Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources,
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
• renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Natural resource
Natural resources are those sources which exist
without any action of mankind and are useful to man.

For e.g. sunlight, water, soil, minerals, air etc.

Types of natural resource

• Renewable resource
• Non-renewable resource
• Renewable resource
Resource that are capable of being regenerated by
ecological process within a reasonable period of time.
For e.g. Soil, water, wildlife, sunlight, wind etc.

• Non-renewable resource
Resource that are not capable of being regenerated by
ecological process.
For e.g. minerals, ground water, fossil fuel etc.
• Living resource
Resource that are obtained from biological source.
For e.g. coal, wildlife, petroleum etc.

• Non-living resource
Resource that are obtained from non-biological sources.
For e.g. water, land, sunlight etc.
Natural resource in our JNTUH syllabus

• Water resource
• Minerals
• Land (Forest)
• Energy
 Water resource
• Water is an important natural resources for all living
organisms.

• Nearly 71% of earth’s surface is water.

• 60-65% of our body is water.

• Water exist in three form like solid, liquid and gas in

nature. It is circulated in the environment according to
hydrological cycle (discussed in Unit-1).

• Water is an universal solvent, has highest specific heat,

high latent heat of vaporization
 Water on earth
71% water on earth

97% water is salt 3% water is fresh

water (marine) water

1% is readily 79% is locked as ice 30% is ground

accessible water as caps and glaciers water
surface water
Water on earth
 Fresh water resource

Surface water Ground water

Standing water body Flowing water body

e.g. lake, reservoir, etc. e.g. stream, river, etc.
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources,
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
• renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Water resource
• Water is an important natural resources for all living
organisms.

• So proper use of this water resource is very important.

 Use of water
• For domestic purpose like drinking, cooking, washing,
bathing etc.
• Commercial purpose like hotels, theatres, educational
institute, office etc.
• For irrigation in agricultural field.
• For industrial operation.
• For sustainance of living organisms.
• Act as dillutant for pollutants.
• Keep earth temperature moderate.
 Ground water resource

Permeable
Permeable material
material

Impermeable material

Impermeable material
 Ground water resource
Aquifer
The rock or sediments that contain water. E.g. Layers of sand
and gravels. Aquifer is two types, confined and unconfined.

Unconfined aquifer
Overlaid by permeable earth material and is recharged by
water sweeping down from the upper soil in the form of rain
fall and snow melt.

Confined aquifer
Sandwiched between two impermeable layers of rock or
sediments and is recharged only in those area where aquifer
intersect the land surface.
Water present in confined aquifer is used mainly as ground
water resource.
 Causes of Groundwater Depletion
1. Frequent pumping of water from the ground.
We pump the water more quickly than it can renew itself,
leading to a dangerous shortage in the groundwater supply.
With population that continues to rise, more we pump water
from the ground at a rapid rate.

2. Agricultural needs require a large amount of

groundwater. It’s frightening to think that there isn’t very
much groundwater left when you consider how much water
we use on a daily basis to support our population of billions
and our personal lifestyles.

3. Industrial growth
 Effect of over-utilization of Ground water
Over use of groundwater has following effects……
1. Lowering of water table:
Excessive use of ground water for drinking, irrigation and
domestic purposes has resulted in rapid depletion of ground
water in various regions leading to lowering of water table &
drying of wells.
The reasons for shortage of water are:
• Increase in population,
• Inadequate rainfall
• Increasing demand of water for various purposes.
• Unequal distribution of fresh water.
• Increasing pollution of water sources.
• Construction work which seal the permeable soil zone
reducing the area for water percolation.
2. Ground subsidence
When ground water withdrawal is greater than its recharge
rate, the sediments in the aquifer become compacted. This
is called ground subsidence which may cause damage of
buildings, destroy water supply systems etc.

3. Intrusion of salt water

In coastal area, over exploitation of ground water leads to
rapid intrusion of salt water from the sea. As a result, water
can not be used for drinking and agriculture.
Intrusion of salt water
4. Earthquake and landslides
Over-utilization of ground water leads to decrease in water
level causing earth quake and landslides.

5. Drying of well
Excess withdrawal of ground water, result depletion of
ground water level and drying up of the well.

6. Pollution of water:
When the gr. Water level near agricultural land decreases,
water containing fertilizers percolate rapidly into the aquifer
and pollute ground water. As a result water becomes
unsuitable for drinking.
Surface water
Water rich country:
where the surface water evaporation is less…
• Canada
• Norway
• Brazil
• New Guinea
• Iceland

Water poor country

• Egypt
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Israel
• Oman
 Over-utilization of surface water
•For the demand of increasing population

•Industrial development

•Agricultural work

•Construction activities etc.

River, lake, pond, reservoir water are used excessively.

 Effect of over-utilization of surface water
•Water scarcity problem in dry region.

•Disturbance for aquatic animals, etc.

• Water pollution
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources,
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
• renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Flood
• Floods are considered second only to wildfires as the
most common natural disaster on Earth.

• A flood is an overflow of water that submerges nearby

land that is usually dry.

• Definition: when magnitude of water flow exceeds the

carrying capacity of the river, the excess water overflows
on surrounding land area. This is called flood.
• A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas:
washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be
caused by heavy rain associated with a severe
thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, or
meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets
or snowfields.
 Cause of flood
The flood may be due to man-made reasons and also
because of natural reason.

 Sediments accumulation in the river

Cause of flood
 Preventive measures of flood
• Reduction of surface run–off by increasing
afforestation.
• Diverting excess water through channels or canals
to different area.
• Build check dam on small stream.
• River-networking.
• Flood forecast and flood warning
 Drought
• A drought is an event of prolonged shortages in the water
supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or ground
water.

• Drought is scarcity of water.

• Definition: A drought is a natural phenomenon when an

area or region experiences a rainfall below-normal. The
lack of adequate precipitation, either rain or snow, can
lead to reduced level of ground water or soil moisture
along with diminished stream flow, and a general water
shortage.
Cause of Drought
 Cause of Drought
There are many causes of drought…

• Inadequate rainfall and dry season for few years.

• Deforestation
• Over-extraction of water through bore well.
• Erroneous cropping pattern, e.g. large area in
Maharashtra is affected by sugarcane copping which has
high water demand.
• Overgrazing
• Construction work
• High population.
Effect of Drought
Preventive measures of drought
Dam
 Dam
Definition: A dam is a barrier which is constructed
across the river to restrict the flow of water and
results in the creation of a reservoir.

Beside this dam serve many other purpose.

That why it is called multipurpose dam.

There are many river valley project in India with big

dam….which play key role in the development.
 The list of some major dams in India :
List Of Major Dams in India State River
Bhavani Sagar dam Tamil Nadu Bhavani
Tungabhadra Dam Karnataka Tungabhadra
Rihand Dam Uttar Pradesh Rihand
Maithon Dam Jharkhand Barakar
Koyna Dam Maharashtra Koyna
Bisalpur Dam Rajasthan Banas
Mettur Dam Tamil Nadu Kaveri
Krishnarajasagar Dam Karnataka Kaveri
Indira Sagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Narmada
Cheruthoni Dam Kerala Cheruthoni
Sardar Sarovar Dam Gujarat Narmada
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Telangana Krishna
Hirakud dam Odisha Mahanadi
Bhakra Nangal Dam Punjab-Himachal Pradesh Border Sutlej
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi
 Benefits of dam
1. Storing of water domestic consumption
2. Generation of electricity by Hydropower
3. Irrigation
4. Water for drinking purpose
5. Drought and flood control
6. Navigational facilities
7. Other additional utilization is to develop fisheries
8. Recreational purpose
Dam and its components
Problems associated with the construction of big dam

• Upstream problem

• Downstream problem
Problems associated with the construction of big dam
Upstream problem

• Siltation and sedimentation of reservoirs.

• Stagnation and waterlogging near reservoir.
• Displacement of tribal people.
• Loss of forests, flora and fauna.
• Changes in fisheries and the spawning grounds.
• Loss of non forest land.
• Breeding of vectors and spread of water borne diseases.
• Reservoir induced seismicity (RIS) causing earthquakes
problem
• Growth of aquatic weeds
 What is RIS??
RIS is the incidence of earthquake triggered due to impoundment of
water behind a dam.
Many people believe that reservoirs trigger earth tremors due to load
of water.
Problems associated with the construction of big dam
Downstream problem

• Water logging and salinity due to over irrigation

• Micro-climatic changes
• Reduced water flow and slit deposition in river
• Flash floods
• Salt water intrusion at river mouth
• Loss of land fertility along the river since the sediments
carrying nutrients get deposited in the reservoir
• Outbreak of vector – borne diseases like malaria
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources,
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
• renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline
solids having a definite chemical composition and
characteristic physical properties.

For e.g. quartz, dolomite, calcite, bauxite, haematite etc.

An ore is a mineral or combination of minerals from which a
useful substance, such as a metal, can be extracted and
used to manufacture a useful product.

For e.g. aluminium is obtained in various minerals like clay,

bauxite, cryolite etc., but bauxite is the main ore of
aluminium.
 Use and exploitation of minerals
The main uses of minerals are as follows:
(i) Development of industrial plants and machinery.
(ii) Generation of energy e.g. coal, lignite, uranium.
(iii) Construction, housing, settlements.
(iv) Defence equipments weapons, armaments.
(v) Transportation means.
(vi) Communication- telephone wires,
cables, electronic devices.
(vii) Medicinal system- particularly in Ayurvedic System.
(viii) Formation of alloys for various purposes (e.g. phosphorite)
(IX) Agriculture – as fertilizers, seed dressings and fungicides
(e.g. zineb containing zinc, Maneb-containing manganese etc.).
(x) Jewellery– e.g. Gold, silver, platinum, diamond.
 Types of minerals
Based on their properties, minerals are basically of
two types:

(i) Non metallic minerals e.g. graphite,

diamond, quartz, feldspar.

(ii) Metallic minerals e.g. Bauxite, laterite,

haematite etc.
 Some major minerals in India
(a) Energy generating minerals
• Coal and lignite: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, M.P.,
A.P.

• Uranium (Pitchblende or Uranite ore): Jharkhand,

Andhra Pradesh (Nellore, Nalgonda), Meghalaya,
Rajasthan (Ajmer).
b) Other commercially used minerals

• Aluminium (Bauxite ore): Jharkhand, West Bengal,

Maharashtra, M.P., Tamilnadu.

• Iron (haematite and magnetite ore): Jharkhand, Orissa,

M.P., A.P., Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.

• Copper (Copper Pyrites): Rajasthan (Khetri), Bihar,

Jharkhand, Karnataka, M.P., West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh
and Uttaranchal.
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources,
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
• renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Environmental impact of mineral
extraction and use
• Minerals are non-renewable resource.

• But the issue related to the limits of the mineral resources

in our earth's crust or in the ocean is not so significant.

• More important is the environmental concern arising from

the impacts of extraction and processing of these minerals
during mining, smelting etc.
 Indian Scenario
India is the producer of 84 minerals the annual value of which
is about Rs.50,000 crore.

Six major mines are known for causing severe problems:

(i) Jaduguda Uranium Mine, Jharkhand— exposing local

people to radioactive hazards.

(ii) Jharia coal mines, Jharkhand— underground fire leading to

land subsidence and forced displacement of people.
(iii) Sukinda chromite mines, Orissa— sweeping of hexavalent
chromium into river posing serious health hazard, Cr6+ being
highly toxic and carcinogenic. of groundwater.

(iv) Kudremukh iron ore mine, Karnataka—causing river

pollution and threat to biodiversity.

(v) East coast Bauxite mine, Orissa— Land encroachment and

issue of rehabilitation unsettled.

(vi) North-Eastern Coal Fields, Assam— Very high sulphur

contamination in ground water.
 Mining
Mining is the process of extraction of valuable minerals or
other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an
ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef or placer deposit.

These deposits form a mineralized package that is of

economic interest to the miner.
 Types of mining
Mining can be two types……..

A. Surface mining
Extraction of minerals is done near the surface deposit of
the earth.

A. Underground mining
Extraction of minerals is done below the earth crust.
 Types of mining
Surface mining can make use of any of the following three
types:

(1) Open-pit mining in which machines dig

holes and remove the ores (e.g. copper, iron, gravel,
limestone, sandstone, marble, granite).

(2) Dredging in which chained buckets and draglines are used

which scrap up the minerals from under-water mineral
deposits.

(3) Strip mining in which the ore is stripped off by using

bulldozers, power shovels and stripping wheels (e.g.
phosphate rocks).
Open pit mining Strip mining

Dredging
 The environmental damage caused
by mining activities

(i) Devegetation and defacing of landscape

(ii) Subsidence of land
(iii) Groundwater contamination
(iv) Surface water pollution
(v) Air pollution
(vi) Occupational Health Hazards
(i) Devegetation and defacing of landscape

scar disrupt the aesthetic value of the area.

• Make the surface more prone to soil erosion.
(ii) Subsidence of land
(iii) Groundwater contamination
(iv) Surface water pollution
(v) Air pollution
(vi) Occupational Health Hazards

substance
• Miners working in various mining area suffer from
silicosis (inhaling silica dust), asbestosis (due to
asbestos fibres), black lung disease (inhaling coal
dust), etc.
 Remedial measures
• Safety of the mine workers should be taken as a
first priority in the industry.

• The low-grade ores can be better utilized by using

eco-friendly mining technology, say microbial-
leaching technique. This biological method is
helpful from economic as well as environmental
point of view. For e.g. the bacteria thiobacillus
ferroxidan is successfully used for extraction of
gold (Au) present in iron sulphide ore.
 Remedial measures
• Restoration of mined areas by re-vegetating with
appropriate plants.

• Maintenance of the standard of air emission from

the industry.

• Prevention of toxic drainage discharge.

• Modernization of mining industries.

• Above all, protection and efficient use of mineral

resource is important.
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
• renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Forest resource
• Natural resources

• Covering earth like green blanket

• Produces innumerable goods and also environmental

services.
 Benefits of forest
• Habitat for millions of plants and animals.

• Recycling rain water, remove pollutants from air, control

air pollution.

• Keep temperature and weather moderate, maintain

humidity

• Promote tourist, contribute to aesthetic value.

• Save hill slope from landslide.

• Influence soil condition, fertility etc., prevent soil erosion.

 Types of forest
Evergreen forest:
This forest grows in equatorial region where rainfall is high as
well as temperature also throughout the year. For e.g. areas
of the Western Ghats, North –eastern India and the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands. Silent valley in Kerala.

Coniferous forests grow in the Himalayan mountain region,

where the temperatures are low. These forests have tall
stately trees with needle-like leaves and downward –sloping
branches, so that the snow can slip off the branches.
For e.g. pine tree
Deciduous forests are two types. Tropical and temperate.
Tropical forest are found in regions with a moderate amount
of seasonal rainfall that lasts for only a few months. Summer
is hot and the tree shed their leaves during the winter. Teak,
sandal wood etc.
Temperate forest are observed in heavy snowfall area, So tree
shed their leaves before winter.
The trees, which are sparsely distributed, are surrounded by
open grassy areas.
Mangroves forests grow along the coast especially in the river
deltas. These plants are uniquely adapted to be able to grow
in a mix of saline and freshwater. They have breathing roots
that emerge from the mud banks.
Thorn forests are found in the semi-arid regions of India.
Important uses of forest can be classified as under…

• Commercial values
• Ecological values
• Aesthetic values
• Tourism value
• Life and economy of tribal
Commercial values
Forests are main source of many commercial products such as…..

• Wood, timber, pulpwood etc.

• About 1.5 billion people depend upon fuel wood as an energy
source.
• Timber obtained from the forest can be used to make plywood,
board, doors and windows, furniture, and agriculture implements
and sports goods.
• Timber is also a raw material for preparation of paper, rayon and
film.
• Forest can provide food , fibre, edible oils and drugs.
• Forest lands are also used for agriculture and grazing.
• Forest is important source of development of dams, recreation and
mining.
• Miscellaneous Products: resin, gums, oils, honey are provided by
forests.
Ecological uses

• Forests are habitat to all wild animals, plants and support

millions of species.
• They help in reducing global warming caused by green
house gases and produces oxygen upon photosynthesis.
Forest can act as pollution purifier by absorbing toxic
gases. Forest helps in soil conservation but
• It also helps to regulate the hydrological cycle.
• Provide protection against droughts, floods, etc.
Aesthetic values

All over the world people appreciate the beauty and

tranquillity of the forest because forests have a greatest
aesthetic value. Forest provides opportunity for recreation
and ecosystem research.

Tourism values

Ecotourism in forest area provide growing income for some

country
Life and economy of tribal

Forest provide food, medicine and other products needed for

tribal people and play a vital role in the life and economy of
tribes living in the forest.
Over exploitation of forests
Forests contribute substantially to the national economy.

• With increasing population

• Increased demand of fuel wood, expansion of area under
urban development and
• industries has lead to over exploitation of forest.
• Overgrazing and conversion of forest to pastures for
domestic use.

Over-exploitation of forest is going on.

At present international level we are losing forest at the rate

of 1.7 crore hectares annually.
Deforestation
 Deforestation
• Forest are burned or cut for clearing of land for agriculture
, development and expansion of cities.

• These economic gains are short term where as long term

effects of deforestation are irreversible.

• Deforestation rate is relatively low in temperate countries

than in tropics.

• If present rate of deforestation continues we may losses

90% tropical forest in coming six decades.

• For ecological balance 33% area should be under forest

cover but our nation has only 20.6% forest cover.
Causes of deforestation
Forest area in some developed area has expanded.
However in developing countries, area under forest is showing
declining trend particularly in tropical region.

Main causes of deforestation are…..

(a) Development work

(b) Mining operation
(c) Raw materials demand for industry
(d) Fuel requirement
(e) Shifting cultivation
(f) Forest fire etc.
a) Development work and growing need for food
The growing demand for electricity, irrigation, construction,
mining, etc. has lead to destruction of forest.
Increased population needs more food which has compelled
for increasing area under agriculture crops compelling for
deforestation.
Expansion for agribusiness
With the addition of cash crops such as oil palm, rubber, fruits
and ornamental plants, there is stress to expand the area for
agribusiness products which results in deforestation.

b) Mining operation also needs a large scale deforestation of

forest area.
c) Raw materials for industry
Forest provides raw material for industry and it has exerted
tremendous pressure on forest. Increasing demand for
plywood for backing has exerted pressure on cutting of other
species such as fir to be used as backing material for apple in
J&K and tea in northeast states.

d) Need for fuel wood

Increased population has lead to increasing demand for fuel
wood which is also acting as an important deforestation
agent, particularly in dry forest.
e) Shifting cultivation or jhum cultivation
This practise is prevalent in tribal areas where forest lands are
cleared to grow subsistence crops. Shifting cultivation which
is a practice of slash and burn agriculture are posses to clear
more than 5 lakh hectares of land annually. In India, shifting
cultivation is prevalent in northeast and to limited extent in
M.P, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and is contributing
significantly to deforestation.

f) Forest fire
It is a natural phenomenon which causes deforestation in a
large amount of area every year.
 Major effects of deforestation
Deforestation adversely and directly affects and damages the
environment and living beings.
• Environmental changes and disturbance in forest
ecosystems.
• Climate change, global warming and depletion of water
table.
• Soil erosion and loss of food grains
• Flood and landslides
• Loss of biodiversity ,flora and fauna.
• Unemployment problem
• Expansion of deserts.
Forest conservation and management
Forest is one of the most valuable resources and thus needs to be
conserved. To conserve forest, following steps should be taken……

• Conservation of forest is a national problem, thus it should be

tackled with perfect coordination between concerned government
departments.
• People should be made aware of importance of forest and involved
in forest conservation activities.
• The cutting of trees in the forests for timber should be stopped.
Wood use should be reduced.
• Afforestation programmes should be launched.
• Grasslands should be regenerated.
• Forest fire controlling should be done by modern technology.
• Forest conservation Act should be strictly implemented to check
deforestation.
• Awards should be instituted for the deserving.
Case studies: Chipko movement

• The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological

movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and
non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect
them from being felled.
• The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in
the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, with growing
awareness towards rapid deforestation.
• The landmark event in this struggle took place on March
26, 1974, when a group of peasant women in Reni village,
Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, acted
to prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional
forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system
of the state Forest Department.
• Their actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the
grassroots level throughout the region. By the 1980s the
movement had spread throughout India and led to
formulation of people-sensitive forest policies, which put a
stop to the open felling of trees in regions as far reaching as
Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Energy resource
• Resources which is used to generate energy or gives
power, heat to drive objects is called energy resource.
• Matter that stores energy is called fuel.
• Energy consumption of a nation is usually considered as
an index of its development.
 Growing energy need
• Development in different sector relies largely upon energy.

• Agriculture, industry, mining, transportation, lighting,

cooling, heating in building all need energy.

• Developed country like USA, Canada have 5% of world

population, but consume 1/4th of global energy resource.

• A person there (USA, Canada) consumes 300GJ energy per

year, whereas an average person in a poor country
consumes less than 1GJ energy in a year.

• This clearly indicates that our life style and standard of

living is closely related to energy needs.
) )
 Non-renewable energy
This energy resources cannot be replaced – once they are
used up, they will not be restored easily (or not for millions
of years).

Non-renewable energy resources include fossil fuels and

nuclear power.

These energy resources are used extensively by mankind

since a long time, and most common source of energy, that’s
why it is called conventional energy source.
 Renewable energy
This energy resources can be regenerated easily through
natural process once they are used up.

Renewable energy resources include solar energy, wind

power, hydropower etc.

These energy resources are not very common, that’s why it is

called non-conventional energy source.
 Non-Renewable Energy Sources
• Coal,
• Oil,
• Natural Gas,
• Nuclear Energy.
 Coal
• Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel on the earth.

• India has around 10% of world’s coal reserve.

• Major coal fields are Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro, Godavari

valley etc.

• When coal is burnt it releases lots of carbon dioxide even

more than oil and gas so it is the one of the contributors to
global warming. When coal is burnt it also releases sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere which
contributes to acid rain.

• Coal mining is harmful to the environment

 Coal formation
1.
Carboniferous Period 360-299
million years ago

Tropical swamp

Older rock layers

Most of the coal we have on Earth today was formed during a time
called the Carboniferous period 360 – 299 million years ago when much
of the Earth including the UK was covered in tropical swamps.
 Coal formation
2.
Jurassic Period
201- 145 million years
ago

Dead plants turn into peat

Older rock layers

As the plants died their remains sank to the bottom of the swampy
areas, making layers and layers of squashed plant material. This
eventually turned into a brown spongy material called peat.
 Coal formation
3.
Modern day • Over millions of years
and with changing
environments layers of
rock began to build up on
top of the peat and
became buried.

Pressure
• As the peat was buried
Heat

further and further, heat

and pressure acting upon
it, turned it into coal.
Peat turns into Coal

• The hotter the temperature, the deeper the coal is buried and the
longer the time the coal is buried, the better (more efficient) is the
coal formation.
Older rocks
Types of coal
• Anthracite
– Highest grade; over 85% carbon.
Carbon content (%)
– Most efficient to burn.
0 20 40 60 80 100
– Lowest sulfur content; the least polluting.
– The most exploited and most rapidly
Energy
depleted.
Lignite Carbon
• Bituminous
– Medium grade coal, about 70-85% carbon
content.
Bituminous – Higher sulfur content and is less fuel-
efficient.
– Most abundant coal in India.
• Lignite
Anthracite – Lowest grade of coal, with about 60-70%
carbon content.
– Low energy content.
0 500 1000 1500 2000
– Most sulfurous and most polluting.
Burned energy (1,000 calories per kg)
• Peat
– Peat, a precursor of coal
 Coal

Coal burned to steam propels Electricity

heat water turbine

• Coal is cheap and there is lots of it!

• When coal is are burnt it releases
carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and
burned for heat
nitrogen dioxide into the
atmosphere contributing to global
warming and acid rain.
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Non-Renewable Energy Sources
• Coal,
• Oil,
• Natural Gas,
• Nuclear Energy.
 Oil
• It is the lifeline of global economy.

• About 1/4th of world’s oil reserve are in Saudi Arabia.

• Crude petroleum is a thick liquid consisting of more than hundreds of

combustible hydrocarbons with small amount of sulphur, nitrogen
impurities.

• Various hydrocarbons are separated by fractional distillation from

crude petroleum, like petroleum gas, kerosene, petrol, diesel, fuel oil,
lubricating oil, paraffin wax, asphalt, plastic etc.

• Petroleum is cleaner than coal, as it burns completely leaving no

carbon residue. Also it is easy to transport and use.
 Natural gas
• Mainly composed of methane (95%) with small amount of propane,
ethane.

• It is formed in the same way like petroleum, so available along with

oil deposit.

• Cleanest fossil fuel. It can be transported easily through pipelines nd

burns without smoke.

• Russia has maximum natural gas reserve followed by Iran and USA. In
India, it is found with all oil fields, also available in Tripura, Jaisalmir,
Krishna-Godavari delta.

• It is used as fuel in many domestic and industrial purpose.

 Oil and gas formation
Earth’s crude oil and natural gas is formed from marine plants and
animals that died millions of years ago
All of Earth’s crude
oil and natural gas
Phytoplankton & zooplankton
is formed from
marine plants and
animals
(microscopic ones
Organic rich
not dinosaurs!)
sediments
that died millions
of years ago.
Layers of sediment
When they died the microorganisms sank to the bottom of the ocean
and were gradually covered in layers of sediment (sand, mud and
silt).
 Oil and gas formation
Over millions of
years the organic
rich sediments
(sediments
containing
microorganisms)
become buried
deeper and deeper
as layers of new
sediment piles up
on top.

As they are buried, heat and pressure rises turning the microorganisms
into oil and natural gas.
 Oil and gas formation

Oil rig
Oil and natural gas are
lighter than the
Drill Sea surrounding rock so
once they have formed
Impermeable rock
they move upwards
Oil through tiny pores
(gaps) and fractures in
the surrounding rock.
Oil rich source rock

• Oil and natural gas deposits get trapped under impermeable layers of
rocks. These trapped deposits are where we find oil and gas today and
they are extracted by using long powerful drills.
Oil and gas extraction
 Oil and natural gas

Oil & gas burned to steam propels Electricity

heat water turbine

• Crude oil is turned into jet engine oil, petrol and

diesel which are used as a fuel in planes and cars.

• When oil and gas are burnt they release carbon

dioxide gas into the atmosphere.

• CO2 is a greenhouse gas and contributes to global

warming.
 LPG
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP gas), is a flammable
mixture of hydrocarbon like propane and butane, used for
LPG heating, cooking and vehicles.

LPG, liquefied through pressurization, comes from natural gas

processing and oil refining.

Ethyl mercaptan (CH3CH2SH) is an smelling additive that is

combined with liquified petroleum gas, or LPG, to alert users
of a leak.
 Nuclear power
• Dr. Homi Bhabha was the father of nuclear power development in
India.
• Nuclear power produces 2% of India’s
electricity.

• Nuclear power plant is located in

Maharastra (Tarapur), Rana Pratap
Sagar near Kota (Rajasthan),
Kalpakkam (Tamilnadu) and Narora
(UP).

• Nuclear power can be generated by

two types of reactions: (1) Nuclear
Fission and (2) Nuclear fusion.
 (1) Nuclear Fission
• Water or other moderator slows neutrons, thermalizing
them.
• Thermal neutron collides with heavier mass nucleus U-235.
• Unstable nucleus splits in two lighter nucleus of almost
equal mass.
• Large amount of energy and 2-3 neutrons particles are
released.
• These neutrons can trigger another reaction. So a chain
reaction occurs.
• The energy released for each reaction is about 200 MeV.
(2) Nuclear Fusion

2 H
1 + 31H  42He + 10n + energy
 Factors regarding Fusion
• Natural fusion: The Sun

• Fusing two nuclei together is difficult

– they repel each other by the electrostatic force
– classically you need a very high temperatures of ~1010
K to overcome this
• As temperature = mean kinetic energy of particles

• To start a fusion reaction first the energy can be achieved

by a fission reaction.
 Nuclear power

steam propels
Nuclear reactions Heat turbine
Electricity

• Uranium is mostly used as nuclear fuel

• Nuclear fuels do not produce harmful greenhouse gases
• Nuclear power is very efficient
• Nuclear power produces radioactive waste which is dangerous
and has to be seal in containers and buried for thousands of
years.
 Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor, formerly known as an atomic pile, is a
device used to initiate and control a self-sustained nuclear
chain reaction. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power
plants for electricity generation .

Nuclear reactors operate on the principle of nuclear fission.

Difference between conventional and non-conventional source of energy
Subject: Environmental Science

Unit –2: Natural resource

Dr. Nabanita Pal,

Department of Physics and Chemistry,
MGIT, Hyderabad
 Contents
• Classification of Resources: Living and Non-Living
resources,
• Water resources: use and over utilization of
surface and ground water,
• Floods and droughts,
• Dams: benefits and problems.
• Mineral resources: use and exploitation,
environmental effects of extracting and using
mineral resources,
• Land resources: Forest resources
• Energy resources: growing energy needs,
renewable and non renewable energy sources,
use of alternate energy source,
 Renewable Energy Sources
• Solar energy
• Wind
• Hydropower
• Tidal energy
• Ocean thermal energy
• Geothermal
• Biomass
• Hydrogen fuel
 Wind energy
• Wind power is a popular sustainable, renewable source of
energy.

• Wind power or wind energy is the use of wind to provide

mechanical power through wind turbines to turn electric
generators for electrical power.

• High speed wind can be used to get energy due to their

motion.

• Wind energy is obtained by wind mill. Minimum wind speed for

wind generator = 15 km/hr

• The rotational motion of the blades of the wind mill drives

machines like water pump, flour mill, electric generator.
• Located in coastal region, open grassland, , hilly region where
wind speed is strong and steady.

• Our country's largest onshore wind farm is Muppandal Wind

Farm situated in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu with 1,500
megawatts power.
 Hydropower energy
Hydropower or water power is power derived from the
[energy] of falling or fast-running water, which may be used
for useful purposes.

Since ancient times, hydropower from many kinds

of watermills has been used number of times as a renewable
energy source for irrigation and the operation of different
mechanical devices, such as textile mills, ore mills, domestic
lifts etc.
 Working principle
• Water flowing in river is collected by constructing big dam
where water is stored in reservoir.
• This water is allowed to fall from a height, which rotates
the turbine and generate electricity.
• Many multipurpose river valley projects are there.
 Tidal energy
Tidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of renewable
energy in which tidal action in the oceans is converted
to electric power.

Tide is created by the gravitational force of the Sun and the

moon on the earth.

50 MW tidal plant is situated at the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat

• Tidal power systems take advantage of differences
between high tides and low tides by using a “barrage”.

• At high tide, sea water flows into the reservoir or tidal

basin through tidal barrage, then it rotates the turbine.

• At low tide, water behind the barrage is released, and the

water passes through a turbine that generates electricity.
 Ocean thermal energy (OTE)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) uses the ocean thermal
gradient between cooler deep and warmer shallow or
surface seawaters to run a heat engine and produce useful work,
usually in the form of electricity.

OTEC can operate with a very high capacity factor and so can operate
in base load mode.

OTEC is one of the continuously available renewable energy resources

 Working principle

If the temperature of water between ocean surface and at

the deeper level is high ( 20 0C or more) then energy can be
generated by OTEC power plant.

The warm water is used to boil low boiling liquid like

ammonia (working fluid).

The vapor pressure generated rotate the turbine .

Again the cold water is used to condense the ammonia vapor

into liquid.
 Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is the thermal energy generated and
stored in the Earth’s crust.

It comes from heat generated during the original formation of

the planet and the radioactive decay of materials. This
thermal energy is stored in rocks and fluids in the centre of
the earth.

Hot water or steam coming out rom earth crust turns the
turbine and generates electricity
Hot water spring: when the hot water from earth’s crust
comes out naturally. It is a type of natural geyser.

Artificial geyser: When artificially we drill a hole to the hot

region and the steam is brought out with high pressure
through a pipe, then it can move turbine and generate
electricity.
 Biomass energy
Biomass energy is energy generated or produced by living or
once-living organisms. That is energy derived from wood, crop
residue, cattle dung, sewage, agricultural waste is biomass
energy.

It is one type of renewable energy.

Biogas: Mixture of methane, CO2, H2S

Obtained from the anaerobic fermentation of animal dung or
plant waste in presence of water.

Biofuel: Fermentation of biomass to ethanol, methanol ,

carbohydrate rich substrate like sugarcane, corn , jowar etc.
 Hydrogen (H2)fuel
H2 fuel is renewable, non-polluting .

H2 is obtained by thermal dissociation of water above 3000 0C

temp.

Also obtained by the electrolysis of water by passing electricity

Photolysis of water in plants during photosynthesis.

Disadvantage
• Highly inflammable, explosive in nature.
• Difficult to store and transport.

Used as liquid H2 fuel in spaceship.

Differences between renewable and non-renewable resources
Renewable Resources Non-renewable Resources
Depletion
Renewable resources cannot be depleted over time Non-renewable resources deplete over time
Sources
Renewable resources include sunlight, water, wind
Non-renewable energy includes fossil fuels such as
and also geothermal sources such as hot springs
coal and petroleum.
and fumaroles
Environmental Impact
Most renewable resources have low carbon emissions Non-renewable energy has a comparatively higher
and low carbon footprint carbon footprint and carbon emissions.
Cost
Intial cost of renewable energy is high. Generating
Non-renewable energy has a comparatively lower
electricity using technologies running on renewable
upfront cost.
energy is costlier than generating it with fossil fuels
Infrastructure Requirements
Infrastructure for harvesting renewable energy is Cost-effective and accessible infrastructure is
prohibitively expensive and not easily accessible in available for non-renewable energy across most
most countries. countries
Area Requirements
Requires a large land/ offshore area, especially for
Comparatively lower area requirements
wind farms and solar farms