1. Which of the following contribute to climate change?
a. The ozone hole
b. Lead additives in petrol
c. Natural-gas-based power
d. All of the above
Natural gas-based power contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, making option c the primary contributor among the choices, though not all options qualify.
Option Analysis
The ozone hole results from stratospheric ozone depletion caused by CFCs, leading to increased UV radiation but not directly driving global warming via the greenhouse effect. Instead, it has a minor regional cooling influence in the upper atmosphere, with debated indirect links like cloud shifts. Lead additives in petrol, phased out globally, act as air pollutants harming health and ecosystems but lack greenhouse gas properties. Natural-gas-based power emits methane (a potent greenhouse gas) during extraction and CO2 during combustion, directly fueling climate change.
Correct Answer
Option c: Natural-gas-based power. Options a and b do not contribute to climate change mechanisms like the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Introduction to Climate Change Contributors
Factors that contribute to climate change primarily involve greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere, driving global warming. Common misconceptions link ozone depletion or legacy pollutants like lead to this process. This article breaks down a key MCQ on what truly contributes to climate change, focusing on ozone hole effects, lead petrol impacts, and natural gas power emissions.
Detailed Option Breakdown
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Ozone Hole (Option a): Forms over Antarctica due to CFCs destroying stratospheric ozone, increasing UV exposure but causing net cooling, not warming.
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Lead Additives in Petrol (Option b): Historical anti-knock agents polluted air and soil, linked to health issues, but irrelevant to greenhouse forcing.
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Natural-Gas-Based Power (Option c): Burns methane (CH4) to generate electricity, releasing CO2 and fugitive methane—both major climate forcers.
Why Natural Gas Stands Out
Natural gas power plants contribute significantly to climate change as a fossil fuel alternative, with methane’s 25-80x potency over CO2 in the short term. Transitioning to renewables reduces such contributions effectively.
Exam Preparation Tips
For CSIR NET Life Sciences, link this to environmental biology: greenhouse gases vs. ozone chemistry. Practice similar MCQs on anthropogenic impacts.
