Global Environmental Problems

Prof. Rutool Sharma

Faculty of Planning & Public Policy

Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad
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 Presentation Structure
SECTIONS
1. Discussion - Global Environmental Problems

2. Environmental Problem
• Phenomenon
• Responsible agents, causes and its characteristics
• Consequences / Case studies
• Preventive or Mitigative Initiatives

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 Global Environmental Problems

 Occurrence of these problems may be local in nature, but its effects /

impacts / damages may not be limited to local or regional level; but these
are recorded across the globe.

e.g. global warming, acid rain, marine pollution, trans-boundary movement

of hazardous waste, etc.

 The occurrence of these problems is not local in nature. These problems

may occur throughout the globe in various countries.

e.g. deforestation, desertification, etc.

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 Types of Global Environmental Problems

• Global Warming

• Ozone layer depletion

• Acid Rains or Acid Deposition

• Loss of bio-diversity

• Trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and chemicals

• Deforestation

• Desertification

• Marine pollution

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 Global Environmental Problems - issues

 Have long-term effects on people or societies

 Are either impossible or difficult to remove / reverse in short time duration

 May require international efforts for solution

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 Global Warming
Global Warming

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 Global Environmental Problems - issues

Green House Gases

responsible for

Green House Effect

Source: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/education/factsheets/what.html
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 Phenomenon
Atmosphere – contains various Green House Gases

Human activities – release CO2 & other air pollution

collected in the atmosphere

acts like a thick blanket

traps the sun's heat

Source:
ultimately, the planet to warms up http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/education/factsheets/what.htm
l
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 Phenomenon

Global Warming - Increase in Earth’s average temperature (Atmosphere &

Oceans)

According to certain observations in the last century, Global surface

temperature has risen by
• 0.6°C (plus or minus 0.2°C) since the late-19th century, and
• about 0.4°F (0.2 to 0.3°C) over the past 25 years*

It is not a uniform phenomenon and has considerable uncertainty regarding

• Extent of temperature rise,
• Scale,
• Timing,
• Regional distribution, etc.

Note: * - Source: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

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 Phenomenon

Note: * - Source: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

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 Gases responsible for Global warming
Green House Gases:

• Carbon Dioxide

• Methane

• Nitrous Oxide

• Choro-fluoro-carbons Contribution of GHG in Global Warming

Other Nitrous
CFCs oxide
7% 6%
Methane
15%
Carbon
dioxide
CFCs 11 & 55%
12
17%

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 Characteristics of GHGs
GHGs Sources Sinks Importance for climate
Carbon Dioxide 1. Burning of fossil fuel a. Ocean Uptake Absorbs infrared radiation; affects
(CO2) 2. Land-use change b. Plants & photosynthesis stratospheric O3
(deforestation)

Methane 1. Biomass burning a. Reactions with OH Absorbs infrared radiation; affects

(CH4) 2. Enteric fermentation b. Microorganisms uptake by soils tropospheric O3 and OH; affects
3. Rice paddies stratospheric O3 and H2O;
produces CO2

Nitrous Oxide 1. Biomass burning a. Removal by soils Absorbs infrared radiation; affects
(N2O) 2. Fossil-fuel combustion b. Stratospheric photolysis and reaction stratospheric O3
3. Fertilizers with O
Ozone 1. Photochemical reactions a. Catalytic chemical reactions Absorbs ultraviolet and infrared
(O3) involving O2 involving NOx, ClOx & HOx species. radiation

Carbon Monoxide 1. Plant emissions a. Soil uptake Affects stratospheric O3 and OH

(CO) 2. Man-made release b. Reactions with OH cycles; produces CO2
(transport, industrial)
Chloro-fluoro 1. Industrial production a. Insignificant in troposphere, Absorbs infrared radiation; affects
Carbons dissociated in stratosphere stratospheric O3
(CFCs) (photolysis and reaction with O)
Sulphur Dioxide 1. Volcanoes a. Dry and wet deposition Forms aerosols, which scatter
(SO2) 2. Coal & Biomass burning b. Reactions with OH solar radiation
Source: http://zebu.uoregon.edu/2003/es202/lec03.html
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 Global warming - consequences
Rising temperature of atmosphere and earth’s surface

• Melting of ice in the polar regions

• Rise in sea levels causing coastal flooding

Change in regional climate

• Alter forests, crop yields and water supplies

• Ecosystem

• Human health

• Expansion of deserts into rangelands, forest areas, agricultural areas

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 Global warming – consequences of pollution
Impact of Global Warming in Asia
Taiwan
Average temperature increase. The
average temperature for the island
has risen 1.8-2.50F (1-1.40C) in the
last 100 years. The average
temperature for 2000 was the
warmest on record.

Chokoria Sundarbans,Bangladesh
Flooded mangroves. Rising ocean
levels have flooded about 18,500
acres of mangrove forest during the
past three decades. Global sea-level
rise is aggravated by substantial
deltaic subsidence in the area with
rates as high as 5.5 mm/year.

Source: http://www.climatehotmap.org/asia.html

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 Illustrations showing signs of global warming
Garhwal Himalayas, India
Glacial retreat at record pace. The Dokriani Barnak Glacier
retreated 66 ft (20.1 m) in 1998 despite a severe winter.
The Gangorti Glacier is retreating 98 ft (29.9 m) per year.
At this rate scientists predict the loss of all central and
eastern Himalayan glaciers by 2035. (Reference: 1998.
Himalayan glacier backing off. Science 281:1277).

Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2002/200205299370.html

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 Ozone Layer
Ozone Depletion
layer depletion

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 Phenomenon

Ozone – one of the most important

constituents of the atmosphere

Form of Oxygen

Ozone shield:

• Stratosphere

• It absorbs the harmful ultra

violet (UV) radiation from the
sun

• Ozone layer is critical for the

survival of most life present on
the Earth
Source: www.ns.ec.gc.ca/udo/ozone.html

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 Phenomenon

Destruction of Catalytic Ozone:

O3 + X  XO + O2

XO + O3 X + 2O2

2O3  2O2

‘X’ chemical triggers ‘Chain Reaction’

Estimated says that single chlorine atom can destroy, more than 100,000 Ozone
molecules before it is eliminated by other reactions.

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 Phenomenon
Ozone Hole:

Because of this reactions, the stratospheric ozone gets depleted creating a

hole in the ozone layer.

This is known as “Ozone Hole”.

Allows Ultraviolet (UV) rays to penetrate inside Earth’s atmosphere

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 Catalyst responsible for ozone layer depletion

Important catalysts in Stratosphere:

Nitric Oxide (NO), hydroxyl (OH), Chlorine (Cl2), Bromine (Br)

• XO – NO2, H2O, ClO and BrO

Sources of catalytic agents:

• Natural phenomenon & Human activities

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 Ozone layer depletion - causes

Due to human activities:

• 1960s: Supersonic transport airplane (nitrogen oxides –
Harold Johnston)
• 1970s: Space shuttles (chlorine)
• 1974: Aerosol spray cans (CFCs – Molina and Rowland)
• Nuclear test explosions & Bromine bombs
• Currently: Supersonic aircraft ‘High Speed Civil Transport’

Natural factors:
• Supernova (stellar explosion) Its impact is very
• Meteors and asteroids small and hence
• Solar flares emit energetic particles that peirce the upper threat to life is
layers of the ozonosphere also less.

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 Characteristics of catalytic agents
Catalytic Sources Natural Human or Anthropogenic
agents
Chlorine • Most important catalysts i. Volcano eruption i. industrially produced chloro-
& originates in variety of ii. Biological processes carbons used in refrigerants,
chemical forms on land and oceans foam - blowing agents,
solvents, aerosol spray
propellants

Nitrogen • Nitric oxide and nitrogen i. Emitted from High-Speed

Oxides dioxide Civil Transport
Bromine • Less common halogen i. Biological activity in i. Burning of biomass
than chlorine. However the oceans ii. Using leaded gasoline
bromine surpasses iii. Fumigating agent for soil
chlorine in its ability to pests, including termites
destroy ozone through
catalytic reactions,
because a large fraction of
bromine than chlorine in
the stratosphere remains
in chemically active form

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 Consequences or effects
• Affects heat balance on the earth, which may lead to modification of climate.

• Increases the UV radiation on the surface of the earth affecting the

organisms adversely: sunburns, snow-blindness, eye damage, cataracts,
ageing, wrinkling of skin, damage to immune system and skin cancer.

• Affects several plants species – slow down of photosynthesis, delaying

germination, reduction in leaf size, stunted growth, poor seed quality,
increased susceptibility to weeds, pests etc.

• Can depress photosynthesis in marine algae and can kill several species.
As it can penetrate 10 to 20m deep in water, can upset marine ecology and
lower fish yield.

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 Illustrations showing signs of ozone layer
depletion
Ozone Hole over Antarctica:
These images from the Total
Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
(TOMS) show the progressive
depletion of ozone over
Antarctica from 1979 to 1999.

This "ozone hole" area:

September 1996 - 10.0 million
square miles
September 1998 - 10.5 million
square miles

It develops each year between

late August and early October.

Regions with higher levels of

ozone are shown in red.
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 Acid
Acid Rain
rain

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 Phenomenon
• Acid rain is relatively recent environmental problem.

• Acid rain affects the chemistry of soils, forests and certain types of buildings

• The basic cause of Acid rain is air pollution.

• Raised from air pollution, acid is also present in the environment in the form
of snow and vapours

• The subsequent harmful phenomenon of acid rain is ‘Acid accumulation’

and ‘Acid precipitation’

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 Phenomenon

Polluted air (acidic in nature)

Gets mixed with rain

Falls down on the earth surface

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 Phenomenon
Measurement of Acid rain pH value

13
12
11
10
9
enil akl A

8
7
6 Natural Rains
5 Acid Rain
4 Acid Fog
ci di c A

3
2
1
0
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 Sources and types of environmental acids
Sources:

• Natural

• Anthropogenic

Types of Environmental acids:

• • Inorganic
Organic
1. HCCOH
1. H2SO4:
2. CH3COOH
2. HNO3
3. C3H7COOH
3. HCl
4. H2CO3 4. C5H11 COOH

5. H2SO3

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 Consequences
Acid rains result in excess acidity,

• Environmental costs

• Health costs

• Economic losses

• Aesthetic losses

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 Consequences
Dying forests and lakes

• In forests the ecosystem is delicately balanced

• Acids deposited on the soils, acidity can leach metals from minerals in ground (Aluminum)

• Contact of acidic clouds and fog droplets with leaves may also cause direct damage to the
leaf surfaces or may inhibit transpiration

Other destructive impacts

• Devastate local environments e.g. moonscapes

• Attack agricultural crops (reduction in yield, loss of quality and surface damage)

• Corrode works of art and may dissolve structure

• Reduce visibility

• Create human health hazards

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 Consequences
Corrode work of art
• In Italy, due to largely uncontrolled emissions from automobiles and industrial pollution,
memorable statues and monuments are getting affected.

• Taj Mahal in India

• Marble & limestone erosion:

CaCO3 (solid) + H2SO4 (aqueous) ---- CaSO4 (solid) + CO2 (gas) + H2O

• This dissolves, erodes and disfigures the artifacts

Health Impacts
• Ukrainian town, Chernovtsy – many children were going bald

• City has serious air pollution and acid rain problems

• Thallium (by-product of ore-smelting) concentrations were usually high

• Acid rain was carrying a poisonous dose of thallium to towns people

• Thallium poisioning – nervous disorders and loss of hair

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 Consequences
Moonscapes

• Sudbury (Ontario), Canada – largest mining towns in the world.

• Largest smelter, constructed 380m high smokestack in order to reduce local impacts of
dense air pollution.

• Stack carried sulphur dioxide to drift some distance.

• Several hundred square miles of habitat just downwind the smelter has been destroyed
due to this.

• The area is barren ground, without any life on it.

• The lakes in this region are acidic and totally dead.

• This shows us a glimpse of excessive acidic pollution.

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 Loss of
Loss of Bio-diversity
biodiversity

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 Threats to bio-diversity
Threatened by sum of human activities:

• Overuse (hunting of animals and cutting of trees / products)

• Loss of habitat, degradation and fragmentation – mass extinction

• Invasion of non-native species – overlooked reason for extinction of certain

species

• Domino effect – introduction or removal of one species

• Pollution

• Climate change

• Satisfies our daily needs in terms of food and beverages

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 Types of bio-diversity
• Agricultural Biodiversity

• Dry and Sub-humid Lands Biodiversity

• Forest Biodiversity

• Inland Waters Biodiversity

• Island Biodiversity

• Marine and Coastal Biodiversity

• Mountain Biodiversity

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 Bio-technology, LMOs & Bio-safety

• Technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or

derivates, to make or modify products or processes for a specific use.

• Gene from a plant or animal cell is inserted in another plant or animal cell to
give it a desired characteristic (e.g. pest or disease resistant plants)

• Genetic manipulation

• Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) or Genetically Modified Organisms

(GMOs) – Benefits as well as Risks

• Minimize potential risk to human health and environment – policies and

procedure

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 Thank
Thank You
you ! !!

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