ENVIRONMENT

DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE

Environmental science is the study of nature and the facts about
environment. Basically environment can be defined as “all the social,
economic, physical & chemical factors that surrounds man”

(Or)

“All abiotic and biotic components around man-all living and nonliving
things surround man”.

Environment Components can be divided into biotic and abiotic components.

According to ancient man the environment was the Panchaboodhas I.e. air,
water, land, sky and energy. The human were disciples of nature. They were
able to protect themselves from harmful one and protect the others. But
according to modern man the environment is only air land and water.
Exploitation of various earth resources to satisfy the increasing needs of
human population has resulted in
1) Depletion of various resources of earth
2) Pollution.

Principles of environmental education:

. Examine the major environmental issues
. Discover the root cause
. Develop problem solving skills
. Promote co-operation in solving problems
. Emphasis active participation, prevention and solution to problems.

Scope of environmental science:

. Studying the interrelationship between the components of environment.
. Carrying out impact analysis and environment Audit.
. Preventing pollution from existing and new industries
. Stopping the use of biological and nuclear weapons
. Managing unpredictable disasters etc.

Public awareness:
Environmental Pollution or problems cannot be solved by mere laws. Public
participation is an important aspect which serves the environmental
Protection.

1. Public awareness of environmental is at infant stage

2. 30-40% of public of developing country are aware of environmental.
Problems but they do not bother about it.

3. Ignorance and incomplete knowledge has led to misconceptions

4. Development and improvement in std. of living has led to serious

environmental disasters

5. Debate on environmental Issues are treated as anti-developmental

Reasons for environmental Ignorance:

. Science, technology and economics failed to integrate the knowledge on

environmental Aspects in curriculum

. The decision makers do not process environmental Angle of decision

making

. Consideration of economic growth, poverty eradication has led to

environmental Degradation

. Only few developmental activities are made considering the environmental

Aspects.

Need For Public Awareness:

Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit.) and world summit
on sustainable development have highlighted the key issues of global
environmental concern. They have attracted the attention of people.

Any government at its own cannot achieve the goals of clear environment
until the public participate in action. Public participation is possible
only when the public is aware about the ecological and environmental
issues.

EX. Ban- the littering of polythene.

Methods to propagate environmental Awareness:

1. Among students through education – introducing environmental studies in

the curriculum.

2. Among public through mass media- environmental programs through TV,

radio etc.

3. Among decision makers, planners, leaders etc.

Public awareness is needed in the area

1. Study of natural resources-conservation and management
2. Ecology and biodiversity – conservation
3. Environmental Pollution and prevention
4. Social issues related to development and environment
5. Human population and environment.

Concept Of Ecosystem: Oikos – Home, logy – study

Living organisms cannot be isolated from their non-living environment

because the later provides materials and energy for the survival of the
farmer. An ecosystem is therefore defined as a natural functional
ecological unit comprising of living organisms and their non-living
environment that interact to form a stable self-supporting system .

Or

The study of organisms in their natural home interacting with their

surroundings.

Components of environment:

1. Abiotic or non-living components or physical components

2. Biotic or Living components
3. Energy components.

Abiotic components enter the body of living directly or indirectly take

part in metabolic activities and return to environment.

Abiotic components are as follows

1. Atmosphere –The cover of air that envelopes the earth is known as
atmosphere. Compostion – Nitrogen-78%, oxygen- 2%, other gases- 1%

2. Lithosphere or Interior of Earth – Solid Earth –Radius 6371- density -

5.5

3. Hydrosphere – 97% earth.s water is in oceans – Fresh water – 3%.

Structure of Atmosphere: Five Layers

1. Troposphere –lower portion – extends from 0-18 kms, temperature.

2. Stratosphere -18- 50 kms- Temperature (-2ºC to -56ºC )- Ozone layer

3. Mesosphere- extends from 50-85 kms- Temperature drops to (-95ºC)

4. Ionosphere or Thermosphere –extends up to 500 kms. Temperature – raises

up to 1200ºC

5. Exosphere – extends up to 1600 km- temperature very high due to solar

radiation.
Functions of Atmosphere: It maintains heat balance on the earth
by absorbing IR radiation.
Oxygen – support life on living organism.

Co2 - essential for photosynthetic activity of plants.

N2 - essential nutrient for plant growth.

Lithosphere or Interior of Earth:

Three major Zones

1. Crust – top most layer- solid thickness 30 – 40 Km in continents and 5

– 6 km in oceans. Rocks of the earth crust – 3 types – Igneous ,
Sedimentary, Metamorphic.

2. Mantle – average density 3.3 – Thickness – 2860 – density increases

with depth.

3. Core – (outer core – solid , inner core – liquid). depth – 2900 km from
the surface of the earth – density -12 – not exact composition.

Functions of Lithosphere:
1. It is home for human beings and wild life.

2. It is store house of minerals and organic matter.

Hydrosphere:
The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas,
lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground
water. The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth.

Functions of Hydrosphere:
1 It is the home for many plants and animals.

2.. Water is a part of living cells Each cell in a living organism is made up
of almost 75% water, and this allows the cell to function normally. In fact,
most of the chemical reactions that occur in life, involve substances that
are dissolved in water. Without water, cells would not be able to carry out
their normal functions and life could not exist.

3. Regulating climate One of water's unique characteristics is its

high specific heat.
4. Human needs Humans use water in a number of ways. Drinking,
Washing and cleaning and Industry. Water can also be used to
generate electricity through hydropower.
Bbiotic component:

Biosphere :

The biosphere is the biological component of earth systems, which

also include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and other
"spheres" (e.g. cryosphere, anthrosphere, etc.). The biosphere
includes all living organisms on earth, together with the dead
organic matter produced by them.

Functions of Biosphere :

1. A conservation function – to contribute to the conservation of

landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.

2. A development function – to foster economic and human development

which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.

3. A logistic function – to provide support for research,

monitoring, education and information exchange related to local,
national and global issues of conservation and development.

Elements of Environment:

Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical,

biological and cultural elements inter-related in various ways,
individually as well as collectively. These elements may be explained as,

(1) Physical elements

Physical elements are space , landforms, water bodies, climate, soil,
rocks and minerals. They determine the variable character of the human
habitat, and its opportunities as well as limitations.

(2) Biological elements

Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms being which
constitute the biosphere.

(3) Cultural elements

Cultural elements such as economic, social and political elements are
essentially manmade features, which make cultural milieu.
Sustainable development (SD): "Development that meets the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs."
It refers to a mode of human development in which resource use aims to
meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can
be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.
"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Aim of sustainable development:

. Inter-generational equity
. Intra generational technology

Significance of sustainable development:

. Developing appropriate technology
. Reduce, reuse, and recycle of natural resources
. Providing environmental education and awareness
. Consumption of renewable resources
. Conservation of nonrenewable resources
. Population control

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