NATURAL RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION:
Scientists are continuously searching clues of life on different planets. But till date, earth
is the only plant on which the lives exist. It is only possible because of certain favorable
conditions. There is a delicate balance between the environment and the living beings
and if there is any disturbance between them can affect life on earth adversely.
Factors on which life on earth depends:
1. Resources available on earth like air, water, food, soil etc.
2. Solar energy which we get from sun. Temperature on earth by sun should have
certain range.
**The above two are the basic requirements of all life forms on the earth.
RESOURCES ON THE EARTH
The natural resources present on the earth are land (lithosphere), water (hydrosphere)
and air (atmosphere).
1. LITHOSPHERE: The outer crust of the earth is known as lithosphere. We call it
land that comprises soil, rocks, minerals etc.
2. HYDROSPHERE: The aquatic part of the earth is called hydrosphere. It can be
found underground. Water covers 75% of earths surface.
3. ATMOSPHERE: It is a multilayered gaseous part of the earth that covers the earth
as a blanket. It is air that surrounds the earth.
BIOSPHERE:- The life supporting zone or area of earth is called biosphere. It
comprises lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere that together make life possible
on earth.

Components of Biosphere:
1. Biotic Components- Living things such as animals and plants.
2. Abiotic components- Non-living components of the earth such as air, water
and soil (land).
THE BREATH OF LIFE: AIR
Air is mixture of many gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases,
impurities or water vapors.
Nitrogen -78%
Oxygen - 21% (approx.)
Carbon dioxide - 0.03%
Argon gases 0.90%
Other gases 0.17%
Note- Composition of several gases in air is even the result of life on earth.
Q: Why life is not possible on planets like mars and Venus?

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Ans: Because the major component of the atmosphere of mars and Venus is carbon
dioxide (CO2) that constitutes up to 95 97%.

ROLE OF ATMOSPHERE IN CLIMATE CONTROL:

We know the air is the bad conductor of heat. Atmosphere maintains the temperature
of earth during day and night.
After night, when sun rises, temperature increases slowly and after day, when sun
sets, temperature decreases but slowly. This balance makes the life possible on earth.
Q: Why life is not possible on moon?
Ans. Because atmosphere is not present on moon. That results in high temperature
during day time (i.e. 110 C) and very low temperature at night (i.e. -190 C).

THE MOVEMENT OF AIR: WIND

The horizontal movement of air due to difference in the pressure of air by differential
heating of sun on earth is called wind.
***Wind moves from high pressure (cold place) to low pressure (hot place).
***The vertical movement of warm air due to more temperature along with water
vapor and respiration of organisms forms clouds.

**Formation of wind:
Wind is formed because of the difference in air pressure at different places as air
always moves from high pressure to low.

**Factors influencing the formation of wind:

1. Uneven heating of atmosphere in different regions of the earth.
2. Rotation of earth along its own axis.
3. Mountain ranges in the path of winds.
Q. How atmosphere can be heated?
Ans. Atmosphere gets heated because of the
radiations-reflected back from earth
-reradiated from land
-reradiated from water bodies.

** Formation of winds in coastal regions:

During day timeSunrays fall equally on land and water. But land heated faster than the water. So,
air above the heated land gets heated faster than the air above the water/sea.
Thus, the air above the land rises up as it has higher temperature and creates low
air pressure on land. Because of this, air over the sea (a region of high air pressure)
starts moving towards the land (a region of low air pressure). This result in the
formation of wind from sea to land called sea breeze.
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 At nightAir over the sea is warmer than the air over the land. This is because of the fact
that water cools down slower than land. This results in the raising up of air above
water surface, creating a low pressure region there. Therefore, the air moves from
land (a region of high pressure) to sea (a region of low pressure). This formation of
wind from land to sea is called land breeze.

RAIN:
Formation of clouds and pouring of rain takes place in the following ways;
Water bodies are heated and a large amount of water vapor formed.
Water vapors rise up in the atmosphere with the warm air currents (hot
upward blowing air).
As upper atmosphere is cooler, warm air cools down and expands.
Water vapor condenses in the form of tiny droplets.
The condensation of water into the water droplets is facilitated by the
presence of dust and other particles suspended in the atmosphere. These act
as a nucleus for these droplets.
Gradually, these tiny droplets, by condensation process, become bigger and
form clouds.
Clouds move around the globe.
If drops grow very big and heavy, they fall down a rain and it is called
Precipitation.
Sometimes, the precipitation occurs as snow, sleet, or hail.
Rainfall patterns are decided by prevailing wind patterns.
AIR POLLUTION:
It is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air.
It is caused due to an increase in the content of harmful substances (pollutant) such
as oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, etc.

**Causes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Automobile exhaust.
Smokes
Industries
Burning of fossil fuels
Forest fires
Release of CFCs

**Effects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Acid rain
Global warming
Some types of diseases like cancer, allergies and heart attack.
Smog is formed.
Decrease the life-span of people.
Health of people, animals and plants is affected adversely.

ACID RAIN:
When fossil fuels like petroleum and coal are burnt in the atmosphere in the presence
of oxygen, they produce Nitrogen Oxide (NO2) and Sulphur Oxide (SO2) as some
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amount of nitrogen and sulphur is present in these fossil fuels. When these oxides
react with water (in the rain) the pH of water becomes acidic that means acid is
produced in the rain;
NO + H2O
NHO3 (Nitric acid)
SO2 + H2O
H2SO4 (Sulphuric acid)
These acids then fall on earth along with rain. This type of rain is termed as acid rain.
pH of natural rain 5.6 and; pH of acid rain 3.0

Harmful effects if acid rain:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Damage to buildings, monuments, private property etc.

Damage to plants and forests.
Affects underwater animals.
Affects human health and may cause skin cancer.
Increases in acidity of water of water bodies.
Evan birds feeding on organisms in water bodies may die because acid rain
affect underwater organisms.

SMOG:
When smoke is mixed with fog then it is converted into smog. It is the visible
indication of air pollution.

Harmful effects of smog:

1. Poor visibility.
2. Affect human health.
3. Respiratory diseases.
THE WONDER LIQUID: WATER
Water occupies a large part of earths surface (70%).
Water can be found;
(sources of water)
-on earths surface.
-underground the earth.
-in the atmosphere in the form of vapor.

Importance of water:
1. To carry out all biological and chemical activities of cell.
2. Transportation of substances throughout a body.
3. Maintenance of body temperature.
4. To maintain sugar and salt concentration in a body.
5. Used in agricultural works.
6. Generation of hydro-electricity.
7. Maintain economy of the country.
8. Terrestrial life forms require fresh water.
9. Industrial use.
10.
Everyday external needs of water.
11.
Used in cooling various machines.
Q: Where most of the water on earths surface found?
Ans: In rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, and so on.
Q: Where fresh water on earth can be found?
Ans: At poles (North and south pole), on snow covered mountains, underground the
earth and in some water bodies like river, lake and ponds.

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WATER POLLUTION:

An undesirable change in the physical, biological or chemical qualities of water

(due to addition for foreign organic, inorganic, biological or radioactive substances)
that adversely affects the aquatic life, and makes water less fit or unfit for use, is
called water pollution.
Agents or substances that pollute the water are called water pollutants.

** Causes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Fertilizers and pesticides used in farms.

Sewage from towns and cities.
Oil spills in water bodies.
Waste from industries.
Discharge of hot water into water bodies by thermal plants.

**Effects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Harmful effect on aquatic life.

Algal bloom (very much formation of algae on water surface).
Eutrofication (formation of algae in water).
Increase in temperature of water bodies.
Water-borne disease.

**Impact of water pollution:

The term water pollution is used to cover the following effects;
1. Addition of undesirable substances to water bodies- These substances
could be fertilizers, pesticides and poisonous substances like mercury salt.
2. Removal of desirable substances to water bodies- This substance could
be oxygen used by plants and animals living in water.
3. A change in temperature- Change in temperature affects breeding of aquatic
organisms and this undesirable change in temperature of water is due to hot
water discharged in to water-bodies from thermal plants where cool water is
used to cool machines.
MINERAL RICHES IN SOIL

SOIL: It is the outermost layer of earth i.e. crust that supports the life of organisms
by providing appropriate minerals and is the most important resource that decides
the diversity of life in an area.

**Formation of soil:
Soil can be formed by breaking down of rock present near or at the surface of earth.
This can be done by various physical, chemical and biological activities. Various
processes are, as follows;
1. Temperature (Sun): During day, due to heat of the sun rocks expand and
during night, rocks cools down and contract. But all the parts of rocks do not
expand or contract at the same rate. Thus, cracks formed on them and break
down in smaller particles of sand.
2. Water: Water helps in soil formation in two ways;
If water present between the cracks in rocks gets freeze then water
expands and widens the cracks. This helps in foil formation.
Flowing water in rivers or streams often contain big and small particles of
rocks. These rocks rub against other rocks and results in fine pieces of
sand.
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3. Wind: wind does work similar to water. It carries sand particles from its parent
rock to other place. Strong winds erode rocks down by a great velocity when it
rubs with rock surface.
4. Living Organisms: Some living organisms grow on the surface of rocks, like
Lichens, mosses etc. While growing, they release certain substances that causes
the rock surface to powder down and form a thin layer of soil. Sometimes, the
roots of big trees go into the cracks and cracks are forced bigger. This helps in
the formation of soil.
Q. why soil found in places far away from its parent rock?
Ans. In the formation of soil by water and wind, water takes the broken particles
along with it and deposits them further down its path, and in case of wind, small
particles of sand carried by it from one place to other far place as water does.
Thus, soil found in places far away from its parent rock.

**Composition of soil:

Soil is the mixture of various components;

Small particles of rocks of different sizes.
Contain humus.
Microscopic life.
The type of soil is decided by the average size of particles of soil found in it and
the amount of humus it contains.
The quality of soil is decided by the amount of humus and microscopic life
present in it.

Humus: It is a dark colored, decomposed organic substance which consists of

decomposed plants, animals and their waste. It increases the

fertility/quality/structure of soil.
Q. Why humus is considered as a major factor in deciding soil structure or
its quality?
Ans. It is because it causes the soil to become more porous and allows water and air
to penetrate deep underground. It increases quality of soil.
Q. What are factors that decide which plant will thrive/flourish on a soil?
Ans. Major Factors are, as follows;
-Nutrient content in the soil.
-Amount of humus and micro-organisms are present in it.
-Depth of the soil.
TOPSOIL: The topmost layer of the soil that contains humus and living organisms
in addition to the soil particles is called topsoil. The quality of topsoil is an
important factor that decides the biodiversity of an area.
SOIL POLLUTION:
Removal of useful components from soil and addition of other substances which
adversely affect the fertility of soil and kill the diversity of organisms live in it is called
soil pollution.

**Causes:
1. Modern farming practices.
2. Soil erosion.

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**Effects:
1. Loss of soil fertility.
2. Use of fertilizers and pesticides kills soil micro-organisms and earthworms
present in it.
Q. How soil losses its fertility?
Ans. Major Factors are;
-Recycling of nutrients stops: use of chemical fertilizers in soil over a long
period of time results in killing of soil micro-organisms present in it. These are
responsible to recycle nutrients in the soil.
-Loss of humus: increase in soil pollution results in the deaths of earthworms
present in it which makes humus. Decrease in the quantity of earthworms means
decrease in humus means decrease in soil fertility.
SOIL EROSION:
The removal and transportation of top layer of soil from its original position to another
place with the help of certain agents such as strong winds and fast running rain water,
is called soil erosion.

**Causes:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Deforestation.
Overgrazing.
Floods or fast flowing water at areas without vegetation.
Velocity of wind at barren areas.
5. Human activities such as expansion of urban areas have led to the removal of
vegetation

**Effects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Reduces soil fertility.

Makes land barren.
Loss of land.
Landslides.
Water pollution.

**Prevention:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Aforestation (planting trees).

Not allowing cattles to graze on same piece of land again and again.
Proper farming methods (like step farming).
Prevention of floods.
Not allowing a large piece of land uncultivated for a long time.
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

The cyclic flow of nutrients between biotic and Abiotic components of nature is called
biogeochemical cycles.
WATER CYCLE:
A Whole process in which water evaporates and falls on the land and later flows back
to seas via rivers and then the whole process repeats again, is known as water cycle.
Process:
Water evaporates from water bodies due to heat of sun. Water vapor is also
added in environment by transpiration and respiration.
Water vapor cools on rising up and condensed.
When condensation has occurred on large scale, clouds are formed which
becomes heavy with time.
Water falls down on the earth in the form of rain, hails or snow (Precipitation).
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 Some of water directly falls in water bodies, some falls on land and then joins
water bodies and some goes down into ground.
Some of the underground water finds its way to the surface by natural openings
on ground and forms springs.
Again evaporation occurs and cycle continues.
Q. What capability of water helps marine organisms to get minerals? How?
Ans. Water is capable of dissolving a large no. of components in it. As water flows
through or over the rocks containing soluble minerals, some of them get dissolved in
the water. Thus, river carry many nutrients from the land to sea and then are used by
marine organisms.
Q. In what forms did water can be found during water cycle?
Ans. * As gaseous state (in the form of water vapor)
*As liquid state (condensed water vapor forms rain)
*As solid state (when condensed water vapor cools very much that is below 0 C
it gets converted into snow or hail)

NITROGEN CYCLE:

It can be defined as the constant exchange of nitrogen in nature between biotic and
Abiotic components of nature.
**Occurrence of Nitrogen: Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of our atmosphere and
also take part of many molecules such a proteins, vitamins, alkoids, urea, nucleic
acids (DNA and RNA) etc. Life forms cant use atmospheric nitrogen directly, it should
be first converted into nitrates or nitrites.
Q. How nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all life-forms?
Ans. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient as it takes part in many molecules such as
proteins, vitamins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) etc. that are essential to life.
**Nitrogen Fixation: The process of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates
(NO3+) and Nitrites (NO2+) with the help of some nitrogen fixing bacteria (like
Rhizobium, Anabaena, Cynobacteria etc.) because all life-forms cannot use
elementary nitrogen directly. This is called Nitrogen Fixation.
Q. Where the most common nitrogen fixing bacteria found?
Ans. The most common bacteria are found in the roots of legumes (especially tha
plants which give us pulses) in special structures called nodules.
Q. Is there any other process by which nitrogen molecule is converted into
nitrates and nitrites?
Ans. Rather than bacteria, there is an physical process, i.e. lightening which creates
high pressure and temperature in the atmosphere, and then nitrogen converts into its
oxides (NO2+ and NO3+). These oxides dissolve in water to give nitric acid and fall on
land along with rain. These are, then, utilized by various life-forms.

Process:

Nitrogen is present in abundance in atmosphere.

Nitrogen is fixed by some bacteria in the form of its oxides (NO2+ and NO3+).
These oxides are absorbed by plants and are converted into proteins.
It remains in the form of proteins till it is alive.
After its death, decomposers break down proteins into ammonia (NH 3) and this
process is called Ammonification.

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 This ammonia is broken down into nitrites and nitrates. This process is called
Nitrification.
These oxides are, then, broken down into nitrogen. This process is called
Denitrification.
Nitrogen is returned back and again cycle continues.

CARBON CYCLE:

The constant exchange of carbon in nature as a cycle between biotic and Abiotic
components of nature is called carbon cycle.

**Occurrence of carbon:
In elemental form: graphite, diamond etc.
In combined form: Carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon and hydrogen carbonate salts in
various minerals, carbon containing molecules like proteins, fats, carbohydrates,
nucleic acids etc. Endoskeletons and exoskeletons of various animals are made up of
carbonate salts.

**Production of CO2:
Carbon dioxide can be produced by two methods, as follows;
1. Respiration: It is a process in which, with the help of oxygen, oxidation of
glucose (C6H12O6) occurs and CO2, water (H2O) and energy produced. It can be
called the role of oxygen in the production of carbon dioxide. The reaction is, as
follows;
C6H12O6 + O2
CO2 + H2O + Energy
2. Combustion: It is another process in which consumption of oxygen and
production of carbon dioxide occurs. Such as burning of fossil fuels, forest fires
etc.

**CO2 Fixation OR Utilization of CO2:

By the process of respiration and combustion, we can observe how much of the
carbon dioxide is producing but the percentage of this gas is very less in the
atmosphere. It is because carbon dioxide is fixed in the atmosphere in two ways;
1. By Photosynthesis: green plants use carbon dioxide and convert it into glucose
in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
2. Many marine animals use carbonates in sea water to make their shells. Carbon
dioxide is dissolved in water to make carbonates.

Process:
CO2 in atmosphere is used by plants in the process of photosynthesis as an
organic compound and it is also dissolved in water as carbonates.
After death of plant, by certain processes, they are converted into coal after
many years. Carbonates in water forms limestone.
Animals use plants as food. Plants converts Carbon dioxide into glucose and in
animals by the process of respiration, glucose is converted back into carbon
dioxide and goes into the atmosphere.
After the death of animals, after many years, they are converted into petroleum.
The coal and petroleum formed by plants and animals gives carbon dioxide
when these are burnt in the presence of oxygen.
Carbon dioxide comes back into atmosphere and the cycle continues.
Q. When the percentage of Carbon dioxide is doubled in the atmosphere?
Ans. The %age of CO2 in the atmosphere is said to have doubled since the industrial
revolution when human beings started burning fossil fuels on a very large scale.

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GREENHOUSE
EFFECT:
It is the phenomenon of keeping the earth warm due to presence of greenhouse
gasses in air.
Greenhouses: These are enclosures made up of glasses where tropical plants could
be kept glasses are used to create the enclosures warm during winter in colder
climates. Such enclosures are called greenhouses.
There are some gasses like CO2 that are responsible for greenhouses effects are
called greenhouse gasses. These gasses have the capacity t trap the heat of sun. It is
important because the sunlight get reflected by ozone but the heat from them is
trapped by such gasses. But sudden increase in these gasses lead a problem, i.e.
global warming.
Global warming: CO2 has got the property of absorbing heat of sun. More pollution
rate increases the amount of CO2 in air which leads more trapping of heat of sun. This
increases in the temperature of earth and this is called global warming. As the result
of this, the polar ice caps will melt and submersing of coastal places take place.
The gradual continuous increase in average temperature of surface of the earth
as a result of increase in concentration of greenhouse gasses is called global warming.
Q: Name some of the greenhouse gasses present in the atmosphere.
Ans. CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs etc.
OXYGEN CYCLE:
The constant exchange of oxygen in nature between biotic and Abiotic components of
nature is called oxygen cycle.

**Occurrence of oxygen:
In Elemental Form: O2 in air (in primitive atmosphere oxygen was found as diatomic
molecule i.e. O not O2).
In Compound from: CO2, NO3, NO2, CO3, SO4, and in carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic
acids or fats.

**Production of O2:
Oxygen can be formed by only one process i.e. photosynthesis. The carbon dioxide
and water released during respiration, is utilized by green plants during which oxygen
is produced in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll and release in the atmosphere.
6CO2 + 6H2O
C6H12O6 + 6O2

**Utilization of oxygen:
1. By respiration: animals use oxygen for respiration to break down glucose to
get energy and release carbon dioxide and water.
2. By combustion: Burning of materials require oxygen and release carbon
dioxide in air.
3. Formation of oxides of nitrogen (NO2 and NO3).
Bacteria are poisoned by oxygen and the process of nitrogen fixing by bacteria does
not take place in the presence of oxygen.

Process:
We (animals) take oxygen to break down glucose by the process of respiration,
which we take through plants in the form of food.
After respiration process, carbon dioxide and water are released in the
environment.
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 These are taken by plants in the photosynthesis.

After photosynthesis, oxygen is released in the atmosphere and glucose id
developed in plants.
Again this oxygen and glucose taken by animals.
Oxygen cycle continues after this again.
OZONE LAYER
It is a layer of triatomic molecule of oxygen, ozone (O3) which reflects the ultraviolet (UV) radiation of sun.
OZONE: It is a molecule formed by three atoms of oxygen i.e. O3 unlike oxygen,
which is required for aerobic respiration, ozone is a deadly poison. Ozone is formed
by the following process;
O2
[O] + [O]
[O] + O2
O3
Diatomic molecule of oxygen is splitted by the high energy of UV radiation into
free oxygen atoms. These atoms then combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone.

OZONE DEPLETION: It was discovered that ozone layer is getting depleted by

various man-made compounds. One of them is CFC.
Recently, a hole is discovered over Antarctica in ozone layer. This is referred as
Ozone Hole. There has been thinning of large area of ozone layer that has resulted
in the formation of ozone hole.

CFC: It stands for Chloro fluoro-Carbon. It is a carbon compound having both

fluorine and chloride which is very stable and not degraded by any biological
process. Once CFC reached ozone layer, they would react with ozone molecules.
This resulted in the reduction of ozone layer.

FUNCTION OF OZONE LAYER: It absorbs harmful UV radiations coming out of the

sun. This prevents harmful radiations from reaching the surface of the earth where
they may damage many life forms.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF UV-RADIATION:

OR
EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION:
1. Skin cancer, skin cell damage and skin aging.
2. UV-B Damages DNA and proteins of living organisms.
3. UV-B is absorbed by human eyes and in high dose, it causes inflammation of
cornea.

*****

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