Course Code CL103

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

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,

 Ecosystems, Biodiversity and its conservation,
 Concept of sustainability,
 Environmental Impact Assessment,
 Public awareness towards environmental conservation,
 Environmental legislation,
 Carbon Credit and Carbon Trading
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 Biosphere

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

- Troposphere
- Crust
- Stratosphere
- Mantle
- Mesosphere
- Core
-Thermosphere
 Components of Environment – Atmosphere

The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, commonly known as air,

that surrounds the planet and extends up to about 500 kilometres.
 The atmospheric temperature, pressure and density vary with altitude.
 Absorbs the energy from the Sun.
 Acts as a gaseous blanket to protect the earth from dangerous cosmic
radiations from outer space and helps in sustaining life on the earth.
 Maintaining the heat balance by absorbing U.V radiation coming from
sun.
 Recycle the earths water through rainfall.
 Components of Environment – Atmosphere

 Composition of Atmosphere:
 Major components : Nitrogen (78.09%), Oxygen (20.94%), Water
vapour (0.1-5%)
 Minor components : Argon (0.934%), Carbon dioxide (0.032%)
 Other components : Neon, Helium, Ozone, Carbon monoxide,
Hydrogen, Methane etc.
What happen without atmosphere ?

 Life is impossible without atmosphere.

 It is source of oxygen (essential for life)

 It is source of carbon dioxide (essential for photosynthesis)

 Without atmosphere, there would be no clouds, winds or storm,

and hence no weather.
 Without atmosphere, no rainfall & no snowfall.
Weight of Atmosphere?

 Yes, Atmosphere has weight and it exerts pressure.

 1 liter of air having weight around 1.3 gram

 The total mass of atmosphere is approximately 5,00,000 ton

 Half of the atmosphere weight( 50 % weight) is within 5.5 km

 90% of the weight is within 30 km of the earth’s surface.

 Structure of Atmosphere

Thermosphere

Mesosphere

Stratosphere

Troposphere
 Atmosphere and Temperature

• There are distinct layers

in the atmosphere
where the temperature
either increases or
decreases with height.
 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.
 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.
Power Generation in India
 Energy consumption in 2017

Biom
ass
3%
Solar Nu- Gas
5% clear 8%
Wind 2%
10%

Hy- Coal
dro 58%
15%

Coal Hydro Wind Solar Nuclear Biomass Gas

 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 7. Loss of bio diversity
2. Global Warming 8. Deforestation
3. Population Explosion 9. Acidification of Oceans

4. Natural Resources 10.Ozone layer depletion

Depletion 11. Acid rain
5. Waste Disposal 12. Public health issues
6. Climate change
 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
 Obsolescent “frontier” Civilization

ENERGY HEAT

NON-RENEWABLE HIGH
and RENEWABLE THROUGHPUT

MATERIALS WASTE &

TOXINS

One-way flow of materials and energy

 Sustainable Civilization
Energy Efficiency

Low-quality
ENERGY
Heat Energy

LOW
RENEWABLE THROUGHPUT

CONSERVER
Low-volume
SOCIETY Nontoxic
MATERIALS
Waste
Materials
Waste Minimization
Toxics control
• Cyclical flows of materials
• Appropriate energy usage
 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

 Earth’s resources are decreasing and our environment is being

increasingly degraded by human activities and hence something
needs to be done.
 Government alone cannot perform all the clean-up functions.
 Individual/group efforts in their own every possible way has to be
made to protect our environment.
 Mass public awareness: newspapers, radio, television strongly
influences public opinion on conserving our environment.
 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
 Guiding Principles of Environmental Education

The overall goal of environmental education can be expressed in

another form as three principal objectives (UNESCO, 1977). 
1. To foster clear awareness and concern about economic, social,
political and ecological interdependence in urban and rural
areas. 
2. To create new patterns of behaviors of individuals, groups and
society as a whole towards the environment. 
3. To provide every person with opportunities to acquire the
knowledge, values, attitudes, commitment and skills needed to
protect and improve the environment
 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.
Backpacker’s Motto

Thank
You !!