Category: Geography

  • Places in News: Azerbaijan

    Context: Azerbaijani President and Armenian Prime Minister met in Abu Dhabi for their first direct bilateral talks without mediators. Geographical and Physical Features of Azerbaijan Capital: Baku Land Boundaries: Azerbaijan shares its borders with Russia to the north, Iran to the south, Armenia to the west, and Georgia to the northwest. Maritime Border: It is…

  • Places in News: Cambodia

    Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Context: The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict has escalated into the deadliest military clash between the two nations in over a decade, triggered by the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief skirmish in May 2025. About Cambodia Official Name: Kingdom of Cambodia Capital: Phnom Penh Government: Constitutional monarchy Currency: Riels (KHR) Location:…

  • Lakshadweep’s Coral Crisis and the Global Picture

    Lakshadweep’s coral reefs have halved in last 24 years — and they need time to recover Context: A groundbreaking 24-year study has revealed a sobering truth: coral reefs in the Lakshadweep Archipelago have lost over 50% of their live coral cover since 1998. Published in Diversity and Distributions in July 2025, the research highlights the…

  • Arctic Winter Warming in Svalbard

    Snowless winter? Arctic field team finds flowers and meltwater instead Context: A recent commentary published in Nature Communications by Dr. James Bradley and colleagues from multiple international institutions highlights an unprecedented warming trend during the Arctic winter, based on field observations from Svalbard. What are the major reasons behind glacial retreat? Arctic Amplification: Due to…

  • Coral Reef Decline in Lakshadweep

    Coral Reef Decline in Lakshadweep

    A 24-year survey reveals that coral cover in Lakshadweep saw a 50% reduction Context: A 24-year-long coral reef monitoring programme in the Lakshadweep archipelago — one of the longest-running in the Indian Ocean — has revealed a dramatic decline in coral cover due to repeated marine heatwaves, mainly driven by climate change. Background The Indian…

  • Place in News: Vanuatu

    Place in News: Vanuatu

    From dying reefs to flooded graves, Vanuatu is leading a global climate case Context: Vanuatu faces an existential threat from climate change, with dying coral reefs, severe coastal erosion, and intensifying extreme weather. As the ICJ prepares a landmark advisory opinion on climate obligations, it’s plight underscores the urgent need for global action. Vanuatu’s Climate…

  • Human-Induced Earthquakes

    Human-Induced Earthquakes

    India’s water, energy demand spotlight risk of Human-Induced Earthquakes Context: These human-induced earthquakes are a growing global concern, particularly in densely populated and geologically sensitive regions such as India. While earthquakes are predominantly natural phenomena arising from tectonic plate movements, recent studies have highlighted a growing subset of earthquakes triggered or modulated by human activities…

  • The Deccan Plateau’s Groundwater Crisis

    Groundwater crisis deepens in Karnataka’s hard rock terrain Context: A recent study conducted by researchers from the Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods (WELL) Labs in Chennai uncovers the stark reality of groundwater depletion in the Upper Arkavathy watershed, specifically in Aralumallige and Doddathumakuru gram panchayats near Bengaluru. What is the Current Groundwater Situation in the…

  • India’s Longer Coastline

    How India ‘added’ more than 3,500 km to its coastline Context: India’s coastline has officially expanded by nearly 50%, not due to territorial expansion but because of more accurate recent measurements. More on News The recent update recalculates India’s coastline to be 11,098 km long, up from the earlier estimate of 7,516 km.  Additionally, the…

  • Green Arabia

    Green Arabia

    Arabian desert once had a lush and bountiful chapter known as Green Arabia Context: The vast expanse of the Arabian Peninsula, now known for its arid deserts and scorching heat, may have once been a Green Arabia, life-sustaining corridor that facilitated the migration of early humans and animals out of Africa.  More on News New…

  • India’s Growing Water Crisis

    India’s Growing Water Crisis

    Resolving food challenge without fixing water uses Context: Water is the foundation of human development — essential for food security, public health, energy generation, and sanitation. But india is currently facing a huge on-going Water Crisis.     More on News Yet across the globe, and particularly in India, water demand is rapidly outpacing supply. …

  • India’s Offshore Wind Energy Push

    India’s Offshore Wind Energy Push

    Harnessing India’s Potential in Offshore Wind Leasing Context: Amidst surging energy demand and increasing climate obligations, India is intensifying its focus on offshore wind energy to diversify its renewable energy mix and ensure round-the-clock (RTC) green power.  Why Offshore Wind? Offshore wind refers to renewable energy harnessed from wind projects installed within Exclusive Economic Zone…

  • Stratospheric Aerosol Injection

    Stratospheric Aerosol Injection

    New study of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection makes controversial weather-tweaking idea more realistic Context: As global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, researchers are exploring alternative technologies to combat climate change. One such method is Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) — a controversial yet increasingly studied geoengineering technique. The Climate Crisis and the Need for Urgent Alternatives…

  • The Ocean Protection Gap: Assessing Progress toward the 30×30 Target

    The Ocean Protection Gap: Assessing Progress toward the 30×30 Target

    Ocean protection needs $15.8 billion funding annually, but is receiving only $1.2 billion Context: As the world approaches the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in France from June 9 to 13, a new report has issued a stark warning: current investments in ocean protection are falling far short of what is needed to meet…

  • Eruption of  Mount Etna

    Eruption of Mount Etna

    What Caused the Massive Eruption of Italy’s Mount Etna?     Context: Italy’s Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano, recently erupted in a dramatic display of volcanic power. The eruption sent towering plumes of ash, smoke, and rock fragments several kilometres into the sky, creating a breathtaking sight.  About Mount Etna Mount Etna…

  • India’s Heatwaves: Crisis, Consequences, and the Call for Climate-Smart Action

    India’s Heatwaves: Crisis, Consequences, and the Call for Climate-Smart Action

    Indian summers are getting hotter, but is it the heat or is it us?     Context: India is undeniably heating up. Heat waves are arriving earlier, lasting longer, and intensifying in ways that are fundamentally reshaping life, work, and public health across the country. A Shifting Climate According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD),…

  • Esecaflor Project

    Esecaflor Project

    WHAT EXPERIMENT SIMULATING DROUGHT IN AMAZON FOUND Context: The Esecaflor project, the world’s longest-running rainforest drought experiment in the Amazon, has shown that prolonged drought causes significant biomass loss and turns the forest from a carbon sink into a carbon emitter. Scientists are now studying whether the forest can recover after 24 years of simulated…

  • Early Arrival of Southwest Monsoon 2025

    Early Arrival of Southwest Monsoon 2025

    Madden-Julian Oscillation and the early onset of the monsoon Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officially announced the arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on May 24, 2025, marking an onset eight days earlier than the typical June 1 date.  More on News This year’s arrival wasn’t just ahead of schedule—it made history by…

  • Early Onset of the Southwest Monsoon

    What caused an ‘early’ monsoon onset in India this year? Context: In a significant development for India’s agricultural and economic calendar, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the early onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on May 24, marking its earliest arrival in 15 years.  More on News The monsoon’s arrival, typically expected around…

  • India’s Coastline Now Measures 11,099 km

    Maths of India’s coastline lengthened without gaining land Context: In December 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced a significant revision to a long-standing geographical fact: India’s coastline length has officially increased from 7,516.6 km to 11,098.8 km.  More on News This update, detailed in the ministry’s 2023-24 annual report, marks a major shift in…

  • Climate Change to Intensify Cyclones

    Warming likely to make cyclones more destructive Context: As the planet continues to warm, climate change is expected to make cyclones more intense and widespread, posing a significant risk to ecosystems and coastal regions.    More on News A new study by researchers from ETH Zurich warns that under the worst-case climate scenario, known as…