Environmental Science PowerPoint PDF

Environmen tal Science MST by: Edward Dua "What environmental issue concerns you the most, and why?"  Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1.Define environmental science and its multidisciplinary nature....

Environmen tal Science MST by: Edward Dua "What environmental issue concerns you the most, and why?"  Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1.Define environmental science and its multidisciplinary nature. 2.Identify the major environmental challenges globally and locally. 3.Discuss the importance of environmental awareness and sustainable actions. 3 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Environmental science Environmental science is the study of the interactions between physical, chemical and biological components of the Earth's natural environment. These components include energy, agriculture, water and air. Environmental science closely examines the human impact on the environment 4 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Environmental Science is inherently interdisciplinary because it integrates principles and methods from multiple scientific disciplines to address complex environmental issues 1. Biology Focuses on the study of living organisms and ecosystems. Examines biodiversity, ecological relationships, and the impact of human activities on flora and fauna. Examples: Studying the effects of deforestation on wildlife, the role of microbes in bioremediation, and the impact of invasive species on ecosystems. 2. Geology Investigates Earth's physical structure, processes, and history. Helps in understanding natural resource availability (e.g., minerals, fossil fuels) and geohazards like earthquakes and landslides. Examples: Assessing soil erosion, studying groundwater contamination, and understanding the geological impact of mining. 5 11/24/2024 Add a footer  3. Chemistry Explores the composition and behavior of matter in the environment. Analyzes chemical pollutants, their pathways, and effects on air, water, and soil. Examples: Monitoring air quality for harmful gases, studying the effects of pesticides in water bodies, and developing sustainable materials. 4. Social Sciences Investigates human interactions with the environment, policies, and societal impacts. Addresses economic, political, and cultural dimensions of environmental issues. Examples: Designing policies for sustainable development, 6 studying 11/24/2024 environmental justice, and analyzing the impact of climate Add a footer  Integrated Application By combining these disciplines, Environmental Science provides a comprehensive approach to solving environmental challenges. For example: Climate Change Mitigation: Requires biological understanding of ecosystems, geological knowledge of carbon storage, chemical analysis of greenhouse gases, and social sciences for policy-making and behavior change. Water Pollution Control: Involves biological studies on aquatic life, chemical testing of water quality, geological mapping of water sources, and social strategies to promote sustainable practices. 7 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Importance of Environmental Science 1. Understanding Human Impact on the Environment Explores human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and urbanization and their impact on natural ecosystems. Helps identify harmful practices and propose sustainable alternatives. 2. Promoting Sustainable Development Provides strategies to balance economic growth with environmental conservation. Encourages the use of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technologies to minimize resource depletion. 3. Conservation of Natural Resources Guides the management of essential resources like air, water, soil, and biodiversity. 8 11/24/2024 Add a footer  4. Addressing Climate Change Investigates causes and effects of global warming, extreme weather, and rising sea levels. Develops strategies for mitigation (e.g., reducing carbon emissions) and adaptation (e.g., building climate-resilient infrastructure). 5. Protecting Biodiversity Highlights the importance of conserving diverse species and ecosystems. Studies the consequences of species extinction and how it impacts ecological balance. 6. Enhancing Public Health Examines the links between environmental factors and health issues like air pollution, waterborne diseases, and chemical 9 exposures. 11/24/2024 Add a footer  7. Shaping Environmental Policies Informs decision-makers on issues such as waste management, energy use, and habitat protection. Contributes to creating regulations and treaties (e.g., the Paris Agreement on climate change). 8. Raising Awareness and Responsibility Educates individuals and communities about the importance of environmental stewardship. Encourages participation in conservation efforts and sustainable practices. 9. Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Analyzes natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Helps design systems and protocols for disaster preparedness and recovery. 10. Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving Combines biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences to tackle complex environmental challenges holistically. Encourages collaboration across scientific, governmental, and community 10 11/24/2024 Add a footer Ecosystems and Biodiversity  What is an Ecosystem? An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (biotic components) interacting with one another and with their non- living environment (abiotic components) within a specific area. These interactions create a balanced system where energy flows and matter cycles. 1. Biotic Factors: Plants, animals, microorganisms, and decomposers. Examples: Trees in a forest, fish in a pond. 2. Abiotic Factors: Sunlight, water, air, soil, temperature, and nutrients. Examples: Minerals in the soil, oxygen in the air. 12 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Types of Ecosystems: 1.Terrestrial Ecosystems (land-based): Forests, deserts, grasslands. 2.Aquatic Ecosystems (water-based): Freshwater (lakes, rivers) and marine (oceans, coral reefs). Importance of Ecosystems: Provide essential services like air purification, water filtration, and soil fertility. Support life through processes like pollination, decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Serve as habitats for diverse species, maintaining ecological balance. 13 11/24/2024 Add a footer  What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms on Earth, including genetic diversity within species, species diversity in communities, and ecosystem diversity across landscapes. Levels of Biodiversity: 1.Genetic Diversity: Variations in genes within a species. Example: Different breeds of dogs or varieties of rice. 2. Species Diversity: Variety of species within an ecosystem or globally. Example: Tigers, bees, oak trees, and fungi. 3. Ecosystem Diversity: Variety of ecosystems in a region or the planet. 14 11/24/2024 Example: Add a footer Rainforests, wetlands, and coral reefs.  Importance of Biodiversity: Ecological Balance: Ensures stability and resilience of ecosystems. Resource Provision: Supplies food, medicine, and raw materials. Cultural Value: Represents heritage, recreation, and inspiration. Adaptation and Survival: Genetic diversity helps species adapt to changing conditions. 15 11/24/2024 Add a footer Climate Science  Earth's Climate System Climate science is the study of Earth's climate system, its components, and the processes that influence it. It aims to understand past, present, and future climate patterns and their impact on ecosystems, human societies, and the planet. Climate Science is the study of Earth's climate system, including its components, processes, and the factors that influence changes over time. It plays a crucial role in understanding natural climate variability and human- induced changes, such as global warming. 17 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Climate vs. Weather Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions (e.g., daily temperature, rainfall). Climate: Long-term patterns and averages of weather over decades or centuries (e.g., tropical, temperate climates). 18 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Earth's Climate System: The climate system consists of five interconnected components: Atmosphere: Gases surrounding Earth, including greenhouse gases Hydrosphere: Water bodies (oceans, rivers, lakes) that store and transfer heat. Cryosphere: Ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice, which reflect sunlight and affect sea levels. Lithosphere: Land surfaces that influence heat absorption and reflectivity. Biosphere: Living organisms that interact with and influence the carbon and water cycles. 19 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Energy Balance Solar radiation drives the Earth's climate system. Energy balance is maintained by the interaction between incoming solar energy and outgoing terrestrial radiation. Disruptions in this balance, such as increased greenhouse gases, lead to climate changes. 20 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Global Climate Change Climate change refers to significant, long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other climate characteristics. Evidence of Climate Change: Rising Temperatures: Global average temperatures have increased by ~1.1°C since pre-industrial times. Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels: Glaciers are shrinking, and sea levels have risen due to thermal expansion and ice melt. Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, heatwaves, and floods. Ocean Acidification: Higher CO₂ levels make oceans more acidic, affecting marine life. 21 11/24/2024 Add a footer Types of Pollution and Their Impacts  1. Air Pollution Definition: Contamination of the atmosphere by harmful gases, particulates, and biological molecules. Sources: Fossil fuel combustion (vehicles, power plants). Industrial emissions. Deforestation and agricultural activities. Pollutants: Carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Impacts:Human Health: Respiratory issues (e.g., asthma, bronchitis), cardiovascular diseases, and premature deaths. Environment: Acid rain, smog formation, and climate change due to greenhouse gases. Ecosystems: Damage to plant life, reduced biodiversity, and altered ecosystems. 23 11/24/2024 Add a footer  2. Water Pollution Definition: Contamination of water bodies (rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater) by harmful substances. Sources: Industrial discharge and chemical runoff. Agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. Sewage and plastic waste. Pollutants: Heavy metals (mercury, lead), nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus), oils, and microplastics. Impacts: Human Health: Waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera, typhoid), toxic metal poisoning. Environment: Eutrophication leading to algal blooms, depletion of oxygen, and aquatic life death. 24 Ecosystems: 11/24/2024 Add a footer Destruction of habitats like coral reefs and freshwater  3. Soil Pollution Definition: Degradation of soil quality due to the presence of toxic substances. Sources: Improper waste disposal. Industrial and mining activities. Overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. Pollutants: Heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and synthetic chemicals. Impacts: Human Health: Exposure through food grown in contaminated soil can lead to health issues like cancer. Agriculture: Reduced fertility and productivity of land. Ecosystems: Disruption of soil organisms and loss of biodiversity. 25 11/24/2024 Add a footer  4. Noise Pollution Definition: Excessive or disruptive sound that negatively affects humans and wildlife. Sources: Transportation (vehicles, airplanes, trains). Industrial machinery and construction activities. Urbanization and loudspeakers. Impacts: Human Health: Stress, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and cardiovascular issues. Wildlife: Interference with communication, navigation, and breeding in animals (e.g., marine mammals). 26 11/24/2024 Add a footer  5. Light Pollution Definition: Excessive or misdirected artificial light. Sources: Urban lighting, billboards, and industrial areas. Vehicle headlights. Impacts: Human Health: Disruption of circadian rhythms, leading to sleep disorders. Environment: Disorientation of nocturnal animals, affecting their feeding and breeding. Astronomy: Interference with the visibility of celestial objects. 27 11/24/2024 Add a footer  6. Plastic Pollution Definition: Accumulation of plastic products in the environment. Sources: Single-use plastics, microplastics, and discarded packaging. Impacts: Human Health: Toxic chemicals from plastics entering the food chain. Environment: Ingestion and entanglement of wildlife. Ecosystems: Persistent pollution in land and marine ecosystems, taking decades or centuries to decompose. 28 11/24/2024 Add a footer  7. Radioactive Pollution Definition: Release of radioactive substances into the environment. Sources: Nuclear power plants, mining of radioactive materials, and improper disposal of nuclear waste. Impacts: Human Health: Cancer, genetic mutations, and radiation sickness. Environment: Long-term contamination of air, water, and soil. 29 11/24/2024 Add a footer  8. Thermal Pollution Definition: Increase in water temperature due to human activities. Sources: Discharge of heated water from power plants and industrial facilities. Impacts: Aquatic Life: Reduced oxygen levels, affecting fish and other organisms. Ecosystems: Disruption of thermal-sensitive species and habitats. 30 11/24/2024 Add a footer  Today, we've explored the key environmental challenges our planet faces, from climate change to pollution. While the issues are significant, each of us can make a difference through sustainable practices. I encourage you to think about how you can apply what we've learned to create a positive impact in your community and beyond. Remember, environmental science is not just a subject—it's a call to action. 31 11/24/2024 Add a footer