ABP 211 Environmental Studies and Disaster Management PDF

ABP 211 (Environmental Studiess and D Disaster Management) BIHAR AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, SABOUR DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CROP PHYSIOLOGY COURSE NO. ABP-211 (2+1) COURSE TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIE...

ABP 211 (Environmental Studiess and D Disaster Management) BIHAR AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, SABOUR DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CROP PHYSIOLOGY COURSE NO. ABP-211 (2+1) COURSE TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIE STUDIES & DISAS DISASTER MANAGEMENT By SAREETA NAHAKPAM/ A K PAL/ R D RANJAN/ M P MANDAL 1  ABP 211 (Environmental Studies and Disaster Management) Lecture No. : 01 Concept of Environment The environment is defined as that whole outer physical and biological system in which man and other organisms live. It is a complicated one with many interacting components. The term environment etymologically means surroundings. Thus the environment is a complex of so many things (light, temperature, soil, water etc.) which surround an organism. Any external condition, substance or force which surrounds and affects an organism is called a factor and all such factors taken together may be called as environment. These factors have been variously called as environmental factors or ecological factors or simply factors. These factors may be biotic (living) as well as abiotic (non-living). The place where an organism lives is called habitat which presents a particular set of environmental conditions- the environmental complex. According of Oosting (1948) the environment is a complex of variable factors or causes. This includes substances (soil, water), conditions (temperature, light) and forces (wind, gravity), organisms (plants, animals), time. Life does not occur in a vacuum. Every living organism is surrounded by materials and forces which constitutes its environment. From this the organism derives its needs. The early growth of environmental knowledge id intimately related with evolutionary and cultural development of man. Early man was preagricultural, hunter and food gatherer. He survived in a rich and competitive biotic community and his relationship to his community was continually intimate. The prehistoric man used environmental information in hunting, fishing, traping animals, locating and gathering edible vegetation. An increased knowledge of the importance of environmental conditions led to religious rituals, myths, worship of weather gods etc. The establishment of agricultural cultivation increased the need to learn about practical knowledge of environment, domestication of plants and animals which altered the entire pattern of human existence. Environmental Science: Scope and importance The science of Environment studies is a multi-disciplinary science as it comprises various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical science, life science, agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in the environment. It studies of the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of physical a biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of from human activity upon these. 2  ABP 211 (Environmental Studies and Disaster Management) Literary environment means the surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions etc. This involves three questions: 1. What is Surrounded The answer to this question is living objects in general and man in particular. 2. By what Surrounded The physical attributes are the answer to this question, which become environment. In fact, the concern of all education is the environment of man. However, man cannot exist or be understood in isolation from the other forms of life and from plant life. Hence, environment refers to the sum total of condition, which surround point in space and time. The scope of the term Environment has been changing and widening by the passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only physical aspects of the planted earth' land, air and water as biological communities. As the time passed on man extended his environment through his social, economic and political functions. 3. Where Surrounded The answer to this question. It is in nature that physical component of the plant earth, viz land, air, water etc., support and affect life in the biosphere. According to a Goudie environment is the representative of physical components of the earth where in man is an important factor affecting the environment. Scope of Environment: The environment consists of four segments as under: 1. Atmosphere: The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding the earth: (a) It sustains life on the earth. (b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space. (c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun. (d) It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolate waves below about 300 nm. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases. 2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reserviour, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water. (i) Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans, (ii) About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers. (iii)Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used for human consumption and other uses. 3  ABP 211 (Environmental Studies and Disaster Management) 3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water. 4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Element of Environment Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural elements inter-related in various ways, individually as well as collectively. These elements may be explained as under: (1) Physical elements Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies, climate soils, rocks and minerals. They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its opportunities as well as limitations. (2) Biological elements Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men constitute the biosphere. (3) Cultural elements Cultural elements such as economic, social and political elements are essentially manmade features, which make cultural milieu. Importance of environmental studies Importance of Environment Studies: The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation of our indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment. At present a great number of environment issues, have grown in size and complexity day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth. We study about these issues besides and effective suggestions in the Environment Studies. Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons: 1. Environment Issues Being of International Importance It has been well recognised that environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation. 2. Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development Development, in its wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed world. The North, to cleanse their own environment has, fact fully, managed to move ‘dirty’ factories of South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither practicable nor desirable, even if developing world follows that. 4  ABP 211 (Environmental Studies and Disaster Management) 3. Explosively Increase in Pollution World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planted lives in India. Evidently with 16 per cent of the world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural experts have recognized soils health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure. 4. Need for An Alternative Solution It is essential, specially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as under: (1) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally sound and sustainable development. (2) A goal common to all citizens of our earth. (3) A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world. 5. Need To Save Humanity From Extinction It is incumbent upon us to save the humanity from exinction. Consequent to our activities constricting the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development. 6. Need For Wise Planning of Development Our survival and sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product have all to by synchronised with the ecological cycles in any plan of development our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and development. 7. Misra’s Report Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under: (i) Holism (ii) Ecosystem (iii) Succession (iv) Conversation. Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which interacting units of ecology are discussed, are as under: Individual