What is Environmental Science?

Environmental Science

Environment

• Environment: two definitions:–The circumstances or conditions that

surround an organism or group of organisms– The complex of social or cultural

conditions that affect an individual or community

Environmental Science

• Environmental Science: –The systematic study

of our environment and our place in it.– Interdisciplinary!

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Major Fields that Contribute to Environmental Science

Let’s Make a Concept Map!MaterialsSheet of white paperColoring utensils

Major Fields Includes…

Biology: study of living organisms

Zoology: study of animals

Botany: study of plants

Microbiology: study of microorganisms

Ecology: study of how organisms interact with their environment & each other

Earth science: study of the Earth’s nonliving systems & the plantet as a whole

Geology: study of the Earth’s surface, interior processes, and history

Paleontology: study of fossils & ancient life

Climatology: study of the Earth’s atmosphere & climate

Hydrology: study of water resources

Physics: study of matter & energy

Engineering: the science by which matter & energy are made useful to humans in structures, machines & products

Chemistry: the study of chemicals & their interactions

Biochemistry: study of the chemistry of living things

Geochemistry: study of the chemistry of rocks, soil, & water

Social Sciences: study of human populations

Geography: study of the relationship between humans & Earth’s features

Anthropology: study of the cultural, geographical, & historical aspects of mankind.

Sociology: study of human population dynamics & statistics

• Title……………………………………………………………………………………….10• 11 Environmentalist:

Rachel Carson, Paul and Ann Ehrlich, Lois Gibbs, Aldo Leopold, James Lovelock, Amory Lovins, George Perkins Marsh, John Muir, Eugene & Howard Odum, Theodore Roosevelt, Edward O. Wilson……………………………………………………………………………………22

• Chronological Order…………………………………………………………………10• 2 sentences on each person w/the date and what they did when they

contributed to history of environmental science …22• Resources/ Web Addresses for information found on each….. 22• Creativity (incorporated natural elements)……………………………14

History of Environmental Science: Timeline Project – Due Friday, 8/26

Environmental Problems Today1. Resource Depletion:– Renewable resources: resources normally

replaced/ replenished by natural processes; not depleted by moderate use• Solar energy, forests, fisheries, air, soil, etc.– Nonrenewable resources: minerals, fossil

fuels & other materials present in fixed amounts (within human time scale) in our environment

2. Energy: – Fossil fuels (oil, coal, & natural gas) provide

80% of energy used in industrialized countries– Problems with acquisition & use

3. Pollution: any physical, chemical, or biological change that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of living organisms or that alters the environment in undesirable way–Air, water–At least 1.1 billion people lack an adequate supply of safe drinking water–More than twice that don’t have modern sanitation

Environmental Problems Today

Environmental Problems Today4. Climate change:– Human activities release carbon dioxide (CO2) & other

“green-house gases” that trap heat in the atmosphere– Over the past 200 years, atmospheric CO2 has increased

by 35%– By 2100… global temps will probably warm 1.5 to 6C

(2.7-11 F)5. Loss of Biodiversity: the genetic, species, and ecological diversity of the organisms in a given area– Over the past century, more than 800 species have gone

extinct & at least 10,000 species are now threatened– Includes half of all primates

Ecological Footprint

Ever wondered how much “nature” your lifestyle requires? The Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates the amount of land and ocean area required to sustain your consumption patterns and absorb your wastes on an annual basis.

Ecological Footprint

Carbon footprint: area needed to absorb carbon emissions generated by your home energy use & transportationFood footprint: area needed to grow crops, fish, & graze animals and absorb carbon emissions from food processing and transport.A plant-based diet is significantly less land and energy intensive than a diet with a high proportion of meat, seafood, and dairy. A recent study found that a low-fat vegetarian diet needs 0.18 hectares per person per year while a high-fat diet with lots of meat needs 0.85 hectares because animals need so much more room. And because meat production drives deforestation and requires high inputs of energy for processing and transportation, it also comes with a high carbon footprint price tag. Globally, it has been estimated that up to 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with animal product consumption.

Ecological Footprint

Housing footprint: area occupied by your home & the area needed to supply resources used in construction and household maintenanceGoods and services footprint: area needed to supply consumer items you purchase and absorb carbon emissions from their manufacturing, transport, and disposal

My Ecological Footprint

Our Relationship with the Environment Over Time

A. Hunter- Gatherers: people who obtain food by collecting plants & hunting wild animals or scavenging their remains

• Humans prevented growth in grasslands, overhunted some large mammals, & spread plants to new areas

Giant ground sloth Bison

B. Agricultural Revolution: ~10,000 years ago• Agriculture: practice of growing, breeding, & caring for

plants & animals used for food, clothing, etc.• Lead to exponential growth of humans• Grasslands, forests & wetlands destroyed for farmland

soil loss, floods, & water loss

• According to the World Wildlife Fund, rain forests are being cleared for agriculture at a rate of 26 hactares per minute. Calculate how many hectares of rainforest are being cleared:– Per hour:– Per day:– Per year:

• How big is Effingham County? ~125,000 hectares• How big is the state of Georgia? ~15,300,000

hectares

C. Industrial Revolution: ~1700s +1. Involved conversion from using

animal power to fossil fuels for energy2. Inventions: light bulb, steam engine, factory machinery 3. Cities grew

• 1900s: began using artificial substances (plastics) instead of animal/plant products

Revolutionhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/edison/lightbulb.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution