Current Affairs 23 September 2022 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 23 September 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
Dvorak Technique
Source: Indian Express
GS I: World Geography and Indian Geography; GS III: Environment and Conservation
What is discussed under Dvorak Technique?
- Who was Vernon Dvorak?
- What Is the Dvorak Technique?
- Why Is the Technique Still in Use?
Why in News?
- Vernon Dvorak, an American meteorologist, died.
- The key technique, named after him, is still frequently used by forecasters in the age of superior satellite technology, Machine Learning (ML), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Who was Vernon Dvorak?
Education
- Dvorak was an American meteorologist who developed the Dvorak technique in the early 1970s.
- Dvorak received his formal education at the University of California, Los Angeles.
- In 1966, he wrote a Master’s thesis titled “An investigation of the inversion-cloud regime over the subtropical waters west of California.”
- He was employed by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.
Inventions
- Dvorak technique renamed the Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) after a recent software upgrade in May of 2022 by the National Hurricane Centre of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- The improved approach would vastly enhance tropical storm forecasts by providing access to crisper and more detailed photos than ever before.
Awards
- In 1972, he received the Meritorious Service Award from the United States Department of Commerce.
- The National Weather Association honoured him with a Special Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
What Is the Dvorak Technique?
Definition
- According to a 2006 research report published in the Journal of the American Meteorological Society, the Dvorak approach was a cloud pattern identification technique based on the tropical cyclone genesis and decline concept model.
- It was initially tested for detecting storms in the northwest Pacific Ocean in 1969.
How does it work?
- Forecasters examined the characteristics of emerging tropical storms using satellite photos gathered from polar-orbiting satellites (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons).
- Photos in the visible spectrum were used during the day, while infrared images were used to examine the water at night.
Photo by Neenu Vimalkumar on Unsplash - The Dvorak approach, based on the satellite photos collected, assists forecasters in performing pattern recognition from the observed structure of the storm, locating its eye, and estimating the storm’s severity.
- Scientists may quantify the below cyclone’s convective cloud pattern using this statistical approach:
- Curved bands
- Eye and core dense or cold zone
- Shear
- The Dvorak approach provides the most accurate estimations of cyclone strength, which is critical when issuing weather warnings.
- According to specialists, this instrument cannot assist make predictions, measuring wind or pressure, or any other meteorological data related to the cyclone.
- However, it serves as a reference for estimating the storm’s severity and potential intensification, which is critical for local governments in organising evacuation measures for coastal or other adjacent communities.
Why Is the Technique Still in Use?
- Many enormous areas throughout the four seas have not been thoroughly explored using meteorological sensors.
- The majority of ocean observations are acquired by deploying buoys or specialised ships.
- However, the quantity of observations from the oceans is still insufficient globally.
- As a result, meteorologists have had to rely increasingly on satellite imagery and integrate it with accessible ocean data for forecasting the strength and wind speed of tropical cyclones.
- When forecasters have access to cutting-edge technologies such as model guidance, animations, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and satellite technology, improved versions of the 50-year-old Dvorak approach are still commonly utilised.
- It has saved the lives of millions of people worldwide and will continue to do so in the future.
BrahMos Missiles
Source: Hindu
GS III: Science and Technology
What is discussed under BrahMos Missiles?
- Key Highlights of the Deal
- About BrahMos
Why in News?
- The Defence Ministry signed a 1,700-crore deal with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd.
- The contract includes 35 combat and three training BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface cruise missiles for the Indian Navy’s two P-15B stealth-guided missile destroyers.
Key Highlights of the Deal
- The introduction of these dual-role capable missiles will greatly improve the operating capabilities of Navy fleet assets.
- They are designed by the Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and built by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
- They have a displacement of 7,400 tonnes with a maximum speed of 30 knots, 63 metres in length and increased stealth characteristics, resulting in a lower radar cross-section.
- They are loaded with advanced state-of-the-art armaments and sensors, such as BrahMos and Barak-8 Surface-to-Air missiles.
About Project 15B
- Four stealth-guided missile destroyers are being built under Project-15B at a cost of around 29,643.74 crores as a follow-up to the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers.
- These destroyers have been named after key cities in four corners of the country:
- Imphal, Surat, Visakhapatnam, and Mormugao.
- While the INS Visakhapatnam was commissioned by the end of 2021, the other three have already entered service.
- The lead ship of the Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers was INS Visakhapatnam, which was built at Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL).
- This was created by the Directorate of Naval Design, the Indian Navy’s in-house design group.
About BrahMos
- The BrahMos missile is a collaboration between the DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
- It takes its name from the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
Photo by Taylor Peake on Unsplash - The missile, which can be fired from land, sea, subsea, and air against the surface and marine-based targets, has long been used by the Indian military.
- The missile’s range was initially limited to 290 kilometres due to Missile Technology Control Regime requirements (MTCR).
- Following India’s admission to the club in June 2016, DRDO officials claimed that the range will be increased to 450 km and, ultimately, 600 km.
- The ER version has been tested on numerous vessels, notably INS Visakhapatnam.
- It has major indigenous weapons including:
- BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles from BAPL
- Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore)
- Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
- 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar)
- Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
- It is being propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration.
Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill 2022
Source: Mint
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; GS III: Infrastructure
What is discussed under Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill 2022?
- Key highlights of the bill
- Changes the New Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 Would Bring
Why in News?
The draft Indian Telecommunication 2022 Bill was released by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to govern Internet-based OTT (Over-The-Top) telecom services.
Key Highlights
- The bill proposes to replace three laws:
- The Indian Telegraph Act of 1885
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933
- The Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act of 1950
- The new telecom bill is expected to be in place in 6-10 months.
- The Department of Telecommunications has set the deadline of October 20 on the draft bill.
Changes the New Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 Would Bring
Legal support
- The new bill would give legal support for Right of Way operations.
- Enable framework for shortening approval periods.
- Consider remedies for damage to fibres and towers.
- The mergers and acquisitions framework will be streamlined.
- Relief, write-off, or deferment of dues may be permitted in situations of payment failure due to unusual circumstances.
OTT regulation
- OTT, communication applications such as Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram, and others that may offer voice or video calling would be covered by the proposed telecom bill, but only with a light touch.
- In the draft telecom bill, the government proposed broadening the definition of telecommunication services to include:
- OTT communication services, internet-based communication services, and broadcasting services
- OTT players would have to:
- Obtain licences
- Share revenue with the government
- Subject to the same rules as telecom service providers
Spectrum allocation
- The bill also mentions that auctions will be the primary method of spectrum allocation
- However, it also provides an enabling framework for spectrum assignment through administrative processes or non-auction methods for radio backhaul spectrum and airwaves for government and public interest sectors such as:
- Defence, research, and transportation.
- The non-auction allocation also includes airwaves for public sector firms BSNL and MTNL.
- In such circumstances, the government will specify the frequency range, pricing technique, price, taxes and charges, payment mode, length, and procedure.
License
- License needed for:
- Telecom services and networks
- Registration for telecom infrastructure
- Authorization for wireless equipment
- Spectrum should only be given through auction except for certain clearly defined govt or public purposes
Preventing harassment
- The new Telecom bill also establishes a legal framework for preventing user harassment from unwanted calls and texts, which is expected to bring significant relief to millions of mobile phone users who get spam calls or messages on a regular basis.
Provision of Refund
- Companies must comply with the Companies Act’s restructuring programme and notify the Department of Telecommunications.
- In the event of a payment default, the government will use a special enabling framework to determine extraordinary circumstances, such as:
- Financial stress, consumer interest, maintaining sector competition, or reliability and continued supply of services, to allow full or partial relief, write-off or deferment, or conversion of the amount into shares.
Validity of the spectrum
- Spectrum purchased in earlier auctions will be valid until the end date.
- The current spectrum awarded through the administrative procedure will be valid for five years from the day the Bill goes into effect, or until the term period expires, whichever comes first.
- The Bill includes a right of appeal to the appellate authority.
- It also makes it possible for the central government to establish an alternative conflict settlement mechanism, such as arbitration, mediation, or another dispute resolution procedure.
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