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.

Discuss the characteristics and formation of cyclones. How do such weather phenomena affect regional climate patterns and local economies?

Critically evaluate the concept of geoengineering as a response to global warming. Discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with geoengineering techniques.

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: Discuss the characteristics and formation of cyclones. How do such weather phenomena affect regional climate patterns and local economies?

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— A cyclone is a large-scale system of air that rotates around the centre of a low-pressure area. It is usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather.

— According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a cyclone is characterised by inward spiralling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

— Tropical cyclones are characterised by destructive winds, torrential rainfall and storm surges disrupt normal life with the accompanying phenomena of floods due to the exceptional level of rainfall and storm surge inundation into inland areas.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— The NDMA classifies cyclones broadly into two categories: extratropical cyclones and tropical cyclones.

— Extratropical cyclones: They are also known as mid-latitude cyclones which occur outside of the tropics. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they have “cold air at their core, and derive their energy from the release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact”. These cyclones always have one or more fronts — a weather system that is the boundary between two different types of air masses.

— Tropical cyclones: These cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. These cyclones develop when “thunderstorm activity starts building close to the centre of circulation, and the strongest winds and rain are no longer in a band far from the centre”. The core of the storm turns warm, and the cyclone gets most of its energy from the “latent heat” released when water vapour that has evaporated from warm ocean waters condenses into liquid water.

Effect on regional climate patterns and local economies

— The disaster potential is very high upon landfall in the North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) due to the devastating wind, storm surges, and torrential rainfall.

— These storm surges cause the most damage because seawater inundates low-lying coastal areas, causing heavy flooding, eroding beaches and embankments, destroying vegetation, and reducing soil fertility.

— They have the ability to cause significant damage to structures such as residences, lifeline infrastructure (power and communication towers), hospitals, food storage facilities, highways, bridges, and culverts, crops, and so on.

— Storm surges and torrential rains overwhelm the lowlands of coastal countries, causing the most casualties.

Conclusion:

— Cyclone Dana, expected to generate wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts at 120 kmph, is a tropical cyclone. It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal.

— Tropical cyclones have different names depending on their location and strength. They are known as hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean. In the western North Pacific, they are called typhoons.

(Source: Cyclone Dana to hit Odisha, West Bengal: What is a cyclone and what are its types?, ndma.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

How are hurricanes and typhoons different from cyclones?

What is latent heat?

How does the naming of cyclone work?

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (2022)

Tropical cyclones are largely confined to the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? (2014)

QUESTION 2: Critically evaluate the concept of geoengineering as a response to global warming. Discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with geoengineering techniques.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Geoengineering refers to any large-scale attempt to alter the Earth’s natural climate system to counter the adverse impacts of global warming. For instance, the Solar Radiation Management (SRM), in which materials are proposed to be deployed in Space to reflect incoming solar rays and prevent them from reaching Earth, is one of the two broad geoengineering options being explored.

— The bare minimum for achieving the target requires the world to cut its emissions by at least 43 per cent from the 2019 levels, by 2030.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

Different methods of geoengineering

— Solar Radiation Management (SRM): In SRM, the materials are proposed to be deployed in Space to reflect incoming solar rays and prevent them from reaching Earth.

— Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies: These include Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU), and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).

— Direct Air Capture (DAC) method: In this method, carbon dioxide is sucked out through large “artificial trees” from ambient air and directed towards storage sites or utilisation.

Benefits of geoengineering techniques

— The most ambitious and potentially rewarding form of geoengineering is SRM, which is still at the conceptual stage. It draws inspiration from the natural process of volcanic eruptions, in which large amounts of sulphur dioxide are released. These combine with water vapour to form sulphate particles that reflect sunlight into space, reducing the amount reaching Earth.

— Methods such as direct air capture can potentially eliminate carbon dioxide accumulated over the years and the benefits are larger compared to CCS. In CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequestration), the carbon dioxide emitted, from industry or power plants, is “captured” at source and deposited deep below the Earth’s surface in suitable geological formations for long-term storage.

Challenges associated with geoengineering techniques

— SRM options confront significant technological and economic obstacles in deployment.

— It has the potential to alter global and regional weather patterns, as well as rainfall distribution.

— Altering natural sunlight can have an impact on agriculture, vegetation, and biodiversity, as well as be harmful to various life forms.

— In some circumstances, technologies such as CCS may be theoretically feasible or desirable to deploy; yet, relying heavily on them to fulfil climate goals may be impractical.

— Deploying CCS to accomplish climate targets by 2050 will cost the world at least $30 trillion more than a path centred on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Conclusion:

— The new study compared seven compounds and found diamonds the most effective in producing the desired results. But to achieve a temperature reduction of 1.6 degrees Celsius, about five million tonnes of diamonds would need to be sprayed into the upper atmosphere every year.

— The central idea here is to scatter material that can reflect solar radiation into Space and prevent it from reaching Earth, thereby cooling down the planet. The installation of space-based mirrors has also been proposed.

(Source: Spraying diamond dust to cool Earth: What a new study proposes, despite ‘geoengineering’ concerns by Amitabh Sinha)

Points to Ponder

How is Carbon Capture and Sequestration different from Carbon Capture and Utilisation?

What is Solar Radiation Management?

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss the consequence of Climate change on the food security in tropical countries. (2023)

Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on the regional environment. (2021)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 73)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 72)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 73)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 74)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 74)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 73)

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