Course Code ES(1CL501)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Unit 1: Multidisciplinary Nature of

Environment
Development
in the current phase of

INDUSTRALIZATION &
URBANIZATION
This

INDUSTRALIZATION &
URBANIZATION

Cause large environmental pollution

and issues
The development is ‘not in pace with Environment’.
and hence;
a great damage has occurred to the Environment.
 Let us contribute to
conserve earth & environment
and
provide continuity of life for next generations to come….
 Join hands to save the mother earth ….

through all streams of science and engineering and ….

Make development in pace with environment
to attain sustainability.

T
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Unit 1: Multidisciplinary
Nature of Environment
Main Topics of Unit 1

▪ Environment and its multidisciplinary nature

▪ Energy Resources
▪ Environment Conservation and Management
▪ Biodiversity and its conservation
▪ Atmospheric Chemistry and Ozone Depletion
▪ Greenhouse effect and its causes
▪ Climate Change: causes, effects, challenges and remedial measures
What is Environment ?
 Environment – Definition

The word ‘Environment’ is derived from the

French word:
‘en’ – surrounding, encompassing
‘viron’ – circle, around

Environment refers to the surroundings or

conditions in which a person, animal, or plant
lives or operates.
 Environment – Definition and Meaning
▪ Definition: Environment is sum of all external
conditions surrounding organisms plus
influences affecting organism.

Example: Consider a flower

✔External conditions surrounding
flower
▪ Temperature, sunlight, water, soil &
atmosphere
✔ Influences affecting flower
▪ Animals which eat plant of flower
 Environmental Studies – Multidisciplinary Nature

▪ Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary

academic field which systematically studies
human interaction with the environment in
the interests of solving complex problems.
▪ Environmental studies brings together the
principles of the physical sciences,
commerce/economics and social sciences
so as to solve contemporary environmental
problems. It is a broad field of study that
includes the natural environment, the built
environment, and the sets of relationships
between them.
 Environmental Studies – Multidisciplinary Nature

▪ The field encompasses study in basic

principles of ecology and
environmental science, as well as
associated subjects such as ethics,
geography, anthropology, policy, urban
planning, law, economics, philosophy,
sociology and social justice, planning,
pollution control and natural resource
management.
Environmental Studies – Multidisciplinary Nature
Scope And Importance of Environmental Studies

The ‘Development’ to be in pace with environmental protection and

conservation, vast scope lies in all disciplines of science and
technology towards-
▪ Study and exploring the nature.
▪ Technological developments.
▪ Practical applications and implementations.
▪ Post implementation impacts and problems.
▪ Remedial measures and solution findings to the problems.
▪ Means to conserve the nature and environment.
Major Objective of the Course
Components of Environment
 Components of Environment

Environment

Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere

(Gaseous (Liquid portion/ (Solid portion/ (Living portion)
portion/Air) water) rocks and soil)

- Troposphere
- Crust
- Stratosphere
- Mantle
- Mesosphere
- Core
-Thermosphere
 Structure of Atmosphere

Thermosphere

Mesosphere

Stratosphere

Troposphere
 Atmosphere

Atmospheric Structure
 Components of Environment – Atmosphere

✔Lapse rate: Change of temperature with height

✔Positive lapse rate: In this layer temperature decreases with

increasing altitude

✔Negative lapse rate: In this layer temperature increases with

increasing altitude
 1. Troposphere
▪ 70% mass of atmosphere is contained in troposphere
▪ It is the lowest and thinnest layer : 16 km at equator, 8 km at poles
▪ Extends from the surface of the Earth to about 10-12 km
▪ Temperature decreases with height (positive lapse rate)
▪ Mixing of the air molecules due to their constant movement (winds)
keeps the composition of the gases more or less same throughout the
layer.
▪ Density of air decreases exponentially with increasing altitude.
▪ Where all the weather occurs
▪ Inherently unstable
Tropopause is at the top of the troposphere, which is a transition layer
between Troposphere and Stratosphere.
 2. Stratosphere
▪ Region above the tropopause.
▪ Extends up to 50 km above the ground.
▪ Negative lapse rate.
▪ Temperature increase up to 0 degree
▪ Ozone layer lies in the stratosphere
▪ Ozone serves as a shield to protect the
earth from solar U.V radiations.
▪ Stratopause: region immediately above
the stratosphere which is second
transitional layer between stratosphere
and mesosphere and relatively warm.
 3. Mesosphere

▪ Mesosphere: Coldest layer

✔Extends up to 80 km above the
ground
✔Positive lapse rate – temperature
decreases with height
✔Temp is Minus 80 degree at top
✔Meso-pause: Top of the
mesosphere, which is a transition
layer between Mesosphere and
Thermosphere.
 4. Thermosphere
▪ Thermosphere: Hottest layer
✔Fourth layer in the atmosphere,
between 80km and 110 km above the
Earth.
✔Negative lapse rate – temperature rises
very rapidly with increasing altitude
✔ Region characterised by low pressure
and low density
✔In this region atmospheric gases absorb
the solar radiations in the ultra violet
region and undergo ionisation
Components of Environment – Lithosphere
 Lithosphere
▪ Lithosphere: It comes from the ancient Greek “lithos” which means
stone and “sphaira” which means sphere. The lithosphere is the solid,
rocky crust covering entire planet.
▪ As a result of the geological processes occurring in nature, the rocks
disintegrate continuously and formulation of soil takes place gradually.
This crust is inorganic and is composed of minerals. It covers the entire
surface of the earth from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the
Mariana Trench.
▪ In the Earth, the lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost
mantle, which constitute the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.
 Hydrosphere
✔It includes all surface and ground water resources – oceans,
rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, glaciers, polar ice caps, ground
water.
✔Earth is known as Blue planet, Why ?
✔Total area covered by water on Earth surface is 70.8 %
✔Hydrosphere contains about 1360 million cubic km of water.
Earth’s Water
 Biosphere

• It is the region of the earth where life exists.

• Collectively covers the portion of
atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
which supports all the life forms
• Extends from about 10,000 m below sea-
level to 6000 m above sea-level
• Covers entire living organisms, their
interactions with each other and with
environment
• Life sustaining resources like food, water &
oxygen present in the biosphere are being
withdrawn and waste products in increasing
quantities are being dumped.
 Energy

▪ Energy is fundamental to the quality of our lives.

▪ Nowadays, we are totally dependent on an abundant

and uninterrupted supply of energy for living and
working.

▪ It is a key ingredient in all sectors of modern

economies.
 Why do we need energy?

• Industrial
• Transportation
• Domestic
• Heating homes
• Cooking
• Power the machinery used for
agriculture, industry/business
etc. Major Input for the
economic development
• What else?
of country
 Energy and Environment
▪ The consumption of Energy is increasing at a fast pace
while available resources remain limited
▪ The global need for energy is increasing on an average of about
1.5% every year
▪ Out of that total amount of primary energy,
around 80% comes from fossil fuels.
▪ Energy consumption has significant impact on
natural environment.
▪ Climate change is caused by human activity, mostly related to the
use of energy.
 History of Energy Usage
▪ Fire
▪ Muscle power from animals
▪ Wind & water usage
▪ Steam engines powered by wood fires
▪ Steam engines powered by coal
▪ Now we use oil more because
it is easier to ship, store & burn
▪ Oil use peaked in 1979
▪ 1980’s began pursuing renewable energies but
then oil prices fell and we went back to oil.
• In 2000, OPEC decreased production and
prices went up to $30 per barrel. (Now oil costs
$90-$100 per barrel)
 Types of Energy

1. Primary and Secondary Energy

2. Commercial and Non-commercial Energy
3. Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy
 Primary Energy

• Extracted or captured directly from natural resources

Primary Energy
Renewable (16%) Non-renewable (84%) (With Finite supply)
✔Solar ✔Fossil Fuels:
✔Wind • Crude oil and its products
✔Geothermal • Coal
✔Tidal • Natural gas
✔Biomass ✔Nuclear
✔Water or HydroelectricFuel
The primary energy content of fuels: Toe (tonne of oil equivalent)
1 toe = 10 × 106 kCal = 11630 kWh = 41870 MJ
Renewable Energy
✔ Obtained from natural sources
✔ Inexhaustible
✔ Can be harnessed without the
release of harmful pollutants
Non-renewable Energy
✔ Natural resources whichcan
not be produced, grown,
replenished
✔ Exist in a fixed amount
✔ Will deplete with time
7
Important Nonrenewable/Renewable Energy Sources
 Secondary Energy

• Primary energy is transformed in energy

process more conversionconvenient forms of
to
▪ electricity, steamenergy
etc. such
Theseas formsof energy
are called secondary energy.

▪Examples: Coal, oil or gas converted into steam and electricity

Non energy use

✔Coal or Natural Gas : as feedstock in Fertiliser plants
Electricity is not an energy source, converted from another
source (coal, hydro, nuclear, etc.).
Major Primary and Secondary Sources
Commercial Energy Non-Commercial Energy
• Energy that is available • Any kind of energy which is
in the market for a sourced within a community
definite price and its surrounding area and
which is not normally traded in
Examples: Electricity, coal, commercial market
refined petroleum products,
Examples: Fuels such as
natural gas etc. Firewood, cattle dung and
agricultural waste
• Used for commercial
purpose • Called traditional fuels
• Ignored in compiling a country’s energy
statistics
 Non-commercial energy

▪ Fire wood and agro waste in rural areas

▪ Solar energy for water heating, electricity generation and for
drying grains, fish and fruits
▪ Animal power for transport, threshing, lifting water for
irrigation, crushing sugarcane etc.
▪ Wind energy for lifting water and electricity generation
 Energy Resources

▪ The world's energy resources can be divided into…

✔Fossil fuel
A fuel derived from biological material that became fossilized
millions of years ago
✔Nuclear fuel
Fuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy.
✔Renewable resources
▪ The estimates for the amount of energy in these resources is
given in zettajoules (ZJ), which is 1021 joules.
 Energy Resources

1 Fossil fuel 3 Renewable resources

1. Coal 1. Solar energy
2. Oil 2. Wind energy
3. Gas 3. Wave and tidal energy
2 Nuclear fuel 4. Geothermal energy

1. Nuclear energy 5. Biomass

6. Hydropower
2. Nuclear fusion
 Major Sources of Energy, Do we use?

About three-quarters of the

world’s commercial
energy comes from
nonrenewable fossil fuels
and the rest comes from
nonrenewable nuclear fuel
and renewable sources.

Oil, coal and peat,

and natural gas are
the major
sources of energy for
the world.
Worldwide Patterns of Energy Use
 Worldwide Patterns of Energy Use

1 EJ = 1 exajoule = 1018 joule

1GJ = 1 gigajoule = 109 joule

Global variation in total annual energy consumption and per capita energy
consumption. The 10 countries shown are among the largest and the smallest energy users
in the world.
 Energy scenario at India

▪ India is a seventh largest country and have a population of 1.2 billion

people
▪ India is the fourth-largest energy consumer in the world, trailing only
the United States, China, and Russia
▪ By ‘energy problem’ we mean the problem of providing fuels or energy
in its various forms at reasonable cost to those who need them,
wherever they are.
▪ At present, India faces an energy shortage of 10 per cent and a peak
load shortage of 13.4 per cent.
▪ In order to meet that demand, our power generation capacity would
have to increase more than six times by 2032.
 Energy Scenario in India

▪ 41% of electricity generation from thermal power plant

 Present Scenario of Environment

❖Excessive consumption of natural resources:

The latest WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) report on state of
world’s ecology says that “Humans are consuming 20% more natural
resources than the earth’s biological capacity to produce them”.
❖Higher resources demand:
According to the Living Planet report 2002, “Humanity has been
running an ecological deficit since the 1980s, and if the present trend
continues, by 2050, to sustain the humanity, we would be needing
resources equal to two earths.
 Scenario - India
The important aspects of environmental scenario in India are
highlighted as:
▪ Population Explosion-Very High Rate of Population Growth
▪ Water Pollution
• Discharge of Industrial Waste with high organic content in the
river water
• Discharge of Hot Industrial Waste in the river water
▪ Air Pollution
▪ Land Pollution & Ground Water Contamination
▪ Deforestation
 Current Environmental Issues
1. Pollution
2. Global Warming
3. Population Explosion
4. Natural Resources Depletion
5. Waste Disposal
6. Climate change
7. Loss of bio diversity
8. Deforestation
9. Acidification of Oceans
10. Ozone layer depletion
11. Acid rain
12. Public health issues
 Why do we need to study the State of Environment?

⮚ The need for information that clarifies modern environmental

concepts such as

▪ the need to conserve biodiversity,

▪ the need to lead more sustainable lifestyles

▪ the need to use resources more equitably.

 Biodiversity

❖ Biodiversity: The part of nature

which includes the differences in
genes among the individuals of a
species, the variety and richness of
all the plant and animal species at
different scales in space

❖ i.e. Local, regional, country wise

and global, and various types of
ecosystems - both terrestrial and
aquatic-within a defined area.
Causes of Biodiversity Loss:
The major direct causes of human induced
biodiversity loss are:

1. land-use change (the fragmentation,

degradation or loss of habitats)
2. Pollution (air and water)
3. The over-exploitation of natural
resources
4. The introduction of non-native (alien or
exotic species)
5. Climate change-induced biodiversity)
 Sustainable development

❖ Implies the use of resources in a managed way as to provide

resources for future generations.
 Sustainability

▪ To protect natural
resources and environment
in order to maintain an
ecological balance.

▪ Sustainability is the
ability of a specified
system to survive and
function over a specified
time.
 Elements of Sustainability

Environment

Economy Society
- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
 Elements of Sustainability

Environment

• Biodiversity
• Materials
• Energy
• Biophysical
interactions
 Elements of Sustainability

• Money and capital

• Employment
• Technological growth
• Investment

Economy
 Elements of Sustainability

• Human diversity (cultural, ethnic)

• Quality of life
• Institutional structures and organization
• Political structures

Society
Sustainability
 Sustainability: Problems
▪ Depletion of finite resources
• fuels, soil, minerals, species
▪ Over-use of renewable resources
• forests, fish & wildlife, fertility, public funds
▪ Pollution
• air, water, soil
▪ Inequality
• economic, political, social, gender
▪ Species loss
• endangered species and spaces
 Guideposts for Sustainability

▪ Activities are sustainable when they:

1. Use materials in continuous cycles.

2. Use continuously reliable sources of energy.
3. Minimize the use of non-renewable resources.
4. Maximize the use renewable resources
5.Encourage desirable human traits (equity; creativity;
communication; coordination; appreciation; intellectual and
spiritual development).
 Need for Public Awareness towards Environmental Protection

There is an urgent need to create awareness in every individual towards –

• Control of environmental pollution

• Natural resources conservation
• Land management
• Development of non-polluting sources of energy
• Environmental education
• Environmental laws
 Objectives of Environmental Education – Six Objectives

1. Awareness:
To help social groups and individuals acquire awareness and sensitivity to
the total environmental and its allied problems.
2. Knowledge:
To help social groups and individuals gain a variety of experiences in and
acquire a basic understanding of the environment and its associated
problems.
3. Attitude:
To help social groups and individuals acquire a set of values and feelings of
concern for the environment and motivation for actively participation in
environmental improvement and protection.
 Objectives of Environmental Education – Six Objectives

4. Skill:
To help social groups and individuals acquire skills for identifying and solving
environmental problems.
5. Evaluation ability:
To help individuals and social groups to evaluate environmental measures and
education programs in terms of ecological, economic, social, aesthetic and
educational factors.
6. Participation:
To provide social groups and individuals with the opportunities to be actively
involved at all levels in working towards the resolution of environmental
problems.
 Environmental Education

Organization of Environmental Education System

FORMAL EDUCATION INFORMAL EDUCATION

1. The formal education is given in 1. For a majority portion of the

teaching centers as schools, population that still does not have
colleges / institutions, universities adequate access to the formal
etc. However this number is very education, environmental education
less as most of the children and and awareness can be acquired by
youth drop out of schools in rural and programmes that fall outside the
backward areas. formal education system.
 Environmental Education
Organization of Environmental Education System
FORMAL EDUCATION INFORMAL EDUCATION
1. It is having a well defined & systematic 1. It includes organization of extra
curriculum (syllabus) and specific curricular activities like eco
period of teaching and evaluation. development camps, posters & essay
2. The formal education is provided at writing competitions, exhibitions,
different levels of studies as- seminars, nature camps, nature club
∙ Pre Primary and Primary School activities, audio-visual slides, mobile
∙ Secondary and Higher Secondary exhibitions etc.
Schools 2. It also include observing and
∙ College (Graduation & Post celebrating days like ‘World
Graduation Level) Environment Day’ ‘Vehicle Free Day’
‘World Forest Day’, ‘Earth Day’ etc.
Essay Competitions on Environment,
Group Discussion etc. on
World Environment Days, etc.
Green House Gases
 Our Atmosphere
The Greenhouse Effect
 The Sun

The Sun provides the Earth with continuous heat and light
 The Sun

The Sun provides the Earth with continuous heat

and light.
We also receive solar radiation, which is light we
can’t see.
 The Atmosphere

A layer of air which surrounds the Earth

 The Atmosphere
Sunlight and solar radiation passes through the
atmosphere and hits the earth.

The Atmosphere:
We are at the base of the huge mass of air that
forms the outer layers of our planet
Air is a mixture of gases: oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide and argon. There are many other gases,
in small amounts.
The various gases which surround the Earth are
bound to it by the gravitational force

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/spacecraft-re-entry-4.jpg
 The Greenhouse Effect

Stabilizes the Earth’s temperature

 The Greenhouse Effect
The Greenhouse effect:
The presence of atmospheric, or greenhouse gases is
not a bad thing. The Earth needs some greenhouse
gases to trap the right amount of heat to regulate the
earths temperature and keeps it from becoming too cold
or too hot. The ocean absorbs much of the solar
radiation reaching Earth. Because of this, the ocean has
had, and will continue to have, a significant influence on
climate change by absorbing, storing, and moving heat,
carbon and water. The greenhouse effect works to make
the earth a habitable place.
http://www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/documents/OceanLitChart.pdf
Reflection, Refraction and Absorption in greenhouse gases

Atmosphere

EARTH

Side A Side B
This is a representation of the earth and the
atmosphere and the sun.

Our atmosphere has greenhouse gases – carbon

dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen just to name a few.
Side A has some greenhouse gases

Side B has more greenhouse gases than side A

The sun shines down through the atmosphere to
the earth.
What do you think happens to the light that comes from
the sun?
(It is reflected, refracted, and absorbed.)

Reflected light bounces off a surface and leaves the

surface at the exact same angle it came in. Where do
you think some rays will reflect?

Refracted light goes through a substance and it looks

like the light changes angle as it goes through. What
would refracted solar radiation look like?

Absorbed light does not bounce off or pass through a

substance and is usually transferred to heat energy.
What would happen to absorbed light?
Is there something happening in
the atmosphere that leads to
climate change?
1. What happens to solar radiation that is
not reflected back into space?
Answer: gets trapped as greenhouse gas
2. What happens to the Earth if there is a build
up of greenhouse gases?
Answer: atmosphere warms
3. Are humans contributing to the increase in
the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere?
Answer: Yes
Carbon Dioxide Rise in the Atmosphere
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is one of many gases
greenhouse gases that occur naturally in our
atmosphere.
• Not all carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is
natural, some of it is there because of things
we as humans are doing.
• Driving cars/trucks and emissions from
factories that burn fossil fuels are two
examples of how we contribute to the
increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• NOAA scientists at Mauna Loa on the Big
Island have been measuring the amount of
carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere for
over 50 years.
• The graph in this slide shows that the amount
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has
increased in the past 50 years. Although it
seems like the parts are very small, even a
little increase in carbon dioxide makes the
planet warmer.
• An increase in carbon dioxide is the
mechanism behind global warming. You
might want to discuss what the word
mechanism means (something that causes
something to happen just like an increase in
carbon dioxide causes global warming).

This is a key point.

So if the amount of greenhouse
gases keeps increasing in our
atmosphere then what could
happen?
Global Temperature Change
Greenhouse
Effect
Contents

▪ Atmosphere
▪ Key Terms
▪ Gases
▪ Causes
▪ Effects
Atmosphere

▪ Exosphere

▪ Thermosphere

▪ Mesosphere

▪ Stratosphere

▪ Troposphere
Troposphere

▪ Lowest portion of earth’s atmosphere

▪ 75% of the entire atmosphere mass
- Water Vapor
- Aerosols
▪ 0 km – 10 km Depth ~ 10 km
▪ Warmer nearest earth
▪ Colder the further you go

Travel Back to the Atmosphere

Stratosphere

▪ Second layer of earth’s atmosphere

▪ 10 km – 50 km Depth ~ 40 km
▪ Colder nearer the earth surface
▪ Warmer the further into the atmosphere
▪ Energy is transferred via heat absorption
by the ozone layer.
▪ Heating caused by conduction from
above and convection from below.

Travel Back to the Atmosphere

Mesosphere

▪ Middle layer of earth’s atmosphere

▪ 50 km – 90 km Depth ~ 40 km
▪ Warmer closer to earth’s surface
▪ Colder the further you out you go
▪ This is where meteors burn as they
collide with gas particles
▪ Most poorly understood part of the
atmosphere

Travel back to the Atmosphere

Thermosphere

▪ 4th layer of earth’s atmosphere

▪ 80 km – 500 km Depth ~ 420 km
▪ Colder near earth’s surface
▪ Warmer as you go further into
thermosphere
▪ This layer absorbs radiation which in
turn electrically charge particles.

Travel back to the Atmosphere

Exosphere

▪ Outer layer of the atmosphere

▪ 500 km – 10,000 km Depth ~ 9,500 km
▪ Only layer of atmosphere where gases can
escape
▪ Main gases found here:
- Hydrogen
- Helium
- Carbon Dioxide

Travel Back to the Atmosphere

Troposphe
Mesosphere
re

Stratosphere

Exosphere Thermosphere
Key Terms

▪ Condensation - process by which gas or vapor changes into a liquid or

solid
▪ Evaporation - the process by which a liquid changes into a gas
▪ Convection - upward movement of heat or other atmospheric properties
within the atmosphere
▪ Photosynthesis – the synthesis of complex organic materials from carbon
dioxide, water, and inorganic salts using light as an energy source
▪ Radiation – energy that is transmitted in the form of rays
▪ Conduction – spontaneous transfer of energy through matter, from a region
of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature
Gases

▪ CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

▪ MH4 - Methane
▪ O2 – Oxygen Gas
▪ O3 - Ozone
▪ N2 – Nitrogen Gas
▪ Ar – Argon Gas
▪ H2 – Hydrogen Gas
▪ He - Helium
Increase in CO2

▪ Increased by the burning of fossil fuels- coal, oil, and gas

▪ Too much is harmful to our planet
▪ Creates a cycle of
Carbon Dioxide
within our atmosphere
▪ Contributes to the
hole in the ozone
layer
Carbon Dioxide Cycle
3-D Image of the Ozone Hole
Ozone Layer

▪ Three oxygen atoms bonded together

▪ Forms a layer above earth that protects us from harmful UVA
UVB rays
▪ The ozone hole is a depletion of the ozone in the atmosphere.
What is causing thinning Ozone Hole?
▪ Cars
▪ Factories
▪ Pollution
▪ Deforestation
Pollutants
Effects

▪ Climate change
▪ Harms animals’ habitats
▪ Decrease crop production
▪ Flooding
▪ Drought
▪ Hurricanes
Backpacker’s Motto

Thank
You !!