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Greenhouse gases that occur both naturally and from human activities include water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO ),
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methane (CH ), nitrous oxide (N O) and ozone (0 ). Other greenhouse gases have essentially no natural sources, but are
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the side products of industrial processes or manufactured for human purposes, such as cleaning agents, refrigerants,
and electrical insulators.
These include the fluorinated gases: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This greenhouse effect causes snow to melt very fast. Carbon dioxide emissions into the
atmosphere from burning oil, coal and gas for energy use is a serious problem as it is harmful to the environment.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 31% since pre-industrial times, causing more heat to be trapped
in the lower atmosphere. As a result, there are frequent floods and changes in climate as well as damage to crops
and animal life.
Harmful Radiation
You might be knowing that the atmosphere protects us from harmful radiation from the sun. This is done by a layer
all around the earth, in the atmosphere, called the "Ozone Layer". It is made of a gas called 'Ozone'. This layer in the
atmosphere protects us from the harmful radiation.
Cleaning chemicals, coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, etc., release ozone depleting substances, such
as chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. These destroy the ozone in the atmosphere, making holes in the ozone
layer. The harmful radiation comes in through these holes and causes increased incidence of health disorders, such as
skincancer.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters include floods, earthquakes, landslides, storms, etc. Our actions in exploiting natural resources for
building structures, such as large dams and buildings sometimes aggravates the impact of natural calamities and disasters.
Mining Activity
Mining is the process of extracting useful minerals from the earth’s surface. It is estimated that two-thirds of the world’s
yearly mineral production is done by surface mining. If we keep on extracting minerals from our natural resources,
then it will create an ecological imbalance. So many country’s government allows only a limited number of mining
activities to be done that too under its supervision. Sometimes humans for their own profits indulge in illegal mining
without realising the importance of preserving these natural resources. A lot of legal or illegal mining activities all
across the globe are responsible for significant environmental damage:
• Acid mine drainage, which is the formation and movement of highly acidic water rich in heavy metals, contaminates
the surrounding water bodies.
• Mining can deplete surface and groundwater supplies.
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