Unit I Ms. Forman

Understanding our Environment Environment- what does that word mean to you? What is included in the environment?

Environment: All the things around us with which we interact: Living things Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc. Nonliving things Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks Our built environment Buildings, human-created living centers Social relationships and institutions

Environmental Science The study of the impact of humans on the environment. Humans: Humans: Change the environment Change the environment Depend on the environment Depend on the environment Goals of Enviro Sci: Goals of Enviro Sci: Understand environmental problems Understand environmental problems Work to solve environmental problems Work to solve environmental problems

Understanding & Solving Environmental Problems Scientists study 2 types of interactions: Scientists study 2 types of interactions: 1: how people use natural resources (water, plants) 1: how people use natural resources (water, plants) 2: people’s actions on the enviro (must gather and analyze data) 2: people’s actions on the enviro (must gather and analyze data)

Interacting Fields of Study Ecology: study of living things & their interactions with each other and the environment. Ecologist: Study the relationship b/t bees and plants they pollinate. Enviro Scientist: Investigate how the nesting behavior of bees is influenced by human activities.

Interacting Fields of Study Chemistry: understand nature of pollutants Geology: model how pollutants travel underground Botany, Zoology: Info to preserve species Paleontology: study of fossils help understand climates of the past. Science is a process!

Time & The Environment Humans have changed the environment since the beginning of human history. Hunter-gatherers Overhunting & natural climate change-extinction of animals Overgrazing- setting fires to prevent tree growth

Agri Revolution Agriculture: practice of growing, breeding and caring for plants and animals for specific purposes. Began approx. 10,000 years ago Allowed human growth to skyrocket Area can support 500x the amount of people compared to hunting/gathering Artificial Selection seeds, traits/qualities Changed ecosystems: forests-> fields

Industrial Revolution Everything changed- mid 1700s Shift from animals-> fossil fuels Greatly increased efficiency of agriculture, industry, transportation Price of large-scale goods decreased Fewer people grew own food, cities grew. Fossil fuels, motorized vehicles allowed for “cheap” transportation of food.

Industrial Revolution Increase in human quality of life Light bulb, telephone Sanitation Nutrition Medical care

Industrial Revolution New Case of Environmental Problems Artificial substances Plastics Burning of Fossil Fuels= CO2 Emissions

Earth: A Closed System Environmental Problems: local, regional, global Population Growth: world population has increased dramatically. Carrying Capacity on Earth?

Human Population There will soon be seven billion people on the planet. By 2045 global population is projected to reach nine billion. Can the planet take the strain?

National Geographic “The Coming Storm” Read, Reaction

Main Environmental Problems What do you think?

Main Environmental Problems Three catagories: 1. Resource Depletion 2. Pollution 3. Loss of Biodiversity

Resource Depletion What is a natural resource? Any natural material used by humans. Two types: Nonrenewable Renewable What’s the difference?

Resource Depletion: Renewable Resource Resource that can be replaced relatively quickly (less than 100 yrs) by natural processes. Ex: Fresh water, air, soil, trees, crops.

Resource Depletion: Nonrenewable Resource Resource that forms at a much slower rate than it is consumed. Ex: Minerals, Fossil fuels. Most take millions of years to form

Resource Depletion: What is Depletion? Depletion: when large fraction of resource has been used up. Ex: deforestation, overharvesting, overfishing, mining.

Documentary: Overfishing

Pollution Industrial revolution-> major pollution Wastes are produced faster than disposal/breakdown. Pollution: undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms. Human Activity= pollution

Pollution Two Types: Biodegradable, Degradable Biodegradable Pollutants: can be broken down by natural processes (human wastes, food wastes) Problem when accumulate faster than they can be broken down.

Pollution Nondegradable Pollutants: Cannot be broken down by natural process. Ex: mercury, lead, plastics. Don’t go away->can build up to dangerous levels.

National Geographic “Pollution Within”

Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity: number and variety of species that live in an area. Earth: hundreds of millions of discovered species. Only a fraction are alive today- others are extinct.

Extinction is a natural process. Mass extinctions have occurred throughout history. (Discovery Channels Mass Exctinction activity) de-angle/mass-extinctions- timeline.html

Loss of Biodiversity Other organisms= natural resources We depend on other organisms for survival. Extinct Species-> nonrenewable resource Why should we conserve?

Planet Earth Saving Species