Science and the Environment Chapter 1

Environment Everything around us My definition: What the book says: Everything around us Includes the natural world as well as things produced by humans.

Environmental Science The study of the impact of humans on the environment

The Goals of Environmental Science To understand and solve environmental problems Accomplished by studying 2 main types of interactions between humans and the environment How we use natural resources How our actions alter our environment

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary science. Involves many fields of study Biology: the study of living organisms Earth Science: the study of the Earth’s nonliving systems and the planet as a whole Physics: the study of matter and energy Chemistry: the study of chemicals and their interactions Social Science: the study of human populations

Ecology vs. Environmental Science The study of how things interact with each other & their nonliving environment The study of the impact of humans on the environment

Examples of How Fields of Study Contribute to Environmental Science A scientist is studying how pollutants travel underground. A scientist is studying fossils to see how Earth’s climate has changed in the past. A scientist is studying how windmills should be designed to provide the most energy. Geology or Geochemistry Paleontology or climatology engineering

Examples of How Fields of Study Contribute to Environmental Science Choose an article. Write a short summary (3-5 sentences). Identify what fields of study are involved in this research/news. Provide evidence from the article to show this involvement.

Effects on the Environment Characteristics Effects on the Environment Hunter-Gatherers The Agricultural Revolution The Industrial Revolution

Hunter-Gatherers Characteristics Effects on the environment Obtain food by collecting plants, hunting wild animals, or scavenging their remains Migrated during the year Altered habitats to meet their needs Ex: burned prairies to prevent tree growth so they could hunt bison Overhunting may have led to the disappearance of some species of large mammals

The Agricultural Revolution Characteristics Effects on the environment Began to collect seeds & domesticate animals Allowed populations to grow at an unprecedented rate Populations concentrated in smaller areas Habitats were destroyed for farming Soil loss, floods, water shortages

The Industrial Revolution Characteristics Effects on the environment Shift from using animal sources & running water to fossil fuels Increased the efficiency of agriculture, industry & transportation Populations in urban areas grew Allowed food & other goods to be transported Machinery reduced the amount of land needed for farming Pollution Use of artificial substances, in place of plant & animal products, that caused more problems later (plastics)

Spaceship Earth Earth can be compared to a giant spaceship Traveling through space Living cargo Limited supplies Unable to dispose of waste or take on new supplies Closed system: nothing comes in, nothing goes out

What Are Our Main Environmental Problems? Can be grouped into 3 categories Resource depletion Pollution Loss of biodiversity

Resource Depletion Natural resource Any natural material that is used by humans Renewable DEF: Can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes EX: Fresh water, air, soil, trees, crops, energy from the sun Nonrenewable DEF:Forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is consumed EX: Minerals and fossil fuels

Pollution DEF: An undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms Biodegradable DEF: Pollutants that can be broken down by natural processes EX: Human sewage, food wastes Nondegradable DEF: Cannot be broken down by natural processes EX: Mercury, lead, some plastics

Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity DEF: The number & variety of species that live in an area The organisms we share the world with can be considered natural resources. An extinct species: a nonrenewable resource If current rates of extinction continue, it may cause problems for human populations in the future All species have potential VALUE: economic, ecological, scientific, aesthetic, and recreational value.

Section 1-2 The Environment and Society

Tragedy of the Commons

“The Tragedy of the Commons” 1968, ecologist Garrett Hardin: The main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society. Someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource. If no one takes that responsibility, the resource can be overused and become depleted.

Economics and the Environment Economic forces influence how we use resources Supply and Demand The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth Costs and Benefits Cost of environmental solutions can be high A cost-benefit analysis balances the cost of the action against the benefits one expects from it Risk Assessment Helps us create cost-effective ways to protect our health and the environment

Developed & Developing Countries Higher average incomes Slower population growth Diverse industrial economies Stronger social support systems Ex: US, Japan, Canada, countries of Western Europe Developing Lower average incomes Simple & agricultural-based economies Rapid population growth Ex: Indonesia, Ethiopia

One way to express the differences in consumption between nations: Developed nations use about 75% of the world’s resources, even though they make up only about 20% of the world’s population. One way to express the differences in consumption between nations: Ecological footprint Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.

A key goal of environmental science  Sustainability The condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely