Upload
brian-murtagh
View
222
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
1/13
OUR PLANETOUR PLANET
Unit 1Unit 1--1a1a
What is EnvironmentalWhat is Environmental
Science?Science?
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
2/13
How Do You Affect The World?
Environmental Science Studies the impact of humanactivities on the environment; It includes
Biology The study of living organisms
Chemistry Studies chemical interactions Physics Studies matter and energy
Earth Science Studies our planets non-living systems
Social Sciences The study of human populations
The goal of environmental science is to improve societyby understanding how we interact with the environment.
What types of environmental problems
have you recently heard about?
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
3/13
Prehistoric Homo Sapiens
Our modern society had a very humble beginning
Hunter-Gatherers Early people collected plants andhunted animals for almost 200,000 years, driving somespecies to extinction
It was a difficult, nomadic lifesince people had to follow herdsand search for crops until thedevelopment of
Agriculture The ability to grow and breed plants whichallowed for the creation of settlements & domestication ofanimals over 10,000 years ago; Since then we learned
Poor farming practices will eventually ruin the land!
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
4/13
When Did Environmental Science Begin?
Agriculture sustained society until about 200 years ago,when people used fossil fuel energy instead of human andanimal power. This began the
Industrial Revolution Using
fossil fuels and machinery to producegoods & services that improve ourquality of life (but at a cost)
All three stages in societys
development have created seriousenvironmental problems leading tothe need for environmental science.
What actions are being taken now to ensure
our planet is healthy for future generations?
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
5/13
Current Threats to Our World
Resource Depletion Non-renewable natural resourcesare being used faster than they can be replenished
Ex: Metals, Minerals, and Fossil Fuels
Pollution Undesirable changesin our environment
Ex: Ozone, Sewage & Styrofoam
Loss of Biodiversity The number
and variety of species across theglobe are decreasing
If life is so simple to maintain on Earth, then why wasthe two-year experiment in Biosphere 2 such a failure!
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
6/13
How Long Can The Earth Last?
With over 6 billion people living on Earth
Environmental scientists are working everydayto discover new ways to improve society
while ensuring the environment is protected!
Some people thinkof our planet as aspaceship, travelingthrough space witha limited amountof supplies and anincreasing amount
of waste.
Others think ofour planet as a
lifeboat that canonly support a
limited number ofpeople before its
overburdened
and sinks.
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
7/13
Close Your Notebooks
What have you learned in this unit?1. Describe the five major fieldsthat make up environmental science.
2. What is the primary goal of
environmental scientists?
3. Describe the life of a personliving in a hunter-gatherer society.
4. What elements of society weremade possible by the developmentof agriculture?
5. What are some benefits anddrawbacks to the industrial revolution.
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
8/13
OUR PLANETOUR PLANET
Unit 1Unit 1--1b1b
The EnvironmentThe Environment
and Societyand Society
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
9/13
How Do We Protect The Environment?
Because most of what is consider to be the environmentis not privately owned, we create
Tragedy of the Commons People will take advantage ofpublic resources for short-term gain
Ex: In a public field, farmers lettheir sheep overgraze becauseIf I dont use the resources,then someone else would.
Once property became private,farmers used their land better.
What would happen to a set of I-Pods if the schoolprovided them for classes to share during gym?
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
10/13
Who Owns the Environment?
In our world, the distribution of resources is not equal,creating regions of the haves and haves-nots.
Developed Countries Those that have resources andindustry to support social programs and personal wealth
Ex: United States, Japan, England & AustraliaDeveloping Countries Have less resources & low incomesEx: Most of South America, Africa & Eastern Asia
Countries build their wealth &economies based upon the
Law of Supply and Demand The greater the demand foralimited supply of something, the more it is worth
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
11/13
At What Cost?
The problem now is developed countries are using theworlds resources to support an extravagant quality of life!
Its evident in
Sweatshops
Imported oil
E-waste in Asia
Ecological Footprint Shows the area of Earth needed tosupport one persons lifestyle in a particular country
The average person in the U.S. needs about twiceas much land & sea compared with a person from
Japan, Germany, France or the Netherlands.
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
12/13
The Answer Is
Sustainability The condition in which human needs aremet so that the human population can survive indefinitely
We are a long way off from sustainability sowhat ideas do you have for
Conserving non-renewable resources,such as metals and oil
Reducing pollution
Improving the environmentfor all living things on Earth
Throughout this course you willlearn how you affect the world
and how your environment affects you!
8/8/2019 Notes - Unit 1-1
13/13
Close Your Notebooks
What have you learned in this unit?1. What does the tragedy of the commons explain?
2. List four characteristics fora developed country.
3. Where are most developingcountries found in the world?
4. Explain why developed countriesmight be unable to maintaintheir current quality of life.
5. How does sustainability relateto a hotel built upon the moon?