ENVIRONMENT
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The word ENVIRONMENT is derived from French word “environner or environ” Which means “ to surround ” hence, Environment is what surrounds us.
Definition:
It is the sum total of all social, economic, biological, physical and chemical factors that surrounds, effects and influence the survival, growth and development of humans, plants and animals who are both creators and modulators of the environmen
Types of Environments:
Environment is divided into two types:
1. Natural Environment:
It exists naturally.
Example: air, water, soil, land, forest, wildlife, flora, fauna, etc which constitute the Natural Environment.
2. Anthropogenic Environment:
It is manmade environment or alternation of the natural environment to serve specific uses by the human beings.
Example: agricultural field, gardens and aquaculture farms.
Components of Environment:
1. Biotic Components:
These are living creature’s components
Example: microbes, plants, animals and human beings.
2. Abiotic Components:
These are non-living/physical components.
Example: Air, Water, Soil, Rocks etc.
Segments of Environment:
1. Atmosphere:
It is the blanket of gases surrounding the earth.
2. Lithosphere:
It contains various types of soil and rocks on the earth. It includes crust (silicates), mantle (Fe, Mg silicates) and core (Fe) of earth.
3. Hydrosphere:
It is composed of various water bodies present on the earth’s surface. The major importance ofhydrosphere is that water sustains various life forms and plays an important role in ecosystem. Example: Sea and Oceans (97 %), 2 % (Locked in glaciers) and 1 % Fresh Water.
4. Biosphere:
It is composed of all living organism and their interactions with the environment such us lithosphere,hydrosphere, atmosphere. It is the earth’s zone of air, soil, and water, which is capable of supporting life.
Layers of Atmosphere
A layer of gasses that envelops the earth is called atmosphere. The atmosphere constitutes 78 % nitrogen, 21 % oxygen and 1 % other gases. It extends up to 500 km from earth. The layers of atmosphere are divided according to the temperature variations which are discussed as follows:
1. Troposphere:
It is the lowest layer of atmosphere. It extends upto 11 km from sea level. All the weather
changes occur here. 99 % water vapors are found in troposphere.
2. Stratosphere:
It extends upto 50 km from the ground. Ozone layer is found in this layer.
3. Mesosphere:
It extends upto 85 km from the ground. Meteors orrock fragments burn here and hence, temperature falls to -93 ˚C.
4. Thermosphere:
It extends upto 500-1000 km from the ground. The very high temperature of 1200 ˚C is observed due to presence of gases in the form of ions.
5. Exosphere:
The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere. It extends from about 700 km above sea level to about 10,000 km, where it merges into the solar wind.
The Temperature-Altitude graph of Atmosphere is given below.
SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENT STUDIES
Main Objectives of Environmental Studies:
- To acquire an awareness of the environment as a whole and its related problems.
- To gain a variety of experiences and acquire a basic understanding and knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.
- To acquire an attitude of concern for the environment.
- To acquire the skills for identifying and solving environmental problems.
- To participate in improvement and protection of environment.
- To develop the ability to evaluate measures for the improvement and protection of environment.
- To sum up, the objectives of environmental studies are to develop a world in which persons are aware of and concerned about environment and the problems associated with it, and committed to work individually as well as collectively towards solutions of current problems and prevention of future problems.
The scope of environmental studies is wide and related to every field.
Ecosystem structure and function | |
Programs Under Environmental Studies:
1. Environmental Education:
It refers to organized efforts to teach how natural environment function and particularly, how people can manage their behavior and ecosystem.
2. Environmental Studies:
It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study, which studies the interaction of human
beings with the environment.
3. Environmental Science:
It is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, chemical and biological sciences to address the environmental problems.
4. Environmental Engineering:
It is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the quality of environment to provide healthy living conditions.
Importance of Environmental Studies:
- It provides us basic knowledge of environment.
- It helps in understanding current environmental problem.
- It helps in conservation and management of natural resources.
- It helps in maintaining ecological balance and controlling environmental pollution.
- It helps in sustainable development.
- It helps in educating people regarding their duties toward environment.
- It is helpful in Environmental Management.
- It aims to protect biodiversity.
- It studies the agricultural and design of sustainable production.
- It gives information related to population explosion, growth and development, impact of population growth on the natural resources and national economy.
- It helps in developing social responsibilities towards protection of environment