Environment studies basics

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENT
AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Definition of Environment
 Environment -French word - 'environ’ -surroundings.
 Hence, everything surrounding us -"ENVIRONMENT".
 Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined “Environment
as the sum total of water, air and land, their interrelationship
among themselves and with the human beings, other living
beings and property.”
 It can also be defined as “ external surroundings and
conditions which directly or indirectly affects the living
organism”
 Environmental science is a systemic study of our environment
and our place in it - mainly the abiotic and biotic components.
 It is a comprehensive sum of all living and non – living things
and their interactions.
 It is an applied science as its seeks practical answers to
making human civilization sustainable on the earth’s finite
resources.
 Its components include biology, geology, chemistry,
physics, engineering, sociology, health, anthropology,
economics, statistics, computers and philosophy.

Definition…..
o The environment “is the sum of the total of the elements,
factors and conditions in the surroundings which may
have an impact on the development, action or
of organisms, such as,
survival of
we humanan organism or
beings.”
group
OR
o It can also be defined as “ external surroundings and
conditions which directly or indirectly
organism”
affects the living

Environment consist of:
• BIOTIC FACTORS = living
components in an environment
• ABIOTIC FACTORS = non-living
components in an environment

• Biotic factors and
us and with which
Abiotic factors that surround
we interact.
• These biotic and abiotic components are in
dynamic state; they constantly affect each other
and cannot be isolated from each other.

Biotic
Factors
Abiotic
Factors
All living
organisms
Water, soil,
minerals, gases
Temperature,
humidity, wind
Plants
Light, nutrients
(C, O, P, N, etc.)
Animals
Microorganisms

COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
• Environment can
components:
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
be divided into four
•
•
•
•

Atmosphere:
It is the mixture of various gases, water vapour and
subatomic particles that entirely covers the earth
extending outward several thousand kilometers.

Troposphere:
•Lower portion of the
atmosphere
•Extends up to 8 km at the
poles and 16 km at equator,
on an average extend up to
10-11 km from the earth
surface.
•Temperature decrease at
the rate of 5-7oC/km.
•Strong vertical air
movement responsible for
rapid and complete mixing.

Stratosphere:
• It is above
troposphere and
extends up to50-55
km.
Up to about 20 km
temp. remains
constant then
increase with
increase in height.
Ozone layer is in this
layer.
•
•

Mesosphere:
It is layer above
stratosphere and
extends up to 80
km.
Temperature
decreases slowly
with altitude but
then sharply to
about -75oC.
•
•

Thermosphere:
• Temperature
increases rapidly
with increase in
height.
Heating of this layer
is due to absorption
•
of the solar
Within the
energy.
•
thermosphere there
is a layer of charged
particles known as
ionosphere.

Exosphere:
• It exist above the
ionosphere and
extend up to 2000 km
above the earth.
This layer is almost
airless and empty.
•
• Contains hydrogen
in ionized state.
Very high
temperature(≥
1200oC)
gas
•

Hydrosphere:
•
•
About 70% of earth is covered by water.
Water is available in seas, oceans, lakes, river,
glaciers etc.
97% is in the oceans and seas, 2% in glaciers &
ice caps, 1% is fresh water available for human
consumption.
•

Lithosphere:
•
•
Outer soil crust of the earth is lithosphere
Living organisms, plant vegetation are
supported by the lithosphere.
It contains resources like minerals, organic and
inorganic matter, some extent air and water.
Role of lithosphere:
•
•
- Produces food for human beings and
animals.
- Soil is the site of
wastes.
decomposition of organic

Biosphere:
Thin outer crust of the earth which includes all
the living organisms and their environment.
It extends from the lowest sea bed level to about
24 km of the atmosphere.
•
•
• Life supporting resources are available from the
biosphere.
• It is that part of earth where living(biotic)
organism exist and interact with each other and
also with non-living (abiotic) components.

Activities in biosphere…….
• The living organisms interacting with each
other in biosphere and sustain their life.
• The waste products in gaseous, liquid and
solid form are discharged in biosphere.
The sustaining and assimilative capacity of the
biosphere is tremendous but not infinite.
The system is in operation for millions of years
•
•
but now showing stress due to impact of
human on environment.

Interaction between different components of
environment

Man and Environment relationship
• Man is the only living organism
capable of modifying environment
according to the need.
• Man has started hunting animals
and cutting trees for his basic
needs.
• To increase his comforts he started
distributing each and every
components of environment.
• Large scale deforestation,
increasing in quantity of CO2 due to
burning of forest, grass, crop waste
are example of early cause of
pollution.

How Does TechnologyAddress Human
Needs and Wants?

Impact of Technology on Environment
•
•
Positive Impact
Negative Impact
– Direct Impact & Indirect Impact
Positive Impact
 Waste treatment plants to reduce the
 Electricity generation options
 Uses of bio-fuels

pollution.

Impact of Technology on Environment
(Cont…)
• Negative Impacts: Negative effects are further
divided into direct and indirect effects.
– Direct effect:
• Accidents in various industries
• Nuclear pollution
– Indirect effect
•
•
•
•
Uses of fossil fuels causes air pollution
Green house effects
Acid rain
Global warming

Positive Effect
• Water treatment plants help us to reuse of dirty
water.
• Wind turbines help to reduce the needs for coal,
electric and other natural resources.
• To improve life style & safety of human life, as
well as improve the environment of this planet
for the future.
• The science of sewage treatment is probably the
greatest environmental achievement of mankind

Negative Effect
a) Direct Effect:
It includes accidents , release of pollutants affecting
human health, exhaustion of resources and
changes in landscapes.
b) Indirect Effects:
These effects interfere
humanity
with
by
the vital services
supplied
systems.
to natural ecological

CONT….
• Depletion of ozone layer , which protects the life on
earth from damaging UV-B radiations is caused
primarily by CFC emissions.
• Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers is
decreasing the inherent fertility of soils.
The sea level rise due to melting of ice-caps in
Antarctic region due to global warming , is frequently
disturbing the coastal areas.
Exploitation of resources leading to exhaustion.
Testing of atomic bombs may cause volcanoes and
earth quakes
•
•
•

Environmental Degradation
• Definition: The overall lowering of environmental
qualities due to the damages caused by both
basicnatural events and human activities in the
structure of the environment at local, regional
and global levels adversely affecting all living
organisms including man.

Cont…..
Environmental degradation arise due to…..
• Consumption of natural resources by over
population of developing countries.
• Wasteful over consumption of resources by
developed countries.

Cont…..
• To explain the impact (I) the proposed three
factor model in a given area comprises of:
The population size(P)1.
2.
3.
Per capita consumption
Degradational pollution
resources used(T)
Hence I=P×A×T
of resources(A)
caused by per unit of
In developing countries three Ps or P3 i.e.
population, poverty and pollution are key factor
for rapid environmental degradation.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Sustainable development (SD) is a pattern of
resources use, that aims to meet human needs
while preserving the environment so that these
needs can be met not only in the present, but also
for future generations.
• Every generation should leave air, water and soil
as pure and unpolluted as possible. Sustainability
mean to sustain human institutions and ecological
systems in a healthy and functional state

•
•
•
Concepts for sustainable development:
Control of pollution.
Reduction
conserving
Recycling
of excessive use of resources and
resources.
• and reuse of material for waste
minimization.
Using cleaner fuel and technologies.•
• Development of good mass transportation
facilities to reduce air pollution.
• By using effective environmental management
tools.(EIA, EMS)

Environmental Science
• … is an
interdisciplinary and
multidisciplinary
field, drawing on
many diverse
disciplines.

Multidisciplinary nature of the
Environment studies
“Environmental studies” is the scientific study
our environment and our place in it.
• of
• Definition: “Environmental
of environmental issues.
studies” is the study
• It has broader coverage than environmental
science and includes social aspects of
environment also.
It deals with science where necessary and also•
include the study of physical and biological
environment and also cultural and social factors
and their impact on environment.

Scope of Environmental Studies
Natural resources- their conservation and
management
Ecology and biodiversity
Environmental pollution and control
Social issues in relation to development and
environment
Human population and environment
•
•
•
•
•

Importance of Environmental Education
in present day education system
• Environmental Education is recognized as the
process that would help individuals to acquire
essential knowledge and skills to take positive
action towards a batter environment.

Objectives of Environmental Education
1. An AWARENESS of the environment and its
problems.
2. Basic KNOWLEDGE and understanding of the
environment and its inter-relationship with man.
are3. Social VALUES and ATTITUDES which in
harmony with environmental quality.
4.
5.
SKILLS to solve environmental problems.
Sense of responsibility and urgency towards
environment so as to ensure appropriate ACTIONS
to solve environmental problems.
Consider environment in its totality.6.

Environmental Engineering
• Environmental engineering is based on the design and
manipulation of environmental processes
desired outcome.
to obtain a
• Environmental engineers apply their knowledge of
the natural sciences (chemistry, biology and
microbiology) with their expertise in engineering to
solve, prevent or correct environmental problems

Cont……
• Design or manage systems for water distribution and
collection, water treatment solid waste handling and
processing facilities , landfills and air treatment plants.
Work with regulatory agencies to review proposals for
environmental equipment.
Collecting data and assisting in product design.
Developing improved air quality models and pollution
control measures.
Working with an environmental health and safety board
on various policies and procedures.
Developing mitigation measures to ensure safety
•
•
•
•
•

Some of the activities handled
Environmental Engineer
by
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Waste Management,
Toxic Material Control,
Water Supply,
Storm Water Management,
Solid Waste Disposal,
Land Management,
Public Health & safety,
Radiation Protection,
Industrial Hygiene,
Air Quality Control

Environment studies basics

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