Environmental Studies Notes (CT University)

Course Name: Environmental studies Course Code: 24AGNSVAC01 Name of the Program/Semester: SOET/SOHPS/SMS By: Ms. Harmandeep Kaur Unit-1 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES  ENVIRONMENT: Introduction Derived from French word environmer means surrounding. It...

Course Name: Environmental studies Course Code: 24AGNSVAC01 Name of the Program/Semester: SOET/SOHPS/SMS By: Ms. Harmandeep Kaur Unit-1 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES  ENVIRONMENT: Introduction Derived from French word environmer means surrounding. It refers to aggregate of all conditions that affect the existence , growth and welfare of an organism. It is the sum total of all social, economical , biological , physical and chemical factors which constitute the surroundings of humans, who are both the creators and moulders of the environment. Environment literally means surrounding and everything that affect an organism during its lifetime is collectively known as its environment. It includes all the physical and biological surrounding and their interactions.  Types of Environment 1. Natural Environment Components such as air, water, soil, land, forest, wildlife, flora , fauna, etc. constitute the natural environment. This environment operates through self regulating mechanism and one change brought about by any component is counterbalanced by some other changes. This is further divided into lithosphere, hydro sphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Natural environment is never static some times changes may be negligible and some times it may be drastic. These changes are either beneficial or harmful to the living organisms.  2. Anthropogenic environment An anthropogenic environment includes components that have been introduced by human beings depending on their needs and requirements by the application of modern technology. Changes which influence the organic world and are introduced into nature by human activity. In reworking nature and adapting it to their own needs, people influence the lives of animals and plants by altering their habitats. The influence may be indirect or direct.  Further classification of Environment 1. Physical Environment: It includes radiation (light),temperature, humidity, rain, soil and other physical factors which directly affect the organism in a given area and determines the kind of existence of any kind of life on earth.For example solar energy is crucial for the plants in the preparation of food which in turn provide food to other living organisms. Similarly soil provides essential medium for the growth of plants. 2. Chemical Environment: It includes all the chemical components of earth which includes gases, water, inorganic elements and organic substances. Chemical environment is different for different group of organisms eg. Chemical environment for farm livestock includes fertilizers, defoliants, insect spray etc. For aquatic organism chemical environment means different gases, nutrients etc. dissolved in water. 3. Biological Environment It includes all life on earth. It covers all living organism on earth.These can be bacteria, viruses, algae, herbs etc. Biological environment also describes the influence of factors such as warmth, moisture and humidity on plants, and animals.  Segments of Environment Natural environment on the earth is divided into four realms: 1. Lithosphere : Lithosphere means the mantle of rocks constituting the earth's crust. Crust includes the rocks, minerals and soil.  2. Atmosphere: It is the envelop of gases surrounding the earth. The gaseous envelope surrounding the earth is composed of an entire mass of air containing N2, O2, H2O, CO2 and inert gases is known as atmosphere. It absorbs most of the harmful radiations. It maintains the heat balance of the earth. Different cycles those are present in the atmosphere in the form of water cycle, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen cycle etc. related to the movement of matter been an organism and its environment. Atmosphere can be divided into several layers on the basic of temperature variations. They are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. 3. Hydrosphere: It includes all the surface and ground water resources such as oceans, seas, rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, glaciers, polar ice caps, ground water and water locked in rock and crevices and minerals laying deep below the earth's crust. 97 per cent of the earth's water resources is locked up in the oceans.  4. Biosphere: The portion of the earth where an organism lives is called biosphere. It penetrates into and is dependent on the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. This denotes the relelationship of living organism and their interactions with the environment. The biosphere is a relatively thin and incomplete envelope covering most of the world.  Scope of Environmental Studies Environmental Studies is a multidisciplinary subject that includes all other disciplines such as humanities, commerce, climatology, geography and other disciplines.  Scope of Environment Studies Eco system and functions (linking biotic and abiotic components) Natural Resources Conservation Environmental Pollution control Environmental management (CPCB and other consultants) Research and Development Social Development (NGO’s and their contribution) Environmentalists Food Chain maintenance  Importance of Environmental Studies 1. The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation of our indiscriminate release of pollution. 2. Study of structure and function of environment is essential for the sustainable development of all living organisms. 3. To overcome an environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity. 4. To control Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems and Agriculture etc. 5. To study the physical , biological, chemical and social processes that forms the basis of these problems. Thank You….