1. 1 An Introduction to Environmental Science CHAPTER

2. Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth Like all species on Earth, humans rely on a healthy, functioning planet for air, water, food, and shelter.

3. What Is Environmental Science? The study of our planet’s natural systems and how humans and the environment affect one another The environment includes all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact. Understanding the interactions between humans and the environment is the first step to solving environmental problems. The study of our planet’s natural systems and how humans and the environment affect one another The environment includes all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact. Understanding the interactions between humans and the environment is the first step to solving environmental problems. Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth National Marine Fisheries Service scientists studying whether commercial boats are harming endangered killer whales

4. Environmental Science Is a Study of Connections in Nature (1) Environment: Everything around us “The environment is everything that isn’t me.“ Environmental science: interdisciplinary science connecting information and ideas from Natural sciences: ecology, biology, geology, chemistry… Social sciences: geography, politics, economics Humanities: ethics, philosophy Environment: Everything around us “The environment is everything that isn’t me.“ Environmental science: interdisciplinary science connecting information and ideas from Natural sciences: ecology, biology, geology, chemistry… Social sciences: geography, politics, economics Humanities: ethics, philosophy

5. Environmental Science Is a Study of Connections in Nature (2) How nature works How the environment affects us How we affect the environment How to deal with environmental problems How to live more sustainably How nature works How the environment affects us How we affect the environment How to deal with environmental problems How to live more sustainably

6. Environmental Science vs. Environmentalism Environmental Science: Objective, unbiased pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it Environmentalism: Social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth Environmentalists protesting the use of nuclear power

7. Nature’s Survival Strategies Follow Three Principles of Sustainability 1.Reliance on solar energy The sun provides warmth and fuels photosynthesis 2.Biodiversity Astounding variety and adaptability of natural systems and species 3.Chemical cycling Circulation of chemicals from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment Also called nutrient cycling 1.Reliance on solar energy The sun provides warmth and fuels photosynthesis 2.Biodiversity Astounding variety and adaptability of natural systems and species 3.Chemical cycling Circulation of chemicals from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment Also called nutrient cycling

8. Solar Energy Chemical CyclingBiodiversity Fig. 1-3, p. 8

9. Fig. 1-5, p. 9 ECONOMICS Full-cost pricing POLITICS Win-win results ETHICS Responsibility to future generations

10. Fig. 1-5, p. 10 Organic matter in animals Dead organic matter Organic matter in plants Decomposition Inorganic matter in soil

11. Natural Resources Natural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature that humans need to survive. Renewable resources: Naturally replenished over short periods Nonrenewable resources: Naturally formed more slowly than we use them. Renewable resources can become nonrenewable if used faster than they are replenished. Natural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature that humans need to survive. Renewable resources: Naturally replenished over short periods Nonrenewable resources: Naturally formed more slowly than we use them. Renewable resources can become nonrenewable if used faster than they are replenished. Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth

12. Some Sources Are Renewable and Some Are Not (1) Resource Anything we obtain from the environment to meet our needs Some directly available for use: sunlight Some not directly available for use: petroleum Perpetual resource Solar energy Resource Anything we obtain from the environment to meet our needs Some directly available for use: sunlight Some not directly available for use: petroleum Perpetual resource Solar energy

13. Some Sources Are Renewable and Some Are Not (2) Renewable resource Several days to several hundred years to renew E.g., forests, grasslands, fresh air, fertile soil Sustainable yield Highest rate at which we can use a renewable resource without reducing available supply

14. Some Sources Are Renewable and Some Are Not (3) Nonrenewable resources Energy resources Metallic mineral resources Nonmetallic mineral resources Reuse Recycle Nonrenewable resources Energy resources Metallic mineral resources Nonmetallic mineral resources Reuse Recycle

15. Sustainability Has Certain Key Components Natural capital: supported by solar capital Natural resources: useful materials and energy in nature Natural services: important nature processes such as renewal of air, water, and soil Humans degrade natural capital Scientific solutions needed for environmental sustainability

16. Natural Capital Solar energy Air Air purification Climate control UV protection (ozone layer) Life (biodiversity) Water Population control Pest control Waste treatment Nonrenewable minerals (iron, sand) Soil Land Soil renewal Food production Natural gas Nutrient recycling Nonrenewable energy (fossil fuels) Coal seam Natural resources Natural services Oil Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Natural Services Renewable energy (sun, wind, water flows) Water purification Fig. 1-4, p. 9

17. Human Population Growth Tremendous and rapid human population growth can be attributed to: The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 years ago; humans began living in villages, had longer life spans, and more surviving children. Industrial Revolution: Began in early 1700s; driven by fossil fuels and technological advances Tremendous and rapid human population growth can be attributed to: The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 years ago; humans began living in villages, had longer life spans, and more surviving children. Industrial Revolution: Began in early 1700s; driven by fossil fuels and technological advances Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth Did You Know? The human population increases by about 200,000 people every day.

18. Ecological Footprints Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth The total amount of land and water required to: provide the raw materials an individual or population consumes dispose of or recycle the waste an individual or population consumes Most informative when footprints are calculated using the same method Did You Know? By one calculation, the ecological footprint of the average American is 3.5 times the global average. Ecological footprints include land and water used to grow food at farms hundreds or thousands of miles away.

19. Total Ecological Footprint (million hectares) and Share of Global Biological Capacity (%) Per Capita Ecological Footprint (hectares per person) United States 2,810 (25%) United States 9.7 European Union2,160 (19%) European Union4.7 China 2,050 (18%) China 1.6 India 780 (7%)India 0.8 Japan 540 (5%) Japan 4.8 2.5 Unsustainable living 2.0 1.5 Projected footprint 1.0 Number of Earths 0.5 Ecological footprint Sustainable living 1961197019801990200020102020203020402050 Year 0 Fig. 1-13, p. 16

20. Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. ResourcesChapter menu The Ecological Footprint

21. Tragedy of the Commons Describes a situation in which resources, made available to everyone, are used unsustainably and eventually depleted Resource management, whether voluntary or mandated, can help avoid resource depletion. Describes a situation in which resources, made available to everyone, are used unsustainably and eventually depleted Resource management, whether voluntary or mandated, can help avoid resource depletion. Lesson 1.1 Our Island, Earth The “commons” refers to a public pastureland that was shared by villagers in 19th-century England.

22. Addressing environmental problems involves more than just understanding the science. Ethics: Study of behavior (good and bad, right and wrong), moral principles, and values Culture: Ensemble of knowledge, beliefs, values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people Worldview: Perception of the world and a person’s place in it Addressing environmental problems involves more than just understanding the science. Ethics: Study of behavior (good and bad, right and wrong), moral principles, and values Culture: Ensemble of knowledge, beliefs, values, and learned ways of life shared by a group of people Worldview: Perception of the world and a person’s place in it Building on Environmental Science Lesson 1.3 The Community of Science 40,000 buffalo hides, 1872 Ducks killed by an oil spill

23. Environmental ethics is the application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism: Humans and human welfare most important Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual Environmental ethics is the application of ethical standards to the relationship between humans and the environment. Anthropocentrism: Humans and human welfare most important Biocentrism: All living things have value; some may be more important than others Ecocentrism: Well-being of a species or community more important than that of an individual Environmental Ethics Lesson 1.3 The Community of Science

24. Environmental Justice The environmental justice movement: Recognizes that quality of life is connected to environmental quality Promotes fair and equitable treatment of all people regarding environmental policy and practice The environmental justice movement: Recognizes that quality of life is connected to environmental quality Promotes fair and equitable treatment of all people regarding environmental policy and practice Lesson 1.3 The Community of Science