UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Permafrost, Doppler radars, SAF and more (Week 63)

1. It is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two continuous years.

2. These regions are always covered in snow.

3. The soil in these regions does not contain organic carbon.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

Consider the following materials:

1. Agricultural residues

2. Corn grains

3. Wastewater treatment sludge

4. Wood mill waste

Which of the above can be used as feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel? (UPSC 2024)

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements:

1. This bird species has less than 150 surviving species in the wild.

2. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN list.

3. The deaths of a number of birds are due to collisions with power lines over the years.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Indian vulture

(b) Great Indian Bustard

(c) Woodpeckers

(d) Red-breasted goose

QUESTION 4

Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increase blood flow? (UPSC 2024)

(a) Nitric oxide

(b) Nitrous oxide

(c) Nitrogen dioxide

(d) Nitrogen pentoxide

QUESTION 5

With reference to the ‘Doppler’ radars, consider the following statements:

1. These radars work on the same lines as the “Doppler effect”.

2. A Doppler radar transmits a signal for only 30 minutes and spends the remaining 30 minutes listening to returned signals.

3. India does not have Doppler radar installed on its western coast.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (a)

FYI:

— According to a new study, with rising global temperatures, thawing permafrost is likely to destabilise thousands of industrial sites and linked contaminated areas in the Arctic, which could result in the spread of toxic substances across the region.

— Permafrost is any ground that has been frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years. These continuously frozen fields are especially abundant in mountainous places and at higher latitudes, particularly around the North and South Poles. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Permafrost covers a wide area of the Earth. Permafrost covers over 25% of the Northern Hemisphere’s geographical area. Although the earth is frozen, permafrost zones do not always have snow. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Permafrost is composed of soil, rocks, and sand kept together by ice. The soil and ice in permafrost remain frozen all year.

— Near the surface, permafrost soils contain high quantities of organic carbon—a material remaining from dead plants that couldn’t breakdown, or rot away, due to the cold. Lower permafrost layers contain soils made mostly of minerals. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: climatekids.nasa.gov)

2. (c)

FYI:

— The National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) has set the initial indicative targets for blending of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with aviation turbine fuel (ATF), potentially setting the ball rolling for introduction of compulsory blending mandates in the future.

— The decision is consistent with the required phase of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which will take effect in 2027.

— CORSIA, which applies to international flights, would mandate airlines worldwide to offset any increase in CO2 emissions above 2020 levels.

— SAF is derived from renewable resources such as agricultural waste, municipal solid waste, and forestry leftovers. This means that SAF has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% when compared to traditional jet fuel.”

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: pib.gov.in)

3. (b)

FYI:

— The Supreme Court said it will review its April 2021 order to bury underground all power lines in the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), after the Centre found the order “practically impossible to implement” over long distances.

— The court formed a seven-member committee to recommend methods to protect and conserve the GIB, including identifying important sites where electricity lines may need to be underground.

— With fewer than 150 of these enormous, ostrich-like birds remaining in the wild, the critically endangered GIB is trapped in a deadly network of power lines that crisscross it’s only refuge in western India’s Kutch and Thar deserts.

— These vast landscapes also hold the potential of copious solar and wind energy, and the high-tension networks that evacuate power are only becoming denser with new projects planned each year.

— In 2020, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducted a study in 4,200 square kilometres of GIB habitat in and around Desert National Park (DNP) in Rajasthan estimated that power lines killed around 84,000 birds of multiple species every year.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

4. (a)

FYI:

— Blood circulation is essential for the body because it allows the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to cells.

— Diet plays a vital role in blood flow because certain food items can promote healthy blood flow in your body and help provide protection against blocked arteries.

— Pomegranates are particularly high in polyphenol antioxidants and nitrates, which are potent vasodilators. Consuming pomegranate — as a juice, raw fruit, or supplement may improve blood flow.

— Beetroots are rich in nitrates, which can be converted into nitric oxide in the body.

— Nitric oxide helps relax and dilate blood vessels, leading to improved circulation.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

5. (b)

FYI:

— Doppler radars work on the same lines as the “Doppler effect” observed in sound waves– in which the sound pitch of an object approaching the observer is higher due to compression of sound waves. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Radars emit a beam of energy known as radio waves from their antenna. When this beam strikes an item in the atmosphere, the energy scatters in all directions, with some of it returning directly to the radar.

— The radar receives more energy in return as the size of the object deflecting the beam increases.

— In India, the IMD usually uses Doppler radars with varied frequencies — S-band, C-band, and X-band — to watch the movement of weather systems and cloud bands, as well as gauge rainfall over its 500-kilometer coverage area.

— As per the US National Weather Service, in an hour, a Doppler radar transmits a signal for only over seven seconds, and spends the remaining 59 minutes and 53 seconds listening to returned signals. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— India’s east coast, which is frequently affected by cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal, has radars operational at eight locations — Kolkata, Paradip, Gopalpur, Visakhapatnam, Machilipatanam, Sriharikota, Karaikal and Chennai.

— Along the west coast, there are radars at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Goa and Mumbai. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 63)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 63)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 62)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 62)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 62)

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