SUS Class 9 Seminar

Class 9 (Seminar Topics)
Sustainable Engineering
Dr. Aswathy G P
Assistant Professor
Department of ECE
TKM College of Engineering
18 December 2021
ASWATHY G P Class Presentations 1 / 99

Contents
1 Pollution
2 Air Pollution
3 Water Pollution
4 Green House Effect
5 Global Warming
6 Climate Change
7 Ozone Layer Depletion
8 Review Questions
9 Subject Coverage

Pollution
Defined as the undesirable changes in the environment/surroundings

which not only adversely affects humans and other living things, but
also our developmental activities and socio-cultural life
Pollutants - materials in any form that causes pollution
It became a real problem after industrial revolution
Environmental pollution is classified into:
1 Air pollution
2 Water pollution
3 Land pollution

Air Pollution
Air (common name to atmospheric gases) is the elementary source

of life
Indian Standards (IS) defines air pollution as :
“Air pollution is the presence of foreign matter in the ambi-
ent atmosphere, generally resulting from the activity of man,
in sufficient concentration, present for a sufficient time and un-
der circumstances which interfere significantly with the comfort,
health or welfare of person or with the full use or enjoyment of
property”
Earth’s atmosphere is a thin gaseous envelope encircling our planet
and is retained by earth’s gravity
The concentration of various constituents (naturally present) in clean
air is known as its background concentration which is considered
harmless
Air is considered as polluted when concentration of any constituents
exceeds its corresponding background concentration

Air Pollution
Earth’s atmosphere consists of 5 layers - troposphere, stratosphere,

mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere
Atmosphere is thickest near the ground surface and then thins out
Rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and vehicles caused an increase
in air pollution
Around 2.4 million people die annually from causes directly attributed
to air pollution (6.2 lakh Indians) [as per WHO]
Air pollution gets aggravated during the winter season (reason - ad-
verse conditions during winter helps trapping air pollutants leading
to an elevated level of pollutants)
In summer season, due to increased buoyancy and efficient ventilation,
pollution plume rises effortlessly to the free atmosphere which leads
to a reduced air pollutant level in the lower atmosphere
Vehicular emissions are near ground level from where we breathe -
thus it is a main contributor to air pollution

Sources of Air Pollution
Sources are broadly classified as:

1 Natural
2 Anthropogenic

Types of Air Pollution
1. Natural Air Pollution

Sources are:
1 Volcanoes
Volcanic activity produces smoke, ash, CO2 , SO2
2 Dust
Wind blown dust. Eg:- desert areas
3 Forest fires
Forest fires created by natural causes
Releases smoke, ash, dust, CO2 , nitrogen oxides
4 Wetlands
Microbial action in wetlands result in significant amounts of
methane being formed and released to the atmosphere

2. Anthropogenic Air Pollution

Sources are:
1 Stationary point sources
It is a single identifiable source of air pollutant emissions
Eg:- Emission from an industrial flue gas chimney/stack
2 Mobile sources
Exhaust emissions from vehicles
Volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides are emitted
3 Evaporative sources
Volatile liquids evaporate and release vapours over time
Paints, solvents, pesticides, perfumes, hair sprays

3. Outdoor Air Pollution

It is primarily due to automobile exhaust and industrial emissions
As per United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA),
the major outdoor air pollutants are known as Big Six Criteria air
pollutants
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is also tracking these six
principal air pollutants nationwide

Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

1. NOx - Oxides of Nitrogen
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) is the most common air pollutant
Major sources - automobile exhaust and nitric acid (HNO3 ) manu-
facturing industries
NO2 along with other impurities in the air can often be seen as a
reddish-brown layer called brown photo chemical smog
When water combines with NO2 , acid rain is formed
Corrodes metals, damages buildings and monuments
Health issues - irritate respiratory system leading to cough and nasal
congestions


2. SOx - Oxides of Sulphur
Sulphur dioxide (NO2 ) is the most common air pollutant
Major sources - combustion of coal and other fossil fuels, automobile
exhaust and sulphuric acid (H2 SO4 ) manufacturing industries
SO2 along with other impurities in the air can often be seen as a gray
industrial smog
When water combines with SO2 and SO3 , acid rain is formed
Corrodes metals, damages buildings and monuments
Health issues - sulphate particles are capable of penetrating deep into
the lungs


3. Groundlevel Ozone (GL O3 )
Groundlevel Ozone is emitted at the ground level
Created by a chemical reaction between NOx and Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight
VOCs + NOx + heat + sunlight → GL O3 + other pollutants
Health issues - Irritate respiratory system leading to nose and throat

infections and penetrate deep into lungs
In plants, it causes premature ageing and suppressed growth


4. Particulate Matter (PM)
Mixture of solid and liquid droplets found suspended in air
Include dust, smoke, flyash, fumes, mist, fog, aerosol etc.
Particles which are less than 10µm in size remain suspended in at-
mosphere for a long period of time
Most harmful ones are PM10 (coarser particles) and PM2.5 (finer
particles)
PM10 - deposit in upper respiratory tract
PM2.5 - penetrate deep into lungs
Health issues - Reduces the visibility, causes lung irritations
Other effects - Reduces photosynthesis in plants, soils the building
surfaces


5. Carbon monoxide (CO)
CO is a colourless, odourless and highly gas produced by incomplete
combustion of fuel
2C + O2 → 2CO
Sources - Motor vehicle exhaust and cigarette smoking

Health issues - Reduces the ability of blood to carry O2 to body cells
and tissues, causes headaches, drowsiness and at high levels even
coma or death


6. Lead Vapour (Pb)
Toxic material emitted into the atmosphere from leaded gasoline,
leaded paint, lead smelters
Lead is a cumulative poison
More dangerous to children under the age of six
Health issues - Affects the brain, causes mental retardation, liver and
kidney damage

4. Indoor Air Pollution

Pollution caused by indoor activities such as smoking, cooking, paint-
ing etc.

5. Primary Air Pollution

Pollution caused by primary air pollutants
Primary air pollutants - substances that are emitted directly into the
atmosphere
They exist in the same form in which they are emitted
CO, CO2 , SO2 , H2 S

5. Secondary Air Pollution

Pollution caused by secondary air pollutants
Secondary air pollutants - substances formed in the atmosphere by
the interaction of two or more primary air pollutants or by the reaction
of primary air pollutant with other elements in the atmosphere with
or without photo activation
Groundlevel ozone, formaldehyde, PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate, pho-
tochemical smog etc.)

6. Air Pollution caused by Hazardous air pollutants

Hazardous air pollutants - toxic air pollutants
Heavy metals, asbestos, formaldehyde (in paints and solvents), vinyl
chloride (in plastics) etc.
Health issues - Cancer, birth defects, neurological health issues and
reproductive problems

7. Particulate Matter Pollution

Pollution caused by particulate matters in the atmosphere
Particles which are less than 10µm in size remain suspended in at-
mosphere for a long period of time
Most harmful ones are PM10 (coarser particles) and PM2.5 (finer
particles)
PM10 - deposit in upper respiratory tract
PM2.5 - penetrate deep into lungs
Liquid particulate pollutants - mist, spray, fog
PM has been declared as class-1 cancer causing agent (carcinogen)
in 2013 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

7. Gaseous Air Pollution

Pollution caused by gaseous pollutants
Sulphur dioxide (SO2 ), Carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx ),
ground level ozone (GL O3 )

8. Air Pollution caused by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - organic compounds which eas-
ily evaporate (at room temperature) and enter the atmosphere
Examples - Acetone, benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, toluene,
xylene etc.

Effects of Air Pollution
1 Effects on human health

2 Effects on plants
3 Effects on animals and birds
4 Effects on materials and property
5 Effects on environment

Effects on Human Health
Health depends on the concentration of contaminant present, time

of exposure to the contaminant and the vulnerability of the person
Common health effects are:
Eye irritation
Increase in mortality rate
Nose and throat irritation
Chronic pulmonary diseases like bronchitis and asthma (gener-
ally known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD))
CO readily combines with haemoglobin in blood thus replacing
O2 from blood
Carcinogenic agents cause cancer

Effects on Plants
Suppressed growth and premature ageing in plants

Causes leaf bleaching which results in Chlorosis (Photosynthesis is
effected due to loss of Chlorophyll)
Premature falling of leaves (known as abscission)
Causes necrosis (dead spots on the leaf structure)

Effects on Animals and Birds
Affects the mucous lining of the respiratory tract

Causes bronchitis and asthma
Lack of appetite in pet animals
Acid deposition cause aquatic life damage
Migration of seasonal birds are hampered

Effects on Material and Property
Acid deposition can corrode metals, eat away stones in statues and
monuments
Discolour buildings, cloth fabrics

Effects on Environment
Smoke from vehicles and industries react with fog to form smog
Transboundary pollution - Pollutants that enter the environment at
one place have its effects hundreds of thousand of kilometres away
from the source
Common examples - Climate change, acid rain, global warming

Control Measures to Reduce Air Pollution
Determine the priority air pollutants - based on health effect and the
severity of the air quality problem
Build tall stacks or chimneys
Promotion of public transport, cycling and walking for local travel
Stop excessive idling of vehicles
Incorporate the control measures into a plan with implementation
dates
Improving infrastructure on public transport as a GHG emission re-
duction measure
Involve public in air quality management activities

Afforestation programmes
Periodic air quality monitoring
Adoption of stringent pollution control measures
Reduction in the use of conventional fuels
Promotion of use of renewable energy sources
Use of Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in vehicular exhaust system
will not allow emission of PM2.5 into the environment

Effective method - prevent the formation of air pollutants or to reduce

the emission of air pollutants at the source itself
Following strategies can be adopted
Catalytic converters to control automobile exhaust emissions
Adoption of low sulphur fuels in vehicles
Use of electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters and scrubbers
Use of sorption technique (either adsorption of impurity onto a
solid surface or absorption of the impurity in a liquid) to remove
gaseous pollutants

Water Pollution
70% of earth surface is covered with water

97% is in the oceans, 2% is locked in glaciers and polar ice
caps, 1% is useful for direct human consumption
Water is a universal solvent, therefore it dissolve minerals, met-
als and various pollutants
Reported that water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of
death and diseases (14000 people die daily)
1
6 th of world population still don’t have easy access to safe
drinking water and proper sanitation

Water pollution
Over last century

Human population has increased 3 times
Global water withdrawal has increased 7 times
Per capita water withdrawal has increased 4 times
Water pollution - presence of some foreign substances or impurities
in water in such a quantity so as to constitute a health hazard thus
making water unfit for use
Surface water - Water contained in lakes, rivers and oceans
Subsurface/underground water - Water in aquifers (underground rock
structures)
Both are prone to pollution

Sources of Water Pollution
Point sources
Direct discharges from sources which are identified at a single
location
Eg:- Wastewater discharge from industries, discharge from do-
mestic sectors
Can be controlled/minimized by treating upto a acceptable level
and disposing

Non-point sources/Diffused sources

Sources diffused across a broad area (location cannot be easily
identified)
Eg:- Runoff from agricultural lands, mining areas
Difficult to control/minimize pollution from these sources

Natural Sources
Rain water
Atmosphere
Underground rocks
Volcanoes

Anthropogenic Sources
Sources include oil spills, industrial wastewater discharges, solid
waste disposal, runoff from agricultural fields, wastewater from
automobile garbages
Three sources in India
Domestic wastewater
Agricultural runoff
Industrial effluents

Domestic Wastewater
Wastewater generated from household activities
Originates from residential areas, commercial places, institu-
tions and public places
Sewage consists of 99.9% water and 0.1% solids (mostly or-
ganic)
Decomposition produces malodorous gases and pathogens
Divided into 2 categories:
Black water (wastewater containing human excreta and urine)
Grey water (wastewater form bathroom and kitchen)

Agricultural Wastewater
Runoff from agricultural fields and animal farms
Rich in Nitrogen, Phosphate, organic matter and pesticides
Causes Eutrophication
Water bodies enriched with nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphate)
induce rapid growth of microscopic plant (algae) in surface wa-
ters reducing Oxygen content in aquatic environment

Industrial Wastewater
Effluent from industrial operations
World generates 400 billion tons of industrial waste
Nature and composition of the industrial wastewater vary widely
from industry to industry depending upon - raw materials, pro-
cesses and operational factors

Groundwater Pollution
Pollution is not confined to surface water
Fertilizers, pesticides, metals etc. get leaked into water
During rain they percolate down the soil and contaminates the
groundwater

Water Pollutants
Water pollutants are substances which cause water pollution

Water Pollutants
Inorganic Substances
Includes nitrates, phosphates, carbonates, chlorides, sulphates of Ca,
Mg, Fe etc.
These salts make water hard
Hard water increases soap consumption and deposit scales on pipelines
Iron causes spots and stains
Nitrates and phosphates causes eutrophication

Water Pollutants
Acids/Alkalies
pH for natural fresh water bodies is 6-8
Acids and alkalies are discharged into streams by chemical industries
and other industrial plants
Acidic (pH below 7) - causes eye irritation to swimmers, rapid corro-
sion of ship’s hull and deterioration of fisherman’s nets
pH below 5 - affects fishes
Efficiency of water treatment plants are affected by acidity
Alkalies are discharged from soap industry, textile dyeing, rubber
reclamation, leather tanning etc.
High pH is also detrimental to aquatic life

Water Pollutants
Organic Matter
Organic pollution occurs when organic compounds are released into
water sources
Decomposition of organic pollutants cause oxygen depletion
Minimum amount of dissolved oxygen for sustenance of fish life is 3
to 4mg/L

Water Pollutants
Suspended Solids
Suspended solids settle to the bottom or remains suspended in the
water body
Increase the turbidity of the water body and causes odour

Water Pollutants
Floating Matter
Includes oils, greases and other materials which float on the surface
Obstruct passage of light through water and hinders self-purification
process

Water Pollutants
Thermal Discharges
Increase in the normal temperatures of natural waters caused by nu-
clear power plant and industrial discharges
Warm water is lighter than cold water and causes most of the aquatic
life to retreat to stream bottom
Causes oxygen depletion due to increased bacterial action

Water Pollutants
Colouring Materials
Colour in water is an indicator of pollution
Contributed by the effluents discharged from textile industries, paper
mills, slaughter houses etc.
Colour interferes with the transmission of sunlight into the stream,
thus reducing its natural disinfection action

Water Pollutants
Toxic Chemicals
Organic and inorganic toxic compounds produced by various chemical
industries
Toxic to aquatic life
Includes cyanides, sulphides, acelylene, alcohol etc.

Water Pollutants
Micro-organisms
Discharges from domestic sector, food processing industries and slaugh-
ter houses contain micro-organisms
Causes diarrhoea and pneumonia
Bacterial micro-organisms are of two types:-
Those which degrade organic matter
Those which are pathogenic in nature

Water Pollutants
Radioactive Materials
Radioactive waste comprises of unstable radio isotopes and emit ion-
izing radiation
Exposure to high levels cause mutation and cancer

Water Pollutants
Foam Producing Matter

Discharged by textile mills, pulp and paper mills
Undesirable appearance of foams over water bodies

Noticeable Signs of Water Pollution
Offensive odours
Floating materials on the surface
Unchecked growth of aquatic weeds
Bad taste of water
Decrease of aquatic life

Effects of Water Pollution
Consuming contaminated water leads to health problems due to water-

borne diseases
Widespread destruction of aquatic life
Eutrophication - Nutrient rich (nitrogen and phosphate) wastewater
leads to abundant growth of algae
Bio-magnification - increase in the concentration of a pollutant from
one link to another in a food chain

Control of Water Pollution
Appropriate wastewater treatment is to be provided before discharg-

ing water from industries and domestic sectors
Eutrophication can be controlled by using phosphate free detergents
and reduced use of fertilizers
Making the public aware about the ill-effects of disposing wastewater
Legislative measures have to be more stringent (PPP - Polluter Pays
Principle should be strictly followed)

Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Methods
Wastewater ponds (also known as lagooning)

Constructed Wetlands
USAB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket)
SAT (Soil Aquifer Treatment) technology

Green House Effect
Greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the earth experiences

because greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere trap energy from
the sun
GHGs are transparent to the incoming shortwave (UV) solar radiation
Energy from the sun heats the earth’s surface; in turn,the earth radi-
ates energy back into space
GHGs absorb terrestrial outgoing long-wave infrared radiation and
prevent it from escaping to space
This is how GHGs warm our atmosphere
Without this greenhouse effect, temperatures (annual average global
temperature) would be much lower [-18◦ C ] than they are now [+15◦ C ]
These gases are vital for maintaining a climate warm enough to sup-
port the diversity of life in our planet
In the absence of greenhouse effect the surface temperature of earth
would not have been suitable for survival of life on earth !!!

Green House Effect
Greenhouse effect and global warming are not the same

An increase in the concentration of GHGs leads to an increase in the
magnitude of the greenhouse effect known as enhanced greenhouse
effect
This results in global warming

Greenhouse Gases
The excessive burning of fossil fuels such as petrol, coal, etc. has
resulted in an increase in the number of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere resulting global warming
The greenhouse gases responsible for the greenhouse effect are:
CFCs
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Ozone
Nitrous oxide

Causes of Greenhouse Effect
The following are the factors that are responsible for the cause of
greenhouse effect:
Deforestation: This is due to the reduction in the release in
the oxygen and absorption of carbon dioxide by the plants
Fossil fuel burning: Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natu-
ral gases are used as a means of energy which releases a huge
amount of harmful gases into the environment
Population: As the population increases, the need for space
increases which again results in deforestation
Farming: Nitrous oxide used in fertilizers is one of the contrib-
utors to the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere
Industrial Waste and Landfills: The industries and factories
produce harmful gases which are released in the atmosphere
while landfills also release carbon dioxide and methane

Effects of Greenhouse Effect
The main effects of increased greenhouse gases are:

Global Warming: Gradual increase in the average temperature
of the Earth’s atmosphere
Depletion of Ozone Layer: The accumulation of natural green-
house gases including chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, methane,
etc. causes depletion of ozone layer
Smog and Air Pollution: Smog is generally formed by the
accumulation of greenhouse gases including nitrogen and sulfur
oxides
Acidification of Water Bodies: The greenhouse gases mix
with the rainwater and fall as acid rain which leads to the acid-
ification of water bodies

Prevention of Greenhouse Effect
The following are the preventive measures:

Afforestation: Afforestation on a large scale area helps in de-
creasing the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Conservation of energy: Switching to renewable sources of
energy such as solar energy, wind energy, etc will reduce the
use of fossil fuels. This eventually reduces the release of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere.
Policy intervention: When the government comes up with
strict policies to maintain the overall air quality of the city.

Global Warming
It is the combined result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse

gases and changes in solar irradiance
An increase in the concentration of GHGs lead to an increase in the
magnitude of the greenhouse effect known as enhanced greenhouse
effect
This results in global warming
It is defined as the apparent overall warming trend of the earth’s at-
mosphere when the atmosphere becomes saturated with excess GHGs
Changes in temperature occurring today was caused by increase in
GHG concentrations resulting from human activities
As per the latest IPCC report, the global surface temperature is likely
to rise a further 1.1 to 3.5◦ C during the 21st century

Causes of Global Warming
Causes - Natural and man-made (anthropogenic) causes

Burning of fossil fuels emits GHGs
Population explosion - demand for more food and means of trans-
portation
Deforestation

Effects of Global Warming
Increase in global surface temperature

Melting of glaciers
Rise in sea level
Loss of biodiversity
Spread of vector borne diseases
Occurrence of extreme weather phenomenon
Acidification of oceans
Forest fires
Sequential reduction in crop yields
Induces changes in existing ecosystems (either extinct/flourish species)
Contamination of groundwater in coastal areas

Measures to Control Global Warming
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept to be practiced

Drive less and drive smart
Encourage others to conserve energy
Enhance energy efficiency (use CFL or LED lamps)
Promote renewable energy usage
Remove subsidies for fossil fuels
Recover methane emission through waste management
Promote afforestation and reforestation
Reduce energy consumption by using energy efficient home appliances
Consume locally grown fruits and vegetables. Importing requires
burning of fossil fuels for transport

Climate Change
The basic components that influence Earth’s climatic system are the
extraterrestrial factors and the ocean, atmosphere and land factors
Extraterrestrial factors - solar output, earth-sun geometry, interstellar
dust
Ocean, atmosphere and land factors - volcanic emissions, moun-
tain building, continental drift, atmospheric reflectivity, atmospheric
chemistry
Climate change is a generational problem
Weather can no longer be taken for granted as uncertainty and rapid
changes will be its hallmark

Causes of Climate Change
Climate change refers to changes caused by global warming in weather

(temperatures, ultimately rain or precipitation, frequency of heat
waves etc.) and other climate system components (Arctic sea ice
extent)
The earth’s climate is dynamic and the changes that are occurring
today have been speeded up because of man’s activities
Causes of climate change:
1 Natural Causes
2 Anthropogenic Causes

Natural Causes of Climate Change
Continental drift
Variations in solar output
Volcanoes
Earth’s tilt
Ocean currents

Continental drift
Continents were formed when earth landmass gradually drift apart
millions of years back
This drift had an impact on climate because it changed the physical
features of the landmass, their position and the position of water
bodies
Separation of landmasses changed the flow of ocean currents and
winds, which affected the climate
Drift continues today
Himalayan range is rising by about 1mm every year because Indian
land mass is moving towards the Asian land mass slowly but steadily!!!

Variation in Solar Output

Sun is the only source of energy for running the earth’s climate
Any change in its output results in changes in the generation of heat
energy
Sunspots are huge magnetic storms that are seen as dark (cooler)
areas on sun surface
Scientists have tried to link sunspots to climatic change
Numerical climatic models predict that a change in solar output by
1% would alter earth’s average temperature by between 0.5 − 1◦ C !!!

Volcanoes
Volcanoes throw out large volume of gases and ash which can stay
aloft for several years in the atmosphere
Volcanic eruptions of high magnitude reduce the amount of solar
radiation reaching earth’s surface and lower the temperature in the
lower levels of the atmosphere

Earth’s Tilt
Earth’s axis is tilted by an angle of 23.5◦ to the perpendicular plane
of its orbital path
In summer, earth is tilted towards the sun while in winter, earth is
tilted away from the sun
Because of this tilt, we experience seasons
Changes in the tilt can affect the severity of the seasons
More tilt means warmer summer and colder winter; less tilt cooler
summer and milder winter

Ocean Currents
Oceans are a major component of the climate system
They cover 71% of earth surface and absorb twice as much of sun’s
radiation as atmosphere or land
Ocean currents move vast amounts of heat across the planet
Much of the heat escapes from the ocean in the form of water vapour
This forms clouds, which shade the earth surface and have a net
cooling effect thus influencing the climate

Anthropogenic Causes of Climate Change
Human induced causes

Consumerism (our increasing want for material things) creates moun-
tains of waste
Population explosion contributed to rise in GHGs - prevent heat from
escaping into space (increased average global temperature)
Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that “there
is new and strong evidence that most of the warming observed over
the last 50 years is attributable to human activities
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN-
FCCC) defines climate change as “a change of climate which is at-
tributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the com-
position of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural
climate variability observed over comparable time periods”

Effects of Climate Change

Ocean acidification
Melting of glaciers
Changes in rainfall pattern
Occurrence of drought, heat waves and flood
Rise in sea level
Effects on biodiversity
Spread of vector borne diseases


Human induced activities increased the GHG emissions
Increased concentration of GHGs increased the global temperature
The 2014 IPCC Working Group report says emerging global climate
risks are concentrated in urban areas
Latest IPCC report indicate that the global temperature is likely to
rise a further 1.1 to 3.5◦ C during 21st century

Ocean Acidification
It is the phenomenon of ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth’s
oceans
CO2 emitted to the atmosphere by human activities is being absorbed
by the oceans making them more acidic
pH decreased from 8.179-8.104 between 1751-1994
Calcification (process by which corals extract calcium carbonate from
sea water to build their protective shells) slowed by 21%
Aquatic life will not survive at low pH

Melting of Glaciers
Glaciers contain almost all of the fresh water present on earth
When temperature increases, the glacier melts
Majority of freshwater needs of people needs are met by these melting
glaciers
Glaciers have now melted more than normal due to increase in tem-
perature

Changes in Rainfall Pattern

Changes in the world’s rainfall patterns have shown significant impact
on ecosystems and humans
Unusually high rainfall is due to climate change causing floods

Occurrence of Drought, Heat Waves and Flood

Extreme weather events are increasing due to climate change
Droughts are becoming longer, harder and more frequent
Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increase the fre-
quency, duration and intensity

Rise in Sea Level

Sea level rise is caused by the expansion of sea water as it warms up
in response to climate change and widespread melting of land ice
Melting of sea ice leads to reduction in albedo (surface reflectivity)
and allows for greater absorption of solar radiation
This accelerate warming and increases melting of snow and ice on
land
It was estimated that during the 20th century, sea level rose about
1.5 to 2.0 mm/year

Effects on Biodiversity
Earlier blooming of trees
Lengthening of seasons
Changes in breeding season patterns, migration patterns, animal and
plant distribution shifts
Phyto-planktons are affected by the alterations in nutrient levels and
temperature
Reduction in phyto-plankton affects zoo-plankton

Spread of Vector Borne Diseases

By 2100, it is estimated that average global temperature would rise
by 1.1 to 3.5◦ C
Increases the likelihood of many vector-borne diseases
Malaria and dengue fever are the most important diseases

Measures to Check Climate Change
Enhance energy efficiency by using CFL lamps

Reduce transport sector emission by smart driving
Promote renewable energy usage
Remove subsidies for fossil fuels
Favour sustainable agriculture
Recover methane emission through waste management

Measures to Check Climate Change
Promote afforestation (A single tree absorbs around 9.5 kg CO2 e/m2

land area per year
Reduce energy consumption by using energy efficient home appliances
Enhance energy efficiency during generation, transmission and distri-
bution of power
Reduce waste, prefer reusable products, recycle papers, plastic etc.
Consume locally grown fruits and vegetables (Importing requires burn-
ing of fossil fuels for transport)

Ozone Layer
Relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3 ) is located in the

lower portion of stratosphere (13 km to 20 km above earth’s
surface)
Ozone is an excellent absorber of radiant energy emitted in
certain wavelengths by the sun
An oxygen molecule (O2 ) consists of two oxygen atoms
When an O2 molecule is struck by UV radiation, it splits into
two separate oxygen atoms
This free oxygen atom (O) combines with O2 molecule to form
ozone (O3 ) molecule
Over hundreds of millions of years, atmospheric ozone layer is
thus formed

Ozone Layer
Ozone absorbs radiant energy of the sun and stores it as internal

energy which creates the warmer temperatures in the stratosphere
Ozone molecules are highly unstable:
Ozone absorbs UV radiation and is broken down into O and O2
Free O atom released combines with other ozone to form more
O2 or
Free O atom combines with O2 molecule to re-form ozone (O3 )
and release heat into the atmosphere
Stratospheric ozone shield us from UV radiation by absorbing it and
transforming it into heat which is released back into space
Process of O3 breaking and cycling back again is a natural process
Total amount of ozone is maintained by this continuous process of
destruction and regeneration

Ozone Layer
Ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by Charles Fabry and Henri Buis-
son
Ozone layer is responsible for absorbing 97-99% of high frequency
harmful UV rays and preventing them from entering earth’s atmo-
sphere
UV radiation includes:
1 UV - A (least dangerous form)
2 UV - B
3 UV - C (most dangerous form)
UV - C radiation is unable to reach earth’s surface due to stratospheric
ozone’s ability to absorb it
UV - B radiation is also absorbed by ozone layer

Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone depletion was initially identified in 1970

Ozone depletion - phenomenon of reductions in the amount of ozone
(caused by Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)) such as bromine,
water vapour, carbon tetrachloride etc.) in the stratosphere
Approximately 5% of ozone is reduced during the period 1979 - 1990
Ozone depletion varies geographically and by season

Ozone hole (first observed in 1956) refers to the annual, temporary

reductions in the polar region
Large losses in ozone occur each spring (up to 70% over Antarctica
and 30% over the Arctic) followed by recovery in summer
When ozone depletion occurs, the ozone in the lower stratosphere is
destroyed
The largest ozone hole ever recorded was in September 2006 over the
region of Antarctica

Ozone is destroyed by free radical catalysts

Hydroxyl radical (OH − ) and nitric oxide radical (NO − ) is of natural
origin
Atomic chlorine (Cl − ) and bromine (Br − ) is increased due to human
activities
Stable organic compounds of CFCs react with UV light to form chlo-
rine or bromine atoms
CFCl3 + hν → CFCl2 + Cl
Chlorine and bromine atoms then destroy ozone through catalytic

cycles
Cl + O3 → ClO + O2
ClO + O3 → Cl + 2O2
The overall effect is a decrease in the amount of ozone

A single chlorine atom is able to react with 100,000 ozone molecules

Therefore CFCs are dangerous to Ozone layer
Reactions that take place on polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) also
depletes ozone
PSCs form more readily in the extreme cold of Antarctic stratosphere
This is why ozone holes formed and are deeper over Antarctica
Ozone hole is measured by the reduction in the total ozone column,
above a point on the Earth’s surface, which is normally expressed in
Dobson units (“DU”)

Effects of Ozone Depletion
Exposure to UV rays poses an increases risk of skin cancers including

malignant melanoma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma
Increased UV rays reaching the earth’s surface leads to increased tro-
pospheric ozone (ground-level ozone) - causes breathing difficulties,
throat irritation and affects crops
Direct exposure to UV radiations cause cataracts
Ozone depletion hampers the growth and development of larvae in
many species including amphibians
Constant exposure to UV radiation results in accelerated ageing of
skin
In plants, UV radiation alters the time of flowering

Actions for Protecting Atmospheric Ozone Layer
Use “Ozone-friendly” products

Check vehicle AC units regularly for identifying leaks
Provide awareness program
Encourage afforestation and discourage deforestation

Montreal Protocol in 1987 - To reduce and control industrial

emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Remedial measures - for repairing “ozone holes” and reducing
the production of ozone depleting substances
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly voted to desig-
nate 16th September as “World Ozone Day”
Although CFCs has been reduced, other compounds such as
bromine, halocarbons and nitrous oxides still continue to attack
the ozone layer
Future of ozone is in our hands itself

Review Questions
Explain about air pollution, its sources, effects and sustainable

solutions?
Explain about water pollution, its sources, effects and sustain-
able solutions?
Explain about greenhouse effect?
Explain about global warming?
Explain climate change and its effect on environment?
Explain about ozone layer depletion?

Subject Coverage
Module 2
Environmental Pollution: Air Pollution and its effects, Water pol-

lution and its sources, Zero waste concept and 3 R concepts in
solid waste management; Greenhouse effect, Global warming, Cli-
mate change, Ozone layer depletion, Carbon credits, carbon trading
and carbon foot print, legal provisions for environmental protection.

SUS Class 9 Seminar

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Class 9 (Seminar Topics)

ASWATHY G P Class Presentations 1 / 99

4 Green House Effect

7 Ozone Layer Depletion

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Defined as the undesirable changes in the environment/surroundings

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Air (common name to atmospheric gases) is the elementary source

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Earth’s atmosphere consists of 5 layers - troposphere, stratosphere,

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Sources are broadly classified as:

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1. Natural Air Pollution

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2. Anthropogenic Air Pollution

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3. Outdoor Air Pollution

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Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

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Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

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Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

VOCs + NOx + heat + sunlight → GL O3 + other pollutants

Health issues - Irritate respiratory system leading to nose and throat

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Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

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Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

Sources - Motor vehicle exhaust and cigarette smoking

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Big Six Criteria Air Pollutants

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4. Indoor Air Pollution

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5. Primary Air Pollution

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5. Secondary Air Pollution

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6. Air Pollution caused by Hazardous air pollutants

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7. Particulate Matter Pollution

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7. Gaseous Air Pollution

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8. Air Pollution caused by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

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1 Effects on human health

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Health depends on the concentration of contaminant present, time

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Suppressed growth and premature ageing in plants

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Affects the mucous lining of the respiratory tract

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Effective method - prevent the formation of air pollutants or to reduce

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70% of earth surface is covered with water