Environmental Science and Engineering: 10 Key Issues

Environmental Science and Engineering

• Environmental Science is the study of how humans interact with their environment.
• Environmental Engineering uses this understanding to develop and apply technologies that maintain or improve environmental quality.

Environmental Issues

• There are 10 major environmental issues:
  • Population
  • Climate Change
  • Loss of Biodiversity
  • The Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles
  • Water
  • Ocean Acidification
  • Pollution
  • Ozone Depletion
  • Overfishing
  • Deforestation

Factors Affecting the Environment

• Pollution is the introduction of substances or energy into the environment, liable to cause harm to living creatures or ecological systems.
• Causes of pollution:
  • More sophisticated lifestyles
  • Growing needs of people
  • Accelerated rates of human and economic activities

Types of Pollution

• Air Pollution: introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials into the atmosphere, causing harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms.
• Water Pollution: contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater).
• Land Pollution: degradation of Earth's land surfaces, often caused by human activities and their misuse of land resources.
• Noise Pollution: excessive, displeasing human, animal, or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life.

Renewable Energy

• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Hydroelectric Power

Importance of Environmental Science

• Biodiversity loss is a major environmental problem, as extinct species are gone forever.
• Environmental science helps us understand our relationship with the environment and informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems.
• Solving environmental problems can lead to health, longevity, peace, and prosperity.
• Environmental science can help find balanced solutions to environmental problems.

Conclusion

• The environment encompasses the whole of life on earth and the complex interactions that link the living world with the physical world.
• Environmental science is crucial in understanding and addressing sudden and dramatic natural changes to the environment.

This quiz covers 10 essential environmental issues, including population, climate change, and pollution, and explores the role of science and engineering in addressing these problems.