Tag: Earth

Introduction

The thin layer of air or gases that surrounds the earth is known as the atmosphere. The earth’s life depends on air, which is a fundamental component of nature. One of the most important worldwide issues is the contamination of the air. The air we breathe is contaminated with dangerous chemicals, biological agents, or physical things which not only harm the environment and materials but also endanger the health of people and other living things. Both natural and artificial causes are contributors to air pollution, but human activity is the main contributor.

Types of Pollutants

There are basically two types of pollutants- 

• Primary pollutants– These pollutants are directly emitted from various resources and lead to air pollution. Some of the primary pollutants are- Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Suspended particles, Volatile organic compounds, Chlorofluorocarbons, etc.
• Secondary pollutant-When there is a chemical or physical interaction between primary pollutants and an atmospheric component, secondary pollutants are formed. These secondary pollutants are not any specific chemicals or particles. Some secondary pollutants are- Smog, Ground level ozone, sulfuric acid, nitric acid with water vapour, etc.

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Causes of Air Pollution

Causes of air pollution are as follows-

• Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gasoline results in the majority of air pollution since they are used to provide energy for transportation or electricity.
• Several particulate matter emissions, including, CO2, SO2, and CO, can result in pollution from industrial activity.
• Smoking tobacco, cooking smoke, hazardous chemicals from home painting supplies, etc. all contribute to air pollution.
• Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases in the environment and is produced as a byproduct of numerous agricultural usage.

Harmful Effects

Air pollution has adverse effects on humans as well as the environment. Following are the ill effects of air pollution-

Air pollution effect on humans-

• Aerosol sprays and paint removers include methylene chloride, which can be carcinogenic.
• Gasoline and benzene can lead to leukemia.
• Lung cancer is brought on by gases generated when fossil fuels are burned.
• Asthma and other respiratory illnesses like COPD are caused by suspended particles such as dust, pollen, ashes, etc.
• The likelihood of pneumonia, lung inflammation, chest pain, cough, exhaustion, shortness of breath, and fever is increased by nitric oxide and sulphur dioxide exposure.

Air pollution effect on the environment-

• Acid Rain is the term for the precipitation of dangerous nitric and sulfuric acids along with rainwater. These gases are generated by the burning of fossil fuels and combine with rainwater to produce various acids, such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
• Aquatic life and various tree species are negatively impacted by acidic buildup in the water body by a major decline in biodiversity.
• Buildings, monuments, and sculptures built of sandstone, limestone, marble, and granite are damaged and discoloured by acid rain.
• Ozone depletion occurs due to air pollutant such as CFCs. Due to this depletion UV light then penetrates the earth’s surface and has serious consequences like DNA mutation, skin cancers etc.
• Also, air pollution causes other harmful effects such as Global warming, and climate change which affect the biodiversity of the Earth adversely.

Prevention

To prevent air pollution following should be done-

• Reduction of forest fires.
• Stop burning crackers.
• All chimneys should contain filters.
• Use green energy 
• Using carpooling and public transportation.
• The Air Act of 1981, which forbids burning fuel that contributes to air pollution, must be followed.
• Implement planting trees.
• Paper, plastic, metals, and organic materials should all be recycled and used.

Control

Following ways are there to control air pollution-

• Reduce vehicular pollution. Numerous vehicles on the road each day produce dangerous air pollution. Use fewer cars and more environmentally friendly forms of transportation.
• Using alternative and eco-friendly forms of  fuels.
• Utilizing unleaded gasoline
• Plant more trees. 

Summary 

When dangerous chemicals like chemical, biological, and physical pollutants from both man-made and natural sources contaminate the atmosphere, it causes air pollution, which is an unwelcome change. Rising morbidity and mortality, has an impact on not just the climate but also on public and individual health. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground ozone, particulate matter, sulphur oxides, CFC’s, Hydrocarbons etc. are examples of common air pollutants which cause air pollution. Plants are referred to as the “lungs” of an ecosystem as they take in carbon dioxide and give fresh oxygen to the environment. Hence, they should be planted more to prevent air pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Describe a Scrubber.
Ans: A scrubber is a device that traps any particle matter or other similar contaminants in the air and cleans the air to prevent pollution. It contains an ionized liquid that traps the small particles of a contaminant.

2. Explain Alternative Fuels.
Ans: There are several compounds known as alternative fuels that can be used in place of traditional fuels like gasoline, diesel, etc. CNG, hydrogen, and other such fuels are examples of alternative fuels. These are unconventional and don’t pollute the air.

3. What is Smog?
Ans: Smog is an air contaminant and is made when fog, smoke, and sunlight are combined. Sulphurous smog and photochemical smog are the two types of smog. When sulphur oxides are present in significant concentrations in the air, sulphurous smog, also known as London smog, forms. When sunlight and at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) react in the sky, photochemical smog, often known as Los Angeles smog, is created.

Introduction

The thin layer of air or gases that surrounds the earth is known as the atmosphere.

The earth’s life depends on air, which is a fundamental component of nature. One of the most important worldwide issues is the contamination of the air. The air we breathe is contaminated with dangerous chemicals, biological agents, or physical things which not only harm the environment and materials but also endanger the health of people and other living things. Both natural and artificial causes are contributors to air pollution, but human activity is the main contributor.

Types of Pollutants

There are basically two types of pollutants- 

• Primary pollutants– These pollutants are directly emitted from various resources and lead to air pollution. Some of the primary pollutants are- Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Suspended particles, Volatile organic compounds, Chlorofluorocarbons, etc.
• Secondary pollutant-When there is a chemical or physical interaction between primary pollutants and an atmospheric component, secondary pollutants are formed. These secondary pollutants are not any specific chemicals or particles. Some secondary pollutants are- Smog, Ground level ozone, sulfuric acid, nitric acid with water vapour, etc.

Let our expert teachers be your guide toward improving your grades and reaching your highest potential. Study online science tuition for classes 6th, 7th, and 8th.

Causes of Air Pollution

Causes of air pollution are as follows-

• Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gasoline results in the majority of air pollution since they are used to provide energy for transportation or electricity.
• Several particulate matter emissions, including, CO2, SO2, and CO, can result in pollution from industrial activity.
• Smoking tobacco, cooking smoke, hazardous chemicals from home painting supplies, etc. all contribute to air pollution.
• Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases in the environment and is produced as a byproduct of numerous agricultural usage.

Harmful Effects

Air pollution has adverse effects on humans as well as the environment. Following are the ill effects of air pollution-

Air pollution effect on humans-

• Aerosol sprays and paint removers include methylene chloride, which can be carcinogenic.
• Gasoline and benzene can lead to leukemia.
• Lung cancer is brought on by gases generated when fossil fuels are burned.
• Asthma and other respiratory illnesses like COPD are caused by suspended particles such as dust, pollen, ashes, etc.
• The likelihood of pneumonia, lung inflammation, chest pain, cough, exhaustion, shortness of breath, and fever is increased by nitric oxide and sulphur dioxide exposure.

Air pollution effect on the environment-

• Acid Rain is the term for the precipitation of dangerous nitric and sulfuric acids along with rainwater. These gases are generated by the burning of fossil fuels and combine with rainwater to produce various acids, such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
• Aquatic life and various tree species are negatively impacted by acidic buildup in the water body by a major decline in biodiversity.
• Buildings, monuments, and sculptures built of sandstone, limestone, marble, and granite are damaged and discoloured by acid rain.
• Ozone depletion occurs due to air pollutant such as CFCs. Due to this depletion UV light then penetrates the earth’s surface and has serious consequences like DNA mutation, skin cancers etc.
• Also, air pollution causes other harmful effects such as Global warming, and climate change which affect the biodiversity of the Earth adversely.

Prevention

To prevent air pollution following should be done-

• Reduction of forest fires.
• Stop burning crackers.
• All chimneys should contain filters.
• Use green energy 
• Using carpooling and public transportation.
• The Air Act of 1981, which forbids burning fuel that contributes to air pollution, must be followed.
• Implement planting trees.
• Paper, plastic, metals, and organic materials should all be recycled and used.

Control

Following ways are there to control air pollution-

• Reduce vehicular pollution. Numerous vehicles on the road each day produce dangerous air pollution. Use fewer cars and more environmentally friendly forms of transportation.
• Using alternative and eco-friendly forms of  fuels.
• Utilizing unleaded gasoline
• Plant more trees. 

Summary 

When dangerous chemicals like chemical, biological, and physical pollutants from both man-made and natural sources contaminate the atmosphere, it causes air pollution, which is an unwelcome change. Rising morbidity and mortality, has an impact on not just the climate but also on public and individual health. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground ozone, particulate matter, sulphur oxides, CFC’s, Hydrocarbons etc. are examples of common air pollutants which cause air pollution. Plants are referred to as the “lungs” of an ecosystem as they take in carbon dioxide and give fresh oxygen to the environment. Hence, they should be planted more to prevent air pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Describe a Scrubber.
Ans: A scrubber is a device that traps any particle matter or other similar contaminants in the air and cleans the air to prevent pollution. It contains an ionized liquid that traps the small particles of a contaminant.

2. Explain Alternative Fuels.
Ans: There are several compounds known as alternative fuels that can be used in place of traditional fuels like gasoline, diesel, etc. CNG, hydrogen, and other such fuels are examples of alternative fuels. These are unconventional and don’t pollute the air.

3. What is Smog?
Ans: Smog is an air contaminant and is made when fog, smoke, and sunlight are combined. Sulphurous smog and photochemical smog are the two types of smog. When sulphur oxides are present in significant concentrations in the air, sulphurous smog, also known as London smog, forms. When sunlight and at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) react in the sky, photochemical smog, often known as Los Angeles smog, is created.

Introduction

The widely recognized nebular theory postulated that a massive cloud of dust including hydrogen and other gases created the solar system, including the planet earth. Small earthly particles like iron and nickel were created as a result of the earth’s contraction, rotation, and lowering of temperatures. The planet was created approximately 4.5 billion years ago after millions of years of precipitation and accumulation. Since then, the earth’s temperature has decreased, causing the crust to become more fragile. However, the earth’s interior core is still hot and igneous.

A short note on Prehistoric Earth’s Origin of Life

There were numerous theories about the origins of life on Earth. 

• According to the Panspermia theory, some scientists thought life originated from spores that came from outer space, while others hypothesized that it originated from decomposing materials like dirt, straw, etc (Spontaneous generation theory). Different experiments were carried out by various scientists, and they all disproved the hypothesis of spontaneous generation. 
• Later in 1953, Oparin and Haldane advanced the theory that life emerged from pre-existing non-living organic molecules like RNA, DNA, and other similar molecules because of abiotic chemical reactions.
• Numerous studies have suggested that RNA came before DNA, even though it is still unclear what replicating molecule was the earliest. Because RNA molecules can self-replicate and are simpler than DNA, they are considered autocatalytic.

Precambrian Life

The Precambrian period includes the Archean and the Proterozoic eons from 4.6 billion years to 542 million years. Most of the life that existed during the Precambrian period were prokaryotic organisms. Microfossils that looked like stromatolites and cyanobacteria from the Precambrian epoch first revealed the presence of life about 3.8 billion years ago (layered mounds). Additionally, the absence of oxygen in the early atmosphere rendered primitive organisms anaerobic. However, when cyanobacteria developed photosynthesis, it added oxygen to the atmosphere.

Eukaryotes, which have a nucleus, cytoskeleton, organelles, and mitotic spindle, first evolved around two billion years ago. It was once thought that endosymbionts like mitochondria and chloroplasts descended from bacteria. The evolution of eukaryotes benefited greatly from these endosymbiotic relationships.

Cambrian Explosion- Origin of Animal Diversity

The surge in the diversity of multicellular organisms during the early Cambrian epoch, which began 540 million years ago, is known as the Cambrian explosion. Tens of millions of years before the early Cambrian epoch, the first multicellular living forms began to appear as fossils. These ancient animals have diverse body designs from those of living creatures today. They vanished and were replaced by modern-day animal body types in the Cambrian fauna.

Evolution of Land Plants

The evolution of land plants from a green algal ancestor is a significant event in the history of life since it caused profound changes in the earth’s environment and the formation of the entire terrestrial ecosystem. The formation of land plants and the divergence of the four main surviving clades (liverworts, hornworts, mosses, and vascular plants) may have taken place during the late Ordovician and Silurian periods, according to evidence from fossil spores found in the mid-Ordovician.

Formation 

The majority of researchers concluded that the earliest life form and subsequent other life forms on earth appeared as a result of chemical evolution, or the production of molecules. The Nebular theory, developed by Immanuel Kant and Pierre Laplace, postulates that planets are formed by a cloud of hydrogen and helium. Clouds were created by tiny particle collisions, and the planet itself was created through accretion.

Evolutionary Milestones

• Life’s history is represented by several milestones. For instance, unicellular organisms first appeared on Earth, and ever since then, diversification has led to the emergence of complex living forms. These living forms will eventually go extinct and be replaced by other creatures. 
• Complex living forms evolve as a result of this evolution. According to some fossil research, numerous species began to independently become multicellular around 1 billion years ago, and animals started to grow hard portions in their bodies to survive on the earth. 
• Dinosaurs were the most prevalent class of creatures on the planet for millions of years. For a considerable amount of time, they dominated the prehistoric landscape before a disaster led to the extinction of dinosaurs.
• The Great Apes, from which humans emerged, was the next significant event. Human evolution is still clearly visible, although it has not yet reached its conclusion.

Presence of Humans

• The most well-known species, Homo sapiens, is a descendant of hominids, the first creatures that resembled humans. 
• According to several fossil records, archaeological findings, and embryological research hominids are thought to have diverged from other primate species in the southern and eastern African areas 2.5–4 million years ago. 
• As a result, they have bipedalism in common (the ability to walk on two legs).
• Additionally, as hominids evolved and adapted to their habitats, their brain sizes grew. Around 2.3 million years ago, Homo habilis, the earliest human-like hominid, had a brain size of 650–800 cc and started using stone tools.
• Fossils discovered in Java in 1891 revealed the existence of Homo erectus, the next stage of human evolution, some 1.5 million years ago. They have a 900cc larger brain due to evolution. Then they began to migrate from Africa to Eurasia, where they started to learn how to make fire and develop defenses.

Summary

The widely recognized Nebular Theory postulated that a massive cloud of dust, including hydrogen and other gases, created the solar system, including the planet Earth. The majority of scholars concluded that the earliest life form and subsequent other life forms on earth appeared as a result of chemical evolution, or the production of molecules. Dinosaurs were the most prevalent class of creatures on the planet for millions of years. The most well-known species, Homo sapiens, is a descendant of hominids, the first creatures that resembled humans.

Frequently Asked Questions  

1.What is Coal’s Formation Process? List the Types of Coal.
Ans. The layers of dead plants and animals underwent physical and chemical changes as a result of pressure and heat. Deposits rich in carbon were created as a result of this. Different forms of coal include lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite.

2.Explain Index Fossils?

Ans. Index fossils are fossils that are used to identify geologic formations with broad regional distributions and short time scales. These fossils are numerous, dispersed, limited in geological time, and unique.

3.What Factors led to the Earth’s Changes?
Ans. Physical changes such as mountain development, tectonic movements, volcanic eruptions, climate changes, and biological changes on the planet resulted from the evolution of new life forms.

4.What are the Necessary conditions for Life to Sustain on Earth?
Ans. The necessary conditions for life to sustain on earth are as follows,

• Proper distance from the sun
• Presence of water and the atmosphere
• Existence of the lithosphere and biosphere
• Ideal temperature ranges (around 17 degrees Celsius).