Current Affairs – January 25, 2025

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Geomorphology} Ring of Fire: A Key Seismic Zone **

• Context (IE): Japan experienced a significant earthquake (magnitude 6.9) in the Kyushu area, which is part of the Ring of Fire, leading to tsunami advisories and heightened seismic activity.

Overview of the Ring of Fire

• The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone containing hundreds of volcanoes and earthquake sites around the Pacific Ocean. It stretches nearly 40,250 kilometres.
• It is the meeting point of numerous tectonic plates, including the Eurasian, North American, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Caribbean, Nazca, Antarctic, Indian, Australian, Philippine, and other smaller plates,
• It is where tectonic plates converge, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity. 90% of the world’s earthquakes take place here.
• It runs through 15 countries, including the USA, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Guatemala, Russia, Chile, Peru, and the Philippines.
• Due to their location, these countries face earthquake and volcanic risks.

Notable Earthquakes in the Ring of Fire

• 1960 Valdivia Earthquake: The strongest recorded earthquake, measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale, occurred in Chile, part of the Ring of Fire.
• Frequent Earthquakes: The Ring of Fire experiences constant seismic activity, with many powerful earthquakes, including the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan.

Reasons for Frequent Earthquakes in the Ring of Fire

• Tectonic Plate Movement: Earthquakes occur due to constant interactions among tectonic plates, ie., sliding, colliding, or moving above/below one another.
• Stuck Plate Edges: Rough edges of tectonic plates often get stuck, causing pressure build-up, which leads to earthquakes when the plates unstick.
• Japan’s Vulnerability: Japan’s frequent earthquakes are due to its location at the meeting point of the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Okhotsk, and Eurasian plates.

Volcanic Activity in the Ring of Fire

• Subduction Process: Most volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are formed through subduction, where one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another, causing magma formation that rises to the surface.
• Prevalence of Active Volcanoes: The Ring of Fire is home to over 450 active and inactive volcanoes, accounting for 75% of the world’s total volcanoes.
• Volcanic Hotspots: The western side of the Ring, spanning from Russia to New Zealand, contains the majority of active volcanoes.

Volcanism along the Pacific Ring of Fire

• Circum-Pacific region popularly termed the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, has the greatest concentration of active volcanoes. Volcanic belt and earthquake belt closely overlap along the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’.

Regions with active volcanism along ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’

• The Aleutian Islands in Kamchatka, Japan,
• Philippines, and Indonesia (Java and Sumatra in particular),
• Pacific islands of Solomon, New Hebrides, Tonga and North Island, New Zealand.
• Andes to Central America (particularly Guatemala, Costa Rica & Nicaragua), Mexico & right upto Alaska.

Trenches in the Ring of Fire

• Mariana Trench: The deepest oceanic trench in the world, reaching a depth of 7 miles, located within the Ring of Fire.
• Other Major Trenches: Philippine Trench, Challenger Trench, Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, Peru-Chile Trench & Tonga Trench, all of which are crucial in tectonic dynamics of the area.

Strategic Significance of the Ring of Fire

• Rich in natural resources, the Ring of Fire contains vast mineral deposits, making it critical for mining industries and global trade.

{GS3 – DM – Issues} Extreme Weather: A Global Priority in Risk Management

• Context (DTE | WMO | WEF): World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025 highlights extreme weather events as the most severe long-term risk, requiring urgent global action.

Highlights of the Global Risks Report 2025

• State-Based Armed Conflict: Ranked as the top risk for 2025, driven by geopolitical tensions such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and instability in regions like the Middle East.
• Geoeconomic Confrontation: Ranked third, linked to sanctions, tariffs, and global protectionism.
• Rising Costs: Inflation-adjusted costs of extreme weather have surged by 77% over five decades.
• Global Consensus: Extreme weather ranks among the top risks in 28 countries, highlighting its impact.
• Misinformation and Disinformation: Ranked fourth, complicating public trust and societal polarisation.
• Cyber Espionage and Warfare: Highlighted as a critical risk in the near-term outlook.
• United States: Rising wildfire costs potentially exceeding $200 billion.
• High-Concern Countries: Dominican Republic, Oman, Bangladesh, & Greece identify extreme weather as the top short-term risk.
• Increased risk: Mauritius & Malawi elevated extreme weather as their second most significant risk.

Long-Term Issues (2035 and Beyond)

• Warming Trends: 2024 was the warmest year on record, with further temperature increases projected.

Interconnected Risks

• Environmental: Biodiversity loss, Earth system disruptions, and pollution intensified by climate change.
• Social Impact: Rising involuntary migration due to climate pressures.

Impact of Pollution

• Key Risk: Ranked 10th in long-term risks, pollution exacerbates climate issues and weakens ecosystems.
• Health Consequences: Linked to respiratory diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular conditions.
• Neglected Priority: Often excluded from green transition plans.

Global Mitigation Strategies Highlighted by the Report

• Early Warnings for All: A UN initiative ensuring global access to life-saving early warning systems. Returns $9 for every $1 invested globally and up to $19 in Africa.
• Lead Agencies: UNDRR, WMO, ITU, and IFRC spearhead implementation.
• Technological Advances: AI, satellite technology & big data improve forecasting & climate monitoring.

Recommendations

• Multilateral Cooperation: Embrace the “whole-of-society” approach to climate action.
• Digital Literacy: Public campaigns to enhance awareness of misinformation and technological impacts.
• Supply Chain Resilience: Diversify supply chains to reduce vulnerability from geopolitical tensions.
• Domestic Strengthening: Focus on self-sufficiency in key sectors like energy and agriculture.
• Enhance Green Transition Plans: Integrate pollution and climate change mitigation comprehensively.
• Invest in Hydromet Services: Expand infrastructure for weather and climate forecasting.
• Promote Sustainability: Adopt innovative strategies to safeguard ecosystems and secure resources.
• Support Vulnerable Regions: Prioritize aid and resources for high-risk countries like Mauritius, Malawi, and Bangladesh.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Rising Deaths of Olive Ridley Turtles in Tamil Nadu

• Context (IE): Many dead Olive Ridley turtles have washed ashore in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai, raising concerns over the safety of this endangered species during their nesting season.

Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Source: Tamu

• Olive Ridley sea turtles are the second-smallest and most abundant sea turtles globally.
• They are known for unique arribadas (synchronised mass nestings), where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Breeding Season: Olive ridley turtles arrive on Tamil Nadu’s coast from September to October, with nesting beginning in late November and lasting until March.
• Egg-laying process: Female turtles lay 100-110 eggs, covering them with sand to protect them from predators. Hatchlings emerge after 45-60 days.

Physical Characteristics

• Males and females grow the same size, but females have a slightly more rounded carapace.
• The carapace is heart-shaped and rounded, named “olive ridley.”
• Hatchlings are dark grey, appearing black when wet.

Distribution

• They are found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and warm areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Nesting Sites: Major nesting sites are in Odisha, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• The Gahirmatha Beach of Odisha (India) is the most significant breeding ground for these turtles.
• Diet: They are carnivorous, especially in the immature stages of their lifecycle.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.

Reasons Behind the Deaths

• Threats: Unsustainable egg collection, slaughtering on the beach, boat collisions, marine debris, natural disasters, climate change, & beach erosion.
• Trawling and Bycatch: Turtles get trapped in fishing nets, leading to suffocation. Trawlers, attracted by abundant fish in the area, increase the bycatch risk.
• Suffocation and Drowning: Asphyxiation due to entanglement in nets is common, as turtles must surface to breathe. Post-mortem reports show lesions on lungs and swollen necks.
• Feeding Behavior: Olive Ridley turtles are omnivorous and may feed in areas where fishing vessels operate, increasing the risk of accidental capture.
• Increased Trawler Activity: Higher fish availability near turtle aggregation areas results in more trawlers, which increases turtle deaths.

Conservation Challenges

• Need for Turtle-Excluding Devices (TEDs): The use of TEDs is mandatory in Odisha but needs stricter enforcement in Tamil Nadu to prevent turtle bycatch. (TEDs allow trapped turtles to escape from nets.)
• Lack of Comparative Analysis: A comparative study of fish catch data from Chennai’s harbors is needed to assess the increased number of trawlers and their impact on turtle mortality.

Conservation Efforts

• Conservation Measures: In areas of human disturbance, Forest Departments set up hatcheries to protect eggs and hatchlings from predation.
• Operation Olivia: An annual initiative by the Indian Coast Guard to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their nesting season, focusing on preventing illegal trapping.
• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI): ZSI conducts tagging of turtles in Odisha to track their migration and nesting patterns, aiding in conservation strategies.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Olive Ridley turtles are protected under Schedule-I of the act.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} DRDO’s Successful Scramjet Engine Ground Test *

• Context (PIB): India has successfully tested the Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (Scramjet) engine, marking a significant achievement in hypersonic technology.

Scramjet Technology

Source: ISRO

• A scramjet is an air-breathing engine that operates efficiently at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+), allowing supersonic combustion without moving parts.
• Mechanism: This mechanism utilises the vehicle’s high-speed forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion, eliminating the need for onboard oxidisers.
• Advantages: Reduces vehicle weight, increases payload capacity, and enables sustained high-speed flight, making it ideal for hypersonic missiles and space launch systems.

Key Highlights of the Scramjet Engine Ground Test

• Duration and Stability: Achieved stable combustion for 120 seconds, a first in India.
• Flame Stabilization: Implemented an innovative technique to maintain continuous flame at airspeeds exceeding 1.5 km/s.
• Indigenous Fuel Development: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) developed an endothermic scramjet fuel that enhances cooling and ignition efficiency.
• Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC): Developed an advanced ceramic TBC with high thermal resistance, capable of operating beyond the melting point of steel, in partnership with Dept of Science & Tech (DST).

Strategic Significance

• Enhanced Missile Capabilities: The successful test opens the door to developing next-generation hypersonic missiles capable of evading advanced air defence systems.
• Technological Self-Reliance: Demonstrates India’s indigenous capabilities in advanced propulsion systems, materials, and fuel technologies, reducing dependence on foreign technology.
• Global Standing: Positions India among a select group of nations, including the USA, Russia, and China, actively pursuing and achieving milestones in hypersonic technology.

India’s Progress in Hypersonic Technology

• Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV): DRDO successfully flight-tested the HSTDV, demonstrating the performance of a scramjet engine at Mach 6 speeds.
• Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Facility: Inaugurated by DRDO in 2020 in Hyderabad, it can simulate speeds from Mach 5 to 12, making India the third country after US & Russia with such facility.

{Prelims – PIN India} 1965 India-Pakistan war and Haji Pir pass

• Context (IE): Defence Minister highlighted missed opportunities to curb cross-border infiltration, especially at Haji Pir Pass in Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) after the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

1965 India-Pakistan War

Issues Leading to the 1965 War

• Origin of Conflict: Rooted in a contentious territorial dispute over J&K since the Partition of 1947.
• Escalation to Full-Scale War: Tensions flared into a full-scale armed conflict in August 1965, with Pakistan initiating covert operations under the guise of local uprisings, escalating conflict to gain territorial advantage and internationalise the issue.

Operation Gibraltar

• Covert Operation: Operation Gibraltar was a secretive military strategy by Pakistan to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir using soldiers disguised as locals to incite rebellion among the Kashmiri population.
• Sabotage Efforts: The operation aimed to disrupt Indian military logistics and infrastructure by deploying guerrilla fighters through routes like the Haji Pir Pass.
• Lack of Local Support: Contrary to Pakistan’s expectations, the Kashmiri population largely supported Indian forces in the Battle of Haji Pir Pass.
• Swift Neutralization: Indian military action effectively countered the infiltration, nullifying Pakistan’s plans and leading to Operation Gibraltar’s failure.
• Trigger for War: Operation Gibraltar’s failure escalated tensions, acting as a catalyst for the full-scale 1965 India-Pakistan War.

Battle of Haji Pir Pass

• The Battle of Haji Pir Pass occurred in August 1965, primarily over the Kashmir region.
• Military Engagement: Indian forces captured approximately 1,920 square km of Pakistani territory and engaged in intense combat against Pakistani troops, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
• Outcome: The battle concluded with India gaining control of the pass, but the territorial gains were reversed following a ceasefire in September 1965 (Tashkent declaration).

{Prelims – Sci – Physics} Discovery of Semi-Dirac Fermions

• Context (TH): Physicists have discovered semi-Dirac fermions, expanding the understanding of subatomic particles and their behaviour in materials like zirconium silicon sulphide (ZrSiS).

Semi-Dirac Fermions

• Unique Behavior: Have mass in one direction but not in another (Observed Under Specific Electric And Magnetic Forces)
• Quasiparticles: A collection of particles or energy-packets behaving like a single particle.
• Material: Found in ZrSiS, a layered crystalline material.

Role in Condensed Matter Physics

• Exotic Particles: Small-scale controlled experiments in Condensed Matter Physics discover particles like semi-Dirac fermions.
• No Need for Large Colliders: Materials like graphene and ZrSiS act as hosts for unusual particles, revealing fundamental physics without massive accelerators.