FAQs Series (sustainability, climate change, environment): Part 3

  • Hotspot of biodiversity: A hotspot of biodiversity is a region with a high level of biodiversity that is under threat from human activities. These hotspots are typically areas of high species richness and endemism, meaning they have a high number of unique species found nowhere else in the world.
  • Define the term soil erosion: Soil erosion is the process by which soil is removed or displaced from one location to another. This can happen naturally, such as through wind or water erosion, or it can be caused by human activities like agriculture, deforestation, or construction.
  • Three pillars of sustainability: The three pillars of sustainability are social, environmental, and economic. This framework is often used to guide sustainable development, which seeks to balance the needs of people, the planet, and the economy.
  • Explain multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies: Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary field that draws on knowledge and techniques from a wide range of disciplines, including ecology, biology, geology, geography, anthropology, economics, and political science. This interdisciplinary approach is necessary because environmental problems are complex and often require a comprehensive understanding of the natural and social systems that underpin them.
  • What is meant by desertification: Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of human activities like overgrazing, deforestation, and intensive agriculture. This can lead to the loss of plant and animal species, as well as reduced soil fertility and productivity.
  • Rainwater harvesting: Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. This can be done using a variety of techniques, including the use of rain barrels, cisterns, or underground storage tanks.
  • What do you mean by sustainable management: Sustainable management refers to the management of natural resources in a way that ensures their long-term availability while minimizing negative environmental and social impacts. This can involve using renewable resources, reducing waste and pollution, and promoting conservation and restoration of ecosystems.
  • What are the causes and impacts of deforestation: Deforestation is caused by a variety of human activities, including agriculture, logging, and urbanization. The impacts of deforestation include loss of habitat for plants and animals, reduced biodiversity, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and changes in local and regional climate.
  • Ozone concentration is measured in ………………… units: Ozone concentration is typically measured in parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb).
  • It is any great bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy: An energy bottleneck is a situation in which the supply of energy resources to an economy is severely limited, causing a reduction in economic growth and development.
  • Which of the following activities contributes the most to carbon emissions globally? The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is the activity that contributes the most to carbon emissions globally.
  • Sustainable development will not aim at: Sustainable development will not aim at sacrificing economic growth for the sake of environmental protection or social equity. Rather, it seeks to balance these three pillars of sustainability in a way that ensures a high quality of life for current and future generations.
  • Why is quantum computing useful for optimization problems: Quantum computing is useful for optimization problems because it can quickly find the optimal solution to complex problems that would take classical computers a very long time to solve. This is due to the ability of quantum computers to perform many calculations simultaneously and to exploit quantum phenomena like entanglement and superposition.
  • Describes the shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun: The shape of the Earth’s orbit around the sun is elliptical, meaning it is not a perfect circle. The eccentricity of the orbit means that the distance between the Earth and the sun varies throughout the year.
  • Cloud seeding with silver iodide is based on the? Cloud seeding with silver iodide is a technique used to enhance rainfall in regions that experience water scarcity. The process involves releasing particles of silver iodide into the atmosphere to increase the amount of moisture in the air. Silver iodide is an effective catalyst for the formation of ice crystals, which can lead to the creation of rain or snow.
  • Define the term biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms found on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It also includes the genetic diversity within each species, the diversity of ecosystems, and the ecological processes that support life. Biodiversity is essential for maintaining the health of the planet and providing the resources necessary for human well-being.
  • What are the threats to biodiversity? There are many threats to biodiversity, including habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, and invasive species. These factors can cause a decline in the population of certain species and disrupt the balance of ecosystems, which can have far-reaching consequences for the planet’s health and the well-being of its inhabitants.
  • Define the term ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their interactions with the physical and chemical environment in which they live. It includes both the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of the environment. Examples of ecosystems include forests, oceans, grasslands, and wetlands.
  • Define the term food chain with an example. A food chain is a sequence of organisms that shows how energy and nutrients are transferred from one organism to another in an ecosystem. The chain typically starts with a primary producer, such as a plant, which is then eaten by a herbivore, which is then eaten by a carnivore. For example, in a grassland ecosystem, a food chain could consist of grass (producer) being eaten by a rabbit (herbivore), which is then eaten by a fox (carnivore).
  • Define environmental studies. Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of the natural and built environment, and the relationship between humans and the environment. It draws on knowledge from various fields such as ecology, geography, economics, sociology, and philosophy to address environmental issues, including pollution, resource depletion, and climate change.
  • What is a food web diagram? A food web diagram is a visual representation of the complex network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem. It shows how different species are interconnected through their feeding habits, with arrows indicating the flow of energy and nutrients between different levels of the food chain. Unlike a food chain, a food web takes into account the fact that most organisms have multiple food sources and are themselves eaten by more than one predator.
  • Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms found on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It is essential for maintaining the health of the planet and providing the resources necessary for human well-being. However, biodiversity is under threat due to various factors such as habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, and invasive species. Efforts are underway to protect biodiversity through conservation and sustainable development practices.

Leave a Comment