Environmental changes during COVID-19

Covid-19 pandemic would seem to be positive for the environment. After the outbreak of the coronavirus, many countries had adopted lockdown procedures that stopped people from moving out and for shops and other establishments to close down. As World Environment Day 2020 nears, we take a look at the positive impact the COVID-19 lockdown has had on the environment. 

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on Environment: 

Air Quality: After the lockdown was put in place in many countries, there was lesser travelling done by people, whether it be by their own cars, or by trains and flights. Even industries were closed down and not allowed to function. This in turn led to the pollution in the air dropping significantly, as there was a marked decline in Carbon Mono Oxide emission. 

Water Quality: Since there were no boats, whether they be fishing or pleasure ones, plying on the rivers and waterways, the water has cleared up. In areas like Venice, the water became so clear that the fish could be seen and there was better water flow. No doubt, because of the lesser human footfall even the oceans are recovering and marine life is thriving. 

Effect on Wildlife: Due to lockdown, animals had been spotted moving about freely where once they would not dare to go. Even sea turtles had been spotted returning to areas they once avoided to lay their eggs, all due to the lack human interference.
**VGSoM Digital Marketing Spring Session**

 

Why sustainable development? 

There are many reasons to go for sustainable development. Here I am listing few reasons:

 a. Due to rapid economic growth and industrialization, a huge amount of natural resources has been utilized in a unorganized manner.

 b. There is also a fear of complete exhaustion of natural resources.
 
 c. In the process of economic growth, a lot of damage has been done to environment and ecology which ultimately will create insecurity for human beings.

We always have to think that today's actions do not harm our future. Hence, sustainable development is the utmost requirement in the present scenario.

World Environment Day, 5th June 2020 

Environmental issues and economic growth in India.

Please watch this video:

Due to irresponsible actions of people, India is facing a very pathetic situation. Air quality index shows that around 50 percent of Indian cities are facing a serious air quality issue.

Earth Day

Digital Marketing Spring Session

Make this beautiful and Eco-friendly

By 2070 the summer may last for eight months in India

Prolonged heat-wave conditions–in other words, a summer lasting up to eight months–could be the new norm by the 2070s for the Gangetic plains, if greenhouse-gas emissions are not cut to limit the global temperature increase to 2°C, according to a new study in the journal  Environmental Research Letters.

The world is getting not only hotter but also more humid. The combined scientific measure of heat and humidity is called “wet-bulb temperature”, which hardly ever crossed 32°C between 1985 and 2005. The nature of such heat waves has since changed because of rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.

Using a suite of 18 climate models, two emissions scenarios, and five population-growth scenarios, Ethan Coffel, 27, a final year doctoral student at Columbia University, and two other scientists, also estimated the possibility of the wet-bulb temperature approaching or exceeding 35°C, the theoretical human heat tolerance limit by then.

The poor, those with outdoor jobs, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions are likely to be the most vulnerable. High temperatures could even give rise to new diseases–as already evident in part of South America–and threaten agriculture, which currently employs 228 millionpeople or 48.8% of India’s working population.

What could exacerbate the situation is the finding that in some of those areas, by then, the dry bulb temperature–a measure of air temperature alone–is expected to hit the average of the single hottest temperature each year between 1985 and 2005, anywhere between 50 and 125 times annually, as against once per year currently.

“Climate change is a problem that’s both scientifically interesting and societally urgent,” said Coffel. “What makes it more interesting for me is weather and physics, my favourite subjects, come together in climate science.”

Coffel has a BA in computer science & integrated science from Northwestern University, USA, an MA in atmospheric science from Columbia University, USA, and expects to receive his doctoral degree in atmospheric science also from Columbia University in May 2018.

Green Campus of Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

The natural fauna and flora inside IIT Kgp campus make this one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.

PLANET SUSTAINABILITY

This is our duty to make our planet sustainable.

Top 10 Cleanest Countries of the world

These are the top 10 cleanest countries of the world.

1. Iceland
2. Switzerland
3. Costa Rica
4. Sweden
5. Norway
6. Mauritius
7. France
8. Austria
9. Cuba
10. Singapore

Countries which are responsible for environmental degradation

These are the top 10 countries responsible for environmental degradation.
1. Brazil
2. USA
3. China
4.Indonesia
5. Japan
6. Mexico
7. India
8. Russia
9. Australia
10. Peru

The study, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and Princeton University, found that the total wealth of a country was the most important driver of environmental impact.

Acid Rain and Its Effects

Acid rain is a rain  that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It causes harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. It is caused by emissions of Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes, and Sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and statues.

The principal cause of acid rain is Sulfur and nitrogen compounds from human sources, such as electricity generation, factories, and motor vehicles. Thermal electrical power generation is among the greatest contributors to gaseous pollutions that are responsible for acidic rain. In the past, factories had short funnels to let out smoke but this caused many problems locally; thus, factories now have taller smoke funnels. However, despite of  these taller stacks causes pollutants to be carried farther, causing widespread ecological damage.

Earth Situation by 2020

 Earth's environment  is changing very fiercely.The unsustainable development of developing is playing a major role to destroy earth environment. The world population is growing day by day and there is no such road map to reduce population growth.

We are enhancing our technology but  not concerned about the earth's environment which will leads to a devastating situation.

All around the world will soon reach climatic tipping points, with some in tropical regions — home to most of the world’s biodiversity — feeling the first impacts of unprecedented eras of elevated temperatures as soon as four years from now.

On average, locations worldwide will leave behind the climates that have existed from the middle of the 19th century through the beginning of the 21st century by 2047 if no progress is made in curbing emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, said researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, who sought to project the timing of that event for 54,000 locations.

If they are correct, the transition would occur by 2020 in Manokwari, Indonesia; by 2023 in Kingston, in the Caribbean; by 2029 in Lagos; by 2047 in Washington; by 2066 in Reykjavik; and by 2071 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Environmental Science Study

It may be one of the best area of study.Environmental science is very much a generalist degree. Degree in environment science not only provide good job prospective but also a good researcher who can solve environmental related issues. It requires a strong background in the more traditional sciences: biology, physics, chemistry, geography, and ecology. In addition, environmental science degrees also draw heavily from the social sciences, such as economics, business, or sociology. Due to the fact that environmental science is a generalist degree, students often complete specializations within a more select area, i.e. energy, sustainability, conservation, etc. True to most science degrees, environmental science programs often require significant field work, lab work, or other data-oriented work. There are universities like Florida state university and university of Texas are providing the following degrees in environmental study.

Degrees in Environmental Study

                                Bachelor's                           Master's                                  Doctorate

 Years of study               4                                       2                                             4-7

 Degree                         BS                                    MS                                          Ph. D

Job Prospects with a Environmental Science Degree

There are different kind of positions for Environmental Science Degree holders

i)   Environmental scientists

ii)  Team leader 

iii) Management positions

iv) University professor

Solar and Wind Energy

Solar Energy and wind energy will play a major role in coming future. There is a huge exploitation of non renewable resources and due to this non renewable resources are at shrinking stage. Hence we should think for these alternative energy resources so that we scan reduce energy crisis of our country. The clean energy will  make our earth green which is our motto. so we and govt should work together to fulfill our dream.