Classes

People and Environment

Goalfinder Classes: CBSE NET 2016 - Paper 1

Total number of Pages: 130
Portion covered till CBSE NET December 2015

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 Goalfinder Classes People and Environment

People & Environment

Table of Content
ENVIRONMENT

COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
FACTORS AFFECTING ENVIRONMENT

TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT

NATURAL , MAN MADE ENVIRONMENT

PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT

PROCESSES OF ECOSYSTEMS
CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTIONS

NAGOYA PROTOCOL

TRAGEDY OF COMMONS
NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE

IMPORTANT ACTS AND MOVEMENT

FOREST C ONSERVATION ACT , GANGA ACTION PLAN ETC .

OTHER TERMS

ABBREVIATIONS , B OOKS AND PUBLICATIONS , BIOSPHERES ETC.

POLLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS

SOURCES OF POLLUTION
POINT SOURCE , NON POINT SOURCES, AREA POLLUTION VOLUME SOURCE
-

MAJOR SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION

NATURAL AND MAN MADE SOURCES

WHAT ARE OXIDES OF NITROGEN?

OXIDES OF SULPHUR SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO 2)

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS)

INHALABLE PARTICULATES (PM10), TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES (TSP)

SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION

-
INDICATORS OF WATER POLLUTION

SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION

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SOURCES OF RADIATION POLLUTION IN LIVING ORGANISMS

POLLUTANTS

CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTANTS

POLLUTION ACCUMULATION IN ORGANISMS

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS

HYDROCARBONS AND VOC, PAH, ETC

POLLUTION BY GASES AND LIQUIDS

POLLUTANTS AFFECTING WATER

CLASSIFICATION OF HOSPITAL WASTE

SUMMARIZING

EFFECT OF POLLUTANTS ON HUMANS

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SEWAGE AND DOMESTIC WASTE, INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANT, THERMAL POLLUTION, ETC.
DEFINED.

NATURAL HAZARDS

COMMON TYPES OF NATURAL HAZARDS

GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS

AVALANCHE, EARTHQUAKE (P, S, SURFACE, RAYLEIGH, MEASURING EARTHQUAKES, ETC), VOLCANOES, SINKHOLE, ETCERROR! BOOKMARK
NOT DEFINED.

HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL HAZARD

NATURAL HAZARD DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION

CLIMATE CHANGE

EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

NATURE

NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA

FOREST AREA OF INDIA

GRASSLANDS OF INDIA

RIVERS OF INDIA

IMPORTANT RIVER VALLEY PROJECTS IN INDIA

CLEANING OF YAMUNA RIVER

GANGA ACTION PLAN

NATIONAL RIVER GANGA BASIN AUTHORITY (NRGBA)

CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES

CONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES

RENEWABLE AND NON RENEWABLE SOURCES

GLOBAL WARMING GREENHOUSE GASES

AIR QUALITY INDEX

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OZONE LAYER DEPLETION.....................................................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

SAMPLE
People & Environment
Environment
Environment can be defined in a number of ways. For example,

(1) "Environment is the sum of all social, economical, biological, physical or chemical factors which constitute
the surroundings of man, who is both creator and molder of his environment.'

(2) "Environment refers to the sum total of conditions which surround man at a given point in space and
time."

(3) "Environment is the representative of physical components of the earth wherein man is the important
factor influencing his environment."

Components of Environment
Environment consists of the following three important components:

1. Abiotic or Non-living Component.

2. Biotic or Living Component
3. Energy Component

The abiotic or physical environment is sub-divided into three categories

1. Lithosphere (Solid Earth)
2. Hydrosphere(Water Component)
3. Atmosphere (Gaseous Envelope)

The biotic component of environment consists of flora and fauna, including man as the important factor.
Abiotic and biotic components constitute together the Biome Environment.

The energy component includes solar energy, geochemical energy, thermo-electrical energy, hydro-
electrical energy, nuclear atomic energy etc. Energy due to radiation and other sources also plays an im-
portant role to maintain the real life of organisms.

Atmosphere
Oxygen for human respiration (metabolic requirements).
Oxygen for wild fauna in natural ecosystems and domestic animals used by man as food.
Oxygen as a part of carbon dioxide, used for the growth of plants (in turn are used
by man).

Factors Affecting Environment

Most of the ecologists recognise four categories of ecological factors which affect the environment. These
are:
1. Topographic or Physiographic Factors, which consist of altitude, direction of mountain chains, plateaus,
plains, lakes, rivers, sea level and valleys etc.

2. Climatic Factors or Aerial Factors, which include atmosphere, light, temperature and humidity etc.

3. Edaphic Factors, which comprise lithosphere or soil.

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NAPCC

The NAPCC also describes other ongoing initiatives, including:

Power Generation: The government is mandating the retirement of inefficient coal-fired power
plants and supporting the research and development of IGCC and supercritical technologies.
Renewable Energy: Under the Electricity Act 2003 and the National Tariff Policy 2006, the central
and the state electricity regulatory commissions must purchase a certain percentage of grid-based
power from renewable sources.
Energy Efficiency: Under the Energy Conservation Act 2001, large energy-consuming industries are
required to undertake energy audits and an energy labeling program for appliances has been intro-
duced.

Implementation

Ministries with lead responsibility for each of the missions are directed to develop objectives, implementa-
tion strategies, timelines, and monitoring and evaluation criteria, to be submitted to the Prime Ministers
Council on Climate Change. The Council will also be responsible for periodically reviewing and reporting on
each missions progress. To be able to quantify progress, appropriate indicators and methodologies will be
developed to assess both avoided emissions and adaptation benefits

New missions to be added are

Apart from launching the new missions, the PM Council is also due to review the performance of the exist-
ing eight missions, many of which have remained mostly ineffective. These missions are likely to be
strengthened and given a new direction by the Council with higher performance targets, just like it was
done for the Solar Mission some time ago.

The Solar Mission has been one of the most important components of the NAPCC as it has the maximum
impact on slowing down the growth of Indias greenhouse gas emissions. The government recently en-
hanced the target of electricity production under the Solar Mission from the original 20,000 MW by 2022
to 100,000 MW.

The Wind Mission is likely to be given an initial target of producing about 50,000-60,000 MW of power by
the year 2022, the year when the 13th five year plan will come to an end. Already, there is about 22,000
MW of installed capacity of wind energy in the country. Like the Solar Mission, the Wind Mission will be
serviced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Wind energy

Modelled on National Solar Mission

To be serviced by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
To produce 50,000-60,000 MW of power by 2022

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Pollution
Definition
The word 'pollution', derived from the Latin word pollutionem (meaning to defile or make dirty) is the act
of polluting the environment. The term Pollution is defined in various ways.

What is pollution?

Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and
soil that may harmfully affect the life or create a potential health hazard of any living organism. Pollution is
thus direct or indirect changes in any component of the biosphere that is harmfi.il to the living compo-
nent(s), and in particular undesirable for man, affecting adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natu-
ral assets or general environment.

What are pollutants?

Any substance which causes pollution is called a pollutant. A pollutant may thus include any chemical or
geochemical (dust, sediment, grit etc.) substance, biotic component or its product, or physical factor (heat)
that is released intentionally by man into the environment in such a concentration that may have adverse
harm fid or unpleasant effects.

Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution is the result of urban-industrial technological revolution and speedy exploitation
of every bit of natural resources.'

Environment, = air, the water, the soil, the noise, the buildings, the landscapes, the oceans, the
lakes, the rivers, the parks, the vehicles and many other things.
Thus Pollution is generally defined as "The addition of the constituents to water, air or land, which
adversely alter the natural quality of the environment."
In some cases, pollution may involve removal, rather than the addition of the constituents from the
environment.

Environmental Pollutants

The various principal pollutants which pollute our air, water, land are as follows :

(1) Deposited matter - soot, smoke, tar, dust, grit etc.

(2) Gases - Oxides of nitrogen (NO, N02), sulphur (S02), carbon monoxide, halogens, (chlorine, bromine,
iodine),

(3) Acids droplets - sulphruric, acid nitric acid etc.

(4) Fluorides

(5) Metals - Mercury, lead, iron, zinc, nickel, tin, cadmium, chromium etc.

(6) Agrochemicals - Biocides (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematicides, bactericides, weedicides etc),
and fertilizers.

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(7) Complex organic substances - Benzene, ether, acetic acid, benzopyrenes etc.

(8) Major Sources of Air Pollution

Sources of Water Pollution

Water the most abundant and wonderful natural resources, is extremely essential for survival of all living
organisms. But today clean water has become a precious commodity and its quality is threatened by nu-
merous sources of pollution which are as follows-

1. Sewage and Domestic Wastes 2. Industrial Effluents

3. Agricultural Discharges 4. Fertilizers

6
5. Detergents - Toxic Metals
8
7 Siltation - Thermal Pollutants, and

9. Radioactive Materials

1. Sewage and Domestic Wastes

Sewage is commonly a cloudy dilute aqueous solution containing mineral and organic matter About 75%
of water pollution is caused by sewage, domestic wastes and food processing plants.

It also includes human excreta, soap, detergent, metals, glass, rubbish, garden waste and sewage
sludge from cess pools etc.
Municipal waste is the principal contributor of water pollution.
Domestic sewage contains trace quantities of toxic metals such as Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, Pb and Ni. Sew-
age contains decomposable organic matter and exert an oxygen demand on the receiving waters.
Organic matter generally includes fatty acids, esters, amino acids, amides, amino sugars and pro-
teinaceous amines.
Most municipal sewages receive no treatment before they are discharged in water.
Sewage treatment deposits the suspended material, called sludge at the bottom, while the liquid waste
consists of ions like Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ Cl-, NO2-, SO12-, PO43-, NH4+ and HCO3- in dissolved condition.

2. Industrial Effluents
Industrial effluents discharged into
water bodies contain toxic chemi-
cals, hazardous compounds, phe-
nols, aldehydes, ketones, amines,
cyanides, metallic wastes, plasticiz-
ers, toxic acids, corrosive alkalies,
oils greases, dyes, biocides, sus-
pended solids, non-biodegradable
matter, radioactive wastes and
thermal pollutants from numerous
industries.

The principal type of industries which contribute to water pollution of rivers in India are chemicals
and pharmaceuticals coal washeries, soaps and detergents, pulp and paper, sugar, distilleries, dye-
ing, tanneries, steel mills, fertilizers etc.
These effluents when discharged through sewage system poison the biological purification mecha-
nism of sewage treatment and pose several pollution problems.

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These effluents when discharged through sewage system poison the biological purification mecha-
nism of sewage treatment and pose several pollution problems.

List of Significant Earthquakes in India

Dates Time Location Deaths Comments Magnitude

(Overall)

December 09:28 off west coast 283,106 Third deadliest earthquake in the 9.1
26, 2004 IST northern Sumatra history of the world, the tsunami
India Sri Lanka Mal- generated killed 15,000 people in
dives India

August 15, 19:22 Arunachal Pradesh 1,526 Largest earthquake recorded in 8.6
1950 IST mainland India since Independ-
ence.

June 12, 15:30 Shillong, India 1,500 8.3

1897 IST

June 26, 08:50 Andaman Islands 7,000 Triggered a tsunami that affected 8.1
1941 IST eastern India and Sri Lanka

June 16, 18:47 Gujarat >1,543 Formed the Allah Bund and Lake 8.2
1819 Sindri

January 15, 14:13 Nepal >10,000 Epicenter lies 10 km south of Mt. 8.0
1934 IST Everest.

Source wikipedia

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Conventional and Non-Conventional Energy sources

India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world. In FY15, India generated 1,048.7 terawatt-
hours (TWh) of electricity. Over FY1015, electricity production expanded at a CAGR of 6.3 per cent.As per
the 12th Five Year Plan, India is targeting a total of 88.5 GW of power capacity addition by 2017, of which,
72.3 GW constitutes thermal power, 10.8 GW hydro and 5.3 GW nuclear.

Renewable energy is fast emerging as a major source of power in India. Wind energy is the largest source
of renewable energy in India. It accounts for an estimated 60 per cent of total installed capacity (21.1GW).
There are plans to double wind power generation capacity to 20GW by 2022. India has also raised the solar
power generation capacity addition target by five times to 100GW by 2022.

The conventional sources of Energy includes :

Coal, petroleum, natural gas are the conventional sources for Thermal power in India.
Water is the conventional source for Hydel Power, etc.

The Non-conventional sources of energy includes :

Solar Energy, tidal energy, geo-thermal energy, wind energy, etc.

The comparison between the Conventional and Non-conventional sources of Energy is mentioned below :

1. Conventional energy, such as thermal powers (from coal, petroleum, and natural gas), hydel power
(from high velocity of running water) are tapped and used abundantly at present. Their uses are
practiced for a long time. But, in contrast to conventional sources of energy, non-conventional
sources of energy (solar energy, tidal energy, geo-thermal energy, wind energy, etc.) are not used
frequently and in large scale (commercially). Their uses are comparatively more recent.
2. Except hydel power, other conventional energies are non-renewable in nature. The enormous re-
serve of fossil fuels (coal, crude-oil, natural gas, etc.) are fast depleting. But the sources of non-
conventional energy are flow-resources. There is no anxiety for their exhaustion.
3. Except hydel power, the generation of other conventional energy produces air pollution and caus-
es environmental threats. But the generation of non-conventional energy does not produce air pol-
lution.
4. Except hydel power, the other conventional energy is costly. But comparatively, the non-
conventional energy is much cheaper.

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Lifetime of pollutant
Water vapor, which has a residence time of about nine days, CO2 is estimated of the order of 3095 years,
N2O has a mean atmospheric lifetime of 114 years

Gas name Chemical Lifetime

formula (years)
Carbon dioxide CO2 30-200
Methane CH4 12
Nitrous oxide N2O 114
CFC-12 CCI2F2 100
HCFC-22 CHCIF2 12
Tetrafluoromethane CF4 50 000
Hexafluoroethane C2F6 10 000
Sulphur hexafluoride SF6 3 200
Nitrogen trifluoride NF3 740

According to work published in 2007, the concentrations of CO2 and methane have increased by 36% and
148% respectively since 1750. These levels are much higher than at any time during the last 800,000 years,
the period for which reliable data has been extracted from ice cores

Estimates of global CO2 emissions in 2011 from fossil fuel combustion, including cement production and
gas flaring, was 34.8 billion tonnes (9.5 0.5 PgC), an increase of 54% above emissions in 1990. Coal burn-
ing was responsible for 43% of the total emissions, oil 34%, gas 18%, cement 4.9% and gas flaring 0.7%

Role of water vapour: Water vapor accounts for the largest percentage of the greenhouse effect, between
36% and 66% for clear sky conditions and between 66% and 85% when including clouds. Water vapor con-
centrations fluctuate regionally, but human activity does not significantly affect water vapor concentrations
except at local scales, such as near irrigated fields.

When ranked by their direct contribution to the greenhouse effect, the most important are:

Compound Formula Contribution

(%)

Water vapor and clouds H2O 3672%

Carbon dioxide CO2 926%

Methane CH4 49%

Ozone O3 37%

On the per capita basis the US remains the biggest polluter (19.1 tons per capita), while China is third
lowest and India emits the least amount of carbon dioxide (0.8 tons per capita).

Solution: In order to tackle this problem three approaches can be adopted,

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