Environmental Science

Chapter 1 Notes

Environmental Science:Is a multidisciplinary field that draws from all

sciences (as well as other fields)Is considered an applied scienceFocuses on three main areas:

conservation and protection of natural resourcesenvironmental education and communicationenvironmental research

Was started when scientists realized how aspects from various fields of sciences, as well as other fields, played a part in the environment.

Species Extinction• Three popular theories as to how and why the

megafauna (extremely large animals) ceased to exist in North America:The blitzkreig (overkill) : they were over hunted Rapid climate shifts associated with the last ice

ageDisease (similar to influenza or rabies) was

introduced with the arrival of humans

Hunter-GathersPeople who obtain food by collecting plants

and by hunting wild animals / scavenging their remains

Usually migrated from place to placeStill some remain in Amazon rain forestCleared grassland by setting fires

Interesting fact about hunter-gatherers

Skeletal remains of hunter-gatherers from as many as 20, 000 years ago show signs that these humans were responsible for the pollutions of their environment and even suffered deformities as a result.

Agricultural RevolutionCaused human population growth, habitat

loss, soil erosion, domestication of plants and animals

Changed the food we eatGrasslands, forest, and wetlands were replaced

with farmland (**habitats were destroyed)Caused floods, water shortage, infertile soil

Industrial RevolutionFew restrictions were placed on air pollution

during I.R. (burning of fossil fuels)Humans and animals powered tools for almost

10, 000 years (prior to I.R.)Greatly increased the efficiency of agriculture,

industry, and transportationUrban areas grew –people moved from farms

Environmental Issues 2011Resource depletion

Pollution

Loss of biodiversity

“The Tragedy of the Commons”Written by Garrett Hardin (in 1968)Influential essay Described the relationship between the short-

term interest of the individual and the long-term interest of society

Overall point is that someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource

Individuals may have to suffer loss (do without) for the overall betterment of all!!!

Economics and the EnvironmentSupply and Demand: the greater the demand

for a limited supply of something, the more it’s worth.

Economics and the Environment Continued:Cost and Benefits: balances the cost of the

action against the benefits one expects from it. The cost of environmental regulations are often passed on to the consumer.

Risk Assessment: a tool to help create cost-effective ways to protect our health and the environment.

Developed v’s Developing CountriesDeveloped Country: have higher average

incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies, stronger support systems.

Include US, Canada, Japan, and the countries of Western Europe

Developing Countries: lower average incomes, simple and agricultural-based economies, and rapid population growth.

Population and ConsumptionEnvironmental problems in developed countries tend to be related to consumption.

The major environmental problems in developing countries are related to population growth.

Ecological FootprintShows the productive

area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.

It estimates the land used for crops, grazing, forest products, and housing.

It also estimates the ocean area used to harvest seafood and the forest are needed to absorb the air pollution.

A Sustainable WorldSustainability:

the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely.

Is a primary goal

of environmentalist.