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- A recent earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 was recorded in the Andaman Sea.
- About the Andaman Sea:
- The Andaman Sea is a semi-enclosed sea located in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean.
- It is bordered by the eastern coast of India to the west, the Malay Peninsula to the east, Myanmar to the north, and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the south.
- The Bay of Bengal lies to the west, while the Strait of Malacca forms its eastern boundary.
- Spanning an area of roughly 307,994 square miles, the sea stretches about 750 miles in length and 400 miles in width.
- This region is geologically complex, with an active tectonic boundary.
- It forms part of the larger Sunda Plate, which is bordered by the Indian Plate to the northwest and the Australian Plate to the southeast.
- The ongoing tectonic collision between these plates has led to the formation of the Andaman Basin, which features deep undersea ridges, trenches, and faults.
- One of the most significant geological structures here is the Andaman Trench, caused by the subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.
- This tectonic activity has made the Andaman Sea prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, contributing to its seismic activity.
- The region also hosts a variety of marine life, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests, which serve as vital habitats for many species.
- Additionally, the Andaman Sea is a key area for migratory birds, serving as an important stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
- A new plant species, Strobilanthes gigantra, has been identified in Arunachal Pradesh, situated within the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
- About Strobilanthes gigantra:
- Strobilanthes gigantra is a newly discovered flowering plant species found in Arunachal Pradesh, part of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
- This species is notable for its remarkable size, often growing into a tree, and distinctive floral traits, including densely overlapping bracts, continuous inflorescences, a gently curved corolla tube, and wings on the staminal curtain.
- The genus Strobilanthes ranks as the second-largest within the Acanthaceae family, which consists of dicotyledonous flowering plants. It includes approximately 450 species worldwide, with 167 species native to India, mainly found in the Himalayas and Western Ghats.
- The Eastern Himalayas, especially Arunachal Pradesh, are a significant biodiversity hotspot for this genus, hosting 41 known species.
- Recently, the US President signed an Executive Order to develop a missile defense system similar to Israel's Iron Dome, aiming to protect the United States from the "threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial threats."
- About Iron Dome:
- Iron Dome is Israel's air defense system designed to protect against short-range rockets by intercepting them mid-air before they reach the ground.
- This mobile, short-range defense system was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, with additional collaboration from Raytheon.
- First introduced in 2011, Iron Dome serves as the innermost layer of Israel's multi-tiered air defense network.
- It operates in all weather conditions, working both day and night and under challenging environments, including fog, rain, dust storms, and low clouds.
- The system is capable of launching various interceptor missiles and is designed to counter threats with a range of up to 40 miles or less.
- Iron Dome is highly mobile, allowing it to be relocated, either on ships or across land, to enhance defense flexibility.
- The system needs to be reloaded regularly to maintain its ability to intercept incoming missiles continuously.
- Iron Dome functions through three key components:
- A radar that detects approaching rockets,
- A command-and-control system that assesses the threat,
- An interceptor that aims to destroy the incoming rocket before it hits its target.