Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE
Topics Covered
- Flash Droughts
- Nasal Vaccine
- How Butterflies fly
- Birds of the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve
- Facts for Prelims
1 . Flash Droughts
Context : In 1979, India faced a severe flash drought, affecting about 40% of the country and taking a toll on agriculture. A new study has now pointed out that India could experience more such flash droughts by the end of this century.
About Flash droughts
- Flash droughts are those that occur very quickly, with soil moisture depleting rapidly.
- Normally, developing drought conditions take months, but these happen within a week or in two weeks’ time.
- Several factors including atmospheric anomalies, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions play an important role.
Details of the Study
- According to the study the ongoing climate change has caused a significant increase in global temperature and this can lead to more and more flash droughts in the coming years. If we can meet the ‘Paris Agreement’ goals and limit global warming to well below 2 degrees C, the numbers and frequency of the projected flash droughts may go down
- The team analysed the major flash droughts that occurred from 1951 to 2016 in India. They simulated the soil moisture using the meteorological data obtained from the India meteorological department. Duration, intensity, and area of the flash droughts were studied and an overall severity score was given.
- The top five flash droughts based on the overall severity score occurred in 1979 followed by 2009,1951,1986 and 2005.
- To predict the future flash droughts the team used a Community Earth System Model which simulates the summer monsoon precipitation, sea surface temperature, role of El Nino Southern Oscillation, and air temperature over India. The analysis showed a considerable rise in the frequency of extremely dry and hot years in the coming three decades.
- They also examined the role of greenhouse gas emissions, industrial aerosols, and land-use/land-cover change. “The frequency of concurrent hot and dry extremes is projected to rise by about five-fold, causing an approximately seven-fold increase in flash droughts like 1979 by the end of the 21st century
- They conclude that this increased frequency of flash droughts can have deleterious implications for crop production, irrigation demands and groundwater abstraction in India.
2 . Nasal Vaccine
Context : Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation recommended granting permission for phase 1 human clinical trials for Bharat Biotech’s nasal COVID-19 vaccine, BBV154. On its website, Bharat Biotech said “the nasal route has excellent potential for vaccination due to the organised immune systems of the nasal mucosa”. Effectively, intranasal candidates have shown good potential for protection in animal studies conducted thus far.
What is a nasal vaccine?
- An intranasal vaccine deliver a vaccine through a spritz through the nostrils.
- The method comes with the guarantee of better compliance and the advantage of lower costs. But only clinical trials can determine whether such a vaccine with an easy delivery mechanism can be efficacious too.
- In August 2020, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine said they had developed a nasal vaccine that targets the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Science Daily reported the study published in Cell, a journal, specifying that the vaccine could be given in one dose via the nose and was effective in preventing infection in mice susceptible to the novel coronavirus. The investigators then revealed their plan to test the vaccine further on non-human primates and humans. “We were happily surprised to see a strong immune response in the cells of the inner lining of the nose and upper airway — and profound protection from infection with this virus,” said senior author Michael S. Diamond, Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine. “These mice were well protected from disease. And in some of the mice, we saw evidence of sterilising immunity, where there is no sign of infection whatsoever after the mouse is challenged with the virus.”
Are there other such nasal vaccines?
- So far, intranasal vaccination is being used only for influenza.
- However, it cannot be used on certain groups of people, particularly those who have compromised immune systems. Science Daily reports that “the new COVID-19 intranasal vaccine in the Washington University study does not use a live virus capable of replication, presumably making it safer”. The Bharat Biotech vaccine also rides on an adenovirus vector.
Will it be a game changer?
- It looks like an exciting development because potentially this route can be used to deliver the safe antigen against which an immunological response would happen.
- If it does work, it can be a game-changer because it is so easy to use and we look forward to this development.” AIIMS director Randeep Guleria recently commented in an interaction that if the nasal vaccine was approved, it will be easier to give. “In half-an-hour, you can vaccinate an entire class,” he said. The injectable vaccine being used now is not recommended for children.
3 . How Butterflies fly
Context : Unlike any other flying animal, butterflies have unusually short, broad and large wings relative to their body size. By studying the aerodynamics of butterflies in a wind tunnel, researchers have now answered this question which has confused lepidopterologists (who study moths and butterflies) for years.
How they fly
- The results suggested that butterflies use a clap technique which helps them take off rapidly. “When the wings clap together, the air between the wings is pressed out, creating a jet, pushing the animal in the opposite direction
- The flexible butterfly wings form a cupped shape during the upstroke and a clap that thrusts the butterfly forwards, while the downstroke is used for weight support.
- Though butterflies exhibit a fluttery flight, they also perform highly directed and sustained flights during migration and take-off. Butterflies need high force and control for fast take-off flights. The team kept six individuals of silver-washed fritillaries (Argynnis paphia) in a wind tunnel and studied the behaviour and aerodynamics.
- Shape and flexibility of butterfly wings could inspire improved performance and flight technology in small drones.
4 . Birds of the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve
Context : Indian Sunderbans, which is part of the largest mangrove forest in the world, is home to 428 species of birds, a recent publication of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) States.
About the Publication
- The publication, “Birds of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve”, released by the ZSI, not only documents the avifauna of the Sunderbans, but also serves as comprehensive photographic field guide, with detailed distribution and locality data for all the species from the region.
- Book with photographs of male and female of species is aimed to kindle interest and spread knowledge about birds among people from all walks of life — from forest staff to tourists to amateur birdwatchers.
Key Findings of the Report
- The scientists said that of the 428 birds listed, some, like the Masked Finfoot and Buffy fish owl, are recorded only from the Sunderbans.
- The area is home to nine out of 12 species of kingfishers found in the country as well rare species such as the Goliath heron and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
- Over 1,300 species of birds and if 428 species of birds are from Sunderbans, it means that one in every three birds in the country is found in the unique ecosystem.
Importance
- The publication not only highlights the ecological and conversation aspect of the Sunderbans but through detailed description of bird species and localities where they are found will encourage bird-watching. Bird watching not only brings people closer to nature but also creates awareness and livelihood opportunities for the locals.
Sunderbans
- The Indian Sunderbans, which covers 4,200 sq km, comprises of the Sunderban Tiger Reserve of 2,585 sq km — home to about 96 Royal Bengal Tigers (as per last census in 2020 ) — is also a world heritage site and a Ramsar Site.
- Sunderbans are the most diverse of natural landscapes and accounts to 60 % of all mangrove forests in the country.
- The mudflats exposed in the low tides, rich in microorganism deposited during tidal activity are ideal feeding for migratory birds. These mudflats and wetlands of Sunderbans act as a stopover site for migratory flight south (south wards) and back.
5 . Facts for Prelims
About OHCHR
- The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading UN entity on human rights.
- The General Assembly entrusted both the High Commissioner and her Office with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people.
- The United Nations human rights programme aims to ensure that the protection and enjoyment of human rights is a reality in the lives of all people.
- The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) works to offer the best expertise and support to the different human rights monitoring mechanisms in the United Nations system : UN Charter-based bodies, including the Human Rights Council, and bodies created under the international human rights treaties and made up of independent experts mandated to monitor State parties’ compliance with their treaty obligations. Most of these bodies receive secretariat support from the Human Rights Council and Treaties Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Desert Knight 2021
- India-France air exercise is called Desert Knight 2021