ES036A K3 - C2 Assignment

Assignment no. 1 Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What is the difference between Environmental Science and

Environmental Engineering?
Environmental engineering focuses on using scientific knowledge to

analyze and build a system that reduces environmental impact while
environmental science is more focused with learning about existing
environmental, ecological, and biodiversity truths. To some extent, it
also entails investigating WHY & HOW an impact on the environment
occurs.
To summarize, an environmental scientist conducts a study on an

impact, and an environmental engineer develops a mitigation strategy
based on the findings of the study.
2. Why do we need to understand Environmental Science before

studying Environmental Engineering?
Since environmental engineering is a field where it find ways to protect

people from adverse environmental effects as well as improving the
environmental life, environmental science is crucial in understanding
how humans can play an important role in aiding environmental issues
and It provides information about the environment, existing and
potential threats, regulations and framework, and much more which
will be helpful in building a system that reduces environmental impact.
3. Make a flow diagram describing the processes of the

Biogeochemical Cycles for the following: Water Cycle,
Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Sulfur Cycle, Phosphorus Cycle.
Sulfur cycle
Phosphorous cycle
4. Explain how does human beings are altering these biogeochemical

cycles.
Humans disrupt the water cycle by removing enormous amounts of

freshwater quicker than it can be restored, as well as cutting
vegetation. We also cover land with buildings and pavement, which
limits aquifer recharge by trapping water above ground and increasing
runoff, which causes flooding and soil erosion.
Humans disrupt the carbon cycle primarily by releasing significant

volumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by burning carbon-
containing fossil fuels and clearing carbon-absorbing plant forests
(particularly tropical forests) faster than they can regenerate.
Humans have more than doubled the amount of nitrogen released into
the environment each year from the land. The majority of this is due to
the growing usage of inorganic fertilizer in crop production.
Human activities such as taking significant amounts of phosphate from
the ground to manufacture fertilizer and lowering phosphorus in
tropical soils by clearing forests have an impact on the phosphorus
cycle. Large amounts of phosphates are carried into streams, lakes, and
oceans by eroding soil from fertilized crop fields, lawns, and golf
courses, where they stimulate the growth of producers. Large
populations of algae can be produced by phosphorus-rich runoff from
the land, disrupting chemical cycle and other processes in lakes.
The sulfur cycle has been influenced by human activity, especially

through the release of huge volumes of sulfur dioxide into the
atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide is released into the environment by burning
sulphur-containing coal and oil to generate electricity. To make
gasoline, sulfur-containing petroleum is refined. Sulfur-containing
metallic mineral ores are converted into free metals like copper, lead,
and zinc.
5. Define sustainability. How can you contribute to sustainable

development with your awareness on the environment?
Sustainability means the ability to sustain or maintain a certain thing for

a long period of time. I can contribute to sustainable development with
my awareness on the environment by applying what I have learned to
this awareness such as turning off lights when not used, promote
environmental protection by joining to different environmental
activities or programs, throwing trashes in a proper place, inspiring
others to promote environmental protection as well and etc.
6. Study the notes on ECOLOGY and list 20 terms with their

definitions.
1. Abiotic Factors
an environment factor that is not associated with the activities of living organisms
2. Biotic Factors
an environmental factor that is associated with or resulted from the activities of
living organisms
3. Logistic Growth Model

a model of population growth that assumes the finite resource levels limit
population growth
4. Density Dependent Factor

a variable affected by the number of organisms present in a given area
5. Independent Factor
A variable that affects the population regardless of the population density, such
as climate
6. Carrying Capacity
the largest population that an environment can support.
7. Growth
a curve in which the rate of population growth stays the same, as a result the
population size increases steadily.
8. R-strategist
a species that is adapted for living in a certain environment where changes are
rapid and unpredictable; characterized by rapid growth, high fertility, short life
span, small body size, and exponential population growth
9. Organism
an individual living thing that is made up of cells, used energy, reproduces,
responds, grows, and develops
10.Population
a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area
and interbreed
11.Community
a group of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other
12.Ecosystem
a community of organisms and their abiotic environment
13.Biosphere
portion of the earth that supports living things
14. Ecology
the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their
environment
15.Habitat
the location where the animal lives
16.Niche
position of a species in an ecosystem in terms of the physical characteristics of
the area where the species lives and the function of the species in the biological
community
17.Producer
an organism that can make organic molecules from inorganic molecules
18.Consumer
an organism that eats other organisms or organic matter instead of producing its
own nutrients
19. Decomposer
an organism that feeds by breaking down organic matter from dead organisms
Scavenger eats other dead animals
20.Carbon Oxygen cycle
Involves the processes of respiration and photosyntesis.

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Assignment no. 1 Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What is the difference between Environmental Science and

Environmental engineering focuses on using scientific knowledge to

To summarize, an environmental scientist conducts a study on an

2. Why do we need to understand Environmental Science before

Since environmental engineering is a field where it find ways to protect

3. Make a flow diagram describing the processes of the

4. Explain how does human beings are altering these biogeochemical

Humans disrupt the water cycle by removing enormous amounts of

Humans disrupt the carbon cycle primarily by releasing significant

The sulfur cycle has been influenced by human activity, especially

5. Define sustainability. How can you contribute to sustainable

Sustainability means the ability to sustain or maintain a certain thing for

6. Study the notes on ECOLOGY and list 20 terms with their

3. Logistic Growth Model

4. Density Dependent Factor

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