Sunday, February 23News That Matters

Idea & Innovations

Assam Launches DRIMS: A Digital Solution for Disaster Management in collaboration with Unicef

Assam Launches DRIMS: A Digital Solution for Disaster Management in collaboration with Unicef

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
In anticipation of potential floods, Assam has introduced the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), a digital platform aimed at facilitating online reporting of damages incurred during various disasters. Developed by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) in collaboration with Unicef, DRIMS enables accurate reporting and assessment of damages caused by disasters, expediting aid disbursal to affected individuals. The platform efficiently captures critical impact indicators, facilitating the rapid delivery of relief and rehabilitation grants to beneficiaries. It also tracks damages to crops, loss of livestock, and other essential factors, accelerating post-disaster restoration efforts. Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, after launching DRIMS, also unveile...
Tree Ring Data Reveals 2023 as Hottest Northern Hemisphere Summer in 2,000 Years

Tree Ring Data Reveals 2023 as Hottest Northern Hemisphere Summer in 2,000 Years

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
Analysis of tree ring data indicates that the Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest summer in 2,000 years in 2023, surpassing temperatures during the height of the Roman Empire. The findings highlight the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impact of climate change. A recent analysis of tree ring data has revealed that the Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest summer in 2,000 years in 2023, surpassing temperatures recorded during the height of the Roman Empire. The study, conducted by environmental scientist Ulf Büntgen and his colleagues from the University of Cambridge and Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany, underscores the dramatic impact of recent global warming. The researchers compiled early temperature records using indirect measures ...
India’s Antarctic Research to Feature in School Textbooks

India’s Antarctic Research to Feature in School Textbooks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
India's significant contributions to research in the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Himalayas are set to become part of school textbooks, as the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences collaborates with the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to incorporate the latest developments into the curriculum. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, revealed that NCERT has formed a committee tasked with highlighting the importance of research in these regions, including Antarctica, the Arctic, the Himalayas, and climate change, in school textbooks. This initiative aims to update the content, which currently lacks recent advancements in Antarctica, Arctic, and Himalayan research. Following a rationalization exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain to...
Revealing the Hidden World: Satellite Technology Unveils Vast Expansion of Global Coral Reefs

Revealing the Hidden World: Satellite Technology Unveils Vast Expansion of Global Coral Reefs

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers utilizing advanced satellite imagery and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms have unveiled a stunning revelation: the world's coral reefs are nearly 25 percent larger than previously estimated. Through a collaborative effort involving satellite imagery, machine learning algorithms, and on-ground observations from a global network of experts, an additional 64,000 square kilometers (24,700 square miles) of coral reefs have been identified – an area equivalent to the size of Ireland. This newfound expanse brings the total area of the planet's shallow reefs – spanning depths of 0 to 20 meters – to a staggering 348,000 square kilometers, akin to the dimensions of Germany. Within this vast domain lies approximately 80,000 square kilometers of ha...
Exploring the Dynamic Evolution of Oceanic Plateaus Through Cutting-Edge Research: Unveiling Earth’s Submerged Mysteries

Exploring the Dynamic Evolution of Oceanic Plateaus Through Cutting-Edge Research: Unveiling Earth’s Submerged Mysteries

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
The journey toward the acceptance of plate tectonics theory has been long and filled with challenges, yet even now, it continues to evolve. A recent study focusing on four plateaus in the western Pacific Ocean sheds new light on the dynamics of Earth's crust, suggesting that these expansive areas are not rigid slabs as previously thought but rather weak spots being pulled apart by distant forces at the plate's edge. Led by University of Toronto geophysicist Russell Pysklywec and earth scientist Erkan Gün, the study challenges the traditional view that large sections of oceanic plates remain rigid as they drift atop the mantle. By analyzing existing data on oceanic plateaus such as the Shatsky Rise, Hess Rise, Ontong Java Plateau, and Manihiki Plateau, the researchers found evidence of d...
How Earthquakes Disproportionately Impact Minority Communities in Los Angeles, Revealed by Groundbreaking Study

How Earthquakes Disproportionately Impact Minority Communities in Los Angeles, Revealed by Groundbreaking Study

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
The bustling city of Los Angeles is synonymous with seismic activity, where the looming threat of earthquakes is an ever-present concern. While earthquakes pose a collective risk to all residents, a recent study sheds light on the stark reality that certain communities, particularly those inhabited by minorities, are disproportionately vulnerable to the aftermath of seismic events. Understanding Social Vulnerability Authored by Charles Huyck and Yajie Lee from ImageCat, a leading catastrophe modeling company, the study delves into the social vulnerability often overlooked by traditional catastrophe models. By combining census tract data with seismic modeling, the researchers aimed to assess the financial repercussions of a major earthquake, revealing an alarming disparity in the impa...
Supply Chain Management – A Crucial Partner In Disaster Management

Supply Chain Management – A Crucial Partner In Disaster Management

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations, Thoughts & Talks
Supply chain management plays a crucial role in disaster management by ensuring the efficient and effective flow of goods, services, and information before, during, and after a disaster. Here are some key reasons highlighting the importance of supply chain management in disaster management: Timely Response and Recovery: Efficient supply chain management allows for a quick and coordinated response to disasters. Rapid deployment of essential resources such as food, water, medical supplies, and equipment is critical for saving lives and minimising the impact of a disaster. Coordination and Collaboration: Supply chain management involves the coordination of various stakeholders, including suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and logistics providers. This collaboration is ess...
Groundbreaking Effort: IIT Delhi Researchers Develop India’s First High Resolution Landslide Risk Map

Groundbreaking Effort: IIT Delhi Researchers Develop India’s First High Resolution Landslide Risk Map

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
In a pioneering effort, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have successfully developed the first-of-its-kind national landslide risk map. The lack of a comprehensive map has been a significant challenge, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters. The map, which is set to be published in the February 2024 issue of the journal Catena, aims to revolutionize disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies across the country. Unique Challenge: Landslides in India Landslides pose a unique and deadly challenge in India, affecting localized areas and making them harder to track and study with traditional methods such as satellite imaging. Unlike floods, landslides occur in approximately 1-2% of the country, making data collection more challenging due to thei...
Germany Achieves Lowest CO2 Emissions Since 1950s to sustaining decline requires the major Policy Shifts

Germany Achieves Lowest CO2 Emissions Since 1950s to sustaining decline requires the major Policy Shifts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
Germany witnessed a significant drop in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2023, reaching levels not seen since the 1950s, attributed to reduced coal-fired power usage and decreased output by energy-intensive industries. However, a recent study by the Berlin-based Agora Energiewende think tank highlights that this decline is unsustainable without crucial changes in climate policies. Germany has set ambitious climate goals, aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990, with a broader target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. According to the study, CO2 emissions in Germany for the year 2023 reached 673 million tonnes, the lowest since the 1950s, representing a 46% decrease from 1990 levels. This surpassed the government's 2023 climate goal of 722 m...
Asian Development Bank Launches Climate and Disaster Risk Initiative for Himalaya Region

Asian Development Bank Launches Climate and Disaster Risk Initiative for Himalaya Region

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has initiated a new project to assess and manage climate and disaster risks in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Focused on Bhutan and Nepal, the initiative involves a comprehensive analysis of multi-hazard risks, including landslides, earthquakes, and floods, with an emphasis on glacier lake outbursts. The goal is to strengthen the capacities of the two governments in risk assessments for priority river basins, leading to the development of early warning systems and risk management options for future infrastructure projects. The Hindu Kush Himalayas, home to the largest ice reserves outside the polar regions, provide vital water resources to over a billion people across Asia. The region is experiencing faster warming than the global average, and a 3°C ...