Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

The term greenhouse effect is used to indicate a heat-trapping process

caused by gases such as carbon dioxide, and water vapour which are
transparent to incoming solar radiations but re-emit the infrared
radiations from Earth's surface.

Global warming is a long-term rise in the average temperature of

Earth as a whole as a result of greenhouse effect.
1. Shorter, high
Energy wavelengths
Hit the earths
Surface

2. Incoming energy
Is converted to heat
3. Longer, infrared
Wavelengths hit
Greenhouse gas
Molecules in the
atmosphere

4. Greenhouse gas
Molecules in the
Atmosphere emit
Infrared radiation
Back towards earth
Greenhouses Gases

•Carbon dioxide

•Methane

•Nitrous oxide

•Chlorofluoro carbons
Activities Responsible for Emission of Greenhouse Gases

•Fossil-fuel burning

•Industrial processes

•Deforestation

•Livestock

•Biomass burning

•Coal mining
 Effects of CO2 increase
• Air and the Earth’s surface may grow warmer.

• The stratosphere may become cooler.

• Temperate and polar regions may become warmer leading to

the reduction in the ice cover of the earth.

• Rainfall may be higher than what it is present in the temperate

regions.

• The greater amount of evaporation due to excess warmth .

 Environmental Effects of Global warming

•Climate change

•Rise in sea level

•Agricultural production

•Storms

•Adverse effects on human health

•Loss of ecosystems and biodiversity

Control measures

•Reduction in the use of fossil fuels

•Shifting to the renewable energy sources that do not emit

greenhouse gases

•Increasing the use of energy efficient and cleaner production

technologies and practices

•Reducing deforestation, adopting better forest management

practices, and undertaking aforestation to sequester carbon
 Acid Rain

Acid rain refers to a condition in which natural precipitation becomes

acidic after reacting chemically with pollutants in the air.

Causes of Acid Rain

Burning of the fuel as well as the use of nuclear weapons leading

to the evolution of large amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which get converted to sulphurous acid
and nitric acid, respectively.
Adverse Effects of Acid Rain

•Reduction in population of aquatic biota

•Damage to terrestrial ecosystems

•Corrosion of buildings

•Effect on human beings

 Ozone Layer and Its Depletion

The decrease in the concentration of ozone (O3) in stratosphere is known as

ozone layer depletion.

Chief Cause

Widespread use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

CFCs
CFCs are powerful O3 destroyers. They are used in the following
ways:

•As coolants in the compressors of refrigerators and air

conditioners.
•To clean electronic circuit boards used in computers, telephones,
etc.
•In the manufacture of foams for mattresses and cushions,
disposable styrofoam cups, packaging material, cold storage, etc.

Ozone Hole

The thinning of ozone layer or reduction in concentration of ozone

especially over the area of Antarctic continent is known as ozone hole,
which covers approximately seven million square kilometer.
Mechanism of Ozone Layer Depletion

a) CFC ⎯⎯→
UV
Cl•

b)
O2 ⎯UV
⎯⎯ C
→ O• + O•

O 2 + O • ⎯⎯
⎯→ O 3

O 3 ⎯UV
⎯⎯ B
→ O 2 + O•

Cl• + O• ⎯⎯
⎯→ ClO

c) ClO + ClO ⎯⎯→

⎯ ClOOCl (dim er )

d) ClOOCl ⎯⎯
⎯→ Cl2 + O2
e) Cl2 ⎯⎯→ Cl• + a
Environmental Effects of O3 Layer Depletion
•Damage to land plants
•Decrease in population of aquatic community
•Increase in the rate of skin diseases and cancers in human beings
•Disturbance in climate patterns
•Corrosion of materials

Control Measures
•Evolving substitutes for CFCs
•Development of hydrochloroflourocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons
Environmental acts
 The Environment (Protection act
1986)

• Objective- provide for the protection and conservation of the Environment.

• Under the Act, a central government may provide permission for various
works related to urbanization.
o Protection against natural hazards
o Maintenance of water supply in aquifers.
o Protection of lines of communication and transportation
o Preservation of public health.
 Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act of 1981
• Objective- to provide the prevention , control and
abatement of air pollution.
• Provisions of the Act has to be implemented by Central
Pollution Control Board along with the state board
• Functions-
o setting of the air quality standards, collecting data on
air pollution, organizing training, awareness
programmes, establishing laboratories
o Specify air pollution control areas and set standard for
vehicle emissions.
• Penalties for violation of its provisions. Applies to all.
 Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act 1974
• Objective- to prevent , control and maintenance or restoration of
wholesomeness of water.
• Provisions of the Act has to be implemented by Central Pollution
Control Board being a main agency.
• Functions-
o Establishes standards of the water quality and effluent
• Polluting industries must seek the permission to discharge the
waste into effluent bodies.
 Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
• Wildlife protection Act of 1972 defines wildlife to include any bird
or animal and aquatic or land vegetation, form part of any habitat.
• Under the Act, Central government work with state governments to
regulate or prohibit the conversion of forest in agriculture or urban
land.
o Protection against natural hazards
o Maintenance of water supply in water bodies present in Forest.
o Protection of lines of communication and transportation
 Forest Conservation Act of 1980

• Objective- provide for the protection and conservation

of the forests.
• Under the Act, a state government may regulate or
prohibit in any forest the clearing of land for
cultivation, pasturing of cattle, or clearing the
vegetation for any of following purposes:
o Protection against natural hazards
o Maintenance of water supply in aquifers.
o Protection of lines of communication and transportation
o Preservation of public health.
o Mandatory for land owner.
 Issues involved in enforcement of
Env Laws
1. Illiteracy
2. Growing population
3. Ignorance
4. Economic reasons
5. Insufficiency of laws
 Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on
climate change is an amendment to the international treaty on climate
change:
It assigns mandatory emission limitations for the reduction of green
house gas emission to the signatory nations.
The objective of Protocol is “Stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climatic system”

Montreal Protocol
Designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a
number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion
Convention on Biological Diversity

The conservation of biodiversity is a common concern of

humankind. The CBD covers biodiversity at all levels:
Ecosystems, species and genetic resources.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international
legally-binding treaty with three main goals: conservation of
biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of
genetic resources. Its overall objective is to encourage actions
which will lead to a sustainable future.
 Disaster Management
A disaster is defined as a sudden event or calamity that causes large-
scale damage and destruction of human life and property.

Types of Disasters
Natural Disasters

•Air-related – Hurricanes, cyclones, storms, etc.

•Water-related – Floods, drought, etc.
• Earth-related – Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, etc.

Man-made Disasters

•Industrial accidents
•Wars, riots, terrorism, etc.
•Toxic spills
•Transportation accidents
Earthquake

The term earthquake is used to describe any seismic event, caused

naturally or as a consequence of human activities, that leads to the
generation of devastating seismic waves.

Causes of Earthquake

•Movement of hot gases and magma

•Volcanic activities

•Stress buildup due to water pressure

•Tectonic stress generated by movement of tectonic plates

Effects of Earthquake

•Destruction and demolition of buildings, dams, etc. Large-scale damage

to life and property
•Increased incidence of fire, landslides, etc.

•Increased incidence of tsunami waves.

Management of Earthquakes

•Marking earthquake-sensitive areas

•Construction of houses, factories, dams, bridges, etc., with appropriate

design and materials and strategically placed vibration absorbers

•Forecast and early prediction of earthquakes

•Creating public awareness regarding the steps to be taken during

emergencies

•Relief measures through timely support by individuals, government, and

non-governmental organizations
 Landslides
Landslides are natural phenomena during which large amounts of
landmass slide downwards from hilly areas, mainly because of gravity,
destroying everything lying in the path.

Causes of Landslides

•Earthquakes

•Glaciers and Torrential rain

•Construction of dams, bridges, tunnels, roads, etc

•Use of explosives for breaking rocks during mining

•Deforestation of mountain slopes

Effects of Landslides
• Rocks, large debris, and sliding landmasses destroy urban and rural habitation

• Damage to roads, dams, bridges, etc.

• Obstruction of river flow increasing the incidence of flood

• Severe damage to crops and agricultural lands

Management of Landslides
• Construction activities should be done only after properly evaluating the geological
and geographic conditions.

• Regulating rate of water flow also helps in controlling landslides.

• Agriculture at slopes should be avoided as far as possible.

• Relief task through economic help supporting resettlement and rehabilitation

of affected people at individual, community, and organizational levels should be
carried out.
 Floods
The accumulation of a large quantity of water at a place or the presence of
more water than can be handled by the drainage of the area is known as
flood.
Types of Floods
•Flash floods
•River floods
•Coastal floods
Causes of Floods
•Deforestation
•Urbanization
•Change in river course
•Man-made activities in river channels
•Uncertain rainfall
Effects of Floods
•Damage to agricultural crops
•Damage to life and property
•Disturbances in transportation
•Increase in populations of disease vectors and pathogens
•Loss of biodiversity
•Economic crisis
Control of Floods
• Plantation on slopes
• Drainage management
• Flood plain zoning
• Forecasting
 Cyclones
In northern hemisphere, a cyclone refers to an area of low atmospheric
pressure surrounded by a wind system in a counter-clockwise direction.

Effects of Cyclones

•They damage installations,

communication systems,
trees, etc., resulting in loss of life
and property.

•They may cause river floods and

submergence of low-lying areas.
Management of Cyclones

•Forecasting

•Proper construction of houses and Construction of cyclone shelters in the

cyclone-prone areas

•Relief tasks

•Development of warning systems

•Community preparedness at all levels to deal with emergency situations

Unit 6
Population Growth

The increase in the number of individuals in a population is

known as population growth.

Demography

The study of human population trends is called demography.

Factors Deciding the Growth or Decline of Population

Birth Rate-Number of births per thousand people in a geographical

area.

Death rate-Number of deaths per thousand people in a geographical area.

Migration -Rate of change in population for a specific area.

Causes of Population Growth

•Availability of cure for many life-threatening diseases

•Poverty

•Preference for sons

•Custom of early marriages

•Improvement in public health

•Illiteracy
Effects of Population Growth

•Excessive exploitation of natural resources

•Unemployment

•Lack of proper health and sanitation facilities

•Environmental pollution
 Resettlement and Rehabilitation

Reasons for Displacement of Human Habitation

Natural hazards – Earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods, drought,

volcanic eruptions, and epidemic diseases

Anthropogenic factors – Developmental activities such as construction

of dams, roads, tunnels, etc., which increase the risks of calamities
such as floods and landslides. Other factors include accumulation of
wastes and environmental pollution
 Problems Faced by Displaced People

•The compensation for the lost land is often not paid or the payment is
delayed.

•Basic infrastructure and amenities are not provided in the new area.

•Very often, temporary camps become permanent settlements.

•Ethnic and caste differences make it difficult for the refugees to live
peacefully with the communities already living in the area.
 Environmental Ethics

Creating a moral sense of environmental conservation in each person

is called environmental ethics.
 Environmental ethics:Issues. The Contrasting Views
•Utilitarian justification (also known as individualistic ethics)
•Ecological justification (also known as moral justification)

Environmental Equity and Priority Principle

Always respect all nature except in cases where strong human rights are at
stake

Environmental ethics: Possible Solutions

•One should respect the power of environment and apply it for the benefits of
humankind.
•One should place the highest priority on health, safety, and environmental
protection while using environmental products.
•One should be sensitive to ethical and social issues regarding the environment.
Methods to generate public awareness

The methods to generate environmental awareness generally

falls in two categories :

Formal Method
Introduction of Environmental Studies as a course in schools and
colleges

Non Formal Method

•Mass media such as newspapers, magazine, radio, T.V., etc
•Organizing meetings, seminars and conferences
•Organizing various competitions
•Through folk songs, street plays, TV serials, etc.