Current Environmental Issues: Greenhouse Effect

Current Environmental Issues: Greenhouse Effect, Acid Rain

• The greenhouse effect is a process where gases trap heat, caused by carbon dioxide and water vapor.
• These gases allow incoming solar radiation to pass through but trap outgoing infrared radiation.
• Global warming is a long-term rise in Earth's average temperature, a result of the greenhouse effect.

The Earth's Temperature - A Balancing Act

• Visible light from the sun encounters a rock molecule, causing it to vibrate.
• The molecule heats up and emits infrared radiation.
• Some infrared radiation is radiated back towards Earth.
• Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation back towards Earth.

Greenhouse Gases

• Common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons.
• Causes of greenhouse gas emissions include fossil-fuel burning, industrial processes, deforestation, livestock, biomass burning, and coal mining.

Effects of Increase in Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in Atmosphere

• Air and Earth's surface may warm.
• The stratosphere may cool.
• Temperate and polar regions may warm, reducing ice cover.
• Rainfall may increase in temperate regions.
• Evaporation may increase due to warming.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

• Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) quantify the relative radiative forcing impacts of greenhouse gases.
• Measured over a certain time period, starting from the emission of a unit mass of gas, relative to a reference gas (usually carbon dioxide).
• Carbon dioxide has a GWP of 1 (the reference gas).
• Different greenhouse gases have different GWPs, which can be used to compare their impacts.

Emission of Greenhouse Gases

• Carbon dioxide accounts for the largest proportion (64.3%) of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
• Methane and other gases contribute smaller percentages.

Environmental Effects of Global Warming

• Climate change, a rise in sea levels, reduced agricultural production, increased storms, adverse effects on human health, and loss of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Control measures of Global Warming

• Reduce the use of fossil fuels.
• Shift to renewable energy sources.
• Increase energy efficiency and cleaner production technologies.
• Improve forest management and undertake afforestation to sequester carbon.

Acid Rain

• Acid rain is caused when natural precipitation reacts with pollutants in the atmosphere, primarily sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
• These pollutants are often emitted from the burning of fossil fuels and the use of nuclear weapons.
• Effects of Acid rain include reduction in population of flora and fauna, damage to terrestrial ecosystems, corrosion of buildings, and effects on human beings.

Sustainable Development

• Sustainability focuses on meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
• Sustainability has three pillars: environmental, economic, and social.

Measures for Sustainable Development

• Use appropriate technology
• A Reduce, Reuse, Recycle approach
• Promote environmental education and awareness
• Resource utilization based on carrying capacity
• Effective planning for population control
• Reduce dependence on non-renewable resources

Carrying Capacity

• Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species an environment can sustain indefinitely.
• Components of Carrying capacity include supporting capacity (capacity to regenerate) and assimilative capacity (capacity to tolerate different stresses).

Urban Problems Related to Energy

• Residential and commercial lighting
• Transportation, including automobiles and public transport.
• Modern lifestyles that utilize a high number of electrical devices.
• Industrial plants requiring energy for operations.
• Waste disposal, which requires energy-based techniques.
• Air and water pollution needing energy-based solutions for control

Water Conservation Measures

• Decreasing run-off losses
• Reducing evaporation losses
• Storing water in soil
• Reducing irrigation losses
• Re-use of water
• Preventing wastage of water
• Increasing block pricing

Rainwater Harvesting

• Rainwater harvesting collects rainwater for various purposes (domestic, industrial, agricultural).
• Techniques include catchment areas, tanks, Khadins, Johads, and modern rainwater harvesting systems.
• Water harvesting aims to raise the water table, minimize ground water pollution, and decrease soil erosion and flooding.

Watershed Management

• A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common location—from a small stream to an ocean.
• Benefits of watershed management include ecological balance, stabilization of income under unfavorable conditions, risk reduction of drought, landslides, floods, and erosion; proper land utilization maximization of productivity; beneficial developmental activities; and improved regional economy

Ozone Layer Depletion

• Ozone depletion refers to the decrease in the concentration of ozone (O3) in the stratosphere.
• Ozone is lost via a reaction involving oxygen atoms or ozone with other trace gases (e.g., chlorine).
• Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contribute to ozone layer depletion.

The Environment Protection Act 1986

• Protect forests and wildlife.
• Improve the quality of life and environment.
• Coordinate activities of regulatory agencies.
• Appoint officers to check environmental pollution.
• Establish environmental labs.

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981

• Prevent, control and abate air pollution.
• Set air quality standards, collect data, organize training and awareness programmes,establish labs.
• Specify air pollution-control areas and set vehicle emission standards.
• Implement penalties

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974

• Prevent, control and provide maintenance or restoration of the wholesomeness of water.
• Establish water quality and effluent standards.
• Polluting industries need permits to discharge waste.

Wildlife Protection Act of 1972

• Protects wildlife including birds, animals, and aquatic/land vegetation.
• Regulate or prohibit forest conversion to agriculture/urban land.
• Protect against natural hazards, maintain water supply, and safeguard communication and transportation.

Forest Conservation Act of 1980

• Provides protection and conservation of forests.
• Regulate clearing of land for cultivation, pasturing, or vegetation removal.
• Protect against natural hazards, maintain water supplies, safeguard communication and transportation, and preserve public health.
• Establish rules and regulations for land owners.

Environmental Protocols (Kyoto Protocol, Montreal Protocol, Convention on Biological Diversity)

• International agreements addressing global environmental issues (climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity)
• Established objectives and frameworks for countries to cooperate and address these issues.

Issues Involved in Enforcement of Environmental Laws

• Illiteracy
• Growing population
• Ignorance
• Economic reasons
• Insufficiency of laws

Explore the intricate details of the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and their impact on Earth's temperature. This quiz covers key greenhouse gases, their sources, and the implications of global warming. Test your understanding of these critical environmental issues today!