Global Warming, Acid Rain & Ozone Depletion

Global Warming and Acid Rain

• Global Warming: Primarily caused by greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon dioxide being the major contributor. Human activities, like fossil fuel combustion, increase CO2 levels. Global warming leads to rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity due to melting ice caps, and more frequent extreme weather events. The Kyoto Protocol aimed to control greenhouse gases, and the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2°C.
• Acid Rain: Rain with a pH less than 7, caused by nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Natural sources exist, including volcanoes. Acid rain harms aquatic life, damages marble and limestone buildings, and acidifies soil. Reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can mitigate acid rain formation.
• Ozone Depletion: Caused by CFCs, primarily impacting the poles, especially the South Pole. This leads to increased UV radiation and higher risks of skin cancer for humans. The Montreal Protocol aimed to reduce ozone-depleting substances. Volcanic eruptions can also contribute to ozone depletion.

Forests, Overexploitation, and Renewable Energy

• Deforestation: Driven by urbanization and agricultural expansion, leading to overexploitation and soil erosion. Tropical rainforests are particularly vulnerable. Forest conservation is essential for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.
• Overexploitation: Excessive use of resources beyond their natural capacity, including forests, mining, and groundwater. Consequences include soil erosion, groundwater depletion, and an increased atmospheric CO2 contribution to climate change. Sustainable resource management is a crucial mitigation practice.
• Renewable Energy Sources:
  • Solar Energy: Uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight to electricity. Panels range in efficiency from 5% to 20% and have advantages such as being renewable, storable in batteries and reducing GHGs by not burning fossil fuels. However, reliance on weather conditions is a disadvantage.
  • Wind Energy: Utilizes horizontal-axis wind turbines to convert wind into electricity. High wind speeds are critical for efficiency but this has a drawback of dependency on favorable wind conditions.
  • Biomass Energy: Uses organic materials for energy. Advantages include low cost and renewability, though carbon neutrality depends on the plant's carbon absorption during growth. Bioethanol, for example, can be derived from corn.
  • Hydropower: Relies on water to generate mechanical energy, which is converted into electricity. The difference in height ('head') between water sources and turbines is crucial for efficiency. Hydropower has the advantage of being clean during operation but can impact marine ecosystems.
  • Geothermal Energy: Utilizes the Earth's internal heat. Advantages are its renewability, low emission, and independence from weather. However, high initial costs are a significant disadvantage. Types include dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle power plants.
  • Tidal Energy: Leverages the gravitational pull of the moon and sun to generate energy. However, this can affect marine ecosystems.
  • Hydrogen Energy: Extracted through electrolysis and boasting high energy density and zero emissions, it faces challenges with storage and transportation costs. Fuel cells (like PEM) are used in vehicles.
• Conservation Concepts: The 5R concept (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse, and Rot) promotes waste management.

Additional Information

• Vedic Civilization and Environmentalism: Mentioned various elements like fire, water and the sun as sacred and emphasized conservation practices involving sacred groves etc. This culture demonstrates a strong reverence for nature and a commitment to environmental protection, particularly for water conservation in the Vedic period.
• Sustainable Development Goal 6: Directly relates to clean water and sanitation.

Chapter 1 - Global Warming and Acid Rain Primary cause of global warming: Greenhouse gas emissions

Major contributor to global warming: Carbon dioxide

Human activity increasing CO2: Fossil fuel combustion

Effect of global warming on sea levels: Sea levels rise

Consequence of melting ice caps: Loss of biodiversity

Kyoto Protocol target: Greenhouse gases

Non-renewable energy source: Natural gas

Greenhouse effect: Earth’s atmosphere traps heat

Paris Agreement goal: Limit global warming to below 2°C

Effect of global warming on weather: Increased frequency of extreme weather events

Acid rain: Rainwater with pH less than 7

Gases responsible for acid rain: Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide

Natural source of acid rain: Volcanoes

Typical pH value of acid rain: 5.0 to 6.0

Environmental impact of acid rain: Harms aquatic life

Damage to buildings from acid rain: Marble and limestone

Method to reduce acid rain formation: Reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

Soil impact from acid rain: Soil acidification

Human activity contributing to acid rain: Burning fossil fuels

Main cause of ozone depletion: CFCs

Layer containing the ozone layer: Stratosphere

Effect of ozone depletion on humans: Increases the risk of skin cancer

Compound responsible for ozone depletion: CFCs

Agreement reducing ozone-depleting substances: Montreal Protocol

Region most affected by ozone depletion: Poles, especially the South Pole

Ozone hole: Region of low ozone concentration

Effect of ozone depletion: Increased UV radiation

Natural source of ozone depletion: Volcanic eruptions

Non-component of the environment: Gravity

Biotic components: Plants and animals

Abiotic component: Sunlight

Ozone layer protection: UV radiation

Gas responsible for global warming: Carbon dioxide

Biodiversity: Variety of life on Earth

Renewable resource: Wind energy

Environmental issue from deforestation: Soil erosion

Importance of carbon cycle: Regulating Earth's temperature

Non-renewable resource: Coal

Refuse principle in 5R concept: Rejecting unnecessary or harmful items

Reduce principle in 5R concept: Limiting waste generation

Reuse principle in 5R concept: Using cloth bags instead of disposable ones

Recycle principle in 5R concept: Creating new products from used materials

Rot principle in 5R concept: Making compost from organic waste

Non-5R principle: Restore

Which SDG is concerned with "clean water and sanitation"?: SDG 6

Which of the following texts mentions the reverence for natural elements and emphasizes the protection of the environment?: Vedas

Which of the following was a primary concern for the Vedic people with regard to the environment?: Water conservation

In Vedic times, which natural element was considered sacred and worshipped as a deity?: Fire (Agni), Sun (Surya), Wind (Vayu) (All of the above)

The Pre-Vedic period was characterized by which of the following practices to conserve natural resources?: Sacred groves and natural sanctuaries

Which of the following was an integral part of environmental conservation as mentioned in the Atharvaveda?: Preservation of rivers

In Vedic culture, how was the river Ganga regarded?: As a purifier and sacred river

The term "Vanaspati" in Vedic literature refers to what?: Sacred tree

Total: 64 questions

Chapter 2 - Forests, Overexploitation, and Renewable Energy Non-primary function of forests: Manufacturing of agricultural equipment

Main reason for deforestation: Urbanization and agriculture expansion

Process of planting trees: Reforestation

Most threatened forest type: Tropical rainforests

Purpose of forest conservation: Maintain ecological balance and biodiversity

Non-timber forest product: Resin

Overexploitation: Excessive use beyond natural capacity

Consequence of overexploitation of forests: Soil erosion

Effect of groundwater overexploitation: Depletion of aquifers

Example of overexploitation in mining: Faster extraction than replenishment

Mitigation practice for overexploitation: Sustainable resource management

Climate change contribution of overexploitation: Increased atmospheric CO2

Solar energy technology: Photovoltaic cells

Efficiency range of PV panels: 5% to 20%

Process converting sunlight to electricity: Photovoltaic effect

Disadvantage of solar energy: Dependent on weather conditions

Main component of solar panels: Silicon

Common residential use of solar energy: Heating water

Advantage of solar energy: Can be stored in batteries

GHG reduction by solar energy: Produces electricity without burning fossil fuels

Advantage of wind energy: No greenhouse gases during operation

Common wind turbines: Horizontal-axis wind turbines

Main component of wind turbines: Blades

Electricity generation term: Energy output

Efficiency factor for wind turbines: Wind speed

Disadvantage of wind energy: Dependency on favorable wind conditions

Operation principle of wind turbines: Converting mechanical energy into electrical energy

Biomass energy: Energy from organic materials

Primary advantage of biomass energy: Low cost and renewable

Carbon neutrality of biomass: CO2 absorbed by plants during growth

Bioethanol feedstock: Corn

Non-ocean energy: Geothermal energy

Temperature difference technology: Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)

Tidal energy source: Gravitational pull of the moon and sun

Disadvantage of tidal energy: Can impact marine ecosystems

Primary source of hydrogen: Water

Hydrogen extraction process: Electrolysis

Major advantage of hydrogen energy: High energy density and zero emissions

Methods of producing hydrogen: Thermal decomposition, electrolysis, gasification of coal

Common fuel cell for vehicles: Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells

Major challenge of hydrogen energy: High storage and transportation costs

Clean energy by hydrogen: Water vapor

Common hydropower component: Penstock

Penstock role: Transports water to the turbine

Energy type in hydropower: Mechanical energy

'Head' in hydropower: Difference in height between the water source and the turbine

Turbine role in hydropower: Convert mechanical energy into electrical energy

Geothermal energy storage: Crust

Renewability of geothermal energy: All of the above (replenished by Earth's heat, no harmful emissions, inexhaustible)

Main disadvantage of geothermal energy: High initial costs

Types of geothermal power plants: All of the above (Dry steam, Flash steam, Binary cycle)

Key factor for geothermal plants: High temperature of the Earth's crust