Environment · X-Factor Notes
Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change (Chapter 4) revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse Effect (GHE) | It is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. It involves atmospheric gases absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation (long-wave radiation) returning from the Earth's surface. | UP P.C.S. Pre 2018 |
| GHE Origin | The concept of Greenhouse Gases was postulated by Joseph Fourier in 1824. | UP PCS Mains 2011 |
| Absence of GHE | Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature of the Earth's surface would be –18°C. | UP PCS Pre 2020 |
| Climate Change Causes |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Major GHGs (Primary) | The primary gases include Water Vapour (H2O), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), and Ozone (O3). Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are also GHGs. | UP PCS Pre 2013 |
| Highest Contribution | Water Vapour is the naturally occurring gas that causes the highest percentage of the greenhouse effect (approx. 60%) Carbon Dioxide about 26% Methane about 4-9% Ozone about 3-7% Nitrous Oxide about 1.5% Chlorofl urocarbons and others about 0.1-0.4%. | UP PCS Mains 2011 |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Impact of GW | Effects include melting of glaciers, rise in sea level, changes in weather conditions, and adverse impact on health. Species timings (like plant blooming and insect activity) may become out of sync. | UP PCS Pre 2003 |
| Fragile Ecosystem | The Arctic and Greenland Ice sheet is the most fragile ecosystem that will be first affected by global warming. | |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Protocol | An international treaty adopted in Kyoto, Japan (1997) and enforced in 2005. It aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The concept of 'carbon credit' originated from this protocol. | UP PCS Mains 2017, UP PCS Pre 2021 |
| Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) | Defined under Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol. It allows Annex-I (developed) countries to fund emission reduction projects in Non-Annex-I (developing) countries to earn |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) | India’s first NAPCC was released in June 2008. | UP P.C.S. Pre 2018, UP P.C.S. Pre 2016 |
| NAPCC Missions | NAPCC outlines Eight National Missions, including: Solar Mission, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water Mission, Green India Mission, Sustainable Agriculture,Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change | |
| Mission NOT Included |
| Climate change is caused by Greenhouse gases, Depletion of the ozone layer, and Pollution (all three factors). Primary drivers are excessive burning of fossil fuels, exploding numbers of automobiles, and heavy deforestation. |
| UP PCS Pre 2013, UP PCS Pre 2017 |
| Cryogenic Indicator | The Ice Core (cylindrical sample obtained from glaciers) provides the cryogenic indicator (most direct and detailed record) of past climate change. | UP PCS Pre (Re Exam) 2015 |
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| Astronomical Theory | The Eccentricity of Earth’s orbit, Obliquity of Earth’s rotational axis, and Precession of Equinoxes are part of the astronomical theory of climate change. Solar irradiance is not concerned with this theory. | UP PCS Pre (Re. Exam) 2015 |
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| Most Responsible Gas |
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| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the gas most responsible for aggravating global warming and the highest contributor among the analyzed anthropogenic gases because its concentration is more than other GHGs. |
| UP PCS Pre 2006 |
| Comparative Harm | Methane (CH4) is considered more dangerous and effective as a greenhouse gas than CO2 (GWP of 72 in 20 years, compared to 1 for CO2). |
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| Non-GHGs | Gases that are NOT greenhouse gases include Oxygen (O2), Nitrogen, Argon, and Hydrogen. | UP PCS Pre 2016, UP PCS Pre 2012, UP PCS Mains 2012, UP RO/ARO Mains 2017 |
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| Methane Sources | Major sources include Paddy fields, termitary, coal mining, domestic animals, and wetlands (largest natural source). | UP P.C.S. Mains 2017, UP P.C.S. Pre 2018, UP P.C.S. Pre 2019 |
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| CO2 Sinks | CO2 does not remain entirely in the lower atmosphere because of photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the oceans and plants on land. |
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| Blue Carbon | Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems (like sea grasses and mangroves). |
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| Coral Bleaching |
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| The most significant factor causing coral bleaching is Global Warming (increase in temperature and acidity of the sea). |
| UP PCS Pre (Re-Exam) 2015 |
| Carbon Sequestration | This process involves capturing and storing atmospheric carbon. Potential geological storage sites include abandoned and uneconomic coal seams, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, and subterranean deep saline formations. |
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| Agricultural Mitigation | Practices like Contour bunding, Relay cropping, and Zero tillage help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil. Mixed cropping, organic manures, and nitrogen-fixing plants are best strategies for environment-friendly sustainable development in agriculture. |
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| Geo-engineering | Techniques like cirrus cloud thinning and the injection of sulphate aerosol into the stratosphere are suggested to reduce global warming. Using sea water for cloud brightening over the Pacific Ocean was also suggested. | UP PCS Mains 2009 |
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| Carbon Footprint | Refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases produced, directly and indirectly, to support human activities. |
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| Carbon Tax | A tax levied on energy resources that release CO2. Singapore announced imposing a carbon tax from 2019. | UP R.O./A.R.O. Pre 2017 |
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| Net-Zero Goal (2050) | This goal means that a country's emissions will be compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (carbon neutrality), and not necessarily bringing emissions down to zero. Bhutan is a known 'carbon negative country'. | UP PCS Pre 2021, UP Lower Sub. Pre 2015 |
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| Paris Agreement (COP 21) | Held in Paris, France, in 2015. Aims to keep the temperature rise well below 20C above pre-industrial levels and pursue 1.50C |
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| IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) | It is an intergovernmental body of the UN. It emphasizes that Deep, rapid and sustained reductions in GHG emission are essential. | UPPSC Pre-2024 |
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| UN Climate Action Summit | The 2019 summit was held at the UN headquarters in New York City. | UP PCS Pre 2019 |
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| Green Climate Fund (GCF) | Intended to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. |
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| Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) | An initiative of the European Union (EU), established in 2007, to strengthen cooperation with developing countries regarding climate change. |
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| Greenhouse Gas Protocol | An international accounting tool developed by the World Resource Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to quantify and manage GHG emissions. |
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| UN-REDD Programme | A collaborative initiative of FAO, UNDP, and UNEP (started 2008) aimed at reducing net emissions through enhanced forest management in developing countries. It contributes to protection of biodiversity, resilience of forest ecosystems, and poverty reduction. |
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| Atomic Energy or Nuclear Power is not included among the eight action items/missions under NAPCC. |
| UPUDA/LDA Spl Mains 2010, UP PCS Mains 2016 |
| Solar Alliance | The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015. The first ISA summit was held in New Delhi in 2018. | UP R.O./A.R.O. Pre 2017 |
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| Green India Mission (GIM) | Launched in 2014, GIM aims to protect, restore, and enhance forest cover and respond to climate change via adaptation and mitigation measures. |
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| National Water Mission | Aims for conservation of water, minimizing wastage, and increasing water use efficiency. Part of the water needs of urban areas are intended to be met through recycling of waste-water. |
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| Atmosphere Monitoring | India does not have a Global Atmosphere Observing Station (GAW station) established, unlike Algeria, Brazil, and Kenya. | UP PCS Pre 2012 |
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