Environmental Science Chapter 1 Notes

Warm-upWhat does Environmental Science mean to you?1

Environmental Science

Chapter 1 Notes

2Section 1: Science and the Environment

3 Environmental Science:Is a interdisciplinary field of science that draws from many sciences (as well as other fields)Ex. Biology, chemistry, ecology, geology, earth science, geography

Is considered an applied science.

Focuses on three main areas:conservation and protection of natural resourcesenvironmental education and communicationenvironmental research

4Fields: ecology , biology , chemistry , geology , geography 4What is ecology?The study of how living things interact with each other and their nonliving environment.5Biodiversity:Renewable Resource:The number and variety of species that live in the area.Earth has been home to millions of species. Yet only a fraction of those species are alive today.

Mass Extinction: Large scale extinction (some natural and some man made)

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A resource that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes. ex. Fresh water, air soil, trees, crops

Nonrenewable Resource:A resource that forms at a much slower rate than it is consumed

Agriculture: Agriculture Revolution: The practice of growing, breeding, and caring for plants and animals that are used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, etc.

Dramatic changes that impacted human societies and their environment when man began practicing agriculture more than 10, 000 years ago. 7

Closed System: Earth has been compared to a spaceship traveling through space, unable to dispose of waste or take on new supplies as it travels. The only thing that enters Earths atmosphere in large amounts is energy from the sun. The only thing that leaves is heat.

Species ExtinctionThree popular theories as to how and why the megafauna (extremely large animals) ceased to exist in North America:The blitzkreig (overkill) : they were over hunted Rapid climate shifts associated with the last ice ageDisease (similar to influenza or rabies) was introduced with the arrival of humans

8Megafauna in North America: mammoths, camels, giant ground sloths, beavers as large as bears, saber-toothed cats, maned lions, giant short-faced bears, dire wolves8 Hunter-GatherersPeople who obtain food by collecting plants and by hunting wild animals / scavenging their remainsUsually migrated from place to placeStill some remain in Amazon rain forestCleared grassland by setting fires

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Which of the following was not caused by Hunter-Gatherers?Clearing of landIntroduction of non-native speciesSmog and industrial wasteExtinction of plants and animals10 Impacts made by the hunter-gatherersChanged the landscape by moving plants.

Skeletal remains of hunter-gatherers from as many as 20, 000 years ago show signs that these humans were responsible for the pollutions of their environment and even suffered deformities as a result.

11 Agricultural RevolutionCaused human population growth, habitat loss, soil erosion, domestication of plants and animalsChanged the food we eatGrasslands, forest, and wetlands were replaced with farmland (**habitats were destroyed)Caused floods, water shortage, infertile soil

12 Industrial RevolutionFew restrictions were placed on air pollution during I.R. (burning of fossil fuels became extensive leading to major pollution)Humans and animals had powered tools for almost 10, 000 years (prior to I.R.) now machines do. Greatly increased the efficiency of agriculture, industry, and transportationUrban areas grew people moved from farms

13 Main Environmental Issues Resource depletion

Pollution

Loss of biodiversity

14Ticket Out the DoorWhat event(s) do you think has made the biggest impact on our environment? Why?On the same paper, write and answer questions #1-5 page 15.

15What is ecology?The study of how living things interact with each other and their nonliving environment.16Quiz/warm-up - #1-10

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19Section 2: The Environment and Society

20 The Tragedy of the CommonsWritten by Garrett Hardin (in 1968)Influential essay Described the relationship between the short-term interest of the individual and the long-term interest of societyOverall point is that someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource

If I dont use this resource, someone else will.21Earths Shared Commons are our Natural ResourcesAnything within the BiosphereWorlds Oceans / Waterways ; Air ; Migrating Animals ; Forest ; Fossil Fuels / Nuclear Materials 22

Economics and the EnvironmentSupply and Demand: the greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more its worth.

23Economics and the Environment ContinuedCost benefit analysis: balances the cost of the action against the benefits one expects from it. The cost of environmental regulations are often passed on to the consumer.The cost to clean up after an oil spill is added to the price of gas

Risk Assessment: a tool to help create cost-effective ways to protect our health and the environment.

24 Developed vs Developing CountriesDeveloped Country: have higher average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies, stronger support systems.Include US, Canada, Japan, and the countries of Western Europe

Developing Countries: lower average incomes, simple and agricultural-based economies, and rapid population growth.

25 Population and ConsumptionEnvironmental problems in developed countries tend to be related to consumption.

The major environmental problems in developing countries are related to population growth.

26 Ecological FootprintShows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country. It estimates the land used for crops, grazing, forest products, and housing.It also estimates the ocean area used to harvest seafood and the forest are needed to absorb the air pollution.

27 A Sustainable WorldSustainability: the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely. Is a primary goal of environmentalist.

28TOTD: Read Connection to History on p 6What was the name of Rachel Carsons 1962 book, and what was it about?

Then, read the article on Acid Rain and answer the questions on the back. 29