Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences - Download Free PDF

Key Points

•  The biosphere refers to the narrow zone of the Earth where land (lithosphere), water (hydrosphere), and air (atmosphere) interact to sustain and support life.
• It is the part of the Earth where living organisms exist and is essential for the survival of all life forms.
• The biosphere includes both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements, but it is not dominated by non-living factors.
• Hence, option 3 is correct.

The correct answer is Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Key Points

• NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index):
  • NDVI is the most widely used vegetation index for remote sensing applications related to vegetation health and density monitoring.
  • It measures the difference between near-infrared (which vegetation strongly reflects) and red light (which vegetation absorbs).
  • The formula for NDVI is:

    \( \text{NDVI} = \frac{(NIR - RED)}{(NIR + RED)} \)

    where NIR is Near-Infrared and RED is the red visible light.
  • The index ranges from -1 to +1, with higher values indicating healthier and denser vegetation cover.
  • NDVI is especially useful for large-scale monitoring, such as crop growth, forest density, and environmental changes.
  • It provides a simple indicator of the presence and condition of vegetation, making it a go-to tool for agriculture, forestry, and climate research.

Additional Information

• Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI):
  • EVI is similar to NDVI but offers improved sensitivity in areas with high biomass. It reduces atmospheric interference and accounts for canopy background noise.
  • It is used to enhance vegetation monitoring in tropical forests or regions with dense vegetation, where NDVI may saturate.
• Green Vegetation Index (GVI):
  • GVI is a less commonly used index that focuses on the green band in remote sensing but does not offer the robustness of NDVI in general applications.
  • It is primarily used for specific types of vegetation analysis.
• Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI):
  • SAVI adjusts for the influence of soil brightness, making it useful in areas where vegetation is sparse, and soil is more visible.
  • It is especially useful in semi-arid regions and areas with less dense vegetation cover.

The correct answer is: 1, 2, 4, 3

Key Points

Remote sensing plays a crucial role in hydrological processes. The sequence of applications is logically organized based on the hydrological cycle:

• Estimation of Precipitation:
  • Definition: The process of measuring the amount of rainfall over a specific area using satellite or radar data.
  • Importance: Precipitation data is essential for understanding water input to the hydrological cycle.
  • Techniques: Remote sensing tools such as weather radars, meteorological satellites (e.g., TRMM, GPM), and ground-based rain gauges.
  • Applications: Helps in flood forecasting, drought monitoring, and water resource management.
• Soil Moisture Analysis:
  • Definition: The measurement of the amount of water contained in soil using remote sensing technologies.
  • Importance: Provides critical information for agricultural practices, drought assessment, and hydrological modeling.
  • Techniques: Utilizes microwave sensors (active/passive), satellites (e.g., SMAP, Sentinel-1).
  • Applications: Supports irrigation planning, crop yield prediction, and soil health monitoring.
• Evapotranspiration Monitoring:
  • Definition: The measurement of water transferred from the land to the atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration.
  • Importance: Essential for water balance studies, crop water requirements, and understanding energy fluxes in the ecosystem.
  • Techniques: Remote sensing methods include thermal infrared sensors, satellite data (e.g., Landsat, MODIS), and surface energy balance algorithms.
  • Applications: Important for irrigation management, weather modeling, and climate studies.
• Simulation of Runoff and Groundwater Flow:
  • Definition: The modeling of surface runoff and underground water movement based on collected hydrological data.
  • Importance: Crucial for flood risk assessment, water resource management, and environmental protection.
  • Techniques: Combines remote sensing data with hydrological models (e.g., HEC-HMS, SWAT) to simulate water flow pathways.
  • Applications: Supports watershed management, groundwater recharge studies, and land-use planning.

Additional Information

• Hydrological Cycle:
  • The complete sequence of processes by which water moves through the Earth and atmosphere including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and subsurface flow.
  • Remote sensing provides critical data at various stages of the hydrological cycle, offering comprehensive monitoring and analysis capabilities.
• Integration with Ground Data:
  • Combining remote sensing data with ground-based measurements (e.g., river discharge data, groundwater levels) enhances the accuracy of hydrological models and predictions.
  • This integration supports robust water resource management strategies and disaster preparedness plans.
• Technological Advancements:
  • Continuous advancements in remote sensing technologies, such as higher resolution sensors and improved real-time data processing, enhance our ability to monitor and manage hydrological processes more efficiently.
  • Future technologies will likely further improve the precision and application areas of remote sensing in hydrology.

The correct answer is Cartosat-1.

Key Points

• Cartosat-1:
  • Cartosat-1 is known for its ability to capture stereoscopic images of the Earth, which are crucial for generating digital elevation models (DEMs).
  • This satellite has two panchromatic cameras (Fore and Aft) pointed in different angles, enabling three-dimensional imaging capabilities.
  • The high-resolution stereoscopic images captured by Cartosat-1 allow for detailed analysis of terrain, surface structure, and elevation, aiding in applications like topographical mapping, urban planning, and infrastructure development.
  • Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2005, Cartosat-1 was India's first satellite designed specifically for stereoscopic Earth observation.

Additional Information

• Cartosat-2:
  • Cartosat-2 is a high-resolution Earth observation satellite designed for urban and rural planning, infrastructure development, and disaster management.
  • It provides detailed images but does not have the stereoscopic capability of Cartosat-1 for generating digital elevation models.
• RISAT-1:
  • RISAT-1 is a radar imaging satellite used for all-weather surveillance and monitoring applications, especially in agriculture, forestry, and disaster management.
  • It uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR), making it different from optical imaging satellites like Cartosat.
• Resourcesat-2:
  • Resourcesat-2 is designed for resource monitoring and agricultural applications and is equipped with multi-spectral imaging sensors.
  • It is not primarily used for generating digital elevation models but focuses on monitoring natural resources, vegetation, and water bodies.

The correct answer is: (1) - A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4.

Key Points

Additional Information

• X-Band (8 to 12 GHz - Military reconnaissance and surveillance):
  • Definition: X-Band microwave frequencies range from 8 to 12 GHz, and they are widely used in military applications.
  • Applications: This band is primarily utilized for military radar systems, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and target identification systems, due to its high resolution.
  • Advantages: The X-Band’s high resolution and short wavelengths provide detailed images, making it ideal for monitoring movements and identifying small objects.
  • Examples: Applications include navigating military aircraft, missile guidance, and perimeter surveillance systems.
• L-Band (1 to 2 GHz - Monitoring soil moisture and ice sheet dynamics):
  • Definition: L-Band microwave frequencies range from 1 to 2 GHz and penetrate deeper into vegetation and soil surfaces.
  • Applications: This band is effective for monitoring soil moisture, ice sheet dynamics, and other surface conditions, making it useful in environmental and agricultural studies.
  • Advantages: L-Band signals can penetrate through vegetation and are less affected by weather conditions, offering reliable data for soil moisture and surveying ice cover thickness.
  • Examples: Satellite missions like NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) utilize L-Band to monitor soil moisture on a global scale.
• C-Band (4 to 8 GHz - Measuring rainfall and vegetation penetration):
  • Definition: C-Band microwave frequencies range from 4 to 8 GHz, commonly used in meteorological radars.
  • Applications: This band is utilized for weather radar systems to measure rainfall, analyze cloud formations, and conduct vegetation studies due to good penetration capabilities.
  • Advantages: The C-Band offers a balance between resolution and surface penetration, ideal for weather monitoring and agricultural applications.
  • Examples: Meteorological satellites and ground-based weather radar systems rely on C-Band for accurate precipitation measurement and vegetation monitoring.
• P-Band (70 to 300 MHz - Estimating biomass and tree height):
  • Definition: P-Band microwave frequencies range from 70 to 300 MHz, characterized by long wavelengths.
  • Applications: This band is particularly useful for estimating biomass, tree height, and detecting underground features due to its ability to penetrate dense forest canopies and soil.
  • Advantages: P-Band's deep penetration capabilities make it suitable for ecological and geological studies, offering insights into forest structure and biomass estimation.
  • Examples: Programs like ESA’s Biomass mission utilize the P-Band to provide data on forest biomass and monitor changes in forested areas for climate studies.

The correct answer is Our Common Future.

Key Points

• The Brundtland Commission was created by the United Nations to suggest measures to protect the human environment and natural resources and prevent the deterioration of economic and social development.
• It is formally called World Commission on Environment and Development.
• Its report was titled as "Our Common Future".
• It was released in 1987.
• The Brundtland Commission’s characterization of ‘sustainable development’ is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Calculation:

The original number of bacteria = 100

After one hour the number of bacteria = 200

Since every hour bacteria in a sample doubles 

So after two hours, the number of bacteria = 400

But after every two hours, 50 bacteria are removed so the number of bacteria  after two hours = 400 - 50 = 350

In the third hour number of bacteria = 700

In the fourth hour the number of bacteria = 1400

After removal of 50 bacteria = 1400 - 50 = 1350

In the fifth hour the number of bacteria = 2700 

∴ After five hours, there are 2700 bacteria.

Hence, The correct option is 2700 bacteria

The correct answer is Utilitarian.

Key Points

Stewardship:

• Environmental stewardship refers to the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through active participation in conservation efforts and sustainable practices by individuals, small groups, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and other collective networks.

​​Utilitarian:

• Utilitarian philosophy indicates that resources should be used for the greatest number for the longest time.
• In the utilitarian account, morality is viewed essentially to be meant for human beings.
• In its moral concern, utilitarianism thus does not have any place for nature.

​Ecocentric:

• Ecocentrism recognizes earth's interactive living and non-living systems rather than just the Earth's organisms (biocentrism) as central in importance. 

Biocentric:

• The term biocentrism encompasses all environmental ethics that "extend the status of the moral object from human beings to all living things in nature".
• Biocentric ethics calls for a rethinking of the relationship between humans and nature.

Therefore, the correct answer is Utilitarian.

The correct answer is 20 km.

Key Points

• Most of the atmosphere is confined to a narrow shell around the planet, with the pressure and density of air decreasing rapidly with altitude and gradually merging into the emptiness of space. 
• 50% of the mass of the atmosphere is within 5.5 km of sea level.
• 90% is within about 20 km of sea level.
• 99.9% is up to 32 km.
• This is because the troposphere which extends for about 8 - 16 km contains more than 80% of the mass of the atmosphere where all the water vapours, clouds and precipitation takes place.
• Also, the troposphere and stratosphere jointly comprise almost 99.9% of the mass of the atmosphere.

Therefore, the correct answer is 20 km.

The correct answer is 4.0 cm.

Key Points

• Microwave frequencies range between 109 Hz (1 GHz) to 1000 GHz with respective wavelengths of 30 to 0.03 cm.
• Within this spectral domain are many communication systems applications that are important in both the military and civilian sectors.
• Microwave sensors provide information on the atmosphere and surface in the presence of clouds.     
• Medium-length (C-band) microwaves penetrate through clouds, dust, smoke, snow, and rain to reveal the Earth's surface.
• The ability of microwaves to pass through clouds enables scientists to monitor conditions underneath a hurricane.
• Microwaves have the lowest energies and allow scientists to pierce dense, interstellar clouds to see the motion of cold gas.

Therefore, the correct answer is 4.0 cm.

The correct answer is A - III, B - I, C - IV, D - II.

Key Points

Therefore, the correct answer is A - III, B - I, C - IV, and D - II.

Additional Information

• The exosphere is the very edge of our atmosphere. This layer separates the rest of the atmosphere from outer space. It's about 10,000 kilometres thick. That's almost as wide as Earth itself.
• The stratosphere is a layer of the atmosphere that surrounds the Earth. As it absorbs energy from incoming ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, ozone, an uncommon form of oxygen molecule that is relatively abundant in the stratosphere, heats this layer.
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. Most of the mass (about 75-80%) of the atmosphere is in the troposphere. Most types of clouds are found in the troposphere, and almost all weather occurs within this layer.
• The thermosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere that is directly above the mesosphere and below the exosphere. It extends from about 90 km (56 miles) to between 500 and 1,000 km above our planet.

The correct answer is Mass.

 Key Points

• The continuity equation is an expression representing the idea that matter is conserved in a flow.
• Per unit volume, the sum of all masses flowing in and out per unit of time must be equal to the change of mass due to a change in density per unit of time.
• The continuity equation applies to all kinds of flows, including compressible, incompressible, Newtonian, and non-Newtonian flows.
• This can be expressed in the form of an equation:
  • \(m_{in}\ - m_{out} = {∂\over ∂_t}m_{element}\)

Therefore, the correct answer is mass.

The correct answer is (a) and (c) only.

Key Points

• The average amount of solar energy falling on one square meter of the level surface outside of Earth’s atmosphere is about 342 watts.
• Of the 100 units of incoming solar radiation, 30 are scattered or reflected back to space by the atmosphere and Earth’s surface.
• Of these 30 units, 6 units are scattered by the air, water vapour, and aerosols in the atmosphere; 20 units are reflected by clouds; and 4 units are reflected by Earth’s surface. 
• The 70 units of incoming solar radiation make it into Earth’s atmosphere.
• The atmosphere and clouds absorb 19 units of this incoming solar radiation, leaving 51 units of solar radiation that is absorbed on Earth’s surface. 
• These incoming 51 units consist of shorter wavelength solar radiation (mostly in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum), which is absorbed by land, water, and vegetation.
• Of the 51 units of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth’s surface, 23 units are used to evaporate water, causing a loss of 23 units of heat at the Earth’s surface.
• Seven (7) units are used for the processes of conduction and convection, also causing a loss of heat at the Earth’s surface.
• The remaining units of the original 51 units of solar radiation are emitted from Earth’s surface as outgoing infrared radiation, also known as terrestrial radiation. 
• About 17 units are radiated directly to space from the earth without being absorbed by the atmosphere.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a) and (c) only.

The correct answer is (a), (b) and (c) only.

 Key Points

• The atmosphere is the recipient of a vast array of chemical compounds emitted by natural processes and, in recent times, increasingly emitted by human activity.
• Most trace gases emitted into the atmosphere are removed by oxidizing chemical reactions involving ozone and the hydroxyl free radical.
• The rate of this self-cleansing process is often referred to as the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere.
• The oxidation of this wide variety of chemical compounds is a key process proceeding in our oxygen-rich atmosphere.
• The compounds undergoing oxidation include hydrocarbons (RH), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH₃), hydrofluorocarbons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons. 
• The atmospheric oxidation process depends on the abundant presence of molecular oxygen.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a), (b) and (c) only.

The correct answer is Lofting.

 Key Points Lofting:

• When the lapse rate is super adiabatic (unstable) above the emission source and inversion conditions (stable) exist below the source, the plume is said to be lofting.
• When the pollutants are emitted above the inversion layer, they are dispersed vigorously in the upward direction since the top of the inversion layer acts as a barrier to the movement of pollutants towards the ground.
• Lofting is the most favourable plume type as far as ground-level concentrations are concerned and one of the major goals of tall stack operations.

Therefore, the correct answer is lofting.