Our Environment is our surrounding. This includes living and non-living things around us. The non-living components of environment are land, water and air. The living components are germs, plants, animals and people.
All plants and animals adjust to the environment in which they are born and live. A charge in any component of the environment may cause discomfort and affect normal life. Any unfavorable change or degeneration in the environment is known as ‘Environmental Pollution.
We need to protect our environment to live happily.
How to Maintain a Good Environment?
For better environment, all its components should be protected from pollution and the surroundings should be clean. We need to take good care of our land, water resources, forests and atmosphere . it is also necessary to ensure a balance between these resources and living creatures, to meet our needs.
Protection of Land
Land is the upper layer of our planet earth. It is made up of soil and rocks. Land stores water and provides a surface to live on. Soil contains nutrients and air to nurse germs and plants. Fertility of the soil has been built up over hundreds of years. Soil is likely to be washed away with rain water or blown away by wind, if it is not protected under the cover of grasses, crops or trees.
Conservation of Water
Water is our line. With water, plants grow well, crops yield more and the atmosphere remains cool. Flowing water is also a source of energy and mode of transport.
Rain is the main source of water. It is absorbed by soil and stored under the ground. A Part of this water, which is not absorbed, flows into rivers and finally reaches the sea. Being salty, sea water is neither fit for human consumption nor plant growth. It is necessary to keep the water clean fro drinking purpose and conserve it for growing crops and trees.
Protection of Forests
Forests is an important part of the environment, because trees clean the air and keep the atmosphere cool. We cannot live without plants, because the oxygen need for breathing is produced by plants.
Trees absorb sunlight and reduce the heat. Plants provide fodder for animals, firewood, timber, medicines, honey, wax, gum, lac and food for us. Tree roots penetrate deep into the soil and from cavities in the ground. The dry leaves which fall on ground, cover the soil and absorb more rain water, which slowly percolates through the soil. Thus, a large portion of the rain water can be retained in the field, by planting more trees. Flooding or rivers can be prevented by protecting trees in the forest.
Keeping the Air Clean
Clean air is colourless and is composed of the following gases :-
Composition of Air
Component - Concentration :
Percentage of total volume of air
GASES
NITROGEN - 78.00
OXYGEN - 21.00
CARBON DIOXIDE-0.034
HYDROGEN -TRACES
ARGON -TRACES
METHANE -TRACES
OZONE -TRACES
OTHER
Moisture and dust particles vary with location and climate.
Air is thick at sea level and as we go above sea level, the air layer becomes thinner with less oxygen. Beyond 12 kilometres above sea level, the composition of the air changes. This layer contains more ozone. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet rays present in sunlight, which otherwise would reach the earth and cause injury to plants and animals. Air is the carrier of sound. In the absence of air, we cannot hear. When the volume of sound increase, it causes noise. This can frighten animals and irritate people. Continuous exposure to noise may lead to loss of hearing. Therefore, quietness is essential to improve the environment.