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Meaning and History of Environmental Science

To understand the meaning of environmental science, it is necessary to study


assorted scientific disciplines and the associations between them. By then
creating a public awareness of the environmental issues before us, it may
perhaps be possible to take concrete steps towards resolving them.
Environmental Science
What is the meaning of Environmental Science? It encompasses various physical
and biological science disciplines as well as social sciences, in order to
understand how natural phenomena as well as human activities influence and
affect the environment. By examining man's impact on the environment it may
be possible to devise solutions or to take appropriate steps to mitigate the
negative effects and to preserve the positive.
Science fields contributing to Environmental Science
The scope and meaning of environmental science includes social sciences and
the following disciplines in conjunction with one another Biology This covers the study of the different varieties of flora and fauna, their
contributions to the environment, their mutual interactions, and their reactions
and adaptations to environmental changes.
Chemistry This covers the study and analysis of the chemicals present in the
atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere, and their effect on the biosphere.
Physics This covers the study of atmospheric, lithosphere and hydrosphere
dynamics.
Geology This covers the study of landforms, soil types and composition, and
rock and mineral types.
Meteorology This covers the study of the atmosphere climate changes,
greenhouse gas phenomena, infrared radiation transmission and so on.
History of Environmental Science
Awareness of the environment is, of course, not a modern concept. Human
beings have been concerned with it since quite ancient times when human
activities began to have a noticeable effect on their surroundings. For example,
there was depletion of forest lands for timber and fuel, overgrazing of pasture
lands, soil erosion due to intensive agricultural practices, air pollution due to
wood burning, water pollution due to human and animal waste and so on. There
is mention in ancient texts of people being forced to leave their homelands due
to loss of sustainable forests or pastures, and of edicts issued by various rulers to
protect forests and wild-life. It is known that as forests were depleted on the
European continent, the Greek and Roman civilizations began to make limited

use of solar energy as an alternative to wood fuel. In India and China, farmers
practiced crop rotation and other agricultural methods to counter soil erosion.
From the middle ages to the industrial revolution, with the growth of urban
populations in cities and the development of technology, public health began to
be a concern. With epidemics of plague, typhoid and cholera wrecking havoc,
people began to be more concerned with the need for clean water and better
sanitation. At the same time, the sources of pollution increased, with industrial
waste being dumped in water bodies and smoke from industries leading to high
smog levels.
In more modern times, from World War I to the present age, with all the
technological advances made, the scope of a modern person's environment has
expanded and, with it, the levels of air, water and soil pollution have only gone
up. As well, we face a risk of nuclear waste contamination and the increasing
problems of ozone depletion and global warming. Modern wars have also brought
about several environmental disasters.
Importance of Environmental Science
The overall impact of these problems has been felt through drastic climatic
changes, and there is more need than ever of public awareness of the impact of
collective human activities on the environment. The establishment of the
Environmental Protection Agency in the USA in 1970, and the signing of the
Montreal Protocol in 1987 have been steps in the right direction, but much more
is needed to balance issues of economic development with environmental
conservation. By understanding the meaning of environmental science and your
role in it, you could take appropriate measures to ensure that you lessen your
carbon footprint and help preserve the planet for future generations.

Meaning, Definition and Components of Environment


Now a days the word environment is often being used by almost all people
around us, on television and in newspapers. Everyone is speaking about the
protection and pre-serration of environment. Global summits are being held
regularly to discuss environmental issues. During the last hundred years, the
mutual relationship among environment, social organization and culture has
been discussed in sociology, anthropology and geography. All this shows the
increasing importance of environment. Besides, it is a fact that life is tied with
the environment.

Social sciences have borrowed the concept of ecology from biology. As a branch of biology,
ecology is the study of the relationship between living beings and their environment.
Sociology has been greatly influenced by biology. Sociology also studies the relationship
between man and environment through ecology. Field of study of human ecology in
sociology is centered around man and his environment.
The credit of beginning the study of human ecology in the field of sociology goes to Park and
Burgess. There exists a close relationship between man and environment. On the one hand
man is born in environment and establishes harmony with environment. On the other hand
man tires to control his environment and change it according to his requirements. Hence it
requires an understanding of the environment of which man is a part.
Meaning and Definition:

The term environment has been derived from a French word Environia means to surround.
It refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living) and biotic (living) environment. The word
environment means surroundings, in which organisms live. Environment and the organisms
are two dynamic and complex component of nature. Environment regulates the life of the
organisms including human beings. Human beings interact with the environment more
vigorously than other living beings. Ordinarily environment refers to the materials and forces
that surround the living organism.
Environment is the sum total of conditions that surrounds us at a given point of time and
space. It is comprised of the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural elements
which are interlinked both individually and collectively. Environment is the sum total of
conditions in which an organism has to survive or maintain its life process. It influences the
growth and development of living forms.

In other words environment refers to those surroundings that surrounds living beings from all
sides and affect their lives in toto. It consists of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and
biosphere. Its chief components are soil, water, air, organisms and solar energy. It has
provided us all the resources for leading a comfortable life.
1. According to P. Gisbert Environment is anything immediately surrounding an object and
exerting a direct influence on it.
2. According to E. J. Ross Environment is an external force which influences us.
Thus, environment refers to anything that is immediately surrounding an object and exerting
a direct influence on it. Our environment refers to those thing or agencies which though
distinct from us, affect our life or activity. The environment by which man is surrounded and
affected by factors which may be natural, artificial, social, biological and psychological.
Components of Environment:

Environment mainly consists of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. But it


can be roughly divided into two types such as (a) Micro environment and (b) Macro
environment. It can also be divided into two other types such as (c) Physical and (d) biotic
environment.
(a) Micro environment refers to the immediate local surrounding of the organism.
(b) Macro environment refers to all the physical and biotic conditions that surround the
organism externally.
(c) Physical environment refers to all abiotic factors or conditions like temperature, light,
rainfall, soil, minerals etc. It comprises of atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere.
(d) Biotic environment includes all biotic factors or living forms like plants, animals, Microorganisms.

What is the Nature of Environmental Studies?


The word environment is derived from the French word "environment" means to encircle or
surround. It is a composite word for the conditions/surroundings in which organism or group of
organisms live. The environment is a very wide term. It includes total physical and biotic word, in
which biological beings live, grow, get nourished and develop their natural characteristics.
In other words, it concerns with the "Biosphere" which include all biotic parts of hydrosphere,
lithosphere and atmosphere. The environment consists of both biotic and a biotic substances, i.e.,
consists of air water, food, sunlight, temperature, electricity, etc. Thus environment can be
defined in a number of ways, but common definition is "Environment is the sum of all social, economical biological, physical or chemical factors which
constitute the surroundings of men/living organism, who is both creator and molder of this
environment."
The environment for any living organism is always been changing never constant or static. This
change is sometimes slow, sometimes rapid or so. Some of these changes are irreversible (eq.
eutrophication of lake) while others are cyclic (eq. the annual climatic cycle) or transient (i.e.,
droughts). Now because natural biogeographically environment fluctuate with time, it is not easy
to distinguish change brought about by man.
Like other organisms, man is also affected by environment. These changes in environment may
benefit or harm the man or other organisms living in it. Environmental science is
multidisciplinary branch of science involving, chemistry, physics, life science, agriculture public
health, botany, medical sciences, geography, and many other fields.
Environmental science or studies is the study of the characteristics, composition functions and
systematic study of different components of the natural environmental systems. The
environment includes either physical or none living (a biotic) and living (biotic) environment.
Economics, sociology, education and mass-communication do help in understanding the socioeconomic aspects of environment. Mathematics, statistics and computer science also help in
modeling and management of environment.
With increasing scientific knowledge, man is able to modify the environment to suit his
immediate needs much more than any other organism. Since the very beginning of human

civilization man started interfering with the environment. He devastated forests for the use of
tree as wood, land under cultivation. He had polluted the rivers and other water resources.
The traditional concept that, natural resources are abundant for man to use or abuse has been
responsible for massive degeneration of nature, natural systems, environment and wild life. The
natural systems in which man exists along with all other species must maintain in a healthy and
functional state.
The environmental science is, therefore, a multidisciplinary science, which may require attention
of experts from different branches of science when decisions regarding environmental matters
have to be taken. In industrialized developing countries of the world, India occupies 7th place.
India has good industrial infrastructure in several industries like chemical, power, nuclear
energy, food, petroleum, pesticides, insecticides, plastic etc. A number of industrial effluents and
emissions, especially toxic gases and spewed in to the air daily. A rapid increase in Atomic and
nuclear energy has added a huge amount of radioactive substances in the atmosphere. Thus the
environment is decorated to such an extent that it has crossed the critical limit and has become
lethal to all organisms, including men.
The craze of progress in agriculture, industry, transportation and technology is taken as the
general criterion of development of any nation. Such activities of man have created adverse
effects on all living organisms in the biosphere. Today environment has become foul,
contaminated, undesirable, therefore, harmful for the health of living organisms (including man).
So for as pollution is concerned, environment includes the air, the water, the soil, the noise, the
building, the landscapes, the oceans, the lakes, the rivers, the parks, the vehicles and many other
things. Not only addition of constituents in these adversely alters the natural quality of the
environment but also removal of constituents caused pollution.

Environmental science is important for economy and welfare of human society.


It helps us in careful handling of the issues like pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, food
security and sustainable development.
Excessive use of agrochemicals has degraded the environment and has disturbed the ecological
balance.
Environmental science helps us to find ways and means to maintain the ecological balance.
It demonstrate how man can derive benefits from environment without destroying it.
It trains us to conserve ours fast depleting natural resources.
It helps to understand different food chain and ecological balance in nature.
It directs attention towards the problems of population explosion, depletion of natural resources and
pollution and the methods of solving such problems.

Reasons to Learn About the Environment


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So we can see these interrelationships between ecosystems and


maybe stop the damage or repair it.
To see how humans, animals, ocean currents, water cycles, food
chains, etc are all interrelated. For example:
When a large amount of the rainforest is destroyed, animals and
people are affected, erosion occurs and the exchange of oxygen and
carbon dioxide is altered.
This causes the global temperature to rise, which causes polar ice to
melt, which in turn, changes salinity.
These changes in salinity will slow or stop the Gulf Stream from
bringing warm water to the North Atlantic, which can alter the climate
there and globally.

An example of an environment is a rain forest or a school.

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