Introduction to

Environmental Science
 What Is Environmental Science?
 What do you think would happen if all of the trees in the rainforest were cut
down, or if chemicals were spilled in a river, or if rain fall increased drastically?
 These are some of the many topics that are studied in the field of
environmental science. Overall, environmental science is the field of science
that studies the interactions of the physical, chemical, and biological
components of the environment and also the relationships and effects of these
components with the organisms in the environment.
The field of environmental science can be divided into three main goals:
 to learn how the natural world works,
 to understand how we as humans interact with the environment, and
 to determine how we affect the environment. The third goal of determining
how humans affect the environment also includes finding ways to deal with
these effects on the environment.
 Interdisciplinary Field
 Environmental science is also referred to as an interdisciplinary field
because it incorporates information and ideas from multiple disciplines. Within
the natural sciences, such fields as biology, chemistry, and geology are
included in environmental science. When most people think of environmental
science, they think of these natural science aspects, but what makes
environmental science such a complex and broad field is that it also includes
fields from the social sciences and the humanities.
 The social science fields that are incorporated into environmental science
include geography, economics, and political science. Philosophy and ethics
are the two fields within the humanities that are also included in environmental
science. By combining aspects of the natural sciences, social sciences, and
the humanities, the field of environmental science can cover more concepts
and also examine problems and topics from many different points of view.
 Importance of Environmental Science
 At this current time, the world around us is changing at a very rapid pace.
Some changes are beneficial, but many of the changes are causing damage
to our planet. The field of environmental science is a valuable resource for
learning more about these changes and how they affect the world we live in.
 Let's examine a major change that is currently occurring and its relationship
to environmental science. The large change is the dramatic increase in the
number of humans on earth. For most of human history, the population has
been less than a million people, but the current population has skyrocketed to
over seven billion people. This equals out to seven thousand times more
people!
 Due to this increase in the human population, there has also been an
increase in pressure on the natural resources and ecosystem services that we
rely on for survival. Natural resources include a variety of substances and
energy sources that we take from the environment and use. Natural resources
can be divided into renewable and nonrenewable resources. Renewable
natural resources are substances that can be replenished over a period of
time, such as sunlight, wind, soil, and timber. On the other hand,
nonrenewable natural resources are substances that are in finite supply and
and will run out. Nonrenewable resources include minerals and crude oils.
 Due to the increase in the human population, natural resources are being
used up at a more rapid rate than in the past. Although renewable natural
resources can be replenished, when they are used too rapidly, they cannot
be replenished fast enough to meet human demand. Even worse, when it run
out and be gone forever.
 Natural resources have been referred to as the 'merchandise' produced
by the environment, and in this respect, ecosystem services are the 'facilities’
that we rely on to help produce the merchandise. Ecosystem services are
the environment's natural processes that provide us with the resources we
need to support life. Common ecosystem services include water and air
purification, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, pollinating of plants, and the
recycling of waste. Just like some natural resources, ecosystem services are
also limited and can be used up if not regulated.
Now, let's tie it together and think about population growth and its
influence on both natural resources and ecosystem services. As the human
population increases and natural resources and ecosystem services are
used rapidly and potentially degraded, the future of humans on earth is in
jeopardy. This is one major example of why environmental science is
important and valuable.
 What is Environment
 The word ‘Environment’ is derived from the French word ‘Environner’ which
means to encircle, around or surround. The biologist Jacob Van Uerkal (1864-
1944) introduced the term ‘environment’ in Ecology. Ecology is the study of the
interactions between an organism of some kind and its environment. As given
by Environment Protection Act 1986, Environment is the sum total of land,
water, air, interrelationships among themselves and also with the human
beings and other living organisms. The science of Environment studies
comprises various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, life science,
medical science, agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering, geography,
geology, atmospheric science, etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in
the environment. It studies the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of a
biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of and from human
activity upon these.
 The Environment is about the surrounding external conditions influencing
development or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working
conditions etc. This involves three questions: 1. what is surrounded,2. by what
surrounded and 3. where surrounded. The answer to the first is living objects in
general and man in particular. Human life is concerned to be the main in the
study of environment. However, human life cannot exist or be understood in
isolation from the other forms of life like animal life and from plant life.
Environment belongs to all living beings and is thus important for all.
Hence, environment refers to the sum total of conditions surround in space and
time. The scope of the term ‘Environment’ has been changing and widening
by the passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only
physical aspects of the planet earth e.g., land, water and air as biological
communities. As of now, it includes social, economic and political conditions also.
 Some important definitions of environment are as under:
1. According to Boring, ‘A person’s environment consists of the sum total of
the stimulation which he receives from his conception until his death.’
Indicating that environment comprises various types of forces such as
physical, intellectual, mental, economical, political, cultural, social, moral
and emotional.
 2. Douglas and Holland defined that ‘The term environment is used to
describe, in aggregate, all the external forces, influences and conditions,
which affect the life, nature, behavior and the growth, development and
maturity of living organisms’.
Scope of Environment:
 The environment consists of four segments of the earth namely:
1. atmosphere, 2.hydrosphere, 3. lithosphere and 4. biosphere.
1. Atmosphere: The Atmosphere forms a distinctive protective layer about
100 km thick around the earth. A blanket of gases called the atmosphere
surrounds the earth and protects the surface of earth from the Sun’s harmful,
ultraviolet rays. It sustains life on the earth. It also regulates temperature,
preventing the earth from becoming too hot or too cold. It saves it from the
hostile environment of outer space. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen
and oxygen besides, argon, carbon dioxide and trace gases.
The atmosphere has a marked effect on the energy balance at the surface of
the Earth. It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major
portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun. It transmits only
ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves.
(0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultra-violate waves below
about 300 nm.
2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources
oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, polar icecaps, glaciers, and
ground water. Oceans represent 97% of the earth’s water and about 2% of the
water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers. Only about 1% is
available as fresh water as surface water in rivers, lakes, streams, and as
ground water for human use.
3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of
minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic
matter, air and water.
4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their
interactions with environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
The scope of environmental studies is very wide and it deals with many areas
like 1.) Conservation of natural resources, 2.) ecological aspects, 3.) pollution
of the surrounding natural resources, 4.) controlling the pollution, 5.) social issues
connected to it, and 6.) impacts of human population on the environment.
 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 are:
(1) Physical elements
Physical elements are space, landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, rocks
and minerals. They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its
opportunities as well as limitations.
(2) Biological elements
Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men
constitute the biosphere.
(3) Cultural elements
Cultural elements such as economical, social and political elements are
essentially man- made features, which make the cultural background.
 ENVIRONMENT STUDIES: ITS IMPORTANCE
 The environment studies make us aware about the importance of protection
and conservation of our mother earth and about the destruction due to the
release of pollution into the environment. The increase in human and animal
population, industries and other issues make the survival cumbersome. A great
number of environment issues have grown in size and make the system more
complex day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth.
Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons:
1. Environment Issues are being of Global:
It has been well recognized that environment issues like global warming and
ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely
national issues but are global issues and hence require international efforts an
cooperation to solve them.
2. Development and Environment:
Development leads to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Telecommunication and
Transportation Systems, Hi-tech Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has
become phased out in the developed world. The North intentionally moves their
dirty factories to South to cleanse their own environment. When the West
developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact of
its activities. Development of the rich countries of the world has undesirable effects
on the environment of the entire world.
3. Explosive Increase in Pollution
World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planet lives in India.
Evidently with 16 per cent of the world’s population and only 2.4 per cent of its land
area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural
experts have recognized soil health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and
organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure.
4. Need for an Alternative Solution
It is essential, especially for developing countries to find alternative paths to
an alternative goal. We need a goal as under:
 A true goal of development with an environmentally sound and
sustainable development.
 A goal common to all citizens of our planet earth.
 A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over
consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.
It is utmost important for us to save the humanity from extinction because
of our activities constricting the environment and depleting the biosphere, in
the name of development.
5. Need for Wise Planning of Development
Our survival and sustenance depend on resources availability. Hence
Resources withdraw, processing and use of the products have to be synchronized
with the ecological cycle. In any plan of development our actions should be planned
ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and
development.
6. Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under:
1. Holism, (2.) Ecosystem, (3.) Succession and (4.) Conversation.
 Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which
interacting units of ecology are
discussed, are as under:
Misra (1991) has recognized four basic requirements of environmental management as under:
 Impact of human activities on the environment,
 Value system,
 Plan and design for sustainable development,
 Environment education.
Keeping in view of the goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development, India
contributed to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also
referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de Janeiro, the Capital of Brazil, 3rd-14th June, 1992.