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A.P. Environmental Science Introduction

A.P. Environmental Science Introduction. Global Environmental Science Picture. Four global trends. Four Global Trends. Population growth and increasing consumption Degradation of soils Global atmospheric changes Loss of biodiversity. 1. Population growth. 1. Population growth.

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A.P. Environmental Science Introduction

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  1. A.P. Environmental Science Introduction

  2. Global Environmental Science Picture • Four global trends

  3. Four Global Trends • Population growth and increasing consumption • Degradation of soils • Global atmospheric changes • Loss of biodiversity

  4. 1. Population growth

  5. 1. Population growth • reached 6 billion about October 12, 1999 • Will reach 7 billion October, 2011 • May reach 10 billion by 2050 • World POPClock • Population Connection

  6. ? Billionsofpeople Black Death—the Plague Time Industrial Revolution Hunting and Gathering Agricultural revolution Fig. 1-1, p. 6

  7. Fig. 1-12, p. 18

  8. 1. Population growth • The United States reached 300 million on October 17, 2006 at 3:46 AM.

  9. http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html

  10. California now has 38 million, may have 50 million by 2025

  11. Population Growth • All people create demands on the earth • Demand tends to increase with affluence “affluenza”

  12. Question • “ How can Earth support a near doubling of the population and still increase standards of living”

  13. 2. Degradation of Soils

  14. 2. Degradation of Soils • Fertile soil is the foundation for plant growth and food production • BUT-- soils are being degraded by erosion , overgrazing, development

  15. 3. Global Atmospheric Changes

  16. 3. Global Atmospheric Changes • Burning fossil fuels ( oil, natural gas , and coal) has caused increases in global carbon dioxide

  17. CO2 blocks infrared radiation and therefore traps heat in the atmospheric • resulting in displacement of plants, rise in sea level, changes in climate and weather

  18. 4. Loss of Biodiversity

  19. 4. Loss of Biodiversity • Increasing population and increasing consumption are accelerating conversion of forests, grasslands, and wetlands, etc. to agriculture and urban development

  20. Destruction of habitat = destruction of species

  21. Biodiversity is important • Mainstay of crops and medicine development • Critical factor in maintaining stability of natural systems • For aesthetic and moral reasons

  22. Unifying Themes of Environmental Science

  23. 3 Unifying Themes • Sustainability • Stewardship • Sound science

  24. Sustainability • Means that a system or process can be continued indefinitely without depleting resources to keep it going • Harvests cannot exceed reproduction rates • Lead to concept of sustainable development

  25. Stewardship • Stewards are responsible for earth and its population • Concept originated from environmentalism movement

  26. Sound Science • Environmental issues are sometimes embroiled in controversy • One side is science • One side are those who mistrust scientists and their interpretations and motives

  27. Understanding science • People need to understand how science is done • Will lead to greater understanding of the issues • Sound science is essential to helping guide us into the 21st century

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