Daily Prelims Notes 13 November 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

13 November 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Fifth storm in a month bears down on the Philippines
2. Israel’s Smotrich calls for annexation of West Bank
3. Global carbon dioxide emissions set to rise 0.8% over 2023, India’s contribution to go up 4.6%
4. In Baku breakthrough, COP clears carbon credit trade
5. New NASA-ISRO satellite ‘NISAR’ to revolutionise Earth monitoring, disaster preparedness
6. DRDO Successfully Conducts Maiden Test of Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)
7. Engineering Bacteria to Perform Mathematical Computations
8. China’s Expanding Military and Aerospace Capabilities Highlighted at Airshow China

1. Fifth storm in a month bears down on the Philippines

Sub: Geo

Sec: Climatology

Context:

• The Philippines is preparing to evacuate tens of thousands of people as Tropical Storm Usagi approaches the country, expected to impact the northern island of Luzon in two days.
• Recent storms in Philippines include Typhoon Toraji, Severe Tropical Storm Trami, Typhoon Yinxing, and Super Typhoon Kong-rey.
• Flooding in the Cagayan River, the largest river in the Philippines, has slowed down evacuations.

Tropical Cyclones:

• Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas bringing about large-scale destruction due to violent winds, very heavy rainfall and storm surge.
• They are irregular wind movements involving closed circulation of air around a low-pressure centre. This closed air circulation is a result of rapid upward movement of hot air which is subjected to Coriolis force.
• A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the eye, a central region of clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure.

Conditions favourable for Tropical Cyclone formation:

• Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27°C.
• Presence of the Coriolis force enough to create a cyclonic vortex.
• Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
• A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
• Upper divergence above the sea level system.

Name of Tropical cyclones in different regions:

• Atlantic: Hurricanes
• Western Pacific and South China Sea: Typhoons
• Western Australia: Willy-Willies
• Indian Ocean: Cyclones

Tropical vs Temperate cyclone:

Luzon Island:

• Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, located in the northern part of the country. It serves as the economic, political, and cultural hub of the nation.
• Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is located on Luzon.
• To the north, the Luzon Strait separates Luzon from the Taiwan

2. Israel’s Smotrich calls for annexation of West Bank

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

• Israel’s Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced that 2025 would be the year when Israel plans to annex the occupied West Bank.
• Smotrich, a member of the Religious Zionist Party (a coalition partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government), called on the Israeli government to begin preparing the necessary infrastructure for the annexation.
• The statement comes amid a meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders to discuss the ongoing Israeli military actions in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

About West Bank:

• The West Bank is a landlocked territory West Asia that forms the main bulk of the Palestinian territories.
• It is bordered by Jordan and the Dead Sea to the east and by Israel to the south, west, and north. It falls on the western bank of Jordan river and hence the name West Bank.
• Ramallah, the de facto administrative capital of Palestine is situated in West Bank.

Historical Background:

• The West Bank was originally part of British Mandate Palestine and was occupied by Jordan after the Arab-Israeli War (1948) but Israel snatched it back during the Six-Day War of 1967 and has occupied it ever since.
• Under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, both Israel and the Palestinians agreed that the status of settlements would be decided by negotiations.
• The West Bank, which is internationally considered occupied Palestinian territory, is referred to by Israelis as Judea and Samaria.

3. Global carbon dioxide emissions set to rise 0.8% over 2023, India’s contribution to go up 4.6%

Sub : Env

Sec Climate change

Rising Global Carbon Emissions:

• A recent peer-reviewed report by the Global Carbon Budget (GCB) collective highlights trends in carbon emissions.

1. Global Carbon Emission Trends

• Increase in Emissions:
  • Global fossil CO₂ emissions are projected to rise by 0.8% in 2024, lower than the 1.2% increase observed in 2023.
  • This suggests a deceleration in the growth rate but does not indicate a peak in fossil fuel emissions.

2. Major Contributors to Emissions (2023 Data)

• Top Emitters:
  • China 31% of global fossil CO₂ emissions, United States: 13%, India: 8%, EU-27: 7%
  • These four regions account for 59% of global fossil CO₂ emissions; the rest of the world contributed 41%.

3. Per Capita CO₂ Emissions

• The global average was 1.3 tonnes of carbon per person in 2023.
  • United States: 3.9 tonnes, China: 2.3 tonnes, EU-27: 1.5 tonnes, India: 0.6 tonnes
  • The data highlights significant disparities in per capita emissions, reflecting varying levels of economic development and energy consumption.

4. Projected Emissions for 2024:

• By year-end, fossil CO₂ emissions are expected to:
  • Increase by 4.6% in India
  • Increase by 0.2% in China
  • Decrease by 0.6% in the United States
• Absolute Emissions (Projected for 2024):
  • China: 12 billion tonnes, United States: 4.9 billion tonnes, India: 3.2 billion tonnes

5. Sector-wise Emission Growth

• Emissions from:
  • Coal: Expected to increase by 0.2%
  • Oil: Expected to increase by 0.9%
  • Gas: Expected to increase by 2.4%
• Emissions from land-use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) averaged 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon per year.

6. Rising Atmospheric CO₂ Levels:

• The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is expected to reach 422.5 ppm in 2024.
• This is 52% higher than pre-industrial levels.

8. Paris Agreement Targets and the 1.5°C Challenge

• The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to below 2°C, with an emphasis on striving for 1.5°C.
• Many countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) align with a 1.5°C pathway, at least on paper. However, the GCB report expresses doubt about achieving this target.

9. The Remaining Carbon Budget:

• The GCB report estimates there is a 50% chance that the remaining carbon budget to stay within the 1.5°C limit will be exhausted in approximately six years.
• In January 2024, the mean global temperature (averaged over the previous 12 months) temporarily exceeded the 1.5°C threshold.
• The report notes significant uncertainties but warns that the time left to meet the 1.5°C target and avoid severe climate impacts is nearly depleted.

4. In Baku breakthrough, COP clears carbon credit trade

Sub : Env

Sec: Int convention

Context:

• At the ongoing COP29 climate conference in Baku, countries have reached a landmark agreement to establish a global carbon market, addressing long-standing disputes and delays.
• This mechanism, rooted in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, aims to facilitate international cooperation on carbon trading and help countries meet their climate goals more effectively.

Understanding the Global Carbon Market:

1. Framework under Article 6:
   • Article 6.2: Allows for bilateral trading of carbon credits between countries, enabling them to collaborate on emissions reduction projects directly.
   • Article 6.4: Establishes a global carbon market supervised by a United Nations body, where countries can buy and sell carbon credits through a central system.
2. Mechanism of Carbon Trading:
   • Countries can trade carbon credits, which are certified reductions of carbon emissions achieved through projects like afforestation or renewable energy.
   • The prices of these credits are determined based on emission caps set by countries, incentivizing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Challenges in Implementation:
   • Genuine Carbon Credits: A major concern has been the authenticity of carbon credits, ensuring they reflect real, verifiable emission reductions.
   • Accounting Issues: There are unresolved questions about the ownership and usage of credits:
     • If a developed country funds a carbon reduction project in a developing country, can the saved carbon be counted in the developed country’s ledger?
     • At what stage of a renewable energy project’s life-cycle is a carbon credit eligible for trade?
     • Should credits generated by foreign-funded projects in a country be counted towards that country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

4. Recent Developments and Negotiations:
   • The UN supervisory body overseeing the market issued a draft text setting out standards for carbon removal and project evaluation, addressing transparency and consistency.

Potential Impact of the Agreement:

• According to estimates, finalizing the Article 6 framework could reduce the cost of implementing national climate plans by $250 billion per year.
• It is expected to channel significant financial resources to developing countries, helping them achieve climate targets.

Source: TH

5. New NASA-ISRO satellite ‘NISAR’ to revolutionise Earth monitoring, disaster preparedness

Sub : Sci

Sec: Space tech

NISAR Mission:

• The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, a joint initiative by NASA and ISRO, represents a significant leap in Earth observation capabilities.
• It aims to monitor changes in the Earth’s surface with unmatched precision, benefiting fields such as disaster response, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure stability.
• Slated for launch in early 2025 from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, NISAR is expected to transform our understanding of dynamic Earth processes.

Key Features of NISAR:

1. Dual Radar System:
   • L-band radar (NASA): Offers deep penetration capabilities, able to see through dense vegetation. It excels in tracking subtle ground motions, essential for monitoring fault lines, volcanic regions, and infrastructure.
   • S-band radar (ISRO): Complements the L-band radar, focusing on shorter-wavelength observations. Together, these radars provide comprehensive, all-weather, day-and-night data collection.
2. Precision and Coverage:
   • NISAR will be capable of measuring shifts in Earth’s surface down to fractions of an inch, a level of precision vital for tracking phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, and glacier movements.
   • The satellite will observe changes in nearly all of the planet’s land and ice-covered surfaces every 12 days, offering a continuous, detailed view of Earth’s dynamics.

Applications and Benefits:

1. Disaster Preparedness and Response:
   • Seismic Monitoring: By detecting subtle horizontal and vertical movements along fault lines, NISAR can help scientists identify areas of potential seismic activity. It won’t predict earthquakes but can reveal which parts of a fault line are moving and which are locked, helping prioritize risk assessments.
   • Landslides and Volcanic Activity: NISAR will track ground deformation that often precedes landslides or volcanic eruptions, enabling early warnings and better hazard management.
   • Himalayan Region Focus: In earthquake-prone areas like the Himalayas, the satellite will provide unprecedented data on seismic risks, enhancing safety measures and preparedness strategies.
2. Environmental and Climate Monitoring:
   • Ice Sheets and Glaciers: NISAR will measure changes in ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice, contributing valuable data on the effects of climate change and sea-level rise.
   • Vegetation and Land Use: The radar capabilities can monitor changes in forests, wetlands, and agricultural areas, providing insights for conservation and sustainable land management.
3. Infrastructure Stability:
   • NISAR’s precise measurements will help assess the structural integrity of critical infrastructure like levees, aqueducts, and dams. By detecting early signs of ground shifts, it allows for targeted inspections and timely maintenance, reducing costs and preventing potential failures.
   • In disaster scenarios, such as earthquakes, the data will help identify compromised structures quickly, aiding in efficient response and recovery efforts.

Launch and Operational Details:

• NISAR will be launched aboard ISRO’s GSLV Mark II rocket into a low Earth orbit.
• The spacecraft is being developed jointly, with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) responsible for the high-tech radar instruments and ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre providing the spacecraft bus and launch services.

Testing and Readiness:

• In 2023, the satellite successfully underwent rigorous testing, including exposure to a thermal vacuum chamber in Bengaluru, India. These tests simulated harsh space conditions, demonstrating NISAR’s durability and operational readiness.

Significance of the NISAR Mission:

• The NISAR mission exemplifies the power of international collaboration in tackling global challenges. By combining the expertise of NASA and ISRO, the mission will provide comprehensive, high-resolution data, enhancing our ability to respond to natural disasters, understand climate change, and safeguard vital infrastructure. The insights gained from NISAR will be invaluable for both scientific research and practical applications, paving the way for more resilient and informed global communities.
• NISAR’s ability to track subtle surface movements across the entire planet will offer a more complete picture of Earth’s processes, from seismic shifts to environmental changes, driving advancements in disaster preparedness and climate science.

Source: DTE

6. DRDO Successfully Conducts Maiden Test of Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)

Sub : Sci

Sec : Defence

Why in News

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently carried out the first test flight of a newly developed Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM).

About LRLACM:

• The DRDO conducted the initial test flight of the LRLACM, a long-range cruise missile, using a mobile articulated launcher. This missile launch took place from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
• The missile has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, a division of DRDO.
• With an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometers, the LRLACM is capable of engaging long-distance land targets.
• This missile is an improved variant of the Nirbhay cruise missile, featuring enhanced capabilities for improved targeting and accuracy.
• The Defence Acquisition Council had approved the procurement of the LRLACM in July 2020, highlighting its strategic importance to India’s defence apparatus.
• The LRLACM shares operational similarities with the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile, enhancing India’s ability to conduct precise strikes without exposing assets to enemy fire.
• This development is aligned with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, promoting self-reliance in defense technologies.

About Cruise Missiles:

• A cruise missile either locates its target or has a preset target.
• It navigates using a guidance system — such as inertial or beyond visual range satellite GPS guidance — and comprises a payload and aircraft propulsion system.
• Cruise missiles can be launched from land, sea or air for land attacks and anti-shipping purposes, and can travel at subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
• Since they stay relatively close to the surface of the earth, they cannot be detected easily by anti-missile systems, and are designed to carry large payloads with high precision.

7. Engineering Bacteria to Perform Mathematical Computations

Sub : Sci

Sec : Awareness in IT and Computers

Why in News

• The Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kolkata achieved a significant breakthrough by engineering bacteria to solve mathematical problems. This advancement, led by synthetic biologist Dr. Sangram Bagh and his team, enables bacteria to behave like artificial neural networks, paving the way for future applications in biocomputing.

Bactoneurons as Single-Layered ANNs:

• The primary aim of the research is to engineer bacteria capable of performing abstract mathematical tasks, previously manageable only by humans or traditional computers.
• By introducing “genetic circuits” into bacteria, which are activated by chemical inducers, the researchers transformed these bacteria into biological computing units, or “bactoneurons.”
• When combined in solutions, these bactoneurons acted as a network, akin to artificial neural networks (ANNs), allowing bacteria to perform complex computations.
• Unlike multicellular organisms with specialized neurons, these engineered single-celled bacteria have shown sensitivity and responsiveness akin to intelligent organisms.
• This development challenges traditional definitions of intelligence, as bacteria without complex nervous systems can now tackle tasks such as identifying prime numbers or distinguishing vowels from consonants.
• The team used Escherichia coli as a model, inserting synthetic promoters and transcription factors to form genetic circuits that respond to specific chemical compounds.
• By combining four transcription factors and designing unique promoter sequences, they created diverse feedback and feed-forward mechanisms, allowing complex computations.
• Bacteria were trained to recognize binary input codes, where the presence or absence of specific chemicals represented binary values (1 or 0), akin to voltage states in traditional computing.
• Each engineered bacterial strain functions as a bactoneuron, a processing unit that performs designated tasks based on chemical inputs.
• By combining these bactoneurons, the researchers created bacterial networks capable of performing tasks like determining if a number is prime, or recognizing if a letter is a vowel.
• Each task’s outcome is visualized by fluorescent proteins, with green and red indicating different outputs.

Examples of Bacterial Computations:

• Bacterial computers were programmed to determine if numbers 0-9 were prime by converting these numbers into binary, then presenting the chemicals in a solution based on binary encoding.
• Bacteria could also assess if the square of a number could be expressed as the sum of three factorials, a significant computational feat.
• They solved optimization tasks like calculating the maximum number of sections resulting from a given number of straight cuts on a circular object.

Applications and Future Scope:

• Engineered bacterial computers could lead to advancements in early cancer detection, where bacteria identify molecular changes and signal the presence of cancerous cells.
• Programmable bacteria could revolutionize manufacturing processes by performing specific tasks at the cellular level, potentially reducing reliance on silicon-based traditional computers.
• Bacterial computers could be programmed to detect specific pollutants, signalling when they exceed safe thresholds.

What is an Artificial Neural Network?

• Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are computing systems inspired by biological neural networks in the brain, designed to simulate human cognitive functions like learning and problem-solving.
• ANN is inspired by the structure of the human brain, specifically its network of neurons.
• Neurons communicate through synapses, strengthening or weakening connections as new information is learned. Similarly, ANN nodes simulate neurons by adjusting connection strengths based on data input.
• ANNs learn by adjusting the strength of connections between nodes, much like how the brain strengthens connections between neurons when learning new information. This allows the ANN to recognize patterns and make decisions without being explicitly programmed to follow specific instructions.
• ANNs learn by adjusting the weights of connections during training through algorithms like backpropagation, which minimizes errors between predicted and actual outcomes.

8. China’s Expanding Military and Aerospace Capabilities Highlighted at Airshow China

Sub : Sci

Sec :Defence

Why in News

• China’s largest air show, Airshow China 2024, has commenced in Zhuhai, drawing global attention as it showcases advancements in the nation’s military and aerospace capabilities. This event serves as a strategic platform for Beijing to demonstrate its technological prowess amidst rising tensions with the United States and regional conflicts involving Taiwan.
• Airshow China 2024 coincides with the 75th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, emphasizing the significance of military advancements in China’s national defence strategy.

J-35A Stealth Fighter Jet:

• The J-35A is a twin-engine stealth fighter developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, intended for use by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a complement to the J-20.
• It is designed as a multi-role stealth aircraft, comparable in design to the U.S. F-35 but with a twin-engine setup for enhanced performance.
• Equipped with advanced stealth technologies, the J-35A includes an electro-optical targeting system and sensor fusion capabilities for battlefield awareness. Reports suggest that Pakistan has shown interest in acquiring this aircraft.

J-20 Fighter Jet:

• The Chengdu J-20, also known as the “Mighty Dragon,” is China’s premier stealth air-superiority fighter. It is designed primarily for air dominance and counter-air missions.
• The J-20 integrates stealth features, advanced avionics, and is powered by indigenous WS-10C engines, though the J-35 may be equipped with the newer WS-19 engine. The J-20 is considered a response to the U.S. F-22 and is one of the few operational fifth-generation fighters worldwide.

SS-UAV “Mothership” Drone:

• This advanced UAV platform serves as a “mothership” for launching and controlling smaller drones, potentially for swarming operations or surveillance over extended areas.
• The SS-UAV is designed for versatility, carrying multiple drones for reconnaissance or combat operations. It could play a role in future Chinese drone warfare, expanding China’s reach in contested airspace​.

Su-57 Fighter Jet:

• Russia’s advanced Su-57 stealth jet, noted for its grey-and-white camouflage, performed at the airshow, marking the deepening military ties between the two nations.
• Russia’s Su-57 is a fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter with air superiority and ground attack capabilities. It is designed to counter advanced U.S. fighters like the F-22 and F-35.
• The Su-57 incorporates stealth technology, supercruise capability, and advanced radar systems. Russia is enhancing its fleet with additional orders, aiming to improve its competitiveness in the modern aerial battlefield​.

Haoloong Space Cargo Shuttle:

• Airshow China will unveil a model of “Haoloong,” a homegrown reusable space cargo shuttle, signalling China’s progress in space technology.
• Designed for commercial rocket launches, Haoloong is intended to dock with China’s space station, Tiangong, further solidifying China’s role in space exploration.

Strategic and Global Implications:

• China has heavily invested in advancing its aviation capabilities to counter regional and global competitors, primarily the United States. Airshow China provides an opportunity to demonstrate these advancements to both potential allies and rivals.
• China’s military modernization, including frequent flights of warplanes near Taiwan, demonstrates Beijing’s claim over the self-ruled island and reflects escalating tensions in the region.
• With capabilities to produce multiple stealth fighters and sophisticated drones, China’s advancements mark a shift in global military power, potentially intensifying the arms race with other major powers.