PAPER-III

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Signature and Name of Invigilator

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PAPER III



SECTION I

Note This section consists of two essay type questions of twenty marks each, to be answered in about five hundred words each. ×20 40 marks)

1. Municipal solid waste management.

2. Environmental problems associated with megathermal power plants.

3. Ground water provinces of India.

4. Agro-climatic regions of India.

5. Biodiversity and climate change.

6. Biodegradation of plant biomass.


7. Wetland Conservation.

8. Clean Development Mechanism and Environmental protection.

9. The types, sources and consequences of water pollution.

10. Soil biemediation An emerging technology.

11. An ecosystem, its structure and functions.

12. Environmental Impacts of thermochemical and photochemical reactions in atmosphere.

SECTION II
Note This section contains three questions of fifteen marks each to be answered in about three hundred wds. ×15 45 marks)

13. Describe the effects of Cd, Hg and As contamination on soil health.

14. How does an electrostatic precipitator remove particles from flue gases On what factors the efficiency of ESP depends

15. Write about the constitutional provisions pertaining to environment.


SECTION III

Note This section contains nine questions of ten marks, each to be answered in about fifty words. ×10=90 marks)

16. What is redox potential Discuss its significance.

17. Write about chemical reactions leading to ozone depletion.

18. Differentiate between autochthonous and an allochthonous bacteria.

19. What are the essential components of a rain water harvesting system


20. Define mixing height. Explain its significance in dispersal of air pollutants.

21. What are five-R policies for waste minimization

22. What is meant by a 'genetically engineered' bacterium How is this accomplished

23. How does a solar photovoltaic cell work On what factors its efficiency depends

24. Write down the equation governing the concentration of pollutants in a Gaussian plume dispersion model.


SECTION IV

Note This section contains five questions of five marks each based on the following passage. Each question should be answered in about thirty words. ×5 25 marks)

25. Around 1960, Lake Erie was declared dead, its DO decreased in deeper layer of water, its surface almost covered by overgrowth of algae, and some of its predators became endangered. Investigations were carried out by many scientists, who concluded that the major cause of the destruction of the Lake Erie ecosystem was too much phosphorous from municipal waste. In order to overcome the problems of Lake Erie, it was thought that there should be a strong cooperation between USA and Canada. The International Joint Commission was established and the governments of the two countries worked together for improving waste treatment in communities surrounding Lake Erie. By 1985, the annual release of phosphorous from these sources reduced by 84% and the phosphorus levels in the Detroit River, which feeds Lake Erie, was reduced by 65%. As the water quality improved with phosphorous abatement, algal growth declined and oxygen levels improved. The small planktonic crustaceans that feed on the algae became less abundant and fishes, such as undesirable alewife and shiner, that feed on them, also decreased. By 1991, the total phosphorous level in Lake Erie was reduced to a level very close to the permissible level. The decline in algal population resulted in the improvement of water clarity in the Lake. Moreover, the decline in algal population has also been achieved by invading zebra mussels in Lake Erie.
Answer the following questions

25. How does phosphorous enrichment of water body cause algal growth

26. How did the process of eutrophication in Lake Erie lead to oxygen depletion

27. How the invasion of zebra mussels will affect the ecology of Lake Erie

28. What was the institutional mechanism set up to address the problems of Lake Erie

29. What were the positive results due to the institutional intervention