GUJARAT UNIVERSITY

Dept. of Computer Science M.Sc. (CS) Semester II

Course Name: Environmental Studies
Course Code: MCSAE121
Assignment
Date: 27th January, 2023

Q-1. What are GHGs?

Answer: Greenhouse gases (also known as GHGs) are gases in the earth's atmosphere
that trap heat. During the day, the sun shines through the atmosphere, warming the earth's
surface. At night, earth's surface cools, releasing heat back into the air. But some of the heat is
trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Or,
A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits infrared radiation. They absorb
infrared energy (heat energy) emitted from the earth's surface and reradiates it back to the
earth's surface. The greenhouse gases trap heat in the earth's atmosphere and warm the planet.
Example: The main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor (which all occur naturally), and fluorinated
gases (which are synthetic). Greenhouse gases have different chemical properties and are
removed from the atmosphere, over time, by different processes.
Q-2. Explain Green House Effect and why is it important?

Answer: The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's
atmosphere trap the Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be
without an atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a
comfortable place to live. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the heat emitted by the Earth
would simply pass outwards from the Earth's surface into space and the Earth would have an
average temperature of about -20°C.
The flooding of coastal cities, the desertification of fertile areas, the melting of glacial
masses and the proliferation of devastating hurricanes are just some of the main consequences.
Q-3. Difference between global warming and climate change?

Answer: “Global warming” refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the
increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” refers to
the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time – including
precipitation, temperature, sun shine hours, wind patterns etc.
Q-4. What is global warming? Explain its causes and effects.
 Answer: Global warming:

Long term rise in temperature of the Earth's surface is called global warming.
Causes:
1. Increase in the atmospheric levels of gases (CO2, CH4, NO2, etc.) due to
extensive burning of fossil fuels.
2. Accumulation of these gases in higher concentration does not allow the Earth's
heat to escape in the outer atmosphere, thus leading to increase in its surface
temperature.
Effects:
1. Temperature of the lower atmosphere rises.
2. Ocean water gets heated and expands.
3. Low coastal areas will get flooded.
4. Regional patterns or precipitation (rain and snow) will be affected.
5. Glaciers and polar ice sheets will melt faster.
Measures to be taken to control global warming:
1. Reduce usage of fossil fuels.
2. Control release for greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
3. Reforestation to fix CO2 and NO2.
4. Control in human population growth.
Q-5. How does ozone layer depletion take place? Explain its chemistry.
Answer: Ozone Depletion. When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with
ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules. One chlorine atom can destroy over
100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere. Ozone can be destroyed
more quickly than it is naturally created.

Depletion of Ozone Layer

The depletion of the protective O3 layer is because of the presence of particular chemicals
in the stratosphere of earth’s atmosphere. The constant release of compounds like carbon
tetrachloride, carbon tetrafluoride, CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon) or freons and other chlorine or
bromine containing halogens in the atmosphere is the main reason for the depletion.
CFC compounds are non-inflammable, non-toxic, nonreactive organic molecules. Hence,
it is used in air conditioners, refrigerators, plastic foam production, cleaning computer parts, etc.
However, these chemicals mix with normal atmospheric gases and finally reach the
stratosphere. Thus, these compounds break down into free chlorine radicals in the presence of
powerful UV radiation in the stratosphere.
CF2Cl2 (g) → Cl(g) + CF2Cl(g) (in presence of powerful UV Radiation)

The chlorine radicals combine with the stratospheric O3 thereby forming molecular oxygen and
chlorine monoxide radicals.
Cl(g) + O3(g) → ClO(g) + O2(g)
Chlorine monoxide radicals will further react with atomic oxygen to form more chlorine radicals.
ClO(g) + O(g) → Cl(g) + O2(g)
This process will continue and constantly regenerate chlorine radicals. This, in turn, will lead to
the breakdown of ozone. Hence, CFCs are transporting agents that are responsible for damaging
the ozone layer.

Ozone Hole

The first report of depletion in O3 layer came out in the 1980s by an atmospheric scientist in
Antarctica. This was observed over the South Pole. Later it was found that certain specific set of
conditions were responsible for the formation of the hole. During summer season a reaction
between nitrogen dioxide and methane leads to the formation of chlorine monoxide.
ClO(g) + NO2(g) → ClONO2(g)
Moreover, methane will also react with chlorine atoms to form chlorine sinks.
Cl(g) + CH4(g) → CH3(g) + HCl(g)
This helps in prevention of excess ozone depletion. However, a special type of clouds “polar
stratospheric clouds” formation occurs over Antarctica during the time of winters. These clouds
provide a surface for the reaction of chlorine nitrate. Thus, the chlorine nitrate undergoes
hydrolysis to form hypochlorous acid.
ClONO2(g) + H2O(g) → HOCl(g) + HNO3(g)
Chlorine nitrate also undergoes reaction with hydrogen chloride to produce molecular chlorine.
ClONO2(g) + HCl(g) → Cl2(g) + HNO3(g)
However, during the springtime when the sun returns to Antarctica again, the warmth emits sun
and undergoes photolysis reaction with HOCl and Chlorine molecule.
HOCl(g) → OH(g) + Cl(g)
(In presence of light)
The above reaction leads to the formation of chlorine and begins a chain reaction thereby causing ozone
depletion.
Cl2(g) → 2Cl(g)
(In presence of light)

Q-6. Which gases are responsible for ozone layer depletion? What preventive measures
have been taken?
Answer: The main substances include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and
methyl bromide. The damage to the ozone layer caused by each of these substances is expressed
as their ozone depletion potential (ODP). Ozone layer helps in shielding the harmful ultraviolet
rays of the sun. Depletion of the ozone layer exposes humans to harmful ultraviolet rays, this
causes skin diseases, cataract, cancer, impaired immune system etc.
 Buy air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment that do not use HCFCs as refrigerant.
Buy aerosol products that do not use HCFCs or CFCs as propellants. Conduct regular
inspection and maintenance of air-conditioning and refrigeration appliances to prevent and
minimize refrigerant leakage.
Q-7. How does acid rain impact human communities and agriculture?
Answer: Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of
precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from
the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is
acidic.
It has been shown that acid rain has detrimental effects on trees, freshwaters and soils,
destroys insects and aquatic life-forms, causes paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such
as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and sculptures, as well as impacts on human
health (respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic bronchitis make it hard for people to
breathe).
Acid rain leaches aluminium from the soil. That aluminium may be harmful to plants
as well as animals. Acid rain also removes minerals and nutrients from the soil that trees need
to grow.
Q-8. Describe Nature Reserves and highlight its importance.
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve
or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of
importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved
and managed for purposes of conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or
research.
Nature reserves perform multiple roles, including conservation of particular species and
biodiversity and conservation of ecosystems. Establishing protected areas remains one of the
most effective efforts for conserving endangered species, and more than 200,000 such areas
established worldwide.
Importance: They are spaces where sustainable economic practices are developed.
They allow not only the protection of soil, but also of water and species of wild plants and
animals, among others. Environmental Education: They are sites that facilitate the way to know
and learn about the dynamics of natural ecosystems
➢ Nature Reserves in India
World Heritage Sites- 4 (Nanda Devi, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarban, Nilgiri)
 .
Q-9. Describe Nature Reserves and highlight its importance.

IUCN category Description

Ia Strict Nature Strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly
Reserve geological/geomorphologic features, where human visitation, use and
impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure protection of the
conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable
reference areas for scientific research and monitoring.

Ib Wilderness Area Usually, large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural
character and influence without permanent or significant human habitation,
which are protected and managed so as to preserve their natural condition.

II National Park Large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale
ecological processes, along with the complement of species and
ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation for
environmentally and culturally compatible, spiritual, scientific,
educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities.

III Natural Monument Protected areas set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can
or Feature be a landform, sea mount, submarine cavern, geological feature such as a
cave, or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally
quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value.

IV Habitat/Species Protected areas aiming to protect particular species or habitats, their

Management Area management reflects this priority. Many Category IV protected areas will
need regular, active interventions to address the requirements of particular
species or to maintain habitats, but this is not a requirement of the category.
 V Protected A protected area where the interaction of people and nature over time has
Landscape/Seascape produced an area of distinct character with significant, ecological,
biological, cultural and scenic value: and where safeguarding the integrity
of this interaction is vital to protecting and sustaining the area and its
associated nature conservation and other values.

VI Protected area with Protected areas that conserve ecosystems and habitats together with
sustainable use associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management
of natural resources systems. They are generally large, with most of the area in a natural
condition, where a proportion is under sustainable natural resource
management and where low-level non-industrial use of natural resources
compatible with nature conservation is seen as one of the main aims of the
area.

Q-10. What is sustainable development and its features?

Answer: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The main features of sustainable development are as follows:
It improves the quality of human life.
It minimises the depletion of natural resources.
It teaches us to respect and care for all the life forms.
Checking the pollution levels.
Q-11. Define the terms (i) Act, (ii) Law and (iii) Policy.
Answer: An Act is represented by the bill it is passed for and will not be enforced until
it becomes law. A law is defined to stop malpractices, maintain public order, and, most
importantly to protect Fundamental Rights. Acts are made to make people aware of certain
rules and regulations that are in place.
Example: Right to information act
A policy is a set of principles or a course of action adopted or proposed by an organization or
individual in order to achieve rational goals, whereas legislation is laws and rules made by the
government.
Q-12. Difference between Act and Law.
Answer: The difference between act and law can be better understood with the points
provided below:
1. The statutes created by the legislature, that concentrates on a particular subject, and
contains provisions relating to it, is known as Act. Law is described as the rules and
principles, set up by the stipulated authority and are meant to regulate the conduct of
the members of the society.
 2. Law is generic in nature, that covers all rules and regulations made by the government
at any point in time. On the other hand, the act is specific, as it is limited to a specific
situation, like all the provisions relating to the contract are covered under Contract Act,
or provisions relating to the partnership are included in partnership act and so forth.
3. A law is an established phenomenon, whereas an act is originally a bill, which is
proposed in the parliament first, and when it gets approval from both the houses, i.e.,
the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and the President as well, it becomes an Act.
4. An act is descriptive, which explains why and how laws are enforced. Conversely, law
explains what should be and should not be done in any context.
5. Law is enforced to protect people from unfair practices and to maintain public order.
As against this, the fundamental reason for the creation of act is to let people know the
rules and regulations about specific situations.
Q-13. Write down five important environmental laws and policies.
Answer:
1. Wildlife protection act, 1972
2. Forest conservation act, 1980
3. Water (prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974
4. The environment protection act,1986
5. Biodiversity act, 2002
6. The Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981
Q-14. List out any five principles of environmental Law.
• Nature knows best.
• All forms of life are equally important.
• Everything is connected to everything else.
• Everything changes.
• Everything must go somewhere.
• Ours is a finite Earth.
• Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's creation.
Q-15. Explain (i) The precautionary principle and (ii) The prevention principle.
The precautionary principle requires that, if there is a strong suspicion that a certain activity
may have environmentally harmful consequences, it is better to control that activity now rather
than to wait for incontrovertible scientific evidence.
For example:
 • As a precautionary measure, the Food and Drug Administration requires all new drugs
to be tested before they are put on the market.
• The Food Quality and Protection Act of 1996 requires pesticides to be proven safe for
children or removed.
This principle is valuable in managing risk where there is uncertainty about the environmental
impact of an issue. The prevention principle: This principle requires preventive measures be
taken to anticipate and avoid environmental damage before it happens.
The prevention principle is the fundamental notion behind laws regulating the generation,
transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste and laws regulating the use
of pesticides.
Q-16. What do you mean by public participation and perception? Explain briefly.
• Environmental policy depends for its success on public participation. However, the
scientific construction of environmental issues often means that such participation in
policy-making is difficult when the public is not considered scientifically `expert'. Even
if the notion of `expertise' is broadened to deal with this problem, this does not ensure
truly `public'—i.e., lay—involvement, because lay ideas are still not included but are
discounted as `non-scientific'. Further, emphasis on the scientific and environmental
education of the general public will not guarantee policy implementation by
individuals. Therefore, if we wish to design environmental policy that can be
successfully implemented, we must consider other ways in which people relate to their
environments as well as through scientific mediation—ways in which people
`understand' their environments through culture, morality and social interaction—and
build these into environmental policy.
• Public participation has three components: the right to participate in environmental
decision-making processes, the right to information concerning the environment and
activities affecting it, and the right of access to justice
Q-16. Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol? Explain briefly.

• Montreal Protocol: The Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer
(the Montreal protocol) is an international agreement signed on 16th September 1987.
It was designed to stop the production and import of ozone depleting substances and
reduce their concentration in the atmosphere to help to protect the earth’s ozone layer.
• Kyoto Protocol: The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that aimed to reduce
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the presence of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the
atmosphere. The essential tenet of the Kyoto Protocol was that industrialized nations
needed to lessen the amount of their CO2 emissions. The Protocol was adopted in
Kyoto, Japan in 1997, when greenhouse gases were rapidly threatening our climate, life
on the earth, and
• Vienna Convention: The Vienna Convention is the first international agreement
dedicated to the protection of the ozone layer. The Convention commits all countries to
take measures to protect human health and the environment resulting from
 modifications to the ozone layer. The Vienna Convention, adopted in 1985, and its
Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987.
• Convention on biological diversity (CBD): United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity; and the
Declaration on the principles of forest management. The Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) is an international legally binding treaty with three main goals:
conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; fair and equitable sharing
of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is to
encourage actions, which will lead to a sustainable future. It was adopted at the Earth
Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.