Factors Contributing to Avalanche Formation

 Avalanche

BRO workers were rescued after being trapped under snow following an avalanche near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.

About Avalanche

• Definition: An avalanche is the rapid downward movement of a large mass of snow or ice on a slope, occurring with high speed and significant force, causing widespread destruction as it descends.

• Factors Contributing to Avalanche Formation: The key factors include the snow itself, the nature of the ground, and meteorological conditions.

• Types of Avalanche: Avalanches are categorized into two basic types:

  • Loose Snow Avalanches: Form in snow masses with little internal cohesion among the snow crystals, often on steep slopes.
  • Slab Avalanches: Originate in snow with enough internal cohesion for the snow layers to react as a single mass.

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Bilateral Swap Agreement (BSA)

India and Japan have renewed their $75 billion bilateral currency swap agreement.

About BSA

A Bilateral Swap Agreement (BSA) is a pact between two central banks to exchange cash flows in one currency for those in another, under agreed terms and conditions.

• Purpose of India-Japan BSA: It is a two-way currency swap mechanism, allowing both countries to exchange their local currencies for US dollars when needed.

• Significance: The agreement helps manage exchange rate fluctuations and provides liquidity during financial crises.

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (1888-1970)

National Science Day is celebrated to honor the discovery of the Raman Effect by C.V. Raman.

• Raman Effect: When light interacts with a material, it exchanges energy with the material’s molecules. As a result, some of the scattered light changes its wavelength and color. This phenomenon explains natural occurrences like the blue color of oceans and the sky (due to sunlight scattering off water and air molecules, respectively).

About C.V. Raman

• Birth: Born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Foundations: Founder of the Indian Journal of Physics and the Indian Academy of Sciences.
• Awards:
  • Knighted in 1929.
  • Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for the Raman Effect.
  • Awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
• Values: Known for his scientific rigor, fortitude, excellence, and curiosity.

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