Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time of which the major cause is Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere. It is Harmful for the life forms that rely on carbonate-based shells and skeletons.

Notes:
Atmospheric aerosol can scatter and absorb the solar and infrared radiation. They can change the microphysical properties of the clouds. There are two types of aerosols – Natural aerosols and Anthropogenic aerosols.

Notes:
Energy Conservation Building Code was launched in 2007. It addresses the issues pertaining to design of new, large commercial buildings to optimize the buildings’ energy demand based on their location in different climatic zones. However, compliance with ECBC norms is voluntary in nature at present.

Notes:
The branches of sustainability include the environment, the needs of present and future generations and the economy. Sustainable development is the type of development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Notes:
The Screening Criteria under Environment Impact Assessment are based upon the following:
1. Scales of investment
2. Type of development
3. Location of development

Notes:
Aestivation refers to a state of animal dormancy. It takes place during times of heat and dryness, the hot dry season. Metabolic rate is lowered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions.

Notes:
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet’s atmosphere warms the planet’s surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere. It caused by the presence of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and certain other gases in the air.

Notes:
The Keibul Lamjao National Park is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It is 40 km2 (15.4 sq mi) in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake. It was created in 1966 as a wildlife sanctuary to preserve the natural habitat of the endangered Eld’s deer. In 1977, it was gazetted as national park.

Notes:
In any ecosystem, there is conversion of inorganic into organic material with the help of the radiant energy of the sun by the autotrophs; consumption of the autotrophs by heterotrophs; decomposition and mineralisation of the dead matter to release them back for reuse by the autotrophs, these events are repeated over and over again. There is unidirectional movement of energy towards the higher trophic levels and its dissipation and loss as heat to the environment.

Notes:
By volume, dry air contains 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% Argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide and small amount of other gases. Air also contains variable amount of water vapour, on average around 1% at sealevel and 0.4% over the entire atmosphere.