ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE The study of the impact of humans on the

environment.Examples of most significant environmental

problems in the world today: Habitat destruction Global warming Pollution Resource depletion overpopulation

GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Understand and solve environmental

problems- how we use natural

resourcesEx. water, plants

- how our actions alter the environment

Ex. Habitat destruction, pollution

FIELDS OF STUDY Interdisciplinary – involves many fields

of study Ecology – the study of how living things

interact with each other and with the non-living environment.

Ex. Animal behavior Chemistry – pollutants Geology – how materials travel through

earth

FIELDS OF STUDY, CONT’D Botany, Zoology – preservation of

species Earth sciences – hydrology,geology,

climatology, palentology Physics-engineering, ex. Landscape,

petroleum

SCIENTISTS AS CITIZENS Studying the environment is vital to

maintaining a healthy and productive society

Scientists share research with the world through publications and conferences

SCIENTISTS AS CITIZENS

CITIZENS AS SCIENTISTS Citizens have an obligation to make

observations of their surroundings and report changes that could affect a species or society as a whole

Ex. Appearance of new speciesEx. Disappearance of a speciesEx. Change in habitat or speciesEx. Water quality

MAN’S EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TIME

Wherever humans have hunted, grown food, or settled, they have changed the environment

I. Hunter-GatherersA. over-hunting of a species (bison)B. burning prairies to prevent tree growthC. Combination of climate change and over hunting by hunter-gatherers led to loss of species including giant sloths, giant bison, mastodons, cave bears, and saber-toothed cats

HUNTER-GATHERERS

MAN’S EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TIME CONT’D

II. The Agricultural Revolutiona. agriculture – the practice of growing, breeding, and caring for plants and animals that are used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, and other purposes.

B. The dramatic impact of this change on human societies and their ennvrironment is called the agricultural revolutionC. Effect: exponential human population growth, populations concentrated in smaller areas.

MAN’S EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TIME CONT’S

Agricultural RevolutionD. Domesticated plants we eat today are very different from wild ancestorsE. Habitats destroyed to make farm land (slash and burn)

MAN’S EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TIME CONT’D

III. Industrial RevolutionA. A shift from energy sources such as animal muscle

and running water to fossil fuelsB. Greatly increased the efficiency of agriculture,

industry, and transportationC. Large-scale production of goods mass produced in

factories became less expensiveD. Machinery reduced the amount of land and human

labor needed for farming

III. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION CONT’D

E. Populations in urban areas steadily grew

F. Motorized vehicles allowed food and other goods to be transported cheaply across great distances.

G. Inventions and technology (light bulb, traffic light, cooling car, telephone) flourished and improved.

H. sanitation, nutrition, medical care improved

I. Negative consequences: Environmental problems resulting from the use of artificial substances such as plastics and other non-biodegradable items as well as pollution

III. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION CONT’D

SPACESHIP EARTH Earth is a closed system – the only thing that

enters earth’s atmosphere in large amounts is energy from the sun, the only thing that leaves is heat. No new matter enters or leaves Earth’s systms.

Resources used up quickly Waste produced more quickly than it can be disposed of Environmental problems are local (landfill), regional(oil spill), or

global (ozone depletion)

MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMSI. Resource depletion –

a. natural resource – any natural material that is used by humansb. renewable resource – can be replaced within a lifetime

c. nonrenewable resource – forms at a slower rate than it is being consumed

D. resources are said to be depleted when a large fraction of a resource has been used up.

EX. Renewable depleted resource – trees, water Nonrenewable depleted resource – copper mine

MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CONT’D

II. PollutionA. main effect of Industrial revolution – waste produced faster than it is disposed of.

B. pollution – an undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms.

Types: Biodegradable – can be broken down by natural processes Ex. Human sewage, food wastes.

Non-biodegradable – cannot be broken down by natural processes Ex. Mercury, lead, plastic

POLLUTION

MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CONT’D

III.Loss of Biodiversity A. biodiversity – the number and variety of species that live in an area.benefits – food, genetic diversity, natural resources of medicines and other goods

B. extinction – loss of a species. At the end of the Permian period, 95 million years ago, as much as 95 percent of all species lost.

QUIZ (THEY ARE DUE 7 MIN. AFTER TARDY BELL

Use your book to answer these questions in complete sentences:

1) Use a Venn Diagram to contrast the environmental effects of the hunter-gatherer stage and the Industrial Revolution

2) Explain how environmental problems can be local, regional or global and give one example of each not mentioned in notes or book.

3) Is water considered renewable or non-renewable? Support your answer.

Ch.1 Sec.2 The Environment and SocietyI. “Tragedy of the Commons’

A. Essay describe conflict between short term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society.

B. Someone or group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource. If no one takes that responsibility, the resource can be overused and become depleted.

Ch.1 Sec.2 The Environment and SocietyII. Economics and the Environment

A. Supply and demand – the greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth.

Economics and the EnvironmentB. Costs and benefits – balances the cost of the

action against the benefits one expects from it.• The cost of environmental solutions can be high.• Ex. Increase in taxes for clean water, recycling

program, habitat restoration and preservation.• Consumer choices: light bulbs, more expensive

products that meet environmental regulations.

Economics and the EnvironmentC. Risk Assessment – involved in cost-benefit

analysis. The cost of any action is the risk of an undesirable outcome.

• The public does not always perceive the risk accurately.

• Ex. Nuclear power

III. Developed and developing countries• classified by the United Nations• Developed countries have higher average

incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies, and stronger social support systems Ex. U.S.A., Canada, Japan,countries of western Europe.

• Developing countries – lower average incomes, simple and agricultural based economies,and rapid population growth

• Each (see pg.19) has different consumption patterns

III. Population and Consumption In some areas, human population is growing too

quickly for the local environment to support it

When population grows too quickly there may not be enough natural resources for everyone in the area to live a healthy productive life.

Developed countries use about 75% of world’s resources even though they make up only about 20% of the world’s population

Economics and the Environment cont’dEcological footprint – shows the productive area

of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.

• Estimates the land used for crops, grazing, forest products, and housing, ocean for seafood, forest area needed to absorb the air pollution.

Economics and the EnvironmentSustainability – the condition in which

human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely.

• NOT happening now!• Developed countries have higher

standard of living because they are using resources faster than they can be replaced.

What will your Impact on the Environment Be?