Subject: Conservation & Mitigation

Introduction

• An invasive weed, Cuscuta dodder, is gradually strangling the Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, posing a severe threat to local vegetation, ecology, and the habitat of migratory birds.

About Cuscuta Dodder

• Parasitic Nature: It is a parasitic vine devoid of roots, already infesting acres of trees in reserve forests and beginning to spread within India’s oldest bird sanctuary.
• Origin: Native to North America.
• Modus Operandi: As a holoparasitic plant, it forms a canopy on the host plant and extends thousands of tendrils, eventually forming a dense spectacle before strangling and killing the host.

Persistence and Germination

• Seed Characteristics: Cuscuta seeds are spheroid with a hard coat, enabling them to survive up to 50 years in dry storage and at least 10 years in the field.
• Germination: Unlike root parasites, Cuscuta seeds do not require a specific stimulant to induce germination, enhancing their ability to spread rapidly.

Impact and Spread

• India: According to a technical paper by the National Research Centre for Weed Science, Cuscuta poses a significant problem in oilseeds, pulses, and fodder crops across various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Orissa, West Bengal, and parts of Madhya Pradesh under both rain-fed and irrigated conditions.
• Global Legislation: It is listed as a ‘declared noxious weed’ in 25 countries, with seeds and plant material restricted from entry. In the United States, it is the only weed seed whose movement is prohibited in every state.

Introduction

• The northern white rhino, once on the brink of extinction, saw its last male member pass away in 2018, leaving the subspecies on the verge of being lost forever.
• However, a pioneering initiative was launched in 2015 by a group of international scientists known as BioRescue, to resurrect the northern white rhino through in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

About Northern White Rhino

White Rhino Resurrection IVF Project

• Project: BioRescue, a team of scientists from around the world, embarked on a mission to revive the northern white rhino through IVF in 2015.
• Historic Breakthrough: In a remarkable achievement, scientists announced the first-ever rhino pregnancy via the transfer of a lab-made rhino embryo into a surrogate mother.
• Persistence and Dedication: The breakthrough with a southern white rhino, a close relative, followed 13 attempts, showcasing the dedication of the scientists.

Challenges on Road to Revival

• Unique Challenge: Northern white rhinos face an unusual predicament due to the infertility of the last two surviving females, Najin and Fatu.
• Surrogacy Complexity: Preparing a southern white female as a surrogate mother involves isolation, infection prevention protocols, and precise identification of the fertile window.
• Genetic Viability: Even with successful IVF and surrogacy, the limited gene pool from eggs and sperm of deceased zoo rhinos poses a challenge.
• Stem Cell Possibilities: Exploring stem cell techniques to broaden the gene pool shows promise but is experimental and challenging to implement in rhinos.

Lessons from Conservation

• Wild Resilience: Conservation efforts saved the southern white rhino from near-extinction, with their numbers rebounding from a mere 20 in the 19th century to over 17,000.
• Crossbreeding Dilemma: Crossbreeding northern and southern subspecies is not a viable solution due to the loss of unique attributes.
• Behavioral Legacy: Restoring a species requires more than genetic revival; it necessitates the transmission of behavioral traits learned from adults of the same species.

The Race against Time

• Critical Window: To preserve the northern white rhino’s unique behavioral traits, the first IVF calves must learn from the last two surviving females, Najin and Fatu.
• Looming Deadline: With Najin at 35 and Fatu at 24, the window for this crucial interaction is closing, as northern white rhinos rarely live beyond 40 in captivity.
• A Costly Endeavor: BioRescue, funded by the German government and donors, has invested millions in this project, raising questions about resource allocation and prioritization.

The Bigger Picture

• A Noble Cause: The effort to revive the northern white rhino stems from a sense of responsibility to counteract human-driven extinction.
• Conservation Imperative: While the project is ambitious, critics raise concerns about neglecting other endangered species and the need to protect natural habitats.
• Broader Crisis: Rhino populations across species face grave threats, including poaching, with one rhino poached every 16 hours in Africa.

Introduction

• The recent sighting of an endangered Indian grey wolf within the vast expanse of the National Chambal Sanctuary in Etawah after 20 years has sparked immense excitement among wildlife enthusiasts and experts.

About Indian Grey Wolf

Introduction

• A recent study conducted by researchers at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, analyzed 20 years of radiological data (2000-2020) from six nuclear power plants in India.
• The findings highlight the minimal impact of radioactive discharges from these plants on the environment.
• The study aims to reinforce India’s commitment to its nuclear power program, challenging unfounded beliefs and influencing public and policy perspectives.

Radiological Analysis and Plant Selection

• Twenty-Year Data: The analysis covered radiological data from 2000 to 2020 from seven nuclear power plants.
• Focus on Fission Products: The study focused on concentrations of fission products and neutron-activated nuclides within a 5 km radius of each nuclear plant, considering samples collected up to a maximum radius of 30 km.

Gaseous and Liquid Discharges

• Components of Gaseous Waste: The gaseous waste released into the atmosphere included fission product noble gases, Argon-41, radioiodine, and particulate radionuclides (cobalt-60, strontium-90, caesium-137, and tritium).
• Liquid Discharge Components: Liquid discharge consisted of fission product radionuclides (radioiodine, tritium, strontium-90, caesium-137) and activation products like cobalt-60.
• Strict Regulatory Compliance: The discharges underwent dilution and dispersion, adhering to strict radiological and environmental regulatory regimes.

Radiological Measurements and Concentrations

• Air Particulates: Average gross alpha activity in air particulates across all seven nuclear plants remained below 0.1 megabecquerel (mBq) per cubic meter.
• Specific Markers: Concentrations of iodine-131, caesium-137, and strontium-90 in air particulates were below 1 mBq per cubic meter for iodine-131, with caesium-137 and strontium-90 concentrations three orders lower and below 10 microbecquerel per cubic meter.

Water Bodies and Sediments

• Rivers, Lakes, and Sea Water: Caesium-137 and strontium-90 concentrations in rivers and lakes were below 5 mBq per liter, and sea water near the nuclear plants registered less than 50 megabecquerel per liter.
• Sediment Analysis: Sediment analysis revealed that caesium-137 concentration was highest at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station, while strontium-90 concentration peaked at the Narora Atomic Power Station.

Tritium Detection and Total Doses

• Tritium Presence: Tritium was detectable at all sites except the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station, where it was not detected during the study period.
• Total Doses: Though total doses remained below regulatory limits, Rajasthan, Madras, and Tarapur power plants showed relatively higher total doses. Efforts are being made to further limit doses at these sites to keep them as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

Conclusion

• The BARC study’s comprehensive analysis concludes that the environmental impact of Indian nuclear power plants, based on 20 years of radiological data, has been minimal.
• The findings not only emphasize the safe operation of these plants but also contribute to dispelling unwarranted beliefs, supporting India’s commitment to advancing its nuclear power program.
• The study’s insights are poised to shape public and policy perspectives on nuclear energy in the country.

Introduction

• The Supreme Court has called upon the Centre to unveil its strategy for preserving the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) by February.

Why discuss this?

• Recognizing the urgent need to safeguard this bird species, the court acknowledges the significant threat posed by high transmission power lines in the natural habitats of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• These areas are not only vital for the GIB but also play a crucial role in India’s renewable energy initiatives, particularly solar power.
• Striking a balance between GIB conservation and international commitments to reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy is the challenge at hand.

Great Indian Bustard: An Overview

• Significance: GIBs are the largest among India’s four bustard species and are considered flagship birds of grasslands.
• Conservation Status: Critically endangered, with historic habitat reduced to just 10 percent.
• Protection Measures: Listed under CITES Appendix I, IUCN status: Critically Endangered, and under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
• Threats: Overhead power transmission, poor vision, windmills, noise pollution, landscape changes, and alterations in cultivation patterns pose significant threats to GIBs.

Conservation vs. Solar Power Dilemma

• International Commitments: India has global commitments to reduce carbon emissions and promote alternative energy sources such as solar power.
• Striking a Balance: The Supreme Court emphasizes the need to find a middle ground that preserves the GIB while ensuring the availability of solar power.
• Safety Concerns: Underground power lines are deemed dangerous, necessitating innovative solutions.

Challenges and Concerns

• Ineffective Bird Diverters: Current bird diverters installed in key GIB habitats are either sub-standard or have failed to prevent collisions.
• Government’s Role: The Court questioned the government’s intentions and seeks a clear plan to address the GIB’s conservation and the solar power expansion.
• Data on Bird Diverters: The Chief Justice inquired about authentic data or government-monitored studies on the effectiveness of bird diverters.

Try this PYQ:

Q.Consider the following pairs:

Protected Area: Well-known for

1. Bhitarkanika, Odisha — Salt Water Crocodile
2. Desert National Park, Rajasthan — Great Indian Bustard
3. Eravikulam, Kerala — Hoolock Gibbon

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (CSP 2014)

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

[wpdiscuz-feedback id=”w0xgrf709a” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

Introduction

• As large parts of North India, including regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Punjab, grapple with heavy fog, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing alerts and warnings to keep residents informed about the prevailing conditions.
• This article seeks to unravel the science behind these warnings and the role of the INSAT 3D satellite in providing crucial data for fog monitoring.

Fog Situation in North India

• Persistent Fog: Since December 2023, many parts of North India have been shrouded in heavy fog.
• IMD Warnings: On January 16, the IMD issued warnings about “very dense fog” in several states, including Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, with visibility expected to drop below 50 meters during night and morning hours.

Decoding Satellite Images

• Insights from INSAT 3D: The INSAT 3D satellite plays a vital role in monitoring foggy conditions through images.
• Solar Reflectance and Brightness Temperature: The colors in these images are determined by two factors: solar reflectance and brightness temperature.
• Solar Reflectance: Reflects the amount of solar energy reflected by a surface in relation to the energy it receives.
• Brightness Temperature: Relates an object’s temperature to the brightness of its surface, measured across various wavelengths.

Day Microphysics Data

• Solar Reflectance at Three Wavelengths: INSAT 3D’s ‘day microphysics’ component studies solar reflectance at three wavelengths: 0.5 µm (visible radiation), 1.6 µm (shortwave infrared radiation), and 10.8 µm (thermal infrared radiation).
• Color Determination: The strength of signals at these wavelengths determines the RGB (red-green-blue) colors in the image.
• Applications: These images help analyze cloud types, thunderstorm stages, snow identification, and fire detection.

Night Microphysics Data

• Complex Color Determination: INSAT 3D’s ‘night microphysics’ component derives two colors from the difference between two thermal infrared signals.
• Color Variables: Red color depends on the difference between 12 µm and 10 µm signals, green on 10.8 µm and 3.9 µm signals, and blue on the strength of the 10.8 µm signal.
• Identifying Features: Night microphysics data aids in identifying cloud types and their temperature differences.

Combining Day and Night Data

• Comprehensive Insights: Meteorologists combine day and night microphysics data to study moisture droplets, temperature variations, and track the formation, evolution, and depletion of weather events, including cyclones.
• Advanced Warning Systems: Proposed applications include predicting thunderstorms one to three hours in advance.

Radiometers and Sounders

• Satellite Instruments: INSAT 3D and 3DR use radiometers for spectral measurements and atmospheric sounders for temperature, humidity, and water vapor analysis.
• Improved Technology: These satellites offer significant improvements in spatial resolution and spectral channels compared to their predecessors, enhancing India’s weather monitoring capabilities.

Future with INSAT 3DS

• Continued Advancements: The Indian Space Research Organisation plans to launch the INSAT 3DS meteorological satellite in February 2024.
• Enhanced Capabilities: This satellite will build upon the successes of its predecessors, further enhancing India’s weather monitoring and warning capabilities.

Conclusion

• The INSAT 3D satellite, with its ability to capture and analyze day and night microphysics data, plays a pivotal role in monitoring and predicting weather conditions, including foggy scenarios, in North India.
• By understanding the intricate science behind these satellite images, meteorologists can provide timely warnings and valuable insights to protect public safety and navigate the challenges posed by severe weather conditions.
• With advancements on the horizon, India’s meteorological capabilities continue to evolve, ensuring better preparedness for weather-related events in the future.