The Planet Earth: TV Serial
Block I: The Earth – Our Home Planet
Episode
1
Topic
The Earth:
Our Home Planet
Theme
- Origins
- From crust to core
- Formation of Oceans,
Continents, Atmosphere
- Origins of Life
- Lithosphere, hydrosphere
and biosphere – definitions
and their interdependence
Emphasis
- The only planet we know
of with life
- We need to learn about the
Earth and work so that it
continues to sustain life and
our future generations
- Earth is our home, in fact
for all organisms.
- Many organisms have
become extinct due to human
activities.
2
The Seas and the
Continents
- Seas, Pangaea and
formation of continents
- Tectonic Plates and their
movements
- Tropics and high latitudes
- Formation of mountains
- Indian Plate and the
formation of the Himalayas
- The physiography of the
Earth changes continuously
due to the tectonic
movements.
- The seas and water are
typical of the planet Earth –
so important for supporting
life.
3
The Oceans – Water,
water everywhere
…..almost!
- Plate tectonics and the
formation of various oceans
- The four ‘main’ oceans with
info on area, deepest point,
weather and ‘claim to fame’
- Ridges and margins
- Eruptions on the sea-floor
and its importance to life
- principal resources obtained
constitute hydrocarbons (oil
and gas) and hydrates
The study of oceans is
important for the life it
supports to the world
4
Weather and Climate
- Wind cycle, sea and land
breezes
- Water cycle and Rain
- Wettest and driest places
(deserts)
- Climate in Tropics and high
latitudes
- Indian monsoon system
- Black current, gulf stream,
El Nino and La Nina
- Meanings of terms weather
and climate
1
The Planet Earth: TV Serial
Block II: The Life on Earth
Episode
Topic
Life on Earth
Theme
- Evolution of life on Earth
began 4.2 billion years ago
- Evidence of algae
producing making Earth’s
atmosphere oxygen rich 2.7
billion years ago
- A brief description of
evolution of life on Earth
from pre-Cambrian to
neogene period
Emphasis
-The great biodiversity can
be explained during its
evolution over long periods
of time
6
The World of
Plants
- Different species of flora in
different geographical
conditions : Tropical, high
latitudes, mountainous,
domesticated plants etc
Must take examples like
mimosa, carnivorous plants,
cactus, mushrooms etc
7
The World of
Animals
- Different species of fauna in
different geographical
conditions : Tropical, high
latitudes, mountainous etc
- Domesticated and wild
animals
Must take examples of
herbivorous and carnivorous
animals, hibernating animals,
exotic animals like reindeer,
polar bears etc
8
The Food Chain
and Food Webs
- The interdependence of
animals and plants
- Photosynthesis and CO2
cycle
- Food Chain : how one
organism depends on another
for its energy requirements
and existence
- Microbes and their
importance
- Food chain imperative for
equilibrium among the living
species
- Sun is the primary source
of energy for life to sustain
on the Earth
- CO2 cycle and the food
chain are fundamental for
life on Earth.
- Role of microbes
- Constituents for life come
from the Earth and go back
to the Earth.
5
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10
11
Forests: Himalayan
Region, NE and
Himachal,
Vindhyas, Madhya
Pradesh,
Karnataka, Orissa,
Saurashtra, and
other regions
Importance and
Uses of Forests
- What are forests?
- How these differ from each
other
- Flora and Fauna
- Asiatic Lion, one- horned
rhino, tiger
- Our vanishing wildlife
- National parks, sanctuaries
located in these forests
- How deforestation is
adversely affecting
ecological balance
- Importance of forests:
socially, economically and
ecologically
- Forests help in soil
formation and prevent soil
erosion
- Help in Carbon sequestering
- Maintain water table
- Shifting cultivation and their
effects
- Medicinal plants
- Human intervention and its
adverse effects (cutting off
forests for timber, human
settlements etc)
Human beings –
The Dominant
species
- Humans and agriculture
- Human migration &
migration patterns
- How human beings came to
be the dominant species
- How human beings can and
do disturb the delicate
ecological balance
- Progress in Technology
- Increase in population
- Human intervention can
and has destroyed the
ecological balance
3
The Planet Earth: TV Serial
Episode
12
13
14
Block III: Agriculture and Water Resources
Topic
Theme
Emphasis
Soil and agricultural
- Soil is the living skin of
Soil is a valuable resource
lands
the Earth
for existence of life on Earth
- Interaction between soil,
biosphere, lithosphere,
hydrosphere, and
atmosphere
- Soils are integral to
climate, water cycle, waste
and nutrient cycles and
erosion
- Dominant soils of India
Agriculture
River Systems
- Soil management:
fertilizer, drainage,
irrigation, pesticides
- Significance of Water
- Green Revolution: its
success and failure
- Production, Storage and
Distribution
- Water could become
hazard or resource
- We need “second” Green
revolution: How could it br
made possible?
- GM varieties
- Soil Science has greatly
contributed to increase in
agricultural production
- Major River Systems of
India (Ganga, Yamuna,
Brahmaputra, Godavari,
Cauveri)
- How major civilizations
developed in the river
valleys
- Over-extraction of water
- Dams and how they
change ecology, cause
displacement of people
- Pollution of rivers
- Ganga, Yamuna,
Damodar, Periyar action
plans
- Rivers are our lifelines
- A large number of rivers
are dying
- Our responsibility to clean
up rivers and avoid overextraction of water
4
- We must maintain the
balance of micronutrients
15
Ground Water
- Ground water: How does
it get into ground?
- Used for irrigation and
drinking purposes
- Over-extraction and
precariously falling water
table
- How ground water gets
polluted, F an As
contamination
- Recharging aquifers
5
- Water table has already
fallen precariously in many
parts of the country.
- It is imperative to recharge
aquifers
-Wise management of
ground water required
The Planet Earth: TV Serial
Block IV: Special Ecosystems
Episode
16
Topic
Our Coastlines
Theme
- about 21 per cent of human
population lives within 30 kms of
coast line
- coral reefs
- Western coastline (Arabian Sea)
and Eastern Coast (Bay of
Bengal)
- Variety of Sea life
- Sea food / Fishing
- Shipping and trade
- Oil and natural gas (Bombay
High)
- Floods, Cyclones, Tsunami
- A delicate coastal ecosystem
- Can withstand higher salinity
- Rich in biodiversity
- resist inflow of sea water during
cyclones, tsunami
- Sundarbans, Tamilnadu coast
Emphasis
- We must avoid
pollution by oil spills
since it could wipe out
certain species,
adversely affect coral
reefs
- avoid trawlers since
over-fishing may
completely destroy
certain ocean species
17
Mangroves
18
Islands: Threatened
Ecosystems
- An independent ecosystem
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and its flora and fauna
- Laccadive Islands
The delicate ecosystem
is endangered due to
foreign species of
animals and plants
19
Wetlands
- Important for water
conservation
- Rich in biodiversity, birds,
reptiles, and vegetation
- migratory birds
- Keoladeo, Nal Sarovar buzz
with birds
- Fresh Water Lake systems: their
importance
Ex. Dal, Loktak, Bara Pani
- Brackish Water lake system:
Chilka and its unique ecosystem
- Pollution,
encroachment, changing
climate have adversely
affected these systems
6
A vital organ of coastal
ecosystem
- Lake systems are
unique ecological
systems, their
importance for human
beings
20
Mountains and
Mountain Ranges
- Rich in biodiversity and natural
resources
- Flora and fauna that adapts to
higher altitudes
- Orography affects climatic
pattern
- Sources of rivers
- medicinal plants
- Himalayan Range, Western
Ghats and Aravali range
- Mountaineering,
Deforestation and
cutting of mountains in
the name of development
has adversely affected
their ecosystems
- Aravali is the oldest
mountain range and
Himalayas is the
youngest mountain range
21
Deserts
- Deserts Definition: How were
they formed
- Well known deserts of the world
(Sahara, Kalahari, Thar desert,
Rann of Kachchh)
- Desert (hot): Their ecology,
vegetation, and animals. Camel –
a hardy desert animal
- Desert (cold)
Ex. Laddakh
Deserts do not mean hot,
sandy terrain. In fact,
most deserts are rocky
7
The Planet Earth: TV Serial
Block V: Minimising Risk Maximising Awareness
Episode
Topic
Theme
22
Natural Hazards - Earthquakes as a result of
plate tectonics
- Floods, cyclones,
Tsunamis, Forest fires,
Volcanoes and Land-slides
- Prediction of earthquakes
and tsunamis difficult
Emphasis
- Modern scientific
knowledge and awareness
can minimize the risks
- Earthquake resistant
houses
- Satellite communication,
ham radio important for
relief operations
23
Environment
and Health
- Environmental causes of
health problems
- Major diseases (malaria,
TB etc)
- Relation between rocks,
minerals and human health
- Direct links between
geology and health are
provided by the food chain
and inhalation of
atmospheric dusts and gases
- Soils, sediments and water,
F and As in water
There is a direct relationship
between rocks, minerals,
food chain, atmospheric
dust, gases and Health.
Earth scientists and Health
scientists must therefore
work together.
24
Energy
Resources
- Non-renewable energy
resources (coal, natural gas,
petroleum, nuclear fuels)
- Renewable energy
resources (solar energy,
wood, hydro, biofuels etc)
- Inequitable use of energy
in rich and poor nations
- Need for development of
controlled fusion, carbon
sequestering etc
- Recycling and Sustainable
Development
8
25
Global
Warming and
Climate Change
- Climate change on
geological time scales
- Development through
industrialization powered by
fossil fuel
- Global warming a result of
burning of fossil fuel and
increase in GHGs
- Melting of Arctic /
Antarctic ice, melting
glaciers
- Rise in sea levels, change
in climatic pattern
Global warming and climate
change is a result of
disturbing environmental
equilibrium by human
beings. It is conclusively
proved that this disaster is
man-made. We must initiate
efforts on a war footing by
conserving fossil fuels and
develop renewable sources
of energy.
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Tomorrow’s
Challenges
- Megacities and pressure on
resources (food, water,
clothing, energy, housing,
transport, sanitation, health
etc)
- Conservation of natural
resources
- Reduction of Greenhouse
gases
- development of renewable
sources of energy: solar
energy, ethanol, bio-fuels
etc.
- Remote Sensing for natural
resources management
(forest cover, mineral
resources, agriculture, water
bodies, pollution), and
monitoring weather
- People’s science
movements for conservation
of resources
Earth has enough for every
man’s need, but not for
every man’s greed –
Mahatma Gandhi
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