Environment

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 apr

 These conditions are quite common in dusty and arid regions of the
world. They occur as a result of pressure changes.
 Dust storms can create pollution and reduce visibility of vehicular traffic.
They also pollute water bodies.
 Dust storms can affect crops and reduce their yield by blocking
photosynthesis.
 They are quite dangerous for human and animal health as they can
cause respiratory problems and also lung cancer.
 Dust storms are also beneficial as they transport minerals from sufficient
region to deficient regions.

NOTES

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Science & Technology
CURRENT AFFAIRS 5 apr

Effect of Asian dust on Indian summer monsoons

Issue
A new study has tried to understand the effects of Asian dust winds on the
Indian summer monsoons.

Background
Dust storms are quite common in North India and usually originate over
Arabian deserts and move towards the Ganges plains.

Details
 The dust particles present ion the storms are suspended in atmosphere
where they absorb solar radiation.
 These hot sand particles heat the upper layer of the atmosphere just
enough for the air pressure to change and impact wind circulation.
 The phenomenon creates a sort of elevated heat pump that pulls
moisture from the ocean towards the Indian subcontinent.
 This condition also has a reverse feedback mechanism where the
monsoons can increase the winds in the Middle East to produce more dusts.
 The existence of the heat pump near middle-east is a known but the
effect it has on Indian monsoon is a new study.
 The study also identified how aerosolized dust can serve as ice-cloud
nuclei that increase formation of clouds and subsequent rainfall.

Importance
The phenomenon is very important for South Asia especially for agriculture
and drinkable water needs of the population.

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