IAS Prelims GS Questions and Answers - June 10, 2016

ANSWER: Ocean-atmosphere interactions

Explanation:

• The aim of “BoBBLE: Bay of Bengal Boundary Layer Experiment” is to determine, quantify and model ocean-atmosphere interactions that drive variability in the South Asian monsoon.
• Under this project, an observational campaign will be undertaken in the Bay of Bengal during June-July 2016 along with the analysis of wider observational and reanalysis-based data sets, and a set of hierarchical modelling experiments.
• The study will improve the understanding about the role of thermodynamic surface and mixed layer processes in the monsoon as well as the role of large-scale ocean structure, ocean dynamics and ocean biogeochemistry in the monsoon.
• This project will be undertaken jointly by India and UK.

ANSWER: Aerosol interaction with rainfall

Explanation:

• The project “South West Asian Aerosol - Monsoon Interactions (SWAAMI)”, involves measurements of aerosols across northern India and the Bay of Bengal during the pre-monsoon which will then be synthesized with long term measurements from ground based networks and data from previous intensive campaigns.
• The study is expected to characterize the mechanisms by which aerosols influence the Indian monsoon.
• This joint effort is part of the implementation agreement signed between MoES and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK on “Predicting the Variability of the South Asian Monsoon” under the existing MoU between MoES and UK on Collaboration in Earth System Science. Three research projects involving the Indian and UK scientists will study different aspects of physical processes affecting the monsoon.

ANSWER: Improving the skill of rainfall prediction

Explanation:

• The project ‘Interaction of Convective Organization and Monsoon Precipitation, Atmosphere, Surface and Sea (INCOMPASS)’ aims to capture the key surface-atmosphere feedback processes in models.
• The study will improve the skill of rainfall prediction in operational weather and climate models by way of better understanding and representation of interactions between the land surface, boundary layer, convection, the large-scale environment and monsoon variability on a range of scales.
• To address the issue of better understanding of processes that drive the variability, and predictability of the South Asian Monsoon, India and United Kingdom have embarked on an ambitious plan to carry out a large-scale joint observational campaign involving the deployment of UK’s BAe-146-301 atmospheric research aircraft with sophisticated scientific instruments and India’s Sagar Nidhi and Sindhu Sadhna research ships during the period May-July 2016.
• The UK’s instrumented aircraft is a special aircraft which can fly at a very low-level for taking the observations. The aircraft observations will be augmented by special observational programs over the land using boundary layer flux towers, radars, Microwave Radiometers etc.

ANSWER: 2, 3, 4

Explanation:

• India currently has 26 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 689,131 hectares.
• Some of the important sites in India are – Kolleru lake, Deeper bol, East Calcutta Wetlands, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Pong Dam, Renuka, Chandratal, Hokesar, Mansar and Surinsar, Kanjli, Rupar, Bhoj, etc.

ANSWER: Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary

Explanation:

• The site was identified in 1988.
• Nalsarovar was declared as a Ramsar site on 24 September 2012. Since 2005 it is the only lake that has been declared as Ramsar site in India.
• It is located in Gujarat.
• Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary consists primarily of a 120.82-square-kilometre (46.65 sq mi) lake and ambient marshes.
• Mainly inhabited by migratory birds in winter and spring, it is the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat, and one of the largest in India. It was declared a bird sanctuary in April 1969.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• There are over 27000 Wetlands in India covering 18.4% of total area. Out of them, an overwhelming majority is of inland wetlands (23000) while few of them are coastal wetlands (4000).
• Around 70% of India’s wetlands are under paddy cultivation. Majority of wetlands in India are manmade. There is no specific law for wetland conservation, management and use in India.
• The wetlands are covered under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Using the powers given by this act, the Central Government had issued the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
• There was a need to update these rules. The recently released Draft Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016 is a step in that direction.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:
The rules are applicable to three types of wetlands as follows:

• Wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention. Currently, 26 wetlands {check schedule here} come in this category.
• Wetlands notified by State Governments located in respective states.
• Wetlands notified by the Central Government based in Union territories.

ANSWER: 1, 2

Explanation:

• 2010 Rules: 12 activities including fishing, boating, dredging, etc. are restricted without prior permission from the state government.
  2016 Draft Rules: Do not address the issue of prior permission for any activity.
• 2010 Rules: Activities prohibited in wetlands include reclamation, constructing permanent structures within 50 m, setting up or expanding industries, throwing waste, etc.
  2016 Draft Rules: The entire list, apart from reclamation, has been deleted. Activities that make “wise use” of wetlands have been permitted. The state authority is to decide what does, and doesn’t, amount to “wise use”.
• 2010 Rules: Wetlands have to be notified within a year of the Rules coming into force, and there are deadlines for each process along the way: 6 months for identification and classification, 30 days to send it to a research institute for reference and opinion, 90 days for the research institute to submit its opinion. The rest of the time is available for fulfilling notification formalities, which pass through the central authority.
  2016 Draft Rules: Do away with the time-bound process for notification.

ANSWER: Set of wetlands dependent on each other

Explanation:

• ‘Wetland complexes’ are a set of wetlands dependent on each other.
• In a wetland complex, major functional discontinuities (such as uplands or open water lakes) may subdivide the area into a number of distinctive wetland units, but the entire wetland area is evaluated as a single unit.
• Wetland complexes are commonly related in a functional way, that is, as a group they tend to have similar or complementary biological, social and/or hydrological functions. Much of the wildlife in the area of the complex is variously dependent upon the presence of the entire complex of wetlands, with each wetland unit contributing to the whole.