1. Environmental Science: Studying the State of Our Earth
Chapter 1
Environmental Science: Studying the State of Our Earth
Friedland and Relyea Environmental Science for AP®, second edition
© 2015 W.H. Freeman and Company/BFW
AP® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board®, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

2. Module 1 Environmental Science
After reading this module you should be able to
define the field of environmental science and discuss its importance.
identify ways in which humans have altered and continue to alter our environment.

3. Environmental science offers important insights into our world and how we influence it
Ecosystem -

4. Environmental Science
Biotic -
Abiotic -
Environmentalist –
Environmental studies -

5. Environmental Science
Environmental studies. The study of environmental science uses knowledge from many disciplines.

6. Humans alter natural systems
Why?

7. Module 2 Environmental Indicators and Sustainability
After reading this module you should be able to
identify key environmental indicators and their trends over time.
define sustainability and explain how it can be measured using the ecological footprint.

8. Environmental scientists monitor natural systems for signs of stress
Ecosystem services –
Environmental indicator –

9. Environmental Indicators

10. Environmental Indicators
Environmental indicators help us describe the current state of an environmental system. The five key global environmental indicators are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

11. Biodiversity
Key Global Environmental Indicator 1: Biological Diversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity exists on three scales:

12. Biodiversity
Levels of biodiversity. Biodiversity exists at three scales.
Ecosystem diversity –
(b) Species diversity –
(c) Genetic diversity –

13. Genetic Diversity Genetic Diversity –
Populations with high genetic diversity are better able to respond to environmental change than populations with lower genetic diversity.

14. Species Diversity Species – Species diversity – Speciation -
Background extinction rate –

15. Ecosystem Diversity
Ecosystem diversity –

16. Food Production Key Global Environmental Indicator 2: Food Production
We use science and technology –

17. Food Production
World grain production per person. Grain production has increased since the 1950s, but it has recently begun to level off.

18. Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentration
Key Global Environmental Indicator 3: Average Global Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentration
Greenhouse gases –
The most significant greenhouse gas is ________.
Anthropogenic -

19. Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentration
The Earth-surface energy balance. Earth’s surface is warmed by the Sun, radiating heat outward. Heat-trapping gases absorb the outgoing heat, reradiating some back to Earth.

20. Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentration
CO2 needs to be subscript.
Changes in average global surface temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Earth’s average global surface temperature has increased steadily for at least the past 100 years.

21. Human Population
Key Global Environmental Indicator 4: Human Population
The current human population is ________ and
__________.
Population scientists project the human population will reach billion by 2050 and stabilize between billion by 2100.

22. Resource Depletion
Key Global Environmental Indicator 5: Resource Depletion
Some natural resources, for example, ____ , ____,and ________ are finite and cannot be renewed or reused.
Other natural resources, for example _________or ______also exist in finite amounts but can be recycled.
As the human population grows, it places ______ demand on finite resources.
Development -

23. Patterns of Resource Consumption
Resource use in developed and developing countries. Only 20 percent of the world’s population lives in developed countries, but that 20 percent uses most of the world’s resources. The remaining 80 percent of the population lives in developing countries and uses far fewer resources per capita.

24. Human well-being depends on sustainable practice
Sustainability –
Sustainable development –

25. Sustainable Practices
Environmental systems _____________________ _______________________________________.
Renewable resources ______________________ _______________________________________.
Nonrenewable resources ___________________ _______________________________________.
Biophilia -

26. The Ecological Footprint
Ecological footprint A measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in an area of land.
The ecological footprint. Some of the many factors that go into the calculation of the footprint are shown here.

27. Module 3 Scientific Method
After reading this module you should be able to
• explain the scientific method and its application to the study of environmental problems.
• describe some of the unique challenges and limitations of environmental science.

28. Science is a process
Scientific method –

29. Scientific Method
STEPS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

30. Scientific Method
The scientific method. In an actual investigation, a researcher might reject a hypothesis and investigate further with a new hypothesis, several times if necessary, depending on the results of
the experiment.

31. Environmental Science Presents Unique Challenges
There is no control planet with which we can compare Earth.
It is difficult to determine what is better or worse for the environment.
Environmental science has so many interacting parts, it is not easy to apply one system to another.
When people are unable to meet their basic needs, they are less likely to be interested in protecting the environment.