M

anav rachna
university
Environmental science
assignment -1

Group: tamanna(ecu2k19n02011)
Kunal dang(ecu2k19n02006)
Kartik(ecu2k19n02004)
Shubham(ecu2k19n02010)

Ques1. Would you recommend environmental science as a subject? Why /why not?
Ans. Environmental science is just not a subject indeed it provides a fascinating connection
between human and environment, it connects us with our beautiful nature and at the same
time it tells us how human activities damage the “beauty of our nature". Once we are
connected to nature, we can feel the pain which our Earth is facing right now. It provide
enough strength in us to take initiative towards our environment, to take a step toward not
harming our Earth anymore. Being an environmental science student, just don't study it, feel
it and nothing can be more interesting than this. I personally feel the need to study
environmental science because our Earth has reached that stage where it is very important
to take an extra care of it. It is true that practice starts at home but this is the time when
everyone needs to join hands and try to save our beautiful planet EARTH. More and more
people should know about our damaging Earth than only we can save our environment for
future generations.
Ques2. What measures would you support to conserve our natural resources?
Ans. We need to conserve our Natural Resources because it is the main source of our daily
needs. We need to conserve it because they are limited only. And if these resources are
abused and harmed, we will have short quantity of sources for food and living. At the same
time, we can also be harmed. Because when illegal loggers log the trees endlessly in
mountains, the rain that falls on mountain will not be absorbed by the trees, then it can
cause mudslides that can affect those who lives on mountainside. Population explosion in
last few decades has put a lot of pressure on our Natural Resources and this has led to
over exploitation. Sustainable living is a very important idea and should be the basis of our
living standards. We need to stop all kind of wastage. We need to understand that our
Natural Resources are limited and over exploitation will harm not only us but the coming
generation more. Remember our future generation will need also our Natural Resources.
We can also help conserve it by simply using our materials wisely and do not waste it. There
are simple ways to help in conserving our natural resources. These are the “3R Concept”
3R means “REDUCE”, “REUSE” and “RECYCLE”. Example in papers, our used papers will reuse
by recycling it and turn it into a new paper product. By means of that we can reduce the
number of trees that will cutted-down just for our new paper products. So to reuse
materials is to recycle it so that the amount of materials that comes from our Natural
Resources will reduce. And now we can say that we conserve our Natural Resources.
Ques3. What examples can you find to explain multidisciplinary nature of
environmental science?
Ans. The multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies includes various disciplines of
study; each contributing to a holistic understanding of the processes and phenomena
occurring on our planet, in our solar system and universe.
In some cases, there is a distinction between environmental studies, and environmental
sciences. I won’t make that distinction here, instead, I will treat the two as the same course
of academic inquiry.
To begin with, you need to have an understanding of the disciplines making up the core
sciences of chemistry, physics and biology (and the associated mathematics needed in
some of these courses). Here, chemistry is the most crucial of the three in regards to
environmental studies and serves as the central science bridging into both physics and
biology. Organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology are all also
highly relevent to environmental studies and will become extremely crucial later on as one
progresses into chemical and biochemical cycling within ecological systems or the effects
of environmental stressors on biological systems.
The next set of disciplines will be the Earth Sciences. These will include but are not limted to
geology, hydrology, oceanography, geophysics, astronomy, meteorology and climatology.
More specialized scientific disciplines can include: aquatic pollution, geobiochemical cycling,
planetary geophysics, pedology, marine biology, etc
Ques4. What is the need for public awareness?
Ans. Increasing population, Urbanization and poverty have generated pressure on the
natural resources and lead to a degradation of the environment. TO PREVENT THE
ENVIRONMENT FROM FURTHER DEGRADATION, the supreme court has ordered and initiated
environmental protection awareness through government and non-government agencies to
take part in protecting our environment.
Environmental pollution cannot prevented by laws alone. Public participation is equally
important with regard to environmental protection.
Environmental Education (EE) is a process of learning by giving an overall perspective of
knowledge and awareness of the environment. It sensitizes the society about environmental
issues and challenges interested individuals to develop skills and expertise thereby
providing appropriate solutions.
Climate change, loss of biodiversity, declining fisheries, ozone layer depletion, illegal trade
of endangered species, destruction of habitats, land degradation, depleting ground water
supplies, introduction of alien species, environmental pollution, solid waste disposal, storm
water and sewage disposal pose a serious threat to ecosystems in forest, rural, urban and
marine ecosystems.
Both formal and informal education on the environment will give the interested individual
the knowledge, values, skills and tools needed to face the environmental challenges on a
local and global level.
Ques5. Discuss the scope of environmental science.
  Our surrounding includes forest, rivers, mountains, desert, or a combination of
these elements.
 Most of us live in landscapes that have been heavily modified by the uman beings in
villages, towns, and cities.
 But even those of us who live in cities get our food supply from surrounding 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 live without
protecting the earth’s enthe air like power plants evironmental resources.

Ques6. How would you justify/defend equitable use of resources?

ANS. In last 50 years, the consumption of resource in the society has increased many folds.
There is a big gap in the consumers lifestyle between developed and developing
countries.Urbanisation has changed the life style of middle class population in developing
countries creating more stress on the use of natural resources. It has been estimated that
More Developed Countries (MDC) of the world constitute only 22% of world’s population but
they use 88% of natural resources. These countries use 73% of energy resources and
command 85% of income and in turn they contribute very big proportion of pollution. On the
other hand less developed countries (LDCs) have moderate industrial growth and constitute
78% of world’s population and use only 12% of natural resources, 27% of energy and have
only 15% of global income.

There is a huge gap between rich and poor. In this age of development the rich have gone
richer and the poor is becoming more poorer.. This has lead to unsustainable growth. There
is an increasing global concern about the management of natural resources. The solution to
this problem is to have more equitable distribution of resources and income. Two major
causes of unsustainability are over population in poor countries and over consumption of
resources by rich countries. A global consensus has to be reached for balanced distribution
of natural resources.
For equitable use of natural resources more developed countries/rich people have to lower
down their level of consumption to bare minimum so that these resources can be shared by
poor people to satisfy their needs. Time has come to think that it is need of the hour that
rich and poor should make equitable use of resources for sustainable development of
mankind.
Ques7. Discuss and explain the advantages and disadvantages of wind, geothermal
and tidal energy.
 WIND ENERGY
ADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY:
It’s a clean fuel source. Wind energy doesn’t pollute the air like power plants that rely
on combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. Wind turbines don’t
produce atmospheric emissions tat cause acid rain or greenhouse gases. Wind
energy is a domestic source of energy. Wind power is cost effective. It is one of the
lowest-priced renewable energy technologies available today, costing between four
and six cents per kilowatt-hour, depending upon the wind resource and project
financing of the particular project.
DISADVANTAGES OF WIND ENERGY:
Wind energy has a number of drawbacks i.e,1. wind energy has a similar drawback to
solar energy in that it is not constant. Although the wind is sustainable and will never
run out, wind speed does change. This can cause serious problems for the efficiency
of a wind turbine. For a wind turbine to be efficient, it needs to have an adequate
supply of wind energy.
2. Wind turbines are still very expensive . first , an engineer must carry out a site
survey. This may involve having to erect a research turbine to measure wind speeds
over a period of time. If deemed adequate , a wind turbine then needs to be
purchased, transported and installed. All of these processes contribute to the high
cost of buying and installing wing turbines.
 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
 1. Environment friendly: one of the most important benefits of the
geothermal energy is that it does not harm the environment. This is the
number one reason why this energy is used in various applications. If
you consider the impact of fossil fuels and the effect of the geothermal
energy on the environment then, this energy has a relatively lower
impact on the environment.
2. Small maintenance cost: geothermal installations and maintenance
smaller amount of money is needed.
3. Highly sustainable: geothermal enery is highly durable and it is also
renewable. That means, it is there until the earth is there. So, as the
earth is present, there is no need to worry about the extinction of the
geothermal energy.
4. Reduce in noise pollution: creating power from the geothermal energy
give srise to the production of less amount of sound. Installing
dampening materials in the generator houses has helped to reduce the
resulting noise pollution as well as visual pollution.
DISADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: 1. It can give rise to earthquakes: this is
most dangerous part of the geothermal energy. Sometimes the installations of the
geothermal plants in different parts of the world may destruct the buildings and
create challenges in human life due to earthquakes. Sometimes volcanic eruption may
be possible.
2. Land requirement is large: to make the energy production from the geothermal
energy sources profitable, a vast land is needed. It is not at all useful to setup the
geothermal power plant in the city areas having decidedly lesser land.
 TIDAL ENRGY
ADVANTAGES OF TIDAL ENERGY: 1. Renewable :Tidal energy is a renewable energy
source. This energy source is a result of the gravitational fields from both the sun
and the moon, combined with its axis, resulting in high and low tides.
2. Green: Tidal power is an environmental friendly energy source. In addition to being
a renewable energy , it does not emit any climate gases and does not take up a lot of
space.
 3. Effective at low speeds: Water has high density than air, which makes it possible to
generate electricity at low speeds. Calculations show that power can be generated
even 1m/s(equivalent to a little over 3ft/s).
DISADVANTAGES OF TIDAL ENERGY: 1. Expensive: it is important to realize that the
methods for generating electricity from tidal energy is a relatively are relatively new
technologies. It is projected the tidal power will be commercially profitable within
2020 with better technology and larger scales.
2. Close to land: Tidal power plants need to be constructed close to land. This is also an area
where technological solutions are being worked on. Hopefully in a few years we can exploit
weaker tidal currents, at locations further out in the sea.
Ques8. HOW DO YOU DIFFRENTIATE RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES?
ANS. RENEWABLE SOURCES: Renewable sources are sources which are replenished
naturally in the course of time. The use of these resources corresponds with the principles
of sustainability, because the rate at which we are consuming them does not affect their
availability in the long term. Renewable resources are solar energy, wind energy,
geothermal energy, biofules, air, water and soil.
NON – RENEWABLE RESOURCES: These resources are those that are available to us in limited
quantities, or those that are renewed so slowly that the rate at which they are consumed is
too fast. This means that their stocks are getting depleted before they can replenish
naturally, non – renewable resources are coal, oil, uranium, gold, aluminium, sand.
QUES9.WHAT ARE THE DIFFRENT METHODS BY WHICH SOIL EROSION CAN BE
CONTROLLED?
ANS. The four most common soil erosion prevention methods are vegetation, geotextiles,
mulch, and retaining walls. Preventing soil erosion is critical in protecting your property
and exposed soil, whether from wind, weather, running water, and even the after-affects of
forest fire.
vegetation: The simplest and most natural way to prevent erosion is through planting
vegetation. Plants establish root systems, which stabilizes soil and prevents soil erosion.
Geotextiles: Using geotextiles is an effective method because it also stabilizes soil. When
used in conjunction with growing vegetation , it is even more effective, there are three main
types of geotextiles: woven, nonwoven ,and coir.
Mulch/Fertilizers: Applying a layer of mulch to the soil top allows the soil to slowly soak up
water, as it protects against rain impact, and restores pH level helping with the erosion
prevention.
Retaining walls: Retaining walls can be built around the area of erosion to prevent water
run off. Runoff water leads to further erosion, and if used with other methods, retaining
walls can be a very effective way to prevent soil erosion.

THANKYOU!!