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INTRODUCTION TO …… ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION TO …… ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PART I. What Is Environmental Science?. T he study of the air, water, & land surrounding an organism or a community Ranges from a small area to Earth’s entire biosphere Includes the study of human impact on environment.

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INTRODUCTION TO …… ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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  1. INTRODUCTION TO ……ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PART I

  2. What Is Environmental Science? • The study of the air, water, & land surrounding an organism or a community • Ranges from a small area to Earth’s entire biosphere • Includes the study of human impact on environment

  3. The Goals of Environmental Science • Understand & solve environmental problems • Study 2 main types of interactions between humans & their environment: • Use of natural resources • How our actions alter our environment

  4. SOCIETAL CHANGES Different ways of living have always impacted the environment. Hunter-Gatherers Agricultural Revolution Industrial Revolution

  5. Hunter-Gatherers Obtain food by collecting plants & by hunting wild animals or scavenging their remains Environmental affects: Native American tribes hunted buffalo, etc. to (or nearly to) extinction Others: giant sloths, giant bison, mastadons, cave bears, saber-toothed cats

  6. The Agricultural Revolution Agriculture is the raising of crops & livestock for food or for other products useful to humans. Started over 10,000 years ago Allowed human populations to grow at an unprecedented rate As populations grew, they began to concentrate in smaller areas placing increased pressure on the local environments.

  7. The Agricultural Revolution • Many habitats were destroyed as grasslands, forests, & wetlands were replaced with farmland.

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

  9. The Industrial Revolution Involved a shift from energy sources such as animals & running water to fossil fuels Fossil fuels = ability to fuel machines!

  10. The Industrial Revolution Positives Negatives pollution habitat loss increased use of natural resources • light bulbs • Agricultural productivity increased • Sanitation • nutrition • medical care

  11. Increased population growth = greater pressure on the environment Population Growth

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

  13. THE EARTH’S LIGHTS AT NIGHT

  14. THE “ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT” • The total area of land & water needed to produce enough resources and dispose of wastes for one person in their lifetime. ~ influenced by lifestyle. • Higher in developed societies/nations Side Note: We are using 30% more (overshoot) of the planet’s resources than are available on a sustainable basis!

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