Natural Resources Test - 1

Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions.

Minamata disease, sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease, is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. The causative agent is methyl mercury.

An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems, and is recognised by the discolouration in the water from their pigments. The main nutrients contributing to algal bloom are phosphorus and nitrogen.

The formation of coal is a very slow process. The conditions required are: very high temperature and pressure. Higher the pressure and temperature, better is the quality of coal. This cannot be obtained under lab-conditions.

All cellular processes take place in a water medium. All the reactions that take place within our body and within the cells as well as transportation of substances in the body occur in a dissolved form. Most of the water on Earth's surface is found in seas and oceans and is saline underground water. Fresh water is not only found frozen in the ice caps at the two Poles and on snow-covered mountains but also in fresh water lakes, rivers and ponds.

The depletion of ozone layer is due to the use of chemicals called aerosol spray propellants like fluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons and bromofluorocarbons. The chemical compounds such as fluorocarbon and chlorofluorocarbon present in aerosol spray propellant, react with ozone gas present in the stratosphere and destroy it gradually.

The phenomenon of heating up of the earth's atmosphere due to trapping of infrared rays by the layer of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect. It was first discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824.

Increase in CO₂ concentration causes the greenhouse effect which in turn results in global warming.

B-Horizon: It has accumulation of downward-moving fine material consisting of clay particles and minerals like silicates, iron, and aluminium.

C-Horizon: It represents the soil parent material in the form of incompletely weathered, large masses of rocks.

D-Horizon: It is the bed rock.

Water is polluted by fertilisers, pesticides and petroleum spills. All this can affect the life forms that are found in the water bodies in various ways. It can encourage the growth of some life forms and harm some other life forms. This affects the balance between various organisms which had been established in that system.

Studies have shown that regularly breathing air that contains hydrocarbon vapours, suspended particles and other pollutant gases like sulphur and nitrogen oxides increases the incidence of allergies, cancer and heart diseases.