The Global Environment: An Emerging World

The Global Environment: An Emerging World
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Q1. Briefly describe the greenhouse effect. What human activities are impacting natural
cycle of greenhouse effect? Any examples?
A1. When solar radiation passes through six seven atmospheric level of earth, it mostly gets
reflected to the outer space and the rest is absorbed by the atmosphere of Earth. The Greenhouse
gases like CO2, Methane and Nitrous oxide absorb the solar radiation and the earth gets warm.
This process is called Greenhouse effect.
Coal Combustion is one of the leading causes of Greenhouse effect. Studies show that The
United States get almost 52% of electricity from fossil fuels. That apart, the growing usage of air
conditioner in households also stands as a cause of Greenhouse effect because CFC is emitted
from the AC machines which breaks the Ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere.
Q2. As described in “A Safe Operating Space for Humanity,” describe planetary
boundaries generally and explain why they are important.
A2. The planetary boundaries is a safe operating space of earth in relation to the humankind’s
survival which is divided into two epochs namely Holocene and Anthropocene. The Holocene
marks the time span of past 10000 years when the environment of earth was stable and the
human civilization began and grew smoothly. The Anthropocene is the era which has been
continuing since the Industrial Revolution after which the global warming took place massively
because of human actions.
The planetary boundaries are crucial for the survival of humankind as the rising global
temperature an emerging threat to the all the flora and fauna in the planet. The radiation affects
the entire biological system that comes under the planetary boundaries at present.
Q3. What are the branches of scientific enquiry that the authors of “A Safe Operating
Space for Humanity” have used in their study of planetary boundaries?
A3. The auithors have made two scientific enquiries based on the CO2 emissions from fossil fuel
combustion from 1996 to 2006 and the impacts of Coal Combustion on the environment and
human health. The first enquiry shows that the month of September in 2006 was the warmest
month in past 140 years due to Coal Combustion. The second enquiry reveals that radipactive
elements like Uranium, Titanium and Thorium are emitted from Coal Combustion. These
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elements cause Global warming severely and the human population suffers from lethal diseases
like cancer.
Q4. Based on class notes describe environmental and health impacts of coal combustion
and research their relation to the climate change.
A4. The production of CO2 rises massively due to Coal Combustion. Harmful elements like
Thorium and Uranium are released in the environment due to Coal Combustion which cause the
depletion of the plant life and the animal life on earth. Moreover, the radioactive wastes and
other harmful elements like sodium, iron, arsenic and sulphur pollutes the soil as well as the
water bodies. This causes soil erosion and water pollution which might cause mass extinction in
future.
Q5. What is the Delicate balance described in the article?
A5. When Solar radiation hits the earth, it has to pass through the atmospheric layers of earth
which reflect some part of radiation in outer space and the rest of the part is absorbed by the
earth’s surface due to absorbing gases like CO2, Methane and Nitrous Oxide. The balance of
reflected radiation and absorbed radiation has been referred to here as the Delicate Balance.
Q6. Explain why the humanity has the freedom to pursue long-term social and economic
development as long as the thresholds are not crossed?
A3. Based on the given article, it is observed that humanity has caused enough harm by using
Coal as fuel which has released harmful materials like titanium, Uranium, potassium, sulphur
and iron in massive amount in the atmosphere. The flora and fauna has been affected in the entire
planet due to Greenhouse effect right after the Industrial Revolution. Hence, humanity should
curtail the process of Greenhouse Effect so that the thresholds are not crossed and the social and
economic development continue in future.
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