowledge and skills


Community can also be empowered to run Public address system (PAS) which is crucial for raising alarm.

For example, in the coastal villages of Puducherry, a PAS installed saved thousands of life during

Tsunami, 2004.

The government also recognizes that CBDM is a key to effective disaster risk reduction. DMA2005 and

National Policy on disaster management (2009) mandate strong association of the communities through

awareness, capacity building and training. Odisha government had conducted several mock drill

exercises and its benefit was evident during the recent cyclone Phailin. Government ran a programme in

multi-hazard districts to train volunteers. States like Odisha and Assam have undertaken significant

community capacity building interventions. Other states must implement CBDM effectively.

In conclusion, different regions of India suffer from different types of disasters. Community participation

is the key to handle it as seen in various disasters. Role of community must be integral to all the phases

of disaster management from risk reduction to recovery.

2. "It has been noted that women and children are the most adversely affected in disasters, particularly

natural disasters, and consequently suffer the most". What could be the possible reasons behind this

phenomenon? What steps are needed to be taken to address this issue? Discuss in light of the

recommendations of 2nd ARC.

Approach:

• Introduce by accepting that women and children are the most vulnerable sections of the society.

• Discuss the various reasons that assign higher risk to these sections of the society.

• Discuss the recommendations as given in 3rd report of Second ARC – ‘Crisis Management from

Despair to Hope’.

• Conclude by emphasizing the need to remove the flaws from structural to operational.

Answer:

• Disasters don’t discriminate, but people do. Existing socio-economic conditions mean that disasters

can lead to different outcomes even for demographically similar communities but inevitably the most

vulnerable groups suffer more than others. In most of the cases these vulnerable groups includes

women, children, differentially abled, old persons etc.

• This was evident during the recent Tsunami in India where in Nagapattinam district, 2406 women

died as compared with 1883 men. There is also the risk of sexual violence and exploitation including

trafficking in the aftermath of a disaster aftermath of a disaster.

The possible reasons behind higher vulnerability includes:

Socio-cultural Aspects:

o Existing gender disparities in society, which includes access to basic human rights,

education and literacy levels, values, customs and ideological beliefs. Gender inequalities in

these areas make many women more vulnerable to disasters, compare with men.

Economic Aspects:

o Limited access to assets that ranges from physical, financial, human, social, and natural

capital.

o Poor social mobility, less economic opportunity hence more vulnerability.

Organizational/Administrative Aspects:

o These groups are less well targeted by public information and dissemination.

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o Very less participation in decision-making.

Recommendations of 2nd ARC: special attention should be given during all the stages, which includes:

• During pre-disaster phase:

o The vulnerability analysis should bring out the specific vulnerabilities of women and these

should be addressed in any mitigation effort.

o Disaster mitigation plans should be prepared, in consultation with women’s groups.

• During disaster:

o Rescue and relief operations should focus on the most vulnerable groups.

o Relief measures should take into account the special requirements of women and other

vulnerable groups.

o Particular attention needs to be given to their physical and mental well being through health

care and counseling.

• During post-disaster or recovery phase:

o Efforts should focus on making women economically independent by offering them

opportunities of earning incomes, providing training in new skills, forming self-help groups,

providing micro-finance, marketing facilities etc.

o Trauma counseling and psychological care should be provided to widows and women and

other persons in distress. These activities should form part of the disaster management plan.

o Arrangements have to be made for orphaned children on a long-term basis.

o NGOs should be encouraged to play a major role in their rehabilitation.

Further increased political commitment, improved linkages between disaster and gender perspective,

improved data gathering, increasing awareness level, and mainstreaming gender perspective in capacity

building can lead to better results.

3. "Wetlands provide ecosystem services essential to people and the environment, valued at billions of

dollars". Explain briefly. Enumerate the causes for wetland losses across India. Further, elaborate on

some international and national measures taken to protect them.

Approach:

Students should follow linear approach while answering this question. Answer should be divided into

three parts. In first, give example of Wetland’s role in ecosystem services. In 2nd part enlist the causes for

loss of wetland in India. In 3rd part explain initiatives like Ramsar Convention at international level and

national legislations along with conservation initiatives. Conclude with futuristic note about success of

conservation efforts.

Answer:

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) study estimated that wetlands cover 7% of the earth’s

surface and deliver 45% of its natural productivity and ecosystem services. Globally, 1.5-3 billion people

depend on wetlands as a source of drinking water as well as food and livelihood security. Wetlands

perform numerous functions beneficial for man and environment as follows.

Functions to Environment and Man –:

• Disaster mitigation-The most significant social and economic benefit that wetlands provide is flood

control. Peatlands and wet grasslands alongside river basins can act like sponges, absorbing rainfall

and controlling its flow into streams and rivers. Coastal wetlands – such as reefs, mangroves and

saltmarshes – act as frontline defences against potential devastation during disasters.

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• Wetlands act as the Earth's filters, cleaning up water in a number of ways. For example Wetlands

remove pollutants such as phosphorous, heavy metals and toxins which are trapped in the sediments

of the wetlands.

• Cultural value Throughout history humans have gathered around wetlands and these areas have

played an important part in human development and are of significant religious, historical or

archaeological value to many cultures around the world.

• Vital habitat- It has been estimated that freshwater wetlands hold more than 40% of all the world’s

species and 12% of all animal species. Individual wetlands can be extremely important in supporting

high numbers of endemic species.

Causes for loss of Wetlands in India-:

• Natural Causes- Sedimentation, floods, storms, sea level rise and biotic effects e.g. excessive

sediment inflow into Chilka has become greatest concern for the lake. It has potential to destroy the

peculiar ecosystem

• Human causes- Agricultural Activities and related discharge. Hydrological alteration by construction

of dams, channelization for navigation and ground water abstraction. Pollution -waste disposal,

mining for minerals, dumping and pesticides. Settlement and infrastructure development e.g. Pulicat

Lake, India’s second largest lagoon bordering Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, is threatened by the

Dugarajapatnam port project. Kolleru Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India is under serious

anthropogenic pressure. Drains from surrounding area are threatening its existence.

Measures for protection-

• International – The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental

treaty. Wetlands international global non-profit organization for sustaining and restoring wetlands.

World wetlands Day, Montreux Record etc.

• National – National Wetlands Conservation Program (NWCP). Government of India in closed

collaboration with concerned State Government. Under the programme 115 wetlands have been

identified till now by the Ministry, which requires urgent conservation and management initiatives.

National lake conservation plan was carved out to focus on lakes particularly in urban areas

• Formulation of Management Action Plan by states to define objectives taking into consideration

factors responsible for degradation of the wetland

• National Environment Policy (2006), which identifies 6 fold action to conserve wetlands.

The role of the wetlands is critical in socio-economic and aesthetic well being of man. They are critical

factor in environment resilience to sudden distress. We must preserve these ecosystems to secure future

of the biosphere.

4. What are extra tropical cyclones? How are they different from tropical cyclones? Why do the tropical

cyclones weaken over the land after landfall?

Approach:

The first part of the answer should focus on clearly defining the extra tropical cyclones and their region

of extent. Secondly, the students should focus on bringing out the difference between the tropical and

extra tropical cyclones in term of process, region of extent etc. Finally, the answer should bring list the

various responsible to weakening of the cyclones over the land.

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Answer:

Definition of Extra-tropical cyclones

• Extra-tropical cyclones are a type of storm system formed in middle or high latitudes, in regions of

large horizontal temperature variations called frontal zones. "Extratropical" means the storms

originate outside the tropics.

• Extratropical cyclones present a contrast to the more violent cyclones or hurricanes of the tropics,

which form in regions of relatively uniform temperatures. are low pressure systems with associated

cold fronts, warm fronts, and occluded fronts.

• Their circulations affect the entire troposphere over a region 1000 km or more across. Extratropical

cyclones tend to develop with a particular lifecycle and generally move from west to east across the

oceans and continents .

Difference between Extra-tropical and tropical cyclones

These two types of storms differ significantly on many aspects

• There are a lot of minor details, particularly with extratropical storm formation, which is considerably

more complex than tropical storm formation. Upper level winds fuel a mid-latitude cyclone but can

tear a tropical one apart.

• Extratropical storms usually disintegrate after a couple days due to an occlusion, but tropical storms

can exist for a much longer time.

• And the biggest difference, is that tropical cyclones have no fronts. They get their energy from warm

air. Extratropical cyclones start because two air masses come together and form a front.

Why do tropical cyclones dissipate over the land?

• After just a few hours, a tropical cyclone over land begins to weaken rapidly because the storm lacks

the moisture and heat sources that the ocean provided. This depletion of moisture and heat hurts

the tropical cyclone's ability to produce thunderstorms near the storm centre. Without this

convection the cyclone cannot survive. However, there are instances like Orissa super cyclone of

October 1999, which maintained its intensity of cyclonic storm even 24 hours after landfall. During

this period, it remained practically stationary over coastal Orissa.

• Another reason that cyclones lose power when they move over land is because of friction.

• In addition, if the cyclone experiences vertical wind shear it will also lose its power.

5. The understanding developed from the continental drift theory and the sea floor spreading led to the

plate tectonics theory. Discuss.

Approach:

• Briefly introduce the continental drift theory.

• Explain the concept of Seafloor spreading as a critique to the CDT and as a foundation for the

development of Plate tectonics theory.

• Suitably conclude by talking about the concepts of plate tectonics, which incorporate the

observations from both the preceding theories.

Answer:

According to the theory of continental drift, the world was made up of a single continent through most

of geologic time. That continent eventually separated and drifted apart, forming into the seven

continents we have today. The first comprehensive theory of continental drift was suggested by the

German meteorologist Alfred Wegener in 1912.

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The hypothesis asserts that the continents consist of lighter rocks that rest on heavier crustal material—

similar to the manner in which icebergs float on water. Wegener contended that the relative positions of

the continents are not rigidly fixed but are slowly moving—at a rate of about one yard per century. He

believed that tidal forces were responsible for breaking up Pangaea and causing the continents to drift.

Wegener's theory of continental drift was criticized on both geophysical and geological grounds.

However, post-World War II oceanographic evidence and development of plate tectonic theory in the

1960s have vindicated Wegener's basic conclusion that modern continents are drifted fragments of

Pangaea.

Continental drift theory

Sea floor spreading

• The continental drift theory maintained that the continents "ploughed" through the sea. The idea

that the seafloor itself moves (and carries the continents with it) as it expands from a central axis

was proposed by Harry Hess from Princeton University in the 1960s.

• Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed

through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. The phenomenon is known

to be caused by convection currents in the plastic, very weak upper mantle, or asthenosphere. When

oceanic plates diverge, tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere. Basaltic

magma rises up the fractures and cools on the ocean floor to form new sea floor. Older rocks will be

found farther away from the spreading zone while younger rocks will be found nearer to the

spreading zone.

Seafloor spreading

• Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. According to the

plate-tectonics theory, the Earth's surface is broken into a number of shifting slabs or plates, which

move relative to one another above a hotter, deeper, more mobile zone at average rates as great as a

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few inches per year. This theoretical model builds on the concept of continental drift. The geo-

scientific community accepted the theory after the concepts of seafloor spreading were developed.

• Hence, the understanding developed from the continental drift theory and the sea floor spreading

led to the development of plate tectonics theory. Evidences for the theory came primarily from new

data from the sea floor, including topography and the magnetism of rocks.

6. The formation and nature of a soil depends on a number of factors other than the parent rock. Explain

through examples of Indian soil types.

Approach:

Begin the answer with the process of weathering of Parent rock material. Write about the various factors

that affect the process of soil formation. Give examples of Indian soil types in explaining these factors.

Answer:

Pedogenesis or the process of formation of soil begins with the weathering of parent material. It is this

weathered material which is the basic input for soil form. However many other factors such as the

climate, topography, biological activities and time decide the formation and nature of soil. In fact soil

forming factors act in union and affect the action of one another.

Role of other factors:

Topography:

• The influence of topography is felt through the amount of exposure of a surface covered by parent

materials to sunlight and the amount of surface and sub-surface drainage over and through the

parent materials.

• Soils will be thin on steep slopes and thick over flat upland areas. Over gentle slopes where erosion is

slow and percolation of water is good, soil formation is very favourable.

• Soils over flat areas develop a thick layer of clay.

• In middle latitudes, the south facing slopes of Vindhyas and Satpuras, which are exposed to sunlight,

have different conditions of vegetation and soils and the north facing slopes with cool, moist

conditions have some other soils and vegetation.

Climate:

• The climatic elements involved in soil development are: moisture in terms of intensity, frequency and

duration of precipitation - evaporation and humidity; temperature in terms of seasonal and diurnal

variations.

• In the regions of hot and wet Tropical rainy areas of Western Ghats, most of the minerals including

Silica are leached. This results in the formation of Laterite soil.

• In dry climates of Rajasthan, evaporation exceeds precipitation, which brings salts to surface by

capillary action, resulting in Saline soils.

• Increased temperature shows increased chemical activity, that’s why tropical soils with higher

temperatures show deeper profiles and in the frozen tundra regions soils contains mechanically

broken materials.

Biological activity:

• Organic acids, which form during humification, aid in decomposing the minerals of the soil parent

materials.

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• The vegetative cover and organisms help in adding organic matter, moisture retention, nitrogen etc.

Dead plants provide humus, the finely divided organic matter of the soil.

• With undecomposed organic matter because of low bacterial activity, layers of peat develop in soils

of Himalayas and high mountains of North East.

• In humid Tropics, bacterial growth and action is intense and dead vegetation is rapidly oxidised

leaving very low humus content in the soil. Example: Red and Yellow Soils of South India.

• The influence of large animals like ants, termites, earthworms, rodents etc., is mechanical, but

important in soil formation as they rework the soil up and down.

Time:

• The length of time the soil forming processes operate, determines maturation of soils and profile

development. Soils developing from recently deposited alluvium or glacial till are considered young

and they exhibit no horizons or only poorly developed horizons.

• Examples: In the Gangetic plains, Khadar is the newly deposited alluvium and Bhangar is the older

alluvium.

7. Describe the different types of earthquake waves and their modes of propagation. How do the

earthquakes occurring in the Fold Mountain regions differ from those occurring at large

reservoirs/dams? What is the difference between Shallow-focus and deep-focus earthquakes?

Approach:

There are three parts of the question as following:

• Types of earthquake waves – body and surface waves. Give some points on their properties in brief

with focus on the mode of propagation.

• Earthquakes in fold mountain and reservoir regions – forces for the displacement of rocks differ.

• Difference in Shallow and deep earthquakes – reasons, relation with major and minor earthquakes

Answer:

Earthquake waves are of two types — body waves and surface waves. Body waves are generated due to

the release of energy at the focus and move in all directions travelling through the body of the earth.

Body waves are of two types – namely, P-waves and S-waves.

The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate new set of waves called surface waves.

Surface waves move along the surface. The velocity of waves changes as they travel through materials

with different densities. Their direction also changes as they reflect or refract when coming across

materials with different densities. Surface waves are also of two types -namely, Love and Rayleigh waves.

P-waves can travel through all the mediums while S-waves can travel through only solid. The shadow

zone of p-waves is 105-145 degree and that of s-waves is beyond 105 degree.

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Different types of earthquake waves travel in different manners. P-waves vibrate parallel to the direction

of the wave. This creates density differential within the material. S-waves and Surface waves vibrate

perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Hence, they create troughs and crests in the material. This

makes the Surface waves the most damaging earthquake waves.

Earthquakes in the Fold Mountain regions are the most common type of earthquake while large

reservoir induced earthquakes (RIE) is a rare phenomenon. The earth’s crust breaks due to collision of

tectonic plates in the Fold Mountain regions that cause vibrations. The most widely accepted explanation

of RIE is related to the extra water pressure created in the micro-cracks and fissures in the ground. RIE is

not well established. Reservoirs can both increase the frequency of earthquake in the high seismic areas

and cause earthquake to happen in less seismic areas.

The focus/hypocentre is the point inside earth where energy is released during an earthquake. Shallow-

focus earthquakes are above 70km depth and deep-focus one in the range of 70-700km depth. Deep-

focus earthquakes are localized within great slabs of shallow lithosphere that are sinking into the Earth's

mantle. A large earthquake has a deep focus is the small amplitude of the surface-waves. The hypocentre

of RIE is relatively at less depth.

8. Bring out the difference between Geysers and Springs. Highlight their economic importance with

examples.

Approach:

The first part of the answer should establish the difference between geysers and springs. Second part of

the answer should list out the various uses of geothermal energy ranging from industrial to agricultural.

Answer:

Hot springs are formed if the earth’s surface cuts across a water table. Definition of a hot spring and its

features depends on the water circulatory system of the underground channels, internal intensity of heat

and the heat dilution that occurs by the influence of cool ground water presence on the surface.

When an eruption occurs, hot springs become geysers. Hot springs boil with occasional churn on

encounters with underground gases. Water passes through the underground channels and in the process

collects minerals present in the rocks and carry them to the surface. Brilliant colors are seen around the

hot springs as different species of algae, minerals, rocks and bacteria form rims around the hot springs.

Geysers are hottest of the hot springs with eruptions of hot water with steam on a periodic basis through

the vent on the surface of the earth. Geysers are found in areas of recent volcanic activity. Water seeps

downward under the surface of the earth towards the regions with high temperatures due to activity or

young solidification of hot magma. Water gets heated and moves upwards to the surface along the

channels of fissures and cracks in the rocks. As the energy source of a geyser is steam, water gets further

heated; steam is formed and ejected through a vent at the earth surface.

Geysers are rare as geysers require regular water supply, a source to provide the intense heat, and a

natural plumbing system to ensure movement of steam and heated water upwards with a constriction

and without loss of heat. In the absence of a regular water supply required for a geyser, the thermal

feature is called a fumarole. In the absence of the natural plumbing system required for a geyser, the

water simply flows to the surface as a pool known as hot springs.

Economic Significance of Geysers and Springs can be looked at from various aspects as mentioned below:

• Energy generation: Our geothermal resources are increasingly an important source of energy. A large

number of geothermal power stations being built across the world. The latest example and addition

being the Tatapanni which would be India's first Geothermal plant. In addition, many small

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industries or tourist facilities (and numerous households) take small or medium quantities of heat or

fluid from hot springs. It’s been estimated that the economic benefit of geothermal energy to the

U.S. is about $280 million per year.

• Heating Houses: Geothermal energy technology is used to bring warmer temperatures into millions

of home without using fossil fuels, just by tapping into a heat exchange deep below the surface of

the earth.

• Agricultural Use: Geothermal waters are used for heating greenhouses in mid latitude regions on a

small scale especially for the commercial, out-of-season production of vegetables, flowers and fruit.

• Industrial Use: Industry is another consumer of geothermal energy. Its uses vary from drying fruits,

drying vegetables, drying wood, and dying wool to extracting gold and silver from ore.

• Infrastructure Use: Geothermal energy is also used to heat sidewalks and roads in order to prevent

freezing in the winter. Most recently, the Netherlands began using geothermal energy to keep bike

lanes from freezing in the wintertime, for instance.

• Tourism Uses

9. What do you understand by the phenomenon of Cloud Burst? How is it related to flash floods ? Why

are hilly areas more prone to the ill effects of cloud burst?

Approach:

The answer should be given in three parts. The part should clearly bring out the meaning of cloud burst

and the explain the process of a cloud burst. Second part should establish the relationship between the

cloud burst and flash floods. Third part should explain how both the occurrence as well as other factors

make hilly areas more prone to the problem of cloud burst.

Answer:

A cloudburst is sudden copious rainfall. It is a sudden aggressive rainstorm falling for a short period of

time limited to a small geographical area. Meteorologists say the rain from a cloudburst is usually of the

shower type with a fall rate equal to or greater than 100 mm (4.94 inches) per hour.

How does Cloud Burst Happen?

Generally cloudbursts are associated with thunderstorms. The air currents rushing upwards in a

rainstorm hold up a large amount of water. If these currents suddenly cease, the entire amount of water

descends on to a small area with catastrophic force all of a sudden and causes mass destruction. This is

due to a rapid condensation of the clouds. They occur most often in desert and mountainous regions,

and in interior regions of continental landmasses.

Flash floods are short-term events, occurring within 6 hours of the causative event (heavy rain, dam

break, levee failure, rapid, snowmelt and ice jams) and often within 2 hours of the start of high intensity

rainfall. A flash flood is characterized by a rapid stream rise with depths of water that can reach well

above the banks of the creek.

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Relation between Flash Floods and Cloud Burst

• A cloudburst can suddenly dump 72,300 tons of water over one square acre resulting in flash floods.

The duration of this phenomenon is short but can cause extensive damage. Thus, cloudbursts are

one of the leading causes of flash floods across the world.

Why are Hilly regions more Prone to Cloud Burst?

• The orography of the region plays a dominant role by increasing the convection and hence the

intensity of cloud burst. It can occur also over the plain areas, but the frequency of such occurrence

is very rare. Thus, it is not necessary that cloudbursts happen only in the mountains or high altitudes

as the weather systems have compatibility and criticality in space and time. But the mountainous

regions are a favoured location for cloudburst due to undulating geographical features.

• Further, a number of reasons make the mountainous regions more susceptible to the after effects of

cloud burst.

• The lashing sheets of rain in mountains make into free flowing mud and slush as the explosive

package join the existing river current. Rivers suddenly turn semi-solid and flow with frightening

force as liquid mud makes its own path breaking down anything that comes across its way. Such a

breach can result in gushing of lake waters down the mountain slopes together with debris, boulders

and uprooted trees with a great velocity and damage any structure that comes in the way. There

could be a significant loss of life, property and natural habitat in such a scenario.

• Unplanned development in such regions also makes them susceptible to huge destruction.

• The valley regions are one of the most densely populated, which leaves them vulnerable to the after

effects of flash floods resulting from cloud burst.

10. What are Tsunamigenic zones? Give examples of such zones in the vicinity of Indian Coastal regions.

Examine the preparedness level of India to minimize the impact of Tsunamis.

Approach:

There are three parts of the question as follows:

• Tsunamigenic zones – earthquake zones commonly along major subduction zone plate boundaries

that can generate Tsunamis

• Mention zones along with their approximate distances from mainland and islands of India.

• Assess the Preparedness level in today’s time. Focus on the steps taken after 2004 Tsunami. Talk

about the issues in the present system.

• Conclusion – final statement on preparedness and then can suggest some measures in a line or two.

Answer:

Tsunamigenic zones are the regions in the sea where vertical shifting of water mass can cause Tsunami

waves. Tsunami can be created by earthquakes and volcanoes etc. Region of convergent tectonic plate

boundaries are the most likely sources for Tsunami. Therefore, these zones are not randomly distributed

as shown in the map below.

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Tsunamigenic zones along the converging plate boundaries in the sea regions

Two main Indian Ocean Tsunamigenic zones are Makran subduction zone (MSZ) in the Northern Arabian

Sea and Indonesian subduction zone (ISZ) in the Bay of Bengal near Indonesian Islands. These zones are

result of the active tectonic collision process that is taking place along the southern boundary of the

Eurasian plate as it collides with the India plate and adjacent micro-plates. MSZ is not far from India’s

coast and a major earthquake can be disastrous for India. 2004 Tsunami was generated in the ISZ, which

is very near to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and about 1300km from the mainland India.

Makran subduction zone and Indonesian subduction zone

India had some lessons to learn from the Tsunami of 2004. Government installed “Indian Tsunami early

warning system” was developed which is integrated with the system of other Asian countries. It has a

network of seismometers, tidal gauges and ocean buoys.

Other measures include mapping of vulnerable coastal areas, awareness and community preparedness

activities. Yet critical gaps remain. While the system can send out warnings quickly, dissemination of the

alerts to people on the ground takes time. Coastal infrastructure is still poor.

Tribes of A&N Islands moved to higher places in the interiors in advance with the help of tradition

knowledge during the Tsunami of 2004. There is a need to integrate such knowledge in the system.

Mangroves require special attention from government. Only a very handful of scientists are working on

Tsunami research today.

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11. "Evolution of landforms on earth's surface is a result of multiple external and internal forces acting on

it." Explain with examples.

Approach:

Question indirectly asks a discussion on geomorphic processes and resultant landforms. Discuss the roles

performed by external (exogenic) and internal (endogenic) forces in shaping surface of the earth. Discuss

the formation of landforms associated with these forces.

Answer:

Surface of the earth is continuously subjected to external forces originating within the earth’s

atmosphere and by internal forces from within the earth. The external forces are known as exogenic

forces and the internal forces are known as endogenic forces.

The actions of exogenic forces result in wearing down (degradation) of relief/elevations and filling up

(aggradation) of basins/depressions, on the earth’s surface. The phenomenon of wearing down of relief

variations of the surface of the earth through erosion is known as gradation. The endogenic forces

continuously elevate or build up parts of the earth’s surface. The endogenic forces are mainly land

building forces and the exogenic processes are mainly land wearing forces.

(A) Endogenic Forces: The force is mostly a result of by radioactivity, rotational and tidal friction and

primordial heat from the origin of the earth. This energy due to geothermal gradients and heat flow from

within induces diastrophism and volcanism in the lithosphere.

1. Diastrophism-

(i) Orogenic processes involving mountain building through severe folding and affecting long and

narrow belts of the earth’s crust; the young fold mountains like Himalayan Mountains, Andes

Mountains are result of this process.

(ii) Epeirogenic processes involving uplift or warping of large parts of the earth’s crust. Rift valleys

like Narmada valley in India is formed because of upwarping of Vindhya and Satpura ranges.

2. Volcanism: Volcanism includes the movement of molten rock (magma) onto or toward the

earth’s surface and also formation of many intrusive and extrusive volcanic forms. Intrusive

landforms are formed when magma solidifies below the earth’s surface. Huge batholiths i.e.

igneous rock structure beneath the earth surface is present in the Himalayan Mountain ranges of

India. Ladakh batholiths are example of this type. Volcanoes are created in lava eruptions

through vents from interior of the earth. Mid-Oceanic ridges in the major oceans of the world

are landforms formed from volcanic activity at divergent plate boundary. Flood Basalt provinces

formed because of the volcanic activity over large area e.g. Deccan lava plateau.

(B) Exogenic Forces: The exogenic processes derive their energy from atmosphere determined by the

ultimate energy from the sun and also the gradients created by tectonic factors. Gravitational force,

chemical reactions, kinetic energy etc are the forces acting on the surface. All the exogenic geomorphic

processes are covered under a general term, denudation. The word ‘denude’ means to strip off or to

uncover. Weathering, mass wasting/movements, erosion and transportation are included in denudation.

1. Weathering: Weathering is defined as mechanical disintegration and chemical decomposition

of rocks through the actions of various elements of weather and climate. There are three major

types of weathering; chemical, mechanical or physical and biological. Karst topography of is

example of chemical weathering. In this type earth’s surface made of limestone when comes in

contact with rain water mixed with carbonic acid, dissolution of rock structure takes place

forming a specific type of landforms referred as Karst topography.

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2. Erosion: Erosion involves acquisition and transportation of rock debris. When massive rocks

break into smaller fragments through weathering and any other process, erosional geomorphic

agents like running water, glaciers, wind etc. remove and transport it to other places depending

upon the dynamics of each of these agents.

i) Running water- Two types of landforms are created by running water namely erosional

and depositional. In the upper course of river running water performs abrasion activity

to form various landforms like V-shaped valleys, incised or entrenched meanders etc. In

the lower course water forms depositional features like flood plains, deltas, ox-bow Lake,

meanders. Deposition of the sediment brought from mountains leads to formation of

these landforms.

ii) Glaciers-: Glaciers perform erosional activity over the surface to form various

landforms like U-shaped valleys, circue, hanging valleys etc. Depositional landforms

associated it are morains, eskers, outwash plains and drumlins. These landforms are

created when glaciers melt.

In this way the surface of the earth is being subjected continuously to these external and internal forces

to form landforms.

12. National Disaster Management Authority was set up to give effect to the provisions of Disaster

Management Act, 2005. Critically examine its functioning with respect to the management of recent

natural hazards.

Approach:

• Briefly introduce the National Disaster Management Authority with reference to the DMA, 2005.

• Discuss the problems and challenges being faced by NDMA as reflected in the management of recent

natural hazards like cyclone Phailin in Odisha, deluge in Uttarakhand, the floods in Jammu and

Kashmir etc.

• Conclude by suggesting some reforms.

Answer:

The Disaster Management Act of 2005, which led to the creation of NDMA in September 2006, states

that the authority's responsibilities include "laying down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster

management for ensuring timely and effective response to disaster."

• NDMA states that its vision is "to build a safer and disaster-resilient India by developing a holistic,

pro-active, multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management." This vision was

far from visible when the waters came cascading down the slopes in Uttarakhand.

• The catastrophe in the flood-hit areas of Uttarakhand and the floods in jammu and Kashmir etc has

put the role of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under sharp scrutiny.

• Those affected have had to undergo the ordeal for days before being rescued and evacuated.

• In this background, the effectiveness, if not the relevance, of the body is being questioned. The

optimism generated about improved calamity-management skills after the superb handling of the

very severe cyclone Phailin in Odisha has proved to be short-lived.

The NDMA is suffering from many structural and operational weaknesses. According to a CAG report,

"The NDMA was found ineffective in its functioning in most of the core areas. The authority is ill-

prepared to handle a potential natural or manmade disaster. The NDMA didn’t complete any of its major

disaster preparedness projects on schedule.”

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• The agency was set up to shoulder the major responsibility in rescue and relief operations. But its

response time has been usually long. In most cases, the burden of evacuating people from affected

areas and supplying them with relief material falls on India's armed forces. Voluntary organisations,

local people and even the internet-based social media has been active in information dissemination.

• The NDMA has not even prepared any national disaster-management plan, a basic necessity; nor

has it set up any reliable communication system independent of existing networks, which get

disrupted by disasters. Such systems have been put in place in the tsunami-prone coastal belt and

have proved effective in conveying warning signals to locals after earthquakes in and around Indian

seas.

• No specific qualification is needed to become a member of the NDMA nor is there a selection

procedure. There is also lack of proper co-ordination between the agency and the Ministries and

departments.

• Some projects were abandoned midway owing to poor planning. Absence of a disaster management

plan at the national level had a trickle-down effect on the states as they did not have a framework of

reference to base their plans on.

The basic problem is with the attitude of the people who think that disaster is all about rescue and not

preparedness. There needs to be a paradigm shift in thinking. Presently, there are no provisions to make

the national guidelines, prepared by NDMA, binding on states. Hence, the NDMA needs to be given more

teeth. Moreover, the coordination between NDMA and nodal ministries for various disasters need to be

improved.

13. Account for the hazards associated with the Himalayan ecosystem with special reference to the recent

floods in Kashmir. What measures can be taken to mitigate these hazards?

Approach:

Describe the factors responsible for increase in the frequency of hazards in the already fragile state of

Himalayan ecosystem. The second part should mention the types of hazards. In the last part mention the

causes of Kashmir floods and the steps, which need to be taken to mitigate such occurrences in the

future.

Answer:

The Himalayan ecosystem is fragile and diverse. It includes over 51 million people who practice hill

agriculture and remains vulnerable The Himalayan ecosystem is vital to the ecological security of the

Indian landmass, through providing forest cover, feeding perennial rivers that are the source of drinking

water, irrigation, and hydropower, conserving biodiversity, providing a rich base for high value

agriculture, and spectacular landscapes for sustainable tourism.

It is highly vulnerable both due to geological reasons and on account of the stress caused by increased

pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. These effects may

well be exacerbated due to impact of climate change and developmental paradigms of the modern

society. Climate change is likely to adversely impact the Himalayan eco-system through increased

temperature, altered precipitation patterns, episodes of drought, and biotic influences.

Following hazards are associated with Himalayan ecosystem:

1. Landslides (500m-3500m)

Landslides: reasons-

• Indiscriminate chopping down of trees.

• slash and burn cultivation technique called ‘JHUM,’

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• Road construction and mining.

• Every increasing population, grazing, urbanization etc. has destroyed the dense natural

evergreen forest cover.

• Winter high snow fall which melts in summer resulting into large flow of debris and landslides.

2. Avalanches: Rapid down slope movement of snow, rocks and debris- is called Avalanche. Large

avalanches have speed of upto 200kmph, resulting in massive destruction of forests, highways, houses

and power lines.

Causes: Large mass of fresh snowfall, blizzards, Global Warming, Rain, earthquake, Skiing and

mountaineering, Deforestation, sonic boom

3. Earthquakes

• Himalayas have not yet reached its isostatic equilibrium and therefore Indian plate is moving

northwards and subsiding under Eurasian plate. This leads to rising of Himalayas every year,

causing instability resulting into earthquakes and landslides.

4. Forest fires

5. Flash floods: reasons for floods in Kashmir region-

• Unprecedented rains due to western disturbances

• Increasing variability of rainfall

• Unplanned urbanisation in J&K

• Encroachment on river beds and wetlands which acted as breakwater to the storm

Hence Kashmir floods are combination of unprecedented and intense rain, unplanned urbanisation and a

lack of preparedness. Jammu and Kashmir does not have a flood forecasting system, not even a separate

disaster management plan. A remote sensing data-based study of Jammu and Kashmir had shown that

55 per cent of wetlands, drainage channels and water bodies had been encroached upon, especially lake

areas , leading to less water holding in them.

Remedies:

1. Empowering state disaster management authority and preparing an Integrated disaster

management

2. Vulnerability mapping of the areas and building infrastructure accordingly

3. Integrating disaster mitigation features in the development framework of the state

4. Demarcating areas for activities like gazing, construction along with enumerating building codes

5. Empowering State Institutions to conduct a detailed Environment Impact Assessment of large

scale projects

6. Increasing focus on sustainability

7. Using modern tools and techniques for Disaster prevention and recovery

8. Generating Awareness among the masses.

Though The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) has enunciated the launch of a National

Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem yet it needs to deliver better understanding of the

coupling between the Himalayan ecosystem and the climate factors and provide inputs for Himalayan

Sustainable development while addressing also the protection of a fragile ecosystem.

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14. The corporate sector can play an important role in combating disasters with its financial resources,

equipments and trained workforce. Discuss.

Approach:

Answer can introduce itself by discussing change in attitude of corporate sector’s relation with the

society. Then brief discussion on resourcefulness of corporate sector followed by discussion on how

disaster management program can be overcome by corporate help.

Answer:

For long, the corporate sector had been viewed as a separate entity other than the society. Over the past

few decades, this perception has undergone a complete metamorphosis and the existence of corporate

sector is today intimately intertwined with the safety and well-being of the society. The corporate in

every country have always played a major role in post-disaster relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction

efforts in the affected regions. In India, the contribution of the corporate sector has been notable

especially in the aftermath of the devastating super-cyclone in Orissa in 1999 and the Bhuj earthquake

(Gujarat) in 2001.

The corporate sector possesses huge resources – human, material, technical and financial and has

significant presence in every region in the country. It also works and interacts with the community very

closely and has an important stake in the well-being and prosperity of the community as its own progress

and viability is largely dependent upon a resilient and safe community. Given their resourcefulness and

organizational capacity, corporate sector can help in overcoming several barriers encountered in disaster

management:

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with a direct membership base of nearly five

thousand industrial and corporate houses and an indirect associate membership of around fifty

thousand companies from 283 national and regional sectoral associations, was the first industry

organization to constitute a Disaster Management Committee in May 2001 as part of its

corporate set-up to advise and assist its member industries in initiating disaster risk reduction

steps to insulate industrial establishments, infrastructure and processes from the vagaries and

damaging potential of natural and man-made (industrial/technological) disasters.

• In many area-specific industrial and commercial associations have also been contributing

towards the well-being of the community around them by adopting socio-economic practices

aimed at improving the living conditions and generally benefiting the people at large. For

example, the Ankleshwar Environment Preservation Society in Ankleshwar, Gujarat along with

Ankleshwar Industrial Association has set up joint effluent treatment plants for medium and

small-scale industries in the industrial belt with predominantly chemical industries and has also

taken up disposal and treatment of solid and hazardous waste generated by industries and the

cities with their own expertise and finance.

• The emphasis on pre-disaster issue of preparation, mitigation and preparedness relies on

education and training. This need can be fulfilled through corporate obligation for CSR as most of

corporate are investing in education and have trained workforce.

• Disaster management program is increasingly relying on technology for preparedness and

mitigation. Corporate sector is the frontrunner in adopting and utilization of technology for

economic purpose. This expertise can be helpful in fulfilling the know-how gap in

implementation of disaster management program.

• In post-disaster scenario the means of livelihood become important issue for victims of disasters.

Corporate can be helpful in providing some jobs temporary or permanent to cope with the

unemployment distress.

• Given that natural disasters do not always follow national boundaries, cross-boundary issues of

disaster management should be addressed through enhanced regional cooperation. Many multi-

national corporate can be a good partner encouraging this cooperation.

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15. What do you understand by vulcanism? What are the various intrusive and extrusive features linked

with this phenomenon?

Approach:

• Briefly discuss about Define vulcanism.

• For the second part show the various intrusive and extrusive features along with related figures.

Answer:

Vulcanism includes all those processes in which molten rock material or magma rises to the crust to

solidify as crystalline or semi crystalline rocks.

Volcanic landforms are created due to the cooling and solidification of magma (below the Earth’s surface)

and lava (on the earth’s surface). Some relief features are formed due to the accumulation of volcanic

materials. The volcanic landforms are grouped into broad categories: Extrusive and Intrusive landforms.

Intrusive landforms: The most important intrusive forms include Batholith, Laccoliths, Sills, Dyke,

Lopolith and Phacoliths.

1. Batholith – Batholith rocks form the base of the mountains. They are large coarse-grained igneous

landmass, which appear on the surface only after the denudational processes remove the overlying

material. These are the cooled portions of magma chambers.

2. Laccolith – this is a large sill of acid lava, which solidifies slowly giving it a dome shape.

3. Sills – when lava solidifies before coming out between the horizontal layers of parent rocks.

4. Dykes- when magma solidifies in vertical columns (crack and forums) of the bedrock they are called

dykes.

5. Lopoliths – when lava solidifies in shallow basin in the shape of a saucer it is called Lopoliths.

6. Phacoliths – these are dome shaped and are formed when acid lava solidifies on an anticline or on

the base of a syncline.

Extrusive features: these are determined by the nature and composition of the lava. Major extrusive

landforms are under:

1. Ash and cinder cone – these are built when eruptions are of explosive type. Growth of an ash or

cinder cone begins around a crater, they are not very high.

2. Lava dome – it is formed when viscous lava solidifies quickly and forms a steep sided cone. Lava

solidifies in the spine or plug. Sometimes spine is exposed due to denudation.

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3. Lava shields – they are built up of lava flows, due to heaping of lava. These are mostly made up of

basalt, a type of lava that is very fluid when erupted. For this reason, these volcanoes are not steep.

4. Craters – these are depressions formed at the mouth of volcanic vent, which is usually funnel

shaped. Some volcanoes may have greatly enlarged depressions called Calderas.

16. El- Nino is often considered as a messenger of bad news for the Indian Subcontinent. Does it always

have harmful effects on the region? Elucidate the effects of El- Nino on the Indian economy?

Approach:

Explain El Nino briefly. Also discuss its effect on Indian monsoon system briefly. Describe how El Nino is

not always harmful but only in certain given circumstances. List out the ill effects of El Nino on Indian

economy holistically.

Answer:

El Nino is an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, which is one part

of what's called the Southern Oscillation. The Southern Oscillation is the see-saw pattern of reversing

surface air pressure between the eastern and western tropical Pacific. When the surface pressure is high

in the eastern tropical Pacific, it is low in the western tropical Pacific, and vice-versa.

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• During summer, this Pacific cell is linked to the monsoon westerlies in the Indian Ocean. During an El

Nino, due to warm waters in the east and cool waters in the west, the pressure systems also change,

reversing (shifting) the Walker circulation.

• The wind direction reverses and the whole circulatory system shifts eastward leaving only weak

surface westerlies in the western Indian Ocean. This results in ocean warming in the Western Indian

Ocean, which in turn affects the monsoon wind system in India.

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Although El-Nino may not always be harmful

• Not every El Nino retards the monsoon but the Pacific becoming exceptionally warm greatly

heightens the risk of a monsoon turning deficient.

• There could be several factors influencing the interplay between an El Nino and the monsoon. For

one thing, which part of the Pacific warms has an impact on the monsoon. El- Nino when placed in

the central Pacific is majorly responsible for week monsoon.

• Positive IOD (Indian Ocean Diapole IOD): In this case, the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean off

Sumatra in Indonesia becomes colder than normal while the western tropical part of the ocean near

the African coast becomes unusually warm. Such an event has been found to be beneficial for the

monsoon.

• Negative IOD (Indian Ocean Diapole IOD): In this case the opposite of the above mentioned case

occurs. The eastern equatorial Indian Ocean off Sumatra in Indonesia becomes abnormally warm

while the western tropical part of the ocean near the African coast becomes relatively colder. This

effect obstructs the progression of monsoon over India.

Since El Nino can weaken the monsoon it can have major Impact on Indian economy:

• Occurrence of El Niño is associated with deficit rainfall in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat,

Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Bihar.

• The delayed onset of the monsoon coupled with uneven distribution may affect crop growth,

especially of kharif pulses and oilseeds, and the exact quantum of yield losses depends upon the

duration and intensity of stress

• A strong El Nino in India could trigger lower production of summer crops such as rice, sugarcane and

oilseeds and affect the yield of Rabi crops.

• This in turn could create shortage of raw material for the secondary industries.

• Increase in food index also could skyrocket headline inflation.

• Hiking rates impact India’s investment cycle and put breaks on growth rates.

El Nino can be majorly responsible for creating shortage in the economy and slowing down the growth

rate of economy. Thus, El Nino is generally considered as a messenger of bad news for the Indian

subcontinent. But, it may or may not always be harmful depending on its flavor. On a positive note, there

appears to be no cause for alarm on the El Niño front as India is well placed on foodgrains availability,

with record domestic production and huge stocks in the central pool.

17. Tsunami is a disaster beyond boundaries, which affects many countries at the same time. In this

context analyze the need for international cooperation in Tsunami disaster management. Discuss in

light of the recent steps taken by the world community towards Tsunami preparedness.

Approach:

Introduce by mentioning the effect of Tsunami across borders through historical experiences. Explain the

need for international cooperation in Tsunami disaster preparedness at both the prevention stage and

relief stage. Mention the recent effort made by the world community towards boosting cooperation

towards Tsunami preparedness. Conclude by emphasizing on the need for international cooperation.

Answer:

A decade after the Indian Ocean tsunami hit several countries in the Asia-Pacific region killing over

200,000 people, Asian-Pacific countries have not only developed an effective early warning system but

are also capable of providing advisories to 25 countries on the Indian Ocean rim.

With the experience of Tsunami disasters in past it was realized that international cooperation in Tsunami

disaster management is a must.

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At the state of disaster prevention

• A tsunami is capable of destruction in a particular geographic region, generally within about 1,000

km of its source. The instruments to analyze the sea waves need to be placed across the seas falling

in different borders. It can only be predicted by gathering information from its source which can be

far away in a different country. Hence various Tsunami prediction centers can be established

throughout the oceans.

• The international cooperation can help prepare a country of Tsunami disaster by providing warning

much before the disaster hits its territories.

• The experience, research and innovation of Tsunami prone countries like Japan, Australia, U.S

(Hawaii region which is Tsunami prone) can be put to use for entire population vulnerable to Tsunami

disaster.

At the stage of providing relief

• It is a disaster of huge magnitude, and the most vulnerable nations are small island nations of Asia

pacific region thus the resources for meeting relief prove to be extremely helpful for them.

• International cooperation can also bring help from various international NGOs, medical assistance

from international agencies like WHO etc and human resources and aide from across borders.

In the light of the compulsions faced by the international community to cooperate in Tsunami disaster

preparedness following steps were taken:

• One major life-saving measure is the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System, which now provides

alerts through three regional watch centres in India, Indonesia and Australia, and a network of 26

national tsunami information centres. It is an efficient system which disseminated early warnings

within eight minutes of the Banda Aceh earthquake in 2012. Other steps have included constructing

buildings better able to withstand a hazard.

• The milestone Hyogo Framework for Action covered the period from 2005 to 2015. A new framework

will be on the table next year at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR),

taking place in Sendai, Japan, from March 14 to 18. The conference will adopt a new framework,

which will complement new global agreements on climate and sustainable development goals.

• India, along with 23 other countries on the Indian Ocean rim, participated in a major Indian ocean-

wide mock tsunami drill in the Indian Ocean region on September 09 & 10, 2014 aimed at testing the

Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS).

• This drill, organized under the auspices of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission,

expected to increase preparedness, evaluated response capabilities in each country and improved

coordination throughout the region.

This region being the most vulnerable region of the world and being the part of Pacific ring of fire is also

the most earthquake and Tsunami prone region of the world hence, It is inevitable for the regional

partners to cooperate in the disaster preparedness for disasters like Tsunami.

18. Explain the importance of coral reefs as an ecosystem. Why are corals rare along the western coast of

the continents?

Approach:

• Briefly introduce what are Coral Reefs.

• Then explain the importance of Coral reefs as an ecosystem. The key word is “ecosystem”.

Concentrate on the role of Coral reefs as an ecosystem. No need to write everything about Coral

reefs.

• Then come to the reason behind absence of Coral reefs on the western coast of the continents.

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Answer:

Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems formed due to the accumulation and solidification of lime

secreting organisms known as Coral Polyps. They are also known as the "tropical rainforests of the sea"

for their astounding richness of life.

Importance of Coral reefs as an ecosystem:

• Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about

4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species.

• Coral reefs are the source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for marine food chains. They also

assist in carbon and nitrogen fixing. They help with nutrient recycling.

• As a healthy and diverse ecosystem, Coral reefs helps in recycling and purification of water and air,

the creation of soil, and the break-down of pollutants.

• Coral are very important in controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean water. Coral polyp

turns carbon dioxide in the water into a limestone shell. Without coral, the amount of carbon dioxide

in the water would rise.

• Coral reefs protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms.

• Coral reefs with diverse range of species provide a larger gene pool, giving natural communities

survival options when environmental conditions and climates change. The greater the number of

species and hence genetic diversity in an ecosystem, the lesser will be the impact of removing

individual species.

Corals are rare along the western coast of the continents primarily due to upwelling and strong cold

coastal currents that reduce water temperatures in these areas. Coral reefs are very sensitive organisms

and grow only in particular conditions. They are usually found in the Tropical seas upto a depth of 200-

300 ft where Sun rays reach. The ideal temperature for their growth is 20-25 0 C. Both high Salinity and

fresh water are harmful for their growth. These ideal conditions required for the growth of Corals are

usually absent along the western coast of the continents due to upwelling of cold Currents.

19. What are the different forms of condensation? Distinguish between the process of formation of dew

and frost.

Approach:

Define condensation. Also explain different forms of condensation and in simple points explain the

difference between the process of dew and frost formation. Simply stating the difference between the

two will not fetch marks. Conclude.

Answer:

Condensation is the change of water from its gaseous form (water vapor) into liquid water. Different

conditions result into different forms of condensations. Different forms of condensations are:

1. Dew:

The deposition of water vapor in the form of tiny droplets on the colder bodies by condensation is

known as dew. The object on which dew forms must be good radiator and bad conductor, the sky

should be clear, with the absence of wind are necessary conditions for formation of dew.

2. Frost:

When the temperature of air falls below 0 degree C before the dew point is reached, the water vapor

is directly converted into crystals of ice, and this is called as frost. It is frequently called as a form of

sublimation.

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3. Mist:

Mist is less dense fog. The suspended water droplets restrict Visibility between 1000 to 2000 meters

are known as mist. When Relative humidity is at least 75% Mist disappears with rising sun.

4. Smog:

The combined effect of smoke and fog droplets may reduce visibility and this phenomenon is called

smog.

5. Haze:

Some solid particles like dust, smoke from fire and industry restrict visibility is haze.

There is a thin difference between the dew and the Frost; it can be discussed as under:

1. Dew: the water droplets formed by

condensation of water vapor on a relatively

cold surface of an object

2. Dew condenses stays in liquid form.

3. Dew occurs when the air temperature is

above freezing point.

1. Frost: the ice crystals formed by deposition of

water vapor on a relatively cold surface of an

object.

2. Frost occurs when air temperature is below

freezing point.

3. While Frost may be formed by either

condensation or also through the process of direct

sublimation.

Hence, all these forms of condensation are the result of different processes in different conditions of

weather and climate. They may be different and there effects may vary on biotic and abiotic elements

around them.

20. Which are the prominent monsoon regions other than the Indian sub-continent? Elucidate the crucial

role played by the Tibetan Plateau in regulating monsoons over the sub-continent.

Approach:

• Briefly define monsoon and mention the prominent monsoon regions other than the India

subcontinent.

• Briefly mention the role of different warming trends over land and sea as factors regulating

monsoon. Highlight the role played by the Tibetan Plateau as the heat source involved in the onset

and regulation of monsoon over the Indian subcontinent. In this part one has to explain the

mechanism as well.

Answer:

Monsoon is a major wind system that seasonally reverses its direction. The most prominent monsoons

occur in South Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific coast of Central America. Monsoonal tendencies

also are apparent along the Gulf Coast of the United States and in central Europe; however, true

monsoons do not occur in those regions.

Most prominent monsoon regions apart from Indian subcontinent are:

• West African monsoon

• Malaysian-Australian monsoon

• North American monsoon

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The primary cause of monsoons lies in different warming trends over land and sea, though other factors

may be involved. In the Indian subcontinent the Tibetan plateau plays an important role in regulating the

monsoon:

• The heat source involved in the Indian summer monsoon resides over the Plateau of Tibet and the

eastern foothills of the Himalayas, while the heat sink occurs over the southern Indian Ocean and

Madagascar, a region where relatively cloud-free air cools by emitting infrared, or “long-wave,”

radiation into space.

• As the vast Tibetan plateau, high up in the mountains, warms during the summer months, it heats

the air above, which then rises and creates an area of low pressure. That belt of low pressure sucks

in moisture from the oceans, thus initiating the monsoon.

• However, it has been observed that heating of the plateau correlated with monsoon rainfall only

during the early and late parts of the season. According to the available data the heating of the

Tibetan plateau correlated well with rainfall over India from May 20 to June 15 when the monsoon

was setting in. But then the correlation disappeared only to reappear again for rainfall between

September 1 and October 15 when the monsoon was tailing off.

Scholars such as William Boos and Zhiming Kuang consider that even if the Tibetan plateau did not exist,

the monsoon would be unaffected provided the Himalayas and adjacent mountain ranges were there to

prevent intrusion of northern air. However, the consensus remains on the crucial role played by the

Tibetan plateau in the onset of monsoon in the region.

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Test 04 With Answers

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Transcript of Test 04 With Answers