UGC NET Environmental Science Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences Syllabus

Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences in UGC NET Environmental Science, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Definition, Principles and Scope of Environmental Science

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

2. 2

   Structure and Composition of Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere and Biosphere

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

3. 3

   Laws of Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer Processes, Mass and Energy Transfer Across Various Interfaces, Material Balance

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

4. 4

   Meteorological Parameters

   11 topics

   • Pressure
   • Temperature
   • Precipitation
   • Humidity
   • Mixing Ratio
   • Saturation Mixing Ratio
   • Radiation
   • Wind Velocity
   • Adiabatic Lapse Rate
   • Environmental Lapse Rate
   • Wind Roses
5. 5

   Interaction between Earth, Man and Environment

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

6. 6

   Biogeographic Provinces of the World and Agro-climatic Zones of India

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

7. 7

   Concept of Sustainable Development

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

8. 8

   Natural Resources and Their Assessment

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

9. 9

   Remote Sensing and GIS

   3 topics

   • Principles of Remote Sensing and GIS
   • Digital Image Processing and Ground Truthing
   • Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in Land Cover/Land Use Planning and Management (Urban Sprawling, Vegetation Study, Forestry, Natural Resource), Waste Management and Climate Change
10. 10

    Environmental Education and Awareness

    overview

    Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

11. 11

    Environmental Ethics

    overview

    Examined as a single unit within Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences — no further topic split in the official outline.

Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences flashcards for UGC NET Environmental Science

25 of 50 cards from the Unit-I: Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is atmospheric pressure and what instrument measures it?

   Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted per unit area by the weight of the overlying air column. It is measured with a barometer (mercury or aneroid) and expressed in pascals (Pa), millibars (mb/hPa), or atmospheres; standard sea-level pressure is 1013.25 hPa (1 atm).

2. How does atmospheric pressure vary with altitude?

   Pressure decreases roughly exponentially with height because less air lies above. It falls by about half for every ~5.5 km of ascent, described by the barometric formula P = P0 · exp(-h/H), where H is the scale height (~8 km).

3. Distinguish between temperature and heat in atmospheric science.

   Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules (intensity of heat). Heat is the total thermal energy transferred between bodies due to a temperature difference. Temperature is measured in °C, °F, or K (0 K = -273.15 °C).

4. What is precipitation and name its main forms?

   Precipitation is any form of water (liquid or solid) that falls from clouds and reaches the ground. Main forms: rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, hail, and freezing rain. It is measured with a rain gauge in millimetres.

5. Define absolute humidity, specific humidity, and relative humidity.

   Absolute humidity = mass of water vapour per unit volume of air (g/m³). Specific humidity = mass of water vapour per unit mass of moist air (g/kg). Relative humidity = ratio of actual vapour pressure to saturation vapour pressure at that temperature, expressed as a percentage.

6. What does relative humidity of 100% indicate?

   It indicates the air is saturated—the actual water vapour content equals the maximum the air can hold at that temperature. Further cooling or addition of vapour leads to condensation (dew, fog, or cloud formation); the dew point equals the air temperature.

7. Define mixing ratio in atmospheric science and give its formula.

   Mixing ratio (w) is the mass of water vapour per unit mass of dry air, usually in g/kg. Formula: w = mv / md, or w = 0.622 · e/(P − e), where e is vapour pressure and P is total atmospheric pressure.

8. What is the saturation mixing ratio and how does it depend on temperature?

   Saturation mixing ratio (ws) is the mass of water vapour per unit mass of dry air when the air is saturated at a given temperature and pressure. It increases strongly with temperature (warm air holds far more vapour) and decreases with increasing pressure.

9. How is relative humidity expressed using mixing ratios?

   Relative humidity (RH) = (w / ws) × 100, where w is the actual mixing ratio and ws is the saturation mixing ratio at the same temperature and pressure.

10. What is the dew point temperature?

    The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant pressure and water-vapour content, for it to become saturated (RH = 100%). Below it, condensation occurs. A small gap between air temperature and dew point indicates high humidity.

11. Define solar (electromagnetic) radiation and its primary source.

    Radiation is energy transferred as electromagnetic waves requiring no medium. The Sun is the primary source, emitting mostly shortwave radiation (visible, UV, near-IR). Earth re-emits absorbed energy as longwave (terrestrial/infrared) radiation.

12. State the Stefan–Boltzmann law of radiation.

    The total energy radiated per unit surface area of a black body is proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature: E = σT⁴, where σ = 5.67 × 10⁻⁸ W m⁻² K⁻⁴. Hotter bodies radiate far more energy.

13. State Wien's displacement law.

    The wavelength of peak emission of a black body is inversely proportional to its absolute temperature: λmax = b/T, where b = 2.898 × 10⁻³ m·K. The hot Sun peaks in visible light; the cooler Earth peaks in the infrared.

14. What is the solar constant?

    The solar constant is the average solar radiation received per unit area at the top of Earth's atmosphere on a surface perpendicular to the Sun's rays, at the mean Earth–Sun distance. Its value is approximately 1361–1366 W/m².

15. Differentiate albedo from emissivity.

    Albedo is the fraction of incident shortwave (solar) radiation reflected by a surface (0–1; e.g. fresh snow ~0.8, ocean ~0.06). Emissivity is the efficiency with which a surface emits longwave radiation relative to a black body (0–1).

16. What is wind velocity and what instruments measure wind?

    Wind velocity is the rate and direction of horizontal air movement (a vector: speed + direction). Wind speed is measured with an anemometer (m/s, km/h, or knots) and direction with a wind vane; direction is named for where the wind comes FROM.

17. What primarily drives wind, and name two forces that modify its direction.

    Wind is driven by horizontal pressure gradients (air moving from high to low pressure). Its direction is modified by the Coriolis force (due to Earth's rotation) and friction near the surface; centripetal force matters in curved flow.

18. Define the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) and give its value.

    The DALR is the rate at which an unsaturated (dry) air parcel cools as it rises adiabatically (no heat exchange) due to expansion. Its value is approximately 9.8 °C per 1000 m (about 10 °C/km), and it is constant.

19. Define the Saturated (Moist) Adiabatic Lapse Rate (SALR/MALR).

    The SALR is the rate at which a saturated rising air parcel cools. It is lower than the DALR (averages ~5–6 °C/km, range 4–9 °C/km) because latent heat released during condensation partly offsets the cooling. It varies with temperature and moisture.

20. What is the Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) and its average value?

    The ELR is the actual observed rate of temperature decrease with height in the surrounding stationary atmosphere. Its average (normal) value in the troposphere is about 6.5 °C per 1000 m, but it varies with location, time, and weather.

21. How are the lapse rates used to determine atmospheric stability?

    Compare the Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) with the adiabatic rates. If ELR < SALR → absolutely stable; if ELR > DALR → absolutely unstable; if SALR < ELR < DALR → conditionally unstable. Stable air suppresses vertical mixing and traps pollutants.

22. What is a temperature inversion and why is it significant for pollution?

    A temperature inversion is when temperature increases with height (opposite to normal), making the lower air denser and very stable. It suppresses vertical mixing, trapping pollutants near the ground and causing smog/haze episodes.

23. What is a wind rose and what information does it display?

    A wind rose is a circular (polar) diagram that shows the frequency distribution of wind direction and speed at a location over a period. Spokes/petals point to the directions winds blow from; their length shows frequency and colour bands show speed classes.

24. What does the longest spoke on a wind rose indicate, and one application?

    The longest spoke indicates the prevailing (most frequent) wind direction. Wind roses are used in air-pollution dispersion studies, airport runway alignment, and siting of industries, wind farms, and landfills relative to settlements.

25. Define remote sensing.

    Remote sensing is the science of acquiring information about an object, area, or phenomenon by recording reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation using sensors mounted on platforms (satellites, aircraft, drones) without physical contact with the target.

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