Environmental Science Chapter 1 Notes 1

Section 1: Science and the Environment 2

Environmental Science: Is a interdisciplinary field of ______ that draws from many sciences (as well as other fields) Ex. ______, chemistry, ecology, geology, earth science, _________ Is considered an ______ science. Focuses on three main areas:  conservation and ______ of natural resources  environmental education and _________  environmental research 3

Biodiversity : Renewable Resource : The ______ and variety of species that live in the area. Earth has been home to millions of species. Yet only a fraction of those species are alive today. Biodegradable: Are_______ that can be broken down by natural processes. Ex: food waste Non-degradable: pollutants that cannot be broken down by natural processes. Ex: ________, lead, mercury _______ Extinction : Large scale extinction (some natural and some man made) 4 A resource that can be ________ relatively quickly by natural processes. ex. Fresh water, air soil, ______, crops Nonrenewable Resource : A resource that forms at a much slower rate than it is consumed

Agriculture: Agriculture Revolution: The practice of ______, breeding, and caring for plants and animals that are used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, etc. Dramatic changes that impacted human _______ and their environment when man began practicing agriculture more than 10, 000 years ago. 5 Closed System : Earth has been compared to a “_______” traveling through space, unable to dispose of waste or take on new supplies as it travels. The only thing that enters Earth’s atmosphere in large amounts is energy from the sun. The only thing that leaves is _______.

Species Extinction Three popular ________ as to how and why the megafauna (extremely large animals) ceased to exist in North America:  The blitzkreig (_______) : they were over hunted  Rapid climate shifts associated with the last ice age  ________ (similar to influenza or rabies) was introduced with the arrival of humans 6

Hunter-Gathers People who obtain food by collecting _______ and by hunting wild animals / scavenging their remains Usually migrated from place to place Still some remain in _______ rain forest Cleared grassland by setting fires 7

Which of the following was not caused by Hunter-Gatherers? A) Clearing of land B) Introduction of non-native species C) Smog and industrial waste D) Extinction of plants and animals 8

Impacts made by the hunter-gatherers Changed the landscape by moving ______. Skeletal remains of hunter-gatherers from as many as 20, 000 years ago show signs that these humans were responsible for the ________ of their environment and even suffered deformities as a result. 9

Agricultural Revolution Caused human population ______, habitat loss, soil erosion, domestication of plants and animals Changed the food we eat Grasslands, forest, and wetlands were replaced with farmland (**habitats were destroyed) Caused ______, water shortage, infertile soil 10

Industrial Revolution Few restrictions were placed on ____ pollution during I.R. (burning of fossil fuels became extensive – leading to major pollution) Humans and animals had powered tools for almost 10, 000 years (prior to I.R.) now machines do. Greatly increased the efficiency of agriculture, industry, and transportation ______ areas grew –people moved from farms 11

Main Environmental Issues Resource depletion Pollution Loss of biodiversity 12

Section 2: The Environment and Society 13

“The Tragedy of the Commons” Written by Garrett _______ (in 1968) Influential essay Described the relationship between the short-term interest of the individual and the long-term interest of _______ Overall point is that someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource “If I don’t use this resource, someone else will.” 14

Earth’s Modern Commons are our “Natural Resources” Anything within the “Biosphere” World’s Oceans / Waterways ; Air ; Migrating Animals ; Forest ; Fossil Fuels / Nuclear Materials 15

Economics and the Environment Supply and Demand: the greater the _____ for a limited supply of something, the ______ it’s worth. 16

Economics and the Environment Continued Cost benefit analysis: balances the cost of the action against the _______ one expects from it. The cost of environmental regulations are often passed on to the __________. “The cost to clean up after an oil spill is added to the price of gas” Risk Assessment: a tool to help create cost-effective ways to ________ our health and the environment. 17

Developed v’s Developing Countries Developed Country: have ______ average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies, stronger support systems. Include US, _______, Japan, and the countries of Western Europe Developing Countries: _____ average incomes, simple and agricultural-based economies, and rapid population growth. Ex: Ethiopia, _______ 18

Population and Consumption Environmental problems in _______ countries tend to be related to consumption. The major environmental problems in ________ countries are related to population _________. 19

Ecological Footprint Shows the productive area of Earth needed to _____ one person in a particular country. It estimates the land used for _____, grazing, forest products, and housing. It also estimates the ocean area used to harvest ______ and the forest are needed to absorb the air pollution. 20

A Sustainable World _________: the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely. Is a primary ___ of environmentalist. 21