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Questions and Answers
What is the origin of the word 'environment'?
What is the origin of the word 'environment'?
The word environment is derived from the French word ‘Environ’, which means ‘surrounding’.
The term 'environment' was first coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1828.
The term 'environment' was first coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1828.
True
Which of the following is NOT a component of the environment?
Which of the following is NOT a component of the environment?
Name the four major components of the environment.
Name the four major components of the environment.
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The ______ is the protective blanket of gases surrounding the Earth.
The ______ is the protective blanket of gases surrounding the Earth.
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What percentage of the Earth's water supply is found in the oceans and seas?
What percentage of the Earth's water supply is found in the oceans and seas?
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What lies within the stratosphere that absorbs ultraviolet light?
What lies within the stratosphere that absorbs ultraviolet light?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Environmental Studies
- Derived from the French word ‘Environ’, meaning ‘surrounding’.
- Environment encompasses all living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components surrounding an organism.
- Biotic components include plants, animals, microbes, and humans; abiotic includes air, water, and soil.
- The term 'Environment' was first coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1828.
Definitions of Environment
- C.C Park defines environment as the "sum total of conditions surrounding a man at a given point in space and time".
- Boring states it consists of the total stimulation a person receives from conception to death.
- Douglas and Holland describe it as the aggregate of external forces and influences affecting life and development of living organisms.
- Environment Protection Act, 1986 (Section 2a) includes air, water, land, and their interrelations.
Interrelation of Environment and Organisms
- Organisms depend on the environment for nourishment and activities.
- The environment is a complex system of physical, chemical, biological, social, and cultural elements.
Components of Environment
- Environment classified into four major components:
- Hydrosphere
- Atmosphere
- Lithosphere
- Biosphere
Hydrosphere
- Comprises all water bodies: oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, glaciers, and groundwater.
- 97% of Earth's water is in oceans and seas; about 2% in polar ice caps and glaciers; only 1% is fresh surface water available for consumption.
Atmosphere
- A protective layer of gases around Earth, sustaining life and shielding from outer space.
- Composed of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases.
- Contains various layers: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere, each with distinct properties.
Troposphere
- Lowest atmospheric layer, extending up to about 10 km above sea level.
- Contains 75% of all atmospheric air; 99% of water vapor resides here.
- Most cloud formation occurs in this layer; temperature and pressure decrease with altitude.
Stratosphere
- Above the troposphere, extending from 10 km to about 50 km above ground.
- Houses the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, converting it into heat.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of environmental studies, including definitions, components, and the interrelation between organisms and their environment. This quiz covers key definitions from notable scholars and laws regarding environmental protection. Test your understanding of how biotic and abiotic factors influence life on Earth.
