Model Answer

Introduction

Flash droughts are rapid and intense dry spells that emerge with little warning, resulting in severe consequences for agriculture, water resources, and the environment. With climate change amplifying the frequency of these events, it is essential to implement measures to mitigate their impact.

1. Early-Warning Systems
The unpredictability of flash droughts makes early detection crucial. Establishing systems to monitor changes in soil moisture and evapotranspiration can help forecast the onset of droughts. This would provide stakeholders, especially farmers, with valuable lead time to take precautionary actions. For example, monitoring these parameters could serve as an early indicator for regions facing imminent drought conditionsmproved Forecasting
Better integration of short-term weather predictions with long-term climatic models is necessary to predict flash droughts more accurately. Enhanced meteorological and climatic forecasting can bridge the gap, helping local governments, agricultural zones, and water management agencies prepare in advance .

2. Segment and Conservation

Developing local water storage infrastructure, promoting the use of drought-resistant crops, and implementing strict water-use policies are essential to mitigate the adverse effects of flash droughts. These measures will ensure that water resources are conserved efficiently and can be accessed during dry periods .

3. Research tion
Investing in research to understand the underlying causes and solutions for flash droughts is critical. The United States Drought Monitor, for example, tracks and labels drought areas by intensity, improving forecasting accuracy and helping with proactive decision-making .

4. Awareness and Prep
Raising awareness among communities, especially in agriculture, is crucial. Educating farmers about potential signs of flash droughts—such as unusual heat patterns and low rainfall—can help them take early action to safeguard crops and mitigate yield losses .

Conclusion

Addressing fla a multi-pronged approach that includes better forecasting, early warning systems, efficient water management, and continuous research. Combining these efforts with global climate change mitigation strategies will ensure resilience against this growing climate threat.

Model Answer

India is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its diverse geographical and climatic conditions. Historically, the country’s disaster management has been relief-centric, focusing on responding to disasters after they occur. However, this approach has proven to be inefficient and costly, emphasizing the need for a shift towards a more comprehensive, proactive disaster management strategy.

Issues with the Current Relief-Centric Approach

1. Increased Loss of Life and Property: The reactive approach often leads to higher fatalities and damage because preventive measures are overlooked. For instance, during the Odisha Super Cyclone in 1999 and the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, the emphasis was on relief rather than mitigation, resulting in substantial losses.
2. Higher Cost of Rehabilitation: Rebuilding infrastructure, homes, and restoring communities is more expensive and time-consuming when done post-disaster. This cost could be significantly reduced through proactive measures, such as building resilient infrastructure before disasters strike.
3. Inefficiency: The relief-centric approach doesn’t strengthen communities’ ability to cope with disasters. It lacks focus on training, sensitization, and capacity-building. As a result, logistical challenges often hinder the timely delivery of aid to the most affected areas.
4. Lack of Preparedness: The absence of adequate early warning systems and proactive preparedness leaves communities vulnerable. Without timely and accurate information, the effectiveness of response efforts is compromised.

Benefits of a Proactive Disaster Management Approach

1. Holistic Disaster Management: A proactive approach incorporates prevention, mitigation, and preparedness, addressing risks at the grassroots level, rather than focusing solely on post-disaster response.
2. Effective Early Warning Systems: For example, the successful evacuation during Cyclone Fani in Odisha in 2019 demonstrated the life-saving potential of early warnings.
3. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): A proactive strategy involves hazard assessment, vulnerability mapping, and the formulation of risk reduction strategies to anticipate and reduce the impacts of disasters.
4. Capacity Building and Community Participation: Empowering local communities through training, vulnerability analysis, and participation ensures better resilience against future disasters.

Conclusion

A shift towards a more proactive approach to disaster management would minimize risks, reduce losses, and ensure more sustainable, resilient development. It would prioritize foresight, pre-emptive planning, and community engagement to build stronger defenses against future disasters.

Model Answer

Impact on Regional Climate

1. Obstruction of Cold Air: The Himalayas act as a barrier preventing the cold continental air from the north from entering India during winter. This helps maintain relatively milder winter temperatures across the Indian subcontinent.
2. Moisture Barrier: The mountain range forces southwest monsoon winds to release much of their moisture before crossing northward, resulting in heavy rainfall on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. This is crucial for precipitation in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
3. Rain Shadow Effect: The high altitude of the Himalayas causes a dry region on the leeward side, leading to the arid conditions of the Gobi Desert and the Tibetan Plateau, where precipitation is scarce.

Impact on Local Ecosystems

1. Provisioning Services
   • Water Supply: Glaciers in the Himalayas feed major rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Yamuna, providing essential water resources to millions of people downstream.
   • Food Production: The alluvial soil deposited by these rivers in the Great Plains supports rich agricultural productivity.
   • Medicinal Plants: The region is home to a variety of medicinal plants, which are vital to traditional medical systems and the livelihoods of people in the subcontinent.
2. Regulating Services
   • Pollination: The Himalayas support a wide range of pollinators, such as insects and birds, that play an essential role in maintaining ecosystem health and agricultural productivity.
   • Water Regulation: The lakes and rivers of the Himalayas help regulate surface and groundwater, contributing to natural purification and flood control.
3. Supporting Services
   • Diverse Ecosystems: The range of elevations and climatic zones in the Himalayas supports diverse ecosystems, including alpine meadows, temperate forests, and subtropical jungles, which are crucial for nutrient recycling and soil respiration.
4. Cultural Services
   • Recreation and Tourism: The scenic beauty of the Himalayas and their status as conservation areas attract tourists, promoting cultural and eco-tourism.
   • Cultural Heritage: The Himalayas hold significant cultural importance for many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, serving as a place of pilgrimage.

Conclusion

The Himalayan region is essential not only for its climatic role but also for its biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, climate change is threatening these ecosystems, with potential consequences for biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions in the region. Concerted global and regional efforts are needed to mitigate these impacts.

Model Answer

The Arctic ice caps are receding at an alarming rate, with a 13% loss per decade and a 95% decrease in the oldest, thickest ice over the past 30 years. If unchecked emissions continue, the Arctic could experience ice-free summers by 2040. This has far-reaching implications for global climate, marine ecosystems, and the global economy.

Impact on Global Climate

• Global Warming: As the ice caps shrink, they expose darker ocean or land beneath, which absorbs more sunlight, thereby increasing global temperatures. Additionally, thawing ice and permafrost release methane, further accelerating climate change.
• Modification of Climate Patterns: The loss of ice leads to less reflected heat, which could intensify global heatwaves. Simultaneously, the destabilization of the Polar Jet Stream can cause colder winters as it shifts south, bringing frigid air into mid-latitude regions.

Impact on Marine Ecosystem

• Habitat Loss: Ice-dependent species such as seals, walruses, and penguins face habitat destruction, making them vulnerable to extinction .
• Altered Food Chains: The melting of sea ice disrupts the algae growth on which zooplankton, fish, and seals depend, thus disturbing the entire marine food web.
• Ocean Salinity: Freshwater influx from melting ice alters ocean salinity, harming species like corals and mollusks that depend on specific salt concentrations .

Impact on the Global Economy

• Shipping Routes: Melting ice opens up new shipping lanes, such as the Northern Sea Route, reducing shipping distances and costs .
• Resource Extraction: The receding ice enables access to previously unreachable resources, including oil, gas, and minerals.
• Tourism: The retreat of ice has boosted polar tourism, benefiting local economies.

Conclusion

The receding ice caps in the Arctic pose severe risks to both the environment and the global economy. Addressing this issue requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in adaptive infrastructure, and promoting international cooperation for mitigation efforts.

Model Answer

Jet streams are narrow bands of powerful winds located in the upper atmosphere, generally at altitudes of around 30,000 feet (9,100 meters) in the mid to upper troposphere. They form at the boundary where warm and cold air masses meet, creating areas of significant temperature contrast.

Types of Jet Streams

1. Polar Jet Streams: Found around 50°-60° latitude, typically over the polar regions. These jet streams form above the sub-polar low-pressure belt and have a significant influence on weather systems in mid-latitudes.
2. Sub-Tropical Jet Streams: Located around 30° latitude in the subtropical regions, these jet streams are most active during winter and early spring. They can reach speeds of up to 300 knots, and their motion is associated with fair weather conditions.
3. Tropical Easterly Jet Streams: These occur near the tropopause over Southeast Asia, India, and Africa during summer. They separate warm and cold air masses and play a role in the region’s monsoonal weather.

Impact of Jet Streams on Weather and Climate

1. Weather Patterns: Jet streams mark the boundaries between air masses of differing temperature and humidity. Their interaction can lead to storms, including cyclones, thunderstorms, and rain systems. The meandering of jet streams can also result in prolonged weather events, such as heat waves or cold spells.
2. Extreme Weather Events: Disturbances in jet streams contribute to severe weather events. In 2014, jet stream meandering caused intense storms in Europe, leading to record rainfall in England and Wales, and wildfires in Norway due to unusually warm conditions.
3. Polar Vortex: A weakened polar jet stream can lead to shifts in the polar vortex, allowing Arctic air to move southward, which can result in colder conditions in mid-latitudes.
4. Climate Change: The IPCC reports a poleward shift of jet streams, which could lead to prolonged weather conditions and disrupt local climates. Areas may experience more tropical conditions or intensified dry spells and storms.

Impact on India’s Climate

1. Western Disturbance: The upper westerly jet stream during winter brings rainfall to northwestern India, especially regions like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
2. Monsoon Influence: During summer, the shift of the jet streams influences the Indian monsoon, affecting its timing and strength.

In the context of climate change, understanding the behavior of jet streams is vital to mitigate adverse effects on ecosystems and human populations.