1. Subject : Environmental Science Subject Code : EV20001 L-T-P: 2-0-0Credit: 2 Prof. Sudha Goel Civil Engineering Prof. Ashok K. Gupta Civil Engineering Prof. M. D. Behera CORAL Prof. A. Chakraborty CORAL

2. Syllabus Ecology Water Pollution Water and Wastewater Treatment Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Air Pollution Soil Pollution Noise Pollution Waste Minimization and Cleaner Production Environmental Impact Assessment

3. Environmental science Definition: Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences (including physics, chemistry, biology, soil science, geology, and geography) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems.

4. Environmental science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. Related areas of study include environmental studies and environmental engineering. Environmental study incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. Environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality.

5. The Nature of Science Science is a process used to solve problems or develop an understanding of nature that involves testing possible answers. The scientific method is a way of gaining information (facts) about the world by forming possible solutions to questions, followed by rigorous testing to determine if the proposed solutions are valid.

6. Basic Assumptions in Science Presumptions Specific causes exist for observed events These causes can be identified General rules or patterns can be used to describe observations Repeated events probably have the same cause Perceptions are not individualistic Fundamental rules of nature are universal

7. Elements of the Scientific Method Scientists distinguish between situations that are merely correlated (happen together) and those that are correlated and show cause-and-effect relationships The scientific method requires a systematic search for information and continual evaluation to determine if previous ideas are still supported Scientific ideas undergo constant reevaluation, criticism, and modification

8. Elements of the Scientific Method Observation occurs when we use our senses or extensions of our senses to record an event Scientists refer to observations as careful, thoughtful recognitions of events Observations often lead to additional questions about the observations The way questions are asked will determine how one goes about answering them Exploring other sources of knowledge is the next step to gain more information

9. Elements of the Scientific Method A hypothesis is a testable statement that provides a possible answer to a question, or an explanation for an observation. A good hypothesis must be logical, account for all relevant information currently available, allow prediction of related future events, and be testable. – Given a choice, the simplest hypothesis with the fewest assumptions is the most desirable.

10. Elements of the Scientific Method An experiment is a re-creation of an event that enables an investigator to support or disprove a hypothesis A controlled experiment divides the experiment into two groups (experimental and control) that differ by only one variable Reproducibility is important to the scientific method. A good experiment must be able to be repeated by independent investigators to ensure a lack of bias

11. Natural Environment The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is all living and non-living things that occur naturally on Earth or some part of it (e.g. the natural environment in a country) This includes complete ecological units that function as natural systems without massive human intervention, including all vegetation, animals, microorganisms, rocks, atmosphere and natural phenomena that occur within their boundaries And it includes universal natural resources and physical phenomena that lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air, water, and climate, as well as energy, radiation, electric charge, and magnetism, not originating from human activity

12. Environmental Scientist Environmental scientists work on subjects like ;  understanding of earth processes  evaluating alternative energy systems  pollution control and mitigation  natural resource management  the effects of global climate change Environmental issues almost always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space and time relationships as well as quantitative analysis.

13. How Environmental Science came alive ? Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by (a)the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems (b) the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation and (c) the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Rachael Carson's landmark environmental book Silent Spring along with major environmental issues becoming very public, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland, Ohio, "catching fire" (also in 1969), and Gulf Oil Spill 2010 helped increase the visibility of environmental issues and create this new field of study.

14. Components of EVS Ecology Atmospheric Science Environmental Chemistry Geosciences

15. Ecology An interdisciplinary analysis of an ecological system which is being impacted by one or more stressors might include several related environmental science fields. For example, one might examine an estuarine setting where a proposed industrial development could impact certain species by water and air pollution. For this study,  biologists would describe the flora and fauna  chemists would analyze the transport of water pollutants to the marsh  physicists would calculate air pollution emissions   geologists would assist in understanding the marsh soils and bay mud

16. Atmospheric Sciences It focuses on the Earth's atmosphere, with an emphasis upon its interrelation to other systems. Atmospheric sciences can include studies of meteorology, greenhouse gas phenomena, atmospheric dispersion modeling of airborne contaminants, sound propagation phenomena related to noise pollution, and even light pollution. Taking the example of the global warming phenomena,  physicists create computer models of atmospheric circulation and infra-red radiation transmission  chemists examine the inventory of atmospheric chemicals and their reactions  biologists analyze the plant and animal contributions to carbon dioxide fluxes  meteorologists and oceanographers add additional breadth in understanding the atmospheric and ocean dynamics.

17. Environmental Chemistry It is the study of chemical alterations in the environment. Principal areas of study include soil contamination and water pollution. The topics of analysis include chemical degradation in the environment, multi-phase transport of chemicals (for example, evaporation of a solvent containing lake to yield solvent as an air pollutant), and chemical effects upon biota. As an example study, consider the case of a leaking solvent tank which has entered the habitat soil of an endangered species of amphibian. As a method to resolve or understand the extent of soil contamination and subsurface transport of solvent,  Computer specialist with mathematics and physics background will help to develop or implement a computer model  Chemists would then characterize the molecular bonding of the solvent to the specific soil type  biologists would study the impacts upon soil arthropods, plants, and ultimately pond-dwelling organisms that are the food of the endangered amphibian

18. Geosciences It includes,  Environmental geology  Environmental soil science  Volcanic phenomena and evolution of the Earth's crust  Hydrology  Oceanography As an example study of soils erosion,  Soil scientists will do the calculations of surface runoff  Fluvial geo-morphologists would assist in examining sediment transport in overland flow  Physicists would contribute by assessing the changes in light transmission in the receiving waters  Biologists would analyze subsequent impacts to aquatic flora and fauna from increases in water turbidity

19. An Ecosystem Approach An ecosystem is a region in which the organisms and the physical environment form an interacting unit The task of an environmental scientist is to recognize and understand the natural interactions and changes taking place in the world, and to integrate these with the uses humans make of the natural world

20. The study of environmental science is so interesting, frustrating, and challenging because of the interrelatedness among seeming unrelated factors. “ When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” John Muir My First Summer in the Sierra, 1911

21. Climate System

22. About Climate System

23. Nature of the Climate System The climate system is a compositing of five major interactive adjoint components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere with the oceans, the cryosphere, the lithosphere, and the biosphere.

24. The atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere act as cascading system linked by complex physical processes involving fluxes of energy, momentum, and matter across the boundaries and generating numerous feedback mechanisms. The components of the climatic system are heterogeneous thermo-hydrodynamical systems, which can be characterized by their chemical composition and their thermodynamic and mechanical states. The thermodynamic states are specified, in general, by certain intensive variables (e.g., temperature, pressure, specific humidity, specific energy, density and salinity) whereas the mechanical state is defined by other intensives variables that characterize the motions (e.g., forces and velocities).

25. Thermodynamic System

26. Feedback System

30. Consequences for Human Well- being The loss of services derived from ecosystems is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium. Development Goals to reduce poverty, hunger, and disease.

31. Unprecedented Change Humans have made unprecedented changes to ecosystems in recent decades to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, fiber, and energy These changes have helped to improve the lives of billions, but at the same time they weakened nature’s ability to deliver other key services such as purification of air and water, protection from disasters, and the provision of medicines The pressures on ecosystems will increase globally in coming decades unless human attitudes MEA and actions change

32. Key Problems Among the outstanding problems identified by this assessment are the dire state of many of the world’s fish stocks; the intense vulnerability of the 2 billion people living in dry regions to the loss of ecosystem services, including water supply; and the growing threat to ecosystems from climate change and nutrient pollution.

37. Environmental Ethics  Ethics is one branch of philosophy; it seeks to define what is right and what is wrong.  Ethics can help us understand what actions are wrong and why they are wrong.  Not all cultures share the same ethical commitments. Cultural relativism in ethics acknowledges these differences exist.  Despite the presence of some differences, there are many cases in which ethical commitments can and should be globally agreed upon.

38. Ethics and Laws Ideally, the laws of a nation or community should match the ethical commitments of those living there In the case of environmental issues, care needs to be taken over when it is appropriate to legislate something and when action should be left to the individual’s sense of right and wrong A strong personal ethical commitment can help guide behavior in the absence of supporting laws

39. Conflicting Ethical Positions Sometimes an individual’s ethical commitments can conflict with each other. A mayor might have an ethical commitment to preserving land in a city but also have an ethical commitment to bringing in jobs associated with construction of a new factory. In many cases, what is good for the environment is also good for people. While forest protection may reduce logging jobs, a healthier forest might lead to new jobs in recreation, fisheries, and tourism.

40. Three Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics Anthropocentrism (human-centered) This view holds that all environmental responsibility is derived from human interests. – Assumes that only humans are morally significant. – Assumes nature is an instrument for human manipulation. Biocentrism (life-centered) All life forms have an inherent right to exist. Ecocentrism This view maintains that the environment deserves direct moral consideration, not consideration derived from human or animal interests.

41. Three Philosophical Approaches to Environmental Ethics “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise….We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” —Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac, 1949

42. Environmental Attitudes Because ethical commitments pull in different directions at different times, it is often easier to talk in terms of environmental attitudes or approaches. The three most common attitudes/approaches are: Development approach Preservation approach Conservation approach

43. Environmental Attitudes Development, preservation, and conservation are different attitudes toward nature. These attitudes reflect a person’s ethical commitments.

44. Development This approach is the most anthropocentric. It assumes the human race is, and should be, master of nature. It assumes that the Earth and its resources exist solely for our benefit and pleasure. This approach is reinforced by the capitalist work ethic. This approach thinks highly of human creativity and holds that continual economic growth is a moral ideal for society.

45. Preservation This approach is the most ecocentric. It holds that nature has intrinsic value apart from human uses. – Preservationists such as John Muir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman articulated their positions differently, but all viewed nature as a refuge from economic activity, not as a resource for it. Some preservationists wish to keep large parts of nature intact for aesthetic or recreational reasons (anthropocentric principles).

46. Conservation This approach finds a balance between unrestrained development and preservationism. Conservationism promotes human well- being but considers a wider range of long- term human goods in its decisions about environmental management. Many of the ideas in conservationism have been incorporated into an approach known as sustainable development.

47. Sustainable Development

48. Sustainable Development is often defined as: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” World Commission on Economic Development. (1987). Our Common Future. England: Oxford University Press.

49. Environmental Justice In 1998, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defined environmental justice as fair treatment, meaning: “No group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.” Environmental justice is closely related to civil rights.

50. Green Business Concepts It makes little sense to preserve the environment if preservation causes economic collapse. Nor does it make sense to maintain industrial productivity at the cost of breathable air, clean water, wildlife, parks, and wilderness. Natural capitalism is the idea that businesses can both expand their profits and take good care of the environment. The 3M Company is estimated to have saved up to $500 million over the last 20 years through its Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program.

51. Green Business Concepts Industrial ecology links industrial production and environmental quality. It models industrial production and biological production, forcing industry to account for where waste is going. In nature, nothing is wasted or discarded; all materials ultimately get reused. A pollutant is a resource out of place. Good environmental practices are good economics.

52. References Environmental Science by J. Miller Physics of Climate by Peixoto and Oort Web sources.