Introduction to energy storage.

1. Pumped hydroelectric storage facilities store

energy in the form of water in an upper reservoir,
pumped from another reservoir at a lower
elevation. During periods of high electricity
demand, power is generated by releasing the
stored water through turbines in the same
manner as a conventional hydropower station.
2. Superconducting magnetic energy storage systems
store energy in the magnetic field created by the
flow of direct current in a superconducting coil
which has been cryogenically cooled to a
temperature below its superconducting critical
temperature.
3. A lithium-ion battery or Li-ion battery is a type of
rechargeable battery. Lithium-ion batteries are
1
commonly used for portable electronics and
electric vehicles and are growing in popularity for
military and aerospace applications.
 Energy flow in the ecosystem

All the functions of the ecosystem are in

some way related to the growth and
regeneration of its plant and animal species.
These linked processes can be depicted as
the various cycles. These processes depend
on energy from sunlight. During
photosynthesis carbon dioxide is taken up
by plants and oxygen is released. Animals
depend on this oxygen for their respiration.
The water cycle depends on the rainfall,
which is necessary for plants and animals to
live.
The energy cycle recycles nutrients into the
soil on which plant life grows. Our own lives
are closely linked to the proper functioning
of these
2
cycles of life. If human activities go
on altering them, humanity cannot survive
on our earth.
 In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.
In-situ conservation:
Biodiversity at all its levels, genetic
species and as intact ecosystems, can be
best preserved in-situ by setting aside
an adequate representation of
wilderness as ‘Protected Areas’. These
should consist of a network of National
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
Ex-situ conservation:
Conservation of a species is best done
by protecting its habitat along with all
the other species that live in it in
nature.
3 This is known as in-situ
conservation, which is conserving a
species in its own environment by
creating National Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries.
 Pollution case studies
A case study of pesticide pollution in India One of
the most terrifying effects of pesticide
contamination of ground water came to light when
pesticide residues were found in bottled water.

Between July and December 2002, the Pollution

Monitoring Laboratory of the New Delhi based
Center for Science and Environment (CSE)
analyzed 17 brands of bottled water both
packaged drinking water and packaged natural
mineral water commonly sold in areas that fall
within the national capital region of Delhi.

Pesticide residues of organochlorine and

organophosphorus
4 pesticides which are most
commonly used in India were found in all the
samples. (fig. Source: Telegraph India )
 Environmental ethics

1. Environmental ethics deals with issues

related to the rights of individuals that
are fundamental to life and well being.
This concerns not only the needs of each
person today, but also those who will
come after us.
2. It also deals with the rights of other living
creatures that inhabit our earth.
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 Module 6: Field work (source: ecofieldtrip)

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 SUMMARY:
Reference Book: Environmental Studies by
UGC
1. Introduction to Energy Science
2. Ecosystems
3. Biodiversity and its conservation
4. Environmental Pollution
5. Social Issues and the Environment
7
6. Field work