Download intoruction to environmental studies

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (GE 2021)
ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY
14 Periods
1) Definition, Scope and Importance – Need For Public Awareness
2) Concepts of an Ecosystem – Structure and Function of an Ecosystem
3) Producers, Consumers and Decomposers
4) Energy Flow in the Ecosystem – Ecological Succession – Food Chains, Food Webs and
Ecological Pyramids
5) Introduction, Types, Characteristic Features, Structure and Function of the
(A) Forest Ecosystem
(B) Grassland Ecosystem
(C) Desert Ecosystem
(D) Aquatic Ecosystems (Ponds, Streams, Lakes, Rivers, Oceans, Estuaries)
6) Introduction to Biodiversity – Definition: Genetic, Species and Ecosystem Diversity
7) Biogeographical Classification of India
8) Value of Biodiversity: Consumptive Use, Productive Use, Social, Ethical, Aesthetic and
Option Values
9) Biodiversity at Global, National and Local Levels
10) India as a Mega-Diversity Nation – Hot-Spots of Biodiversity
11) Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss, Poaching of Wildlife, Man-Wildlife Conflicts
12) Endangered and Endemic Species of India
13) Conservation of Biodiversity: In-Situ and Ex-Situ conservation of Biodiversity.
14) Field Study of Common Plants, Insects and Birds - Field Study of Simple Ecosystems –
Pond, River, Hill Slopes, etc.
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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
8 Periods
1) Definition – Causes, Effects and Control Measures of:- (A) Air Pollution (B) Water
Pollution (C) Soil Pollution (D) Marine Pollution (E) Noise Pollution (F) Thermal Pollution
(G) Nuclear Hazards
2) Soil Waste Management:- Causes, Effects and Control Measures of Urban and Industrial
Wastes Role of an Individual in Prevention of Pollution
3) Pollution Case Studies – disaster Management:- Floods, Earthquake, Cyclone and
Landslides.
4) Field Study of Local Polluted Site – Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural
NATURAL RESOURCES
10 Periods
1) Forest Resources:- Use and Over - Exploitation, Deforestation (Case Studies, Timber
Extraction, Mining, Dams and their Ground Water, Floods, Drought, Conflicts Over Water,
Dams – Benefits and Problems)
2) Mineral Resources:- Use Effects on Forests and Tribal People, Environmental Effects of
Extracting and Using Mineral Resources,
3) Water Resources:- Use and Over-Utilization of Surface and Exploitation, Case Studies
4) Food Resources: World Food Problems, Changes caused by Agriculture and Overgrazing,
Effects of Modern Agriculture, Fertilizer- Pesticide Problems, Water Logging, salinity, Case
Studies
5) Energy
Resources:-
Growing
Energy
Needs,
Renewable
and
Non
Renewable
EnergySources, Use of Alternate Energy Sources, Case Studies
6) Land Resources:- Land as a Resource, Land Degradation, Man Induced Landslides, Soil
Erosion and Desertification
7) Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources – Equitable use of Resources for
Sustainable Lifestyles.
8) Field Study of Local Area to Document Environmental assets – River/Forest/Grassland/Hill/
Mountain.
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SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
7 Periods
1) From Unsustainable To Sustainable Development
2) Urban Problems Related To energy
3) Water conservation, Rain Water Harvesting, Watershed Management
4) Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People, Its Problems and Concerns
5) Case Studies
6) Environmental ethics:- Issues and Possible Solutions
7) Climate Change, Global Warming, Acid Rain, Ozone Layer Depletion, Nuclear Accidents
and Holocaust, Case Studies
8) Wasteland Reclamation – Consumerism and Waste Products
9) Environment Production Act – Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act – Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act – Wildlife Protection Act – Forest Conservation
Act
10) Issues Involved in enforcement of Environmental Legislation – Public Awareness.
HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
6 Periods
1) Population Growth, Variation Among Nations
2) Population Explosion
3) Family Welfare Programme
4) Environment and Human Health
5) Human Rights
6) Value Education
7) HIV /AIDS
8) Women and Child Welfare
9) Role of Information Technology in Environment and Human Health
10) Case Studies.
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INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
1. Define environmental science.
Environmental science is the study of the environment, its biotic and abiotic components
and their interrelationship.
2. What are the important components of environment?
1. Abiotic or non-living component 2. Biotic or living component 3. Energy component
3. State the significance and scope of environmental education.
1. Environmental studies inform the people about their effective role in protecting the
environment.
2. Environmental studies have a direct relation to the quality of life we live.
Scope:
1. To get an awareness and sensitivity to total environment.
2. To motivate the active participation in environmental protection and improvement.
4. Define biosphere.
The part of lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere in which living organisms live and
interact with one another is called biosphere.
5. Mention the various types of public participation.
a) Pressure group b) Watch dog c) Advisory council d) Enforcing the environmental laws.
6. Environmental awareness is need of the hour comment.
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume and the land we live on are all
contaminated by the industrial activities. There is no zero pollution industry. Because of the lack
of self discipline and not worrying about our future generation, the valuable sources are polluted.
To solve the above problems, need of environmental awareness is very important.
ECO SYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY
1. What is food chains?
The sequence of eating and being eaten in an ecosystem is known as food chain.
Eg., Grass → Grasshopper → Rat → Snake → Eagle
2. What is food web?
The interlocking pattern of various food chains in an ecosystem is known as food web.
Eg., Grass may be eaten by insects, rats, deers, etc. These may be eaten by snake, tiger, lion,
etc.
3. What is Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores?
The animals directly depend on the plants for their food is called primary consumers or
herbivores. Eg., Insects, rat, goat, deer
The animals directly depend on the primary consumers for their food is called secondary
consumers or carnivores. Eg., Frog, cat, snake etc.
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The animals directly depend on the secondary consumers for their food is called tertiary
consumers or omnivores. Eg., lion, tiger, etc.
4. What is ecological pyramid?
Graphical representation of structure and function of tropic levels of an ecosystem, starting
with producers at the bottom and each successive topic levels forming the apex. Types of
ecological pyramids are 1) Pyramid of numbers 2) Pyramid of energy and 3) Pyramid of biomass.
5. Define biodiversity.
Biodiversity is defined as “the variety and variability among all groups of living organisms
and the ecosystem in which they occur.
6. What is endangered and endemic species? Mention few examples.
A species is said to be endangered, when its number has been reduced to a critical level.
Unless it is protected and conserved, it is in immediate danger of extinction.
Eg., Endemic species – Flora (Sapara Himalayan) and Fauna (Indian salamander)
Eg., Endangered species – Reptiles (Tortoise, Python), Mammals (Indian wolf and Tiger)
7. What is hot spots? Mention few example.
The area which is the richness of the endemic species. (or) the area which is under threat
(or) the area which contain important gene pools of plants of potentially useful plants.
Eg., Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats
8. What is meant by genetic diversity?
It is the diversity within species by variation of genes.
Eg.,
9. “India is a mega diversity nation” – Account.
India is one among the 12 mega diversity countries in the world. It has 89,450 animal
species accounting for 7.31% of the global fauna species and 47,000 plant species which accounts
for 10.8% of the world flora species. The loss of biodiversity or endemic is about 33%.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
1. Name any four air pollutants, their sources and effects.
Carbon
monoxide
Cigarette
smoking,
combustion
of fossil fuel.
incomplete Coma, brain cell damage
Carbon dioxide
Burning of fossil fuels
Acid rail, Lung damage
Sulphur dioxide
Coal burning
Breathing problem and acid rain
Lead
Pain, smelters and leaded petrol
Mental retardation and harm to
wild life.
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2. Name the sources and effects of marine pollution.
Dumping
wastes
Oil
the Marine birds ingest plastic which causes gastro intestinal disorders
Damage to marine fauna and flora retard the rate of oxygen uptake by water
3. Define thermal pollution.
It is the addition of excess undesirable heat to water that makes it harmful to man, animal or
aquatic life or otherwise causes significant departures from the normal activities of aquatic
communities in water.
4. Define hazardous wastes.
Wastes like toxic chemicals, radioactive or biological substances which contribute to an
increase in mortality or in serious irreversible illness to human health and environment are called
hazardous wastes.
5. Write any four major water pollutants.
a) Pesticides and biocides b) Heavy metals, mercury, crude oil, plastic c) Industrial and
agricultural wastes d) Thermal pollution
6. Define photochemical smog.
The brownish smoke like appearance that frequently forms on clear, sunny days over large
cities with significant amounts of automobile traffic. It is mainly due to chemical reactions among
nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon by sunlight.
7. What are the causes of air pollution?
a) Incomplete burning of fossil fuel release CO, CO2 etc. b) Coal burning in power plants
releases SO2. c) Paint, smelters, lead manufacture liberate Pb d) Agriculture, decay of plants
liberate hydrocarbon.
8. What are the harmful effects of landslide?
a) Landslide block the roads and diverts the passage b) Erosion of soil increases c) Sudden
landslide damage the houses, crop yield, live stock etc.
9. State the role and responsibility of an individual in the prevention of pollution.
a) Plant more trees b) Pollution prevention than Pollution control c) Use water, energy and
other resources efficiently d) Purchase recyclable, recycled and eco friendly safe products e) Use
CFC free refrigerators.
NATURAL RESOURCES
1. Mention some important causes of over exploitation.
Over exploitation of forest wealth in developing countries occurs in the following ways.
1) Increasing agricultural production b) Increasing industrial activities c) Increase in demand of
wood resources.
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2. What are the preventive measures of deforestation?
a) Steps should be taken by the Government to discourage the migration of people into the
islands from mainland.
b) Tree plantation programs have been started.
c) Education and awareness programmes must be conducted.
d) Strict implementation of law of forest conservation act.
3. What are the consequences of timber extraction?
a) Deforestation
b) Soil erosion, loss of fertility, landslide and loss of biodiversity.
c) Loss of tribal culture and extinction of tribal people.
d) Reduces the thickness (area) of forest.
4. State the environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources.
a) Loss of vegetation and landscape.
b) Groundwater and surface water pollution/contamination
c) Air pollution
d) Subsidence of land.
5. What are the effects of dams on tribals?
a) Loss of their shelter
b) Deforestation
c) Becoming earthquake prone areas
d) Becoming waterlogging area.
6. Define overgrazing.
Overgrazing is a process of “eating away the forest vegetation without giving it a chance to
regenerate”. It leads to land degradation, Soil erosion and reduced moisture holding capacity of
soil.
7. What are the objectives of alternate energy sources?
a) To provide more energy to meet the requirements of increasing population
b) To reduce environmental pollution
c) To reduce safety risk associated with nuclear energy.
8. What are the merits and problems caused by the construction of dam?
Merits:
a) To control flood and store water
b) Diverting water from rive into a channel
c) For drinking and agriculture purpose.
d) For generating electricity
Problems:
a) Displacement of tribal people.
b) Loss of non forest land
c) Loss of forest, flora and fauna
d) Spread of vector borne diseases
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e) Dam area becomes earthquake prone zone.
9. What is desertification? Give two reasons for it.
It is a progressive destruction or degradation of arid (dry) or semi arid lands to desert.
Reasons: a) Deforestation b) Overgrazing c) Mining and quarrying.
10. What is water logging?
Water logging is the land where water stand for most of the year.
Problems: a) Soil air is depleted b) Soil mechanical strength decreased and crop yield falls.
11. What are the causes of deforestation?
a) Development of project b) Mining operation c) Raw material for industries d) Fuel
requirement e) Forest fire
SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
1. What is meant by sustainable development?
Sustainable development is defined as, “meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
2. Explain the need for water conservation.
a) Though the resources of water are more, the quality and reliability are not high due to
changes in environmental factors. B) Better life style requires more fresh water. c) As the
population increases, the requirement of water is also more. d) Due to deforestation, the annual
rainfall also decreases.
3. What is green house effect? Mention few examples of green house gases.
The progressive warming up of the earth’s surface due to blanketing effect of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O vapour and Chlorofluoro carbon (CFC)
4. What are the causes and effects of ozone layer depletion?
Causes: Presence of a) chlorofluoro carbon b) hydro chlorofluoro carbon c) bromo fluoro
carbon
Effect: a) UV rays destroys the melamine pigment in human skin b) Effect the aquatic
forms c) Degrade paint, plastics and other polymeric materials d) Increases the average
temperature of the earth.
5. What is acid rain?
The presence of excessive acids in rain water is known as acid rain. The presence of SO2
and NO2 gases in the atmosphere, decreases the pH of the water during the rainfall.
6. Explain the term “Global Warming”.
The increased inputs of CO2 and other green house gases into the atmosphere from human
activities will enhance the earth’s natural green house effect of raising the average global
temperature of the atmosphere near the earth’s surface. This enhanced green house effect is called
global warming.
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7. What are the objectives of public awareness?
a) To create awareness among people of rural and city about ecological imbalances and
local environment b) To organize meetings, group discussion on tree plantation c) To focus on
current environment problems and situations d) To train our planners, decision makers, politicians
and administrators e) To learn to live simple and ecofriendly manner.
8. What are the objectives of EIA?
EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) is defined as a formal process of predicting the
environmental consequences of any development projects. It is used to identify the environmental,
social and economic impacts of the project prior to decision making. It is to identify the main
issues and problem of the parties.
9. List the objectives of watershed management.
a) To minimize the risks of flood, drought and landslide b) To develop rural areas in the
region with clear plan for improving the economy of the region c) To manage the watershed for
developmental activities like domestic water supply, irrigation, hydropower generation etc.,
HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Define immigration and emigration.
Immigration: It denotes the arrival of individuals from neighbouring population.
Emigration: It denotes the dispersal of individuals from the original population to new
areas.
2. What is population explosion?
The enormous increase in population is due to low death rate, high birth rate is called
explosion. The human population is not increasing at a uniform rate in all parts of the world.
3. State the role of information technology in environment.
Information Technology plays a vital role in the field of environmental education.
Information Technology means collection, processing storage and dissemination of information. A
number of software have been developed to study about the environment.
4. Define population density.
It is expressed as the number of individuals of the population per unit area or unit volume.
5. Define population equation.
P t+1 = Pt +(B-D) + (I-E)
Pt and P t+1 = sizes of population in an area at two different point of time t and t+1
B = Birth rate
D = Death rate
I = Immigration
E = Emigration
6. Write the importance of value education.
a) To improve the integral growth of human being.
b) To create attitudes and improvement towards sustainable lifestyle.
c) To create and develop awareness about the values and their significance and role.
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