Environment and Science and Technology Current Affairs – August 2018

Topics

1. The shale Gas

2. Western Ghats

3. Redd+ Strategy

4. UNFCCC

5. Eutrophication

6. UNEP

7. GEF

8. NTCA

9. Horizon 2020

10. Aeolus Satellite

11. Biofuel

12. ICESat-2 satellite

13. OSIRIS-REx spacecraft

The shale Gas

Shale gas and oil are unconventional natural resources. They are found at 2,500-5,000

metres below the earth’s surface.

They are deeper in comparison to conventional crude oil found at 1,500 metres.

The process of extracting shale oil and gas requires deep vertical drilling followed

by horizontal drilling.

The most common way to extract shale gas is ‘hydraulic fracturing’ (fracking), this is

nothing but sending high volumes of water mixed with certain chemicals to break the

rocks and release the trapped energy minerals.

Context

On August 2018, the Central government approved a far-reaching policy that allows

private and government players to explore and exploit unconventional hydrocarbons

(including shale gas) in contract areas that were primarily allocated for extracting

conventional hydrocarbons.

Unlike conventional hydrocarbons that can be sponged out of permeable rocks easily,

shale gas is trapped under low permeable rocks.

Therefore, a mixture of ‘pressurised water, chemicals, and sand’ (shale fluid) is required

to break low permeable rocks in order to unlock the shale gas reserves.

The process requires around 5 to 9 million litres of water per extraction activity, posing a

daunting challenge to India’s fresh water resources.

The Government introduced a policy on shale gas and oil in 2013. It permitted National

Oil Companies to engage in fracking.

Under the first phase, shale gas blocks were identified in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal

Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

The environmental groups say that they have adverse environmental effects. Even the

well-developed western countries like Germany and France and sub-national

Governments like Scotland have banned fracking.

Negative Consequences by using the Shale Gas:

It requires large amounts of water, on an average, it requires 15,000 m3/well.

It also requires relatively larger surface area.

It is bound to impact irrigation and other local requirements.

In the US, experience out of 260 chemical substances shows that, 58 have been identified

to pose a risk to human life and environment, out of them eight are carcinogens and 17

are toxic to freshwater organisms.

Fracking can cause tremors on the deeper areas of earth

25-90% of the fluid is not retrieved and cracks in the shaft are possible, hence there will

be a risk of pollution to nearby underground water.

The instances of underground pollution are reported in US and Canada.

Fracking has other impacts such as increase in air emissions, including greenhouse gases

and seismic activity.

Western Ghats

Context

Western Ghats region is under serious stress. The region is one of the richest biodiversity

areas which needed to be conserved

The six Western Ghats States, including Kerala, have been restrained by the National

Green Tribunal (NGT) from giving environmental clearance to activities that may

adversely impact the eco-sensitive areas of the mountain ranges.

Why was the Gadgil Committee set up?

Environment Ministry set up the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel under Gadgil.

The panel was asked to make an assessment of the ecology and biodiversity of the

Western Ghats and suggest measures to conserve, protect and rejuvenate the entire range

that stretches to over 1500 km along the coast, with its footprints in Gujarat, Maharashtra,

Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

What did the Gadgil Committee say?

It defined the boundaries of the Western Ghats for the purposes of ecological

management.

It proposed that this entire area be designated as ecologically sensitive area (ESA).

Within this area, smaller regions were to be identified as ecologically sensitive zones

(ESZ) I, II or III based on their existing condition and nature of threat.

It proposed to divide the area into about 2,200 grids, of which 75 per cent would fall

under ESZ I or II or under already existing protected areas such as wildlife sanctuaries or

natural parks.

The committee proposed a Western Ghats Ecology Authority to regulate these activities

in the area.

Important recommendations of Madhav Gadgil Committee: Ban on the cultivation of genetically modified in the entire area.

Plastic bags to be phased out in three years.

No new special economic zones or hill stations to be allowed.

Ban on conversion of public lands to private lands, and on diversion of forest land for non-

forest purposes in ESZ I and II.

No new mining licences in ESZ I and II area.

No new dams, thermal power plants or large-scale wind power projects in ESZ I.

No new polluting industries in ESZ I and ESZ II areas.

No new railway lines or major roads in ESZ I and II areas.

Strict regulation of tourism.

Cumulative impact assessment for all new projects like dams, mines, tourism, housing.

Criticisms of Madhav Gadgil Report

The major criticism faced by Gadgil Committee report was that it was more environment-

friendly and not in tune with the ground realities.

Recommendations were cited as impractical to implement.

Gadgil report has asked for a complete eco-sensitive cover for the Western Ghats which

hamper different states on energy and development fronts.

There was a criticism against the constitution of a new body called WGEA. States insist

that protection can be given under existing laws.

Gadgil report doesn’t give a solution for revenue losses due to the implementation of its

recommendations.

Gadgil report is against dams in the Western Ghats, which is a crucial blow on the ailing

power sector. Considering the growing energy needs of India, critics argue that this

recommendation cannot be taken.

Why was Kasturirangan committee to set up? None of the six concerned states agreed with the recommendations of the Gadgil Committee,

which submitted its report in August 2011.

In August 2012, then Environment Minister constituted a High-Level Working Group on

Western Ghats under Kasturirangan to “examine” the Gadgil Committee report in a “holistic

and multidisciplinary fashion in the light of responses received” from states, central

ministries and others.

Kasturirangan committee Report Recommendations

Instead of the total area of Western Ghats, only 37% (i.e. 60,000 sq. km.) of the total area

be brought under ESA under Kasturirangan report.

A complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESA

Distinguished between cultural (58% occupied in the Western Ghats by it like human

settlements, agricultural fields and plantations) and natural landscape (90% of it should

come under ESA according to the committee).

Current mining areas in the ESA should be phased out within the next five years, or at the

time of expiry of mining lease, whichever is earlier.

No thermal power be allowed and hydropower projects are allowed only after detailed

study.

Red industries i.e. which are highly polluting be strictly banned in these areas.

Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats has made several pro-farmer

recommendations, including the exclusion of inhabited regions and plantations from the

purview of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs).

The Kasturirangan report had said 123 villages fall under the ESA purview.

Criticisms of Kasturirangan committee Report

The Kasturirangan panel used remote sensing and aerial survey methods for zonal

demarcation of land in the Western Ghats. The usage of such techniques, without

examining the ground reality, has caused many errors in the report.

The power is vested with the bureaucrats and forest officials and not with gram sabhas.

The use of “erroneous method” had caused inclusion of many villages under Ecologically

Sensitive Areas (ESA) though there were only rubber plantations and no forest land!

Kasturirangan report included ecologically non-sensitive areas under ESA, and left out

many ecologically sensitive areas!

Way ahead:

Whenever we study environment, the evergreen topic of debate is between environment

and development. It is tough to achieve a perfect balance. The same happened with both

these reports.

If Gadgil report laid too much importance to the environment, Kasturirangan report was

biased towards development. Kasturi Rangan report was criticized by many as that it

provided loopholes for mining, which if allowed would turn detrimental to the

environment, in long-term will affect development too. Kasturirangan report got the tag

as anti-environmental soon after its release. But this report was tagged anti-development

too by many who fear that their livelihood and interests will be affected.

Kerala flood is a lesson worth of learning for India’s disaster management system. India,

having more than 7500 km of coastline, should have a strong disaster early warning and

management system. Cooperation between the states can create an expert and integrated

national structure, to manage any kind of natural disaster.

India’s National Redd+ Strategy

Context

Complying with the UNFCCC decisions on REDD+, India has prepared its National

REDD+ Strategy. The Strategy builds upon existing national circumstances which have

been updated in line with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, Green India

Mission and India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC.

The strategy report has been prepared by Indian Council of Forestry Research &

Education (ICFRE), Dehradun.

Background:

Paris agreement on climate change recognises role of forests in climate change mitigation

and calls upon participating nations to take action to implement and support REDD+.

Complying with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC) decisions on REDD+, India has prepared its national REDD+ strategy and

soon it will be communicated to UNFCCC.”

About REDD+:

REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is the global

endeavor to create an incentive for developing countries to protect, better manage and

save their forest resources, thus contributing to the global fight against climate change.

REDD+ goes beyond merely checking deforestation and forest degradation, and

includes incentives for positive elements - conservation of forest carbon stocks,

sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in

developing countries.

REDD+ is a mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

UNFCCC

United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change; It is an international

environment treaty

Opened for signature in 1992; Came into force from 1994

Secretariat is located in Bonn, Germany

What it does? It aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a

level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

The framework set no binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual

countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms.

Instead, the framework outlines how specific international treaties (called “protocols” or

“Agreements”) may be negotiated to set binding limits on greenhouse gases. Kyoto

Protocol was negotiated under this framework.

Eutrophication

Eutrophic water body: it is the body of water rich in nutrients and so supporting a dense plant

population, the decomposition of which kills animal life by depriving it of oxygen.

Eutrophication is the response to the addition of nutrients such

as nitrates and phosphates naturally or artificially, fertilizing the aquatic ecosystem.

Algal blooms are the consequence of Eutrophication.

Eutrophication occurs naturally due to deposition of nutrients [such as in depositional

environments] carried by flood waters. It takes over centuries for eutrophication to occur

naturally.

Similar nutrient enrichment of lakes at an accelerated rate is caused by human activities

[discharge of wastewaters or agricultural runoff, Combustion of fossil fuel (produces gases

—nitrogen oxides), growing urban population in the coastal areas) and the consequent

phenomenon is known as ‘cultural eutrophication’. It takes only decades.

Phytoplankton (algae and blue-green bacteria) thrive on the excess nutrients and their

population explosion covers almost entire surface layer. This condition is known as algal

bloom.

Oxygen in aquatic ecosystem is replenished by photosynthetic aquatic plants. Algal Blooms

restrict the penetration of sunlight resulting in death of aquatic plants, and hence restricts the

replenishment of oxygen.

The oxygen level is already depleted due to the population explosion of phytoplankton.

Phytoplanktons are photosynthetic during day time adding oxygen to aquatic ecosystem.

But during nights, they consume far more oxygen as they respire aggressively. i.e. Algal

blooms accentuate the rate of oxygen depletion as the population of phytoplankton is very

high.

The primary consumers like small fish are killed due to oxygen deprivation caused by algal

blooms.

Death of primary consumers adversely affects the food chain and leads to the destruction of

higher life forms.

Further, more oxygen is taken up by microorganisms during the decomposition process of

dead algae, plants and fishes. Due to reduced oxygen level, the remaining fishes and other

aquatic organisms also die. All this eventually leads to degradation of aquatic ecosystem.

The new anaerobic conditions [absence of oxygen] created promote growth of bacteria such

as Clostridium botulinum which produces toxins deadly to aquatic organisms, birds and

mammals.

Harmful Algal Blooms

Algae or phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that can be found naturally in coastal

waters.

They are major producers of oxygen and food for many of the animals that live in these

waters.

When environmental conditions are favorable for their development, these cells may multiply

rapidly and form high numbers of cells and this is called an algal bloom.

Water temperature has also been related to the occurrence of algal blooms, with

unusually warm water being conducive to blooms.

A bloom often results in a color change in the water. Algal blooms can be any color, but the

most common ones are red or brown. These blooms are commonly referred to as red or

brown tides.

Most algal blooms are not harmful but some produce toxins and do affect fish, birds, marine

mammals and humans. The toxins may also make the surrounding air difficult to breathe.

These are known as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).

Harmful Algal Blooms are considered an environmental hazard because these events can

make people sick when contaminated shellfish or finfish are eaten, or when people breathe

aerosolized HAB toxins near the beach.

HAB events adversely affect commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, and valued

habitats, creating a significant impact on local economies and the livelihood of coastal

residents.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Context

Satya S Tripathi, an Indian development economist and lawyer, has been appointed

assistant secretary general of the United Nations and will head the New York office of

the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

About UNEP It is an UN agency

It coordinates UN’s environmental activities, assisting developing countries in

implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.

It was founded as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm

Conference) in 1972

HQ : Nairobi, Kenya

Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial

ecosystems, environmental governance and green economy.

UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environment related

development projects.

UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the

international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air pollution, and

contamination of international waterways

UNEP is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility

(GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol

The International Cyanide Management Code, a program of best practice for the

chemical’s use at gold mining operations, was developed under UNEP’s aegis.

Global Environment Facility It is an independently operating financial organization

GEF is multilateral financial mechanism that provides grants to developing countries for

projects that benefit global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local

communities.

It was setup as a fund under World Bank in 1991

In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, the GEF was restructured and moved out of the World

Bank system to become a permanent, separate institution.

Since 1994, however, the World Bank has served as the Trustee of the GEF Trust Fund

and provided administrative services.

It is based in Washington DC, United States.

It addresses six designated focal areas:

biodiversity,

climate change,

international waters,

ozone depletion,

land degradation and

Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The program supports an active portfolio of over 200 investments globally.

GEF serves as financial mechanism for :

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Minamata Convention on Mercury

India is both donor and recipient of GEF.

NTCA

National Tiger Conservation Authority

NTCA is a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

change.

It was provided statutory status by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act,

2006 which had amended Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

It addresses the administrative as well as ecological concerns for conserving tigers, by

providing a statutory basis for protection of tiger reserves.

It also provides strengthened institutional mechanisms for the protection of ecologically

sensitive areas and endangered species.

It ensures enforcing of guidelines for tiger conservation and monitoring compliance of

the same.

It also places motivated and trained officers having good track record as Field Directors

of tiger reserves.

Context

Pointing to an “alarming trend” of tiger deaths, the Uttarakhand High Court has asked if

the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) could take over the management of

the Corbett Tiger Reserve “as an interim measure”. The court also asked the NTCA if the

tigers could be relocated “to save them from poaching”.

The court expressed dissatisfaction with the state government’s inaction in dealing with

tiger poaching incidents. It said the state government had failed to constitute a Special

Tiger Protection Force despite the court’s order.

As a last/ extreme measure, the court has sought the response of the NTCA, being the

expert body, to take over the management of Corbett Tiger Reserve, as an interim

measure, till the state government becomes alive to its duties and starts taking concrete

decisions.

The court has also asked NTCA to suggest “whether few tigers can be relocated/ shifted

to save them from poaching/ killing to other well-managed national parks/sanctuaries”.

Corbett tiger reserve

Corbett National Park is situated in the foothills of the Sub- Himalayan belt in Nainital

districts of Uttarakhand state in India.

Established in the year 1936 as Hailey National Park, Corbett has the glory of being

India’s oldest and most prestigious National Park. It is also being honored as the place

where Project Tiger was first launched in 1973. This unique tiger territory is best known

as the father who gave birth of the Project Tiger in India to protect the most endangered

species and the Royal of India called Tigers.

Corbett National Park covers an area of 521 sq. km and together with the neighboring

Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forest areas, forms the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Corbett is one of the richest bird regions of the Country and has been declared as

an ‘Important Bird Area’ (IBA) by Birdlife International.

Project Tiger Aims at conserving India’s national animal i.e. Tiger.

Launched in 1973

Currently there are 50 tiger reserves

The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy.

The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the

buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a

multiple use area.

The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger

reserves, with an inclusive people oriented agenda in the buffer.

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate

Change providing central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in

designated tiger reserves.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body of the Ministry,

with an overarching supervisory / coordination role, performing functions as provided in

the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Wild tigers are found in 18 States in India

The All India tiger estimation is carried out once in every four years.

Note

A few months ago, the first successful inter-state translocation of a pair of tigers was carried

out from tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh to Satkosia in Odisha

Global Tiger Day on July 29

India is home to 70 percent of tigers in the world. In 2006, there were 1,411 tigers which

increased to 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014. 2018 data is yet to come.

Cheetah reintroduction project

Context

The Madhya Pradesh forest department has written to the National Tiger Conservation

Authority to revive the plan to reintroduce cheetahs in the State’s Nauradehi sanctuary.

The ambitious project, conceived in 2009, had hit a roadblock for want of funds.

Facts

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal, an icon of nature. With great speed and

dexterity, the cheetah is known for being an excellent hunter, its kills feeding many other

animals in its ecosystem—ensuring that multiple species survive.

The country’s last spotted feline (Member of Felidae Family) died in Chhattisgarh in

1947. Later, the cheetah — which is the fastest land animal — was declared extinct in

India in 1952.

Cheetah reintroduction programme in India:

The Wildlife Institute of India at Dehradun had prepared a ₹260-crore cheetah re-

introduction project six years ago. It was estimated that an amount of ₹25 crore to ₹30

crore would be needed to build an enclosure in an area of 150 sq km for the cheetahs in

Nauradehi. The proposal was to put the felines in the enclosure with huge boundary walls

before being released in the wild.

Nauradehi was found to be the most suitable area for the cheetahs as its forests are not

very dense to restrict the fast movement of the spotted cat. Besides, the prey base for

cheetahs is also in abundance at the sanctuary.

According to the earlier action plan, around 20 cheetahs were to be translocated to

Nauradehi from Namibia in Africa. The Namibia Cheetah Conservation Fund had then

showed its willingness to donate the felines to India. However, the State was not ready to

finance the plan contending that it was the Centre’s project.

Background:

The reasons for extinction can all be traced to man’s interference.

Problems like human-wildlife conflict, loss of habitat and loss of prey, and illegal

trafficking, have decimated their numbers.

The advent of climate change and growing human populations have only made these

problems worse. With less available land for wildlife, species that require vast home

range like the cheetah are placed in competition with other animals and humans, all

fighting over less space.

Significance of reintroduction:

The reintroduction of cheetahs will help restore India’s open forests and grassland

ecosystems, which have been suffering.

Having cheetahs will result in greater biodiversity, and biodiversity is the hallmark of

healthy ecosystems.

India is also home to the world’s largest free-roaming populations of livestock. Bringing

back the cheetah will focus attention on pastoralism, and in doing so, help restore India’s

natural heritage.

Horizon 2020

What is Horizon 2020?

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly

€80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private

investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and

world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to

innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in

delivering innovation.

Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and time

so participants can focus on what is really important.

Context

The European Union and India will collaborate in research and innovation for developing

a next generation influenza vaccine to protect people worldwide. The EU is funding is

under its programme for research and innovation ‘Horizon 2020’.

The EU and the Indian government’s Department of Biotechnology have committed 15

million Euros each to fund this joint project.

The aim is to advance the efficacy, safety, duration of immunity, and reactivity against an

increased breadth of influenza strains. The joint effort also aims to develop cost-effective and

affordable influenza vaccine rapidly without compromising quality.

There will be multi-disciplinary approach involving stakeholders who can represent any part

of the chain from lab to market.

Swine Flu

Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection

caused by any one of several types of swine influenza viruses. Swine influenza virus

(SIV) or swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) is any strain of the influenza family of

viruses that is endemic in pigs.

Influenza A (H1N1) virus is the subtype of influenza A virus that is the most common

cause of human influenza.

It is an orthomyxovirus that contains the glycoproteins haemagglutinin and

neuraminidase. For this reason, they are described as H1N1, H1N2 etc. depending on the

type of H or N antigens they express with metabolic synergy. Haemagglutinin causes red

blood cells to clump together and binds the virus to the infected cell. Neuraminidase is a

type of glycoside hydrolase enzyme which helps to move the virus particles through the

infected cell and assist in budding from the host cells.

Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-

like illness and a small fraction of all seasonal influenza. Other strains of H1N1 are

endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).

Avian Influenza (H5N1)

H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory

disease in birds called avian influenza (or “bird flu”).

Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit

the infection from person to person.

When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%

Almost all cases of H5N1 infection in people have been associated with close contact

with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments

The virus does not infect humans easily, and spread from person to person appears to be

unusual

Aeolus Satellite

Context

The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched Aeolus satellite that will

measure winds around the globe and help improve weather forecasting. The Earth

Explorer Aeolus satellite was launched into polar orbit on a Vega rocket from Europe’s

Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Aeolus satellite:

Aeolus is the first satellite mission to acquire profiles of Earth’s wind on a global scale.

These near-realtime observations will improve the accuracy of numerical weather and

climate prediction and advance our understanding of tropical dynamics and processes

relevant to climate variability.

Aeolus is the fifth in the family of ESA’s Earth Explorer missions, which address key

scientific challenges identified by the science community and demonstrate breakthrough

technology in observing techniques.

Named after Aeolus, who in Greek mythology was appointed ‘keeper of the winds’ by the

Gods, this novel mission will not only provide much-needed data to improve the quality of

weather forecasts, but also contribute to long-term climate research.

The Aeolus satellite carries just one large instrument – a Doppler wind lidar called

Aladin that will probe the lowermost 30 km of the atmosphere to measure the winds

sweeping around our planet.

Significance and need for information on wind: Many aspects of our lives are influenced by the weather. It goes without saying that accurate

forecasts are important for commercial undertakings such as farming, fishing, construction

and transport – and in general make it easier to plan the days ahead.

In extreme circumstances, knowing what the weather will bring can also help save lives and

protect property. Although weather forecasts have advanced considerably in recent years,

meteorologists urgently need reliable wind-profile data to improve accuracy further.

Aeolus wind mission will demonstrate that measuring global wind-profiles from space, using

laser technology, can meet this requirement.

Biofuel

Context

India has now joined the small league of nations with the US and Australia to have flown

a biofuel-powered aircraft.

SpiceJet flew the Bombardier Q400 (VT-SUI) on biofuel from Dehradun to Delhi.

Significance: Biofuel flights could make air travel cleaner and more efficient, thus

drastically reducing the cost of airline operations by reducing the dependency on aviation

turbine fuel.

The biofuel is made partially from renewable resources such as agricultural residues,

non-edible oils and bio-degradable fractions of industrial and municipal wastes.

A Note on the Biofuel used:

The Biofuel used on this trial flight was a mix of oil extracted from the seeds of the Jatropha

plant and aviation turbine fuel. Nearly 500 farmer families in Chattisgarh were involved in the

production of the partially-refined biofuel developed later by Dehradun based Indian Institute

of Petroleum.

Compared to air turbine fuel, experts say that Biojet fuel reduces carbon emissions and

enhances fuel efficiency.

Basics of Biofuel

A biofuel is any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from organic matter in a short period of time.

This is in contrasts with fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form and with other types of

fuel which are not based on hydrocarbons like nuclear fuels. The structure of the biofuel itself

does not change between generations, but rather the source from which the fuel is derived

changes.

a) First Generation Biofuels were directly using the food crops like wheat and sugar for making

ethanol and oil seeds for bio diesel by conventional method of fermentation. These fuels emitted

more greenhouse gases.

b) Second Generation Biofuels used non-food crops and feedstock instead of food crops as used

in first generation. Wood, grass, seed crops, organic waste are used in fuel preparation.

c) Third Generation Biofuels use specially engineered Algae whose biomass is used to convert

into biofuels. The greenhouse gas emission here will be low in comparison to others.

a) Cost: The Algae are cultured to act as a low-cost alternative. It gives high-energy and entirely

renewable feedstock.

b) Energy: The Algae will have the potential to produce more energy per acre than conventional

crops.

c) Eco-Friendly: Algae can also be grown using land and water which are unsuitable for food

production, therefore reducing the strain on already depleted water sources

d) Range: In Algae based biofuels is that the fuel manufactured can be used for a wide range of

fuels such as diesel, petrol and jet fuel.

Bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas are a class of Bio Fuels.

1. Bio ethanol: It is produced from fermentation of carbohydrate and cellulosic material of

crops and other plants and grasses. It is generally used as an additive to increase octane

number of fuel.

2. Bio Diesel: It is a methyl or methyl ester of fatty acids produced by trans esterification of

oils and fats obtained from plants and animals. It can be directly used as fuel.

3. Bio gas: Biogas is methane produced by anaerobic digestion of organic material by

anaerobes. It can be produced either from biodegradable waste materials or by the use of

energy crops fed into anaerobic digesters to supplement gas yields.

National Bio Fuel policy Bio fuels form an essential element of energy security of India. Being an environment friendly

fuel it also addresses the climate change imperatives. India has a dedicated National Bio Fuel

policy that acts as an overarching framework for bio fuels in India. Our Bio fuel production is

based mostly on Jatropa. To popularize Bio fuel Government has taken following initiatives

Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to implement the national policy on

biofuels unveiled by the Centre in May this year. The policy lays emphasis on increasing

production of oilseeds and establish a Centre for Excellence in Udaipur to promote research in

the fields of alternative fuels and energy resources.

1. Making availability of blended fuel at all major cities.

2. Allowing major transport sectors to purchase biofuel directly.

3. Jatropha incentives of Government have been identified as a part of achieving energy

independence. SBI has signed an MoU to provide loans for Jatropha cultivation. Various

platforms for spreading awareness, such as Cinema halls are being utilized to popularize

the uses of Jatropha.

4. Indian Railways have started using bio diesel mixed with its fuel with great success.

5. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announces the opening of various outlets for

High-Speed Diesel mixed with Bio Diesel.

6. Karnataka government has started biofuel parks to supply biofuel to transport

corporations.

ICESat-2 satellite

Context

NASA will shortly launch the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2)

mission to measure — in unprecedented detail — changes in the heights of Earth’s polar

ice to understand what is causing ice sheets to melt fast.

About ICESat- 2 mission:

ICESat-2 will measure the average annual elevation change of land ice covering

Greenland and Antarctica to within the width of a pencil, capturing 60,000 measurements

every second.

ICESat-2’s Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) measures height by

timing how long it takes individual light photons to travel from the spacecraft to Earth

and back.

The satellite mission has four science objectives:

Measure melting ice sheets and investigate how this effects sea level rise.

Measure and investigate changes in the mass of ice sheets and glaciers.

Estimate and study sea ice thickness.

Measure the height of vegetation in forests and other ecosystems worldwide.

OSIRIS-REx spacecraft

Context

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has begun its final approach toward the big near-Earth

asteroid Bennu. The milestone also marks the official start of OSIRIS-REx’s “asteroid

operations” mission phase.

OSIRIS-REx is still about 1.2 million miles (2 million kilometers) from Bennu and won’t

arrive in orbit around the 1,650-foot-wide (500 meters) space rock until Dec. 3.

About the mission:

OSIRIS-Rex stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification,

Security-Regolith Explorer.

OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA’s New Frontiers program, which previously

sent the New Horizons spacecraft zooming by Pluto and the Juno spacecraft into orbit

around Jupiter.

Why was Bennu chosen?

Bennu was selected for a the OSIRIS-REx mission from over 500,000 known asteroids, due to it

fitting a number of key criteria. These include:

Proximity to Earth: In order for OSIRIS-REx to reach its destination in a reasonable

timeframe, NASA needed to find an asteroid which had a similar orbit to Earth. Around

7000 asteroids are ‘Near-Earth Objects’ (NEOs), meaning they travel within around

~30million miles of the Earth. Out of these, just under 200 have orbits similar to Earth,

with Bennu being one of these.

Size: Small asteroids, those less than 200m in diameter, typically spin much faster than

larger asteroids, meaning the regolith material can be ejected into space. Bennu is around

500m in diameter, so rotates slowly enough to ensure that the regolith stays on its

surface.

Composition: Bennu is a primitive asteroid, meaning it hasn’t significantly changed since

the beginning of the Solar System (over 4 billion years ago). It is also very carbon-rich,

meaning it may contain organic molecules, which could have been precursors to life on

Earth.

Additionally, Bennu is of interest as it is a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA). Every

6 years, Bennu’s orbit brings it within 200,000 miles of the Earth, which means it has a

high probability of impacting Earth in the late 22nd Century.