26th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020
“Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.” –Anonymous
ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.
RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.
BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !
BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.
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Page Contents:
Earth’s inner core is older
HEADLINES:
Earth’s inner core is older than previously determined, find researchers
WHY IN NEWS:
Researchers revise age of Earth’s solid inner core from 565 mln years to 1-1.3 bln years
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 : Geography : Earth
ISSUE:
EARTHS CORE
- Over the years, estimates for core age have fluctuated between very young and relatively high.
- The research focuses attributes, such as the process of heat convection of the iron core and the energy sources that power geodynamo that sustains magnetic field.
GEODYNAMO PARADOX
- Earth’s inner core is the innermost geologic layer of the Earth — it is made of iron and is solid.
- And it is very hot — about 6,000 degrees Celsius.
- The outer core is also iron, but is liquid due to relatively lower pressure.
- As lighter elements rise through the liquid iron of the outer core at different temperatures, they cause convection currents, believed to resemble a dynamo.
- The process is like cream swirling in a mug of coffee.
- This is how Earth’s magnetic field is generated.
- The process is called geodynamo, and is fed by convection.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The age of the inner core, however, has been essentially calculated by the effectiveness of iron to transfer heat, known as thermal conductivity.
But there was a paradox with the previously determined younger estimates of the age of the inner core:
- The high amount of conductivity of the iron core, however, was impossible because it would have little energy to convection.
- It also only supported the existence of the geodynamo for about a billion year, whereas other studies have showed that the process has existed for at least 3.4 billion years.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 26th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
India recycles only 1%
HEADLINES:
India recycles only 1% of its construction and demolition waste: CSE
WHY IN NEWS:
The rest remains strewn across, in landfills, or in plain sight everywhere, leading to air and water pollution
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Pollution
ISSUE:
PUBLISHED BY
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) .
ANALYSIS
- The country generates an estimated 150 million tonnes of C&D waste every year.
- But the official recycling capacity is a meagre 6,500 tonnes per day — just about one per cent.
- Total waste generated in the country put the figure at three-five times more than the official estimate.
- Improving construction and demolition waste management in Indian cities, also goes on to recommend a viable plan of action.
HIGHLIGHTS
- As many as 53 cities were expected to set up recycling facilities to recover material from C&D waste by 2017 — but only 13 cities have done that by 2020.
- Heaps of concrete, bricks and metal waste from construction were choking water bodies, green areas and public spaces in Indian cities.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- A significant proportion of construction waste can be recycled and reused .
- Thus can be brought back to construction to substitute naturally sourced material.
- This demands a circular economy that can turn C&D waste into a resource.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 26th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
Biochar application
HEADLINES:
Biochar application can help Ghana’s smallholder farmers fight back climate change: Study
WHY IN NEWS:
New research shows biochar application is more effective in promoting cowpea growth and yield in Ghana
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:Diseases
ISSUE:
BIOCHAR APPLICATION
Smallholder farmers bear the brunt mostly — they often face declining soil productivity due to unavailability of mineral fertilisers or lack of affordability.
BIOCHAR : A SOLUTION
- It is a charcoal-like substance made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes.
- This could help promote cowpea growth and crop yield in the country as well as fight climate change impact on soil.
SIGNIFICANCE
- Cowpea is one of the most broadly produced pulse crops in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The crop is an important source of human food, livestock feed and green manure.
- It is also valued for its ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
- Adding biochar to soil is a relatively new approach, but has been shown to improve crop yield in many ways.
- It can increase the soil’s water-holding capacity, reduce acidity, increase nutrient supply and retention.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Despite its numerous benefits, research into the effectiveness of various methods of biochar application to soils has rarely been investigated.
- However, most biochar field trials reported to date have used broadcast and incorporation methods.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 26th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
INSV Viraat
HEADLINES:
Viraat to head to Alang yard for dismantling
WHY IN NEWS:
End of a long voyage:Viraat at the Naval dockyard in Mumbai.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: DEFENCE
ISSUE:
VIRAAT
- Decommissioned aircraft carrier Viraat, which has been lying at the Naval dockyard in Mumbai, is set to be scrapped at a ship breaking yard at Alang in Gujarat soon.
BACKGROUND
- It served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes for 25 years from November 1959 to April 1984.
- It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in May 1987 after refurbishment and had operated Harrier fighter jets.
- It was decommissioned from in March 2017.
- The Navy had been incurring expenditure since then on its upkeep, such as the provision of electricity and water, and repairs.
- It was also taking up space in the crowded Naval dockyard.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- It has been sold to the Shree Ram Green Ship Recycling Industries of Gujarat in an e-auction by the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited (MSTC).
- Several attempts by the Navy to preserve the carrier, by converting it into a museum or by other means, failed.
- The government informed Parliament in July last year that it had been decided to scrap the carrier.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 26th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
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