Introduction of Environment

ENVIRONMENT
Definition: Environment literally means surrounding and everything that affect an organism
during its lifetime is collectively known as its environment.
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”.
It includes all the physical and biological surrounding and their interactions.
Environmental studies provide an approach towards understanding the environment of our
planet and the impact of human life upon the environment. Thus environment is actually
global in nature, it is a multidisciplinary subject including physics, geology, geography, history,
economics, physiology, biotechnology, remote sensing, geophysics, soil science and hydrology
etc.
Scope of Environmental Science
Environmental science is a multidisciplinary science whose basic aspects have a direct relevance
to every section of the society. Its main aspects are:
• Conservation of nature and natural resources.
• Conservation of biological diversity.
• Control of environmental pollution.
• Stabilization of human population and environment.
• Social issues in relation to development and environment.
• Development of non-polluting renewable energy system and providing new
dimension to nation’s security.Ecosystem
According to A.G. Tansley (1935), “An ecosystem is the ecological unit consisting of biotic factors
(living) and abiotic factors (non-living) in a specific area. For example forest, grassland, desert,
aquatic etc.
Balanced Ecosystem: All ecosystems, even the ultimate biosphere are open systems.
There is necessarily at least an inflow and outflow of energy. Balance of ecosystem means
balance of autotrophs and heterotrophs in an ecosystem, to maintain an even distribution of
sustainable energy through food chain without any external interference. Any disturbance in
autotrophic-heterotrophic balance leads to ecosystem imbalance, more the imbalance more
externals are required to balance. Bigger the ecosystems lesser is the imbalance. Balance infact
designates to greater primary producers than consumer.
Stability of Ecosystem: An ecosystem which has attained maturity is by and large is a
very stable system. It is controlled by feedback mechanic who may be either positive or
negative.
Structure and Function of an Ecosystem
An ecosystem has two types of components—
1. Abiotic
2. Biotic.
1. Abiotic component includes—
(A) Physical
(1) Sunlight (for photosynthesis)
(2) Water (essential for living beings)
(3) Temperature (necessary to get survive)
(4) Soil (provide base and nutrients)
(B) Chemical
(1) Proteins
(2) Carbohydrates
(3) Fats
(4) Minerals etc.
2. Biotic component
(1) Producers/Autotrophs
(2) Consumer/heterotrophs
(3) Decomposers
Producers: They are chlorophyll bearing, self nourishing organisms, which prepare
organic compounds from inorganic raw materials, through the processes of photosynthesis e.g.
all green plants.

1. Introduction to Environment Science Amrinder Singh Assistant Professor Department of Agriculture Desh Bhagat University

2. Environment Environmental Science: “ The systematic & scientific study of our environment and our role in it. This branch include the knowledge of Pure science & to some extent Social Sciences”. Environmental Studies : “The branch of Study concerned with environmental issues. It has a broader coverage than environment science and includes the social aspects of the environment”.

3. Environment Definition :- “ All the living and non living factors affecting an organism and ultimately determining its form and survival is known as Environment .” Some other Definitions of Environment :- “ All the external factors influencing the life and activity of people, plant and animals ”. “ All the things (i.e. Object & Circumstances) surrounding us is known as Environment ”.

4. Most Precise Definition of Environment Environment is Define as “The Complex of Physical , Chemical & Biotic factors affecting an organism and ultimately determining its form and survival” is known as Environment.

5. E colo g y Definition:- Ecology is derived from two Greek words “ Oikos ” & “ Logos ” Ecology= Oikos + Logos Oikos means house or dwelling place Logos means study Thus Ecology can be define as “ Study of organisms with respect to their house or dwelling place ”.

6. E co s y s t em Definition:- Ecosystem is Define as “ Natural Functional Ecological Unit Comprising of living organisms & their non living environment which interact to form a self supporting system” is known as Ecosystem.

7. Components Of Environment Biotic: It Includes all the living organisms. e.g. plants, animals, birds etc. Abiotic: All the non living things are included in this category. e.g. Climatic conditions, soil, minerals etc.

8. Components of Environment A t m osphe r e : T h e r e g i o n su r r ou n d i n g t h e e ar t h is kn o w n as atmosphere. Atmosphere is generally a mixture of gases surrounding the earth. Hydrosphere: All the water bodies on the earth surface are included in hydrosphere. It includes Oceans, rivers, glaciers, lakes, ponds, etc.

9. Lithosphere: The uppermost part of the earth crust is known as Lithosphere. Lithosphere includes, soil and its particles, rocks, metal. etc. Biosphere: The life supporting mantle of the earth extending from few kilometer into the atmosphere to the deep ocean is known as Biosphere The r e g i o n o f th e e a r t h w he r e l i f e e xis t i s k n o w n as Biosphere .

10. Environmental education is a integral process which deals with man’s interrelationship with his nature and man made surroundings including the relation of population growth, pollution, resource allocation and depletion, conservation, technology, and urban and rural planning to the total human environment. Importance of Environmental Education

11. Objectives of Environmental Education Awareness: To help individuals and social groups to acquire basic awareness of and sensitivity towards the environment & its related problem. Knowledge: To help individuals and social groups to acquire basic understanding of the environment, its associated problems and their responsible role towards the betterment of the environment. Attitude : To help individuals and social groups to acquire social values, strong feeling of concern for the environment and the motivation for actively participating in its protection and improvement.

12. Skills : To help individuals and social groups to acquire the skills for solving environmental problems . Evaluation ability : To help individuals and social groups to evaluate environmental measures and education program in terms of ecological, political, economical , social, aesthetic and education factors . P a r ti c ipati o n : T o h elp i nd i vid u al s a nd social groups to develop a sense of responsibility and urgency regarding environmental problems.

13. Man –Environment Relationship The relationship between humans and environment has varied from the early periods of human settlement on the earth to the present day. The relationship between environment and human beings has also being varying from place to place at any given period of time. For example, early humans considered the environment to be dominant. They were afraid of lightning and thunder, dense forests, wild animals, vast oceans and large rivers, to name a few.

14. 1) Topography of Land The populations in the high mountainous areas, such as the Himalayas in India, Andes in South America, Rocky in North America, etc., have very low settlement level. This is because the relief is rugged here which represents obstacles in the construction of roads, railways and communication. Due to steep slopes, agriculture is done with a great difficulty and industries also could not be established. These places having very less economic activity have less population and hence have small isolated settlements .

15. 2) Climate Most of the areas of the earth having density less than two persons/sq. km are not favorable for settlement because of their unfavorable climate. Areas of cold climate-North Siberia , Alaska etc. have low density of population. Hot and arid regions of -Sahara, Kalahari Desert in Africa are not suitable for human settlement. In tropical regions due to heavy rain and temperature , the density of population is very low, example in Amazon basin population density is less than two persons/sq. km. But places with favorable climate and favorable terrain, have dense population and hence have compact settlement.

16. 3) Soils Fertile alluvial soils encourage dense population which in turn gives rise to compact type of settlement. This is so because alluvial soils give rise to agricultural activities. Java Islands of Indonesia has fertile soil of young volcanic material and agriculture is an important activity, hence dense and compact settlements are found here. Whereas in Sumatra, due to infertile soil, the population density is very low.

17. 4) Mineral Deposits Mineral wealth is yet another factor responsible for population distribution and density. The presence of coal and iron-ore in different parts of the world has attracted huge population. Coal mining regions have become regions of dense population for example, Jharkhand in India and gold mines in Australian desert.

18. 5) Water supply Population distribution is very much affected by water supply. The earliest settlements or civilizations developed on the banks of major rivers, example-Nile, Indus, etc. Adequate water supply provides irrigation facilities to farmers and hence population increases due to increase in primary activities. In dry regions, population is concentrated in those areas where there is water, hence nucleated- circular settlements are found.

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