Guide To Learn
Phosphorus enters the environment from rocks or deposits laid down on the earth many years ago. Phosphate rock in the commercially available form is called apatite. Other deposits may be from fossilized bone or bird droppings called guano. Weathering and erosion of rocks gradually releases phosphorus as phosphate ions, which are soluble in water. Land […]
The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformations of nitrogen and nitrogen-containing compounds in nature. This cycle includes gaseous components. The earth’s atmosphere contains approximately 78.08 per cent nitrogen, making it the largest pool of nitrogen. Nitrogen is essential for many biological processes; it is crucial for any life on earth. Nitrogen […]
The oxygen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of oxygen within and between its three main reservoirs: the atmosphere (air), the biosphere (living things) and the lithosphere (earth’s crust). The main driving factor of the oxygen cycle is photosynthesis, which is responsible for the modern earth’s atmosphere and life. The largest reservoir […]
Precipitation: Condensed water vapour that falls onto the earth’s surface. Most precipitation occurs as rain, but also includes snow, hail, fog, drip and sleet. Approximately 505,000 km3 of water falls as precipitation each year, 398,000 km3 of it over the oceans. Canopy interception: The precipitation that is intercepted by plant foliage and eventually evaporates back to the atmosphere rather […]
The water or hydrological cycle is a continuous natural process that helps in the exchange of water between the atmosphere, the land, the sea, living plants and animals. The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth. Since the water […]
The biosphere in its widest sense consists of the earth’s crust, the atmosphere and the various species of life that exist in the zone 600 m above and 10,000 m below sea level. The biosphere is very large and complex and, hence, is divided into smaller units called ecosystems. An ecosystem consists of plants, animals […]
The environment consists of four segments – atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
In this division, engineers and scientists assess the impacts of a proposed project on environmental conditions. They apply scientific and engineering principles to evaluate if there are likely to be any adverse impacts on water quality, air quality, habitat quality, flora and fauna, and agricultural capacity and to study traffic impacts, social impacts, ecological impacts, […]
Pollutants may be chemical, biological, thermal, radioactive or even mechanical. Environmental engineering emphasizes several areas: process engineering, environmental chemistry, water and sewage treatment (sanitary engineering), waste reduction/management and pollution prevention/clean-up. Environmental engineering is a synthesis of various disciplines, incorporating elements from the following: Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to the […]
Ever since people first recognized that their health and well-being were related to the quality of their environment, they have applied thoughtful principles to attempt to improve the quality of their environment. The ancient Harappan civilization utilized early sewers in some cities. The Romans constructed aqueducts to prevent drought and to create a clean, healthful […]