This document summarizes several topics related to environmental issues: 1. Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trapping heat in the troposphere. This is increasing global temperatures and rising sea levels. 2. Other issues covered include acid rain, ozone layer depletion, water conservation techniques, watershed management, environmental legislation, and links between the environment and human health such as infectious diseases, chemicals, noise, radiation, and diet. A variety of solutions are proposed to mitigate these problems.

1. ENVIRONMENTALSTUDIES
UNIT-III
S.BALACHANDAR
M.Sc,M.Tech(PhD)NETSET
GLOBALWARMING
Troposphere,thelowermostlayeroftheatmosphere,trapsheatbyanatural
processduetothepresenceofcertaingases.Thiseffectiscalled“Greenhouseeffect”’
Theaverageglobaltemperatureis15
0
cintheabsenceofgreenhousesgasesit
wouldbeen-18
0
ctherefore,greenhouseeffectcontainsatemperatureraiseto33
0
c.
Greenhousegases:
1. Carbondioxide:Itcontributesabout55%toglobalwarmingfrom greenhouse
gasesproducedbyhumanactivity.Themainsourcesarefossilfuelburning
(67%),deforestation(33%)co2staysintheatmosphereforabout500yearsco2
concentrationintheatmospherewas355ppm andincreasingatarateof1.5
ppm/everyyear.
2. Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs):Thesearebelievedtoberesponsiblefor24%ofthe
humancontributed. Theyalsodepleteozoneinthestratosphere. Themain
sourcesare leaking airconditioners,refrigerators,evaporation ofindustrial
solvents. Productionofplasticfoams,aerosols,propellants,CFC’sdeplete
ozone during their65 to 110 years stayin the stratosphere atmospheric
concentrationis0.00225ppmthatisincreasingatarateof0.5%annually.
3. Methane(CH4):Itaccountsfor18% oftheincreasedgreenhousegases
methaneisproducedwhenbacteriabreakdowndeadorganicmatterinmoist
placesthatlackoxygensuchasswampsnaturalwetlands,paddyfields,landfills
etc.Itstaysintheatmospherefor7-10years.Atmosphericconcentrationis
1.675ppmanditisincreasingatarateof1%annually.
4. NitrousOxide(N2o):Itisresponsiblefor6%ofthehumaninputofgreenhouse
gases.Itisreleasedfrom nylonproducts,from burningofbiomassandnitrogen
richfuelsandfrom thebreakdownofnitrogenfertilizerinsoil.Livestockand
nitratecontaminatedgroundwater.Itslifespaninthetroposphereisis140-190
yearstheatmosphereconcentrationofN2ois0.3ppm andisincreasingatarate
of0.2%annually.

2. Impacts:
1. Globaltemperatureincrease:Itisestimatedthattheearth’smeantemperature
willrisebetween1.5to5.5
0
cby2050ifinputofgreenhousegasescontinuesto
raiseatthepresentrate.
2. RiseinSeaLevel:Withtheincreaseinglobaltemperatureseawaterwillexpand
heatingwillmeltthepolaricecapsandglaciersresultinginfurtherriseinsea
levelcurrentmodelsindicatethatan increasein theaverageatmospheric
temperatureof3
0
cwouldraisetheaverageglobalsealevelby0.2–1.5m over
next50-100yearsonemeterriseinsealevelwillsubmergelowlyingareasof
citieslikeshanghai,Cairo,Bangkok,Sydney,HamburgandVenice.
3. EffectsonHumanhealth:Theglobalwarmingwillleadtochangesintherainfall
patterninmanyareas,therebyaffectingthedistributionofvector-bornediseases
likemalaria,filariasis,elephantiasisetc.,
4. EffectsonAgriculture:Ariseof2
0
cmaybequiteharmfultocrops,soilmoisture
willdecrease,evopo-transpirationwillincreased,whichmayaffectwheatand
maizeproductionincreasingintemperaturewillincreasepestgrowth.
MEASURES
1. cutdownthecurrentrateofCFC’s
2. useenergymoreefficiency
3. shiftfromcoaltoN.Gas
4. Increasenuclearpowerplants.
5. stabilizepopulationgrowth
6. Plantmoretrees.
ACIDRAINS
Oxidesofsulpherandnitrogenoriginatingfrom industrialoperationsandfossil
fuelcombustionarethemajorsourcesofacidforminggases. Thesegasesare
oxidizedoverseveraldaysbywhichtimetheytravelseveralthousandkilometers.Inthe
atmospherethesegasesareultimatelyconvertedintosulphuricacid. Theseacids
causeacidicrain.
Effects:
1. ItcausesdeteriorationofbuildingsespeciallymadeofmarbleEx:Tajmahal
2. Itdamagestonestatues,metalsandcarfinishing.
3. Aquaticlifeespeciallyfisharebadlyaffectedbylakeacidification

3. 4. Aquaticanimalssurfacefrom toxicityofmetalsresultsinreproductivefailure,
andkillingoffish.
5. Itdamagesandweakenstrees.
Control:
1. EmissionofSO2andNO2from industriesandpowerplantsshouldbereducedby
usingpollutioncontrolequipments.
2. LimingoflakesandsoilsshouldbedonetocorrectthePHofwater.
3. Aprotectivecoatingisgivenintheinteriorofwaterpipesfordrinkingwater
OZONELAYERDEPLETION
Forthe last450 million years the earth had a naturalsunscreen in the
stratospherecalledtheozonelayer.Thisfiltersoutharmfulultravioletradiationsfrom
thesunlightandprotectsvariouslifeformsontheearth.
Ozoneisaform ofoxygencontainingthreeoxygenatoms(O3).Inthelower
mesosphere,atmosphericoxygengetsdissociateandcombineswithmolecularoxygen
ofupperstratosphereandproducingozone.
Causes:
1. CFC’s from refrigerators,airconditioners and spray cans released into
atmosphere.
2. Nitrooxideemittedbysupersonicaircrafts.
3. Bycombinationoffossilfuelsanduseofnitrogenfertilization.
4. Sulphateaerosolsfromdenselypopulatedindustrialareas.
5. Nuclear explosions produce large quantities of Nox directly enter into
stratosphere.
Effects:
1. OzonedepletioninthestratospherewillresultinmoreUVradiationreachingthe
earthresultinmutationandcancer.
2. AbsorptionofUVraysbylensandcorneaofeyeballwillresultsincataract.
3. MelaninproducingcellsoftheskinwillbedestroyedbyUVrays.
4. PhytoplanktonsaresensitivetoUVexposureandalsoaffectingthezooplankton
fish,marineanimals.
5. Yieldofvitalcropslikecorn,rice,soyabean,cotton,bean,pea,sorghum and
wheatswilldecrease.
6. Degradationofpaints,plasticsandotherpolymermaterialwillresultineconomic
lossduetoUVradiation.

4. WATERCONSERVATION
WaterbeingoneofthemostpreciousandJudiciousresourceneedstobeconserved
somemeasuresinclude.
1. Decreasingrun-offlosses,Hugewaterlossoccursduetorun-offonmostofthesoils,
whichcanbereducedby
a.contourcultivation
b.Chemicalwettingagents(surfactants)
c.Surfaceleapresidue
d.Chemicalconditionerslikegypsums
e.Waterstoragestructure
2. Reducingevaporationlosses
3. Reducingirrigationlosses.
4. Re-useofwater
5. preventingwastageofwater
Theconsumerhastopayahigherbillwithhigheruseofwater.Thishelpsineconomic
useofwaterbytheconsumer.
Isthecarefuluseandprotectionofwaterresourcesandinvolvesboththequantityand

5. qualityofwaterused.
DomesticConservation:
Asmuchashalfofthewaterusedfordomesticpurposescanbesavedbyserious
changesinthelifestylesbyimplementingfollowingmeasures.
1. Takeshortershowers.
2. Repairallleaksquickly
3. Turnoffwaterwhennotneededforwashingbrushingteeth,shaving
4. Useconservingappliances,likeefficientdishwashersandwashingmachinesetc.
5. Uselow-flowtoiletsandflush
6. Usegraywaterfromwashingmachinestowatervegetation.
7. Inaridandsemi-aridregions,replacelushgreenlawnswithdecorativerockgarden.
8. Localbodiesshouldinstallwatermeterandencouragewaterpricingpolicies.
IndustrialConservation:
Waterconservationmeasuresthatcanbetakenbyindustriesandmanufacturingunits
include.
1. Usingdrycoolingsystems(or)coolingtowers.
2. Reusethecoolingwaterforirrigation
3. Industriesshouldtreatandrecyclethewaterbydevelopingnewequipment
AgriculturalConservation:
Agricultureisthebiggestwateruser.Improvedirrigationcouldreducewithdrawisby
20to30%.
1. Usesprinklers(or)dripirrigation.
2. Givewatertofieldsintheearlymorning(or)atnightwhenevaporationisminimum.
3. Adoptbetterfarmingtechniques,suchasminimumtillage.
4. Usemulchtohelpretainwateraroundplants.
5. Encouragingthedevelopmentofcropsthatrequireslesswaterandaredroughtresistant.
RAINWATERHARVESTING
Isatechniqueofincreasingtherechargeofgroundwaterbycapturingandstoring
rainwaterthis isdone byconstructing specialwater-harvesting structure like dug wells,
percolationpits,lagoons,checkdams.Rainwaterharvestinghasthefollowingobjectives
i) toreducerun-offloss
ii) toavoidfloodingofroads
iii) tomeettheincreasingdemandofwater
iv) toraisethewatertablebyrecharginggroundwater
v) toreducewatercontamination

6. Isdefinedasamethodforinducing,collecting,storingandconservinglocalsurface
runoffforlateruse.Thisisofthreetypes.
1. Watercollectedfrom rooftopsusedfordomesticpurpose(or)forgroundwater
recharge.
2. Micro-attachmentwaterharvestingisamethodofcollectingsurfacerunofffromasmall
catchmentsareaandstoringitintherootzoneplantedwithtrees,bushes(or)annual
crops.
3. Macrocatchmentswaterharvesting,alsocalledharvestingfrom externalcatchments
whererunofffromhillslopeisconveyedtothecroppingarealocatedathillfoot.
Thecollectionofrainwaterfrom roofscaneasilytakeplaceincitiesanunderground
tank,sealedfrom allsideswithasmallopeningontopforcleaningwithlime(adisinfectant)
wereseeneverywhere.
WATERSHEDMANAGEMENT
Thewatershedisdefinedasthelandareafrom whichwaterdrainsundergravitywhich
waterdrainsundergravitytoacommondrainagechannelitrangesfrom afewkilometersto
fewthousandsq.kilometers.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Torehabilitatethewatershedthroughproperlanduse.
2. Tomanagethewatershedforbeneficialdevelopmentalactivitieslikedomesticwater
supplyirrigation,hydropowergenerationetc.
3. Tominimizetherisksoffloods
4. Todevelopruralareas.
PRACTICES:
1. Waterharvesting
2. Aforestation
3. Mechanicalmeasuresforreducingsoilerosionandrunofflosses.
4. Scientificmining
5. Publicparticipation
Themanagementofasingleunitoflandwithitswaterdrainagesystem iscalled
watershedmanagement.Itisatechniquethathasseveralcomponents.Thisincludessoiland
watermanagementdevelopingvegetativecover.
Thisisalandmanagementprogram thatlooksataregionfrom theperspectiveofallits
waterrelatedissues.Itcanbeusedtomanageariverfrom itssourcetoitstermination.Itis
alsothemanagementofsinglevallyasaunitbasedonitssmallstreams.

7. ENVIRONMENTALLEGISLATION
On5
th
June,1972,environmentwasfirstdiscussedasanitemofinternationalagendain
theU.N.conferenceonHumanEnvironmentinstockholusandthereafter5
th
Juneiscelebrated
allovertheworldasworldEnvironmentDaysoonaftertheconferenceourcountrytook
substantivelegislativestepsforenvironmentalprotection.Theseinclude
1. Wildlife(protection)Act1972.
2. Water(preventionandcontrolofpollution)Act,1972
3. Forest(conservation)Act.1980.
4. Air(Preventionandcontrolofpollution)Act,1981
5. Environment(protective)Act,1986.
ConstitutionalProvisions:
Theprovisionsforenvironmentalprotectiveintheconstitutionweremadewithinfour
yearsofstockholusconference,in1976throughthe42
nd
amendmentasfollows
Article48–A–“Thestateshallendeavortoprotectandimprovetheenvironmentandto
safeguardforestandwildlifeofthecountry”.
Article51A(g)–“ItshallbethedutyofeverycitizenofIndiatoprotectandimprovethe
naturalenvironmentincludingforest,lakes,riversandwildlifeandtohavecompassionforliving
creatures”.
Thusoverconstitutionincludesenvironmentalprotectionandconservationasoneofour
fundamentalduties.
Themainregulatorybodiesarethepollutioncontrolboards,whichhavebeen,conferred
thefollowingdutiesandpowers.
CentralpollutionControlBoard(CPCB):
1. Itadvicesthecentralgovt.inmattersrelatedtopreventionandcontrolofpollution.
2. CoordinatestheactivitiesofstatepollutionandControlBoardsandprovidesthem
technicalassistanceandguidance.
3. Organizetrainingprogramsonpollutionrelatedissues.
4. collects,compilesandpolishertechnicalandstatisticaldatarelatedtopollution
5. Preparesmanualsfortreatmentanddisposalofsewageandeffluents
6. Laysdownstandardsforwaterqualityparameters.
7. Plantation-wideprogramsforprevention,control(or)abatementofpollution.
8. Establisherandrecognizelaboratoriesforanalysisofwater,sewage(or)effluence
sample.
StatePollutionControlBoards:
1. TheBoardadvisestheStateGovt.withrespecttothelocationofanyindustrythatmight
polluteastream(or)awell.

8. 2. TheStateBoardisempoweredtotakelegalsamplesoftradeefficientinaccordance
withtheprocedurelaiddownintheAct.
3. Everyindustryhastoobtainconsentform theBoardbyapplyingonaprescribed
Performaprovidingalltechnicaldetails.
4. TheBoardsuggestedefficientmethodsforutilization,treatmentanddisposaloftrade
effluents.
ENVIRONMENTANDHUMANHEALTH
Accordingtheworldhealthorganization(WHO)healthis“astateofcompletephysical,
mentalandsocialwell-beingandmerelytheabsenceofdisease(or)infirmity”.Humanhealthis
influencedbymanyfactorslikenutritional,biologicalchemical(or)psychological. These
factorsmaycauseharmfulchangesinthebody’sconditionercalleddisease”.
1.InfectionsOrganisms:Microbesespeciallybacteriacancausefoodpoisoningbyproducing
toxinsinthecontaminatedfoodsomemouldsgrow onfoodandproducepoisonoustoxins.
Infectionsorganismscanalsocauserespiratorydiseases(pneumonia,tuberculosis,influenza
etc.,)gastrointestinaldiseases(diarrhea,dysentery,choleraetc.,).Therearevarioustypesof
parasitesthatcausediseaseslikemalaria,filariasisetc.Mostofthereinfectionstakeplace
whentheenvironmentalconditionsareuncleanandunhygienic.
2.Chemicals:Alargenumberofchemicalsareintroducedintheenvironmentbymanmade
activitieschemicalscanbedividedintotwotypes1.Hazardousandtoxicchemicalshazardous
arethedangerouschemicalslikeexplosives,inflammablechemicalsetc.Toxicchemicalsare
poisonouschemicalswhichkillcellsandcancausedeath.Manyotherchemicalscausecancer
(carcinogenic),affectgeneticmaterial(DNA)incells,affectnervoussystem(neurotoxin).
3. Noise:Soundlevelsbeyondthepermissiblelevelexistforcertainduration;itbecomes
painfulandsometimesirreparabledamagehearingdamagevarioustypesofphysiologicaland
psychologicalchangesareinducedbynoisepollution.
4.Radiations:thereareknowntocauseshort-term andlong-term changesinvariousorgan
cosmicrays,UVrayscauseharmfuleffect,includingcancer.
5.Diet:Ithasaveryimportantroleinmaintaininghealthmalnutritionmakeshumansproneto
otherdiseases.Thereisastrongcorrelationbetweencardiovasculardiseasesandtheamount
ofsaltandfatinone’sdiet.Foodcontamination,adulterationcancauseilleffects.
6.Settlement:Properenvironment,availableofbasicnecessitiesoflifelike,water,sanitation
etc.,areessentialforhealthyliving.
HIV/AIDS
AIDS,theacquiredImmunoDeficiencySyndromeisnotahereditarydiseasebutis
causedbyHIV(HumanImmunoDeficiencyVirus).HIVfrom aninfectedpersoncanpasstoa
normalpersonthroughbloodcontactgenerallyduringunprotectsex,shavingneedles(or)
syringes,mothertobabies.

9. HIVdoesn’tspreadthroughtear,sweet,urine,forces(or)salivaduringnormalkissing.It
alsodoesnotspreadbysharingutensils,towelsandtoiletseats. Accordingtoarecent
estimateabout40millionpeoplearelivingwithHIV/AIDS.AIDSwasdiscoveredin1983.
WhenthereisanAIDSepidemiclargenumberofdeathsoccurswhichadverselyaffect
localenvironmentandnaturalresources.Duetolargenumberofdeaththereislossoflabor
andthelevelofproductiondecreases.
WOMENANDCHILDWELFARE
WomenWelfare:
Womenusuallysurfacediscriminationanddevaluationathomeatworkplace,inmatrimonyin
inheritance,inpubliclifeandpowerparticularlyIdevelopingcountries.Theexceptionallyhigh
numberofcasesofabduction,dowrydeaths,rape,domesticviolence,criminaloffencesand
mentaltorturetowomenissomethingthatneedsimmediateattentionandreformsinthe
interestofthewomen. Therearenow many‘womengroups’whoactivelytake-upwomen
welfareissuesandlegallyconstituted“womencells”thatexistalmosteverywhereandfightfor
protectionofwomanrightsanddignity.Thereisafullyfledgedministryforwomenandchild
developmentwhosesoleaimistoworkforthewelfareandupliftmentofwomenencompassing
familyplanning,healthcare,educationandawareness.
ChildWelfare:
Childrenareconsideredtobetheassetsofasociety.But,ironically,thestatisticalfigurestell
usthataboutamillionbabies,outof21millionborneveryyearinIndiaareabandonedsoon
aftertheirbirth dueto differentsocio-economicreasons. MinistryofHuman Resource
Development(MHRD),GOIformulatedwelfareinthepriorityareasofhealth,education,nutrition,
cleanandsafedrinkingwater,sanitationandenvironment.
POPULATIONEXPLOTION
Thegrowthofhumanpopulationcanbeviewedinfourmajorperiods.
1. Anearlyperiodofhunters:Thepopulationdensitywasabout1personper260SqKm.It
isestimatedthatthetotalpopulationwasprobablylessthanamillion.
2. Early,Per-industrialagriculture:Thisperiodbegansometimebetween9,000BCand
6,000BCandlasteduntilthe16
th
centuryAD(populationwasabout500million)
3. Theageofindustrialrevolution:About400yearsagowiththeindustrialrevolution
associatedwiththeadvancesinmedicineandhealthcarethepopulationhasreached
900millionin1800ADand3billionby1960.

10. 4. TheModernEra:Thepopulationgrowthhassloweddownindevelopedcountriesbutstill
continuestoincreaseindevelopingcountries.Atmid2002theworldpopulationstood
at6.2billion. Accordingtoprojectiontheglobalpopulationwillbeapproximately8
billionby2025and10billionby2050.
VARIATIONAMONGNATIONS
Intermsofcontinentsandcountries,theworld’spopulationisveryillbalanced.More
thanhalfoftheworld’speopleliveinAsia(App.3.7billions),America(1.3billion),Africa(840
million),Europe(728million)oftheworld’spopulation.
Thedistributionwithinthecontinentsisalsouneven.InAsia,Chinaalone,with1.28
billion.India–1.05billion,Pakistan–143.5million,Bangladesh–133.6million;Nepal–23.9
million,SriLanka– 18.9million,Bhutan– 0.9million,Maldives– 0.3million. Themost
populousEuropeancountriesareRussia–143.5million,Germany–82.4million,UK–60.2
million,France–59.5million,Italy–58.1million,Spain–41.3millionandPoland–38.6million.
AfricaandAmericanpeopleareforthemostpartspreadverythinlyacrosstheland
leavinglargesectionsuchasNorthernCanada,SouthWestUSA,theSaharadesertandthe
AmazonForestpracticallyuninhabited.
Therapidgrowthofpopulationisperhapsthemostobviousfactoraffectingthepresent
andfuturenationalandregionaldevelopment.
POPULATIONCHARACTERISTICS
1. ExponentialGrowth:Whenaquantityincreasesbyaconstantamountperunittime
Ex.1,35,7etc.,itiscalledlinergrowth.But,whenitincreasesbyafixedpercentageitisknown
asexponentialgrowtheg.10,10
2
,10
3
,10
4
,(or)2,4,8,16,32etc,.
2. DoublingTime:Thetimeneededforapopulationtodoubleitssizeataconstantannual
rateisknownasdoublingtime.Itiscalculatedasfollows.
Td=70/r
WhereTd=doublingtimeinyears
r=Annualgrowthrate
Ifanationhas2%annualgrowthrate,itspopulationwilldoublein35year.
1.TotalFertilityRates(TFR):Itisoneofthekeymeasuresofanationpopulationgrowth.Is
definedastheaveragenumberofchildrenthatwouldbeborntowomeninherlifetimeif
theagespecificbirthratesremainconstant.Thevaluevariesfrom 1.9indeveloped
nationto4.7indevelopingnation.
2.InfantMortalityRate:Itisanimportantparameteraffectingfuturegrowthofapopulation.It
isthepercentageofinfantsdiedoutofthoseborninayearthisratehasdeclinedinthe
last50years.
3.ReplacementLevel:Thisisanimportantconceptinpopulationdynamics(or)demography.

11. Twoparentsbearingtwochildrenwillbereplacedbytheiroffspring.Thelevelisabout
2.7indevelopingnationsand2.1fordevelopednations.
4.AgeStructure:Agestructureofpopulationofanationcanberepresentedbyagepyramids,
baseduponpeoplebelongingtodifferentageclasseslikepre-productive(0-14yr),
reproductive(15-44yr)postreproductive(45yrandabove).
5.Zeropopulationgrowth(2PG):Whenbirthplusimmigrationinapopulationarejustequalto
deathsplusemigrationitissaidtobezeropopulationgrowth.
6.Male-Femaleratio:Theratioofboysandgirlsshouldbefairlybalancedinasocietyto
flourish.InChinatheratiobecome
7.LifeExpectancy:Itistheaverageagethatanewborninfantisexpectedtoaffairsinagiven
country.Theaveragerisesfrom40to60.5years.
8.DemographicTransition:Populationgrowthisusuallyrelatedtoeconomicdevelopment.
Thereoccursatypicalfallindeathratesand birth ratesdueto improved living
conditions leading to low population growth,a phenomenon called demographic
transition.
EffectsofPopulationExplosion:
1. Unemployment
2. Lowlivingstandardsofpeople.
3. Slowprocessofdevelopmentofeconomy.
4. Pressureonagriculturalland.
5. Lowpercapitaincome.
6. Lackofbasicamenitieslikewatersupplyandsanitationeducation,healthetc.
7. HighCrimerate.
8. Environmentaldamage.
9. MigrationtourbanareainsearchofJob.
10. Energycrisis
11. Overcrowdingofcitiesleadstodevelopmentofslums.
Inordertoovercomethisproblem ofpopulationexplosion,asoundpopulationpolicyis
requiredwiththefollowingobjectives.
1. Quickeconomicdevelopmentandraisingthepercapitaincome.
2. Reductioninbirthrate,risingageofmarriage.
3. Improvementofthequalityofthepopulationaswellbyprovidingbetterfacilitiesin
education,healthetc.,
4. Thedeathrateshouldbebroughtdownfurther,ashighdeathrateresultsinwasteof
humanenergyandresources.
5. Integratingpopulationplanningwitheconomicplanning.
ROLEOFINFORMATIONTECHNOLOGYINENVIRONMENTALSTUDIES

12. Information Technology has tremendous potentialin the field ofenvironmental
education and health. Developmentofinternetfacilities,World WideWeb,geographical
informationsystems(GIS)andinformationthroughsatelliteshasgeneratedawealthofup-to-
dateinformationonvariousaspectsofenvironmentalhealth.
1. Database:
Isthecollectionofinter-relateddataonvarioussubjectsGOIhastakenupthetaskof
compilingadatabaseonvariousbioticcommunitiesitincludeswildlifedatabase,
conservationdatabase,forestcoverdatabaseetc,. Databaseisalsoavailablefor
diseaseslikeHIV/AIDS,MalariaandFlourosisetc.
2. NationalManagementInformationSystem(NMIS):
OfthedepartmentofScienceandTechnologyhascompiledadatabaseonResearch
and DevelopmentProjects along with information aboutresearch scientists and
personnelinvolved.
3. EnvironmentalInformationSystem(ENVIS):
TheMinistryofEnvironmentandForests,GOIhascreatedaninformationsystem called
EnvironmentalInformationSystem(ENVIS).WithitsheadquartersinDelhiitfunctionsin
25differentcentersalloverthecountry.Itworksforgeneratinganetworkofdatabase
in areas like pollution control,clean technologies,remote sensing,environment
renewableenergy,desertification,wildlifeminingetc,.
4. RemoteSensingandGeographicalInformationSystem(GIS):
Satelliteimageriesprovideusactualinformationaboutvariousphysicalandbiological
resourcesandalsotosomeextentabouttheirstateofdegradationinadigitalform through
remotesensing.
GISistechniqueofsuperimposingvariousthematicmapsusingdigitaldataonalarge
numberofInter-related(or)interdependentaspects.
5. WorldwideWeb(www):
A vastquantum ofcurrentdataisavailableonWorldWideWeboneofthemost
importanton-linelearningcenterwithpowerwebis
www.mnhe.com/environmentalscience.
Providesthemostcurrentandrelevantinformationonprinciplesofenvironmental
science,variousproblems,queries,applicationsandsolutions.
Theroleonlinelearningcenterwebsitehasthefollowingfeatures.
a) Studentfriendlyfeatures:Theseincludepracticequiz,howtostudytips,webexercises,
environmentalmaps,key-termscarrierinformation,currentarticlesand interactive
encyclopedia.
b) Teacher-friendlyFeatures:Thereincludeinadditiontoabove,casestudiesanswerto
webexercises,solution,editingfacilityisavailable.
IThaseffectiveroleineducation,managementandplanninginthefieldofenvironment.
S.BALACHANDAR

13. M.Sc,M.Tech(PhD)NETSET