Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Guindy,Chennai-600032
Question Bank
Section-A
(1 mark—questions )
2. Thepyramidofenergyinanyecosystemis.
a) Alwaysupright
b) May be upright orinvented
c) Alwaysinverted
d) None of theabove
Ans :a) Always upright
5. Thesourceofenergyinanecosystemis
a) ATP
b) Sunlight
c) D.N.A
d) R.N.A
Ans :b)Sunlight
Page 1 of 36
6.Trophic levels are formedby
a) Onlyplants
b) onlyanimals
c) Onlycarnivorous
d) Organisms linked in foodchain
Ans:d) Organisms linked in foodchain
8.Definition of ecosystemis
9.Inafoodchainofgrasslandecosystemthetopconsumersare
a) Herbivorous b)Carnivorous
c) Bacteria
d) Either carnivorous orherbivorous
Ans :b) Carnivorous
10.MAB standsfor
a) Man andbiosphere
b) Man, antibiotics andbacteria
c) Man and bioticcommunity
d) Mayer, Anderson andBisby
Ans: b)Man and biosphere
11.Theconceptofecologicalpyramidwasfirstproposedby
a) E.P.Odum
b) A.G.Tansley
c) Juday
d) CharlesElton
Ans : d) Charles Elton
Page 2 of 36
12.The pyramid of numbers in a singletree is
a) upright
b) inverted
c) spindleshaped
d) none ofthese
a) forestecosystem
b) grasslandecosystem
c) fresh waterecosystem
d) tundra
15.Climateincludes
a) Seasonalvariation
b) General patterns of atmosphereconditions
c) Average weather of anarea
d) All ofthese
Ans :d) All of these
a) 0.1 to 0.28 µm
b) 0.28-0.32 µm
c) 0.32-0.4 µm
d) 0.4-0.5 µm
Ans:b) 0.28-0.32 µm
Page 3 of 36
17.MAB program standsfor
a) Man andbiotechnology
b) Material andbiology
c) Man andBiology
d) Man andBiosphere
Ans:d) Man and Biosphere
20.Whichofthefollowingregionhasmaximumdiversity
a) Mangrooves
b) temperate rain forest
c) taiga
d) coral reefs
Ans :d) coral
reefs
21.Biodiversity
a) increases towards theequator
b) decreases towards theequator
c) remains same throughout theplanet
d) has no effect on change inlatitude
e)
Ans :a) increases towards thee quator
a) Habitatpollution
b) introduction of exoticspecies
c) over-exploitation
d) habitatdestruction
Ans: d) habitat destruction
Page 4 of 36
23.WhatistheanimalsymbolofW.W.F(WorldWildlifeFund)?
a) RedPanda
b) GiantPanda
c) Tiger
d) Kangaroo
Ans:b) GiantPanda
25.RedDataBookProvidesdataon
a) Red floweredplants
b) Red coloredfishes
c) Lists of plants andanimals
d) Endangered plants andanimals
Ans:d) Endangered plants and animals
27.Whatisthemajorcauseofdiminishingwildlifenumber?
a) Felling oftrees
b) Cannibalism
c) Habitatdestruction
d) Paucity of drinkingwater
Ans:c) Habitat destruction
Page 5 of 36
29.Theunfavorable alteration of environment due to human activities is termedas
a) Ecologicaldisturbance
b) catastrophe
c) ecologicaldegradation
d) pollution
Ans:d) pollution
a) leafblights
b) opening ofstomata
c) closure ofstomata
d) browning ofleaves
31.Whichofthefollowingisthemajorcauseofpollution
a) plants
b) man
c) fungi
d) hydrocarbongases
32.BOD standsfor
a) Biotic oxidationdemand
b) Biological oxidationdemand
c) Biological oxygen demand
d) Biochemical oxygendemand
Page 6 of 36
33.AriverwithhighBODvalueis
a)Highlypolluted
b)Highlyclean
c)Highlyproductive
d)none ofthese
a) pollutants
b) eco destructions
c) pollution
d) all ofthese
Ans:c)pollution
35.Acid raincontains
a) Sulphuricacid
b) nitricacid
c) both a andb
d) sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloricacid
Ans:c) both a and b
36.Pollutants that are introduced into the environment by human activity are calledas
a) Qualitativepollutants
b) Quantitativepollutants
c) anthropogenicpollutants
d) all ofthese
Ans:a) Qualitative pollutants
a) CO2
b) CO
c) O3
d) SO2
Ans:c) O3
Page 7 of 36
39.Air pollution can beof
a) Naturalorigin
b) artificial or manmadeorigin
c) both a andb
d) bonly
Ans:c) both a and b
a) NO
b) CO
c) SO2
d) Soot
Ans :b) SO2
a) Carbondioxide
b) CH4
c) N2O
d) All ofthese
a) water ispure
b) absence of microbialaction
c) Low level of microbialpollution
d) High level of microbialpollution
Ans:-d)- High level of microbialpollution
44.Therangeofnormalhumanhearingisintherangeof
a) 10 Hz to 80 Hz
b) 50 Hz to 80Hz
c) 50Hz to 15000Hz
d) 15000 Hz and above
Ans:c)-50Hz to 15000Hz
Page 8 of 36
45.The pollution which does not persistent harm to life supporting systemis
a) Noisepollution
b) Radiationpollution
c) Oregano chlorinepollution
d) All ofthese
Ans-a-Noisepollution
46.Soap anddetergentsarethesourceoforganicpollutantslike:
a) glycerol
b) polyphosphates
c) sulphonatedhydrocarbons
d) all ofthese
Ans:-d)- all ofthese
47.Themainatmosphericlayernearthesurfaceofearthis
a) troposphere
b) mesophere
c) ionosphere
d) stratosphere
Ans-a)troposphere
d)10%
a) SO2
b) NO2
c) CO
d) Hydrocarbons
Ans:d)
Hydrocarbons
49.Chipcomovementisapublicagitationthatoccurredin
Page 9 of 36
50.Ozonosphere seenin
a) ionosphere
b) thermosphere
c) mesophere
d) stratosphere
Ans-d)stratosphere
a) antimony
b) cadmium
c) arsenic
d) all of theabove
Ans-d- all of theabove
Ans-a )methylisocyanate
Ans-d )rainfall
(a) biomass
(b) coal
(c) petroleum
(d) kerosene
Ans-a)biomass
Ans-c) lead
Page 11 of 36
64. Number of atoms in ozone molecules are
a)2
b)3
c)4
d)1
Ans:b)3
(d)Ans: ozone
Ans-d) ozone
67. Sounds above what level are considered hazardous noise pollution?
a) above 80 Db
(c) above 150 dB
(b) above 30 dB
d) above 120 dB
ANS-b) herbivores
Ans-d)sulphur-dioxide
Ans-c) USA
Q.77. Earthquakes occur when there is a sudden release of stored up energy in Earth's
A. inner core
B. outer core
C. upper mantle
D. lower crust
Answer C) upper mantle
Page 13 of 36
Q.79.Tsunami is:
a) wind
b) gravitational force of the moon on the sea
c) gravitational force of the sun on the sea
d) gravitational force of the earth on the sea
Answer: b) Get out of the water quickly and move to higher ground
Page 14 of 36
86.The provisions for environmental protection in the constitution were made in:
(a) 1976
(b) 1950
(c) 1982
(d) 1960
(b) 1992
(c) 1984
(d) 1974
Ans:a)1986
88.When the National Environmental Policy Act was signed into law?
a) January 1, 1970
b) January 2, 1970
c) January 1, 1971
d) January 1, 1972
89.Which act is responsible to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in harmony?
a) EIA
b) RCRS
c) CERCLA
d) NEPA
Ans: d) NEPA
a) Pune
b) Midnapur
c) New Delhi
d) Calcutta
94. The study of reciprocal relationship between organisms and their environment is called …………..
Ans:Ecology
97.Urban areas produces little ………… consumes more……..and generate more…….. Per capita than rural areas
Ans:. Food, natural resources, waste
Ans:hydel power
Ans False
101.Coral reefs are the examples of fresh water ecosystem.(Say True or False)
Ans False
102.Birds and animals are the examples of abiotic environment.(Say True or False)
Ans:False
Ans:True
Ans True
105. In most ecosystems, the pyramid of numbers and biomass are up right(Say True or False)
Ans: False
106. About ‘greenhouse effect’ is that it is caused only by CO2, CFC, CH4 and NO2 gases(Say True or False)
Ans:True
107.The movement of water from the surface of plants into the atmosphere by a process called transpiration
(Say True or False)
Ans:True
Page 16 of 36
Question Bank
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:
Page 17 of 36
(i) Inorganic substances: Inorganic substances like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water, carbon di-oxide, calcium, phosphorus
and 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.
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
Page 18 of 36
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
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.
Page 19 of 36
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
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
Page 20 of 36
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.
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.
Page 21 of 36
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.
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.
Page 22 of 36
• 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.
Page 23 of 36
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.
Page 24 of 36
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.
Page 25 of 36
18. Write Short note on exploitation of natural resources?
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
Page 26 of 36
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.
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.
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 layer
in the upper atmosphere absorb the UV radiations, preventing it from reaching the earth surface.
Page 27 of 36
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 .
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.
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
Page 28 of 36
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?
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.
Page 29 of 36
Components of Disaster Management are:
Hazard Analysis
Vulnerability Analysis
Prevention and mitigation
Preparedness
Prediction and warning
Response
Recovery
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.
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
Page 31 of 36
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 (short-
termhospitalization/temporary disability); Negligible injuries (needing only first aid)
• Rate the risk through using the risk table
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
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.
Habitat destruction
Extension of agriculture.
Filling up of wetlands
Conversion of rich bio-diversity site for human settlement and industrial development.
Uncontrolled commercial exploitation.
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.
Page 32 of 36
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.
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.
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.
Page 33 of 36
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
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.
Page 34 of 36
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.
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
Page 35 of 36
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 pollution
and 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 environmental
pollution;
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 or
substances 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 such
environmental 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 environmental
pollution;
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.
Page 36 of 36