Ppt 1

Environmental Science

The study of the interaction of humans with the natural environment.

1. Climate A

2. ir and water quality S

3. oil and landforms

4. Presence of other living organisms

The environment includes all conditions that surround living organisms

Sustainability

The ability of the earth’s various natural systems and human cultural systems and economies to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely

Three Key Principles

1. Solar energy

2. Biodiversity

3. Chemical cycling

Solar Energy

• Warms earth

• Provides energy for plants to make food for other organisms

• Powers winds

• Powers the hydrologic cycle – which includes flowing water

• Provides energy: wind and moving water can be turned into electricty

Biodiversity (biological diversity)

• Large variety of species

• Many ecosystems

o Deserts

o Forests

o Oceans

o Grasslands

• Species and systems renew soil and purify air and water

Chemical Cycling

• Natural processes recycle nutrients

• Recycling is necessary because there is a fixed supply of these nutrients on earth

• Nutrients cycle from living organisms to the non – living environment and back

• Chemical cycles are necessary to sustain life

NATURAL RESOURCES

Renewable and Nonrenewable

Renewable

Air, water, soil, plants

Nonrenewable

Mineral, oil, coal

NATURAL SERVICES

Functions of Nature and Nutrient Cycling

Functions of Nature

Purification of water and air

Nutrient Cycling

From the environment to organisms and back to the environment

Tragedy of the Commons

• Environmental degradation of openly shared renewable resources.

• Users focus on their own selfish, short-term gain

• Works when only a small number of users

• Big part of why humans now live unsustainably