s cience and the e nvironment chapter 1. s ection 1: u nderstanding o ur e nvironment environment...
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SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Environment Everything around us Includes the natural world as well as things
produced by humans
THE GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
To understand and solve environmental problems
Accomplished by studying 2 main types of interactions between humans and the environment How we use natural resources How our actions alter our environment
ECOLOGY VS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
The study of how things interact with each other & their nonliving environment
The study of the impact of humans on the environment
Ecology Environmental Science
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE.
Involves many fields of study Biology: the study of living organisms Earth Science: the study of the Earth’s nonliving
systems and the planet as a whole Physics: the study of matter and energy Chemistry: the study of chemicals and their
interactions Social Science: the study of human populations
WHAT ARE OUR MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS?
Can be grouped into 3 categories Resource depletion Pollution Loss of biodiversity
RESOURCE DEPLETION
Natural resource Any natural material that is used by humans Renewable
Can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes Fresh water, air, soil, trees, crops, energy from the sun
Nonrenewable Forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is
consumed Minerals and fossil fuels
POLLUTION
An undesired change in air, water, or soil that adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms
Biodegradable Pollutants that can be broken down by natural
processes Human sewage, food wastes
Nondegradable Cannot be broken down by natural processes Mercury, lead, some plastics
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity The number & variety of species that live in an
area The organisms we share the world with can
be considered natural resources. An extinct species: a nonrenewable resource
If current rates of extinction continue, it may cause problems for human populations in the future
All species have potential economic, ecological, scientific, aesthetic, and recreational value
“THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS”
1968, ecologist Garrett Hardin: The main difficulty in solving environmental
problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society.
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.
ECONOMICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Economic forces influence how we use resources Supply and Demand
The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth
Costs and Benefits Cost of environmental solutions can be high A cost-benefit analysis balances the cost of the action
against the benefits one expects from it Risk Assessment
Helps us create cost-effective ways to protect our health and the environment
DEVELOPED & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Developed Higher average
incomes Slower population
growth Diverse industrial
economies Stronger social
support systems Ex: US, Japan,
Canada, countries of Western Europe
Developing Lower average
incomes Simple &
agricultural-based economies
Rapid population growth
Ex: Indonesia, Ethiopia
Developed nations use about 75% of the world’s resources, even though they make up only about 20% of the world’s population.
One way to express the differences in consumption between nations:Ecological footprint
Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.