Lesson 1 Module

Topic 1
Scope and Importance of Environmental Science

Intended Learning Outcome:

● Determined the scope and importance of environmental sciences
● Discussed the impact of population increase and human activities to the
environment
● Synthesized how the National and Local government respond to environmental
issues/problems

I. PREPARATION
Introductory Activity:
Watch the following videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE9KTG9PFho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoIpCJwX7-M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G3eXI_DPn8

Guide Question: What is your overview on the present situation of our environment?

II. PRESENTATION
1.1 INTRODUCTION

The word ‘Environment’ is derived from the French word ‘Environner’ which means to
encircle, around or surround. The biologist Jacob Van Uerkal (1864-1944) introduced
the term ‘environment’ in Ecology. Ecology is the study of the interactions between an
organism of some kind and its environment. It is also equated with the sum total of land,
water, air, interrelationships among themselves and also with the human beings and
other living organisms. Environmental Science is the interdisciplinary field and requires
the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of
the Environment with a focus on environmental pollution and degradation. Environment
studies is a multidisciplinary subject where different aspects are dealt with in a holistic
approach. The science of Environment studies comprises various branches of studies
like chemistry, physics, life science, medical science, agriculture, public health, sanitary
engineering, geography, geology, atmospheric science, etc. It is the science of physical
phenomena in the environment. It studies the sources, reactions, transport, effect and
fate of a biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of and from human
activity upon these. Environmental Science deals with the study of processes in soil,
water, air and organisms which lead to pollution or environmental damages and the
scientific basis for the establishment of a standard which can be considered acceptably
clean, safe and healthy for human beings and natural ecosystems.

The Environment is about the surrounding external conditions influencing development

or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions etc. This involves
three questions such as: what is surrounded? by what surrounded? and where
surrounded?. The answer to the first is living objects in general and man in particular.
Human life is concerned to be the main in the study of environment. However, human
life cannot exist or be understood in isolation from the other forms of life like animal life
and from plant life. Environment belongs to all living beings and is thus important for all.
Hence, environment refers to the sum total of conditions surround in space and time.
The scope of the term ‘Environment’ has been changing and widening by the passage
of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only physical aspects of the
planet earth ie., land, water and air as biological communities. As of now, it includes
social, economic and political conditions also. The answer for the question where
surrounded is in nature that physical component of the planet earth, viz land, air, water
etc., support and affect life in the biosphere..

1.2 DEFINITIONS OF ENVIRONMENT:

Some important definitions of environment are as under:

1. According to Boring, ‘A person’s environment consists of the sum total of the

stimulation which he receives from his conception until his death.’ Indicating that
environment comprises various types of forces such as physical, intellectual, mental,
economical, political, cultural, social, moral and emotional.

2. Douglas and Holland defined that ‘The term environment is used to describe, in
aggregate, all the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the life,
nature, behaviour and the growth, development and maturity of living organisms’.

1.3 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENT:

The environment consists of four segments of the earth namely atmosphere,

hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere:

1. Atmosphere: The Atmosphere forms a distinctive protective layer about 100 km

thick around the earth. A blanket of gases called the atmosphere surrounds the earth
and protects the surface of earth from the Sun’s harmful, ultraviolet rays. It sustains life
on the earth. It also regulates temperature, preventing the earth from becoming too hot
or too cold. It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space. The atmosphere is
composed of nitrogen and oxygen besides, argon, carbon dioxide and trace gases.

The atmosphere has a marked effect on the energy balance at the surface of the Earth.
It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun. It transmits only ultraviolet, visible, near infrared
radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-
damaging ultra-violate waves below about 300 nm.

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans,

seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
Oceans represent 97% of the earth’s water and about 2% of the water resources is
locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers. Only about 1% is available as fresh water as
surface water in rivers, lakes, streams, and as ground water for human use.

3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of

minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air
and water.

4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions
with environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

The scope of environmental studies is very wide and it deals with many areas like i)
Conservation of natural resources, ii) ecological aspects, iii) pollution of the surrounding
natural resources, iv) controlling the pollution, v) social issues connected to it, and vi)
impacts of human population on the environment.

Elements 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 are:

(1) Physical elements. Physical elements are 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 economical, social and political
elements are essentially man- made features, which make the cultural background.

1.4 ENVIRONMENT STUDIES: IMPORTANCE

The environment studies make us aware about the importance of protection and
conservation of our mother earth and about the destruction due to the release of
pollution into the environment. The increase in human and animal population, industries
and other issues make the survival cumbersome. A great number of environment issues
have grown in size and make the system more complex day by day, threatening the
survival of mankind on earth. Environment studies have become significant for the
following reasons:

1. Environment Issues are being of Global:

It has been well recognised that environmental issues like global warming and ozone
depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but
are global issues and hence require international efforts and cooperation to solve them.

2. Development and Environment:

Development leads to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Telecommunication and

Transportation Systems, Hi-tech Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become
phased out in the developed world. The North intentionally moves their dirty factories to
South to cleanse their own environment. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in
ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Development of the rich countries
of the world has undesirable effects on the environment of the entire world.

3. Explosive Increase in Pollution

With the increasing population and and the ratio of land to the number of people living
on our planet, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land.
Agricultural experts have recognized soil health problems like deficiency of
micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure.

4. Need for an Alternative Solution

It is essential, specially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an

alternative goal. We need a goal as under:

1. A true goal of development with an environmentally sound and sustainable

development.

2. A goal common to all citizens of our planet earth.

3. A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-
consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.

It is utmost important for us to save the humanity from extinction because of our
activities constricting the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of
development.

5. Need for Wise Planning of Development

Our survival and sustenance depend on resources availability. Hence Resources
withdraw, processing and use of the products have all to be synchronised with the
ecological cycle. In any plan of development our actions should be planned ecologically
for the sustenance of the environment and development.

6. Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under:

(i) Holism, (ii) Ecosystem, (iii) Succession and (iv) Conversation.

Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which
interacting units of ecology are discussed, are as under:

Misra (1991) has recognized four basic requirements of environmental management as

under:

1. Impact of human activities on the environment,

2. Value system,

3. Plan and design for sustainable development,

4. Environment education.

Keeping in view of the goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development,

the Philippines contributed to the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED), also referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de Janeiro, the
Capital of Brazil, 3rd-14th June, 1992.

III. PRACTICE
Watch the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dru4tp-AmkE
What is your stand on each issue? Can you share some solutions to these problems?

IV. PERFORMANCE
See attached sheet for Activity No. 1
REFERENCES:
1. Prasad, Jagadamba and Khoiyangban, R and Gupta, Navindo (2015). Environmental Sciences:
Scope and Importance
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273775623_Introduction_to_Environmental_Sciences
2. Vinod Mishra. Asia-Pacific Population and Policy No. 63.2002.
https://www.eastwestcenter.org/publications/population-and-environmental-challenges-asia