Ch 1- Science and the environment

An interdisciplinary study of human interactions with the environment. environmental science

Fields that contribute to environmental science Biology – the study of living organisms Biology – the study of living organisms Earth science – the study of the Earth's nonliving systems and the planet as a whole Earth science – the study of the Earth's nonliving systems and the planet as a whole Physics – the study of matter and energy Physics – the study of matter and energy Chemistry – the study of chemicals and their interactions Chemistry – the study of chemicals and their interactions Social sciences – the study of human populations Social sciences – the study of human populations

Our Environment Thru Time You need to know how these societies changed the environment Hunter-Gatherers The Agricultural Revolution The Industrial Revolution

Hunter-Gatherers Prevent growth of trees to keep open grassland to hunt bison Prevent growth of trees to keep open grassland to hunt bison Spread plants to areas where plants didn’t grow Spread plants to areas where plants didn’t grow Over hunting leads to large mammal extinctions Over hunting leads to large mammal extinctions

Agricultural Revolution Growing, breeding, and caring for plants and animals used for food, clothing, housing, transportation Growing, breeding, and caring for plants and animals used for food, clothing, housing, transportation Human population growth Human population growth Domesticated food Domesticated food Forests, wetlands, & grasslands replaced with farmland causing soil loss, floods, & water shortages Forests, wetlands, & grasslands replaced with farmland causing soil loss, floods, & water shortages

Industrial Revolution Energy of animals and running water replaced by fossil fuels Energy of animals and running water replaced by fossil fuels Increased efficiency Increased efficiency Goods made in factory less expensive Goods made in factory less expensive Urban population increased Urban population increased Transport food and goods cheaply Transport food and goods cheaply Most of our pollution problems occurred at this era Most of our pollution problems occurred at this era

In a closed system, the only thing that enters Earth’s atmosphere is energy from the sun, and the only thing that leaves is heat.

Problems with closed system 1. Limited resources used more rapidly 2. Produce wastes quicker than we can dispose of them

Our Main Environmental Problems 1. Resource depletion 1. Resource depletion 2. Pollution 3. Loss of biodiversity-(the number and kind of living things in an area)

Resource Depletion Clear cutting

Pollution

Biodiversity hotspots Biodiversity Hotspots - Interactive Map Biodiversity Hotspots - Interactive Map Biodiversity Hotspots - Interactive Map Biodiversity Hotspots - Interactive Map

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Renewable A resource that can be replaced quickly by natural processes A resource that can be replaced quickly by natural processes Examples: water, air, soil, trees, crops, solar energy Examples: water, air, soil, trees, crops, solar energy Nonrenewable A resource that forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is consumed. Examples: minerals, fossil fuels (oil and natural gas)

Biodegradable vs. Nonbiodegradable Biodegradable Can be broken down by natural processes Can be broken down by natural processes Products made from natural materials Products made from natural materials Examples: leather, newspaper, cotton fibers Examples: leather, newspaper, cotton fibers Nonbiodegradable Cannot be broken down by natural processes Products made in a laboratory Examples: polyester, nylon, plastic

Population explosion

Chapter 1 - Section 2 The environment and society

Tragedy of the Commons An essay addressing how people share common resources An essay addressing how people share common resources The conflict comes between the short-term interest of individuals and the long-term welfare of society The conflict comes between the short-term interest of individuals and the long-term welfare of society The mind-set is “If I don’t use this resource someone else will” The mind-set is “If I don’t use this resource someone else will”

Tragedy of the Commons Shared natural resources are Earth’s “modern commons” The increase in human population creates an increased strain on limited resources, which jeopardizes sustainability.

The Tragedy of the Commons

Economics and the Environment

Supply and Demand Can be used to determine a product’s worth

Cost-Benefit analysis Balances the cost of an environmental solution against the benefits one expects from it. Ex. May be used to determine how much to spend to control pollution.

Risk assessment One tool that helps us create cost- effective ways to protect our health and the environment. People need to perceive the risk accurately

Developed vs. Developing Developed High average incomes High average incomes Slow population growth Slow population growth Diverse industrial economies Diverse industrial economies Strong social support systems Strong social support systems Developing Low average incomes Rapid population growth Simple and agriculture- based economies Weak social support systems

Almost all environmental problems can trace their origins back to two root causes: (1) population crisis and (2) consumption crisis. The Root of Environmental Problems

Population Crisis The number of people is growing too quickly for the Earth to support The number of people is growing too quickly for the Earth to support Malnutrition, starvation, and disease are constant threats Malnutrition, starvation, and disease are constant threats Most severe in developing countries Most severe in developing countries

Consumption Crisis People are using up, wasting, or polluting natural resources faster than they can be renewed, replaced, or cleaned up People are using up, wasting, or polluting natural resources faster than they can be renewed, replaced, or cleaned up Most severe in developed countries Most severe in developed countries

Shows the differences in consumption between nations Shows the differences in consumption between nations Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country

Sustainability Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Ecological footprinting can be used to explore the sustainability of individual lifestyles, goods and services, organizations, industry sectors, neighborhoods, cities, regions and nations.

Ecological footprint Go to Go to Click on “footprint for you” Click on “footprint for you” Click on “take the quiz” Click on “take the quiz” At the end- Write down At the end- Write down 1. Number of Earth’s it would take to sustain your lifestyle 1. Number of Earth’s it would take to sustain your lifestyle 2. Number of TOTAL acres it takes to support you 2. Number of TOTAL acres it takes to support you 3. Three things you can do to reduce your footprint 3. Three things you can do to reduce your footprint

Active Reading Assignment This will be done as a homework assignment. This will be done as a homework assignment. Carefully read and answer pages 8 through 11. Carefully read and answer pages 8 through 11. You will turn these pages in You will turn these pages in tomorrow. tomorrow.