ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 20 - UNIT 1

Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle)

describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation

carbon cycle

the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

fossil fuels

a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

nitrogen cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere

what percentage of the atmosphere is nitrogen?

78%

why is nitrogen important to earth?

nitrogen makes protein -> produces life building blocks/complex organic molecules like amino acids, the building blocks of protein, and nucleic acids including DNA and RNA.

why is carbon important to life?

carbon is found in all living things.

phosphorus cycle

The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks.

why is phosphorus important to plants and animals?

phosphorus plays a critical role in cell development. it stores energy and helps crops grow. it is plays a role in producing ATP, DNA and lipids in plants and animals.

steps of phosphorus cycle

1. phosphate ions realesed into soil through soil and weathering
2. phosphorus enters soil -> plant -> animal -> DNA
3. mineralization, bacteria breaksdown phosphorus
4. phosphorus ends up in water and oceans.

abiotic

non living

biotic

living

nutrient cycle

Continuous flow of nutrients into and out of stores in the ecosystem; balanced, unless disturbed by human activity

biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

genetic biodiversity

variety of different versions of the same genes within individual species

species diversity

describes the number of different kinds of organisms within communities

ecosystem/ecological diversity

variety of ecosystems where organisms live

carrying capacity

largest size of a population that its environment can support

ways we can increase carrying capacity

by changing the behaviour of the population.

ecological footprint

measure of the impact a population or individual on its environment

data used to measure ecological footprint

- energy consumption
- land use
- waste generation

country with largest ecological footprint

qatar

knowledge

information and understanding of the natural world

ethics

perception of right and wrong and the appropriate behaviour of people toward each other, other species, and nature.

environmental values

1. utilitarian values
2. intrinsic values

utilitarian values

- also known as instrumental values
- based on the known importance of something to the welfare of us ( humans ).

intrinsic value

based on the belief that components of the natural environment, like species and ecosystems, are deemed valuable and have a right to exist, regardless of the type of relationship they have of humans.

value

person's principles and standard behaviour -\> what you think is important

culture

the complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

worldviews

a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world

anthropocentric worldview

considers that human beings have intrinsic value; nature has an instrumental value to provide for our needs.

biocentric worldview

the rights and needs of humans are not more important that those of living things

ecocentric worldview

recognizes the ecosphere as important. all living and living things and their interactions are important.

environmental science

concerned with the rapidly increasing human population, the use and abuse of resources, damages caused by pollution/disturbances, and the endangerment and extinction of species and natural ecosystems.

environmental studies

studies human interaction with the environment in the interests of solving complex problems

main discipline of biology

ecology, zoology, botany

main discipline of chemistry

biochemistry, geochemistry, organic chemistry

main discipline of earth sciences

geology, meteorology

main discipline of physics

engineering, nuclear physics

main discipline of mathematical abd related sciences

computer science, statistics

main discipline of social sciences

economics, sociology, political science, anthropology

ecology

The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment

ecologist

specialists who study relationships among organisms and their environment.

environmental scientist

generalists who use science-related knowledge relevant to environmental quality; such as air or water chemistry, climate modelling, or the ecological effects of pollution.

geography

the study of the natural features of the earth's surface including climate, topography, soil, and vegetation as well as intersections with the human economy

environmentalist

involved with environmental issues, especially in the sense of advocacy ( taking a strong public stance, either for or against, on a particular environmental issue.

question example: sociologist

how do people adapt new ideas?

question example: urban planner

what urban designs can reduce energy use?

question example: engineer

can we design better cars?

question example: economist

what are benefits and costs of energy sources?

question example: ecologist

how does energy production affect population?

cquestion example: chemist

how cana we make better batteries?

question example: political science

which policies lead to sustainable solutions

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment. done before a project that may affect the environment
-\> under the canadian environmental assessment act of 2012

CEAA

canadian environmental assessment act of 2012

reliability

the degree to which an assessment tool produces stable and consistent results.

approximation

a value or quantity that is nearly but not exactly correct.

assumption

a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen

actual measurements

hypothesized, tested continously, and data is compared and regulated periodically

Why would data collection methods be important when it comes to collect

accuracy changes depending on the scenario \n ex.) \n weathermen give approximations \n scientists give exact values

groundwater

water that fills the spaces in an underground rock layer called an aquifer

atmosphere

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

exosphere

the outermost region of a planet's atmosphere.

thermosphere

4th layer of the atmosphere

mesosphere

middle layer of the earth's atmosphere

stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere

troposphere

1st layer

heterosphere

gas composition varies and is limited to a few type of gases

homosphere

gases are fairly evenly blended

contaminant

a substance that occurs in concentrations higher than would be expected that MAY have a negative effect on human

pollutant

a substance that causes pollution, causes adverse effects on a resource or an environment. can be potentially harmful to organisms.

all POLLUTANTS are CONTAMINANTS, but not all CONTAMINANTS are POLLUTANTS.

pollutants are always harmful, contaminants are not.

how do pollutants enter our body?

1 inhalation
2 ingestion
3 absorption

point source pollutants

can be easily identified ex.) smokestack,drainpipes

non-point source pollutants

difficult to identify ex.) smog, transportation emissions

natural air pollutants

- ash & gases from volcanoes and land formations
- gases given off by decaying plants
- gases expelled from animals ( cow's burp )

types of air pollutants

antropogenic, primary air pollutant, secondary air pollutant

anthropogenic pollutant

made/produced by humans
ex.) burning of fossil fuels

primary air pollutant

substance released directly into the atmosphere in amounts that pose a health threat
ex.) carbon monoxide gas

secondary air pollutant

substances that result from primary air pollutants interacting with one another and with other substances.
ex.) photochemical smog

smog

* secondary air pollutant \n yellow-brown haze, forms when pollutants from exhaust pipes of cars and trucks and the smokestacks of industrial plants react chemically in the presence of sunlight

Delhi Pollution Control Committee ( DPCC )

advises the delhi government on air pollution and improvement of air quality

air pollutants

carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, vocs. \n -> all come from burning fossil fules and can cause vision issues, respiratory problems, and headaches

carbon monoxide

a colourless and odourless gas caused by the burning of fossil fuels for transportation and generating electricity. -> causes headaches, fatigue and can kill

nitrogen dioxide/oxides

reddish-brown gas that readily reacts with other compounds caused by the burning of fossil fules.
\-> responsible for photochemical smog
\-> irritates eyes and lungs

particulate matter

Solid particles or liquid droplets suspended or carried in the air. caused by volcanoes, sea spray, \n -> worsens asthma, bronchitis, and increases chances of cancer

sulfur dioxide/oxides

colourless gas with a sharp odour that reacts with water vapour. caused by burning of sulfur rich coal in powerplants. \n -> causes sore throat, headaches and nausea

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

wide range of very reactive, toxic compounds that vaporize readily and exist as gases in air. found in paint, glues, personal care products. \n -> very bad. cause cancer, damage liver and lungs

second-hand smoke

air that has been contaminated by tobacco. \n -> causes headaches, sore throat, nausea

VOCs ( part 2 )

gases at room temperature. many synthetic household items. \n -> cause nerve, kidney, liver damage

RADON

natural indoor air pollutant
- leaks into homes and buildings. increases lung cancer equal to a person who smokes several packs of cigarettes a day.

asbestos

insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors. once inhaled damages lungs and causes cancer.

mould

\n grows in wet, damp areas in buildings where moisture gets trapped. mould releases spres that when inhaled can cause respiratory damage. \n -> seniors, infants, and pregnant women are vulnerable to mould

bacteria

transmitted through the air as water droplets. causes legionnaire's disease.

legionnaire's disease

A severe, often fatal bacterial disease characterized by pneumonia, dry cough and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. \n \n - most common in hotels

sick building syndrome

the adverse health effects due to time spent in a building

air quality health index ( aqhi )

used to help people understand and make decisions related to the health effects of air quality
-\> based on the health risks linked to common air pollutants
-\> uses numbers from 1 to 10+
-\> a rating scale of 'low' to 'very high'

canadian environmental protection act ( cepa )

canadian environmental protection act, 1999 \n - a law that addresses the government's responsibility to work with the provinces and territories on wayys to prevent pollution and to create national environmental standards

What role do the Federal and Provincial government play in air quality management?

Both responsible for playing a role in managing air quality and reporting it to the public. They pass regulations and set up programs to reduce harmful gas emissions from all sectors of the economy. Governments also encourage individuals

Motor Vehicle Emissions

Release more carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and VOCs than any other activity or industry.