Absorptive Carrying Capacity of Environment

What happens when we use resource?

When we use the resource, it gets depleted

However, it is soon regenerated by environment

Also waste products get absorbed in environment

Example

When we cut trees, they grow back after some time

Also dead plants and trees go into soil and make it fertile

Is Rate of Regeneration Same for all Resources?

No

Some resources get regenerated in few months, Example - Plants

Some take many years, Example - Trees

Some take millions of years. Example - Coal, Petroleum

Why do Resources get exhausted?

It is because we are using the resources more than it is regenerated

Example - We are using huge quantity of petroleum but it will take millions of years to regenerate

Hence, petrol will get exhausted in near future

What is Absorptive or Carrying Capacity of environment?

It means ability of environment to absorb degradation

If the extraction of resource is not above rate of regeneration of resource, it is said that resource is used within carying capacity

If we over use the resource, it leads to exhaustion of resource and damages the environment

What happens when we overuse resources in environment?

or

What happens if we overuse resources more than its Carrying capacity?

It leads to the following

Resources getting exhausted

In this case, Resources get depleted fast

However they are not replenished fast

Hence, some resources ceases to exist or remain in short supply

Example - Many wild animals have become extinct or are on verge of extinction

Waste gets accumulated

More we use the resources, more waste we generate

This excess waste is not absorbed by environment

Environment is not able to full fill function of Sustaining life

Humans have cut trees in forests to make roads and cities

This has led to loss of habitat to many plants and animals

Causes pollution

Waste generated by factors and cities are thrown in rivers which cause water borne diseases

Smoke from factories and vehicles damage our lungs and cause air pollution

Global Warming

Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation has lead to increase in greenhouse gases like carbondioxide

This has lead to increase in global temperature

This has lead to our glaciers getting melted and water level increasing

This has led to increase in water level which may lead to many cities getting submerged in water

Ozone Depletion

It refers to Reduction in amount of ozone gas in environment

This ozone gas is useful for preventing harmful gas to enter earth

Depletion of Ozone layer has lead to conditions like skin cancer.

It also damages the growth of phytoplankton and effects aquatic plants also

This ozone depletion is caused by use of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in refrigerators and AC

NCERT Questions

Question 2

What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?

Question 4

Two major environmental issues facing the world today are ____________ and _____________.

Question 8

Explain how the opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high.

Question 11

Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon?

If so, why?

Question 12

Give two instances of

(a) Overuse of environmental resources

(b) Misuse of environmental resources.

Question 13

Correction for environmental damages involves opportunity costs — explain.

Other Books

Question 1

What is Absorptive or Carrying Capacity of environment?