UPSC Quiz – 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 127

Solution (a)

Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere up to a specific time horizon, relative to carbon dioxide. It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide and is expressed as a factor of carbon dioxide (whose GWP is standardized to 1).

A GWP is calculated over a specific time horizon, commonly 20, 100, or 500 years. User related choices such as the time horizon can greatly affect the numerical values obtained for carbon dioxide equivalents. In the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, methane has a lifetime of 12.4 years and with climate-carbon feedbacks a global warming potential of 86 over 20 years and 34 over 100 years in response to emissions. For a change in time horizon from 20 to 100 years, the GWP for methane therefore decreases by a factor of approximately 2.5.

The GWP depends on the following factors:

• the absorption of infrared radiation by a given species
• the spectral location of its absorbing wavelengths
• the atmospheric lifetime of the species

A substance’s GWP depends on the timespan over which the potential is calculated. A gas which is quickly removed from the atmosphere may initially have a large effect, but for longer time periods, as it has been removed, it becomes less important. Thus methane has a potential of 34 over 100 years but 86 over 20 years; conversely sulfur hexafluoride has a GWP of 22,800 over 100 years but 16,300 over 20 years (IPCC Third Assessment Report). The GWP value depends on how the gas concentration decays over time in the atmosphere. This is often not precisely known and hence the values should not be considered exact. For this reason when quoting a GWP it is important to give a reference to the calculation.

Carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) – 7350

Nitrous oxide (N2O) – 298

Methane – 34

HFC-134a (hydrofluorocarbon) – 1550

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-new-zealand-is-trying-to-breed-sheep-that-will-emit-less-methane-6145109/

Solution (b)

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth’s only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. The treaty entered into force in 1961 and currently has 54 parties. The treaty sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation, and bans military activity on the continent. The treaty was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War. Since September 2004, the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters has been located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-to-have-a-holiday-in-antarctica-and-what-it-will-cost-6144379/

Solution (a)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-sugar-crushing-season-operations-in-maharashtra-may-never-be-the-same-6144991/

Solution (b)

The Agni-III has a strike range of 3,000 km to 5,000 km and is capable of carrying both conventional, nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.

The missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine. It is 17 metres long with two-metre diameter and weighs around 2,200 kg.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-conducts-1st-night-trial-of-nuclear-capable-agni-iii-missile-11575169616977.html

Solution (a)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-sweden-to-sign-mou-for-polar-science-cooperation/article30131446.ece