Journal Question Opinion: Are humans part of the environment, or separate from it? Explain.

Science and the Environment Chapter 1 Science and the Environment

Understanding Our Environment Objectives: Define environmental science List the five major fields that contribute to environmental science Discuss how human’s impact on the environment has changed over history Classify environmental problems

Environmental Science Devoted to studying the impacts humans have on the environment NYC Today and 400 yrs ago

Goals of environment science To understand and solve environmental problems Ecosystem functions Air Pollution Water Pollution Toxic Chemicals Climate Change Resource usage Newer field of study

Foundation of Environmental Science Ecology: the study of how living organisms interact with each other and their nonliving environment

Fields of Study that Contribute to Environmental Science Interdisciplinary science: because it encompasses so many different fields of study Biology: Chemistry: Physics: Earth Science: Social Sciences:

Human’s Impact Over History Wherever humans have hunted, grown food, or settled we have changed the environment. How have those changes impacted the environment over human history?

Hunter-Gatherers Most of human history People who obtain food by moving around collecting plants and hunting wild animals. Spread plants beyond areas of original growth set fires to burn prairies and prevent the growth of trees. open grassland ideal for hunting bison.

Agricultural Revolution Plants and animals were domesticated and population grew 10,000 years ago Life got easier Population grew Towns began forming Impact on environment grew More land used

Industrial Revolution Caused a shift to fossil fuels as an energy source Mid-1700s Life got easier Advances in technology People lived longer better Quality of life People moved to cities away from farms Increased environmental impact WHY???

Population Growth Population is growing fast http://www.eahdfoundation.org/world _live_clock.php Vast amounts of resources used to meet need for food Population expected to double in 21st century, before it begins to stabilize

What do you consider to be our most important environmental problems? Journal What do you consider to be our most important environmental problems?

Spaceship Earth Earth is essentially a “closed system” Energy from sun comes in and leaves as heat What we have IS IT… no more… One Earth, One Chance Became evident during missions to moon late 1960’s

What are our main environmental problems?

Problem 1: Tragedy of the Commons Conflicts arise when people share natural resources “Modern Commons” If no one takes responsibility for the resource it will get overused and become degraded. Examples?

Problem 2: Resource Depletion Resource depletion: using up resources before they can be replenished Renewable resources like trees cut faster than they grow What are some other example of renewable resources? (energy from the sun) Theoretically can last forever

Resource Depletion Cont… Nonrenewable resource forms more slowly than it is used up Examples: minerals and fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. Resource is said to be depleted when almost used up

Problem 3: Pollution Pollution: an undesirable change in the air, water or soil that affects humans or other organisms Biodegradable - broken down by natural processes Sewage, paper Non-biodegradable - cannot be broken down Heavy metals (lead /mercury), plastics Air & water pollution Land pollution

Problem 4: Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity: the number and variety of species that live in an area Human activities are causing extinctions of animals How? Population & consumption Why is loss of biodiversity a bad thing? Higher biodiversity = healthier ecosystem Organisms can be considered natural resource We depend on these “resources” for food oxygen

With a partner of your choice: Pair and Share Activity: With a partner of your choice: Select five objects found in this room (Ex. Pencil) List the components found in that object Classify each component as renewable or nonrenewable like the table below. Object Parts Renew. Nonrenew. 1. Pencil Graphite, wood, rubber, aluminum Rubber (trees) Wood (trees) Graphite Aluminum

Journal Critical thinking: Is the damage to the environment worth the advances to our lifestyle??

Economics and the Environment Law of supply and demand- the greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more the product is worth How does this relate to gas prices?

Who uses most resources? Developed Countries like the U.S. (high personal wealth) have high consumption rates USA, Canada, France, New Zealand Developing Countries: have high population growth, poverty and lower resource consumption Kenya, Brazil, Columbia

Developed & Developing Nations

Ecological Footprint The productive area of land needed to support a persons life Food, clothes, coal, oil, plastics, forest, etc. all needed to support your lifestyle

Sustainability is the Goal! Condition in which human needs are met without harming future generations.