1. Science and the Environment
1.1

2. Explain using examples.

3. A. Environmental Science
= The study of human impact on the environment.
Goal: To understand and solve environmental problems.

4. Major fields of study that contribute to environmental science
Biology
Zoology
Botany
Microbiology
Ecology
Earth Science
Geology
Paleontology
Climatology (meteorology)
Hydrology
Physics
Engineering
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Geochemistry
Social Sciences
Geography
Anthropology
Sociology
--The study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment.
And much more…

6. B. Our Environment through time…
Hunter-gatherer
Agricultural revolution
Industrial revolution

7. Hunter-Gatherer Chatacteristics Most of human history Nomadic
Ate food that was available at the time.
Effects on the environment
Extinctions of large mammals.

8. Agricultural Revolution
Characteristics
10,000 yrs ago
Support 500x more people than HG
Changed our diet ( grain based)
Effects on the environment
Increase pressure on local environment (water, soil, etc)
Domestication of plants and animals.
Loss of natural ecosystemsloss of soil, increase floods, water shortages…
 population growth

9. Industrial Revolution
Characteristics
Shift in energy source to coal & oil
Increase efficiency in agriculture, industry, transportation…
Mass productions
Improve quality of life (?)
Effects on the environment
Urbanization
Environmental contaminations (artificial substances, pollution)
population growth

10. C. Spaceship Earth

11. C. Spaceship Earth Earth is a closed system Earth is all we have.
Only thing that enters/exit is energy (in form of light and heat)
Earth is all we have.

12. D. Environmental Problems
1. Loss of natural resources
a. Renewable – replaced relatively quickly
1) Water, air, (soil), trees, crops.
b. Nonrenewable – forms slower than it is consumed
1) Minerals, fossil fuels
c. Both can be depleted.

13. D. Environmental Problems
2. Pollution
a. Biodegradable
1) Sewage, food wastes
b. Nonbiodegradable
1) Not broken down by natural processes
2) Mercury, lead, plastics
3) Can accumulate in the environment

14. D. Environmental Problems
3. Loss of biodiversity (number and variety of organisms)
a. Many mass extinctions in the past, but current extinctions are caused by humans.
b. Species are nonrenewable
c. Species benefit us in many ways.