Environmental Problems || Soil, Water and Air Pollution || Global Warming || Climate Change || Ozone Depletion || Acid Rain || Resource Depletion || Land Degradation

Environmental science

In this article at "Home Learning Hub-Great Home Learning For All" we are going to study water pollution, soil pollution, air pollution, global warming, climate change, ozone depletion, acid rain, resource depletion and land degradation so let's gets started.

Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Air Pollution
Global Warming
Climate Change
Ozone Depletion
Acid Rain
Resource Depletion
Land Degradation

Environmental Science

Water Pollution:

Water pollution can be defined as the contamination the water bodies(rivers, lakes, oceans and ground water) because of the direct or indirect discharge of pollutants in them.

However, a pollutant can be defined as as a substance that has undesired effects on the environment or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource.

Point source pollution is a type of contamination in which the source of pollution is specific or clear and identifiable such as a a pipe or a drain and major point sources include untreated industrial effluent, sewage plants, effluent treatment plants, effluent from agricultural farm buildings and solid waste disposal sites.

On the other hand, non-point source pollution is type of contamination in which the source of pollution is not specific and un-identifiable such as pollution of rivers and streams and major non-point sources are related to erosion of virgin lands, forests and other natural vegetation, in-situ weathering of rocks or soils and minerals.

Sources of water pollution:

• Discharge of untreated industrial effluent
• Discharge of untreated sewage water
• Chemical released by smokestacks(chimneys)
• Run-off from agriculture
• Highway runoff
• Spills from oil tankers
• Farms and grassy areas
• Landfills(improperly built and maintained)
• Animal farms 
• Surface spills

Soil Pollution:

The term soil pollution can be defined as any chemical or physical change in environment that adversely affects the health of plants and other living organisms living on and in it.

Sources of Soil Pollution:

• Industrial and urban wastes
• Agricultural activities
• Industrial wastes
• Hospital wastes
• Plastic bags
• Irrigation with sewage water or industrial effluent
• Dumping of municipal solid wastes
• Use of pesticides
• Chemicals released by smokestacks(chimneys)

Air pollution:

The term air pollution can be defined as the contamination of atmosphere which disturbs the natural composition and chemistry/quality of air and inhaling of such polluted air becomes very dangerous for different living organisms and human health.

Causes of Air Pollution:

Natural causes of air pollution include forest fires and volcano eruptions while anthropogenic causes include fossil fuels(oil, gas and coal), industries and agricultural activities.

Sources of Air Pollution:

• Burning of fossil fuels
• Exhaust from factories and industries
• Agricultural activities
• Mining operations
• Indoor air pollutions

Global Warming:

The term global warming can be defined as the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect caused by the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons etc.

Sources of Global Warming:

• Burning of fossil fuels
• Deforestation
• Release of methane
• Use of chlorofluorocarbons
• Agricultural activities

Climate Change:

The term climate change is a broader term which can be defined as a long term changes in the climate of the specific region including average temperature and precipitation.

Effects of Climate Change:

• Melting of polar regions
• Occurrence of new diseases
• Permanent inhibition in growth of some plants.

Ozone Depletion:

The term ozone depletion can be defined as the thinning, reduction or wearing out of ozone layer because of the ozone depleting substances and function of this layer is that it absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun disallowing them to reach earth's surface. Thinning of stratospheric ozone is observed by the measurements taken on balloons, air crafts and satellites.

Sources of Ozone Depletion: 

• Release of chlorofluorocarbons
• Jet travel in the stratosphere

Acid Rain:

The term acid rain can be defined as "acid rain is formed when rain water combines with atmospheric carbon dioxide and nitric acid and is converted into a mild acid(carbonic acid). Rain water is slightly acidic having a pH of about five point seven in an unpolluted environment.

Resource Depletion:

Resource is considered deleted when a large portion of resource has been used up and a natural resource is any natural material that is used by humans such as water, petroleum, minerals, forests and animals.

Renewable resource can be defined as the resource which can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes such as energy from sun, water, wood, soil and air while non-renewable resource is a resource which cannot be replaced quickly by natural processes such as fossil fuels, metals and non-metallic minerals.

Renewable resources can also become depleted if they are used up faster than they are being replaced such as if we cut down trees faster than we replace them.

Causes of Resource Depletion:

• Overconsumption/excessive/unnecessary use of resources.
• Pollution or contamination of resources.
• Slash-and-burn agricultural countries.
• Technological and industrial development.
• Mining for fossil fuels and minerals.
• Deforestation
• Soil erosion
• Overpopulation

Land Degradation:

The term land degradation can be defined as a process in which the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land and land degradation leads to a significant reduction of productive capacity of land.

"Home Learning Hub-Great Home Learning For All"

Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Air Pollution
Global Warming
Climate Change
Ozone Depletion
Acid Rain
Resource Depletion
Land Degradation

Environmental Science