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Q35·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2019

Crop biomass burning atmospheric emissions

EnvironmentAir pollution and burning of crop residueStatement-basedMediumStatic

Question

Consider the following:

1Carbon monoxide
2Methane
3Ozone
4Sulphur dioxide

Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

  1. 1.

    Carbon monoxide

  2. 2.

    Methane

  3. 3.

    Ozone

  4. 4.

    Sulphur dioxide

Options

a

1 and 2 only

b

2, 3 and 4 only

c

1 and 4 only

d

1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer

Explanation

Burning of crop/biomass residue releases multiple pollutants: Carbon monoxide (1) is released due to incomplete combustion during biomass burning. Methane (2) is released from anaerobic decomposition processes during burning. Ozone (3) is formed secondarily in the atmosphere from precursor gases including NOx and volatile organic compounds released during burning. Sulphur dioxide (4) is released when biomass containing sulphur compounds is burned. All four substances are released directly or formed as secondary pollutants from crop burning, making this a major source of air pollution, particularly in regions like North India during crop harvest seasons. > Crop burning: releases CO, CH4; forms O3; releases SO2—multiple pollutants. Answer: (d).

Question details

Year

2019

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q35

Subject

Environment

Sub-topic

Air pollution and burning of crop residue

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Static

Source hint

NCERT Environmental Science

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