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UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress.
What are Pyrocumulonimbus clouds and how are they formed? Discuss why these cloud events occur more often.
Explain the major divisions of the oceanic relief, highlighting the features and processes involved in the formation of each division.
Introduction
— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.
— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.
Body
— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.
— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.
— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.
— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.
— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.
Way forward/ conclusion
— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.
— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.
Self Evaluation
— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.
QUESTION 1: What are Pyrocumulonimbus clouds and how are they formed? Discuss why these cloud events occur more often.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are thunderstorms caused by extreme heat from the Earth’s surface.
— They are created in the same way as cumulonimbus clouds, but the high heat that causes the strong updraft is caused by fire, either massive wildfires or volcanic eruptions.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
Formation of the pyrocumulonimbus clouds
— Not all wildfires produce pyrocumulonimbus clouds. They only appear when there is an exceptionally hot wildfire; volcanic eruptions can also result in the development of pyrocumulonimbus clouds. For example, these clouds arose during the Australian bushfires in 2019-2020, when temperatures reached 800 degrees Celsius.
— The strong heat from the fire warms the surrounding air, which rises into the atmosphere. As this heated, buoyant air—carrying water vapour, smoke, and ash—rises, it expands and cools. Once cool enough, water vapour condenses on the ash, forming a grey or brown cloud. At this point, the cloud is known as a pyrocumulus cloud, or ‘fire cloud’.
— However, if there is enough water vapour available and the upward movement of hot air intensifies, pyrocumulus clouds can develop into pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These clouds can reach heights of 50,000 feet and produce their own thunderstorms.
— Although pyrocumulonimbus clouds can cause lightning, they do not produce much rain. As a result, they can start new flames many kilometres away from the primary fire. These clouds can also cause high gusts, making the wildfire spread faster and more unpredictable.
Why are these cloud events occurring more often?
— The specific reason is unknown since, unlike other catastrophic weather phenomena, the study of these clouds is still in its early stages. However, scientists believe that climate change may have contributed to their increased frequency.
— According to studies, as global temperatures rise, wildfires become more frequent and intense. This could be increasing the frequency of pyrocumulonimbus clouds.
— Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are hypothesised to be the source of various aerosol pollutants (including smoke and ash) trapped in the stratosphere and high atmosphere.
Conclusion:
— The current wildfires in the United States and Canada are so strong that they are causing “pyrocumulonimbus” clouds, which have the ability to produce thunder and ignite other fires.
— In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency of these clouds developing. Prior to 2023, an average of 102 pyrocumulonimbus were observed worldwide in a single year; of those, 50 were observed in Canada, per a paper published in the journal Nature. But according to the paper, 140 pyrocumulonimbus clouds were observed in Canada alone during the severe wildfire season of the previous year.
(Source: How Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are formed when wildfires spit storms, lightning by Alind Chauhan , http://www.rmets.org)
Points to Ponder
What are other types of clouds like, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus, Altocumulus, Altostratus and Nimbostratus
Relation between climate change and formation of clouds
Related Previous Year Questions
Explain the mechanism and occurrence of cloudburst in the context of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss two recent examples. (2022)
The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples. (2020)
QUESTION 2: Explain the major divisions of the oceanic relief, highlighting the features and processes involved in the formation of each division.
Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.
Introduction:
— The oceans are limited to the vast depressions in the earth’s outer layer. The waters naturally blend, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Geographers have classified the oceanic portion of the world into five oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Southern, and the Arctic.
— These huge oceans include several seas, bays, gulfs, and inlets. A significant percentage of the ocean floor is located between 3-6 kilometres below sea level. The ocean floors are rough, featuring the world’s greatest mountain ranges, deepest trenches, and vast plains.
— As with continents, these features are generated by tectonic, volcanic, and depositional processes.
Body:
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
Major divisions of the oceanic relief
The ocean floors can be divided into four major divisions:
(i) the Continental Shelf
— It is the extended margin of each continent occupied by relatively shallow seas and gulfs.
— It is the shallowest part of the ocean showing an average gradient of 1° or even less.
— The average breadth of continental shelves is around 80 kilometres. Some margins, such as the Chilean coasts and Sumatra’s west coast, have essentially no shelves or are extremely thin. On the contrary, the Siberian shelf in the Arctic Ocean, the world’s widest, is 1,500 kilometres wide.
— The continental shelves are covered with variable thicknesses of sediments brought down by rivers, glaciers, wind, from the land and distributed by waves and currents.
(ii) the Continental Slope
— The continental slope connects the continental shelf with the ocean basins. It starts at the bottom of the continental shelf and abruptly drops off onto a steep slope.
— The grade of the slope region varies from 2 to 5 degrees.
— The depth of the slope region ranges from 200 to 3,000 metres. The slope border marks the end of the continents. This region contains canyons and pits.
(iii) the Deep Sea Plain
— Deep sea plains are gently sloping sections inside ocean basins. These are the flattest and smoothest parts of the planet.
— The plains are covered in fine-grained sediments such as clay and silt.
(iv) the Oceanic Deeps
— These are the deepest parts of the ocean. The trenches are steep-sided, narrow basins. They are about 3-5 km deeper than the surrounding ocean floor.
— They occur near the base of continental slopes and along island arcs, and are linked to active volcanoes and powerful earthquakes.
Conclusion:
— The ocean floor holds vast quantities of metals and rare earths. Many countries and corporations are interested in the commercial potential of deep-sea mining.
— The UN’s sea convention stipulates that any activities in the high seas must be equitably shared among states, and that would include profits from deep-sea mining.
(Source: Are deep-sea metals a vital resource or an environmental disaster in the making?, ncert.nic.in)
Points to Ponder
What are the minor ocean reliefs?
What is deep sea mining?
Related Previous Year Questions
What are the forces that influence ocean currents? Describe their role in the fishing industry of the world. (2022)
Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents? How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation? (2015)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 63)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 62)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 64)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 63)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 63)
UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 64)
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