UNIT -3
Renewable Sources of Energy
1. What are renewable resources? Give examples
(A.U. Dec 2009) (TCY A.U. Dec 2008, 09)
These resources are capable of being regenerated by
ecological processes within a reasonable time period. They have
the potential to renew themselves
Examples: Soil, water, wind energy, solar energy, etc.,
2. What is overgrazing?
Overgrazing is a process of eating away the forest
vegetation without giving it a chance to regenerate.
3. State the problems caused by the construction of dam.
( A.U. June 2007)
i) Displacement of tribal people
ii) Loss of forest, flora and fauna
iii) Landslips, sedimentation and siltation occurs
iv) Stagnation and water logging around reservoirs retards
plant growth.
v) Breeding of vectors and spread of vector-borne
diseases.
4. What is water logging? (A.U. Dec 2006) (Coim. A.U.
Dec 2009)
Water logging is the land where water stand for most of
the year.
Problems in water logging:
Pore-voids in the soil get filled with water and the soil-air
gets depleted. In such a condition the roots of the plants do not get
adequate air for respiration. So, mechanical strength of the soil
decreases and crop yield falls.
5. What is mean by soil erosion?
( A.U. June 2007)
Soil erosion is the process of removal of superficial layer
of the soil from one place to another. Soil erosion also removes
the soil components and surface liter.
6. What is deforestation? What are the causes for
deforestation? ( A.U. Dec 2008, Dec 2009)
Deforestation is the process of removal of forest resources
due to many natural and man-made activities. In general
deforestation means destruction of forests.
Cause
i) Developmental project leads to destruction of
forest
ii) Mining have a serious impact on forest areas.
iii) Forest fires is one of the major cause of
deforestation
iv) Fuel requirement
v) Wood is the important raw material for so many
purpose
7. List the advantages and disadvantages of the hydel power.
(Nov’2010)
Advantages
:
1. It is renewable & low costs.
2. It is multi-purpose projects helping in controlling
flood, irrigation.
DisAdvantages:
1.
1. Affect forest, agriculture land and tribals
2. Create health problems
8. What do you mean by natural resources? Give examples.
Natural resources are the sources which are useful to man
or can be transformed into a useful product. They are classified
into 2 types.
i) Renewable resources
ii) Non-renewable resources.
9. What do you mean by desertification? Give its effects.
(Nov’13)
Desertification is a progressive destruction or degradation of
arid or semiarid lands to desert.
Effect:
Around 80% of the productive land in the arid and
semi-arid regions are converted into desert.
Around 600 million people are threatened by desertification
10. How does land degradation takes place? Write its adverse
effects.
Land degradation is the process of deterioration of soil or
less of fertility of the soil.
Effects:
i) Loss of soil fertility, soil texture and structure due to
loss of invaluable nutrients.
ii) Increase in water logging, salinity, alkalinity and
acidity problems.
iii) Loss of economic social and biodiversity.
11. Write briefly about geothermal energy.
Temperature of the earth increases at the rate of 20 –
75oC per Km, when we move down the earth’s surface.
High temperature and pressure fields exists below the
earth’s surface in many places.
The energy harnessed from the high temperature present
inside the earth is called geothermal energy.
12. Mention the major environment impacts of mining.
i) Mining reduces the shape and size of the forest
areas.
ii) During mining operations, vibrations are
developed which leads to earthquake.
iii) Migration of tribal people for searching land and
food.
13. What do you mean by natural resources? Give examples.
Natural resources are the sources which are useful to man
or can be transformed into a useful product. They are classified
into 2 types.
iii) Renewable resources
iv) Non-renewable resources.
14. What do you mean by desertification? Give its effects.
(Nov’13)
Desertification is a progressive destruction or degradation of
arid or semiarid lands to desert.
Effect:
Around 80% of the productive land in the arid and
semi-arid regions are converted into desert.
Around 600 million people are threatened
15. How does land degradation takes place? Write its adverse
effects.
Land degradation is the process of deterioration of soil or
less of fertility of the soil.
Effects:
iv) Loss of soil fertility, soil texture and structure
due to loss of invaluable nutrients.
v) Increase in water logging, salinity, alkalinity and
acidity problems.
vi) Loss of economic social and biodiversity.
.
