Introduction to Environmental Science

Study Notes

Environment and Environmental Science

The term "environment" comes from the French word "environ", meaning "around that which surrounds", and refers to the sum total of all living and non-living elements and their effects that influence human life.
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field of study that combines physical, chemical, and biological factors to understand the growth and survival of organisms, populations, and communities.

Goals of Environmental Science

To learn how nature works
To understand how humans interact with the environment
To find ways to deal with environmental problems and live more sustainably

Four Laws of Ecology

Everything is connected to everything else
Everything must go somewhere
Nature knows best
There's no such thing as a free meal

Biogeochemical Cycles

The processes by which matter cycles from the living world to the nonliving, physical environment and back again
Five important biogeochemical cycles: carbon, water, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon enters the living world through photosynthesis and returns to the abiotic environment when organisms respire

The Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous renewal of the supply of water and exchange of water among the land, atmosphere, and organisms

The Nitrogen Cycle

Composed of five steps: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, ammonification, assimilation, and denitrification

The Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur compounds move between organisms, atmosphere, ocean, and land

The Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus erodes from rock and is absorbed by plant roots

Energy and Pollution

Energy is the capacity or ability to do work and can be either potential or kinetic
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form to another
Human activities have degraded or overused about 60% of the earth's ecosystem services since 1950
Pollution is the contamination of the environment by any chemical or other agent to a level that is harmful to human health or the environment

The Tragedy of the Commons

The degradation of shared or open-access renewable resources due to individual use and exploitation
When the number of users is small, the logic works, but eventually, the cumulative effect of large numbers of people can degrade the resource and exhaust it

Growing Ecological Footprint

The harmful environmental impact of human activities, measured by the amount of land and water needed to supply a population or area with renewable resources and absorb and recycle waste and pollution

Poverty and Environmental Degradation

Poverty is a condition in which people are unable to fulfill their basic needs for adequate food, water, shelter, healthcare, and education
About 900 million people live in extreme poverty, struggling to survive on less than $1.25 a day
Desperate for short-term survival, these individuals often degrade forests, topsoil, and grasslands, and deplete fisheries and wildlife populations

Avoidance of Full-cost Pricing

Companies do not pay for the harmful environmental and health costs of supplying goods and services
The primary goal of a company is to maximize profits, so it is not inclined to add these costs to its prices voluntarily

Increasing Isolation from Nature

More than half of the world's people live in urban areas, and this shift is continuing at a rapid pace
Artificial urban environments and increasing use of electronic devices are isolating people from the natural world
Many people do not know the full story of where their food, water, and other goods come from, or the amounts of waste and pollutants they produce and how they affect the environment

Human Wellbeing

Wellbeing describes what is ultimately good for a person: basic needs are met, individuals have a sense of purpose, they feel able to achieve important personal goals, and participate in society

Description

Learn about environmental science, which focuses on the interaction between living and non-living elements that affect human life. Explore the physical, chemical, and biological factors that determine the growth and survival of organisms, populations, and communities.

Introduction to Environmental Science

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Questions and Answers

What can happen when governments provide environmentally harmful subsidies to companies?

What is a consequence of the increasing isolation of people from nature due to urban living and technology use?

In terms of human wellbeing, what does 'wellbeing' ultimately refer to?

Why do governments provide companies with subsidies like tax breaks?

What do many individuals lack understanding of according to the text?

How do artificial urban environments and electronic devices impact people according to the text?

What is a significant effect of the shift towards urban living?

'Wellbeing' includes having a sense of purpose and __________.

What do environmentally harmful subsidies encourage according to the text?

Why do many people have limited knowledge about their waste production according to the text?