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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

(10B11GE411) Credits:3 Module:II


Dr. R. Subramanyam Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Jaypee Institute of Engineering & Technology A.B. Road, Raghogarh, Guna (M.P.)

Module:II
Syllabus Natural resources, their consumption & Protection: Water, Land Energy (Renewable, non-renewable, wind, solar, hydro, Biomass), Mineral, Forest, & Food resources, Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources, Equitable use of resources.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Resource: a source of supply or support that is generally held in reserves. Natural resource: are the materials which living organism can take from nature for their life or any component of the natural environment that can be utilised by man to promote his welfare. A natural resource can be a substance, an energy unit or a natural process or phenomena, e.g., Water, air, soil, minerals, coal, forests, crops and wildlife are all the examples of natural resources.

Non-Renewable Sources
Which cannot be regenerated.

e.g.fossil fuel like coal, petroleum, minerals etc. Once we exhaust these reserves, the same cannot be replenished.

Renewable Sources
Which are in-exhaustive and can be regenerated within a given span of time. e.g. forests, wildlife, wind energy,
biomass energy, solar energy, tidal energy, hydropower etc.

Even our renewable resources can become nonrenewable if we exploit them to such extent that their rate of consumption exceeds their rate of regeneration. It is very important to protect and conserve our natural resources and use them in a judicious manner so that we dont exhaust them.

The major natural resources:


1. Forest resource 1. Water resource 1. Mineral resource 1. Food resource

1. Energy resource
1. Land resource

FOREST RESOURCES
One of the most important natural resources on this earth. Produce innumerable material goods, but also provide several environmental services which are essential for life. It is estimated that forests covered 1/5 of the earths entire land area.

USES OF FOREST
Forests are vital to the functioning of the planet. ecological

The diverse functions of forests can be stated as follows:


Production function Protective function Regulative function

Overexploitation of forests

DEFORESTATION
o Major causes:
Population growth Shifting cultivation Fuel requirements Developmental projects Growing food need Overgrazing Fires Acid rain

Consequences:
Threatens the existence of many wildlife species Biodiversity is lost Hydrological cycle gets affected Problems of soil erosion Silting of water cources Decrease of recharge Desertification The carbon cycle

CASE STUDY
The Chipko movement Himalay case issue (Himalayan Trekking) Sandalwood case (Indian sandalwood trade)

WATER RESOURCES
Water is indispensable natural resources, on which all life depends. Water is needed for daily use by organisms, for irrigation, navigation, industrial use, electricity production and domestic use. Of the total water resource of the earth, 97.3% is salt water and rest fresh water.

Water is often called the Universal Solvent.

Use and Overexploitation of Surface and Groundwater


Overuse of groundwater for irrigation and domestic purposes has resulted in rapid depletion of GW in various regions leading to lowering of water table and drying of wells.

Effects of groundwater usage


Subsidence Lowering of water table Water logging Saltwater incursion pollution

FLOODS
When due to heavy rains or sudden snow melts, the quantity of water in streams exceeds their capacity and water overflows the banks and causes inundation of surrounding land. This condition is called flood. Causing massive loss of human life and damages to proporties. In 1970 flood, nearly one million people were drowned while more than one lakh people died in 1991 floods.

DROUGHTS
Drought is generally applied when the country receives less(< 75%) of long term average rainfall. Remedial Measures:
Carefully selected mixed cropping Social forestry and wasteland development Proper knowledge of ecological need

DAMS-Benefits and Problems


Dams are structure those are made to restrict water for other beneficial purposes.
Benefits: For irrigation To generate electricity For flood control For industrial and domestic supply Problems: Loss of forest and wildlife habitat Loss of aquatic biodiversity of u/s and d/s Serious irrecoverable loss of species Displaced large number of people sedimentation

MINERAL RESOURCES
Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic, crystalline solid having a definite chemical composition and characteristics physical properties. There are thousands of minerals occurring in different parts of the world. India mined >80 minerals and contributing about 3% of gross domestic product. Can be grouped into:
Fuel minerals: coal, petroleum, natural gas Metallic minerals: iron ore, chromium ore, bauxite etc. Non-Metallic minerals:dolomite, phosphorite, clay etc.

Use and Exploitation


Development of industrial plants and machinery Generation of energy e.g. coal, uranium Defence equipments-weapons, armaments Communication-cables, electronic devices Medicinal system-particularly in ayurvedic system Jewellery -gold, silver, diamond Agriculture-as fertilizers, seed dressings

Environmental Effect of Mineral Extraction and Use


Considerable effect biological resources. on land, air, water and

Major effects: Land degradation Surface and ground water pollution Subsidence of land Loss of flora and fauna, resulting deforestation Air pollution-emission of harmful gases Rehabilitation problem Occupational health hazard

Conservation of Mineral Resources


Minimising waste and developing technologies to recover the resources from waste. Developing technologies to recycle metals. Alternatives to fossil fuels need to be found. Research is being carried out to substitute some metals like gold, silver, mercury and platinum etc. by man-made products. Development of alloys which will reduce the demand of some pure metal, e.g. alloys of magnesium are replacing steel and reducing the demand of copper, lead and tin. Mining areas need to be reclaimed. A data bank on the availability and expenditure of mineral resources should be maintained so that their use is regulated.

FOOD RESOURCES
Plants and animals are the main sources of human food. Main food resources: wheat, rice, maize, barely, pulse, vegetables and fruits. Animals-milk, butter, egg and meat Only 40% of the total area of the world can ever be used for cultivation of crop.

Modern technology-increased yield-created a number of problems.

World Food Problems


50 years-grain production-3times-per capita production 50%. But, population growth outstripped food production. Every year 40 million people (50% of young children between 1to 5 years) die of undernourishment and malnutrition.

Undernourishment
Undernourishment: is the lack of sufficient calories in available diet. FAO (food and agricultural organization) : average minimum daily calorific requirement is 2500 calories per day. <90% daily requirement are said to be undernourished. Not have sufficient energy to lead an active and productive life. Consequently their body becomes susceptible to a no. of infectious diseases. serious undernourishment take <80% of daily calorific requirement-leads to stunned growth, mental retardation and other types of disorders.

300 million undernourished.

Indians

are

still

Malnutrition
Is the lack or deficiency of specific constituents of food, such as proteins, vitamins or certain elements. This condition is very common in richer countries. Effects of malnourishment are longterm and result in number of diseases.

Impacts of Overgrazing and Agriculture


Impacts of Overgrazing:
Land degradation Increase in soil erosion Decrease in the diversity of plant species. Decrease in the growth of vegetation Dominance of plant species those are relatively undesirable to the livestock.

Impacts of Agriculture:
Deforestation Soil erosion Depletion of nutrients Serious health disease, e.g. blue baby syndrome. Eutrophication Water logging and Stalinization Biological magnification of non-biodegradable pesticides.

Effects of Modern Agriculture


Modern Agriculture: use of hybrid seeds of selected and single crop variety, high-tech equipments and lots of energy subsidies in the form of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water.

Effects:
Impacts related to high yielding varieties. Fertilizer related problems Micronutrient imbalance. Nitrate pollution Eutrophication Pesticides related problems Death of non-target organisms. Creating resistance in pets and producing new pets. Biological magnification Water logging Salinity problem

ENERGY RESOURCES
Energy consumption of a nation is usually considered as an index of its development Energy is vital for social and economic development. In India, the per capita energy consumption is only 221 kg of oil equivalent/year, a very low rate compared with other developed countries (3,306-7,655).

Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Sources


Renewable (non-conventional) Energy Sources:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Solar Energy Wind Energy Hydropower Energy Ocean Energy Geothermal Energy Biomass Energy Hydrogen Energy

Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Sources


Non-Renewable (conventional) Energy Sources:
1. 2. 3. 4. Coal Petroleum Natural gas Nuclear energy

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