Geography [4 Mark Question Answer]

Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy. As a result of growing demand fossil fuels are being depleted at a rate of 100,000 times faster than they are being formed. At the present rate of usage, the coal reserves are likely to last for about 200 years. Similarly, at the present rate of usage, the world’s crude oil reserves would be exhausted in just 50 years. These resources are non-renewable and take millions of years to form. It is essential, therefore, to reduce dependence on such energy resources and explore and exploit the enormous potential of alternative sources of energy like solar energy, tidal energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and biomass-based energy. They are not only renewable sources of energy but are environmentally clean and safe to use.

Smoking does not just harm the smoker but also the people nearby, who breathe in the smoke exhaled by the smokers and are called ‘passive smokers’. Recent research has shown that concentration of second-hand tobacco smoke (the smoke exhaled by smokers) in many outdoor areas is often as high or higher than in some indoor areas and the risks posed by such outdoor exposure are well beyond generally accepted norms when large numbers of people are involuntarily exposed. Therefore, passive smokers or those who unavoidably breathe in second-hand tobacco at public places have such as lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome in children.
To save such passive smokers and discourage smokers from the ill effect of smoking in public places ‘No Smoking Zone’ has been created.

In primary treatment, the run-off should be drained through screens, grit chambers, and sedimentation tanks to remove toxic chemicals from the water.
In secondary treatment, the waste water the primary treatment is brought into contact with sludge heavily laden with micro-organisms. Afterward, the air is passed to give oxygen to the micro-organisms which convert the organic matter into low – energy compounds. The sludge material settles down in the tank and the clean water can be used after treating with chlorine gas.
After primary and secondary treatments, pollutants such as phosphorus and nitrogen are removed, so that the water may be harmless to human health. It is called ‘Advanced Waste Treatment’.

Change or modify the process of production in order to lower the atmospheric pollutants, for example :

1. The coal is washed before crushing it to reduce the fly ash emissions.
2. The process of absorption can be used to remove gaseous air pollutants. In this process, gaseous air pollutants are removed by dissolution into a liquid solvent like water or caustic or acid solution. Absorption is used to remove sulphur dioxide, chlorine, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons.
3. The process of absorption can be used to remove pollutants from wastewater. In this process, the target pollutants are made to attach to the surface of activated carbon. This is done by producing carbon through the combustion of coal, coconut shells, wood, and other organic materials. This carbon is then reacted with steam or carbon dioxide to produce activated carbon. Adsorption helps to remove pollutants as well as bad tastes and odours from drinking water.

The main characteristics of organic farming are the following :

1. Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels, and creating optimized conditions for biological activity within the soil.
2. Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil microorganisms.
3. Maintaining nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures.
4. Preventing weeds, disease, and pests by relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties, and limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological, and chemical intervention.
5. Providing attentive care and management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs, and animal welfare issues, with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding, and rearing.
6. Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.

The four Principles of Organic Farming are :

1. Organic should sustain and enhance the health of the soil, plants, animals, and humans as one and indivisible.
2. Organic farming should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them, and help sustain them.
3. Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.
4. Organic farming should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

Smoking does not just harm the smoker, but also the people nearby, who breathe in the smoke exhaled by the smokers and are called passive smokers. Recent research has shown that the concentration of second-hand tobacco smoke in many outdoor areas is often as high or higher than in some indoor areas, such as outdoor exposure are well beyond generally are involuntarily exposed. Therefore, passive smokers or those who unavoidably breathe in second-hand tobacco at public places have such as lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome in children.

Public Transportation :
(a) It reduces damage to the environment by reducing emissions. For example, one bus emits far fewer fumes than 20 cars.
(b) It requires 1/5 the energy per passenger per km compared to the road-based transport system. It, therefore, reduces fuel consumption and thus helps to save foreign exchange used in buying petrol and diesel.
(c) It causes less noise, no air pollution and is the eco-friendly transport system.
(d) It helps to save money spent on the maintenance of personal vehicles. It avoids the need to find parking space for private vehicles. Thus, it reduces congestion on roads.

Carpool :
(a) It reduces air pollution by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and thereby, cutting down vehicular emissions.
(b) It helps to save money in buying fuel and maintenance costs of cars.
(c) It helps to save petrol and diesel and thereby, save foreign exchange that goes into buying these fuels.
(d) It reduces traffic congestion on the roads and thereby prevents traffic jams, reduces fuel consumption and commuting time, and the cost of road repairs.
(e) It helps to use commuting time in useful pursuits.