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Introduction to Environmental Science
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What is Environmental Science Study of the impact of humans on the environment Goal: To understand and solve environmental problems
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RACHEL CARSON Alarmed by the increasing levels of pesticides and other chemicals in the environment, biologist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962. Her book became an instrument in the birth of the modern environmental movement
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What is Ecology? The study of how living things interact with each other and the nonliving environment.
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10/12/20145 Interrelated Nature Environmental Problems Environment :is everything that affects an organism during its lifetime.
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10/12/20146 An Ecosystem Approach Ecology- the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment. Ecosystem: Region in which the organisms and the physical environment form an interacting unit. – The task of an Environmental Scientist is to recognize and understand natural interactions and integrate these with human uses of the natural world.
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Cultural Changes & the Environment: Hunter- Gatherer Culture Hunter-Gatherers: people who obtain food by collecting plants and by hunting wild animals Nomadic: Migrated from place to place as different types of food became available at different times of the year Effects on Environment: Burn grasslands and forest to open land for hunting Overhunting=extinction or endangered species
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Cultural Changes & the Environment: The Agricultural Revolution Agriculture: the practice of growing, breeding, and caring for plants and animals that are used for food, clothing, housing, and other uses. Allowed for the human population to grow FARMLAND=habitats were destroyed Slash and burn (pg. 10) Contamination Increased the impact on the environment
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Cultural Changes & the Environment: The Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution – Mid 1700’s Machines replaced human and animal labor in the manufacture and transportation of goods. – Steam engines converting heat energy into forward motion was central to this transformation. Shift to dependence on non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels Dramatic increase in environmental impact
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PersonInventionDate James WattFirst reliable Steam Engine1775 Eli WhitneyCotton GinCotton Gin, Interchangeable parts for muskets1793, 1798 Robert FultonRegular Steamboat service on the Hudson River1807 Samuel F. B. MorseTelegraph1836 Elias HoweSewing Machine1844 Isaac SingerImproves and markets Howe's Sewing Machine1851 Cyrus FieldTransatlantic Cable1866 Alexander Graham BellTelephone1876 Thomas EdisonPhonograph, Incandescant Light Bulb1877, 1879 Nikola TeslaInduction Electric Motor1888 Rudolf DieselDiesel Engine1892 Orville and Wilbur WrightFirst Airplane1903 Henry FordModel T Ford, Assembly Line1908, 1913
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Oil Replaces Coal
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Population Growth Revolutions allowed the human population to grow much faster Better medical care Modern sanitation methods Ability to store and transport food
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10/12/201413 Fig. 1-1 p. 2 World Population
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Main Environmental Problems Resource Depletion Pollution Loss of Biodiversity
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10/12/201415 Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone depletion Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise Biodiversity Depletion Habitat destruction Habitat degradation Extinction Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen depletion Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Waste Production Solid waste Hazardous waste Food Supply Problems Overgrazing Farmland loss and degradation Wetlands loss and degradation Overfishing Coastal pollution Soil erosion Soil salinization Soil waterlogging Water shortages Groundwater depletion Loss of biodiversity Poor nutrition Major Environmental Problems Environmental Problems
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What is the “Tragedy of the Commons”? ARTICLE: published in 1968 by Garrett Hardin. CONCEPT: a shared resource in which any given user reaps the full benefit of his/her personal use, while the losses are distributed amongst all users. Result? Tragedy all around.
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The Tragedy of the Commons
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What is the “Tragedy of the Commons”? CLASSIC EXAMPLE: cows on shared pasture. What are other examples of commons? Air Water Scenery
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Economics (not in written notes) Supply and Demand Costs and Benefits Risk Assessment
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Developed or Developing (not in written notes) Developed United States, Canada, Japan Higher average income, slower population growth, high energy use, high pollution, diverse industrial economies Developing Mexico, Indonesia Shorter life expectancy, simple and agriculture based economies, rapid population growth
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Indicators of Development
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Ecological Footprint Amount of land in acres or hectares needed to support one person in a particular country. http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.p hp/GFN/page/calculators/ http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.p hp/GFN/page/calculators/
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Ecological Footprints
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10/12/201424 Ecol Ecological Footprint Fig. 1-8 p. 10
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Sustainability Sustainability is the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely. Sustainability is a key goal of environmental science.
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