Environmental Sciences 2 marks – Question

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1  marks – Question(MCQ)

2  marks – Question

3/4/5  marks – Question

COURSE : DPMT / DPT 

SEMESTER : I 

SUBJECT : Environmental Sciences

1. What is the eco system?

 Ans :An ecosystem is a community of living things that interact with each other and with the physical world. An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil. Ecosystems can be studied in two different ways. They can be thought of as interdependent collections of plants and animals, or as structured systems and communities governed by general rules .The living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components interact through nutrient cycles and energy flows. 

Examples of Eco systems: 

a)Desert 

b)Artic Tundra 

c)Rainforest 

d)Ocean 

e)African Savanna 

f)Swamp

2 .What are the types of eco system?

Ans :Ecosystem is an open system and material can exchange from one ecosystem to another ecosystem. For ex. Frog move from the pond to the land and vice-versa. The ecosystem can be classified based on size, nature and duration;

 (1) Nature :On the basis of nature, it can be natural or artificial. 

Natural Ecosystem: This ecosystem forms naturally without interference of human. Example include are pond, river, forest, village, hill etc. 

Artificial Ecosystem: This ecosystem is developed and mainted by human. Example include are flowerbed, backyard, aquarium etc. (2) Duration: On the basis of duration, ecosystem can be classified as temporary or permanent. 

Temporary ecosystem: it is short lived and man made or natural. Example include rain fed pond. Permanent ecosystem: it is long lived and self supported natural ecosystem for very long period.Example includes forest, river etc.

(3) Size: Ecosystem is classified as small or large ecosystem. 

Small: it is small and also known as micro ecosystem. It can be temporary or permanent. For ex. Pond, flowerpot etc 

Large: it is large in size and also known as macro ecosystem. It is always permanent and mostly natural. For ex. Ocean, river, forest and desert.

3.Describe in brief about the Structure of eco system?

Ans :Each and every ecosystem has several components to sustain it for long duration. It needs matter (water, oxygen, mineral, carbon dioxide), different types of organisms and continuous recycling of energy). These requirements are met by two important components present in ecosystem; biotic components and abiotic components. 

Biotic Components: The living organisms present in an ecosystem form the biotic component. They are connected through food. In this series, few organisms are producing food whereas others are consuling the food. The biotic constituents include the plants, animals and microorganisms. They play different role in ecosystem.

Producers: Green plants act as producers.. As discussed previously, they utilized the sun light, CO2 and water to prepare the food for other organisms. 

Consumers: These includes crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and fishes. 

Decomposers: Dead plants and animals form the organic debris in the pond. The decomposer such as bacteria and fungi decay dead body into the simple organic and inorganic substances

Abiotic Components: These factors include the non-living physiochemical factors of the environment. Abiotic factors are as follows:

(i) Inorganic substances: Inorganic substances like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water, carbon di-oxide, calcium, phosphorusand their inorganic compounds. These are available as free form or dissolved in water and may be adsorbed on the soil particles.

(ii) Organic compounds: These are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nuceltic acids etc. This material is present in dead organic matter. These are broken into the simple compounds by decomposers in ecosystem for recycling of matter.

(iii) Climatic factors: These are factors present in the environment such as temperature, humidity, light, wind, rainfall an atmospheric gaseous etc

Study of specific Ecosystem: Let’s take a example of fresh water pond to understand the function of individual components. Non-living part of the pond includes:

(1) water with dissolved gases, mineral and suspended organic matter. 

(2) air, CO2 and O2 on the water surface 

(3) sunlight.

Q.4 Write a short note on Food chain in eco system?

Ans :The sequential inter-linking of organisms involving transfer of food energy from the producers, through a series of organisms with repeated eating and being eaten is referred as “food chain”. The biotic components of the ecosystem are linked to each other through food chain. In a typical food chain, producers are at the bottom and their role is to provide food for rest of the community utilizing solar energy. Other organisms belongs to the consumers and finally decomper are present at the bottom to recycle the organic content. In this manner, a nutritive interaction relationship exist between the living organisms of an ecosystem. It is always straight and always follow progressive straight line. The flow of energy is also unidirectional, from sun to producer and then different series of consumers. In a typical food chain, there are always 4 or 5 trophic level in the food chain. The distinct sequential steps in the straight food chains are referred as different trophic levels. For ex. Green plants stand at the first trophic level; the herbivorous are the second trophic level; and flesh eaters represent the third trophic levels. The position of plant is at the bottom but the position of other organism varies to different trophic level in different food chains.

Q.5 Write down the food chain of pond? 

Ans :In a pond, floated or rooted plants and algae are responsible for performing photosynthesis to prepare food for other member of ecosystem. They represent producers in the food chain (Figure 39.2). Unicellular algae are consumed by protozoan, water flies, snail, mosquito larvae and tadpoles. These small organisms represent primary consumers. These organisms are eaten by hydra, dragonfly larvae, giant insects and small fishes. These are secondary consumers. Large fishes and frog fed on these organism and represent tertiary consumers. Frog and fishes are eaten by snakes, birds and these are quaternary consumers. Death of all these organism become the food for bacteria and fungus to produce simple inorganic materials for reuse by the producers.

6 .Write down the food chain of land?

Ans: A typical land food chain is given in Figure 39.3. In land food chain, grass and tree are the producers. Grass is eaten by rabbit and other herbivorous. They represent the primary consumers. Rabbit is eaten by cats (secondary consumers), which in-turn eaten by wolves (tertiary consumers). Both cat and wolves will be consumed by tigers and other big carnivorous (quaternary consumers). Death of all these organism become the food for bacteria and fungus to produce simple inorganic materials for reuse by the producers.

7 .How you differentiate between primary and secondary & tertiary consumer?

Ans : Primary consumers are those that consume the primary producers (plants). For example- rabbits consume grass. Secondary consumers are those that consume the primary consumers (herbivores). For example- Snakes that consumes rabbit. Tertiary consumers are those that eats the secondary consumers (large predators). For example, owls that eat snakes. Further, there are also quaternary consumers that consume the tertiary consumers. For example, hawks or vultures that consumes the owls. Mostly those include the scavengers

8. Describe the term Deforestation?

Ans: Deforestation is responsible for nearly one-fourth of the amount of carbon emitted to the atmosphere. The planet cuts and burns nearly 34 million acres of trees each year, including millions of acres of rainforest. Trees and plants take up the carbon dioxide and provide us pure, clean, breathable oxygen as a free by product of the plant life cycle. There are Numerous Effects of Global Warming, Some of the effects of global warming observed across the world are: 

Rise in Sea Levels: Due to rise in temperature, the Glaciers present in polar regions aremelting rapidly, as a result there is sufficient 

rise in sea level 

Droughts and Floods: Higher temperature leads to faster evaporation of water and leads todrought in one part, and heavy rainfall causes flooding in other part ofthe world. Experts have estimated that, drought conditions might beincreasing by at least 66 percent in upcoming years. 

Effects on Biodiversity: Wildlife researchers have noticed some of the strong species migrating to the poles, far north and far south to maintain their needed habitat, for example the red fox normally an inhabitant of North America is nowseen living in the Arctic. Also it has been noticed that loss of species and endangerment is rising along with the global temperatures.

9. Explain in brief process of Photosynthesis? 

Ans : Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, some bacteria and some protistans use the energy from sunlight to produce glucose from carbon dioxide and water. This glucose can be converted into pyruvate which releases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by cellular respiration. Oxygen is also formed 

Photosynthesis may be summarized by the word equation:

carbon dioxide + water   sunlight/ chlorophyll    glucose + oxygen

The conversion of usable sunlight energy into chemical energy is associated with the action of the green pigment chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is a complex molecule. Several modifications of chlorophyll occur among plants and other photosynthetic organisms. All photosynthetic organisms have chlorophyll a. Accessory pigments absorb energy that chlorophyll a does not absorb. Accessory pigments include chlorophyll b (also c, d, and e in algae and protistans), xanthophyll’s, and carotenoids (such as beta-carotene). Chlorophyll a absorbs its energy from the violet-blue and reddish orange-red wavelengths, and little from the intermediate (green-yellow-orange) wavelengths

10 .Explain in detail Acid rain phenomena?

Ans: Due to burning of fossils fuelsreleases the gases sulfur di oxide and nitrogen dioxide. When combine with water vapors in the atmosphere, these compound form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The acid fall to earth as acid precipitation .

                       NOX + H2O - Nitric Acid (HNO3)

                       SO2 + H2O - Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) 

Acid rain refers to the precipitation with a pH of less than 5. It is a mixture of H2O,SO4andHNO3, the ratio of the two acids vary depending on the relative quantities of sulphur oxides andnitrogen oxides present in the atmosphere. These oxides are mainly produced by combustion of fossil fuels, smelters, industries, power plants, automobile exhausts etc.

11. Renewable and non-renewable energy sources with their example?

Ans : A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be re-made or re-grown at a scale comparable to its consumption

Example: Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are considered nonrenewable because they can not be replenished in a short period of time. These are called fossil fuels.

Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished in a short period of time.

Examples: Solar ,Geothermal ,Wind ,Biomass ,Water

12. What are the Scope and importance of environment science?

 Ans : Scopeof environment science: 

Our surrounding includes forest, rivers, mountains, desert, or acombination of these elements. 

• Most of us live in landscapes that have been heavily modified by thehuman beings in villages, towns and cities. 

• But even those of us who live in cities get our food supply fromsurrounding villages. 

• We use water to drink and other day to day activities, we breath air,we use resources from which food is made. 

• Our dependence on nature is so great that we cannot continue to livewithout protecting the earths environmental resources. 

Importance of Environment:

Environment is not a single subject. It is an integration of several subjectsthat includes both science and social science. To understand all the differentaspects of our environment we need to understand biology, chemistry,physics, geography, resources management, economics and populationissue. Thus the scope of environmental studies is extremely wide and coverssome aspects of nearly every major discipline. We will in a world in which natural resources are limited. Water, air, soil,minerals, oils, the product we get from the forests, grasslands, oceans, andfrom agriculture and from livestock are all the part of our life supportsystem. Without them life itself will be impossible.

Q.13 Write a short note on Air pollution?

Ans : The release of chemicals and particulate matter into the environment to disturb air quality. The major pollutant belongs to carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrogen oxides. The major source of these gaseous are motor vehicles and industrial waste. In addition, reaction of hydrocarbon with sunlight to generate photochemical ozone and smog. Particulate matter or fine dust present in air contributes into the air pollution.

14. Write a short note over noise pollution?

Ans :Sound that is unwanted or that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animallife is called as noise. When there is lot of noise in the environment, it is termed asnoise pollution Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the normal activities such asworking, sleeping, and during conversations. It is an underrated environmental problembecause of the fact that we can’t see, smell, or taste it.

Causes of noise pollution:

1.Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution in urban areas. 

2.Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot of noise, due to the usage of air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dumptrucks, and pavement breakers. High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects and exposure to moderately high levels during a single eight hour period causes a statistical rise in blood pressure of five to ten points and an increase in stress andVasoconstriction leading to the increased blood pressure noted above as well as to increasedincidence of coronary artery disease.

15. What is the effect of Noise Pollution on human health & Control measures?

Ans :Chronic exposure to noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss. Older malesexposed to significant occupational noise demonstrate significantly reduced hearingsensitivity than their non-exposed peers. Unwanted noise can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution cancause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleepdisturbances, and other harmful effects.

 16 .What are the Effect of pollution on human health? 

Ans :Effect of pollution :

Respiratory Effects: 

• Large number of deaths occurred due to influenza 

• Exacerbation in Asthma, Bronchitis, Tuberculosis 

• Short term decrease in breathing ability 

• Increase in chest pains 

• Inflammation of the lungs and damage to respiratory cells

• Permanent lung damage & reduced life quality due to ozone. 

• Increased number of asthma attacks due to nitrogen dioxide. 

Cardiovascular Effects: 

• Heart failure 

• A lack of oxygen in the bloodstream in those with heart disease due to carbon monoxide. 

17 .Give the names of all the cycle that constitute the proper functioning of an ecosystem?

Ans : The three main cycles of an ecosystem are the water cycle, the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle. These three cycles working in balance are responsible for carrying away waste materials and replenishing the ecosystem with the nutrients necessary to sustain life. If any of these three cycles should become unbalanced, the effects on the ecosystem can be catastrophic.

Water Cycle:

The water cycle begins with precipitation. Water from lakes, rivers and oceans evaporates into the atmosphere. These water vapors gather, under the right conditions, to form clouds. Eventually, these vapors condense and become rain or another form of precipitation. This precipitation falls to the earth's surface. Next, some of the precipitation flows into the ground and becomes part of the ecosystem's water table. The rest flows into streams and rivers, and eventually back into the lakes and oceans from where it came. Along this journey, lifeforms in the ecosystem use the water to sustain life.

Carbon Cycle: Respiration

The carbon cycle can be broken into two smaller subcycles: respiration and photosynthesis. These sub cycles are dependent upon one another. In the respiration cycle, fauna, or animal life inhabiting the biosphere, consume carbohydrates (in the form of plant life) and oxygen and output carbon dioxide, water and energy. The animals use the energy produced to power their biology.

Carbon Cycle: Photosynthesis

Flora, the ecosystem's plant life, perform photosynthesis. Plants take in energy from the sun, carbon dioxide and water and produce carbohydrates and oxygen. These carbohydrates and oxygen are readily used by the fauna present in the ecosystem. In addition to being consumed by animal life, some of these carbohydrates return to the earth when the flora die. There, they break down and the carbon returns to the ecosystem in the form of carbon dioxide. If not consumed by animals, carbon from decaying plants will eventually convert into fossil fuels.

Nitrogen Cycle:

Most of the nitrogen found in ecosystems exists as nitrogen gas. Nearly 78% of the earth's atmosphere is made of nitrogen. The nitrogen in the atmosphere is very stable and does not combine easily with other elements. Lightning has sufficient energy to convert nitrogen into nitrates, a form of nitrogen usable by plant life. The second way nitrogen is converted to nitrates is by nitrogen fixing bacteria. These bacteria use special enzymes to convert nitrogen to nitrates. Plants use these nitrates to form amino acids. Animals eat the plants for the amino acids to help build muscle tissue. When plants and animals die, denitrifying bacteria convert the nitrates back into the gaseous form of nitrogen, which is released back into the atmosphere.

18. Write Short note on exploitation of natural resources?

 Ans :Short note: 

(a) Mining is hazardous occupation:

1. This occupation involves several health risk dust produced during mining operation are injurious to health and cause lung diseases 2. Extraction of some toxic or radioactive minerals leads to life threatening azards.

3. Dynamite explosion during mining is very risky as fumes produced are extremely poisonous. 

4. Underground mining is more hazardous than surface mining as there are more chances if accidents like roof falls,flooding and inadequate ventilation etc

(b) Rapid depletion of high grade minerals:

Increasing demand for high grade minerals has compelled miners to carry out more extraction of minerals, which require more energy sources and produce large amount of waste materials.

(c) Wastage of upper soil layer and vegetation:

Surface mining results in the complete destruction of upper soil layer and vegetation. After extraction, the wastes are dumped in an area which destroys the total surface and vegetation.

(d) Environmental problems:

Over exploitation of mineral resources resulted in many environmental problems like:

1. Conversion of productive land into mining and industrial areas. 

2. Mining and extraction process are one of the sources of air, water and land pollution. 

3. Mining involves huge consumption of energy resources like coal, petroleum, natural gas etc. which are in-turn non renewable sources of energy. 

4. Surface mining directly degrades the fertile soil surface thus effect ecology and climate if that particular area.

Some of the other problemsarising from the exploitation of natural and energy resources:

1.Depletion of fossil fuels 

2. Deforestation 

3.Greenhouse gas increase 

4.Water pollution 

5.Soil erosion

19.What are the causes of land pollution?

Ans : The flow of chemicals from contaminated water reservoir such as river or lake, as well as from rain water leads to the spreading of chemicals on the soil. It leads to the contamination of soil with hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

20 .What are the causes of Thermal pollution? 

Ans : The release of energy from nuclear power plant into the natural water bodies leads to the change in temperature of water. In addition, accumulation of greenhouse gases into the environment causes trapping of solar energy into the atmosphere and ultimate raise in temperature of earth.

Following causes of Thermal Pollution are: 

1. Water as Cooling Agent in Power, Manufacturing and Industrial plants: 

2. Soil Erosion 

3. Deforestation 

4. Runoff from Paved Surfaces.

21. Provide theReason for water resource pollution in your words ? 

Ans :The contamination of water from commercial and industrial waste causes water pollution. In addition, discharge of untreated domestic waste, sewage and chemical contaminants such as chlorine. The run away of chemicals from agricultural lands contains chemical fertilizers and pesticides into the river, lake also causes water pollution.

22. Write a short note over ozone layer depletion?

Ans: It is form of oxygen that has three times in each molecule. its forms a layer 20-50 km. above the surface of earth . It protect the earth from harmful UV radiations of the sun . Ozone is formed by the actionof sun light on earth. The ozone layerin the upper atmosphere absorb the UV radiations, preventing it from reaching the earth surface.

In 1970’s the scientist discovered the comical called chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs ,which are used at as refrigerator and aerosols spray propellants , pose a threat to the ozone layer when CFCs molecule reach the stratosphere layer ,where UV radiations breaks them down to release chlorine atoms. The chlorine atoms react the ozone molecule to break them down into oxygen molecules. These oxygen molecules do not absorb UV radiations. Since the 1980’s scientist have detected a thinning of the ozone layer in the atmosphere above Antarctica .

23.Write a short note on water conservation with examples?

Ans :India as a whole is expected to enter the water-stress category by 2025: 

> Proper domestic use 

> Efficient agricultural use 

> Water harvesting 

> Desalination of marine water 

> Forest conservation. Forests are important water regulators Their root structures act as nature's sponges, soaking up water and releasing it slowly throughout the year, thus contributing to reliable river flow, replenishing groundwater supplies, reducing soil erosion, and releasing moisture into the atmosphere. 

> Waste water treatment to avoid water pollution & save the aquatic and our life. 

> watershed or river-basin management especially in water-short regions 

> Instituting a workable water infrastructure  Enacting and enforcing water legislation and regulations 

> Valuing freshwater resources 

> Creating competent administrative and legal structures 

> Making institutions more responsive and effective 

> Training senior water managers 

> Establishing closer ties to universities and research institutes 

> Connecting water management to the needs of agriculture, industry, and municipalities, and meeting public health requirements for proper sanitation and disease prevention

24 .Write down the Greenhouse effect?

Ans :Greenhouse effect is the phenomenon in which the heat and light of sun enters to the earth's atmosphere but cannot go out as they are trapped by the greenhouse gases, as a result temperature rises. Greenhouse gases mainly comprises of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases are lighter than air, so they rise up to the outer limits of the earth‘s atmosphere and settle up there, making an impenetrable barrier that traps heat from escaping out into the space, and keeping it within our environment, and increases the temperature.

25.Short notes over Global Warming?

Ans :Global warming' is an expression which refers to the effect of humanactivities that produces the unnatural change on the climate. It is anincrease in earth‘s temperature due to burning of fossil fuels (coal, oiland gas) and large-scale deforestation, which results in emission oflarge amounts of 'greenhouse gases' to the atmosphere. According to Scientists and Government organisations, Concentration of Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere due to greenhouse effect is the major causes of Global Warming. These gases especially CO2 have heat trapping capability. So they trap heat and cause the greenhouseeffect, rising global temperatures Greenhouse effect is the phenomenon in which the heat and light of sunenters to the earth's atmosphere but cannot go out as they are trappedby the greenhouse gases, as a result temperature rises.

26. How to solve the food problem of India?

Ans :Solutions are in generalized form: Introduction of improved method of cultivation based on science andtechnology. 

• Improvement of financial and educational status of the Indiancultivators. 

• Attracting educated people to the profession of cultivation. 

• Provision of water-pipes, electricity, insecticides, fertilizer andresearch work for agriculture. 

• Mechanization of agriculture. 

• Equitable land-reform. 

• To refrain from holding feast and picnics in order to check thepossible wastage of food. 

• To know the proper method of dressing and cooking in order tocheck the wastage of food. 

• To know the method of food preservation in order to save theperishable foods from wastage. 

• Provision of cold storage in every village and refrigerator in everyhousehold. 

• Changing food habit on everybody’s part. 

• Family-Planning through birth control 

27. What are the causes of food shortage of India?

Ans :Following causes of food storage in India are: 

•Improper methods of cultivation- not much use of science and technology. 

•Poverty and ignorance of Indian formers-Not muchfinancial support to farmers. 

•Wastage of food-in wrong process of cooking. 

•Ignorance of preserving method-Improper storage facility. 

•Defective food habit. 

•Dishonesty of dealers. 

•Excessive growth of population. 

•Loss of fertility of soil by pollution 

•Industrialization- Land loss 

•Least interest on Agriculture –new generation 

•Climate change –Improper rain-Acid rain 

•Salinity in soil- soil pupation 

28. What are the natural Resources?

Ans :Natural resources occur naturally within environments. Natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geo diversity existent in various ecosystems. Any material which is part of earth and satisfy human need and add value is called as resource.

 Example:rocks, minerals, soil, rivers, plants & animal.

Human is a resource because developing his skill, he can develop other resource by adding value to the physical material. Types of natural resources :

Biotic : Resources which are living in nature. Example: Forests ,Animals etc. 

Abiotic : Resources which are non-living in nature. 

Example: Air ,Water etc. Other Renewable : Resources which can be replenished easily. Example: Sunlight

29. What do you understand by Disaster Management system & also provide component of Disaster Management System?

Ans :The range of activities designed to maintain control over disaster and emergency situations and to provide a framework for helping at risk persons avoid or recover from the impact of a disaster.

Components of Disaster Management are: 

Hazard Analysis 

Vulnerability Analysis 

Prevention and mitigation Preparedness 

Prediction and warning

Response 

Recovery

30. What are the types of disaster management system?

Ans :Types of natural and manmade or technological disasters are: 

• Geophysical (Earthquakes and Tsunamis, landslides) 

• Hydrological (avalanches and floods). 

• Climatological (Droughts, Extreme heat wave). 

• Meteorological (Cyclones, Storms and Damaging winds). 

• Biological – disease epidemics, insect/animal plagues, agricultural pests and diseases. 

• Famines, conflicts, industrial accidents, transport accidents. 

• Nuclear weapons and Nuclear power plants and nuclear blasts. 

• Chemical threats, Hazardous materials and Explosions. 

• Threat by extremist groups Based on the timing classified as. 

• Immediate – without warning and unpredictable – earthquakes, explosions, etc. 

• Rapid – with little warning and relatively predictable.

31 What are the objective of Environmental Protection Act?

Ans :Following objectives of Environmental Protection Act mentioned below:

a).As mentioned earlier, the main objective of the Act was to provide the protection and improvement of environment and for matters connected therewith. Other objectives of implementation of the EPA are:

b).To implement the decisions made at the UN Conference on Human Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972.

c).To enact a general law on the areas of environmental protection which were left uncovered by existing laws. The existing laws were more specific in nature and concentrated on a more specific type of pollution and specific categories of hazardous substances rather than on general problems that chiefly caused major environmental hazards.

d).To co-ordinate activities of the various regulatory agencies under the existing laws

e).To provide for the creation of an authority or authorities for environmental protection

f)To provide a deterrent punishment to those who endanger human environment, safety and health

32. Write short note over causes and effects of Earthquake?

Ans : Earthquake:

An earthquake is a sudden tremor or movement of earth's crust which lasts for a very short time. It originate naturally at or below the surface of the earth. We often hear about the earthquake in news only once in a while, even though earthquake occurs all time, all over the earth. There are about 800 of them everyday. This is because the vast majority of these quakes

are very week. The are not even noticed. Major earthquakes are very much less frequent but are most destructive. Major earthquakes usually do not occur alone; when one such earthquake happens, there is usually another one at a nearby location. Sometime, an earthquake also has foreshocks. These are smaller earthquakes that happen in the same place before the larger earthquake follows. As at present, Scientist cannot predict accurately that a given earthquake is a foreshock and is likely to be followed by a larger earthquake.

Effects of an earthquake:

Earthquake produces various damaging effect in the areas the act upon. The list of some of the main effects caused by earthquakes are given below:

1. Earthquake causes damage to the building, bridges, dams. 

2. Earthquake in many cases, can cause great loss of life. 

3. Earthquake can also cause floods and landslides. Landslides, triggered by earthquake, often cause more destruction than the earthquake themselves. 

4. If the earthquake happens to be beneath the ocean floor, they can lead to a tsunami. 

Causes of earthquake:

It is known that earthquake are caused by disturbances deep down inside the uppermost layer of the earth. The outermost layer of the earth is not in a single piece but is broken into number of plates known as lithospheric plates or tectonic plates. It may surprise you, but these plates are moving around very slowly just a few millimeters every year due to the movement of the molten magma inside the earth. The movements of these plates cause changes on the surface of the earth. The movements of these plates cause changes on the surface of the earth and can cause an earthquake.

When the plates try to slide past each other. The boundaries of the plates get interlocked due to friction.The rest of the plates keeps moving. This cause a tension to build up in the plates. When the force of moving plates overcomes the friction of the edges, all the stored energy gets released. The earth shakes at this point. The vibration at the point. The energy gives rise to shock or seismic waves very much like ripples in a pond, when a stone is thrown into it. These shock waves shake the earth as they move outward through it. When the waves reach the surface of the earth, they shake the ground and anything on it.

Q.33 Short note over Causes and management of Cyclone?

 Ans :Tropical Cyclones (TC) are intense low pressure systems that develop over the seas or oceans in the tropical and subtropical regions. The IMD says, “A tropical cyclone is an intense low pressure area or a whirl in the atmosphere over tropical or sub-tropical waters, with organised convection (i.e. thunderstorm activity) and winds at low levels, circulating either anti-clockwise (in the northern hemisphere) or clockwise (in the southern hemisphere)” Typically tropical cyclones are accompanied by gale force winds that average a speed of about 63 kilometre per hour. According to modern convention, a Cyclone that forms over the Indian Ocean is referred to as Cyclone, but is called Hurricane if it forms over the Atlantic Ocean and Typhoon if it forms over the Pacific Ocean

Cyclones are categorized according to wind speeds and the damage they cause.:

 Category 1: Wind speeds between 90 and 125 kilometers per hour, some noticeable damage to houses and trees. 

Category 2: Wind speeds between 125 and 164 kilometers per hour, damage to houses and significant damage to crops and trees. 

Category 3: Wind speeds between 165-224 kilometers per hour, structural damage to houses, extensive damage to crops and uprooted trees, upturned vehicles and destruction of buildings. 

Category 4: Wind speeds between 225 and 279 kilometers per hour, power failure and much damage to ities and villages. 

Category 5: Wind speeds over 280 kilometers per hour, widespread damage

34. Explain the terms Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining their controls?

Hazard identification – Hazard is anything that could hurt human beings, their properties, their agricultural, industrial and other economic activities, or the environment.

• Frayed electrical cords (could result in electrical shock) 

• Boxes stacked precariously (they could fall on someone) 

• Noisy machinery (could result in damage to your hearing)

Risk assessment - 

• Controls –

a)Elimination

b)Substitution 

c)Engineering controls 

d)Signage/warning and/or administrative controls :Personal protective equipment

> Assessment of risk Information about the hazard, likely hood of exposure, consequences assessment and rating of risk.: 

• Know more or have better understanding about the hazard. 

• Determine likely hood of exposure 

> How many are exposed and for how long under different situations/conditions (of operation, maintenance/repair, etc.) 

> Very likely (always); Likely (most of the times); Moderate (frequent); Unlikely (occational); Highly unlikely (rare). 

• Assess the consequences of exposure through using the information on the hazard 

> Fatal; Major injuries (long term hospitalization/permanent disability); Minor injuries (shorttermhospitalization/temporary disability); Negligible injuries (needing only first aid) 

• Rate the risk through using the risk table 

35.What is the need and importance of environmental protection act?

Ans :The need and importance of environmental protection act because of

: Lack of policies for protection of wetlands, grasslands and other areas. 

• Inadequate enforcement of existing laws 

•Inadequate implementation of eco-development programmers 

•Need for enhanced role of NGOs and other institutions 

•Need for political commitment and good will. 

•Need for providing Institutional support like Banks, FI 

•Lack of Local community participation 

36. Write down in brief about green housegasses ? 

Ans :Greenhouse gases mainly comprises of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases are lighter than air, so they rise up to the outer limits of the earth‘s atmosphere and settle up here, making an impenetrable barrier that traps heat from escaping out into the space, and keeping it within our environment, and increases the temperature.

37 Write a short note on threat to natural Resources? 

Ans: Following threat to natural resourcesare:

> Habitat destruction 

> Extension of agriculture. 

> Filling up of wetlands 

> Conversion of rich bio-diversity site for human settlement and industrial development. 

> Uncontrolled commercial exploitation. 

38. Write a short note over noise pollution? 

Ans:Sound that is unwanted or that disruptsthe activity or balance of human or animallife is called as noise. When there is lot ofnoise in the environment, it is termed asnoise pollutionSound becomes undesirable when it disturbsthe normal activities such asworking, sleeping, and during conversations.It is an underrated environmental problembecause of the fact that we can’tsee, smell, or taste it.

1.Transportation systems are the mainsource of noise pollution in urban areas. 

2. Construction of buildings, highways, andstreets cause a lot of noise, due to the usageof air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dumptrucks, and pavement breakers.

High noise levels can contribute tocardiovascular effects and exposure tomoderately high levels during a single eight hourperiod causes a statistical rise in blood pressureof five to ten points and an increase instress andvasoconstriction leading to the increased bloodpressure noted above as well as to increased incidence of coronary artery disease.

39. What do you understand by EIA (Environment Impact Assessments)? 

Ans :,Environment Protection Act, 1986. -To maintain a pleasant relationship between human beings and their environment. Important features of this act: -This act empowers the government to lay down procedures and safeguards for prevention of accidents that causepollution and remedial measures if an accident occurs 

Objectives: -To protect and improve air, water and land environment 

-To prevent hazards to all living creatures and properties 

-To maintain a pleasant relationship between human beings and their environment.

Important features of this act:

-This act empowers the government to lay down procedures and safeguards for prevention of accidents that cause pollution and remedial measures if an accident occurs.

 -The government has the authority to close/prohibit or regulate any industry or its operation if violation of the provisions of the act occur

-Any person who fails to comply or contravenes any provision of the act is punishable with imprisonment for a term extending upto five years or a fine upto one lakh rupees or both.

-An additional fine of Rs.5000 per day may be imposed for entire period of violation of rules.

-The act fixes the liability on the person who is directly in-charge unless it is proved that the offence was committed without his/her knowledge or consent.

-This act empowers the officer of central government to inspect the site and collect samples of air, water, soil or other material for testing.

This act is the most comprehensive legislation with powers for central government to act directly without interference from regulatory authorities or agencies.

40. Short note on value of natural resources?

Ans :value of natural resources : 

> Legal value- Clean air, Fresh water,

Healthy animal and human beings 

> Aesthetic value- Beauty of village,roads, ponds and their agricultural fields

Air Wind: Required for all living things for breathing, Use to produce wind energy. Animals / Plants :Provide food, cloth, shelter, medicine. Used as mode of transport. Animal dung can be used as fuel/fertilizer.

 Soil :Used as the primary nutrient source for plants. It is the habitat of many organisms.

Water :Used in household, agriculture and transportation. 

Solar Light : Provide light, energy and help tto plants for making. 

41. Brief note over different phases of disaster managements ? 

Ans: There are four phases in disaster management : 

1.Mitigation : 

> Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects 

> Includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. 

> Buying flood and fire insurance for your home is a mitigation activity. 

> Mitigation activities take place before and after emergencies. 

2.Preparedness 

> Preparing to handle an emergency 

> Includes plans or preparations made to save lives and to help response and rescue operations. 

> Evacuation plans and stocking food and water are both examples of preparedness. 

> Preparedness activities take place before an emergency occurs. 

3.Response 

Responding safely to an emergency

> Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation. Response is putting your preparedness plans into action. 

> Seeking shelter from a tornado or turning off gas valves in an earthquake are both response activities. > Response activities take place during an emergency. 

4.Recovery Recovering from an emergency 

>Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following an emergency. 

> Recovery includes getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs. 

> Recovery activities take place after an emergency

 

42.Short note on Climate Change Condition? 

Ans :Climate change is a significant & lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years .Change in average weather conditions, or in Distribution of weather around average conditions (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events).

Changes in many aspects of weather, such as Wind patterns, Precipitation & Severe weather events. Far-reaching and/or unpredictable environmental, social and economic consequences. Physical evidence for & examples of climatic change are:

 1. Temperature measurements 

2. Melting of Glaciers 

3. Arctic sea ice loss 

4. Sea level change 

5. Others 

a)Pollen analysis 

b) Precipitation 

c)Ice cores

43. What is sustainable development means to you? 

Ans :Sustainable development is the organizing principle for meeting human development goals while at the same time sustaining the ability of natural systems toprovide the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend. The use of renewable and nonrenewable resources in a manner that satisfies our current needs but does not compromise the future availability of resources .According to the UN, sustainable development “meets the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

44 What are the policy Gap in environmental protection act? 

Ans :Lack of policies for protection of wetlands, grasslands and other areas are: 

• Inadequate enforcement of existing laws 

•Inadequate implementation of eco-developmentProgrammers. 

•Need for enhanced role of NGOs and other institutions. 

•Need for political commitment and good will. 

•Need for providing Institutional support like Banks, FI. 

•Lack of Local community participation. 

45. Describe Rain water harvesting & provide two ways for rain water harvesting. 

Ans :Rainwater harvesting is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, theland surface or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as morecomplex techniques such as underground check dams. Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off. 

Rainwater harvesting technologies are simple to install and operate.

1.Local people can be easily trained to implement such technologies, and construction materials are also readily available. 

2.Running costs, also, are almost negligible. 

3.Water collected from roof catchments usually is of acceptable quality for domestic purposes. Broadly there are two ways harvesting rainwater.

(i) Surface runoff harvesting . 

(ii) Roof top rainwater harvesting. 

Surface runoff harvesting:- In urban area rainwater flows away as surface runoff. This runoff could be caught and used for recharging aquifers by adopting appropriate methods.

Roof top rainwater harvesting: It is a system of catching rainwater where it falls.In rooftop harvesting, the roof becomes the catchments, and the rainwater is collected from the roof of the house/building. This method isless expensive and very effective.

46. What are the strategies used to control the noise.

Ans:There are various strategies used to control noise such which is described below:

1.Planting bushes and trees in and around sound generating sources is an effective solution fornoise pollution. 

1.Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles can effectively reduce the noise pollution. 

3.Buildings can be designed with suitable noise absorbing material for the walls, windows, andceilings. Workers should be provided with equipment's such as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearingprotection . 4.Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery and servicing should be done to minimize noise generation. 

5.Sound proof doors and windows can be installed to block unwanted noise from outside. 

6.Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage of play loudspeakers in crowded areas andpublic places. 

7.Factories and industries should be located far from the residential areas. 

8.Community development or urban management should be done with long-term planning, alongwith an aim to reduce noise pollution. 

9.Social awareness programs should be takenup to educate the public about the causes andeffects of noise pollution

47. Mention the various Impacts and effects occurring due to Disasters? 

•Ans: There are various Impacts and effects occurring due to Disasters: 

a)Deaths and disabilities 

b)Psychological problems 

c)Increase of communicable diseases 

d)Food shortage and shortage of drugs and medical supplies 

e)Infrastructure (housing) loss 

f)Impacts on critical infrastructure – water supply – Communications – transportation – power supply g)Environmental and ecosystem disruptions 

h)Social and economic losses and disruption of businesses

48. What are the causes for water scarcity in India?

Ans :There are various causes for water scarcityin India: 

a. Population growth-over population 

b. Food production-Agricultural irrigation 

c. Climatic change and variability 

d. Land use-industrialization 

e. Water quality-pollution 

f. Water demand-various purposes 

g. Ground water exploitation 

h. Improper Biogeochemical cycle- Pollution 

i. Wastage of water

49. Define the different layer of atmosphere? 

Ans :These layers are the 

 1 Troposphere, 

 2. Stratosphere, 

3.Mesosphere, 

4. Thermosphere

Troposphere:

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere that lies next to the Earth’s surface. Most of the air that makes up the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. It extends to about 14 kilometers (around 9 miles) above the Earth and is where virtually all weather takes place.

Stratosphere: 

The stratosphere begins at the top of the troposphere (14 km/ 9 miles) and extends to about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the surface of the Earth. As you move up into the stratosphere the air temperature actually increases. The stratospheric or "good" ozone protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Mesosphere: 

The mesosphere begins at about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the Earth’s surface and extends to 80 kilometers (50 miles). As you move up into the mesosphere, the air temperature decreases. Temperatures at the top of this layer can drop to -90°C (- 130°F ). Interestingly, this layer also protects the Earth.

Thermosphere: 

The thermosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It begins at 80 km (50 miles) above the Earth and extends outward into space.

50. What are the Powers of Central Government to take measures to Protect and Improve Environment ? 

Ans :According to the provisions of the Act, the Central Government shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing controlling and abating environmental pollution. Such measures may include measures with respect to all or any of the following matters, namely:

a)co-ordination of actions by the State Governments, officers and other authorities- 

(1) under this Act, or the rules made thereunder, or 

(2) under any other law for the time being in force which is relatable to the objects of this Act; 

b) planning and execution of a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution;

1. laying down standards for the quality of environment in its various aspects; 

2. laying down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources whatsoever:Provided that different standards for emission or discharge may be laid down under this clause from different sources having regard to the quality or composition of the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from such sources; 

3. restriction of areas in which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards; 

4. laying down procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollutionand remedial measures for such accidents; 

5. laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances; 

6. examination of such manufacturing processes, materials and substances as are likely to cause environmentalpollution; 

7. carrying out and sponsoring investigations and research relating to problems of environmental pollution; 

8. inspection of any premises, plant, equipment, machinery, manufacturing or other processes, materials orsubstances and giving, by order, of such directions to such authorities, officers or persons as it may consider necessary to take steps for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution; 9. establishment or recognition of environmental laboratories and institutes to carry out the functions entrusted to suchenvironmental laboratories and institutes under this Act; 

10. collection and dissemination of information in respect of matters relating to environmental pollution; 

11. preparation of manuals, codes or guides relating to the prevention, control and abatement of environmentalpollution; 

12. such other matters as the Central Government deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of securing the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

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