Introduction to Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change

Description

Environment includes air, water, land and the inter relationship between air water, land and human beings and other living creatures, plants micro-organisms and property. Environment effects the wellbeing of man, animal and plants world over. Man is more advanced in intellect and hence it is the duty of man to protect the environment from undesired pollutions. The book discusses various aspects of Global warming, climate change, health hazards, dwindling of forest, water resources and natural resources and stress on biological diversity. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations About the Author Chapter 1| Environment 1.1 Man and Environment 1.2 Environments in Nature 1.3 Racial Development Theories 1.4 World Environmental Day (WED) 1.4.1 Environmental Main Issues 1.5 Environmental Protection Act 1.6 Ecosystems 1.7 Autotrophs and Heterotrophs 1.8 Components of an Ecosystem 1.9 Ecology 1.9.1 Types of Ecosystems 1.10 Types of Climax 1.11 Food Chain 1.12 Trophic Levels 1.13 Food Webs 1.14 Ecological Pyramids Chapter 2| Biological Environment of Sea 2.1 Marine Environment 2.2 Marine Biosphere 2.3 Marine Environment Classifications 2.4 Sea Life 2.5 Populations of the Sea 2.6 Animal Populations of the Sea 2.7 B – Vertebrates 2.8 Phytoplankton in Relation to Marine Environment 2.9 Factors of Phytoplankton Reproduction 2.10 Marine Organisms 2.11 The Nitrogen Cycle 2.12 Ecological Groups of Marine Animals 2.13 Organic Production in the Sea 2.14 Plant Nutrient Consumption as an Index of Organic Production 2.15 Oxygen Production and Consumption as an Index of Organic Production 2.16 Zooplankton Production 2.17 Marine Biosphere Atmosphere Interaction Chapter 3| Natural Resources 3.1 Natural Resources-(A) Land Resources 3.1.1 Soil 3.2 Minerals 3.3 Soil Survey and Mapping 3.4 Soil Testing (Practical) 3.5 Land Utilization 3.6 Agriculture 3.7 Definition of Terms used in Land Utilization Statistics 3.8 Soil Erosion 3.9 Soil Fertility 3.10 Natural Resources – (B) Water Resources 3.10.1 Hydrology 3.11 World’s Water 3.12 Surface Water Resources Estimates for India 3.13 Groundwater Resources 3.14 Utilization of Water Resources 3.15 Cryosphere or Ice Sphere 3.16 Water Uses Chapter 4| Environmental Degradation and Protection 4.1 Disaster Management 4.1.1 Mitigation 4.1.2 Climate Disasters 4.2 The National Environment Appellate Authority Act 1997 4.3 World Environmental Day 5th June 4.4 Environmental Issues 4.5 Environmental Degradation 4.5.1 Air Pollution Control Boards 4.6 Environmental Hazards 4.6.1 Types of Hazards/Disasters Natural or Man-made 4.6.2 The Chemical Weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction 4.6.3 Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 4.6.4 Prohibition Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction 4.6.5 IPCC (Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change) 4.7 Industrial Chemical Wastes and Toxic Chemicals 4.7.1 Some Toxic Chemicals 4.7.2 National Authority Chapter 5| The Atmosphere 5.1 Composition of the Atmosphere 5.2 Atmospheric Heat Process 5.3 The Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere based on Temperature 5.4 The Sun Chapter 6| The Oceans 6.1 Composition of Sea Water 6.2 The Exchange of Earth Materials between Sea and Atmosphere 6.3 The Cryosphere 6.3.1 Sea Icing 6.4 Some Physical Properties of Sea Water 6.5 Energy Exchange Processes between Sea and Atmosphere Interface 6.6 Ocean Currents 6.7 Motion of the Sea and the Effect of Wind on Ocean Currents 6.8 Ocean Currents caused by Density Differences 6.9 Some Ocean Currents 6.10 Indian Ocean Currents 6.11 Some Definitions and Explanation of Terms 6.12 Geophysical Properties of Oceans and Earth 6.13 Major Oceans 6.14 Sea Floor Features 6.14.1 Basin Chapter 7| Soils 7.1 Soil Erosion Types 7.1.1 Mechanism of Erosion 7.1.2 Factors Influencing Erosion 7.2 Soil and Water Conservation Measures 7.2.1 Soil and Water Conservation on Agricultural Land 7.3 Erosion Control-Mechanical Measures 7.3.1 Soil Types 7.3.2 Desert and Desertification 7.4 Interior Structure of the Earth 7.5 Plate Tectonics 7.6 Seismicity of India Chapter 8| Environmental Pollution 8.1 Air Pollution 8.2 pH Value 8.3 Pollutions Standard Index 8.3.1 Hazards of Nuclear Fall-out 8.3.2 Nuclear Energy and Radiation Hazards 8.4 Carbon and its Compounds 8.5 Sulphur (S) 8.6 Atmospheric Nitrogen and its Compounds 8.7 Ozone (O3) 8.8 Elementary Ways of Pollution Control 8.9 Acid Rain 8.10 BAPMoN 8.11 SMOG 8.12 Toxic Air Pollutants 8.13 Dispersal of Air Pollutants 8.14 Methods of Estimation of Particulate Matter in Air 8.15 Global Warming Effects 8.16 Solid Wastes 8.17 Fire Services (Prevention, Control and Forecasting) Chapter 9| Water and its Pollutions 9.1 The Water Pollution Act 1974 9.2 Global and India Water uses 9.3 Functions of Central/State Water Pollution Control Boards 9.4 Prohibition on use of Stream or Well for Disposal of Polluting Substances/Matter 9.5 Emergency Measures in Case of Pollutions of Stream or Well 9.6 Rivers in India 9.7 Hydrological Cycle 9.8 Water Resources 9.9 Hardness of Water 9.10 Drinking Water Chapter 10| Forests 10.1 Definition 10.2 Forests in India 10.3 Forest Policy 10.4 Forests and Man 10.5 Indian Forest Organization 10.5.1 Main Forest Products 10.6 ICFRE (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education) HQ Dehradun 10.7 Forest Fires 10.8 Forest 10.9 Coral Reefs 10.10 The Indian Forest Act 1927 10.11 Reserved Forest 10.11.1 Acts Prohibited in Reserve Forest Area 10.11.2 Forest Conservation Act 1980 10.12 Forest Products 10.13 Danger due to Deforestation Chapter 11| The Biodiversity 11.1 The Bio-Diversity Act 2002 11.2 The National Green Tribunal Act 2010 11.3 Biodiversity 11.4 Coastal and Marine Biodiversity 11.5 Wild Life 11.5.1 The Variety of Fauna in India 11.5.2 Human Population Growth 11.5.3 The Present Environmental Issues 11.5.4 Biological Diversity Under Stress 11.5.5 Variety of Fauna in India 11.5.6 Coastal and Marine Bio-diversity 11.5.7 The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 11.5.8 The National Board for Wild Life 11.5.9 State Boards for Wild Life 11.6 Biogeographic Zones in India 11.7 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 11.8 Sustainable Development Chapter 12| The Climate-Role of Ocean in Climate Fluctuations 12.1 Worlds Land Utilization (1990) 12.1.1 Climate 12.2 Climatology 12.3 Climate of India 12.4 The Role of Ocean in Climate Fluctuation 12.4.1 Role Factors (Importance) of Ocean in Climate Variability 12.5 Present and Past Radioactivity of the Earth 12.6 Climatic Controls 12.7 Components of Climate System 12.8 Climate System or Earth System 12.8.1 Extinction of Dinosaurs on the Earth 12.8.2 Climate Change 12.8.3 Disaster (Measurement) Management System-Instruments 12.8.4 Environ Automatic Weather Station 12.9 Role Factors (Importance) of Ocean in Climate Variability 12.10 The Earth-Atmospheric System 12.11 Climate over Earth History 12.11.1 Annual Carbon Fluxes in the Earth Atmosphere System 12.12 The Evolution of the Earth’s Atmosphere 12.13 Climate during Geological Cretaceous Period of Earthwarm Epoch 135-180 MY Ago 12.14 Geological Time Scale 12.15 Milankovitch Cycles 12.16 Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture 12.16.1 Agroclimatology 12.16.2 Topoclimatology Chapter 13| International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme IGBP-1989 13.1 The Linkages of General Circulation Models (GCM) with Ecosystem Models 13.2 Global Changes of the Past 13.3 Law of the Sea 13.3.1 The Role of Ocean in Climate Variability Chapter 14| Modern Aids of Communication and Detection 14.1 Radio Spectrum 14.2 Satellite Communication 14.2.1 Radar 14.3 Satellite Meteorology 14.3.1 Satellite Pay Loads, TV Camera 14.3.2 Remote Sensing 14.3.3 Geostationary Satellites 14.3.4 IMDPS (INSAT Meteorological Data Processing System) 14.4 Global Positioning System 14.4.1 Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 14.4.2 GAGAN (GPS Aided geo Augmented Navigation) 14.4.3 IRS Applications 14.4.4 Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 14.4.5 Satellite Measurements of Ocean Parameters Routinely 14.4.6 GSAT-17 Communication Satellite 14.4.7 Cartostat-series 14.4.8 Satellite Navigation (Sat Nav) 14.4.9 UN Indirect Satellite Imagery for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Model 14.5 Geophysical Information System (GIS) 14.5.1 Some Applications of GIS Chapter 15| Energy 15.1 Different Forms of Energy 15.2 Energy Resources 15.3 Fossil Fuels 15.4 Petroleum Refining 15.4.1 Petroleum Refining Products 15.4.2 Petroleum Resources 15.5 Mineral Wealth of India 15.6 Metallurgy 15.7 Metal Extraction Furnaces Index