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Understanding Our Environment

Understanding Our Environment. Definitions. Environmental science – the study of how humans interact with the environment Environment – everything that surrounds us – the natural world along with human products. What’s the Problem???. Resource Depletion.

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Understanding Our Environment

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  1. Understanding Our Environment

  2. Definitions • Environmental science – the study of how humans interact with the environment • Environment – everything that surrounds us – the natural world along with human products

  3. What’s the Problem???

  4. Resource Depletion • Natural resource – any natural substance that living things can use • Here are some examples……..

  5. Sunlight

  6. Air

  7. Water

  8. Soil

  9. Minerals

  10. Plants

  11. Animals

  12. Forests

  13. Fossil Fuels

  14. Resource Depletion • Depletion occurs when large part of a resource is used up

  15. Nonrenewable Resources • Natural resources which cannot be replaced • EX: copper ore • EX: natural gas • EX: gold

  16. Renewable Resources • Natural resources which are continually replaced, even as being used • EX: solar energy • EX: trees • EX: rain

  17. Pollution • Intro of harmful levels of chemicals or waste material into the environment.

  18. EX: By-products of processes such as fuel combustion

  19. EX: Pesticides - created to get rid of pests, but harm envir. when they enter air, water, and soil.

  20. EX: Human health issues

  21. Extinction • Last individual member of a species has died and is gone forever. • Dying out because natural homes (habitats) are destroyed • Rate is higher now than at any other time in history.

  22. A Global Perspective • Biosphere is very thin layer of life around the Earth • About 8 km high and 8 km deep • See Figure 1-10 on p. 10

  23. Developed & Developing Countries • Developed Countries • Highly industrialized • High average incomes

  24. Examples include • United States • Canada • Japan • Australia, New Zealand • Countries of western • Europe

  25. Developing Countries • Less industrialized • Much lower average income

  26. Examples include • India • Kenya • Malaysia • Mexico • Thailand

  27. Population & Consumption • Human populations growing too quick-ly for some regions of world to support • Causes populationcrisis • When people use up, waste, or pollute natural resources faster than they can be renewed, replaced, or cleaned up…… • Result is consumptioncrisis

  28. Population Crisis • Most severe in developing countries • Not enough resources for everyone, but population continues to skyrocket anyway • Result is severe damage to environment • Malnutrition, starvation, and disease occur nearly constantly

  29. Consumption Crisis • Most severe in developed countries • Populations are stabilized or growing slowly • But average citizen uses disproportionately large share of Earth’s resources. • Up to 75% of resources used every year consumed by about 20% of population

  30. In a sustainable world…. • High standards of living and health • Habitats preserved • Garbage transformed into harmless stuff • Nonrenewables used sparingly/ efficiently • Renewables used no faster than they are replaced

  31. Is sustainable developmentpossible?

  32. Let’s tackle consumerism…www.storyofstuff.comwww.cosmeticsdatabase.com

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