1. Our Island, Earth
Chapter 1
Section 1.1

2. What is Environmental Science?
Defined as the study of how humans interact with the environment
Our environment is a complex web of relationships that connects us with the world.
We (as well as other living things) rely on the Earth for everything we need for survival (food, water, shelter) and cannot survive in an unhealthy environment.

3. Goals of Environmental Science
Major goal= to understand and solve environmental problems
Two (2) Main types of interactions studied by scientists:
a. how humans use natural resources like water and plants
b. how human actions alter (change) the environment
Involves many fields of science study

4. Fields of Study
Called an “interdisciplinary” science--- this means it involves many different fields of study
Ecology- study of how living things interact with one another and the nonliving environment
Many sciences contribute to environmental science:
*Biology
*Earth Science
*Physics
*Chemistry
*Social science

5. What’s the Difference?
Environmental Science
Environmentalism
Pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it
Scientists maintain an objective approach and avoid bias (personal preference) whenever possible
Social movement
Based upon bias and preference
Includes organizations like PETA and Greenpeace

7. Population Up, Resources Down
As the human population increases, so does the consumption (usage) of natural resources
Human Population Growth- human population has grown exponentially placing a lot of pressure on the Earth; it’s the cause of many of the other environmental problems
a. Almost 7 billion people on the planet
b. Over 200,000 humans are added per day
Resource Depletion- a resource is any natural material used by an organism

8. What’s the Difference?
Renewable Resource
Nonrenewable Resource
A resource that forms at a much slower rate than the rate at which it is consumed
Examples include coal, oil, and gas
A resource that can be replaced over short periods of time
Examples include water, soil, trees, solar energy

9. “The Tragedy of the Commons”
An essay written by an ecologist named Garrett Hardin
He argued that the main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society
Used the example of the commons- areas of shared land that belonged to a whole village
Point of essay= someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource

10. If no one takes responsibility, the resource can be overused and become depleted
Earth’s natural resources are today’s “modern commons”
The needs of the many out weigh the needs of a few.

11. Developed & Developing Countries
The unequal distribution of wealth and resources influences the environmental problems faced by a society.
Developed Nation: a nation that has higher average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies and stronger social support systems.
Developing Nation: a nation that has lower average incomes, simple & agricultural-based economies, and rapid population growth

12. Developed Countries include USA, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Scotland, Germany, Japan
Developing Countries include USSR, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Peru, Chile, Argentina
Least Developing Countries include the Sudan, the Congo, Niger and many other parts of Africa

13. Sustainability It is the main goal of environmental science.
Defined as the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely
Currently, developed nations are using resources faster than they can be replaced
If all parts of society (individuals, industry, and government) cooperate, sustainability is achievable.

14. Ecological Footprint
A way to express the differences in consumption between nations
Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country
Estimates the land used for crops, grazing, forest products, and housing
Estimates water consumption and the ocean area needed to harvest seafood
Also estimates the forest area needed to absorb pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels

16. Our Environment Through Time
Hunter –Gatherers:
a) obtained food by collecting plants and by hunting wild animals or scavenging their remains
b) People moved from place to place (migrated)
c) set fires to burn prairies & prevented the growth of trees.
d) helped spread plants to areas where they did not originally grow

17. Agricultural Revolution:
a) collected the seeds of plants and grew them
b) domesticated animals
c) human population boom
d) forest habitats were destroyed to create farmland

18. Industrial Revolution:
a) involved a shift in energy sources from animal muscle to running water, coal, and oil
b) large scale production of food; quality of life improved
c) urban cities grew and people relocated to them
d) large amounts of pollution as a result
e) habitat destruction continued