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 EnviroNETify by P. K. Jakhar
UGC-NET syllabus based

Unit-1
Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences

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 Unit-1
Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences
Content

▪ Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences Definition

▪ Principles and Scope of Environmental Science
▪ Structure and composition of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere
▪ Laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer processes, mass and energy transfer across various
interfaces, material balance
▪ Meteorological parameters - pressure, temperature, precipitation, humidity, mixing ratio,
saturation mixing ratio, radiation and wind velocity, adiabatic lapse rate, environmental
lapse rate
▪ Wind roses
▪ Interaction between Earth, Man and Environment
▪ Biogeographic provinces of the world and agro-climatic zones of India
▪ Concept of sustainable development
▪ Natural resources and their assessment
▪ Remote Sensing and GIS: Principles of remote sensing and GIS
▪ Digital image processing and ground truthing
▪ Application of remote sensing and GIS in land cover/land use planning and management
(urban sprawling, vegetation study, forestry, natural resource), waste management and
climate change. Environmental education and awareness
▪ Environmental ethics
Definition, principles and scope of environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that explores the relationships between
living organisms and their environment, focusing on understanding the natural world and
finding solutions to environmental challenges. At its core, environmental science integrates
knowledge from various disciplines like biology, chemistry, physics, geology, ecology, and
social sciences to analyse the interactions within ecosystems and the impact of human activities
on the planet.
▪ Environment is the total of all the living and non-living things and their effects that influence
living beings or quality of life
▪ Word Environment was derived from the old French preposition environ, meaning
“around/encircle”
▪ Ancient civilizations: Early humans observed natural cycles (e.g., seasonal changes) and
adapted to environmental constraints (hunting, agriculture)
▪ Early societies like Mesopotamians, Egyptians and Indians practiced water conservation
and sustainable farming
▪ Mesopotamia and Indus Valley: Soil erosion and deforestation from early agriculture
highlighted human-environment conflicts
▪ Greek and Roman thinkers: Aristotle and Pliny the Elder wrote about natural
phenomena, while Hippocrates linked health to air and water quality
▪ Hippocrates (400 BCE): Wrote Airs, Waters, and Places, linking environment to human
health
▪ Kautilya’s Arthashastra (300 BCE, India): Discussed afforestation and water resource
management
▪ Industrial Revolution (18th–19th Century): Increased pollution due to high coal
consumptions and emissions led to air and water pollution
▪ In 1859, Charles Darwin’s book “Origin of Species” explains evolution
▪ Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir pushed for national parks (Yellowstone, 1872) and
wildlife protection
▪ Yellowstone National Park (1872, USA): First national park for environmental protection
▪ Silent Spring (1962, Rachel Carson): Exposed dangers of pesticides like DDT, leading to
the environmental movement, banning of DDT & which led the establishment of USEPA
(1970)
▪ Thomas Malthus warned of population growth outpacing resources (An Essay on the
Principle of Population, 1798)
❑ Component of environment
▪ It includes all the physical and biological factors and their interactions
1. Abiotic/Physical components: Water, land/soil, sunlight, rocks, and air
2. Biotic/biological components: Animals, plants, forests, fisheries, microorganisms and birds
▪ Biosphere: It is the biological component (supporting life) of the earth which includes
the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
▪ Biosphere generally also considered as Ecosphere.
▪ Ecosphere = Biosphere + Atmosphere + Hydrosphere + Lithosphere
▪ Ecology: It is the study of interactions between organisms, organisms and the surroundings
occurring within an ecosystem or environment.
❑ Environmental science Vs. Environmental studies
▪ Environmental science focuses on fundamental sciences like mathematics, chemistry,
biology, physics, atmospheric science, earth science and geology. The environmental
science mainly considering the scientific and quantitative aspects of environmental issues.
▪ Environmental studies take on a broader view, looking at the natural sciences as well as
social sciences. It focuses how humans relate to the environment and how environmental
challenges intersect with political and historical considerations, public policy, and the law.
❑ Principles of environmental science
▪ The principles of environmental science are centered on the interrelationship of all
environmental components, sustainability, resource conservation, pollution control,
biodiversity protection, and understanding human impacts.
1. Interconnectedness: The environment is a complex system where all living and non-living
components are interconnected. Changes in one part of the ecosystem can affect the whole
system. For example, deforestation can impact local climate, biodiversity, and water cycles.
2. Sustainability: This principle underlines responsible use of natural resources and
minimizing environmental degradation.
3. Conservation of resources: Environmental science emphasizes the conservation of natural
resources, advocating for the careful management of water, soil, air, and biodiversity to
prevent depletion and ensure long-term availability.
4. Pollution control and waste management: It emphasizes controlling emissions, treating
waste, and adopting recycling methods to minimize the ecological footprint.
5. Biodiversity: Protecting biodiversity is essential for ecosystem stability, as diverse species
contribute to ecosystem services like pollination, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation.
6. Human impact: This principle acknowledges that human activities, such as
industrialization, deforestation, and urbanization, significantly impact the environment.
Environmental science aims to understand and mitigate these effects.
7. Global perspective: Environmental issues, such as climate change and biodiversity loss,
are global problems that require international cooperation. Solutions often involve global
policies, treaties, and collaborative efforts.
❑ Scope of environmental science
The scope of environmental science is vast, encompassing the study of natural processes,
human impacts on ecosystems, and the development of sustainable solutions to environmental
challenges. It integrates disciplines like biology, chemistry, physics, and geology to understand
ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, and climate change. Environmental science also addresses
global issues such as resource management, conservation, and environmental policy-making.
Its goal is to protect and restore the environment for future generations while ensuring human
well-being.
1. Ecology and ecosystems: Environmental science examines how organisms interact with
each other and their environment. It studies ecosystems, including the flow of energy and
nutrients, the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers, and how ecosystems
maintain balance.
2. Natural resource management: The field focuses on sustainable management of resources
like forests, water, minerals, and wildlife. It explores methods for conserving resources and
ensuring their equitable use without overexploitation.
3. Pollution and environmental health: Environmental science studies various types of
pollution (air, water, soil, noise) and their sources. It also investigates the effects of
pollutants on human health and ecosystems and develops technologies for pollution control.
4. Climate change: Understanding the causes and effects of climate change is a key focus,
including studying greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature changes, extreme weather
events, and strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
5. Environmental policy and legislation: This area covers the development and enforcement
of laws, policies, and regulations aimed at protecting the environment. Environmental
scientists work with governments and organizations to draft policies that address issues like
pollution, habitat conservation, and energy use.
6. Sustainability and development: The scope extends to balancing economic development
with environmental protection. It includes the study of sustainable agriculture, renewable
energy sources, green technologies, and strategies to reduce carbon footprints.
7. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): EIAs help in decision-making by predicting
environmental consequences and suggesting mitigation measures.
8. Environmental ethics: This branch explores moral and philosophical issues surrounding
environmental conservation, emphasizing the responsibility of individuals and societies to
protect the Earth and all its inhabitants.
Segments of environment
▪ Segments of environment: 4 segments (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere &
Biosphere)
▪ These all the spheres are intercorrelated with each other.

1. Atmosphere
▪ Atmosphere is a protective layer of gases that shelters all life on Earth, keeping
temperatures within a relatively small range and blocking out harmful rays of sunlight.
▪ An atmosphere is a blanket of gases that surrounds Earth.
▪ It is held near the surface of the planet by Earth’s gravitational attraction.
▪ Nitrogen, oxygen, CO2 and argon are the main constituents of the atmosphere.
▪ It is a protective layer of gases that shelters all life on Earth, keeping temperatures within a
relatively small range and blocking out harmful rays coming from sun.
▪ The atmosphere is extended up to the height of about 1600 km from the earth’s surface. But,
99% of the total mass of the atmosphere is restricted up to the altitude of 32 km from the
earth’s surface.
▪ 99.03% volume of gases is occupied only by nitrogen and oxygen, remaining 0.07% by
other gases.
▪ Carbon dioxide and water vapour are found only up to 90 km from the surface of the
earth.
▪ Vapour depends on temperature and therefore it decreases from the equator poleward in
response to decreasing temperature towards the poles.
▪ More than 90% of the total atmospheric vapour is found up to the height of 5 km.
▪ The atmospheric pressure at the Earth's surface is given a unit of 1.0 atmosphere (atm).
▪ The SI unit for atmospheric pressure is the pascal (Pa).
1 atm = 1.013 x 105 Pa = 1013 hPa
Composition of atmosphere

S. N. Gas Volume (% basis) Conc. (in ppmv)

1. Nitrogen (N2) 78.084 780840
2. Oxygen (O2) 20.946 209460
3. Argon (Ar) 0.934 9340
4. CO2 0.0416 416
5. Neon (Ne) 0.00182 18.2
6. Helium (He) 0.000524 5.24
7. CH4 (Methane) 0.001892 1.892
8. Krypton (Kr) 0.000114 1.14
9. N2O (Nitrous oxide) 0.00000331 0.0331
10. NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) - 1.0
11. NH3 (Ammonia) - 100
12. H2 (Hydrogen) 0.00005 0.5
13. Xenon (Xe) 0.0000087 0.087
14. Ozone (O3) Variable (0.00006) 0.6
15. Water vapor Variable (0-4%) 0-40,000

Note:
✓ ppmv = 10–6, ppbv = 10–9, pptv =10–12
✓ Conversion factor: Conc. (in ppmv) = per cent (%) conc. × 10000
✓ Concentration of CO2, water vapor, ozone, oxides of nitrogen and methane changing
continuously due to climate change and air pollution.
✓ Water vapor varies significantly over location to location.
Structure of the atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth, essential for supporting life by
providing oxygen, regulating temperature, and protecting from harmful solar radiation.
The atmosphere divided into several layers according to the composition, density, pressure,
and temperature variations.
A. Based on Composition: 2 layers
According to its composition, broadly it is divided into two layers-
1. Homosphere: Troposphere, Stratosphere, and Mesosphere
2. Heterosphere: Thermosphere and Exosphere (outer space)
B. Based on diversity of temperature and density: 5 layers
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere (Ionosphere)
5. Exosphere

Note:
✓ Normal lapse rate (NLR): When temperature decreases with increasing height of
atmosphere at the rate of 1˚C for every 165 m of height (6.5˚C/km).
✓ The lower Thermosphere is called Ionosphere.
✓ Tropopause: transitional zone between Troposphere and Stratosphere.
✓ Stratopause: transitional zone between Stratosphere and Mesosphere.
✓ Mesopause: transitional zone between Mesosphere and Thermosphere.
✓ Many jet aircraft flies in the stratosphere because it is very stable.
✓ Auroras are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind.
✓ In these auroras, mainly electrons, and protons particles precipitate into the upper
atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere).