🏞 Chapter 1 module 1: Environmental Science Environmental Science helps us understand the role humans play in the natural environment and how that role has changed over time. This module covers the specific approaches used in the study of Environmental Science and how other disciplines play a role in the field. Environmental Science is a complex interdisciplinary field that combines scientific, social, and political perspectives. Approaches to the Study of Environmental Science: Chapter 1 1 Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that involves the study of the natural environment, human activities, and their interactions. The field of Environmental Science encompasses a wide range of approaches, including ecology, geology, physics, chemistry, and biology. The scientific method is used to investigate environmental issues and make informed decisions. Some approaches to Environmental Science are quantitative, meaning they rely on numerical data to analyze the environment, while others are qualitative, focusing on non-numerical data. Environmental Science also incorporates social sciences, such as economics and political science, to understand the human impact on the environment. Terms and Concepts from Other Disciplines: Environmental Science often borrows terms and concepts from other disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Understanding these terms and concepts is essential for understanding environmental issues and their potential solutions. For example, the concept of biodiversity comes from biology and refers to the variety of life on Earth. It is important in Environmental Science because it is an indicator of the health and resilience of ecosystems. Other concepts borrowed from other disciplines include ecosystem services, carbon cycle, and nutrient cycling. The use of these terms and concepts helps to create a common language among scientists and professionals working in the field of Environmental Science. Natural System Chapter 1 2 Module 2: Environmental indicators and sustainability The module identifies global-scale indicators of environmental health that enable us to monitor specific parameters over time. Environmental indicator Unit of mesure Human Population Individuals Ecological Footprint Hectares of land Total Food production Metric tons of grain Food production per unit of area kilograms of grain per hectare of land Per Capita food production Kilos of grain per person Carbon Dioxide PPm Chapter 1 3 Surface Tempture Degrees centigrade Sea Level Change Millimeters Annual Precipitation MM Species diversity Number of species Fish Consumption Present or absent Water Quality Concentration Atmospheric Compounds mm per square meter Fish Catch and Harvest kilos of fish per year Extinction rate number of species per year Habitat Loss Land Cleared or loss Infant Mortality number of infants under age one per 1,000 births Life Expectancy average number of years an infant born today can live The indicators allow us to create a picture of the sustainability of human activities on Earth. Biodiversity is decreasing, and food production has leveled off. Species diversity indicates the number of species in a region or in a particular ecosystem. higher species diversity—are more productive and resilient—that is, better able to recover from disturbances such as hurricanes or fires. Species losses in several ecosystems can indicate environmental problems on a larger scale. The evolution of new species, known as speciation average rate at which species go extinct over the long term is referred to as the background extinction rate Ecosystem diversity is a measure of the diversity of ecosystems that exist in a given region. Genetic diversity is a measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population. 1 Hectare is 2.47 acres Chapter 1 4 Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are steadily increasing, and global temperatures fluctuate, with an overall trend towards an increase. The human population continues to grow, but the rate of increase is declining. The ecological footprint is one measurement that helps us assess the sustainability of these different parameters and how they change over time. The concept of ecological footprint refers to the amount of land and resources necessary to support an individual, community, or nation's way of life. An ecological footprint helps us understand the impact of human activities on the environment and how to reduce it. Chapter 1 5 Measuring biodiversity involves identifying and quantifying the number of species and their distribution in a particular ecosystem. To assess food production, we use indicators such as crop yields, changes in land use, and use of fertilizers. factors include climatic conditions, the amount and quality of land under cultivation, irrigation, and the human labor and energy required to plant, harvest, and bring the grain to market. Grain production may not be keeping up with population growth because in some areas the productivity of agricultural ecosystems has declined as a result of soil degradation, crop diseases, and unfavorable weather conditions such as drought or flooding. In addition, demand is outpacing supply. Measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide involves analyzing ice cores, tree rings, and other proxies that give us information about historical carbon dioxide levels. Chapter 1 6 Measuring global temperature involves analyzing temperature records from different parts of the world over time. The human population is assessed using demographic data, such as birth and death rates, migration patterns, and population density. 24-hour period, 380,000 infants are born and 155,000 people die. 8 billion people Chapter 1 7 The use of scientific methods and techniques to measure these indicators allows us to make informed decisions about how to reduce our impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future. Per Capita- the amount per each person in a country or other unit of population. Indicator Biological Recent Future Large number of extinctions, extinction Extinctions will rate increasing continue impact Negative May affect the Food Production Per capita production possibly leveling off Unclear number of people Earth can support Surface Chapter 1 CO2 concentrations and temperatures Probably will Effects are 8 tempture and Co2 increasing concentration continue to increase, at uncertain and varied but least in the short term probably detrimental Population leveling off; Population Still increasing, but growth rate slowing resource consumption negative rates also a factor Many resources being depleted at rapid Resource Depletion rate, but human ingenuity develops “new” resources, and efficiency of resource use is increasing in many cases Increased use of ?? most resources has negative effects Sustainable development is a development that balances current human wellbeing and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations. biophilia that is, love of life module 3: Scientific Method The scientific method is a systematic approach to understanding phenomena that involves making observations, asking questions, testing hypotheses, and collecting and interpreting data. In environmental science, the scientific method is used to evaluate how human activity affects the natural environment, which is critical to developing sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. Field evaluations involve observing and measuring environmental variables in their natural setting, while laboratory evaluations involve manipulating and controlling variables to test hypotheses. Controlled experiments involve manipulating variables in a laboratory setting, while natural experiments use natural events as the basis for testing hypotheses. Environmental science faces several challenges, including the lack of baseline data for many natural systems, which makes it difficult to determine if changes are due to Chapter 1 9 human activity or natural variation. Another challenge is the interaction between environmental issues and social factors, such as human preferences for certain types of landscapes or lifestyles, which can complicate efforts to develop sustainable solutions. It is important for environmental scientists to communicate their results with other researchers and with the public, in order to facilitate understanding of environmental issues and promote sustainable solutions. Chapter 1 10