Academic Year : 2023-2024

Semester: 11-9-2023 to 6-1-2024

OPEN ELECTIVE B (18ME751)

ENERGY AND
ENVIRONMENT (18ME751)
(Module-3)
by

Prof. Abdul Mujeeb N,

B.E(Mech) M.B.A (Markt) M. Tech (PDM) MISTE (Ph.D)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
HKBK College of Engineering,
Nagawara, Bengaluru-045
Course Learning
Objectives (CLOs):
 To understand the fundamentals of energy sources, energy use, energy efficiency and
resulting environmental implications of various energy supplies
 To introduce various aspects of environmental pollution and its control
 To understand causes and remedies related to social issues like global warming, ozone layer
depletion, climate change
 To introduce various acts related to prevention and control of pollution of water and air,
forest protection act, wild life protection act etc

Course Outcomes(Cos):
CO1: Understand energy scenario, energy sources and their utilization
CO2: Understand various methods of energy storage, energy management &economic
analysis
CO3: Analyze the awareness about environment and eco system
CO4: Understand the environment pollution along with social issues and acts
18ME751 – Mod-1 Part I Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P3
 OVERVIEW OF CONTENS (MODULE 3 –PPT-3)

ENVIRONMENT
Environment – Introduction
Multidisciplinary nature of Env. Studies
Need for Public Awareness
Ecosystem - Concept of Ecosystem
Ecosystem - Structure & Function
Energy flows- Food Chains, Webs & Pyramids
Energy Cycles- Water, Carbon and Nitrogen
Cycles
Forest Ecosystem
Grassland Ecosystem
Desert Ecosystem
Aquatic Ecosystem
18ME751 – Ecological
Mod-1 Succession
Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P4
BASIC INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT

Environment is everything that is present in our surroundings- the place of living and
everything around us that facilitates living conditions and economic activity. The three
distinct components of environment are lithosphere, atmosphere and the hydrosphere.
Lithosphere is the solid component of the earth. Atmosphere is the air composition present in
the earth. Hydrosphere is formed by the water components of earth present in the form of
lakes, rivers, seas.
Environment is constituted by the interaction between physical, biological and cultural
elements collectively with each other or individually . These elements are :
Physical Elements: Space, rocks, soils, water bodies, landforms, minerals so on
Biological Elements: Plants, animals, microorganisms & human beings constitute biosphere
Cultural Elements: Manmade systems like social, economic and political elements

In view of the exponentially increasing energy production and consumption since the beginning of
industrial revolution, enormous changes have resulted in the environment of the planet. The most
remarkable change is the increase in the average concentration of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) in
the atmosphere including carbon di oxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrogen oxides (NOX).
18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P5
 GHGs forms a blanket like layer, wrap around the planet trapping suns heat and reflect back part of
the infrared radiation emitted by the earth and leads to warming of the troposphere. Troposphere is
the lowest layer of earth in direct contact with the earth’s surface. Climatologists predict that the
increase in the GHGs will cause increase in the average temperature of the troposphere eventually
resulting in global and local climatic changes. Other effects of energy consumption includes acid
rain which have endangered the ecosystem of several lakes and rivers and ozone depletion resulting
in ozone hole in the stratosphere and lead contamination in the atmosphere. Stratosphere is the part
of earths atmosphere where the important ozone layer exists. Ozone layer absorbs and protects
from UV rays from the sun.

Global Warming : Global warming is continuous rise in average temperature of earths

atmosphere and oceans caused by increased concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere
owing to human activities like deforestation and burning of fossil fuels leading to climate change.
Climate change is long term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns like acid rains, cloud
bursts, heat waves and weather extremities resulting in droughts, heavy rainfalls, melting of
glaciers, extinction of aerial and aquatic creatures and species, changes in agricultural yields. In
view of these burgeoning environmental and ecological perils of global warming, there are multiple
paradigm shifts confounding the environment of the planet we live. One of the adverse impacts of
climate change is that there is overall deterioration of the individuals physical and mental health
standards, precipitating into health hazards such as asthma, cancer.
Therefore developing energy strategies using green engineering technologies to build sustainable
communities/societies is a matter of concern to every nation, every economy and indeed to every
industrial regime

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MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENT STUDIES :

The domain of environmental studies comprises of multi

disciplinary sciences and studies representing phenomena in the
environment. These studies encompasses basic physical sciences
like Physics, Chemistry , Medical Sciences, Health and Hygienic
Sciences, Physiological Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and all
sciences and emerging technologies that affect the organism.

In the backdrop of today’s ecological and environmental perils of

global warming, environmental study is an applied science that
seeks practical answers to making human civilization sustainable
on earth’s finite resources. In modern times, the environmental
studies extends to fields of economics, statistics, social sciences
and information technologies for weather forecasting and
environmental modelling.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P7

 NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS / SIGNIFICANCE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES:
Environmental studies highlight the environmental phenomena
and impresses human beings to be in harmony with nature. It
educates the analysts about the importance of protection and
conservation of environment and the need to circumvent the
environmental degradation.
In view of the burgeoning environmental and ecological problems
and dwindling earths resources due to human activities, review
and research of environmental phenomena has become an
overriding priority. Therefore investigation of environmental
changes will enable human civilizations to find palatable
solutions to protect & conserve the environment from degradation
and damage.
Therefore it is imminent to educate masses on the subject of
environment management through public awareness
programs
18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P7
 ECOSYSTEMS : Ecosystem comprises of living organisms, species and
populations, environmental factors such as soil, water, physical factors such as
rocks, forests and physiochemical processes such as energy flow, water flows,
nutrient cycles and carbon cycles. Ecosystem are replete with production,
consumption and decomposition of energy in different forms.
Concept of Ecosystem:
Ecosystem is a region with a specific and recognizable landscape such as
forest, grassland, desert, wetland or so on. The nature of ecosystem is based on
its geographical features such as hills, mountains, plains, rivers, lakes, coastal
areas or islands. It is controlled by climatic conditions such as sunlight,
temperature and rainfall in the region.
In ecosystems, the concept of energy flow is important. Energy flow is the
amount of energy that moves through a food chain . The worldwide sum of all
ecosystems on, above and below the earth’s surface is biosphere.
ECOLOGY: It is the study of relationships of living organisms with one
another and relation ship between living organisms to surrounding
environment

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P8

 STRUCTURE OF ECOSYSTEM:
An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology where the living
organisms interact with each other and with the surroundings. In other words
the ecosystem is a chain of interactions between organisms and environment.

The structure of ecosystem is the organization of both biotic (living organisms)

and abiotic (non living components) elements.

The biotic elements includes consumers and producers broadly. It also includes
decomposers. The consumers may be primary consumers (Harbivores),
secondary consumers (Primary carnivores) and tertiary consumers (Secondary
carnivores).
The abiotic elements are all the three distinct set of components that constitute
lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere (P4)

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P8

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P11
 FUNCTIONS OF ECOSYSTEM:

1. It regulates ecological processes and supports

life systems
2. It facilitates cycling of nutrients between
biotic and abiotic components
3. It maintains balance among various trophic
levels in the ecosystem
4. It maintains energy flows between organisms
to sustain their lives through energy cycles.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P8

ENERGY FLOWS: It is the transfer of energy from one organism to another in the
ecosystem. Organisms interact with their surroundings either by consuming/obtaining food from
the ecosystem or producing/ contributing food to the ecosystem. Organisms contribute to energy
flow by processes such as decomposition, photosynthesis
Energy flow can be described in terms of feeding relationships (Food chain, food web and food
pyramid)
Ecologists have identified 3 ecological processes Vs Food Chains, Food Webs & Food Pyramids
to describe energy flows & feeding relationships in ecosystems.
Food Chains: In simplistic terms , it is the transfer of energy from plants to animals and from
animals to animals. The transfer is usually in several levels and each level is called trophic level.
Plants are producers of food in form of carbohydrates (from water, CO2 and sunlight with the
help of green pigment called chlorophyll by process called photosynthesis). Animals eat plants
and other organisms. Classified list of organisms in ecosystem is displayed below.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P9

Food Webs: Interconnected food chain forms a food web. Food web comprises of omnivore animals
that consume several plants and are consumed by organisms in the ecosystem.

Food Pyramid: It is an energy flow pyramid showing energy flow in gradually reducing quantum in
the ecosystem. When one organism consumes another, 80 -90% of energy is lost in physiological
reactions and lost as heat and only 10-20% of energy is stored in the consumed organism. During
earlier trophic stages, quantum of energy flows between organisms is more and at elevated levels of
food chain, energy consumed decreases down.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P10

ENERGY CYCLES:
The Water Cycle:

When it rains, water flows into rivers or falls directly into oceans. The
water drained underground is stored through the rest of the year. The
water stored in the ground is drawn up by by plant life together with
the vitamins from the soil. The water is transpired from the leaves as
water vapor and returned to the surroundings. The water transpired
leaves to atmosphere as vapor. Because the vapour is lighter than air. It
rises and forms cloud. As wind blows on clouds, vapor condenses and
changes into droplets that fall on the land as rain.
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ENERGY CYCLES:
The Carbon Cycle:

The carbon cycle occurs in organic compounds found in both biotic and abiotic
components of the ecosystem. Plants undertake physiochemical process of
photosynthesis and in the process vegetation occurs. Vegetation is basically
assemblage of plant species and greenery required for nutrition and growth of
herbivores. Vegetation releases oxygen into the ecosystem, which is inhaled by
animals during respiration. Both plants and animals exchange carbon dioxide
during their respiration. They also return fixed carbon to the soil in the waste
they excrete and when they die.
This process of consumption of carbon di oxide and return of carbon to ground
constitutes carbon cycle.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28

ENERGY CYCLES:
The Nitrogen Cycle:

It is a biogeochemical process in which nitrogen is converted into many forms,

starting with consumption from atmosphere by plants, then to animals , then to
soil where organisms act and turn it into supplements that are used by plants to
generate nitrogen compounds. These nitrogen compounds make their way back
to atmosphere
Carnivorous animals feed on herbivorous animals that eat plants. When animals
defecate, this waste material is broken down through worms and bugs typically
beetles and ants. These little soil creatures bacteria or fungi decompose break
the waste material into littler bits on which minute microorganisms and
organisms can act. This material is hence separated further into supplements that
plants can retain and reuse for their development and in the process generate
nitrogen compounds.
18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28
ENERGY CYCLES:
The Oxygen Cycle:

It is a biogeochemical process that portrays the development of oxygen inside

and between the 3 principle elements of environment Viz biosphere (living
things), lithosphere (earth’s hull) and atmosphere (air). The fundamental driving
element of the oxygen cycle is photosynthesis that constitutes the lifeline of
earth.

Plants are the main creators of oxygen within the atmosphere through
photosynthesis. Here the tree makes use of daylight and carbon di oxide to
supply electricity and releases oxygen. The animals inhale the oxygen and
exhale the carbon di oxide. The plants can then use this carbon di oxide and the
cycle continues.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28

ECOSYSTEMS: Ecosystem is a region with a specific and landscape
such as forest, grassland, desert, wetland etc

FOREST ECOSYSTEM:
It is formed by community of plants that feature trees, shrubs, herbs, climber
and ground covers. It has 2 components
Non Living Abiotic Forest Lands - Abiotic landscapes and vegetation depends
on abiotic conditions of the region such as rainfall, temperature
Biotic Forest Land – It is formed by communities of plants and animals. The
biotic components include both large macrophytes(acquatic plants growing in or
near wter) and microscopic plants and animals
TYPES OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM
Coniferous Forests: Grow in the Himalayan mountain region, where the temperatures are low. These
forests have tall stately trees with needle like leaves and downward slopping branches so that snow
can slip off the branches.
Broadleaved forests: They have several types, such as evergreen forests, deciduous forests, thorn
forests, and mangrove forests. Broadleaved forests have large leaves of various shapes.
Evergreen forests: They grow in high rainfall areas
Deciduous forests: Shed their leaves in winter and hot summer months. They grow in regions with
moderate rainfall
Thorn forest grow in semi arid regions and conserve water
Mangrove forests grow along coast in river deltas where saline and fresh water is available .
Mangroves also grow in muddy areas covered with silt that river has broungt down
18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM:
It is the result of vegetation that is result of assemblage of plant species and
greenery required for nutrition and growth of herbivores. Grasslands get formed
in regions with low rainfall that prevent growth of trees and shrubs due to low
soil depth and poor quality of soil.

TYPES OF GRASSLANDS IN INDIA:

The Himalayan Pressure Belt :

The Terai Regions

The Semi Arid Plains

The Shola Grasslands

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28

DESERT ECOSYSTEM:
Deserts and semi-arid areas covered with sparse grasses.
Theese regions are characterized by scanty and sporadic
rainfall only once few years. Desert and semi arid regions
have a number of highly specialized insects and reptiles.
ACQUATIC ECOSYSTEM:
These ecosystems are formed in marine environments of seas
and fresh water systems in lakes, rivers, ponds and wetlands.
These ecosystems provide human beings with a wealth of
natural resources.
Fresh water ecosystems: They have running water and form
streams and rivers. Ponds, tanks and lakes have expanses of
shallow water with aquatic vegetation that forms habitat for
fish and water birds
Marine ecosystems are highly saline
Braackish ecosystems have less saline water such as river deltas.
18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION :
Ecological succession is a process through which ecosystems tend to
transform over a period of time. Succession can be related to seasonal
environmental changes, which create adjustments in the community of plant
life and animals residing in the surroundings.
There is tendency for succession to produce a more or less stable state at the
end of the successional stages. The successive levels are associated with the
manner wherein strength flows via the organic system.

Ex. Pond Ecosystem is collection of organisms that live in pond.

Ponds are dynamic, ever changing environment. Plants and animals ae
constantly living, growin, reproducing and dying within the habitat.The
natural succession is for a pond to turn into a bog thereafter into a field and
eventually into a forest. The result ecological changes is that small aquatic
species during initial period gradually makes succession to a mature
acquatic ecosystm where its aquatic life becomes dominant during monsoon
and then revets back to its dry stage in summer to from a dry terrestrial
habitat.

18ME751 – Mod-1 Composed by Prof. ABDUL MUJEEB N. P28