Why in the News?
A University of Exeter study found five major polar geoengineering methods ineffective and risky, failing criteria for responsible climate intervention.
Geoengineering in Polar Regions: Study Findings
| Method |
Description |
Intended Benefit |
Key Findings & Limitations |
| Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) |
Artificially releasing aerosols (SO₂, sulphur particles, TiO₂, CaCO₃) into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. |
Reduce surface temperatures by blocking solar radiation. |
- Ineffective in polar winters (no sunlight) and of limited use in summers (ice already highly reflective).
- Sudden termination can cause “termination shock” with rapid global warming.
- Potential to disrupt global weather cycles, harming food and water security.
- No global governance on costs or liability. Estimated cost: $55M/year per country (if 30 nations share).
|
| Sea Curtains / Sea Walls |
Massive buoyant barriers anchored to seafloor to block warm currents from reaching ice sheets. |
Slow melting of glaciers by insulating them from warm water. |
- Technically near-impossible in remote seas like Amundsen (Antarctica).
- Extremely high costs — >$1 billion/km.
- Threatens marine circulation, fish migration, and nutrient cycles.
- Installation in harsh polar seas only possible for few months a year; requires custom-built ships.
- Risk of toxic materials leaching into ocean.
|
| Sea Ice Management (Microbeads) |
Sprinkling glass microbeads over sea ice to increase albedo (reflectivity) and thicken ice. |
Preserve summer ice, slow down warming. |
- Requires 360M tonnes of beads annually — equal to world’s plastic production.
- Major logistical and emissions challenges.
- Beads dissolve quickly, reducing effectiveness.
- Some studies show beads absorb sunlight, causing net warming.
- Costly: $500B/year for Arctic deployment; requires 100M pumps, huge energy draw.
|
| Basal Water Removal |
Pumping subglacial meltwater from under Antarctic glaciers. |
Reduce glacier sliding, thus slowing sea-level rise. |
- Flawed logic: subglacial water is constantly replenished by frictional/geothermal heating.
- Highly emissions-intensive and energy-consuming.
- Requires continuous monitoring, maintenance, and heavy infrastructure.
- Long-term sustainability questioned.
|
| Ocean Fertilisation |
Adding nutrients (e.g., iron) to stimulate phytoplankton growth, enhancing CO₂ absorption. |
Sequester more carbon in oceans. |
- No control over which phytoplankton species dominate, creating food chain imbalances.
- Could harm marine biodiversity and alter global nutrient cycles.
- Needs deployment at massive, impractical scale.
- Risk of side-effects outweighs uncertain benefits.
|
| [UPSC 2020] Consider the following activities:
1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock extensively on farmlands
2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime
3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters
How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?
Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three* (d) None |
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Why in the News?
NASA has recently launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.
About IMAP Mission:
- Context: Operates under NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Probes Program, following missions like STEREO and IBEX.
- Objective: To map the heliosphere boundary, study energetic particle acceleration, and understand how the solar wind interacts with the interstellar medium.
- Location: Positioned at Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), ~1.5 million km from Earth, ensuring continuous solar observation.
Back2Basics: Heliosphere
- The heliosphere is a vast bubble-like region around the Sun created by the flow of solar wind (charged particles emitted by the Sun).
- It extends well beyond Pluto and acts as a shield, protecting the solar system from much of the harmful cosmic radiation from interstellar space.
- Its outer boundary, called the heliopause, marks where solar wind pressure balances with interstellar medium pressure.
|
Key Features:
- Scientific Payload: 10 instruments including- Energetic Neutral Atom Detectors; Charged Particle Detectors and Magnetic & Dust Sensors.
- Real-Time Alerts: Equipped with I-ALiRT (Active Link for Real-Time) to broadcast space weather data and provide ~30 minutes’ warning of harmful solar radiation.
- Spacecraft Design: Spin-stabilized, in a Lissajous orbit around L1, ensuring Sun-facing stability.
- Enhanced Sensitivity: Higher resolution compared to ACE and IBEX, enabling detection of faint cosmic signals.
Significance:
- Scientific: Creates the most detailed maps of the heliosphere boundary, improves understanding of solar wind, cosmic rays, and space weather.
- Technological: Strengthens space weather forecasting, safeguarding satellites, GPS systems, and power grids.
- Human Spaceflight: Critical for Artemis and future deep-space missions, informing radiation shielding and safe travel routes.
- Global Collaboration: Complements missions like NASA–ESA’s Solar Orbiter and the upcoming LISA mission, boosting multi-messenger space science.
- Habitability Research: Provides insights into how heliospheres shield planets, vital for studying Earth’s resilience and exoplanet habitability.
| [UPSC 2016] What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?
Options: (a) Electric plane tested by NASA *
(b) Solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan
(c) Space observatory launched by China
(d) Reusable rocket designed by ISRO |
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Why in the News?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instructed NGOs to submit their Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 renewal applications at least four months before expiry.
About the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA):
- Origin: First enacted in 1976 during the Emergency to regulate inflow of foreign funds.
- FCRA, 2010: Replaced the 1976 Act to strengthen regulation and ensure foreign funds are used for legitimate purposes without compromising sovereignty, security, or national interest.
- Coverage: Applies to individuals, associations, and organizations receiving foreign contributions.
- Administration: Managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Objectives:
- Ensure foreign funds are used responsibly.
- Prevent undue foreign influence on Indian politics, civil society, and governance.
- Safeguard sovereignty, integrity, and harmony.
Key Provisions of FCRA, 2010:
- Registration: Only organizations with definite cultural, social, economic, educational, or religious objectives can apply.
- Validity: Registration valid for 5 years; renewal required 6 months before expiry.
- Designated Bank Account: NGOs must open an exclusive FCRA account in SBI, New Delhi.
- Annual Reporting:
- Receipts and utilization must be reported annually.
- Accounts must be audited by a Chartered Accountant.
- Banks must report foreign fund receipts to MHA.
- Administrative Expenses: NGOs can use a maximum of 20% of foreign funds for admin costs (earlier 50%).
- Special Provisions:
- NGOs can spend up to ₹25 lakh annually outside their constituency/state for projects promoting national unity.
- In severe natural calamities, MPs/NGOs may allocate up to ₹1 crore for relief anywhere in India.
- Prohibited Recipients: Foreign funds cannot go to election candidates, journalists, media houses, judges, government servants, political parties or office bearers, or organizations of political nature.
- Prohibited Activities: NGOs cannot:
- Represent fictitious entities.
- Engage in religious conversions.
- Have records of communal tension, disharmony, or sedition.
Amendments to FCRA:
FCRA Amendment Act, 2020
- Suspension: Government can suspend registration for up to 360 days.
- Mandatory Aadhaar: All office bearers, directors, and key functionaries must provide Aadhaar.
- Prohibition on Sub-Granting: NGOs cannot transfer foreign contributions to other NGOs/entities.
- Reduced Admin Cap: Admin expenses limited to 20% (earlier 50%).
- Designated SBI Account: All foreign funds must be received only in an FCRA account at SBI, New Delhi.
- Bar on Public Servants: Public servants prohibited from receiving foreign contributions.
- Renewal Scrutiny: Renewal applications can be examined for misuse, fictitious status, or rule violations.
- Surrender of Certificate: NGOs can surrender registration with government approval.
FCRA Rules, 2022:
- Raised the annual limit for money received from relatives abroad to ₹10 lakh (earlier ₹1 lakh) without notifying MHA.
- Strengthened safeguards against harmful foreign contributions.
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