2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Lecture Outlines
Chapter 1
Environment:
The Science behind the
Stories
4th Edition
Withgott/Brennan
2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
This lecture will help you understand:
The meaning of the term
environment
The field and interdisciplinary
nature of environmental science
The importance of natural
resources and ecosystem services
The scientific method and the
process of science
Some pressures on the global
environment
Concepts of sustainability and
sustainable development
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Our island: Earth
Earth may seem enormous
- But it and its systems are finite and limited
- We can change the Earth and damage its systems
Environment: all the living and non-living things
around us
- Animals, plants, forests, farms, etc.
Continents, oceans, clouds, ice caps
Structures, urban centers, living spaces
Social relationships and institutions
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Humans are part of nature
Humans depend on a healthy, functioning planet
The fundamental insight of environmental science:
- We are part of the natural world, but we can also change it
- Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal
We depend completely on the environment for survival
- Increased health, longer lives, wealth, mobility, leisure
- But natural systems have been degraded by pollution, soil
erosion, species extinction, etc.
- Environmental changes threaten long-term health and
survival
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Environmental science
Environmental science is the study of:
- How the natural world works
- How the environment affects humans and vice versa
We need to understand our interactions with the environment
- To creatively solve environmental problems
Global conditions are rapidly changing
- We are also rapidly gaining knowledge
- The opportunity to solve problems is still available
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We rely on natural resources
Natural resources = substances and energy sources needed
for survival
Renewable natural resources: can be replenished
- Perpetually renewed: sunlight, wind, wave energy
- Renew themselves over short periods: timber, water, soil
- These can be destroyed
Nonrenewable natural resources: unavailable after depletion
- Oil, coal, minerals
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We rely on ecosystem services
Natural resources are goods produced by nature
- Earths natural resources provide services to us
Ecosystem services: arise from the normal functioning of
natural services
- Purify air and water, cycle nutrients, regulate climate
- Pollinate plants, receive and recycle wastes
We degrade ecosystem services
- By depleting resources, destroying habitat, generating
pollution
- Increased human affluence has intensified degradation
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Human population growth amplifies impacts
There are over 6.9 billion
humans
Agricultural revolution
- Crops, livestock
- Stable food supplies
Industrial revolution
- Urbanized society powered
by fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal)
- Sanitation and medicines
- Pesticides and fertilizers
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Resource consumption exerts pressures
Exploitation and consumption of resources is also a problem
Garret Hardins tragedy of the commons: unregulated
exploitation of public resources leads to depletion and damage
Soil, air, water
Resource users are motivated by self interest
They increase use until the resource is gone
Solutions to the tragedy of the commons?
Private ownership?
Voluntary organization to enforce responsible use?
Governmental regulations?
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Our ecological footprint
Affluence increases consumption
Ecological footprint: the
environmental impact of a person
or population
- The area of biologically
productive land + water
- To supply raw resources and
dispose/recycle waste
People in rich nations have much
larger ecological footprints
If everyone consumed the amount of resources the U.S.
does, we would need 4.5 Earths!
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Overshoot
We are using renewable resources 30% faster than they are
being replenished
Overshoot: humans have surpassed the Earths capacity
to support us
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Environmental science
How will resource consumption and population growth
impact todays global society?
Civilizations have fallen after degrading the environment
- Easter Island, Greek and Roman empires
- Once lush regions (i.e. Iraq) are now barren deserts
Civilizations succeed or fail according to how they
interact with the environment
- Along with how they respond to problems
Environmental science can help build a better world
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The nature of environmental science
Environment impacts Humans
Its applied goal: solving environmental
problems
Solutions are applications of science
An interdisciplinary field
- Natural sciences: examines the
natural world
- Environmental science programs
- Social sciences: examines values and
human behavior
- Environmental studies programs
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What is an environmental problem?
Whether an environmental
condition is seen as a problem
- Depends on the individual and
situation
Ex.: the pesticide DDT
- In malaria-infested Africa:
welcome because it kills
malaria-carrying mosquitoes
- In America: not welcome, due
to health risks
People also differ in their awareness of problems,
depending on who they are, where they live, what they do
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Environmental science is not environmentalism
Environmental science
Pursues knowledge about
the environment and our
interactions with it
Scientists try to remain
objective and free from bias
Environmentalism
A social movement
Tries to protect the natural world
from human-caused changes
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The nature of science
Science: a systematic process for learning about the
world and testing our understanding of it
- The accumulated body of knowledge arising from the
dynamic process of observation, testing, and discovery
Civilization depends on science and technology
- Science tries to understand the world and steer a safe
course
Science is essential to sort fact from fiction
- Develop solutions to the problems we face
- It must be accessible and understandable to the public
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Applications of science
Restoration of forest ecosystems altered
by human suppression of fire
Policy decisions and
management practices
Energy-efficient electric car
Developing technology
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Science asks and answers questions
It is an incremental approach to the truth
Scientists do not simply accept conventional wisdom
- They judge ideas by the strength of their evidence
Observational (descriptive) science: information is
gathered about organisms, systems, processes, etc.
- Cannot be manipulated by experiments
- Phenomena are observed and measured
- Used in astronomy, paleontology, taxonomy, genomics
Hypothesis-driven science: targeted research
- Experiments test hypotheses using the scientific method
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The scientific method: a traditional approach
It tests ideas
- Scientists in different fields
approach problems
differently
Assumptions:
- The universe works according
to unchanging natural laws
- Events arise from causes, and
cause other events
- We use senses and reason to
understand natural processes
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The scientific method
A scientist makes an
observation and asks
questions of some phenomenon
Hypothesis: a statement that
tries to explain the question
The hypothesis generates
predictions: specific statements
that can be directly tested
The test results either support
or reject the hypothesis
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Experiments test the validity of a hypothesis
Variable: a condition that can change
Independent variable: can be manipulated
Dependent variable: depends on the independent
variable
Controlled experiment: the effects of all variables are
controlled
- Except the independent variable whose effect is
being tested
Control: an unmanipulated point of comparison
Quantitative data: uses numbers
Qualitative data: does not use numbers
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Hypotheses are tested in different ways
Manipulative experiments yield
the strongest evidence
Reveals causal relationships
Lots of things cant be
manipulated
Natural tests show real-world
complexity
Results are not neat and clean
Answers arent black and
white
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The scientific process is part of a larger process
It guards against faulty
research
Includes peer review,
publication,
competition for
funding
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Experimental design
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Experimental results, 8 year study
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Control group and experimental group
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Theories and paradigm shifts
Theory: a well-tested and widely accepted explanation
Consolidates widely-supported, related hypotheses
Paradigm shift a dramatic upheaval in thought
It changes the dominant viewpoint
Wicked problems: are complex, with no simple solution
I.e. environmental problems
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Sustainability and the future of our world
Sustainability: we must live within our planets means
- So the Earth and its resources can sustain us and all life
for the future
Sustainability involves conserving resources
- Developing long-term solutions
- Keeping fully functioning ecosystems
Natural capital: Earths total wealth of resources
- We are withdrawing it faster that its being replenished
- We must live off Earths natural interest (replenishable
resources), not its natural capital
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Population & consumption
Population growth amplifies all human impacts
- The growth rate has slowed, but we still add more than
200,000 people to the planet each day
Resource consumption has risen faster than population
- Life has become more pleasant
- Rising consumption also amplifies our demands on the
environment
The 20 wealthiest nations have 55 times the income of
the 20 poorest nations
- Three times the gap that existed 40 years ago
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Ecological footprints are not all equal
Not everyone benefits
equally from rising affluence
The ecological footprints of
countries vary greatly
- The U.S. footprint is much
greater than the worlds
average
In the U.S. the richest 1%
- Have 25% of all income
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We face challenges in agriculture
Technology expanded food production
Leading to increased population and consumption
Its one of humanitys greatest achievements, but it
comes at an enormous environmental cost
Nearly half of the land surface is used for agriculture
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides poison and change
natural systems
Erosion, climate change and poor management
destroy millions of acres each year
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Humans have changed the Earths landscape
Agriculture, urban sprawl, and other land uses have
substantially affected most of the landscape of all nations
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We face challenges in pollution
Waste products and artificial chemicals
Are used in farms, industries, and households
Contaminate land, water and air
Kill millions of people
Humans are affecting the Earths climate
Melting glaciers
Rising sea levels
Impacted wildlife, forests, health and crops
Changed rainfall and increased storms
Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon
dioxide concentrations have risen by 39%, to the
highest level in 800,000 years
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We face challenges in biodiversity
Biodiversity: the cumulative
number and diversity of
living things
Human actions have driven
many species extinct
Biodiversity is declining
dramatically
We are setting in motion a
mass extinction event
Biodiversity loss may be our biggest problem; once
a species is extinct, it is gone forever
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The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
The most comprehensive scientific assessment of the
condition of the worlds ecological systems
In 2005, 2000 of the worlds leading scientists from
100 nations reported :
Humans have drastically altered ecosystems
These changes have contributed to human well-
being and economic development, but at a cost
Environmental degradation could get much worse
Degradation can be reversed, but it requires work
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Our energy choices will affect our future
The lives we live today are due to fossil fuels
Machines
Chemicals
Transportation
Products
Fossil fuels are a one-time bonanza
Supplies will certainly decline
We have used up of the worlds oil supplies; how
will we handle this imminent fossil fuel shortage?
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Sustainable solutions abound
Renewable energy and efficiency
Organic agriculture
Legislation and technology to reduce pollution
Protect species and their habitat
Recycling, decreasing waste
Decrease greenhouse gas emissions
We must develop solutions that
protect both our quality of life
and the environment
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Are things getting better or worse?
Many people think environmental conditions are better
Cornucopians: human ingenuity will solve any
problem
Some think things are much worse
Cassandras: predict doom and disaster
How can you decide who is correct?
Are the impacts limited to humans, or are other
organisms or systems involved?
Are the proponents thinking in the long or short term?
Are they considering all costs and benefits?
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Sustainable development
Involves environmental protection, economic well-being
and social equity
It does not threaten economic and social needs
- Humans cannot exist without an intact, functioning
ecosystem
Sustainable development: the use of resources to satisfy
current needs
- Without compromising future availability of resources
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Sustainable development
The poor suffer the most from environmental degradation
Development: purposeful changes to improve the quality
of life
Sustainable development: resources satisfy current
needs
- Without compromising future availability of resources
- It is not ever increasing economic gain
- It values and prioritizes environmental protection
- Human-made capital cannot substitute for natural
capital
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Will we develop in a sustainable way?
The triple bottom line:
sustainable solutions that meet
- Environmental protection
- Economic goals
- Social equity
Humans must apply knowledge
from the sciences to
- Limit environmental impacts
- Maintain functioning
environmental systems
We must make an ethical commitment to current and
future generations
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Conclusion
Environmental science helps us understand our
relationship with the environment
- It informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems
Identifying a problem is the first step in solving it
Solving environmental problems can move us towards
health, longevity, peace and prosperity
- Environmental science can help us find balanced
solutions to environmental challenges
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QUESTION: Review
The term environment does NOT include:
a) Animals and plants
b) Oceans and rivers
c) Structures and urban centers
d) All of the above are included in this term.
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QUESTION: Review
Which of the following is correct about the term
environmental science?
a) It is a social movement to protect the environment.
b) It studies how the natural world works.
c) It usually does not include human activities.
d) It is a declining science.
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QUESTION: Review
If you add various amounts of fertilizer to plants in a
laboratory, the fertilizer would be a ______ variable.
a) Correlative
b) Natural
c) Independent
d) Rare
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QUESTION: Review
What is the definition of sustainable development?
a) Using resources to benefit future generations, even
if it means lower availability now.
b) Letting future generations figure out their own
problems.
c) Using resources to satisfy current needs without
compromising future availability.
d) Letting each country decide what is its best interest.
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QUESTION: Weighing the Issues
What do you think of the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment?
a) It is a well-supported report on the Earths ecological
systems.
b) It abuses science to draw special conclusions.
c) It suggests much more study is needed on
environmental problems.
d) It concludes that humans really arent causing many
environmental problems.
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QUESTION: Weighing the Issues
Do you think it is ethical for the United States to have
the largest ecological footprint in the world?
a) Yes, because we find the most new technologies
and resources.
b) Yes, because the footprint of the United States is
not really that large.
c) Definitely not; people in the United States need to
reduce their footprint.
d) It does not matter; its not that important.
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QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data
According to this graph, what was responsible for
population growth over the last 500 years?
a) Fossil fuels
b) Increased food
c) The Black plague
d) Education
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QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data
What happens if test
results can not reject a
hypothesis?
a) The scientist
formulates a new
hypothesis.
b) It shows the test failed.
c) The hypothesis was
supported
d) The predictions may
not have been correct.