ISRO's Oceansat-3 Captures Sharp Drop in Pacific Marine Productivity as El Niño Warms Ocean

GRSE Launches Indigenous ORV 'Sagar Manthan' for NCPOR under ₹4,077 Cr Deep Ocean Mission

India launched its indigenous ocean research vessel 'Sagar Manthan' on Sep 9, 2026, built by GRSE for NCPOR under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This vessel fills a critical gap in India's aging research fleet, ending dependence on foreign ships for deep-sea mineral exploration. It directly supports the ₹4,077 crore Deep Ocean Mission and strengthens India's blue economy and strategic underwater domain awareness.

CAQM-ISRO to Re-Test Burnt Area Protocol as Satellite-Ground Data Diverge in Punjab-Haryana

CAQM's burnt area assessment protocol, used to monitor stubble burning, is under validation due to divergence between satellite and ground data. This impacts air quality enforcement in Delhi-NCR and has been questioned in the Supreme Court, making it critical for environment and governance exams.

Western Himalaya Warming 7.18°C by 2100, Snow Loss Triple Under High Emissions: Study

A new study reveals that the Western Himalaya is warming faster than the central and eastern parts, with winter temperatures projected to rise by over 7°C by 2100 under high emissions. This will lead to severe snow loss, threatening water security for 1.5 billion people dependent on glacier-fed rivers like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.

Climate Change Study: 0.01°C/yr Temp Rise, 3.97mm/yr Rain Decline in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

A study reveals that climate change is disrupting the phenology of forests in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, with a 0.01°C annual temperature rise and 3.97 mm annual rainfall decline from 1950 to 2018, leading to altered growing seasons and threatening endemic species. This data is critical for understanding climate impacts on biodiversity hotspots, a recurring theme in UPSC environment and geography questions.

UK Met Office Forecasts Record El Nino >3°C; 2027 Likely Hottest Year on Record

The UK Met Office has forecast the strongest El Nino in over a century, with Pacific sea surface temperatures rising over 3°C above normal. This unprecedented event could make 2027 the hottest year globally, impacting global weather patterns including drier conditions in India and severe droughts in South America and the West Pacific.

2026 Monsoon Prediction Failure: El Niño Accuracy vs. Sub-seasonal Erratic Evolution Challenges

Climate models accurately predicted the 2026 El Niño and a deficient monsoon season, but failed to capture the erratic, sub-seasonal swings—like June’s 40% deficit followed by July’s recovery—which severely impacted farmers. This highlights a critical gap: while seasonal all-India rainfall totals can be forecast, long-lead predictions of spatial and temporal monsoon evolution remain unreliable, and AI-driven hybrid models are the most promising way forward.

Myristica Swamps in Western Ghats: 500-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem at Risk, Only 53 Patches Remain

Myristica swamps, ancient freshwater wetlands in the Western Ghats with 500 million years of genetic history, are down to just 53 patches in Kerala. They are vital for flood control, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity but face extinction from agriculture, logging, and past plywood exploitation. Urgent conservation is needed.

ISRO to Launch EOS-05 (GISAT-1A) via GSLV F17 on Sept 4; Replaces Failed GISAT-1

ISRO ends a seven-month launch hiatus with the launch of EOS-05 (GISAT-1A) on September 4, 2026 via GSLV-F17. This earth observation satellite, a replacement for the failed GISAT-1 (2021), will provide critical real-time imagery for disaster monitoring, agriculture, and forestry — a key upgrade for India's space-based surveillance capabilities.