Category Environtal Studies

WHAT IS MR. TRASH WHEEL DEVICE?

Mr. Trash Wheel, officially called the Inner Harbor Water Wheel, is a trash interceptor, a vessel that removes trash from the Jones Falls river as it empties into the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. It is powered by water wheels and solar cells, and places trash from the harbor onto an onboard conveyor belt which routes it into dumpsters on the vessel. Mr. Trash Wheel was invented by John Kellett in 2008, who launched a pilot vessel at that time. A larger vessel was later developed; it replaced the pilot vessel and was launched in May 2014. The Mr. Trash Wheel vessel is part of the Waterfront Partnership of the City of Baltimore’s “Healthy Harbor Plan.”

Mr. Trash Wheel is a moored vessel that removes trash from the mouth of the Jones Falls river at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Rubbish from the streets of Baltimore is flushed into storm drains that empty into the Jones Falls river. The floating rubbish is then carried by the river to its outlet into the Inner Harbor, where it is captured by Mr. Trash Wheel. Mr. Trash Wheel is powered by the current from the river, and backup power is provided by solar panels when the current is sluggish. These power a conveyor belt. Mr. Trash Wheel removes flo

ating debris using rotating forks that dip into and out of the water, and which then place the trash onto a conveyor belt which moves it into a dumpster. The water wheel can be controlled remotely on the Internet. Mr. Trash Wheel was constructed using $720,000 of public and private funding.

Credit : Wikipedia

Picture Credit : Google 

WHICH IS THE FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL VILLAGE IN INDIA?

Palli, a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Samba, became India’s first “carbon-neutral panchayat on April 24, 2022, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation a 500-kilowatt solar plant. Palli, according to the Prime Minister, has shown the way to the country by becoming carbon neutral. But what is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved? Let’s find out.

What is carbon neutrality?

We all know that carbon dioxide emissions are one of the primary causes of climate change and an increasingly warming planet. Carbon-neutrality is the state of achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put out into the atmosphere and those removed. The term ‘Net-zero’ is sometimes used instead of carbon neutrality and they broadly mean the same. Increasingly, countries, companies, and organisations have been committing to achieve carbon-neutrality or net-zero carbon emission through measures such as reforestation and artificial carbon sequestering. But some environmental activists have criticised such offsetting measures as an excuse to continue polluting. If you’ve been wondering about the benefits of achieving carbon neutrality, there are many such as less pollution, improved air quality, better health and environment, green jobs, reducing the impact of climate change, and a greener planet.

How can it be achieved?

Carbon neutrality can be achieved by reducing the use of fossil fuels and by adopting renewable energy sources, by developing energy-efficient technologies, by adopting massive reforestation or tree-planting measures and by investing in technologies such as carbon sequestration that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. By the way, carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide underground permanently and safely. However, no technology or quantity of trees planted could offset the emissions currently generated globally, unless every country and every household is part of this solution.

Palli’s feat

The unassuming village of Palli has made history by becoming India’s first carbon-neutral solar village. It has achieved this feat with the installation of a 500-kilowatt solar plant. According to reports, the project was finished in record time (of nearly three weeks) at a cost of Rs. 2.75 crore. Under the central government’s ‘Gram Urja Swaraj’ programme, as many as 1,500 solar panels put up on an area of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 homes in the model panchayat.

The green energy generated will be distributed to the village through the local power grid station, which has a daily requirement of 2,000 units.

Picture Credit : Google 

How varied is the biodiversity of Ukraine?

Ukraine is rich in animal and plant life. About 350 species of birds and more than a hundred species of mammals live there. Add to this more than 200 species of fish, too. There are fearsome predators like wolves, foxes, wildcats, and martens and hoofed animals like roe deer, wild pigs, elk and mouflons. There are also several species of rodents like hamsters, jerboas, field mice etc. Among birds, the major species are the black and hazel grouse, owls, gulls and partridges. Migrating birds are also found in abundance, like wild geese, ducks and storks. About 385 species of wild life are listed as endangered in the Red Book of Ukraine.

As for natural vegetation, Ukraine has three main zones – Polissya (woodland and marsh), the forest-steppe and the steppe. The Polissya zone, in the northwest and north, has one quarter of it with mixed woods like oak, elm, birch, hornbeam, ash, maple, pine linden, alder, poplar, willow and beech. The forest-steppe lie south of the Polissya and only one-eighth of this zone has forests. Further south is the steppe zone which is mostly composed of treeless plains used for cultivation.

Picture Credit : Google

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A HEATWAVE?

India was reeling under a searing heatwave recently, with the mercury soaring past the 45-degree mark in some places. But what is a heatwave? What causes it? What are the dos and don’t when a heatwave is expected? Let’s find out.

What is a heatwave?

A heatwave is a period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity, especially in tropical countries such as ours. It is measured relative to the usual weather in a particular region and relative to normal temperatures there for the season.

A heatwave occurs when a system of high atmospheric pressure enters an area and remains there for two days or more. In such a system, air from the upper levels of our atmosphere is pulled downwards towards the ground where it becomes compressed and increases in temperature.

When is a heatwave declared?

A heatwave is declared when an area records a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 notches above normal temperature for two consecutive days. A severe heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature crosses 47 degrees Celsius, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. The IMD began keeping temperature records 122 years ago. Amid a 71% rain deficit, India saw its warmest March in 2022. As of May 1, 2022, Bikaner in Rajasthan was the hottest place with 47.1 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.

Colour-coded warnings

The IMD issues colour-coded warnings – green, yellow, orange, and red – depending on the severity of the weather condition, with red being the extremest, to alert the authorities concerned. Green means there’s no unusual change in the weather, while yellow suggests authorities should be prepared as hot weather lasting days is likely. A ‘red’ warning is issued for a severe heatwave, while an ‘orange’ warning is issued for a heatwave. A ‘red’ warning is issued to caution people not to step out between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Severe heatwaves could lead to loss of lives, power outages on account of increased use of air-conditioning, wildfires, and crop failure, among other things.

Dos and don’ts

In extreme heat conditions, there is a high likelihood of people of all age groups suffering a heat stroke or dehydration. Stay indoors at least till 6 in the evening and drink plenty of water and buttermilk to stay hydrated.

As for don’ts, do not expose yourself to direct sunlight between 11.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. as heatwaves are likely to be at their peak during this time. Do not go to open terraces to play till at least 5 in the evening and do not leave children or pets in parked vehicles. Avoid strenuous activities when outside in the afternoon.

Last but not least, do not ignore symptoms such as excessive thirst, unusual fatigue, dizziness, throbbing headache, lack of sweating despite the heat, and muscle cramps, and seek immediate medical help.

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HOW CAN GARDENING IMPROVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH?

Gardening has been around for as long as humans have been growing plants for their personal needs. Through the years, gardens have served not only as places to grow plants but as spaces for people to relax, to focus, and to connect with nature and each other.

Gardening can improve many aspects of mental health, focus, and concentration and also enhance the positive well-being of an individual. Some of the ways in which gardening helps include:

1. Enhancement of mood: Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. It enhances a positive mood and also helps in directing your attention towards immediate tasks and details of gardening that can reduce negative thoughts and feelings.

2. Self-esteem development or boost: Self-esteem is how much you value and feel positively about yourself. When you see your work pay off with healthy plants, your sense of pride gets a boost. Many people find a sense of purpose and meaning in looking after plants and feel that plants are like children that they are rearing.

3. Improves attention and concentration: Gardening can change how well you pay attention to any activity. If you struggle with staying focused on any task, gardening can help you learn to concentrate on what’s right in front of you without getting distracted. The gardening process involves multi-tasking and improves co-ordination and attention to tasks and minute details.

4. Serves as a source of exercise: Weeding, digging and raking are good exercises. Regular exercise reduces anxiety, depression, and other mental issues, and can help prevent dementia. If you don’t like going to the gym, gardening can be an enjoyable task to still get these benefits as it includes a lot of movement and lifting of plants and pots.

5. Promotes social bonding: Gardening with others at a community garden or as a family takes teamwork to achieve shared goals. Being part of a larger group can benefit your mental health by increasing your social connections and your support systems. Appreciation from others on gardening also enhances social interactions.

Gardening reminds us of our connection to nature, and helps us focus on the bigger picture, which can alleviate symptoms of depression. Also, the physical aspect of gardening releases feel-good chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine. In short, working with soil makes us happier.

Flowers and ornamental plants increase levels of positive energy and help people feel secure and relaxed. Adding flowers to your home or work environment reduces your perceived stress levels and makes you feel more relaxed, secure and happy. Many flowers help filter out carbon dioxide pollution for oxygen (which helps keep us alive); they also eliminate chemical toxins (benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, etc.) and their effects found in our homes. Health professionals should therefore encourage their patients to make use of green spaces and to work in gardens, and should pressure local authorities to increase open spaces and the number of trees, thus also helping to counteract air pollution and climate change. Therapeutic gardens have been used in hospitals for many years, and were strongly supported by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, as they improve the surroundings for patients, visitors and staff. Few complementary therapies have been convincingly shown to be effective, but gardening and nature, which are alternative therapies, offer a proven, cheap and nearly universally available means to improve a nation’s health.

So, get a plant and enhance your mental health today!

Picture Credit : Google 

HOW IS THE SPARROW IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING A HEALTHY ECOLOGICAL BALANCE?

Sparrow serves the ecosystem of the earth. Sparrows mostly prefer seeds of millet, thistle, weed and sunflower seed. However, they also eat fruits and berries. During this process, sparrows spread seeds to places away from the fruit tree. This is important for germination of the seeds, because if the seeds fall close to the parent plant, they would have to compete for nutrition with the mature plant. This would reduce the chance of germination of the seed as well as growth of the plant once the seed germinated. By spreading seeds, sparrows help the survival of many plants that are the producers in an ecosystem.

Although primarily seed-eaters, sparrows also feed on small insects and worms such as caterpillars, beetles and aphids. Some of these creatures destroy certain plants. Sparrows keep their population in check; otherwise, the insects would have eaten certain plant species to extinction. Here also sparrows play an important role in preserving the ecosystem.

Most birds of prey, such as eagles and falcons, eat other smaller birds. Snakes, which are also secondary consumers, are known to eat sparrows. For example, sharp-shinned hawks prefer sparrows for food.. Hence by providing food for the secondary consumers, sparrows play an important role in their survival and in preserving the ecosystem.

Picture Credit : Google