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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:
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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CO2 concentrations and temperatures
Probably will
Effects are
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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
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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.
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