Introduction The Indian monsoon is one of the most prominent climatic phenomena on Earth. It is a seasonal reversal of winds accompanied by heavy rainfall that sustains nearly 1.4 billion people, agriculture-based economies, and diverse ecosystems in South Asia. The monsoon is not merely a meteorological event but the lifeline of India’s socio-economic system. Traditionally,…
Introduction India is geographically and hydrologically blessed with abundant freshwater resources. The country receives an average annual precipitation of around 4000 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is nearly 4% of the world’s total fresh water, while supporting nearly 18% of the global population. Major perennial rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus systems, along with…
Introduction The Indian Himalayan region, renowned for its scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage, has emerged as a major tourist destination. States like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand attract millions of domestic and international tourists every year. Tourism provides substantial economic benefits, creating employment, fostering local entrepreneurship, and generating revenue for state…
Introduction The Arctic region, encompassing the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding territories, is one of the last frontiers for global energy exploration. With retreating sea ice due to climate change, vast reserves of hydrocarbons—particularly oil and natural gas—have become accessible, making the Arctic a focal point of geopolitical, economic, and environmental interest. According to the…
Introduction The exploration of space has always been driven by humanity’s desire to answer some of the most fundamental questions: Where did we come from? How did the Earth form? How did our solar system evolve into what it is today? NASA’s Juno Mission, which was launched in 2011 and entered Jupiter’s orbit in July…
Introduction Coal has been one of the most important natural resources shaping human civilization since the industrial revolution. As the primary source of energy for centuries, it has fueled industries, powered railways, generated electricity, and contributed significantly to economic growth and modernization. However, coal mining and coal combustion have been identified as major contributors to…
Introduction Pulses—also known as grain legumes—are a group of edible seeds harvested from plants belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae). They include a variety of crops such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, pigeon peas, mung beans, urad beans, and cowpeas. For thousands of years, pulses have played a crucial role in global agriculture, food systems,…
Introduction The cryosphere refers to the portion of the Earth’s surface where water exists in solid form, including ice caps, glaciers, sea ice, snow cover, permafrost, and frozen ground. It plays a critical role in regulating global climate, influencing atmospheric temperatures, ocean circulation, sea levels, and the hydrological cycle. Covering approximately 9% of Earth’s land…
Introduction Oceanic salinity refers to the concentration of dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride (NaCl), in seawater. Salinity is usually expressed in parts per thousand (ppt) or grams of salt per kilogram of seawater. On average, the world’s oceans have a salinity of about 35 ppt, but this value varies widely depending on geographic location, depth,…
Introduction Petroleum refineries are industrial facilities where crude oil is processed into useful products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, lubricants, and petrochemical feedstocks. While one might logically assume that refineries are located close to crude oil producing areas to minimize transportation costs, in many developing countries, refineries are often situated far from oil…