Intro to Environmental Science

Chapter 1

What is Environmental Science?The study of how humans interact with their

environmentGoals:

Solve environmental problemsUse of resources (ex: water and plants)How our actions impact the environment

Related FieldsEcology – how living and nonliving things interactChemistry – role of pollutants in the environmentGeology – how pollutants travel in undergroundBotany & Zoology – preservation of plants and animalsPaleontology – study of Earth’s climate over eonsSocial sciences – interactions between humans and

their impacts

Your Role as an Environmental ScientistThink you don’t make a difference?

Well, YOU DO!Everyday citizens of communities are often the

first to notice environmental problemsMiddle school and high school students all over

the country (Minnesota, Ohio, New York…everywhere!) Notice environmental problems everyday

On many occasions, these observations have lead to major changes in local legislation to clean up polluted environments or created stricter regulations for industry

What are some pollution or environmental problems in your town?

Homework CheckChapter 1-1 Q 4 & 5

4) What is the difference between environmental science and ecology?

5) Propose a solution to prevent the environmental problems of the seaport of Troy described in the Ecofact

The Fall of Troy: Environmental problems are nothing new. Nearly 3,000 years ago, the Greek poet Homer wrote about the ancient seaport of Troy, which was located beneath a wooded hillside. The Trojans cut down all the trees on the surrounding hills. Without trees to hold the soil in place, rain washed the soil into the harbor. So much silt accumulated in the harbor that large ships could not enter and Troy’s economy collapsed. Today, the ruins of Troy are several miles from sea.

Hunter-Gatherer SocietiesHunter-Gatherers are people who forage for food

and hunt wild animalsThese societies still exists all over the globe

Amazon rainforests, African plainsGenerally small societies that move place to

place when food runs outSometimes these societies follow migrations or

move when food becomes more available somewhere due to the time of year

Impact on the environment:Native American tribes set fire to prairies to keep

the plains open for bison huntingSpreading of plants by carrying seeds to new areasOverhunting and climate changes may have lead to

animal extinctions

Agricultural RevolutionHunter-Gatherers eventually starting to save and plant seedsSeeds lead to growing, breeding and domesticating plants and

animals for various usesFoodClothingTransportationHousingEtc.

Started about 10,000 years ago all over the worldSelective breeding was born when farmers saved and replanted

seeds from the best plants they grew or bred animals with the best traitsEx: mustard gave rise to broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and kale

Impact on the EnvironmentForests were cut down to make room for fieldsSlash and burn practices were adopted in rainforest areasHabitats were destroyedSoil loss and infertility of soil with overuse, flooding, water shortage,

water pollution

Industrial RevolutionBegan about 1700Shifted energy source focus from animals, water and

man power to fossil fuels such as coal and oilLead to development of steam engines and

machineryLarge-scale production of goods and food became

cheaperAllowed more people to live in a smaller area

Cheap transport of goods began with use of fossil fuels and motorized vehicles

Improved quality of lifeSanitation, nutrition, medical care

Impact on the Environment:Pollution, habitat loss increased, plastics, pesticides,

fertilizers began to negatively impact the environment

The main issue: Population GrowthSun enters Earth’s atmosphere, heat leaves it and THAT’S

IT!EVERYTHING else is stuck on this planet…good and bad alike

Earth is a closed ecosystemAs populations grow, the limited resources become more and

more scarcePollution becomes a greater problem (more waste is produced

than recycled)Activities on one part of the globe can strongly impact another

(pollution of a local lake can destroy a river’s ecosystem hundreds of miles away)

Human growth is out of controlPopulation QUADRUPLED over the last century7 BILLION people by 2011 (it was 5 billion when I was in 5th

grade and in 1950 it was only about 2.5 billion!)Impact on the Environment:

Most of the environmental problems we face are a result of trying to feed our population via agriculture and industry

Other main problemsResource Depletion

Natural Resources are natural materials used by man Renewable resources are replaced relatively quickly, for example, wood from

trees Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced for millions of years, for

example, fossil fuels like coal or oilDepletion occurs when resources are either used up or used faster

than they can be replacedPollution

Wastes are produced faster than they can be degradedCreates an “undesired change in air, water or soil that adversely

affects the health, survival or activities of humans or other organisms.”

Smog in L.A or Mexico City or barren lakes in the Adirondack Mountains from acid rain

Biodegradable pollutants do go away over time, non-biodegradable pollutants don’t such as some plastics and heavy metals

Loss of BiodiversityDecreasing of the number of species that live in areas usually

through extinction

Homework CheckChapter 1 section 1 End Review Q 1,2,51) Explain how hunter-gatherers affected the

environment in which they lived2)Describe the major environmental effects of

the agricultural revolution and the Industrial Revolution

5) Analyzing Relationships: how did the Industrial Revolution affect human population growth?