Which of the following statements best describes "carbon fertilization" ?
- A.Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- B.Increased temperature of Earth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- C.Increased acidity of oceans as a result of increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- D.Adaptation of all living beings on Earth to the climate change brought about by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon fertilization is the rise in the rate of photosynthesis, and so in plant growth, when there is more carbon dioxide in the air. Plants use carbon dioxide as the raw material of photosynthesis, so a higher concentration lets them fix more carbon and partly close their stomata, losing less water. The effect is strongest in C3 plants such as wheat, rice and most trees, and weaker in C4 plants such as maize and sugarcane. It is one reason forests and crops absorb part of human carbon emissions, though limits of nitrogen, water and heat reduce the gain. Option B is wrong because warming caused by more carbon dioxide is the greenhouse effect, or global warming. Option C is wrong because the fall in ocean pH as seawater absorbs carbon dioxide is ocean acidification. Option D is wrong because adjustment of living beings to climate change is called climate adaptation, not carbon fertilization. Exam tip: carbon fertilization = more CO2, more photosynthesis and plant growth, mainly in C3 plants.
Practice Questions
View allThe Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at
- A.The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg
- B.The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro
- C.The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris
- D.The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi
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PAGE was launched in 2013 as a direct response to the call made at the Rio+20 conference of June 2012, whose outcome document, 'The Future We Want', recognised the green economy as a tool for sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Read the full explanation →With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements : 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. 3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2
- B.2 only
- C.1 and 3
- D.3 only
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Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, wild animals belong to the government and a protected animal is protected everywhere, but mere fear of danger does not justify killing it.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in riverbeds? 1. Decreased salinity in the river 2. Pollution of groundwater 3. Lowering of the water-table Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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Heavy sand mining lowers the water table and exposes groundwater to pollution, but it does not reduce river salinity. Riverbed sand acts as a sponge and a filter: it stores water, recharges the aquifers along the river and cleans water as it seeps down.
Read the full explanation →The term 'M-STrIPES' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
- A.Captive breeding of Wild Fauna
- B.Maintenance of Tiger Reserves
- C.Indigenous Satellite Navigation System
- D.Security of National Highways
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M-STrIPES stands for Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status. It was introduced by the National Tiger Conservation Authority around 2010, with technical support from the Wildlife Institute of India, for use in tiger reserves.
Read the full explanation →In India, 'extended producer responsibility' was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
- A.The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
- B.The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
- C.The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
- D.The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011
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These rules, notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and in force from May 2012, made extended producer responsibility, or EPR, their central feature.
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