Natural Hazards, Biomes, Sustainability and Global Issues
Natural Hazards and Disasters
- Earthquake: All sudden ground motion produced by the passage of seismic waves through the Earth’s tectonic plates.
- Flood: When water spills over generally dry terrain, it creates a flood. A normally dry area might get flooded by rising water in an existing conduit, like a river, stream, or drainage ditch.
- Tsunami: Tsunamis are ocean waves brought on by large earthquakes near or beneath the ocean, volcanic explosions, landslides beneath the sea, and coastal landslides that
Sugarcane Cultivation, Processing and Major Timber Species
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L., family Poaceae) is a perennial tall grass cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions for its sucrose-rich stalks, serving as the primary source of sugar production.[1][2][5]
Botanical Description
Sugarcane grows as a perennial herb with stems 3–5 m tall and 1.3–5 cm thick, divided into joints or internodes where sucrose accumulates. Roots form an extensive system, with fine roots in the top 50 cm of soil spreading
Read MoreEnvironmental Management and Ethics in Modern India
Impact of Human Population Growth
Human population growth significantly impacts the environment, human health, and overall welfare. Rapid population increase leads to higher demand for natural resources such as water, land, and energy, resulting in deforestation, habitat destruction, and resource depletion. This accelerates environmental degradation, including pollution, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. [1]
The strain on resources also affects human health by increasing exposure to pollution,
Read MoreCereals, Millets and Major Crops: Rice, Wheat, Maize
Cereals and Millets: Characteristics and Uses
🌾 Cereals and millets are grains harvested from grasses (family Poaceae) and form the basis of the world’s major staple foods. They are vital sources of carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Cereals are generally larger-grained grasses like rice, wheat, and maize, which have been cultivated for thousands of years and were central to the development of many early civilizations. Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses, often preferred
Read MoreLe Corbusier’s Modern Urbanism and Street Classification Criteria
Le Corbusier’s Modern Urbanism: Open Block Construction
Le Corbusier’s modern urbanism proposed raising building blocks on pilotis (pillars), seeking continuity by converting previously impassable areas into zones where people could move freely, complemented by numerous gardens. This was achieved by vacating the ground floor, leaving only the supporting pillars.
This new proposal created distinct spaces, separating road traffic from pedestrian traffic. This type of structure is known as open block
Read MoreKey Agricultural Crops: Fibers, Oils, Spices, and Medicines
Natural Fibers: Cotton, Jute, and Flax
Natural fibers like Cotton, Jute, and Flax are plant-derived cellulose-based materials used extensively in textiles. They originate from seed, bast, and stem tissues, respectively, and are cultivated in tropical to temperate regions worldwide.
Origin and Distribution
- Cotton (Gossypium spp.) originated in India and Africa, spreading to tropical and subtropical zones. Top producers include India, China, the US, Brazil, and Pakistan.
- Jute (Corchorus capsularis and