GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Climate | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (UPSC GS1 Mains)

Answer:

Life on earth is heliocentric as most of its energy is derived from the sun. Imminent climatic changes and the demand for clean energy sources have induced significant global interest in solar energy. It has been observed that, solar as viable alternative for power generation among the available clean energy sources has the highest global warming mitigation potential.
Solar energy incident on the earth’s surface, also called as insolation primarily depends on parameters like geographic location, earth–sun movements, tilt of the earth’s rotational axis and atmospheric attenuation due to suspended particles. The immense potential of solar energy in India and regional variations. 

• India is one of the best recipients of solar energy due to its favourable location in the solar belt (40æ%S to 40æ%N).The National Solar Mission (NSM) launched in January 2010 has given a great boost to the solar scenario in the country. But due to the geographical expanse of the country there are seen regional variations in the development of this renewable energy resource. 
• Annual radiation of solar energy is highest in northern region, especially in Ladakh and least in the North-Eastern Region. Some areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra also receive a large amount of solar radiation as compared to other areas of India. The solar radiation level receives lowest in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. 
• According to Ministry of Power Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat will be the major producer of solar energy by the year 2022 due to the high solar potential, irradiation etc. available in these states Seeing the potential of solar hotspot regions in the country, recently the government has dedicated a solar power plant to the country in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
• It has been acknowledged in India and abroad for its robust project structuring and innovations. It has also received World Bank Group President’s Award for innovation and excellence. 

Conclusion

India due to its geographical advantages can harness a tremendous amount of solar power but for that it requires huge technological advancement and financial support. Organisation like International Solar Alliance can help India become a major player in generating solar power. With an ambitious solar mission, and positively evolving policy instruments, the nation will rightly adorn the epithet of ‘Solar India’ in the near future.

Q2: The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples. (UPSC GS1 Mains )

Answer:
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines desertification as the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions, resulting from a variety of factors, including climatic variations and human activities. Contrary to its name, desertification extends beyond traditional deserts and transcends climate boundaries.

Factors Leading to Desertification:

• Climate Change: Altered rain patterns, rising land temperatures, and frequent floods and droughts contribute to vegetation degradation, gradually leading to desertification.

• Loss of Natural Vegetation: Deforestation, extensive exploitation, and overgrazing of grasslands loosen the soil, causing soil erosion—a global phenomenon impacting major biomes worldwide.

• Urbanization: Rapid urbanization, with an anticipated 50% of India's population living in urban areas by 2050, intensifies resource demands, leaving vulnerable lands prone to desertification.

Desertification Knows No Climate Boundaries:

• According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), desertification affects approximately two-thirds of the world's countries and one-third of the Earth's land surface, inhabited by around one billion people. It is a global phenomenon, extending beyond natural deserts to vulnerable lands susceptible to the desertification process.
• Two-thirds of Africa's continent consists of desert or drylands, facing frequent severe droughts, especially in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. Regions in China, India, Syria, Nepal, and central Asian countries also experience expanding deserts, encroaching sand dunes, eroded mountain slopes, and overgrazed grasslands. Asia is the most severely affected continent in terms of the number of people impacted by desertification and drought.
• Latin America and the Caribbean, despite being known for rainforests, are approximately one-fourth desert and drylands. These regions grapple with land degradation, contributing to a vicious cycle of overexploitation, degradation, increased production demands, heightened poverty, food insecurity, and migration.

Conclusion:

Desertification and its consequences transcend specific climatic boundaries. The UNCCD identifies it as one of the greatest environmental challenges, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to address this issue.

Q3: Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change.(UPSC GS1 Mains )

Answer:

Forest Resources and Climate Change in India:

As per the 'India State of Forest Report 2019,' the combined forest and tree cover in India amounts to 80.73 million hectares, constituting approximately 24.56% of the country's total geographical area. These forests and trees play a crucial role in delivering essential ecosystem goods and services, and any significant alteration to these resources directly or indirectly impacts climate change.

Various types of forests serve as sources of diverse wood and non-wood forest resources, providing essential items such as food, fiber, edible oils, drugs, minerals, tendu, and honey. However, despite being protected by laws, nearly 78% of the forest area in India faces challenges like heavy grazing and unregulated use. Illegal mining and slash-and-burn agriculture further threaten these resources. The mounting pressure due to population growth has led to over-exploitation, exacerbating the effects of climate change.

Forests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and enriching the environment with oxygen. The unchecked utilization of forest resources and deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle, contributing to a rise in global temperatures. This disruption affects wind patterns and precipitation levels, contributing to climate change impacts.

Climate change intensifies the risk of drought in certain regions and makes others susceptible to extreme precipitation and flooding. Rising temperatures accelerate the melting of icebergs, leading to increased sea levels and the submergence of coastal areas and islands. Unchecked utilization of forest resources has also resulted in wildfires, storms, insect outbreaks, invasive species, and diseases, contributing to increased human-animal conflicts.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change and forests, addressing unchecked human activities in forested areas becomes crucial, requiring a holistic approach at both local and global levels. Initiatives such as mandatory plantation along highways, road dividers, vacant land along railway tracks, combined with promoting sustainable forest resource usage, are essential steps in addressing these challenges.