Dinesh Gundu Rao appointed as KPCC president
Bengaluru, July 4 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appointed Bengaluru MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao as President of the party's Karnataka unit.
Congress General Secretary Ashok Gehlot announced the appointment of Gundu Rao as well as Bidar legislator Eshwar Khandre as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee's Working President - a post earlier held by Gundu Rao.
"The party appreciates the hard work by outgoing KPCC President G. Parameshwara who led the party for the last eight years and is stepping down from the responsibility," added Gehlot.
Gundu Rao, 48, is a fourth-time MLA from Gandhinagar assembly constituency in Bengaluru central and second son of former Congress Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao. He was a Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
Khandre, the former Municipalities and Local Bodies Minister, is a lawmaker from Bhalki assembly segment in Bidar.
Parameshwara is the Deputy Chief Minister in the Janata Dal-Secular-Congress coalition government in the state.
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Groundwater depletion causes Earth's axis to shift by 31.5 inches: Study
A recent study has uncovered a significant impact of human activity on the planet: Earth's axis has shifted by 31.5 inches (nearly 80 centimeters) due to extensive groundwater extraction. Published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the research highlights how large-scale pumping of groundwater has changed the distribution of Earth's mass, affecting its rotation and contributing to sea-level rise. The shift in Earth's tilt is linked to a sea-level increase of 0.24 inches, according to Popular Mechanics.
Lead researcher Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University, explained that among climate-related factors, the redistribution of groundwater has had the most significant effect on the movement of Earth's rotational pole. The planet's tilt, or axial precession, is influenced by changes in mass distribution. As glaciers and polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica melt, water migrates towards the equator, shifting the planet's balance—a phenomenon comparable to how a figure skater’s spin changes when they alter their body position.
The study examined data from 1993 to 2010, revealing that approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were pumped out during this time, largely for agricultural and human consumption. This large-scale extraction has contributed to a shift in Earth's axis of about 31.5 inches.
Groundwater, which is water stored underground in soil and rock, plays a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. It originates from precipitation that seeps into the earth, replenishing natural aquifers. These aquifers are vital freshwater resources, supporting drinking water supplies, agriculture, and industry. The availability and quality of groundwater depend on natural factors like recharge rates and human activity.
While the 31.5-inch shift in Earth's axis might seem minor, the consequences could be far-reaching over geological timescales. Changes in water distribution can lead to varying sea-level changes across regions, affecting coastal areas differently. Additionally, shifts in Earth's tilt can influence its internal systems, such as the magnetic field, which acts as a shield against harmful solar radiation.
