dmc-104: geography and environment

DMC-104: Geography and EnvironmentCourse Teacher: Dr. Syed Hafizur Rahman (SHR)

M. Sc. (JU), Ph. D. (Birmingham University, United Kingdom)

Permanent PositionProfessorDepartment of Environmental SciencesJahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342

E-mail: hafizsr@yahoo.com Mobile No.: 01720173352

Day & Time: 03:00 to 05:00 (Wed & Thu)

This LectureIntroduction: Definition of Geography and Environment; their relationship;importance of study geography and Environmental Studies; subdivisions of geography and environmental Studies.

Definition

Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία, geographia, lit. "earth description") is the science that studies the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". Study of the Earth's surface as the home of the human race.

Definition

Recently, the focus seems to have shifted towards a more issues-based approach, ranging in scale from the local to the global, from pollution to poverty,

The fact that geography is located at the interface between the natural and social sciences adds to the difficulty of arriving at a universal definition.

Subdivisions of Geography

•  Physical Geography• Biogeography and Natural Resources •  Human Geography• Economic Geography• Political Geography

Subdivisions of Geography•  Physical Geography: – The Earth in Space (The Solar System, Earth’s Moon,

The Sun and the Earth, The Seasons), – Earth’s Interior (Earth’s Internal Structure, Plate

Tectonics, Volcanoes, Geologic Time Scale), – Earth’s Surface (Internal Geological Processes,

External Processes, Fluvial and Karst Processes, Glaciations, Desert Landforms, Ocean Margins),

– Earth’s Climates (The Atmosphere, Global Climates, Cloud Formation, Storms).

Subdivisions of Geography• Biogeography and Natural Resources: – Earth’s Biological Systems (Biomes, Forests,

Grasslands, Deserts, Tundra and High Altitude Biomes, National Park Systems),

– Natural Resources (Soils, Water, Renewable Resources, Nonrenewable Resources)

• Human Geography: – Human Society and the Earth (The Human

Environment, Population Growth and Distribution, Global Urbanization, Global Time and Time Zones),

Subdivisions of Geography– Climate and Human Societies (Climate and Human

Settlement, Flood Control, Atmospheric Pollution, Disease and Climate),

– Exploration and Transportation (Exploration and Historical Trade Routes, Road Transportation, Railroads, Air Transportation).

• Economic Geography: – Agriculture (Traditional Agriculture, Commercial

Agriculture, Modern Agricultural Problems, World Food Supplies),

Subdivisions of Geography– Energy and Engineering (Energy Sources, Alternative

Energies, Engineering Projects), – Industry and Trade (Minerals, Manufacturing,

Globalization of Manufacturing and Trade, Modern World Trade Patterns).

• Political Geography: Forms of Government, Political Geography, Geopolitics, International Boundaries.

Understanding Our Environment

Environment• French Environner to encircle or surround• Circumstances and conditions that surround an

organism or group of organisms.• Social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or

community.

Environmental Studies: Definition

•       Environmental studies is the interdisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment in the interests of solving complex problems. • It is a broad field of study that includes also the natural

environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them. • The field encompasses study in basic principles of ecology

and environmental science, as well as associated subjects such as ethics, policy, politics, law, economics, philosophy, environmental sociology and environmental justice, planning, pollution control and natural resource management.[1]

Environmental Science: Definition

• Environmental science is the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment; with a focus on pollution and degradation of the environment related to human activities; and the impact on biodiversity and sustainability from local and global development.

• It is inherently an interdisciplinary field that draws upon not only its core scientific areas, but also applies knowledge from other non-scientific studies such as economics, law and social sciences.

Definition

• Physics is used to understand the flux of material and energy interaction and construct mathematical models of environmental phenomena.

• Chemistry is applied to understand the molecular interactions among natural systems.

• Biology is fundamental to describing the effects within the plant and animal kingdoms.

Rationale

While the concept of environmental studies has existed for centuries, it came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by

(a) the need for a large multi-disciplined team to analyze complex environmental problems,

(b) the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation and

(c) the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems.

Issues covered

• Environmental studies encompasses issues such as climate change, conservation, biodiversity, groundwater and soil contamination, use of natural resources, waste management, sustainable development, air pollution and noise pollution.

• Due to the inherent interdisciplinary nature of environmental studies, teams of professionals commonly work together to conduct environmental research or to produce Environmental Impact Statements.

Sub-categories• Atmospheric sciences examines the new phenomenology of

the Earth's gaseous outer layer with emphasis upon interrelation to other systems. Atmospheric sciences comprises meteorological studies, greenhouse gas phenomena, atmospheric dispersion modeling of airborne contaminants, sound propagation phenomena related to noise pollution, and even light pollution.

• Taking the example of the global warming phenomena, physicists create computer models of atmospheric circulation and infra-red radiation transmission, chemists examine the inventory of atmospheric chemicals and their reactions, biologists analyze the plant and animal contributions to carbon dioxide fluxes, and specialists such as meteorologists and oceanographers add additional breadth in understanding the atmospheric dynamics.

Sub-categories

• Ecology studies typically analyze the dynamics among an interrelated set of populations, or a population and some aspect of its environment. These studies could address endangered species, predator/prey interactions, habitat integrity, effects upon populations by environmental contaminants, or impact analysis of proposed land development upon species viability.

• Geoscience includes environmental geology, environmental soil science, volcanic phenomena and evolution of the earth's crust. In some classification systems it can also embrace hydrology including oceanography.

Understanding Our Environment

Environmental Science is the systematic study of our environment and our place in it.– Highly Interdisciplinary– Inclusive– Holistic– Mission-Oriented

Understanding Our Environment

SCIENCE • Latin – scire - to Know • Science rests on the assumptions the world is knowable

through empirical study and logical analysis.– Searches for testable evidence.– Explanations are considered provisional.– Additional evidence may disprove current theories.

Understanding Our Environment

Science As a Way of Knowing• Scientists collaborate • Many people often work on different aspects of a

problem.• Creativity, insight, aesthetics and even luck play roles in

scientific research.

Why we study the state of the environment?Three reasons: – 1. the need for information that clarifies modern

environmental concepts such as : the need to conserve biodiversity, the need to lead more sustainable lifestyles, and the need to use resources more equitably.

– 2. there is a need to change the way in which we view our own environment, using a practical approach based on observation and self-learning

– 3. There is the need to create a concern for our environment that will trigger pro-environmental action, including simple activities we can do in our daily life to protect it.

Subdivisions of Environmental Studies

• Natural Resources• Ecosystems• Biodiversity and its conservation• Environmental Pollution• Social Issues and the Environment• Environmental Issues• Human population and the Environment• Environment and human health

Subdivisions of Environmental Studies• Natural Resources: Renewable and non-renewable

resources, Natural resources and associated problems, Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources, Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.

• Ecosystems: Concept of an ecosystem, Structure and function of an ecosystem, Producers, consumers and decomposers, Energy flow in the ecosystem, Ecological succession, Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids, Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following ecosystems (Forest ecosystems, Grassland ecosystems, Desert ecosystems, Aquatic ecosystems).

Subdivisions of Environmental Studies• Biodiversity and its conservation: Introduction,

Definition (genetic, species and ecosystem diversity), Biogeographical classification of Bangladesh, Value of biodiversity, Biodiversity at global, national and local levels, Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.

• Environmental Pollution: Definition, causes, effects and control measures of Air Pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Marine pollution, Noise pollution, Thermal pollution and Nuclear hazards; Solid waste (Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes), Role of an individual in prevention of pollution, Concept of Disaster (Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides).

Subdivisions of Environmental Studies• Social Issues and the Environment: From unsustainable to

sustainable development, Urban problems related to energy, Water conservation, rainwater harvesting, water shed management, Resettlement and rehabilitation of people, its problems, Environmental Ethics, the ethical basis of environment education and awareness.

• Environmental Issues: Green house gases and their impact, trends and projection of future emissions, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, climate change and sustainable development.

• Human population and the Environment: Global population growth, Methods of sterilization, Urbanization.

• Environment and human health: Environmental health, Climate and health, Infectious diseases Water-related diseases, Risks due to chemicals in food, Cancer and environment, Human rights and valued education.

Assignment

• What are the relationship between geography and environmental studies?– Issues covers– Objectives– Goals