What is Environmental Science?

is the study of the environment, the processes if undergoes and the problems that arise generally from the interaction of humans with the environment
is an integration of many disciplines such as chemistry, biology, physics, hydrology, geology and metereology.

Environmentalist an individual who promotes environmental awareness and advocates for the protection of the environment
Environmental Scientist is a specialist who studies, collects, and analyzes data pertaining to environmental conditions and problems.

ENVIRONMENT - all facets of mans surroundings, physical, ecological, aesthetic, cultural, economic, historic, institutional and social

Ecology a science which studies the relationship between humans and other organisms and their environment.
The environment consist of nonliving (abiotic) components which affect its living components its organisms. Ex. Air, sunshine, soil

FOUR LAWS OF ECOLOGY

1. Everything is connected to everything else.

2. Everything must go somewhere.

3. Nature knows best. 4. Nothing comes free.

Sustainability meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Conditions to be physically sustainable: 1. Rates of renewable resources do not exceed their rates of regeneration
2. Rates of pollution emission do not exceed the assimilative capacity of the environment.

Six Biological Principles:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Conservation Recycling Restoration Population Control Regeneration of renewable resources 6. Adaptability

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Factors that lead to unsustainability Frontier ethics Inefficiency Overconsumption Linearity Fossil fuel dependence Over population

Sustainable ethic assert that: 1. Earth has a limited supply of resources, not for us all. 2. Human are part of nature, subject to its laws. 3. Success stems from efforts to cooperate with the forces of natures. 4. All life depends on maintaining a healthy, well-functioning ecosystem.

Ecological Concepts:
Ecosystem the basic ecological unit which is a community of organisms within an area where matter cycles and energy flows.

Components of the Ecosystem: 1. Biotic living components; plants, animals, microorganisms, bacteria
2. Abiotic nonliving components; air, soil, water, precipitation, etc. that help living organisms survive.

Species is made up of the same kind of organisms Population a group of inhabitants or individuals of the same species in an ecosystem
Diversity number of species in an ecosystem

Biosphere or sphere of life is the portion of earth capable of supporting life.

Ecological Principles

1. Law of tolerance The population will thrive in a given ecosystem if the level of abiotic factors fall within the range of tolerance applicable to its individuals.

2. Principle of limiting factor Abiotic factors , physical or chemical which could limit the growth of a population; i.e. temperature, sunlight, amount of oxygen, or nutrients which could increase or decrease the population in an ecosystem.

Scientific Principles
1. Law of Conservation of Matter 2. Law of Conservation of Energy 3. Second law of energy

Reasons why earth continues to exist

1.

There is a constant supply of energy from the sun

2. Matter cycling provides us the nutrients necessary to live 3. Gravity keeps these nutrients within our reach.