My Science School

A broad term that includes all forms of precipitation with acidic components like sulphuric acid or nitric acid, acid rain, or acid deposition, falls to the ground in wet or dry forms from the atmosphere. When sulphur dioxide or nitrous oxides emitted into the atmosphere react with Oxygen, water and other chemicals it forms acids, which then further mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground as rain, hail, snow, fog, or even acidic dust.

What are the effects of acid rain?

The ecological consequences of acid rain are seen most strongly in marine habitats, such as streams, lakes and marshes where fish and other wildlife can be toxic. Acidic rainwater can leach aluminium from soil clay particles as it flows through the soil and then floods into streams and lakes.

What will happen if we don’t stop acid rain?

Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are the principal chemicals for acid rain. It can also influence humans since the acid goes into fruits, vegetables and animals. In other words, we can get really sick if acid rain doesn’t stop, and we eat those things. In general, acid rain affects men, but not directly.

What is acid rain? What are its harmful effects?

It has been shown that acid rain has detrimental effects on trees, freshwaters and soils, destroys insects and aquatic life-forms, causes paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and sculptures, as well as impacts on human health.

What are three ways to reduce acid rain?

Alternative energy sources should be used, such as solar and wind power. Renewable sources of energy are helping to reduce acid rain, as they produce much fewer emissions. There are other electricity sources as well, such as nuclear power, hydropower, and geothermal energy. Among these, the most extensive use is among nuclear and hydropower.

How does acid rain affect plants?

Acid rain can affect the health of plants. Acid rain changes the pH of the land where the plant is growing, thereby affecting the overall growth of the plants. Moreover, it binds or dissolves essential soil minerals such as nitrogen and phosphorus and carries them away.

What is acid rain made of?

Acid rain comprises highly acidic water droplets due to air emissions, specifically the disproportionate levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emitted by vehicles and manufacturing processes. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide combine with water molecules to form sulphuric and nitric acid.

What is the primary source of acid rain?

The power plants primarily cause acid rain. It releases most of the sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide while burning fossil fuels. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide combine with water molecules to form sulphuric and nitric acid causing acid rain.

Can acid rain damage buildings?

Yes, acid rain harms buildings. It strips away the materials and corrodes the metals of the buildings. Example: Tarnishing of Taj Mahal.

Can acid rain burn your skin?

No, acid rain can not burn the skin.

Picture Credit : Google 

Forest bathing, better known as Shinrin Yoku in Japanese culture, is the practice of walking in the woods mindfully. In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries created the term shinrin-yoku, which translates to “forest bathing” or “absorbing the forest atmosphere.” The practice encourages people to simply spend time in nature — no actual bathing required.

Anasuya Menon

Have you walked in a forest? Under the towering trees, with sunlight streaming down in thick long columns? Have you listened to the song of the birds or the sounds of a gurgling stream? Have you felt and probably smelt the fresh forest air? If you have done all of the above, you have forest bathed.

'Forest bathing' is nothing but. a mindful walk in the woods. The practice has its origins in Japanese culture, where it is called shinrin-yoku. The idea is to take in the forest through the senses. Being in the midst of nature refreshes the mind, energises and rejuvenates the body, says practitioners of forest bathing.

Re-connecting with nature

 The concept has caught on in India, especially in the past few years with nature groups organising forest-bathing tours to help people reconnect with nature. "Forest bathing is not activity-oriented. It is a contemplative process, where the participants are guided to take in the forest through their senses. As a guide, I only help participants experience the energy of the forest," says Dipika Sharma from Noida, who has been conducting forest bathing walks for groups in Delhi since 2019. "People are now increasingly aware of the therapeutic effect of nature especially after two years of being confined at home because of the pandemic," says Dipika, who founded Forest Therapy, an organisation that conducts forest bathing tours.

Introducing children to forest bathing would help them form a lasting bond with nature, says Verhaen Khanna, commercial pilot-turned environmental activist, who has been conducting forest bathing workshops for school and college students.

"When children are out in the wild, their instincts are most alive. It instills a sense of curiosity in them. While on these walks, children usually ask me a lot of questions about the sights, smells and sounds of the forest. At times, it might be about a strange insect they have seen or it could be about a sound they heard. They become very aware of their surroundings," says Verhaen. Being amid trees is also believed to boost immunity, says Verhaen, whose organisation, New Delhi Nature Society organises a variety of programmes for children starting from listening to birds to creating art, planting trees, mediation, tree climbing, yoga in the park and saving trees. "We have children as young as four years of age taking part. I have seen that children enjoy the time in the wilderness," says Verhaen. The most receptive are children in the four to seven age group. "They are very attentive. They are curious about snakes and spiders. We ensure their safety, of course," he adds.

The basic idea is to help children appreciate nature and understand how important it is to to be able to co-exist with nature. "We are also, in a way, helping them create memories. And the experience of a forest will stay with them for a long time," Verhaen says.

In addition to building a bond with nature, children also develop their personalities by learning how to interact with others in the group.

Picture Credit : Google 

Julia Lorraine Hill (known as Julia Butterfly Hill, born February 18, 1974) is an American environmental activist and tax redirection advocate. She is best known for having lived in a 180-foot (55 m)-tall, roughly 1500-year-old California redwood tree for 738 days between December 10, 1997 and December 18, 1999.

When Julia Lorraine Hill was seven years old, a butterfly landed on her finger during a hike with her family in Arkansas, USA. Amazingly, it stayed there for the rest of the hike, earning her the nickname 'Butterfly'.

At age 22, Julia was in a near-fatal car accident. The crash changed her life. She decided to become an eco-warrior.

Hill climbs Luna

Julia joined the movement to preserve the redwood forest in Humboldt County, California. Hundreds of the massive, ancient redwood trees were marked for cutting down by the Pacific Lumber Company. Several activists prevented the loggers from chopping the trees by climbing them and staying put for a few hours, sometimes a few days. Julia chose a 55-m-tall redwood that was almost 1500 years old and climbed it on December 10, 1997. She called it Luna because she had ascended it on a moonlit night.

Though she hadn't planned on it, the days turned into weeks. Soon, the 24-year-old had spent 42 days atop Luna, longer than anyone else! Volunteers from Earth First! and other organisations helped her build a covered shelter on top of the tree.

Succeeds finally

During her 738-day vigil, the logging company subjected Julia to loud horns and blinding lights. They flew helicopters so close that she was buffeted by strong winds from the rotors. She also lived through one of the worst winters in California history. However, Julia stuck firm. She only came down on December 18, 1999, when the company agreed to preserve Luna and create a three-acre buffer zone around itJulia wrote a memoir called The Legacy of Luna and continued to work actively against deforestation. She set up Circle of Life, a foundation that offers tools for sustainable living.

Picture Credit : Google 

Pollution is considered to be one of the world's biggest environmental threats. Here are ten shocking facts about pollution.

1. Plastic pollution adversely affects marine life. Over 1 million seabirds and 1,00,000 sea mammals are killed by plastic litter in the oceans every year.
2. In January 2019, the Ministry of Environment. Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to monitor and curb air pollution around the country. It aims to reduce air pollution in 122 cities by 20-30 per cent by 2024.
3. According to the World Air Quality Report, 2020' released by the Swiss organisation, IQAir, New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world. Altogether 35 Indian cities are among the world's top 50 most polluted cities.
4. River Ganga flows through many urban centres such as Kanpur, Patna and Kolkata, which dump their industrial effluents and wastewater in the river. The entire length of the river is polluted by the presence of faecal coliform bacteria (germs found in the faeces of warm-blooded animals and humans), making its waters unfit for bathing and drinking.
5. About 70% of water sources in India are severely contaminated. Every year about 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases.
6. Noise pollution is one of the most under-rated forms of pollution. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise above 65 decibels (dB) is termed as noise pollution. Sounds becomes harmful when its exceeds 75 decibels (dB) and painful when it is above 120 dB.
7. Only 20% of about 3.5 million tonnes of solid waste that our world generates every day is recycled, thus overwhleming the landfills with unmangable quantities. Waste is often disposed of at hazardous open dump sites in developing nations including India causing land pollution. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to degradation of soil. making it infertile.
8. According to the WHO, air pollution kills about seven million people worldwide every year. Almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants.
9. 80% of the world's wastewater is released back into the environment-most of it untreated, in the developing countries. Farm runoffs containing minerals such as nitrogen and phosphurus causes nutrient pollution leading to algae bloom. This destroys marine life and even results in permanent 'dead zones.
10. The Asian Brown Cloud (ABC) is a dense fog of pollutants that blankets South Asia from November to April. It hovers over western China, northwest Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Indo-Gangetic plain in northern India. The cloud is almost three kilometres thick. It contains a deadly cocktail of aerosols, ash, soot and other particles, 80 per cent of which is caused by human activity.

Picture Credit : Google 

Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by your actions. This includes everything from production, use and end-of-life of a product or service that you consume.

While the global average carbon footprint is close to 4 tons, it is as high as 16 tons per person in a country like the U.S. In order to achieve the net-zero targets that we have set ourselves for 2050, this average figure has to be brought down to under 2 tons per person by then.

This daunting task can be made achievable by breaking it down suitably. By understanding your carbon footprint and reducing it with changes in your lifestyle, it is possible to make a big difference.

HOW CAN YOU CALCULATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?

There are many online calculators that help you find out your carbon footprint. Most of our daily activities like using electricity, driving a vehicle, or disposing waste. Cause greenhouse emissions. All these emissions together make up our household's carbon footprint. Transportation, housing and food are the three broad categories that form the bulk of an individual's carbon footprint. You will need to know the following details to key into a calculator and find out your carbon footprint:

1) Energy usage in your house.

2) Fuel consumption for cooking.

3) Average distances travelled by flights, car, two-wheelers, bus and train.

4) Composition of diet and average money spent on shopping and various other consumables on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis. Once you have a ballpark estimate of these values, you can then enter them into a calculator like this one: v.gd/cfcalc

Your carbon footprint across categories and the total will then be displayed, comparing it with India's average (if you had used our link) and that of the world's.

Knowing your carbon footprint is the first step towards reducing it. And when you reduce your carbon footprint, you will not only save the planet, but also increase your own savings.

HOW CAN YOU REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?

Knowing your carbon footprint is the first step towards taking action. Once you are more aware of the effects of your actions, then it is possible to start with small changes in your lifestyle that might eventually make a big difference.

Here are some pointers that you and your family can act upon

1) Think about how much and how often you travel. Cut down where you can, especially air travel, and try to make the unavoidable trips more climate-friendly.

2) Be conscious of what you are eating. By eating low down the food chain as frequently as you can, you will not only be able to reduce your carbon footprint, but also stay healthier in the process. Eating everything on the plate is also very important as wasting less food helps you cut down on your carbon footprint while also saving you some money.

3) Make small changes in your home. Be it turning off lights and appliances when not in use, choosing renewables, recycling products, or making your home more energy efficient, there are plenty of things that you can do to save energy and money.

4) By buying less, shopping sustainably and adding your voice to the climate change discussion, you will be able to achieve more towards saving our planet.

Picture Credit : Google 

Among the numerous days celebrated the world over, the one that profoundly impacts the present as well as future generations is World Bicycle Day. Well, on 3 June every year, since 2018, the U.N. General Assembly dedicated this day to celebrate the joy of riding bicycles. The simple structure of a bicycle requires only air and a bit of energy to function, however, it has proved itself to be both environmentally-friendly and a friend to all mankind. Prof Leszek Sibilski, a Polish-American sociologist, along with his sociology students, was the inspirer of this cause.

Apart from being an eco-friendly and economic means of transport, bicycling also promotes good physical as well as mental health. Cycling decreases the possibility of falling prey to cardiovascular diseases, aids in building body muscle, and reduces overall fat. It strengthens bones, improves joint mobility and relieves stress. In addition, it also facilitates the regulation and maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels in our system. Thus, cycling reduces the risk of depression, obesity, arthritis, diabetes, certain cancers, strokes and heart attacks.

The bicycle symbolizes adaptability and sustainability. Governments around the world are adopting and promoting eco-friendly conveyance systems. Many countries have dedicated bicycle tracks which make commuting by bicycle safe. India, too, has introduced bicycle tracks in cities like Delhi and Bangalore.

Though daily riding to work may be an inconvenience, taking into consideration climatic conditions, either having to face the scorching sun or heavy rain, however, despite these conditions, enthusiastic riders change their cycling gear once they reach their destination. It's a trend already prevalent in Europe.

Types of bicycles

If you are new to buying a bicycle, these guidelines will help you choose the right one.

Road bikes: Designed for normal roads.

Mountain bikes: Suited for hilly terrains.

Hybrid/commuter bikes: Combination of road bikes and mountain bikes.

Cyclocross bikes: A road bike feel for off-road trips.

Folding bikes: Commuting, leisure or touring for the short-on-space.

Electric bikes: A hybrid, mountain or road bike with a battery and a motor.

Touring bikes: Designed for carrying loads over longer distances while remaining comfortable for the rider.

Taking into consideration the multiple benefits that cycling has to offer, using a bicycle whenever possible, if not regularly, will be advantageous to both our earth and ourselves. Look for ways in which cycling can be introduced into your daily routine; maybe riding to nearby places while carrying out daily tasks, to school, work or a friend's house. Let's try and adopt the culture of cycling and be the change our environment and our health needs.

Fun Facts

• The longest tandem' bicycle seated 35 people; it was more than 20 metres long.
• Every year, around a 100 million bicycles are manufactured worldwide.
• The use of bicycles has conserved more than 238 gallons of gas yearly.
• The Netherlands is the most bicycle friendly country in the world. 30 per cent of all transport is via bicycle. Seven out of eight of its residents over the age of 15 own bicycles.
• The Tour de France, established in 1903, is the most famous bicycle race in the world. Bicycle track racing has been a sport in the Olympic Games since 1896.

Picture Credit : Google 

Hosting hundreds of plant and animals species that are found nowhere in the world, it's small wonder that Yemen's Socotra archipelago has been called the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.

Full of life!

Located more than 300 km from its parent country Yemen, the Socotra archipelago comprises four islands in the Indian Ocean between Somalia and Yemen. Covering a total area of nearly 4,000 sq.km., the islands are known for their rich biodiversity and unique flora and fauna. For instance, among the 825 plant species found in the region now, as many as 307 cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Birds such as the Socotra starling, Socotra sunbird, and Socotra warbler are said to be found only here. A staggering 90% of reptile species and 95% of land snails too are said to be endemic (found nowhere else). Because of this, the place is often referred to as the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean".

Lying close as it does to the African continent, the archipelago appears to be the extension of the Horn of Africa. About 20 million years ago, these islands were believed to have broken off the Gondwana supercontinent. The archipelago was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with "Outstanding Universal Value" in 2008. Though the habitats within the region appear to be healthy and safe, they are not without threat. These include tourism, invasive species, overusing of natural resources and natural disasters. In fact, the conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "significant concern" in the latest assessment cycle 2020.

Wildlife

Nearly 200 species of birds, including land and sea, are said to be seen in the archipelago. Among them are garganeys, shovelers, pintails, teals, ducks, guinea fowls, quails, flamingoes, grebes, pigeons, doves, sandgrouses, coucals, nightjars, swifts, moorhens, stilts, plovers, stints, snipes, sandpipers, coursers, gulls, terns, tropicbirds, petrels, shearwaters, boobies, egrets, herons, ibises, ospreys, buzzards, owls, hoopoes, bee-eaters, falcons, shrikes, ravens, larks, martins, swallows, warblers, whitethroats, thrushes, wheatears, starlings, sunbirds, pipits, wagtails, buntings, and sparrows. As an archipelago, the region has a startling variety of corals, fishes, crabs, lobsters, and shrimps too, together adding up to more than 1,000 species!

Dragon's blood tree

Synonymous with the identity of Socotra, the dragon's blood tree is found nowhere else in the world. It "lives within remnants of prehistoric 'Dragonsblood forest on granite mountains and limestone plateaus" within Socotra.

Marked by a unique umbrella-shaped canopy, the tree is said to capture the moisture in the air through its leaves and take it to the roots. Having held an economically significant role for centuries, the tree has varied uses. When fed to cattle in very small quantities, the tree's berries are said to improve the animals' health.

The tree gets its name from the red-coloured resin it produces, and this resin is believed to have several medicinal uses. The International Union for Conservation of Nature's conservation status for the tree is "vulnerable".. Shockingly, it has been discovered that hardly any "populations are regenerating naturally". In addition, it has been noticed that "in some areas young trees lack the species' characteristic umbrella shape".

As climate change intensifies, "Socotra is drying out, with once reliable monsoon weather becoming patchy and irregular. And this could spell irreversible change to the archipelago and its unique inhabitants.

Picture Credit : Google 

A study reveals that mushrooms (the above-ground fruit of fungi) are great communicators. When the hyphae (long, thread-like structures that form the mycelium or root network) of a wood-digesting fungi came into contact with wood, they lit up with spikes of electrical signals that reached out to the hyphae of other fungi, suggesting that fungi may use electrical transmissions to share information about food or injury.

To measure spikes in signal activity, tiny electrodes were connected to the hyphae of four fungi species ghost, caterpillar, split gill and enoki. Spikes varied in duration and length, with some lasting up to 21 hours. The clusters of electrical spikes resembled a human vocabulary of up to 50 'words'. However, only 15 to 20 fungal words are used frequently. The average length of each word was 5.97 'letters'; the English language averages 4.8 letters per word. Split-gill mushrooms produced the most diverse 'sentences'.

While the research shows that fungi produce patterns of electric signals, there's no way to tell what they are talking about. Comparing the electrical impulses to human speech is notable, but some researchers say that it requires more research.

Picture Credit : Google 

We know that scattering of light depends on its wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the greater the scattering. The sky appears blue because blue light is extensively scattered. Why doesn't the sky appear violet? After all, violet has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum and therefore it should be scattered the most

When white sunlight enters our atmosphere it is reflected in all directions by millions of tiny particles of dust or by water droplets. This is called scattering.

White light is made up of seven colours each of which has its own wavelength. The colours with the shortest wavelengths are at the blue end of the spectrum. They are scattered the most. The most scattered is violet which has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum.

However, we don't see the sky as violet or indigo. This is because our eyes can see blue colour better than the other two colours.

Picture Credit : Google 

Humans must eat to live, but it shouldn't be at the cost of the environment. Our food production and consumption impact the planet in multiple ways and that's why changing the food system should become part of our climate mitigation initiatives, say scientists.

 Ensuring everyone in the world has access to a nutritious diet is one of the greatest challenges we face, but what's equally pertinent is to achieve this in a sustainable way. Food production, transportation, and consumption affect our planet in ways that we cannot ignore.

A new report from the Global Alliance for the Future of Food says that the world urgently needs to change the way it produces, distributes, consumes, and disposes of food to save the planet. The report says that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10.3 billion metric tons a year. That alone would get us 20% of the way to the Paris Climate Agreement's 2050 goals, it said. Food accounts for over a quarter (26%) of global greenhouse gas emissions. By the time the food you eat gets to your table, much of the environmental impact has already occurred. Here is a look at the ways our food production and consumption practices adversely affect our environment.

Land use and habitat loss

Did you know half of the world's habitable land is used for agriculture? In a bid to meet our growing food demand, more forest lands have been converted into farm lands. Destruction of forests leave animals and birds in them with no homes to go to and no food to eat. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of population decline among wildlife species, eventually leading to extinction in many cases. According to data, of the 28.000 species evaluated to be threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List, agriculture is listed as a threat for 24,000 of them. Deforestation also contributes to global warming and climate change, as forests are major carbon sinks that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Use of chemicals for agriculture

Using fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides impact the environment in two ways: 1) They affect even unintended organisms in the environment. For instance, exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides, which are used against sap-feeding insects such as aphids, has been shown to affect a bee's ability to navigate. Moreover, the toxic chemicals often end up on our plates. 2) The chemicals from fertilizers are released into the atmosphere, water bodies, and soil as harmful pollutants. These in turn affect all the organisms in a food chain. Pesticides have been shown to cause irreparable genetic damage, or even killing important populations. Agriculture runoffs in water bodies cause algal bloom, which in turn affects marine life.

Stress on water resources

Agricultural production has always been and is increasingly water-demanding. Irrigated agriculture is responsible for 70% of freshwater consumption globally. Rice, soybeans, wheat, and sugarcane are some of the water-intensive crops. Agriculture drains our water reserves at an incredible rate. Livestock animals also require large amounts of water. This puts pressure on already depleted water sources.

Greenhouse gas emissions

*Fossil fuels are used to fuel farm equipment such as tractors and graders. Their usage leads to air pollution. Livestock and fisheries account for 31% of food emissions. Livestock - animals raised for meat, dairy, eggs and seafood production - contribute to emissions in several ways. Cows produce methane gas as a result of digestion.

Supply chains account for 18% of food emissions. Food processing, converting produce from the farm into final products, packaging and retail all require energy and resource inputs. Transportation of food is another factor that influences the unsustainability of our food production systems. Where your food comes from also matters. Food that travels from countries far away from India will have a bigger carbon footprint than food grown locally. They use a tremendous amount of fossil fuels.

Food waste

Food is wasted throughout the entire production chain, from initial crop growth, to supermarket screening, to final household. consumption. Food waste includes food scraps, discarded food, and uneaten food. Food waste emissions are large: one-quarter of emissions from food system come from food waste. One third of food produced globally is wasted every year. Disposed of food makes the environment filthy. They end up in landfills, where it rots and produces methane, a greenhouse gas. Did you know 25% of the world's fresh water supply is used to grow food that is never eaten?

Picture Credit : Google 

35000, the number of air-purifying plants that have been placed across Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport in order to tackle indoor air pollution. The plants have been meticulously chosen for their natural ability to clear the air of basic pollutants. The greenery includes plants and flowering trees like Cassia fistula, Alstonia scholaris, spider plants, snake plants, Golden pothos, weeping fig, Jacaranda mimosifolia and bamboo palm that are scientifically known to provide natural air purification.

Outside the airport too, nearly 3.9 million square feet of the area has been covered with plants and shrubs, officials said. A mix of foliage and flowering trees have been used to this end. Indoor species used include cassia fistula, asltonia scholaris, spider plants, snake plants, golden pothos, weeping fig, jacaranda mimosifolia and bamboo palm among others.

“We have been working towards reducing adverse environmental impacts. For this, we have taken various initiatives to improve air quality management and emission reduction at Delhi Airport. We have gone for extensive plantation of air purifying plants and trees inside and outside the terminals of Delhi Airport. This initiative significantly improved the air quality at the airport and its vicinities and the air quality at the airport is regularly monitored by various authorities,” said a DIAL spokesperson. It's a great initiative by IGI to combat pollution. For people who can't afford expensive air purifiers, getting indoor plants is both an intelligent and pocket-friendly idea.

Credit : India Times

Picture Credit : Google 

Earth has undergone many environmental changes in its history. But the current ones are being caused by one species: humans. Our activities contribute to global warming, climate change, extreme weather events, species extinction, resource depletion, and what not. Let's take a closer look at six of them to mark Earth Day, observed on April 22.

1. POLLUTION

Since the industrial revolution, environmental pollution has been on the rise. Pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants into the environment that negatively alters our surroundings. While pollution can take several forms, such as light and noise, the three major types are air, land, and water pollution. Humans contribute to each of these every day. Pollution affects biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health worldwide. Air pollution is attributed to 11.65% of deaths globally, for instance. Vehicular and industrial emission, and basically, our dependence on fossil fuel for energy, is the chief cause of air pollution. While water pollution comes from sewage, chemicals, agricultural runoffs, etc. land pollution is caused by indiscriminate dumping of garbage, toxic materials, and industrial waste. Not to mention the harm caused by plastic pollution to marine and terrestrial life. As economies and population grow, pollution too increases at an alarming rate globally.

 2.GLACIER MELT AND SEA-LEVEL RISE

Nineteen of the warmest years in the recorded history of the planet has occurred since 2000. Models predict that as the world consumes more fossil fuel, greenhouse gas concentrations will continue to rise, and Earth's average surface temperature will rise with them. Average surface temperatures could rise between 2°C and 6°C by the end of the 21st Century. A warmer atmosphere causes glaciers and polar ice sheets to melt rapidly. Glacial melt has a direct impact on freshwater flow because glaciers store water in the form of ice during the colder seasons and release it during warmer seasons by way of melting. This serves as a water source for humans, animals, and vegetation. Glacier melt also contributes to unusual rise in sea level. The impact of sea-level rise includes flooding of coastal areas, increased soil erosion, disappearance of some low-lying islands, saltwater intrusion, and habitat destruction in coastal areas, which, in turn, can affect coastal ecosystems.

What can you do?

A few tips on how we can reduce our impact on global warming: 1. Urge your parents to switch to renewable sources such as solar to power your home.

2. Use energy-efficient appliances at home and school

 3. Support local businesses that use and promote sustainable, climate-smart practices

3. DEFORESTATION

Deforestation is the destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. Earth loses 18.7 million acres of forests per year, which is equal to 27 football fields every minute, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Farmers clear forests to use the land for agriculture. Trees are cut for mining. for use as fuel. housing, and urbanisation, contruction of dams and infrastructual projects, and for making furniture. Deforestation is considered to be one of the contributing factors to global warming and climate change. Trees absorb not only the carbon dioxide that we exhale, but also the other heat-trapping greenhouse gases that human activities emit. With increase in deforestation, larger amounts of these gases will enter the atmosphere and global warming will increase further. As much as 70 % of the world's plants and animals live in forests. They are losing their habitats due to deforestation. Loss of habitat can lead to species extinction.

What can you do?

1. Plant saplings

2. Go paperless

3. Go for used-furniture instead of buying new ones every time.

4.WATER CRISIS

If global temperatures continue to rise, rainfall will increasingly become a thing of extremes: long dry spells here. dangerous floods there and in some places, intense water shortages. This will also affect agriculture. Worldwide, farmers are struggling to keep up with shifting weather patterns and increasingly unpredictable water supplies. Extreme weather patterns also destroy life, property. and livelihood. The rapid increase in population and the massive growth in the industrial sector have increased the demand for water multifold. Overexploitation and wastage of water are major issues, especially in urban areas. A UN report says that at least two billion people live in countries with high water stress. That is more than a quarter of the world population. Ecosystems and biodiversity are threatened by the scarcity of water resources. Water crisis can also lead conflict between States that share water sources such as river.

What can you do?

1. Do not waste water

2. Fix leaking tap and try to reuse water wherever possible

3. Urge your parents to install rainwater harvesting facility

4. Don't pollute water: Do not dump household solid waste or oil and chemicals into the drainage system. Do not litter. They are likely to end up in a waterbody.

5.WILDFIRE

As warmer temperatures increase evaporation, the land becomes drier and drier, enhancing the chances of wildfires. The intense, destructive fires that have dominated headlines in recent years are expected to become more frequent, even in places such as the Arctic. Extreme fires are projected to rise up to 14% by 2030 and 30% by mid-century, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme.

Wildfires not only destroy forests and cause loss of life, they emit large amounts of greenhouse gases such as CO2, methane, and carbon monoxide. The smoke from burning vegetation can pose serious risks to respiratory health. Animals are directly impacted by wildfire. They lose their life or their home and food source.

What can you do?

1. Build your campfire in an open location and far from flammables

 2. Do not contribute to global warming

3. Avoid burning wastes around dry grass.

6. WILDLIFE TRADE

Wildlife trade is a big business, run by international networks. Animals and birds are trafficked across the globe for meat, skin, bone, fur, and other body parts. In addition, many species are sold as pets. Experts at TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, estimate that the illegal wildlife commerce runs into billions of dollars. Wildlife trafficking threatens the survival of some of the Earth's most iconic species: tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, pangolin, etc. It affects food chain and threatens the local ecosystem. Wildlife trade also increases the chances of human-animal contact, putting humans at the risk of contracting diseases. COVID-19 was linked to wildlife trade and eating of wildlife. People who handled, killed, and sold wild animals made up nearly 40 % of the first cases of SARS. Poorly regulated wet markets and illegal wildlife trade offer a unique opportunity for viruses to spill over from wildlife hosts into the human population.

What can you do?

1. Create awareness among the public about wildlife trade.

2. Say no to exotic pets. They may have been trafficked and kept in unsafe conditions before being sold.

3. Avoid buying things made from ivory, horns, and leather. This discourages illegal trading.

Picture Credit : Google 

The negative impact of processed food on our health has been well-established. But did you know such foods are also a threat to our environment?

Processed foods are items that are a result of a series of industrial processes. They include confectionery, soft drinks, chips, pre-prepared meals, and fast foods. They contain preservatives, food colouring and little or no whole food. Such products are the mainstay of a 'globalised diet' and are becoming dominant in the global food supply, with sales and consumption growing in all regions and almost all countries. This means that dietary patterns worldwide are becoming increasingly more processed and less diverse.

What are the environmental  impacts?

• There are more than 7,000 edible plant species, but 90% of humanity's energy intake comes from just 15 crop plants, and more than four billion people rely on just three of them: rice, wheat and maize, which are also the main ingredients in processed food. As the production of processed food increases, it places pressure on the environment in which the above-mentioned crops are grown. Moreover, animal-sourced ingredients used in many processed foods are often derived from confined animals that feed on the same crops.

• Loss of agrodiversity also impacts animals, birds and insects that depend on other crops.

• Some ingredients used in ultra-processed foods such as cocoa, sugar, and vegetable oil are strongly associated with biodiversity loss. For instance, demand for palm oil (a common ingredient in processed foods) is associated with deforestation in Southeast Asia.

• The processed food production uses large quantities of land, water, energy, herbicides and fertilizers; and causes environmental degradation from greenhouse gas emissions. Not to mention the plastic pollution caused by the packaging of processed food.

When you avoid processed food, you are taking care not only of your health, but also of the planet.

Picture Credit : Google 

Researchers from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, have identified a roadside plant that can take up lead from the soil and thus help in removing the toxic metal from the environment. The plant was found to accumulate lead at about 12,000 microgram/g of dry weight in the root and 7,000 microgram/g of dry weight in its shoot.

"These plants grow in soils that are continuously exposed to lead from vehicle exhausts. Though lead additives in petrol and diesel are banned now, some low-quality fuels still have a huge percentage of lead," explained Dr Joseph George Ray from the School of Biosciences at the University.

Eclipta prostrata or Bhringraj (False Daisy) had the highest lead tolerance out of three shortlisted plants. "The plant may be using the lead to protect itself from pests or other predators," said Dr Ray. 

Dr Ray further explained that the plants can be burned after they have taken up the lead. In this way, the metal can be effectively contained and disposed off safely.

Picture Credit : Google 

Places where the land meets the sea are crucial for our planet to function. They support biodiversity and the livelihoods of billions of people. But due to pressure caused by human activity, only 16% of coastal areas around the world remain intact, according to a study. The research, involving an international team of experts, revealed an alarming story.

An international team led by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia has mapped the impact of human-caused pressures on coastal regions to identify those that have been already highly degraded, and those that remain intact. The findings, published in the journal Conservation Biology, provide insights into the widespread impacts of human activity on Earth's precious coastal ecosystems.

What did the study find?

The research looked at two datasets - one focussed on human impacts on land, and the other observed human impacts from a marine perspective. Both maps use data up to the year 2013 - the most recent year for which cohesive data is available.

• Coastal regions containing seagrasses, savannah, and coral reefs had the highest levels of human pressure compared to other coastal ecosystems.
• More than half the coastal regions have degraded in 84% of countries.
• Earth's 47.9% of coastal regions have been exposed to very high levels of human pressure.
• Human pressures were high in about 43% of protected coastal regions.
• Scientists believe that some coastal regions have been so degraded that they cannot be restored.

Where are the highly damaged coastal regions located?

High levels of degradation are found in island nations, much of Europe, and in countries including Vietnam, India and Singapore.

Which are the intact regions?

Many of the intact coastal regions are in Canada, followed by Russia and Greenland. Large expanses of intact coast are also found elsewhere including Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Brazil and the United States.

Why are coasts vital?

• Coastal regions encompass some of the most diverse and unique ecosystems on Earth. They include coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass, tidal flats, mangroves, estuaries, salt marshes, wetlands and coastal wooded habitats.
• Many animal species, including those that migrate, rely on coastlines for breeding, foraging and protection.
• Coastal sites are also where rivers discharge, mangrove forests exchange nutrients with the ocean, and tidal flows are maintained.
• Humans also need coastlines. Among other functions, they support our fisheries, protect us from storms and, importantly, store carbon to help mitigate climate change.

How is human activity impacting the coasts?

As much as 74% of the human population live within 50km of the coast, and humans put pressure on coastal environments in myriad ways. In marine environments, these pressures include:

• Fishing at various intensities
• Water and light pollution
• Recreation and tourism
• Shipping
• Climate change and associated issues such as ocean acidification, sea-level rise and increased sea surface temperatures.

On land, human pressures include:

• Coastal development
• Infrastructure development
• Agriculture and pasture lands
• Clearing of land for settlement
• Plastic and other forms of land pollution

What should governments do?

Governments should take steps to conserve the coastal regions that remain in good condition, while restoring those that have been degraded but can still be fixed.

Other actions should include improving environmental governance and laws related to encroachments, increasing well-resourced protected areas, mitigating land-use change to prevent increased pollution run-off, better community and local engagement, strengthening indigenous involvement in managing coastal regions, effective management of fishing resources, addressing climate change and tackling geopolitical and socioeconomic drivers of damage to coastal environments.

Picture Credit : Google