DAY 29Quick read

A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. The process by which carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration. Public awareness of the significance of CO2 sinks has grown since passage of the Kyoto Protocol, which promotes their use as a form of carbon offset.
Some important carbon sinks on earth are:
•Soils: Soils represent a short to long-term carbon storage medium, and contains more carbon than all terrestrial vegetation and the atmosphere combined. Plant litter and other biomass including charcoal accumulates as organic matter in soils, and is degraded by chemical weathering and biological degradation.
•Vegetation: Carbon is stored in biomass as it is captured from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.
•Ocean: Oceans are amongst the largest carbon sinks. They absorb CO2 from the surface and store it in deep waters.
•Coral reefs: coral reefs are structures made of calcium carbonate. A large amount of carbon is trapped as carbonate in coral reefs.

Statement 1: The Blue Carbon Initiative is the first integrated program with a comprehensive and coordinated global agenda focused on mitigating climate change through the conservation and restoration of coastal marine ecosystems.
Statement 2: coastal ecosystems have been found to store huge quantities of carbon in organic rich sediments – up to 5 times more carbon than many temperate and tropical forests.

Statement 1: The speed of tsunami waves depends on the ocean depth rather than the distance from the source of the wave. Tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes over deep waters, only slowing down when reaching shallow waters. While tsunamis are often referred to as tidal waves, this name is discouraged by oceanographers because tides have little to do with these giant waves.
Statement 2: In deep Ocean, tsunami waves may appear only a foot or so high. But as they approach the shoreline and enter shallow water they slow down and begin to grow in energy and height. The tops of the waves move faster than their bottoms do, which causes them to rise precipitously.

Deep sea mining is a relatively new mineral retrieval process that takes place on the ocean floor. Ocean mining sites are usually around large areas of polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at about 1,400 – 3,700 m below the ocean’s surface.

A number of provisions in the Constitution can be amended by a simple majority of the two Houses of Parliament outside the scope of Article 368. These provisions include:
Statement 1: Second Schedule—emoluments, allowances, privileges and so on of the president, the governors, the Speakers, judges, etc.
Statement 2: Fifth Schedule—administration of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes.
Statement 3: Sixth Schedule—administration of tribal areas

Statement 1: Article 368 in Part XX of the Constitution deals with the powers of Parliament to amend the Constitution and its procedure.
Statement 2: Parliament cannot amend those provisions which form the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution. This was ruled by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973).

An amendment of the Constitution can be initiated only by the introduction of a bill for the purpose in either House of Parliament and not in the state legislatures.

Statement 1: The president must give his assent to the bill. He can neither withhold his assent to the bill nor return the bill for reconsideration of the Parliament.
Statement 2: Each House must pass the bill separately. In case of a disagreement between the two Houses, there is no provision for holding a joint sitting of the two Houses for the purpose of deliberation and passage of the bill.

•The scheme was completely funded by the central government of India. There are 13 cities that are under consideration for development. These 13 cities are all pilgrimage sites.
•Tourist Circuit is defined as a route having at least three major tourist destinations which are distinct and apart. Circuits should have well-defined entry and exit points. A tourist who enters should get motivated to visit most of the places identified in the circuit.

UGC announces a new Initiative – Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India’s Developing Economy (STRIDE) to boost research culture in India.