PRELIMS
Typhoon Matmo
Why in News:Typhoon Matmo struck southern China in 2025, making landfall in Guangdong Province and causing massive disruptions, evacuations, and infrastructural damage.
Key Facts
- Type: Tropical Cyclone (Typhoon)
- Region Affected: Southern China — mainly Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces
- Landfall: Guangdong coast
- Wind Speed: ~104 miles per hour (≈167 km/h) → Equivalent to Category 2 Hurricane (Atlantic scale)
- Rainfall: Forecast of 10–12 inches (250–300 mm) → Risk of flooding and landslides in low-lying/mountainous areas
Infrastructure Impact:
- Disruption in road, rail, and air transport
- Power outages and flooding in multiple districts
- Highlighted the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure to extreme weather
Meteorological & Static Information
- Formed Over: South China Sea — a major breeding ground for Northwest Pacific cyclones.
Cyclone Classification:
- Typhoon → A tropical cyclone occurring in the Northwest Pacific Ocean (between 100°E and 180°E).
- Equivalent terms: Hurricane (Atlantic & NE Pacific), Cyclone (Indian Ocean).
- Agency Monitoring: China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
- Season: Typhoon season in East Asia typically occurs June–October.
Future Precautions & Significance
Emphasised need for:
- Stronger early warning systems
- Urban drainage management
- Disaster-resilient infrastructure in coastal regions
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Why in News: Recent reports warn that expanding Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects in Asia could add ~25 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases by 2050, undermining the Paris Agreement targets. The issue has gained focus as India prepares to update its carbon-reduction targets ahead of COP30 (November 2025).
About Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):
- Definition: A technology that captures CO₂ emissions from industries and power plants and stores them underground in geological formations.
- Goal: Prevent CO₂ from entering the atmosphere and worsening climate change.
- Performance: Actual capture efficiency ≈ 50%, lower than claimed 90–95%.
- Storage Medium: Depleted oil and gas fields, saline aquifers.
- Concern: CCS may allow continued fossil fuel use, slowing the shift to renewables.
Asia’s Role & Current Status:
- Region’s Share: Asia accounts for >50% of global fossil fuel use and GHG emissions.
- Major Emitters: China and India (largest), followed by Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia.
Top CCS Pipelines:
- Australia → largest CCS capacity in Asia.
- China → expanding CCS under 2023 Green and Low-Carbon Technology Plan.
- India → minimal CCS; may adopt in steel and cement sectors (hard-to-abate industries).
- Japan & South Korea → providing financial and policy support to CCS.
- Southeast Asia & Australia → aiming to become CO₂ storage hubs.
Risks of CCS Dependence:
- Locks in fossil fuel dependency and stranded assets.
- CCS-based power can double electricity cost vs. renewables.
- Could derail 1.5°C Paris target.
- Policies in Japan, Australia, and South Korea tend to protect fossil fuel industries.
Northern Lights & Southern Lights (Aurora Borealis & Aurora Australis)
Why in News: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), nearly a dozen U.S. states are expected to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in October 2025 due to increased solar activity.
About Auroras:
- Definition: Auroras are natural light displays seen in high-latitude regions caused by the interaction of solar wind with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.
- Types:
- Aurora Borealis – Northern Lights (visible in the Northern Hemisphere)
- Aurora Australis – Southern Lights (visible in the Southern Hemisphere)
- Altitude Range: Occur between 97–1,000 km above Earth’s surface (in the thermosphere and exosphere).
Cause:
- The Sun emits charged particles known as solar wind.
- When these particles reach Earth, they interact with the magnetosphere, causing energy accumulation.
- The release of this energy excites atmospheric gases, producing the colorful glow known as aurora.
Colors and Composition:
- Red Light → Collision of ions with oxygen at high altitude (>200 km).
- Green Light → Collision of ions with oxygen at low altitude (100–150 km).
- Reddish / Violet Light → Interaction of ions with nitrogen (100–200 km).
- Blue / Purple Light → Interaction with hydrogen and helium atoms (upper atmosphere)
- Mixed Shades (Pink, White, Multicolor) → Result from the blending of emissions from multiple gases at varying altitudes.
Visibility:
- Best seen during winter months with long, dark nights.
- Common in polar and near-polar regions — Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, Greenland.
- Occasionally visible in mid-latitude regions during strong solar storms or flares.
Scientific Context:
- High solar activity such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CMEs) enhances auroral visibility.
- Auroras are indicators of Earth’s magnetosphere dynamics and solar-terrestrial interactions.
Terraforming
Why in News: Mars has become a major target of terraforming efforts, with space agencies and researchers exploring ways to make the planet habitable for humans.
What is Terraforming?
Definition: Terraforming is a hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the atmosphere, temperature, surface, and ecology of another planet or moon to make it Earth-like and capable of supporting life.
Objective: To create three essential conditions for life –
1. Liquid Water
2. Stable Atmosphere
3. Suitable Temperature
Field: Based on planetary engineering — using technology to alter planetary environments.
Origin & Background:
- Term Origin: From the “Seetee” science fiction series (1950s).
- First Proposed By: Carl Sagan (1961) in Science journal — suggested terraforming Venus.
Methods of Terraforming:
- Adjusting the average planetary temperature.
- Increasing atmospheric mass to support liquid water.
- Adding water by redirecting icy comets or asteroids.
- Using genetically modified microorganisms for biological terraforming.
- Removing toxic gases (e.g., CO₂, SO₂).
- Creating biospheres and arable zones suitable for agriculture.
Terraforming Venus:
- Surface temperature: ~450°C.
- Atmospheric pressure: ~90 times that of Earth.
- Challenge: Dense CO₂ atmosphere and extreme heat make it nearly impossible with current technology.
Terraforming Mars:
Why Mars?
- Once had liquid water (evidence: Jezero Crater).
- More Earth-like day length and gravity than any other planet.
Indian Coast Guard Exercise, 2025
Why in News: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted the 10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) and the 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) meeting off the Chennai coast, Tamil Nadu.
About NOSDCP:
- Full Form: National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan
- Drafted by: Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
- Approved in: 1993
- Purpose: Serves as India’s core framework for national oil spill preparedness and response.
- Objective: To ensure a coordinated, swift, and effective response to marine oil spills through inter-agency collaboration.
About NATPOLREX:
- Full Form: National Pollution Response Exercise
- Type: Biennial flagship exercise of the Indian Coast Guard.
- Purpose: To test national preparedness, operational readiness, and enhance inter-agency coordination for marine oil spill response through sea and shore-based simulations.
- Conducted by: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to operationalize NOSDCP.
- Assets Deployed:
- Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs)
- Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)
- Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs)
- Chetak and Dornier aircraft
- Significance:
- India meets >75% of its energy needs via seaborne oil imports, making marine pollution response a strategic priority.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence
- Headed by: Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG)
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Nature: Multi-mission organization, conducting round-the-year operations at sea.
- Motto: “Vayam Rakshamah” – We Protect
Major Roles:
- Safety & Protection: Patrol Offshore Development Areas (ODAs) and artificial islands.
- Protection of Fishermen: Conduct community interaction programmes on safety and maritime security.
- Search & Rescue: Operated via Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs).
- Marine Pollution Control: Acts as first-responder for oil spills in Indian waters.
- Anti-Smuggling: Coordinates with Customs and enforcement agencies.
- Law Enforcement: Enforces maritime laws and international treaties signed by India.
- Scientific Research: Collects meteorological and oceanographic data for national use.
