Environmental Studies PDF
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AK Engineering Academy
Amol Take
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Summary
This document is a set of lecture notes on Environmental Studies, covering topics like the definition of environment, the need for environmental studies, and different segments of the environment, including atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. It also discusses environmental issues like global warming, causes, effects, and solutions.
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Environment Environmental Studies By Amol Take ❑ COURSE OUTCOMES ⮚Develop public awareness about Environment. ⮚Select alternative energy resources for engg practice. ⮚Conserve ecosystem & Biodiversity ⮚Apply techniques to reduce Environmental Pollution ⮚Manage social issues & Environmental Ethics a...
Environment Environmental Studies By Amol Take ❑ COURSE OUTCOMES ⮚Develop public awareness about Environment. ⮚Select alternative energy resources for engg practice. ⮚Conserve ecosystem & Biodiversity ⮚Apply techniques to reduce Environmental Pollution ⮚Manage social issues & Environmental Ethics as lifelong learning's. ❑Syllabus Environment Energy Resource Ecosystem & Biodiversity Environmental Pollution Social Issues & Environmental Education ❑ Unit –I. Environment Topics Covered - ⮚Definition of Environment. ⮚Need of environmental studies ⮚Segments of Environment – Atmosphere ,Hydrosphere , Lithosphere , Biosphere ⮚Environmental Issues – global warming. ⮚Environment - ❑ Unit – I Environment a system encompassing all biotic and abiotic elements affecting human life. The biotic or living components comprise all flora and fauna, and abiotic components include water, sunlight, air, climate, etc.a ❑ Scope or Need of Environment – Study of Environment has very wide scope which are as follow - ⮚To get awareness & sensitivity to the total environment & its related problems. ⮚To motivate the activate participation in environmental protection & improvement. ⮚To develop skills for identifying & solving environmental problems ⮚To know the necessity of conservation of natural resources. ❑ Segments of Environment ❑ Atmosphere ⮚ Definition – Atmosphere is the body of air which surrounds our planet. ⮚It comprises of 21 % of oxygen ,78 % of N2 , 0.9 % Argon & traces of CO2 , NO, CH4 & O3 of 1% ⮚it comprises of troposphere , ionosphere , mesosphere , stratosphere 2.Hydrosphere ⮚Hydro is a Greek word which means water. ⮚It comprises of all the water bodies on or below the surface of the earth. ⮚It include ocean ,seas, rivers , snow , ice , underground & atmospheric water & about 71 % of surface water comprisesof ocean. 3.Lithosphere ⮚ Lithosphere is the solid outer section of earth which include earth’s crust ( the rock on the outer layer of earth as well as the underlying cool , dense & rigid upper part of the upper mantle). ⮚ Lithosphere extends from the surface of earth to a depth of about 44 – 62 MILES (70-100KM) 4.Biosphere ✔Biosphere is the life Supporting stratum of earth’s surface. Which extends from a few kilometers in to depth of ocean where marine life abounds. ✔ It is a global ecosystem composed of living organism (biota) and the abiotic (non living) factors from which they derive energy and nutrients ❑Environmental Issues - ⮚Global warming – Introduction - Global warming is the increase in average temperature of the earths near surface air and oceans. Most of the observed temperature increase is caused by increased concentration of greenhouse gases Major gases water vapor – 36-70% carbon dioxide- 9 – 26 % methane - 4- 9 % ozone - 3 – 7 % ❑Causes of Global Warming - ✔Emission of green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc into the atmosphere. ✔The major source is carbon dioxide (80%) ✔20% by methane and nitrous oxide. ✔Cutting and burning of forests for the purpose of residence and industrialization. ❑Effect of Global Warming - ⮚Increasing the average temperature of the earth. ⮚Alterations in the ecology, including an increasing sea level and modifying the quantity and pattern of rainfall. ⮚Boost the occurrence and concentration of severe climate events, such as floods, famines, heat waves, tornados, and twisters. Glacier melting, lesser summer stream flows, genus extinctions and rise in the ranges of disease vectors. Various new diseases have emerged. The global warming is extending the distribution of mosquitoes due to the increase in humidity levels and their frequent growth in warmer atmosphere. Effects the marine life. ❑ Solution to Reduce global warming - ⮚Plant a Tree ⮚Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company ⮚Encourage Others to Conserve ❑ Topic Covered - Environmental Issues – ⮚Green House Effect ⮚climate change ⮚Acid Rain ❑ Environmental issues ⮚Green House Effects What is Green House Effect? The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live. ❑ Green House Gases ⮚Carbon Dioxide ⮚Methane ⮚Nitrogen Oxides ⮚Chlorofluorocarbon ( CFC) ⮚Water Vapours ❑How does the green House work’s - ⮚ As you might expect from the name, the greenhouse effect works … like a greenhouse! ⮚The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases.... The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth. ❑ Effect’s of Green House Gases ⮚Rise in average temperature of globe. ⮚Rise in sea level. ⮚They cause climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog and air pollution. ⮚It causes Extreme weather change, food supply disruptions, and increased wildfires. ⮚The typical weather patterns we have grown to expect will change some species will disappear & Other’s will migrates or grows. ⮚the ocean also absorbs a lot of excess carbon dioxide in the air. Unfortunately, the increased carbon dioxide in the ocean changes the water, making it more acidic. This is called ocean Acidification. Which may warm the Ocean & this Warmer waters are a main cause of coral bleaching. ⮚A global warming a) It will dry up the surface water bodies i.g. lakes , ponds b) it will reduce ground water level c) It will reduce yields of the crops d) will affect natural ecological cycles e) it will create water shortage ❑ Climate change - Introduction - ⮚Climate is the average daily weather for an extended period of time at a certain location. ⮚The earth’s climate has changed throughout history. Current climate change is due to human activity ❑Causes of Climate Change - ⮚ NATURAL CAUSES – Volcanic eruptions , Ocean current ⮚HUMAN CAUSES – Human activities--- Burning of oil, deforestation, fertilizers 50 human activities have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat trapping gases to the atmosphere. ince the industrial revolution began in 1750 human activities have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat trapping gases to the atmosphere. ❑ Effect of climate change - ⮚ Increase in levels of greenhouse gases cause the earth to get warmer. ⮚ Sinking of the ice cores in greenland , antarctica & tropical mountain glaciers. ⮚ The planet average surface temperature has risen about 1.62 degree Fahrenheit ( 0.9 degree Celsius) it is due to increase in CO2 level. ⮚ Glaciers are retreating everywhere around the world including alps , himalayas , alaska & africa which couses flood condition ⮚ Sea level increases about 2300 feet. ❑Acid rain - ⮚Definition – the precipitation in the form of rains ,snow ,dew may bring back the acids sent through the fumes on the surface of the earth is called acid Rains ⮚Effects Of Acid Rains - ✔It damages the vegetation ✔The surface & ground water ✔also get affected by acid rains ✔ It affect fertility of soils ✔ It create skin irritation ❑ Effect of acid rain - ❑ Measures to control acid rain - ⮚By using equipment's at source emission of SO2 from industries reduces. ⮚By using low sulphur coal , emission of SO2 reduces ⮚Replacing coal by natural gas , emmision of SO2 reduces ⮚By reducing use of private vehicle emmision reduces ⮚Replacing the conventional energy resources like thermal power by non conventional energy resources like solar ,wind can reduced the emission of gases which cause the acid rains.