Intro

Introduction to Environmental Science
Chapter 1 Modules 1 and 2 pages 1-17
What is Environmental Science: Environmental Science is basically the study of how human systems interact with
natural systems. For example how the burning of fossil fuels (gasoline) in our cars impacts the earth’s climate would be
of interest to an Environmental scientist. It is an integrated science that focuses on understanding and then finding
sustainable solutions to anthropogenic (human caused) problems. Let’s break that definition down a bit. Environmental
scientists focus on anthropogenic problems, since we created these environmental problems we can solve them. In
order to find solutions to environmental problems we must first understand them. To do this we take an integrated
approach meaning we look at the environmental issue from many different perspectives. For example, in order to
understand climate change you will need to have a background in geology, atmospheric chemistry, climatology and
ecology. Once we understand an environmental issue, we begin to focus on the sustainable solutions.
Environmental Sustainability: Sustainability is a concept that is at the core of this course. Human systems like
transportation, agriculture and manufacturing all depend on natural systems like sunlight, water and soil etc. If human
systems are depleting OR damaging the natural systems they depend on, then the human activity is NOT sustainable!
For example, the use of gasoline in our cars is not sustainable because like all fossil fuels it is non-renewable so at some
point we will run out and by burning this fuel we are negatively impacting the atmosphere. To determine if a human
activity is sustainable we rely on Environmental indicators (Table 2.1-2.2). By studying environmental indicators such as
biological diversity, sea level change and water quality, Environmental scientists can determine if a human activity is
sustainable or not. To assess how many resources and quantify an individual’s impact on the natural environment,
Environmental scientists have developed “The Ecological Footprint Model.” (Figure 2.11).
Sustainable Solutions: Some environmental problems like volcanic eruptions, tidal waves and earthquakes are part of
living on planet earth and humans need to adapt to these environmental hazards but do not seek to solve them.
However, driving cars and growing food are human activities that also create environmental problems and our goal as
Environmental scientists is to determine the sustainability of these activities. This involves using an integrated approach
to scientifically understand the problem and offer science based solutions. Once scientists have described the
environmental problem, the real work begins. Anthropogenic environmental problems are created by humans and
humans live in social groups, participate in economies and have political systems that govern their behaviors. Therefore,
in addition to understanding the science of an environmental problem finding sustainable solutions most be
economically profitable, politically possible and socially equitable. For example, from a scientific perspective the solution
to climate change is stop burning fossil fuels in our economy. Science has informed us that this is the sustainable
solution but this action would collapse the global economy and be politically impossible so science is only part of the
equation. Once the science is understood the implementation of the sustainable solution becomes a socioeconomic
issue.
Check for understanding: On page 1 there is an article “To Frack or Not to Frack” Read this article and answer the
following questions. Please answer these questions in your composition books so that you have them for the AP exam
1. Describe ONE specific reason why Environmental scientists would want to understand the process of Fracking.
2. State why the environmental impacts of Fracking are considered an Anthropogenic.
3. List two specific environmental indicators that suggest Fracking is an environmental problem.
4. Based on the information is the article, is Fracking environmentally sustainable? Briefly defend your answer.
5. Why would banning Fracking not be a sustainable solution even though that would be best for the environment?
Review: On page 27 there is a chapter review section....you should review Modules 1 and 2
What’s next: We will cover Module 3 “Science Methods” using lecture and in class activities but the main idea here is
that in order to understand environmental problems we need to follow the scientific method.

Solving Environmental Problems
How Society deals with Environmental Problems: Since environmental problems are described by science but the
solutions are developed and implemented by governments several steps have emerged to solve environmental
problems. First, individuals sound the alarm about a local environmental issue. This could be through social media, radio
shows or news outlets but the key here it that people start the process because they are directly impacted by the
problem. Once the alarm has been sounded, scientists describe the problem using the appropriate scientific methods
and provide possible science based solutions. Once the science is in and the data is available the next step is Risk
Analysis. In this process the appropriate government agencies (usually EPA) evaluates the risk to the public and to the
environment and determines the economic costs of taking action vs doing nothing. Once both the risk benefit and cost
benefit analysis are completed by the EPA the information is passed on to policy makers. The policy makers (congress)
develop laws and educated the public on why the solution is needed and best. Once the law, act or regulation is passed
to solve the problem it is enforced and monitored indefinitely. This process can take several decades from start to finish
to be fully implemented but once the problem is addressed in this way solutions will be environmentally, economically,
politically and socially sustainable!!!
Check for understanding: Suppose you are a lifeguard at a local beach in a town economically dependent on tourists.
Recently you have noticed many people exiting the water and complaining of rashes right after they swim. With your
partner discuss the steps that would be undertaken by the town to solve this problem? Economically, why would doing
nothing is not an option in this case?
Why we need this: Why does society need environmental laws and policies to protect our air and water to begin with? I
mean why would the most intelligent species on the planet need a law to protect the air it needs to live? The answer
here is complex but we have a thought experiment to help us understand why environmental regulation is needed. The
Tragedy of the Commons (331-333) explains that natural resources such as air and water are common to us all and
essentially free to use in our economic system. Because they are free to use and nobody actually owns them history has
shown that people will over use and pollute these natural resources because if they do, they will benefit a lot and
everybody else will lose. In other words, the
individual gets the benefit but society pays the
cost. If we all do this overtime the air and water
and other common resources will be depleted or
polluted. Environmental laws and regulations
are a check on Tragedy of the Commons. This
idea that natural resource need legal protection
was embodied into law in 1969 with the Passage
of NEPA (National Environmental Protection
Act) which created and funded the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency)
Check for Understanding: Using specific data from the chart above, describe why the passage of the Clean Air Act in
1970 was both environmentally sustainable and economically sustainable. Predict how the data would have been
different if the Clean Air Act was not passed in 1970.
Case Study of Lake Washington (Eutrophication) pgs 135 & 484-485. Local communities surrounding the lake began
diverting treated sewage into the lake in the early 1940’s. The sewage contained abundant nitrates and phosphates
which are critical nutrients for aquatic algae and land plants. These specific nutrients are needed for algae to build their
bodies and when they are present in large amounts (Eutrophic) algae population’s bloom. As the bloom progresses the
algae die-off leaving a large amount of organic material (dead algae) in the water to decompose. As the decomposers in
the water eat the dead algae they demand more oxygen from the water (BOD) and as result decrease the amount of
oxygen dissolved in the water (DO). When this happens all the fish die and the lake is effectively a dead zone!!!
Decomposition is a biological process that requires oxygen so the more decomposition the less oxygen in water