On World Metrological Day, March 23, the International Cloud Atlas declared the discovery of new cloud specie and 11 new cloud types, enriching the learning of cloud enthusiasts.
One New Cloud Specie and 11 new types of clouds in this Cloud Atlas-
These newest additions to the cloud atlas( International handbooks for cloud identification) include, 11 new types of cloud which are all subdivisions of basic cloud genera that already exists. However, one new species of cloud that has been added in this cloud atlas is the volutus or roll cloud. Other new types of cloud include in this cloud atlas are – Asperitas, Cavum, Cauda, Fluctus, Flumen and Murus, Cataractagenitus, Flammagenitus, Homogenitus, Silvagenitus and Homomutatus.
Voltus Cloud – is the only new cloud species that is added in this cloud atlas and is a relatively rare, low-level, horizontal, tube-shaped cloud and is associated with thunderstorm but are completely detached from the base of cumulonimbus cloud. Volutus is a Latin term for rolled, which matches its appearance.
Asperitas- which means rough-like in Latin, as these clouds looks like the tossing of the waves at sea when viewed from below.
Cavum-which is a hole-punch cloud within a thin and extensive layer of cloud.
Cauda– is a horizontal, tail-shaped cloud at low levels extending from the main precipitation region of a supercell cumulonimbus to the murus cloud. It is typically attached to the wall cloud, and the bases of both are typically at the same height.
Flactus– which is a relatively short-lived wave formation, usually on the top surface of the cloud, in the form of curls or breaking waves (Kelvin-Helmholtz waves).
Flumen- is basically bands of low clouds associated with a supercell severe convective storm (Cumulonimbus), arranged parallel to the low-level winds and moving into or towards the supercell.
Murus – is a localized, persistent, and often abrupt lowering of cloud from the base of a cumulonimbus from which spouts sometimes form.
Cataractagenitus is a special cloud type that may develop locally in the vicinity of large waterfalls as a consequence of water broken up into spray by the falls. The downdraft caused by the falling water is compensated for by the locally ascending motion of air.
Flammagenitus is a cloud develop as a consequence of convection initiated by heat from forest fires, wildfires or volcanic eruption activity.
Homogenitus– which is a cloud developed as a consequence of human activity. Examples are aircraft condensation trails (contrails), or clouds resulting from industrial processes, such as cumuliform clouds generated by rising thermals above power station cooling towers
Silvagenitus– is a cloud that is developed locally over forests as a result of increased humidity due to evaporation and evapotranspiration from the tree canopy.
Homomutatus– Last to be included in the list of cloud atlas is the spectacular Homomutatus cloud that may be observed, over a period of time and under the influence of strong upper winds, to grow and spread out over a larger portion of sky, and undergo internal transformation such that the cloud eventually takes on the appearance of more natural cirri-form clouds.
The International Cloud Atlas is a global reference book that has been published since the late 19th century that aims to identify types of cloud. The new edition has now embraced the digital age and for the first time public can access this atlas on the web portal.
Endnote
This new addition in the cloud atlas is a great gift that any cloud enthusiast as he can now better classify observations based on these new inclusions.
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Petrol in India is cheaper than in countries like Hong Kong, Germany and the UK but costlier than in China, Brazil, Japan, the US, Russia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a Bank of Baroda Economics Research report showed.
Rising fuel prices in India have led to considerable debate on which government, state or central, should be lowering their taxes to keep prices under control.
The rise in fuel prices is mainly due to the global price of crude oil (raw material for making petrol and diesel) going up. Further, a stronger dollar has added to the cost of crude oil.
Amongst comparable countries (per capita wise), prices in India are higher than those in Vietnam, Kenya, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. Countries that are major oil producers have much lower prices.
In the report, the Philippines has a comparable petrol price but has a per capita income higher than India by over 50 per cent.
Countries which have a lower per capita income like Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Venezuela have much lower prices of petrol and hence are impacted less than India.
“Therefore there is still a strong case for the government to consider lowering the taxes on fuel to protect the interest of the people,” the report argued.
India is the world’s third-biggest oil consuming and importing nation. It imports 85 per cent of its oil needs and so prices retail fuel at import parity rates.
With the global surge in energy prices, the cost of producing petrol, diesel and other petroleum products also went up for oil companies in India.
They raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 10 a litre in just over a fortnight beginning March 22 but hit a pause button soon after as the move faced criticism and the opposition parties asked the government to cut taxes instead.
India imports most of its oil from a group of countries called the ‘OPEC +’ (i.e, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Russia, etc), which produces 40% of the world’s crude oil.
As they have the power to dictate fuel supply and prices, their decision of limiting the global supply reduces supply in India, thus raising prices
The government charges about 167% tax (excise) on petrol and 129% on diesel as compared to US (20%), UK (62%), Italy and Germany (65%).
The abominable excise duty is 2/3rd of the cost, and the base price, dealer commission and freight form the rest.
Here is an approximate break-up (in Rs):
a)Base Price | 39 |
b)Freight | 0.34 |
c) Price Charged to Dealers = (a+b) | 39.34 |
d) Excise Duty | 40.17 |
e) Dealer Commission | 4.68 |
f) VAT | 25.35 |
g) Retail Selling Price | 109.54 |
Looked closely, much of the cost of petrol and diesel is due to higher tax rate by govt, specifically excise duty.
So the question is why government is not reducing the prices ?
India, being a developing country, it does require gigantic amount of funding for its infrastructure projects as well as welfare schemes.
However, we as a society is yet to be tax-compliant. Many people evade the direct tax and that’s the reason why govt’s hands are tied. Govt. needs the money to fund various programs and at the same time it is not generating enough revenue from direct taxes.
That’s the reason why, govt is bumping up its revenue through higher indirect taxes such as GST or excise duty as in the case of petrol and diesel.
Direct taxes are progressive as it taxes according to an individuals’ income however indirect tax such as excise duty or GST are regressive in the sense that the poorest of the poor and richest of the rich have to pay the same amount.
Does not matter, if you are an auto-driver or owner of a Mercedes, end of the day both pay the same price for petrol/diesel-that’s why it is regressive in nature.
But unlike direct tax where tax evasion is rampant, indirect tax can not be evaded due to their very nature and as long as huge no of Indians keep evading direct taxes, indirect tax such as excise duty will be difficult for the govt to reduce, because it may reduce the revenue and hamper may programs of the govt.