ENVIRONMENTALSTUDIES 10B11GE411 (3-0-0)

Environmental Studies, Rajagopalan, Oxford University Press Dr. B. S. Chauhan, Environmental Studies, i S di University Press. i Joseph, B., 2005, Environmental p , , , Studies, Tata McGraw Hill, India.

Environmental Studies EnvironmentalStudies

Module1 MultidisciplinaryNature Ecosystems BiogeochemicalCycles

Environment is derived from the word Environ meaning encircle. It i very E i i i l is broad concept and involves everything that ff t th t affects an organism d i i during it its lifetime. Simply be defined as ones surroundings.

The global environment consists of four segments: 1)Atmosphere. )At h 2)Hydrosphere 3)Lithosphere 4)Biosphere. The names of the four spheres are derived from the Greek words for stone (litho), air (atmo), water (hydro), and life (bio). (bio)
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Theatmosphere

Theatmosphereisthebodyofairwhichsurroundsourplanet.Most ofouratmosphereislocatedclosetotheearth'ssurfacewhereitis mostdense.

Compositionofatmospherewithin25kms
Composition of atmosphere

(Argon+Neon+Helium+Hydrogen+Krypton)1%
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Thehydrosphere

Thehydrosphereiscomposedofallofthewateronorneartheearth. Thisincludestheoceans,rivers,lakes,andeventhemoistureintheair. Ninetysevenpercentoftheearth swaterisintheoceans.The Ninety sevenpercentoftheearth'swaterisintheoceans The remainingthreepercentisfreshwater;threequartersofthefresh waterissolidandexistsinicesheets

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Thelithosphere

Thelithosphereisthesolid,rockycrustcoveringentireplanet.This crustisinorganicandiscomposedofminerals.Itcoverstheentire surfaceoftheearthfromthetopofMountEveresttothebottomof theMarianaTrench. h M i T h

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Thebiosphere

Thebiosphereiscomposedofalllivingorganisms.Plants,animals,and onecelledorganismsareallpartofthebiosphere. one celledorganismsareallpartofthebiosphere

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Objectivesofenvironmental education
1. Awareness: To help individuals and social

groups acquire an awareness and sensitivity to the environment and its allied problems. 2. 2 Knowledge: To help individuals and social groups acquire basic understanding of the total environment, its associated problems p and humanitys critically responsible presence and role in it.
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3. Attitude: To help individuals and social

g groups acquire social values, strong g feelings of concern for the environment and the motivation for actively participating in its protection and i i i i i i d improvement. 4. Skills: To help individuals and social groups acquire the skills for solving environmental problems.

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5. Evaluation Ability To help individuals and Ability: social groups evaluate environmental measures and education programmers in terms of ecological, political, economic, social, aesthetic and educational factors. 6. Participation: To help individuals and social groups develop a sense of responsibility and urgency regarding environmental problems to ensure appropriate action t i t ti to solve th l those problems.

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Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It Encompasses large number scope of areas and aspects: Natural Resources their conservation and Resources management Ecology and biodiversity Environmental pollution and control Social issues in relation to development and environment

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Human population and environment. Environmental engineering is one of the g g fastest growing and complex disciplines of engineering. Creates awareness and understanding of environmental concepts which may be scientific, social and ecological systems i tifi i l d l i l t thereby providing a platform for solution to various environmental problems problems.

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In the recent years, the

scope of environmental

d h d d d ll l studies has expanded dramatically .Several carrier p g y options have emerged in this field that are broadly categorized as:
Research & Development (R&D) in environment : Skilled environmental scientists have an important role to play in examining various environmental problems in a scientific manner and carry out R&D activities for developing cleaner technologies and promoting sustainable development. development
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Green advocacy: With increasing h i i i emphasis on i l implementing various Acts and Laws related to environment need f environmental l d for l lawyers h has emerged, who should be able to plead the cases related to water and air h l d d pollution, forest etc. Green media: Environmental awareness can be spread amongst p g masses through mass media like , , p p television, radio, newspaper
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Green marketing: Environmental auditors and environmental managers would be in great demand in the coming years. years Environment consultancy: Many non

government organizations (NGOs), industries and government b di t bodies are engaging environmental i i t l consultants for systematically studying and tackling environment related problems.

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ImportanceofEnvironment p
Environment belongs to all and is important to all. E i b l ll d i i ll Whatever be the occupation or age of a person, he will be affected by environment and also he will affect the environment by his deeds That is why we find an deeds. internationally observed environment calendar to mark some important aspect or issue of

environment.
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ContemporaryIndianEnvironmentalists
1. JusticeKuldeep SinghpopularlyknownastheGreen j g judge 1. Sh.M.C.Mehta,theGreenadvocate 2. Sh.Sunderlal Bahuguna,knownforChipko Movement and Tehri MovementandTehri bachao Andolan Andolan 3. Smt.Medha Patkar forNarmadabachao Andolan. 4. Ms.Arundhati Roy forNarmadabachao Andolan. 5. S Smt. I di G dhi was i Indira Gandhi, instrumental i i l in introducing d i the concept of environmental protection in the constitution of India as fundamental duty. 6. Smt.Menka G dhi f 6 S M k Gandhi,formerlyenvironmentminister, l i i i hasworkedalotforthecauseofwidelifeprotection. 7. Smt.Kinkari Devifoughtalongbattleagainstthe miningmafiatosaveenvironment i i fi i
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World Wide Fund for Nature, India (WWF 1) New Delhi The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) Calcutta y ( ) The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Calcutta Bharti Vidyapeeth Institute of Environmental Education & Research (BVIEER) Pune Wild Life Institute of India (WII) Dehradun Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) ( ) The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Mumbai Kalpavriksh, Kalpavriksh Pune

1. In order to increase consumer awareness about environment, the Government of India has introduced a scheme of ecolabelling of consumer products as ecomark in 1991. 1. It is an earthen pitcher a symbol of ecofriendliness and our traditional heritage. 3. A product that is made, used or disposed off in a harmless manner y is called ecofriendly and is awarded this eco mark.
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Ecosystems: Basic Concepts

Eco
Environment

System

Interacting, Interacting interdependent complex p An ecosystem is defined as natural functional ecological unit comprising of living organisms g p g g g (biotic community) and their non-living (abiotic or physio-chemical ) environment that interact to form a stable self-supporting system. A pond, f t bl lf ti t d lake, desert etc. are common examples.
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Kinds of ecosystem
1. Natural Ecosystems : These types of ecosystems operate by themselves without any major interference by man. a) Terrestrial ecosystems: Forests Grasslands etc Forests, etc. b) Aquatic ecosystems: Lake, Pond, River etc. 2. Artificial ecosystems: These are man- made ecosystems. e g gardens ecosystems e.g. gardens, villages, cities, dams, aquarium etc.
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Structure of Ecosystem
Two main components: 1. Abiotic a) Climatic factors: Rain, Temperature, g t, u d ty etc. Light, Humidity etc b) Edaphic factors: Soil, pH etc. 2. 2 Biotic: a) Producers (b) Consumers ( ) (c) Reducers
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Ecosystem
Abiotic Components
Climatic Edaphic Producers or Autotrophs

Biotic Components
Consumers Decomposers or or Hetereotrophs Saptrotrophs

Rain Light Wind

Soil pH Minerals Topography Primary

(Herbivores)

Temperature

Secondary

Tertiary Quaternary

6 (Pr. Carnivores) (L. Carnivores) (Omnivores)

SUN (Solar Energy)

Plants (Photosynthesis)

Herbivores Carnivores Consumption

ATMOSPHERE (O2, CO2 AND WATER)

Detritivores Decomposition

SOIL (Nutrients and Water)

Relationship within an Ecosystem

Food Chains
The Th producers, consumers, and d d d decomposers of f each ecosystem make up a food chain. It show where energy is t h h i transferred f d
Sun

90 calories lost to environment 100 calories Autotroph 10 calories plant matter as food Herbivore 1 calorie as food Carnivore 9 calories lost to environment

Example of a Food Chain

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Food Web
Various food chains linked together to g form complex network called food web

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Food web of a hot spring

2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

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Trophic Levels
A trophic level is the p p position occupied by an organism in p y g a food chain. Trophic levels can be analyzed on an energy pyramid. Producers are found at the base of the pyramid and compromise the first trophic level. Primary consumers make up the second trophic level. l l Secondary consumers make up the third trophic level. Finally decomposers make up the fourth trophic level.

Trophic Levels Found on an Energy Pyramid

The greatest amount of energy is found at the base of g gy the pyramid. The least amount of energy is found at top of the pyramid. id

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 Pyramid - A diagram illustrating the flow of a commodity through the ecosystem. a) Pyramid of biomass - A pyramid based on chemical energy. b) Pyramid of numbers - A pyramid based on the number of organisms involved at various levels.

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Laws Governing Energy Changes First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy) y ( gy)

Energy is neither created nor destroyed Energy only changes form gy y g You cant get something for nothing can t

ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT

Laws Governing Energy Changes Second Law of Thermodynamics

In I every t transformation, some energy is f ti i converted to heat (lower quality) You cannot break even in terms of energy quality

Connections: Matter and Energy Laws and Environmental Problems High-throughput High throughput (waste) economy Matter recycling Matter-recycling economy Low throughput Low-throughput economy

Outside Energy Source

Powers photosynthesis

Warms earth

Powers water cycle

Heat
Location Reflection Retention

Wind and Precipitation

Uneven heating Ascending, descending air masses

LOW PRESSURE Cool, dry air

Heat released radiates to space

HIGH PRESSURE
Condensation and precipitation

Falls, is compressed, warms

Rises, expands, cools

Warm, dry air Flows toward low pressure, p , picks up moisture and heat

Hot, wet air

Moist surface warmed by sun HIGH LOW PRESSURE PRESSURE

Figure 6-10 Page 117 Slide 13

Modifiers
Rotation of the globe Geologic f features

Rain Shadows

Ecosystem Concepts and Components

Biomes Role of climate Aquatic life zones

Ecosystem Function
One-way flow of energy Cycling of matter

Energy Productivity of Ecosystems

Primary productivity Secondary productivity

Energy stored/area/time

Biomes of the World

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What is a biome?
A Biome is the largest geographic l t hi biotic unit, a major community y of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

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Difference between Biome and Ecosystem

Biome is a larger area with similar flora flora, fauna and microorganisms. An ecosystem is much smaller than a biome. A biome can be defined as various similar ecosystems throughout the world grouped together . An A ecosystem can b as l t be large as th the Sahara desert or as small as a puddle.
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How are biomes formed?

Climate is a major factor determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes Important biomes. climatic factors are: latitude: Arctic, boreal, temperate, subtropical, , , p , p , tropical. humidity: humid, semi-humid, semi-arid, and arid. id elevation: Increasing elevation causes a distribution of habitat types similar to that of increasing latitude. The most widely used systems of classifying biomes correspond to latitude and humidity . 25

How many biomes are there?

Although there is some disagreement among scientists on how to divide up the Earths biomes, most can agree on the following eight: Tropical Rainforest Tropical Savanna Desert Desert Chaparral Grassland Temperate Deciduous Forest e pe ate o ea o est Temperate Boreal Forest Tundra
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Tropical Rainforest
Typically found near the equator Receives more than 200 cm of rain annually p yp y Temperatures typically fall between 20oC and 25oC for the entire year As many as 50% of all the worlds animal species may be found h b f d here
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Tropical Savanna
Grasslands with a few scattered trees Experience a wet and dry season Hot temperatures Annual rainfall is between 50 and 127 cm More species of grazing mammals than any other biome bi
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Desert
Typically found between 25o and 40o latitude Receives less than 25 cm of rain each year p yp y Temperatures typically range between 20oC and 25oC but some extreme deserts can reach d h temperatures higher than 38oC and lower than 15oC

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Chaparral
Found between 32o and 40o latitude on the west coast of continents Receives between 35 and 70 cm of rain, usually in the y winter Extremely resistant to drought and weather events
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Grassland
Because of the dry climate, trees are found only near water sources such as streams Usually receives between 50 and 90 cm of rainfall each year S Summer temperatures can reach up to 38oC, and winter temperatures can fall to 40oC

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Temperate Deciduous Forest

Moderate climate Most trees will lose their leaves in the winter Temperatures range between p g 30oC and 30oC g Averages from 75 to 150 cm of precipitation

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Temperate Boreal Forest

Also known as Taiga Typically found between 45o and 60o N th l tit d North latitude Cold climate with summer rains Very few reptiles Snow is primary form of precipitation (40 100 cm i it ti annually)
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Tundra
Means treeless or marshy plain Characterized by permafrost permanently frozen soil starting as high as a few centimeters below the surface which severely limits plant growth Winter temperatures average 34oC while summer t hil temperatures t usually average below 10oC Low precipitation ( p p (1525 cm per p year) but ground is usually wet because of low evaporation
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