Unit 0: Introduction to AP Environmental Science

Chapter 1 Environmental Science: Studying the State of the Earth

Module 1: Environmental Science

Class 1 - 8/28/2024

Environmental Science offers important insights into our world and how we influence it 

• Environment - The sum of all the conditions surrounding us that influence life 

• Environmental Science - The field that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature

• Ecosystem - The field that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature

• Environmentalism - Movement to protect the environment through activism and education 

• Biotic - living 

• Abiotic - non-living 

“bio” = means living 

“a” = opposite 

Human alter systems!

• Humans manipulate their environment more than any other species.

Module 2: Environmental Indicators and Sustainability 

Environmental scientists monitor natural systems for signs of stress

• Environmental Indicator -  Current state of an environmental system. Similar to the physical medical checkups that humans get every year. 

• Ecosystem services - Things we as humans get from the environment. Life-supporting resources are produced. 

Class 2 - 8/29/2024

Environmental Indicators

1. Biological Diversity - The diversity of life forms in an environment.

• Exists on Three Scales:

  • Ecosystem Diversity: Variety of ecosystems within a region

    • Examples: (e.g., deserts, forests, grasslands, wetlands, oceans). An example from Minecraft includes "biomes" like oak forests and deserts.

  • Species Diversity: Number of species in a region or ecosystem

    • Species - A group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology (body form and structure), behavior, or biochemical properties.

    • Speciation - The evolution of new species.

• Example: Australia's Great Barrier Reef has 400 coral species, 150 fish species, 4,000 mollusk species, and 10 turtle species.

• Genetic Diversity: Genetic diversity is the variety of genes among individuals of a species. Genetic variation comes from sexual reproduction.

• Example: Humans have genetic diversity in height, skin color, hair, etc.

• Note: High genetic diversity helps populations better respond to environmental changes.

• Recent Trend: There is a large number of extinctions; the extinction rate is increasing.

2. Food Production - The production of food through agricultural practices. Ability to grow food to nourish the human population. 

• We use human technology to increase the amount of food we can produce on a given area of land.

• The figure above shows the World grain production per person. Per person = per capita. Grain production has increased since the 1950s but has recently begun to level off.

3.  Surface Temperature and CO2 Concentrations

• Measures the average temperature of the Earth's surface and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

• Key Idea: Overtime as greenhouse gases increases its going to trap more heat and increase temperature

• Greenhouse Gases - Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat near the surface.

  • Example: The most significant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2)

• Anthropogenic - Derived from human activities.

  • “Anthro” = human

  • “pogenic” = producing

• Recent Trend: Both CO2 concentrations and global temperatures are increasing.

4. Human Population

• Definition: The number of people living on Earth.

• Recent Trend: Slow growth.

5. Resource Depletion

• Renewable versus Nonrenewable Resources 

  • Finite or Nonrenewable - Limited 

    • Example: Coal and other fossil fuels

  • Infinite or Renewable Resources - Has the ability to replenish its self or be found in an infinite supply 

    • Example: Solar energy. Ms.Shire put solar panels on her roof