Intro to Environmental Science Ch. 1 and 2

I.What is Environmental Science ES? A.study of the interaction be humans & the env. B.Env includes 1.Abiotic – climate, air, water, soil, landforms, etc 2.Biotic – other living organisms and relationships difference betabiotic & biotic?

C.complex & interdisciplinary, fr multiple fields of study:

II.Key Themes of ES A.Humans & nature intimately connected 1.Success for 1 involves success for the other 2.Depend upon the environment for our existence and economies

B.Humans alter natural env 1.Convert land fr natural state into urban, suburban, & agricultural areas 2.Change chem of air, water & soil 3.global impacts – Gaia hypothesis

C.Human pop growth 1. more than doubled last 40 years - over 7 bill ppl alive today 2. competition for limited resources increases - famine, war, disease, & env damage 3. THE underlying env issue

D.Carrying Capacity & Sustainability 1.Max ppl Earth can support? 2.Currently using resources faster than they can be replenished (~1980) 3.“Tragedy of the Commons” – by Garrett Hardin (1968) 4.develop sustainability: a.Scientific – resources & ecosystems b.Economic – growth & development 5.Ques: balance economic growth with resource use and ecosystem preservation, so that future generations are not negatively affected?

E.Science & Values 1.Need both solve environmental problems 2.Knowing scientific data and understanding its implications 3.Justifications for valuing the env: a. Utilitarian – survival and economic b. Ecological – individual species and systems c. Aesthetic d. Recreational e. Inspirational f. Creative g. Moral h. Cultural

III.Thinking Critically about the Env A.fact vs. belief B.The scientific method 1.Make observations & develop ques 2.Gather background info 3.Form a testable hypothesis 4.Design a controlled experiment to test the hypothesis (3 rules): a. control b.Test only ONE variable c.largest sample size poss

 Hypothesis: Burning will increase frequency of prairie wildflowers. Which is the control group?

5.Collect and record data a.Qualitative vs. quantitative b.Organize data in tables 6.Analyze and interpret data a.Graphically – manipulated and responding variables 7.Draw conclusions a.Determine whether the results support or reject the hypothesis b.Error analysis – uncertainties due to experimental errors 8.Repeat experiment and disseminate findings

 The Process of Science Problem recognition or question Hypothesis development Experimentation Analysis Share knowledge Make predictions Hypothesis supported? YES NO Other scientists New knowledge

C.Distinguish science from pseudoscience 1.Scientific theory - hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers, and is widely accepted by the scientific community 2.Pseudoscience - untestable, lacks empirical evidence, or based on faulty reasoning

D.Challenges and Limitations of ES 1.Complex interactions of natural and human- dominated systems 2.No “control planet” to compare to Earth 3.Virtually every part of the planet has been altered by humans (e.g. lead in the Greenland ice sheet) 4.Subjectivity – “Paper or plastic?”

E.Addressing Environmental Issues Scientific assessment Risk analysis Public education and involvement Political action Evaluation

 Case Study: Lake Washington Scientific assessment Risk analysis Public education and involvement Political action Evaluation