ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr.

H U Raghavendra

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

 What is Environment?
 Why do we give notice so much interest in Environmental Studies?
 What do we exactly mean by Environmental Studies?

 The earth provided the right environment pure air, pure water, and pure land, carbon
dioxide which in presence of strong sunlight helped in the development of the living
world consisting of plants, animals and man.

 Nature through its own cycles has readily helped in the evolution of life forms. These
natural cycles water cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, etc. are
conducted in harmony with environment.

 In the early stage man lived in harmony with Nature but over the years this equilibrium
was disrupted by man as he tried to improve his life style with the help of science and
technology and as population grew beyond control which increased the need for
more and more food, water and shelter.

 Man’s greed’s and needs led to exploitation of natural resources which caused
environmental degradation and world-wide crisis threatening human survival.

It is now felt that the public in general and the student community in particular should be
made aware of all aspects of human environment physical, biological, socio-economic and
cultural in order to handle current environmental issues properly. The studies of all these
aspects comprise Environmental Studies.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

ENVIRONMENT DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE

Definition

Environment is derived from the French word Environner, which means to encircle or
surround.

Environment is the sum total of all conditions and influences that affect the development
and life of all organisms on earth. It includes all the physical and biological surrounding and
their interactions.

In another words “Environment is sum total of water, air and land interrelationships
among themselves and also with the human being, other living organisms and property”.
The living organisms vary from the lowest micro-organisms such as bacteria, virus, fungus,
etc. to the highest, including man. Each organism has its own environment. The concept of
environment can be clearly understood from Fig.

Environmental studies provide an approach towards understanding the environment of

our planet and the impact of human life upon the environment.

The word “environment” can mean many things to many people. Some consider it to be
preservation of a scenic natural landscape or dwindling wildlife species. According to some,
it is industrial pollution or threat to citizens’ amenities caused by the building of a road or a
big factory. Others may treat it as the mother of natural resources energy, land, water,
atmosphere and minerals.

Environmental engineering: The discipline, which evaluates the effects of humans on the
environment and develops controls to minimize environmental degradation.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Element of environment
Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural
elements inter-related in various ways, individually as well as collectively. These elements
may be explained as under:

1. Physical elements
Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies, climate soils, rocks and minerals.
They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its opportunities as well as
limitations.

2. Biological elements
Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men constitute the
biosphere.

3. Cultural elements
Cultural elements such as economic, social and political elements are essentially manmade
features, which make cultural setting.

Scope of environmental studies

We live in cities get our food supply from surrounding villages and these in turn are
dependent on natural landscapes such as forests, grasslands, rivers, seashores, for
resources such as water for agriculture, fuel wood, fodder, and fish. Thus our daily lives are
linked with our surroundings and inevitably affects them.

We use water to drink and for other day-to-day activities. We breathe air, we use resources
from which food is made and we depend on the community of living plants and animals
which form a web of life, of which we are also a part.

Our dependence on nature is so great that we cannot continue to live without protecting
the earth’s environmental resources. Thus most traditions refer to our environment as
‘Mother Nature’ and most traditional societies have learned that respecting nature is vital
for their livelihoods.

Over the past 200 years however, modern societies began to believe that easy answers to
the question of producing more resources could be provided by means of technological
innovations.

For example, though growing more food by using fertilizers and pesticides, developing
better strains of domestic animals and crops, irrigating farmland through mega dams and
developing industry, led to rapid economic growth, the ill effects of this type of
development, led to environmental degradation.

Our natural resources can be compared with money in a bank. If we use it rapidly, the
capital will be reduced to zero. On the other hand, if we use only the interest, it can sustain
us over the longer term. This is called sustainable utilisation or development.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Environmental studies discipline has multiple and multilevel scopes. It encompasses a

large number of areas and aspects such as

 Natural Resources – their conservation and management

 Ecology and biodiversity
 Environmental pollution and control
 Waste management
 Social issues in relation to development and environment
 Human population and environment

These measures require expertise and hence are increasingly creating job opportunities.
Environmental studies can also be highly specialized concentrating on more technical
aspects like environmental science, environmental engineering or environmental
management which deal with environmental issues.

The scopes are summarized as follows:

1. Ecosystem structure and function – It provides the knowledge about ecological

systems and cause and effect relationships that link the living or biotic components to the
non-living or abiotic components.

2. Natural resource conservation – Apart from providing innumerable resources,

natural assets such as forests contribute towards maintaining a balance in the
environment. Therefore, managing and maintenance of forests and wildlife is a important
task under natural resource conservation.

3. Environmental pollution control – With the knowledge of environmental

sciences, one can look for methods to control pollution and manage waste effectively.

4. Environmental management – There are several independent environmental

consultants working with the Central and State pollution control boards. These consultants
offer advice related to environment problems and their solutions. They also direct the
concerned industry, looking for advice on environmental issues, to lawyers specialized in
the field of environmental laws. The consultants working with the government pollution
control boards are involved in policy making, pollution control and maintenance of
ecological balance.

5. Industry – Most industries have separate environmental research and development

section which governs the impact that their industry has on the environment. Rapid
industrialization is increasingly degrading the environment. To combat this menace, there
is a growing trend towards manufacture of green goods and products. There is an
increasing emphasis on marketing goods that are environment friendly called green

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

marketing. Such products have ecomark or ISO 14000 certification. Environmental

auditors and environmental managers would be in great demand in the coming years.

6. Research and development – There is tremendous scope for R & D in

environmental issues. Various universities and governmental organizations offer research
studies in order to develop or methods of monitoring and controlling environmental
pollution. Because of an increasing threat form global warming, various steps are being
taken towards of greenhouse gases and adoption of renewable energy sources. There is
great awareness now regarding the use of solar energy.

7. Social development – Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) help in creating

awareness regarding the protection of the environment. They are engaging environmental
consultants for systematically studying and tackling environment related problems.

8. Environmental journalism – There is an increasing demand for people who can

report on environmental issues to generate awareness among people. Environmental
journalism is an emerging field which helps in bringing environmental problems to public
notice.

9. Environmentalists – Environmentalists analyses the causes and effects of

environmental issues locally or globally. They also work towards gathering public opinion
on environmental issues.

10. It provides necessary information about biodiversity richness and the potential
dangers to the species of plants, animals and microorganisms in the environment.

These are the basic aspects of environmental studies which have a direct relevance to
every section of the society.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Importance of environmental study

Internationally observed environment calendar to mark some important aspect or issue of

environment

Environmental issues received international attention about 35 years back in Stockholm

conference, held on 5th June, 1972. Since then we celebrate World Environment Day on
5th June.

Presently a great number of environment issues, have grown in size and complexity day by
day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth. We study about these issues besides and
effective suggestions in the Environment Studies. Environment studies have become
significant for the following reasons:

Importance

 Environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution
and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence must be
tackled with international efforts and cooperation.

 Environmental studies helps maintain ecological balance by providing a basic operating

knowledge of environmental systems and processes. It also provides knowledge about the
development and utilization of energy resources and the role of public policy therein.

 Environmental studies helps achieve sustainable development and understand the

relationships between development and the environment.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

 World population is increasing at an alarming rate especially in developing countries and

the resulting increase in material consumption and technological development have
increased the rate and scale of degradation of the environment.

 The natural resources endowment in the earth is limited.

 The methods and techniques of exploiting natural resources are advanced.

 The resources are over-exploited and there is no foresight of leaving the resources to the
future generations.

 The unplanned exploitation of natural resources lead to pollution of all types and at all
levels.

 The pollution and degraded environment seriously affect the health of all living things on
earth, including man.

 Education and training are needed to save the biodiversity and species extinction.

 The urban area, coupled with industries, is major sources of pollution.

 The concepts from Environmental studies can be applied to the study of agriculture and the
design of sustainable production systems.

 The number and area extinct under protected area should be increased so that the wild life
is protected at least in these sites.

 The study enables the people regarding their duties towards environmental protection and
to understand the complexities of the environment and need for the people to adapt
appropriate activities and pursue sustainable development, which are harmonious with the
environment.

 The study motivates students to get involved in community action, and to participate in
various environmental and management projects.

 Environmental studies take a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human

interactions with the natural environment. It integrates different approaches of the
humanities, social sciences, biological sciences and physical sciences and applies these
approaches to investigate environmental concerns.

Components of environment

The term Environment can be broadly defined as one’s surroundings. To be more specific
we can say that it is the physical and biological habitat that surrounds us, which can be felt
by our physical faculties (seen, heard, touched, smelled and tasted).

The two major classifications of environment are:

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

(A) Physical Environment: External physical factors like Air, Water, and Land etc. This
is also called the Abiotic Environment.

(B) Living Environment: All living organisms around us viz. plants, animals, and
microorganisms. This is also called the Biotic Environment.

Earth’s environment can be further subdivided into the following segments:

(1) Lithosphere (Land)
(2) Hydrosphere (Water)
(3) Atmosphere (Air)
(4) Biosphere (Flora/Fauna/Microbes)
(5) Anthrosphere (Man made things)

LITHOSPHERE
The earth’s crust consisting of the soil and rocks is the lithosphere. The soil is made up of
inorganic and organic matter and water. The main mineral constituents are compounds or
mixtures derived from the elements of Si, Ca, K, Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, O etc. (Oxides, Silicates, and
Carbonates). The organic constituents are mainly polysaccharides, organo compounds of N,
P and S. The organic constituents even though form only around 4% – 6% of the
lithosphere, they are responsible for the fertility of the soil and hence its productivity.

HYDROSPHERE
This comprises all water resources both surface and ground water. The world’s water is
found in oceans and seas, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, glaciers and snowcaps
in the Polar Regions in addition to ground water below the land areas. The distribution of
water among these resources is as under Table

Table
Oceans and Seas 96–97 %
Glaciers and polar icecaps 2–3 %
Fresh water < 1%

The water locked up in the Oceans and Seas are too salty and cannot be used directly for
human consumption, domestic, agriculture or Industrial purposes. Only less than 1% of
water resources are available for human exploitation. Water is considered to be a common
compound. Water are mainly responsible for supporting terrestrial and aquatic life on
earth.

BIOSPHERE
The biosphere is a capsule encircling the earth’s surface wherein all the living things exist.
This portion extends from 10000 m below sea level to 6000 m above sea level. Life forms
do not exist outside this zone. The biosphere covers parts of other segments of the
environment viz. Lithosphere, Hydrosphere and Atmosphere. Life sustaining resources like

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

food, water and oxygen present in the biosphere are being withdrawn and waste products
in increasing quantities are being dumped. The biosphere has been absorbing this and
adapting them. However the rate of waste dumping has gone beyond the assimilating
capability of the biosphere and signals of this stress is becoming evident.

ATMOSPHERE
It is the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth and extends upto 500 kms above the
earth’s surface. The composition of the atmosphere is given in Table.

Table
Constituent Volume %
Nitrogen 78.1
Oxygen 20.9
Water vapour 0.1-5
Argon 0.9
Carbon dioxide 0.03
Trace constituents * Balance
*The trace constituents include Helium, Neon, Krypton, xenon, SO2, NO2, Ammonia, Ozone,
and Carbon monoxide etc.
The atmosphere, which is a gaseous cover, protects the earth from cosmic radiations and
provides life sustaining Oxygen, the macronutrient Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide needed for
photosynthesis. The atmosphere screens the dangerous UV radiations from the sun and
allows only radiations in the range of 300 nm – 2500 nm and radio waves. The atmosphere
plays a major role in maintaining the heat balance of the earth by absorbing the re-emitted
radiation from the earth. In addition the atmosphere is the medium of carriage of water
from the oceans to the land in the hydrological cycle.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere is broadly divided into four major zones viz. Troposphere, Stratosphere,
Mesosphere and Thermosphere. Characteristics of these zones are pictorially represented
below in Fig.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

TROPOSPHERE
Troposphere is the layer of air nearest to the ground. Temperature decreases with height.
The average temperature drops from 15ºC at sea level to –56.5ºC at 11,000 m above sea
level. Most water vapor evaporates from the surface of the Earth and is found in the lower
troposphere. Most of the weather occurs in the troposphere. Tropopause is the top of the
troposphere, which is a transition layer between Troposphere and Stratosphere.

STRATOSPHERE
Stratosphere is the layer of air above the troposphere where temperature increases with
height. The average temperature rises to –2.5ºC at 50,000 m above sea level. Ozone is
found in higher concentrations between 20 and 30 km above the surface. Hence sometimes
this layer is referred to as the “ozone layer”. Ozone absorbs radiant energy from the sun
and hence warmer temperatures are encountered in the stratosphere. Stratopause is the
top of the stratosphere, which is a transition layer between Stratosphere and Mesosphere.

MESOSPHERE
Mesosphere is the layer of air above the stratosphere where temperature decreases with
height. The average temperature decreases to –90°C at 90,000 m. This is the coldest layer
of the atmosphere. Mesopause is the top of the mesosphere, which is a transition layer
between Mesosphere and Thermosphere.

THERMOSPHERE
Thermosphere is the layer of air above the mesosphere. The temperatures in the
thermosphere increase with increasing height, but there are not many molecules in this
layer. The air becomes less and less dense as we reach space.

Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental studies

Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects an organism. It is essentially a
multidisciplinary approach that brings about an appreciation of our natural world and
human impacts on its integrity. It is an applied science as it seeks practical answers to
making human civilization sustainable on the earth's finite resources. Its components
include
1. Biology
2. Geology
3. Chemistry
4. Physics
5. Engineering
6. Sociology
7. Health
8. Anthropology
9. Economics
10. Statistics
11. Philosophy

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

Keeping in view the complex nature of environment, knowledge inputs from various
disciplines of science, social science, law and engineering are included in Environmental
studies.

 Life sciences including botany, zoology, microbiology, genetics and biochemistry help in
understanding the biotic components and their interactions. Genetics and
biotechnology are emerging as useful tools for finding solutions to environmental
problems.

 For understanding the physical and chemical structure of abiotic components of

environment along with mass and energy transfers we have to make use of the basic
concept of physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, oceanography and
geography.

 Mathematics, statistics and computer science likewise serve as effective tools in

environmental modeling.

 Subjects like economics, management and sociology provide the inputs for dealing with
the socio-economic aspects associated with various development activities.

 A synthesis of civil engineering, hydraulics, chemical engineering and nanotechnology

provide the technical solutions to environmental pollution control and waste treatment
that are extremely important for protection of the environment.

 Environmental laws provide the guidelines and legal measures for effective
management and protection of the environment.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Dr. H U Raghavendra

 Environmental education and mass communication are two important subjects that are
instrumental in disseminating environmental awareness. Journalists describe and
interpret our environment, and illustrators show us our environment.

 Philosophers examine how we value our environment,

Environmental sciences, therefore is a multi-disciplinary subject where we deal with

different aspects using a holistic approach.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, MSRIT, BANGALORE