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- Why in News?
- A multinational team of researchers has recently completed a 54-day expedition aboard CSIRO’s research vessel Investigator to study the aftermath of the catastrophic 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai (HTHH) volcano.
- Key Provisions:-
- This underwater stratovolcano lies in the Tongan archipelago of the South Pacific and is composed of the small islands Hunga Tonga and Hunga Haʻapai, along with reefs surrounding a large submarine caldera. Situated within the geologically active Tonga–Kermadec volcanic arc, the volcano owes its origin to the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate. Known for frequent eruptions in recent decades, HTHH is one of the most dynamic sites in the Pacific.
- Stratovolcanoes like HTHH are tall, cone-shaped mountains built from alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic deposits. Their viscous magma traps gases, leading to powerful explosive eruptions. Representing nearly 60% of Earth’s volcanoes, they dominate subduction zones and form part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
- Why in News?
- A recent incident in the Gulf of Aden involved a suspected missile strike, allegedly launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, that set a commercial vessel ablaze.
- Key Provisions:-
- The Gulf of Aden, an important extension of the Indian Ocean, lies between the Arabian Peninsula and the African coast. It links the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea through the strategic Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, making it a vital maritime corridor. Covering about 410,000 sq. km, the gulf stretches nearly 900 km in length and 500 km in width. It is bordered by Yemen in the north, Somalia and the Socotra Islands to the south, Djibouti to the west, and the Arabian Sea to the east. Major ports include Aden in Yemen and Berbera and Bosaso in Somalia. Rich in marine nutrients due to seasonal upwelling, it also serves as a key global shipping route, with around 11% of seaborne oil trade passing through.
- Why in News?
- A new coffee plant species, Ophiorrhiza echinata, has recently been discovered in the biodiversity-rich shola forests of the Western Ghats. Found at Devikulam in Kerala’s Idukki district, the plant thrives in the ecotone zone between evergreen forests and grasslands, at an altitude of about 1,630 meters above sea level.
- Key Provisions:-
- Belonging to the Rubiaceae family, O. echinata is closely related to Ophiorrhiza mungos, a plant known for its medicinal use in cancer therapies and antidote formulations. This link raises hopes that the new species may also hold therapeutic value.
- So far, Ophiorrhiza echinata has been identified only from its type locality, with an estimated area of occupancy less than four square kilometers. The population is extremely limited, consisting of no more than 35 individual plants. Given its rarity and restricted distribution, the species highlights both the conservation importance of the Western Ghats and the untapped potential of its unique flora.
- Why in News?
- A new coffee plant species, Ophiorrhiza echinata, has recently been discovered in the biodiversity-rich shola forests of the Western Ghats. Found at Devikulam in Kerala’s Idukki district, the plant thrives in the ecotone zone between evergreen forests and grasslands, at an altitude of about 1,630 meters above sea level.
- Key Provisions:-
- Belonging to the Rubiaceae family, O. echinata is closely related to Ophiorrhiza mungos, a plant known for its medicinal use in cancer therapies and antidote formulations. This link raises hopes that the new species may also hold therapeutic value.
- So far, Ophiorrhiza echinata has been identified only from its type locality, with an estimated area of occupancy less than four square kilometers. The population is extremely limited, consisting of no more than 35 individual plants. Given its rarity and restricted distribution, the species highlights both the conservation importance of the Western Ghats and the untapped potential of its unique flora.