Understanding our Environment Chapter 1. What is environmental science? The study of how humans interact with the environment. Environment is everything

Understanding Understanding our our

EnvironmentEnvironmentChapter 1Chapter 1

What is environmental science?What is environmental science?

The study of how humans interact with the environment.

Environment is everything that surrounds us including natural and man made things


A major focus of environmental science is solving environmental problems.

Can you think of at least three environmental problems that concern you?


Some problems are local.Some problems are local.

Example: pollution of Lake Erie or the Gulf of Mexico

Some problems are global.Some problems are global.

Example: ozone depletion or global warming or garbage

Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

Almost all problems fall into one of three categories.

1. Resource Depletion

2. Pollution

3. Extinction

Resource DepletionResource Depletion

A natural resource is any natural substance that living things use.

Examples: sunlight, air, water, soil, minerals, plants, animals, forests, fossil fuels

Resources – Resources – Renewable/NonrenewablRenewable/Nonrenewabl

ee

Resources – Resources – Renewable/NonrenewablRenewable/Nonrenewabl

ee


Examples: sunlight, air, water, soil, minerals, plants, animals, forests, fossil fuels

Some resources are renewable and some are nonrenewable. Look above and categorize the examples.


Over fishing of ocean fish – our food Over fishing of ocean fish – our food source source


Destruction of the Rain Forest


Polar Sea Ice LossPolar Sea Ice Loss


Population Explosion from the first days of man on earth until the early 1800’s – to reach a global population of 1 billion. In just 200 years, we’ve managed to reach 6.5 billion.

PollutionPollution

CO2 Levels in the Atmosphere. Carbon Carbon dioxide levels are building up in the dioxide levels are building up in the atmosphere – the main force behind atmosphere – the main force behind global warming. global warming.

Pollution Pollution

The Ocean Dead Zones

In oceans around the world, there are eerie areas that are devoid of nearly all life. These ‘dead zones’ are characterized by a lack of oxygen, and they’re caused by excess nitrogen from farm fertilizers, emissions from vehicles and factories, and sewage.

ExtinctionExtinction

Mammal Extinction– mostly due to our own disregard for our surroundings – so much of the awe-inspiring diversity of nature, mass extinctions like this would cause a serious imbalance in the world’s food chain.

A Global PerspectiveA Global Perspective

The biosphere is the thin layer of life around the Earth.

It is only about 8km above the surface of Earth and 8km below the surface of Earth.

Environment Through Environment Through TimeTime

Society started out as hunter-gatherers, then we moved to the agricultural revolution, then to the industrial revolution.

Hunter-gatherers migrated from place to place to follow food supply, set fires to burn the prairies to prevent tree growth, and overhunted animals to extinction.


Agricultural revolution involved gathering seeds to plant and domesticating some of the animals.

More people can be supported by farming methods, but now the land is being converted to farmland. Habitats like grasslands, forests, and wetlands are being turned into farmland.


The industrial revolution started in the 1700s where we shifted from animal power to using fossil fuels like coal and oil.

Better technology and inventions to save time and money were making positive changes.


Class work: Make a pro (positive) and con

(negative) list of the Industrial Revolution and how it changed peoples’ lives and the environment.

ANDWrite a 8 sentence persuasive argument

answering: Have the changes with the Industrial Revolution improved our quality of life?

Use of ResourcesUse of Resources

How do we as humans share common resources?

From fishing the oceans to using the water at Portage Lakes State Park, how do we make sure these common resources are not ruined?


Tragedy of the Commons:When no one owns the

resource, no one takes responsibility for it. Then resource is overused and becomes depleted.

tragedy of the commons part 1tragedy of the commons


A group or individual needs to take responsibility for it. We have park rangers paid by the government, volunteers to watch for violations, and we have laws to prevent depletion.


Economics helps to influence society on how to use a resource too.

If a resource is limited, then price goes up and humans tend to use less of it. (Supply and demand)

Cost benefit analysis helps to weigh pros and cons to spending money on an issue.


In the world, there are two types of categories countries can be placed.

Developed – high average incomeshighly industrialized

Examples: United States, Canada, Japan, Australia


The second category countries can be placed into is developing countries.

Developing – less industrialized

less average income

Examples: India, Kenya


Many environmental problems are linked to increasing human populations and increasing demand on natural resources.

Example: more vehicles on road using more oil

Can you come up with an example?

Population CrisisPopulation Crisis

Increasing human population too quickly for the area to support

Where do you think this is happening?

Developing or Developed countries countries

Consumption CrisisConsumption Crisis

When people use up or waste natural resources faster than they can be replaced.

Where do you think that is happening?

Developing or Developed countries countries


Developed nations use close to 75% of the resources used every year but only make up about 20% of the world’s population.

What is your view on this statistic?


What are three things you do on a normal day to contribute to the consumption crisis?

Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

This is a calculation of the amount of land and resources needed to support one person’s lifestyle from a particular country.

ecological footprint

HOMEWORKHOMEWORK

Go to:http://calc.zerofootprint.net/youth/Answer questions and find how many

earths you would need for your lifestyle.

ANDPick three ways you could reduce your

CO2 output. Write how you plan to do the reductions in the next two weeks.

Global GoalGlobal Goal

Our goal as humans is to achieve a sustainable world.

- High standards of living for all

- Habitats would be preserved

- Garbage would be turned into something useful

- Stop wasting natural resources

Sustainable World

How can you contribute to a sustainable world in your own life? Give at least three specific examples..

1.2 Types of Sciences1.2 Types of Sciences

There are two basic types of sciences.

Pure Science Applied Science- Answers how - Uses pure

the natural world science information

works to solve problems

Types of SciencesTypes of Sciences

Look at the sciences below and decide if they are pure or applied.

Biology Environmental

Engineering Medicine

Chemistry Physics

Zoology Astronomy

The Scientific The Scientific MethodMethod

What is it?What is it?

It is a process that is used to find answers to questions about the world around us.

Is there only one?Is there only one? No, there are several versions. Some

versions have more steps, while others may have only a few.

They all begin with the identification of a problem or a question to be answered based on observations of the world around us and provide an organized method for conducting and analyzing an experiment.

What is a hypothesis?What is a hypothesis?

It is an educated guess based on observations and your knowledge of the topic.

What is data?What is data?

It is information gathered during an experiment.

Identify the ProblemIdentify the Problem

What do you want to know or explain?

Use observations you have made to write a question about the problem.

Form a HypothesisForm a Hypothesis

What do you think will happen?

Predict the answer to your question..

Create an ExperimentCreate an Experiment

How will you test your hypothesis?

Design an experiment to test it.

Perform an ExperimentPerform an Experiment

Follow the steps in your procedure to perform your experiment.

Record data and make observations.

Analyze the DataAnalyze the Data

Is the data reliable? Does the data support your hypothesis?

If the data does NOT support your hypothesis, then Modify the Experiment. Rewrite the experiment to address flaws.

Retest.

Communicate the Communicate the ResultsResults

When data supports your hypothesis, write a conclusion that summarizes the important parts of your experiment and the results.

This step is needed to complete the scientific method.

Making Environmental Making Environmental DecisionsDecisions

When suggesting environmental solutions to a problem, voters must weigh the pros and cons of the issue.

How will the solution affect people’s lives?

How much will the solution cost? How much will it cost if we do nothing?


Using the environmental decision making model is a way to help you, the voter, decide on the issue.

1st step – Gather information using newspapers, books, television reports, and well informed speakers.


2nd step is to consider the values that apply to the issue (pg. 45)

Some examples are:

Aesthetics – What is beautiful or pleasing

Economics – Gain or loss of money or jobs

Ethical – What is right or wrong


3rd step Explore Consequences based on the values chosen.

4th step Make a Decision


Open your books to page 45. Look at all the values listed.

Our environmental problem is endangered species.

Species to choose fromSpecies to choose from Arizona Cliff Rose

California Condor

Apache Trout

Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard

Species to choose fromSpecies to choose from Giant Carrion

Beetle Giant Panda

Hawaiian Crow Oahu Tree Snail

Species to choose fromSpecies to choose from Pitcher’s Thistle Red-Footed Tortoise

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse

Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly

Species to choose fromSpecies to choose from

Texas Blind Salamander

Wyoming Toad

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Understanding our Environment Chapter 1. What is environmental science? The study of how humans interact with the environment. Environment is everything