Questions and Answers
What percentage of the earth's surface is covered by water?
Which states can water exist in on Earth due to its surface temperature and pressure conditions?
Which type of forest is NOT one of the three basic biomes of India?
What is the total forest area of India in million hectares?
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How many types of insects are documented in India's faunal variety?
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Which of the following is NOT a type of forest found in India?
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Which biotic component is considered essential for the environment in India?
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How many total species are documented in India’s faunal variety?
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What is the percentage of the total land area that forests cover in India?
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How many bird species are recorded in India's faunal variety?
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Study Notes
Definition of Environment
- C.C. Park describes environment as all conditions surrounding humans at a specific time and location.
- Douglas and Holland define environment as the sum of external forces and conditions that impact the life, behavior, and development of living organisms.
Types of Environment
- Physical / Abiotic: Involves non-living components such as the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
- Biological / Biotic: Comprises living organisms in the biosphere, including flora and fauna.
- Manmade: Encompasses economic, social, and cultural influences created by humans.
Physical or Abiotic Components
- Atmosphere: The gaseous layer surrounding Earth.
- Lithosphere: The solid outer layer of the planet.
- Hydrosphere: The water component of the Earth.
Composition of the Atmosphere
- Atmosphere extends up to 300 km above Earth's surface with various components like water vapor, dust, and microorganisms.
Major Constituents of the Atmosphere
- Major Components: Nitrogen (78.09%), Oxygen (20.94%), Water Vapor (0.1%).
- Minor Components: Argon (0.9%), Carbon Dioxide (0.032%).
- Trace Components: Neon (0.0018%), Helium (0.0005%), Methane (0.0002%).
Major Layers of the Atmosphere
- Troposphere (0-20 km): Weather occurs here; temperatures range from 15°C to -56°C.
- Stratosphere (20-50 km): Horizontal air flow; contains the ozone layer; temperatures range from -56°C to -2°C.
- Mesosphere (50-85 km): Temperatures range from -2°C to -92°C; contains Oxygen and Nitric oxide.
- Thermosphere (85-500 km): Very high temperatures from -92°C to 1200°C; contains ionized particles.
Lithosphere
- Lithosphere means "rocky sphere," the solid outer layer of Earth consisting of the core, mantle, and crust.
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Core:
- Inner core is solid, composed of iron and nickel, with a density of 13 g/cm³ and a radius of about 1220 km.
- Outer core is liquid, with a density of 11 g/cm³ and a radius of 2250 km.
- Mantle: Surrounds the core, divided into upper (670 km radius) and lower mantle (2230 km radius), composed of ultramafic rock.
- Asthenosphere: A weaker, hotter part of the upper mantle, stretching 100-200 km.
- Crust: Divided into oceanic (5-10 km thick, basalt composition) and continental (20-70 km thick, granite composition).
Hydrosphere
- Includes all of Earth's water, covering 71% of the planet, with water existing as solid, liquid, and gas.
- Oceans hold most of the Earth's water, stabilizing surface temperatures and supporting life as a universal solvent.
Biotic Components of Environment
- Forests and wildlife are vital biotic components, comprising various biomes, particularly in India.
- Main biomes in India: Tropical humid forest, tropical dry deciduous forest, warm deserts, and dry deserts.
- Total forest area in India: 63.73 million hectares (19.39% of land area).
Types of Vegetation in India
- Two primary types of vegetation: Forest and Grassland.
- Four main forest types: Tropical, Montane subtropical, Temperate, and Alpine.
Faunal Variety of India
- India is home to approximately 77,000 species, including:
- 53,000 insects
- 1200 birds
- 453 reptiles
- 372 mammals
- 5000 mollusks
- 2500 fish
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Description
Explore the key concepts and definitions related to the environment, including various components and types. Understand how different external forces and conditions influence living organisms. This quiz provides a foundational understanding of environmental science.
