ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENE - Unit # 1



ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENE - Unit # 1

I. What is environmental science

The study of mans interaction with their environment. The ecology of

mankind.

Natural Sciences Social Sciences

Biology Economics

Geology Politics

Chemistry Ethics

Physics Philosophy

Anthropology Cultural studies

Ecology

II. Why should we care?

Earth as source of almost all raw materials of life.

Natural Capital – all of the natural materials and processes which support life on

Earth

* Finite

* Some renewable

* Some non-renewable

Two major categories

Natural resources Natural services

Water Air purification

Air Water purification

Soil Renewable Soil formation

Land Pollination

Renewable energy Nutrient cycling

Biodiversity Food production

Minerals Nonrenewable Climate control

Fuels Waste treatment

Perpetual – sun, wind, tide, river

Renewable – Time frames

Nonrenewable – fossil fuels, minerals

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III. Human population Growth

Current human population = 6,540,840,980 Aug. 30th 2006 –

U.S. Population = 299,603,462

US Census Pop. .Clock

Current Growth rate = about 79 Million per year – 1.2 %

2005 World Pop Data Sheet

1 billion was reached in 1802.

2 billion was reached 125 years later in 1927.

3 billion was reached 34 years later in 1961.

4 billion was reached 13 years later in 1974.

5 billion was reached 13 years later in 1987.

6 billion was reached 12 years later in 1999 WIKIPEDIA

Rule of 70 – Divide 70 by current growth rate to find doubling time

1.2% Start with $1000 20Y -1296 50Y-1816 58Y-1197 75Y-2446

Exponential Growth – population growth which forms a “J” shaped curve

• Growth continues faster and faster

• Population will reach maximum resource utilization

• Not sustainable

IV. What Natural Capital and Human Population Growth means to us?

- Resources are finite. Increase in population + increase in economic growth

will stress resources

What does man want?

* Food

* Potable Water

* Shelter

* Health care

* Work

* Education

* Safety

* Recreation

Economic Growth – increase in goods and services for use by humans

increase in the GDP of a nation

Economic Development – an “ Increase in lifestyle “

Why is this a problem?

Sustainability – the ability to use Earths natural capital without degrading

it.

* Allows for future generations to use resources

* Looks to stay within natural cycle times

* Differentiates between renewable and nonrenewable resources

* Looks to reduce use of nonrenewable resources

* Looks to recycle what is used

Carrying Capacity – the largest number of organisms of a given species

supported by the environment over time.

• Resources are finite

• Only time until overpopulation eats away at natural capital

Sustainable yield – Greatest rate of renewing renewable resources

V. Human population and resource allocation

The World’s human populations can be split into two main groups

Developed and Developing Nations

How do we measure?

GDP – Gross Domestic Product- the total amount of goods (materials)

and services produced by a nation.

Per Capita GDP – looks at GDP per person in that nation.

Developing Developed

81 % human Population 19% human population

1.5 % Pop. Growth Rate 0.1 Pop. Growth Rate

15 % Worlds GDP 85 % Worlds GDP

12% Worlds Resources used 88% Worlds Resources used

25% Pollution + waste 75% Pollution + waste

63/67 Life Expectancy 73/80 Life Expectancy

4,450 GNI PPP $ 26,320 GNI PPP $

893 Energy (2002 kg. oil per capita) 4,878 Energy (2002 kg. oil per capita)

CASE STUDIES – Ethiopia, India, USA

FACT SHEET

Concept of Affluenza

BALANCE ACTIVITY

Finite resources _________________ Human Population Growth

Increase in economic development

Other Increase environmental footprint

Organisms ? Environmental degradation

Natural Resources

Developed __________________ Developing

Economic Economic

Development Development

Affluenza

VI. Environmental Degradation

Reduction in environment due to exceeding a natural resources sustainable yield

Examples

- Erosion

- Deforestation

- Nutrient depletion

- Loss of biodiversity

- Groundwater depletion

- Pollution – A change in the environment which can harm humans or other living organisms

Pollution types

Natural – Pollution caused by natural events

Volcanic activity

Flooding – turbidity

Anthropogenic – Man made

Point source pollution – pollution which can be traced to specific site

- Effluent pipe from waste water treatment plant

- Smokestack from coal burning electrical power plant

* Easier to control

* Can be monitored and regulated

Non-point pollution source- unknown individual source of pollution

- pesticide / fertilizer runoff

- runoff from streets

* Difficult to control

* Cannot identify actual source

Output controls – attempting to reduce pollution after it has been created

- both point source and non-point sources

- recycle

- dilute

- detoxify

* Difficult – may be very low concentrations

* Expensive

* Continuous often move pollution around

* May lead to same levels of pollutants due to economic growth

Input Control – attempting to eliminate production of pollution before it occurs

- changing manufacturing procedures

- decreasing packaging

- using less harmful alternatives

* Long term solution

* Expensive at first but may be cheaper in long run

The five R’s

* Refuse – do not purchase materials that are high pollution causers

- relatively instantly reduces pollution

* less materials are generated

- eventually leads to increased input pollution reduction

* Assuming market forces change

* Replace – Find alternate sources for materials

- r134 vs old Freon refrigerants

* Reduce – Attempt to find ways to reduce initial pollutants

- reduced packaging

- efficient mechanisms for production

* Reuse – Use products for full life / find alternate uses for them

- slows stops input pollution

- reduced production of new products

* Recycle – Reforming materials

- reduces landfill input

- reduces destruction due to exploration for new raw materials

- reduces energy use

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