Current Affair 1:

What Is the 'Bomb Cyclone'?

 

 Massive storm sweeping United Staes currently.

Storms can form when a mass of low-pressure air meets a high-pressure mass.

The air flows from high pressure to low, creating winds. What defines a bomb cyclone is how rapidly the pressure drops in the low-pressure mass — by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. This quickly increases the pressure difference, or gradient, between the two air masses, making the winds stronger. This process of rapid intensification has a name: bombogenesis.

“As the central pressure falls rapidly, by extension there will also be an explosive intensification of the wind speeds,” - key characteristics of bomb cyclones.

Bombogenesis: What is it exactly?

Bombogenesis occurs when a mid-latitude cyclone (sometimes referred to as a "bomb cyclone") rapidly or explosively intensifies over a 24-hour period. This type of storm system usually, but not always (as in this case), accelerates and strengthens over the ocean as its central pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. (A millibar measures atmospheric pressure.)

What are some of the impacts?

The term bombogenesis is a meteorological one that specifically deals with the measurement of atmospheric pressure. The effects and hazards of this week’s fast-developing, low-pressure weather system include:

1. High, intense winds that can cause power outages;
2. Blizzard conditions with heavy, blowing snow and white-out conditions; and
3. Rainfall on snow that can cause river flooding.

 

 

Current Affair 2:

Who Decides Where You Can and Can't Film in India?

 

The Film Facilitation Office India is the point of contact for filming in India. The FFO regularly engages with the nodal officers in each state of India to ease out the process of permissions.

Film Facilitation Office (FFO) set up by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, acts as a single window clearance and facilitation point for producers and production companies with a view to assist them in getting requisite filming permissions.

The FFO also disseminates information on shooting locations and the facilities available with the Indian film Industry for production/post production and works closely with State Governments in assisting them to set up similar facilities.

The FFO is housed in and operated by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), a central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B).

Current Affair 3:

Protection of orans or sacred groves

 

What are sacred groves?

Sacred groves are patches of natural vegetation preserved by ancient societies on religious and cultural grounds. These patches of vegetation are rich in biodiversity and act as habitats of many endangered and threatened plant species.

 

A sacred grove usually consists of a dense cover of vegetation including climbers, herbs, shrubs and trees, with the presence of a village deity and is mostly situated near a perennial water source.

Sacred groves are considered to be symbols of the primitive practice of nature worship and support nature conservation to a great extent.

It is estimated that India may have about 100,000 such groves. The names of such groves vary depending upon the region and language of our country. They are called with different names in different states:

A small information about Orans

Orans are local micro bio-diversity reserves harbouring the shrine  of a local goddess or deity. Found in the foothills of the Aravalli ranges, most Orans have sources of water, either small springs or rivulets running through them or a variety of ponds and nadis in their midst.

Traditionally the upkeep of Oran was the responsibility of village institution called Thain. With the disintegration of Thain, modern institutions like village panchayat have displayed little interest in the management of Orans. Increasingly it is found that local population have been excluded from the management of their resources, thus, leading to its degeneration.

Orans also form the natural habitat for India’s most critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, which is also the State bird of Rajasthan.

 

Current Affair 4:

A new method to confine and absorb infrared (IR) light with GaN nanostructures

 

News:

About Gallium Nitride (GaN):

1. One of the most advanced semiconductors. It is a widely used material for blue light emission.
2. Advantages: Reliable, compact size, high efficiency, fast switching speed, low on-resistance, and high thermal conductivity.

Key facts :

1. Researchers have utilized a scientific phenomenon called surface polarition excitations in GaN nanostructures that lead to light-matter interactions at IR spectral range.
2. It can help to develop highly efficient infrared absorbers, emitters, and modulators that are useful in defense technologies, energy technologies, imaging, sensing, and so on.
3. Polaritonic technologies have attracted a wide range of applications, such as secure high-speed light-based communication (LiFi), next-generation light sources, solar energy converters, quantum computers, and waste-heat converters.

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