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An Introduction to Environmental Science

An Introduction to Environmental Science. How We Use Natural Resources -Water -Plants -Food/Animals -Energy. How We Change Our Environment -Pollution -Climate Change -Loss of Biodiversity -Habitat Destruction.

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An Introduction to Environmental Science

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  1. An Introduction to Environmental Science

  2. How We Use Natural Resources -Water -Plants -Food/Animals -Energy How We Change Our Environment -Pollution -Climate Change -Loss of Biodiversity -Habitat Destruction Environmental Scienceaka (The study of the impact of humans on the environment.) Are there any more examples?

  3. Pure Science Vs. Applied Science Pure Science: Systematic observation of natural phenomena solely for the discovery of unknown laws relating to facts; the study of science alone, not including its relations to other subjects. Applied Science: The discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems.

  4. Applied Science (A) or Pure Science (B) Chemistry Chemical Engineering Mathematics Applied Mathematics Environmental Science

  5. Major Fields that Contribute to Environmental Science 1. Biology The study of living organisms. Ex. Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, and Ecology 2. Earth Science The study of the Earth’s nonliving systems and the planet as a whole. Ex. Geology, Paleontology, Climatology, and Hydrology 3. Physics The study of matter and energy. Ex. Engineering 4. Chemistry The study of Chemicals and their interactions Ex. Biochemistry and Geochemistry 5. Social Sciences The study of human populations Ex. Geography, Anthropology, and Sociology

  6. The Three Main Environmental Problems? Resource Depletion: The exhaustion of raw materials (renewable or non-renewable) within a region. Pollution: An undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms. Loss of biodiversity: A decrease in the number and variety of species that live in an area. Is there a fourth problem that might possibly deserve its own category?

  7. An incredibly short and simple timeline of important changes in the relationship between man and the environment. Hunter-Gatherers (at least 83,000 B.C.) The Industrial Revolution (1760-1830 A.D.) The Agricultural Revolution (9,000-6,000 B.C.) Artificial substances replace raw animal and plant products (1900s -?)

  8. Sustainability Difficult to define because it is extremely complicated and involves many value sets such as "liberty" or "justice" A definition we will work with: The condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely

  9. What is the limiting factor for human sustainability? The availability of natural resources What pressures/challenges to sustainability are we facing? Increasing Population & Decreasing Natural Resources What is the ultimate goal of environmental science? To create a sustainable world

  10. “The Tragedy of the Commons” • Garrett Hardin published his essay in 1968 • “The main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society.” -Holt • “Someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource. If no one takes that responsibility, the resource can be overused and become depleted.” -Holt

  11. Does everyone consume resources equally? Developed Countries have higher average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies, and stronger social support systems. Ex. The United States, Canada, and Japan Developing Countries have lower average incomes, simple and agriculture-based economies, and rapid population growth. Ex. Many Countries in Africa and South America

  12. Developed Nations make up only ~20% of the world’s population Blue: Advanced Economies Orange: Emerging and Developing Economies Red: Emerging and Developing Economies that are the least developed

  13. Developed Nations uses ~75% of the world’s resources.

  14. Ecological Footprint: the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country

  15. The Economy and the Environment

  16. Supply and Demand The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth.

  17. How do economics fit into our decision making model? Costs and benefits Risk Assessment

  18. In your Journal: • Are we currently living on a Sustainable Planet? • Why or Why not? • Is there a way to alter this course? How? • How long would this change take?

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