EVS BCA 1 Sem

Unit – 2

Water Resources –

Water resources are natural resources of water that are potentially useful for humans, for example as a
source of drinking water supply or irrigation water. 97% of the water on the Earth is salt water and
only three percent is fresh water ; slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice
caps. The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small fraction
present above ground or in the air. Natural sources of fresh water include surface water, under river
flow, groundwater and frozen water. Artificial sources of fresh water can include treated wastewater
(wastewater reuse) and desalinated seawater. Human uses of water resources
include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities.

“Water is probably the only natural resource to touch all aspects of human civilization – from
agricultural and industrial development to cultural and religious values embedded in society”(USSR,
1978).

Global Water Resources -

Earth's water has been estimated to be 1.385 billion km3, 96.5 % of which is in the oceans and is saline.
Of the remaining 3.5% water on land, approximately 1% is contained in deep, saline ground waters or in
saline lakes, leaving only 2.5% of the earth's water as freshwater. Of this freshwater, only 1.3% is mobile
in the surface and atmospheric phases of the hydrologic cycle.

Water Resources of India -

India receives annual precipitation of about 4000 km. The rainfall in India shows very high spatial and
temporal variability and paradox of the situation is that Mousinram, Cherapunji, which receives the
highest rainfall in the world, also suffers from shortage of water during the non-rainy season, almost
every year. The total average annual flow per year for the Indian rivers is estimated as 1953 km. The
total annual replenishable ground water resources are assessed as 432 km. The annual utilizable surface
water and ground water resources of India are estimated as 690 km and 396 km per year, respectively.
Thus, the total utilizable water resources of the country are assessed as 1086 km. Rainfall in India is
dependent on the South-West and North-East monsoons, on shallow cyclonic depressions and
disturbances and on local storms. Most of it takes place under the influence of South-West monsoon
between June to September except in Tamil Nadu, where it is under the influence of North-East
monsoon during October and November.

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Water quality -

Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water based on the
standards of its usage. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which
compliance, generally achieved through treatment of the water, can be assessed. The most common
standards used to monitor and assess water quality convey the health of ecosystems, safety of human
contact, extend of water pollution and condition of drinking water. Water quality has a significant
impact on water supply and oftentimes determines supply options.

Mineral Resources -

Mineral Resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the

Earth's crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for
eventual economic extraction.

There are several classification systems for the economic evaluation of mineral deposits worldwide. The
most commonly used schemes base on the International Reporting Template, developed by
the CRIRSCO - Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards, like the Australian
Joint Ore Reserves Committee - JORC Code 2012, the Pan-European Reserves &
Resources Reporting Committee' – PERC Reporting Standard from 2021, the Canadian Institute of
Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum - CIM classification and the South African Code for the Reporting of
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC). A more detailed description of the historical
development concerning reporting about mineral deposits can be found on the PERC web site.

A 'Mineral Resource' is a concentration or occurrence of material of intrinsic economic interest in or on

the earth's crust in such form, quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual
economic extraction. Mineral Resources are further sub-divided, in order of increasing geological
confidence, into inferred, indicated and measured as categories. Inferred Mineral Resource is the part of
a mineral resource for which quantity, grade (or quality) and mineral content can be estimated with a
low level of confidence. It is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not verified geological
or grade continuity. It is based on information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations
such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes which may be of limited or uncertain quality
and it is also reliability.

Carbon Cycle -

Carbon is the foundation of all life on Earth, required to form complex molecules like proteins and DNA.
This element is also found in our atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon helps to
regulate the Earth’s temperature, makes all life possible, is a key ingredient in the food that sustains us,
and provides a major source of the energy to fuel our global economy. The carbon cycle describes the

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process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the atmosphere to the Earth and then back into
the atmosphere. Since our planet and its atmosphere form a closed environment, the amount of carbon
in this system does not change. Where the carbon is located — in the atmosphere or on Earth — is
constantly in flux. On Earth, most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is located in the
ocean, atmosphere, and in living organisms. These are the reservoirs, or sinks, through which carbon
cycles. Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when organisms die, volcanoes erupt, fires blaze,
fossil fuels are burned, and through a variety of other mechanisms. In the case of the ocean, carbon is
continually exchanged between the ocean’s surface waters and the atmosphere, or is stored for long
periods of time in the ocean depths.

Nitrogen Cycle -

Nitrogen Cycle is a biogeochemical process through which nitrogen is converted into many forms,
consecutively passing from the atmosphere to the soil to organism and back into the atmosphere. It
involves several processes such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, decay and putrefaction.
Nitrogen gas exists in both organic and inorganic forms. Organic nitrogen exists in living organisms, and
they get passed through the food chain by the consumption of other living organisms. Inorganic forms of
nitrogen are found in abundance in the atmosphere. This nitrogen is made available to plants by
symbiotic bacteria which can convert the inert nitrogen into a usable form – such as nitrites and
nitrates. Nitrogen undergoes various types of transformation to maintain a balance in the ecosystem.
Furthermore, this process extends to various biomes, with the marine nitrogen cycle being one of the
most complicated biogeochemical cycles.

“Nitrogen Cycle is a biogeochemical process which transforms the inert nitrogen present in the
atmosphere to a more usable form for living organisms.”

Process of the Nitrogen Cycle consists of the following steps –

 Nitrogen fixation
 Nitrification
 Assimilation
 Ammonification
 Denitrification

Sulphur Cycle -

Sulphur is one of the most abundant elements on the earth. It is a yellow, brittle, tasteless, odourless
non-metal. Sulphur is present in all kinds of proteins. Plants directly absorb sulphur-containing amino
acids such as methionine, cystine, and cysteine. Sulphur is released into the atmosphere by the burning
of fossil fuels, volcanic activities, and decomposition of organic molecules. On land, sulphur is stored in

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underground rocks and minerals. It is released by precipitation, weathering of rocks and geothermal
vents. The process of sulphur cycle is explained below:

 The sulphur is released by the weathering of rocks.

 Sulphur comes in contact with air and is converted into sulphates.
 Sulphates are taken up by plants and microbes and are converted into organic forms.
 The organic form of sulphur is then consumed by the animals through their food and thus
sulphur moves in the food chain.
 When the animals die, some of the sulphur is released by decomposition while some enter the
tissues of microbes.

There are several natural sources such as volcanic eruptions, evaporation of water, and breakdown of
organic matter in swamps, that release sulphur directly into the atmosphere. This sulphur falls on earth
with rainfall.

Following are the important steps of the sulphur cycle:

1. Decomposition of Organic Compounds

Protein degradation releases amino acids that contain sulphur. Sulphates are reduced to H2S by the
action of Desulfotomaculum bacteria.

2. Oxidation of Hydrogen Sulphide to Elemental Sulphur

Hydrogen sulphide oxidises to produce elemental sulphur. Certain photosynthetic bacteria from the
families Chlorobiaceae and Chromatiaceae initiate the oxidation process.

3. Oxidation of Elemental Sulphur

Elemental sulphur present in the soil cannot be utilized directly by the plants. Therefore, it is converted
into sulphates by chemolithotrophic bacteria.

4. Reduction of Sulphates

Sulphates are reduced to hydrogen sulphide by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. This occurs in two steps:

 Firstly, the sulphates are converted to sulphites utilizing ATP.

 Secondly, the reduction of sulphite to hydrogen sulphide.

Sources of Conventional energy and Nonconventional -

Energy is the ability of a physical system to perform work. We use energy in our daily lives from various
sources for doing work. We use muscular energy for carrying out physical work, electrical energy for
running multiple appliances, chemical energy for cooking food, etc. For this, we need to know the

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different energy sources to obtain energy in its usable form. This article will familiarize you with two
important sources of energy: conventional energy and non-conventional energy.

The two major sources of energy is classified as:

 Conventional Sources
 Non-Conventional Sources

The classification of the sources of energy is given in the below image.

Conventional Sources of Energy

Conventional Sources of Energy are also known as non-renewable sources of energy and are available in
limited quantity apart from hydro-electric power. Further, it is classified under commercial and non-
commercial energy.

Commercial Energy Sources

Coal, electricity and petroleum are known as commercial energy since the consumer needs to pay its
price to buy them.

Coal

Coal is the most important source of energy. There are more than 148790 coal deposits in India, and
between 2005-2006, the annual production went up to 343 million tons. India is the fourth-largest coal-
producing country, and the deposits are primarily found in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand
and Bengal.

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Oil and Natural Gas

Oil is considered liquid gold and one of the crucial energy sources in India and the world. Oil is primarily
used in planes, automobiles, trains and ships. The total oil production in India was 0.3 million tons in
1950-51, which increased up to 32.4 million tons in 2000-01. It is mainly found in Assam, Gujarat and
Mumbai.

Electricity

Electricity is a common form of energy used for domestic and commercial purposes, and it is mainly
utilized in electrical appliances like fridges, T.V, washing machines and air conditioning.

The major sources of power generation are:

 Nuclear Power
 Thermal Power
 Hydro-electric power

Thermal PowerThermal power is generated at various power stations utilizing oil and coal. It is a vital
source of electric current, and its share in the nation’s total capacity in 2004-05 was 70 percent.

Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric power is produced by constructing dams above flowing rivers like
Damodar Valley Project and Bhakra Nangal Project. The installed capacity of hydroelectric power was
587.4 mW in 1950-51 and went up to 19600 mW in 2004-05.

Nuclear PowerThe fuel used in nuclear power plants is Uranium, which costs less than coal. Nuclear
power plants can be found in Kaiga (Karnataka), Kota (Rajasthan), Naroura (UP) and
Kalapakam(Chennai).

Non-commercial Energy Sources

Generally, the freely available energy sources are considered non-commercial energy sources. Examples
of non-commercial energy sources include straw, dried dung, firewood./p>

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

Non-conventional sources are also known as renewable sources of energy. Examples of non-
conventional sources of energy include solar energy, bioenergy, tidal energy and wind energy.

Solar Energy

Solar Energy is produced by sunlight. The photovoltaic cells are exposed to sunlight based on the form of
electricity that needs to be produced. The energy is utilized for cooking and distillation of water.

Wind Energy

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Wind energy is generated by harnessing the power of wind and mostly used in operating water pumps
for irrigation purposes. India stands as the second-largest country in the generation of wind power.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is generated by exploiting the tidal waves of the sea. This source is yet to be tapped due to
the lack of cost-effective technology.

Difference Between Conventional and Non-conventional Sources of Energy

Conventional Sources of Energy Non-conventional sources of energy

These sources of energy are also known as These sources of energy are also known
a non-renewable source of energy as a renewable source of energy

They find both commercial and industrial They are mainly used for household
purposes purposes

These can be considered to be one of the These are not responsible for the cause
reasons for the cause of pollution of pollution

Wind, solar energy and Biomass two

Coal, fossil fuels are two examples
examples

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