Transcript Introduction to Environmental Science

Check the Cone of Shame for your
name
 Pick up Exit Slips on the back lab table
 Answer the following question on your
bell ringer paper:

› Explain the difference between a hypothesis
and a guess.
Get your EXIT SLIP from the back lab
table
 Check the CONE OF SHAME for YOUR
NAME
 Answer the following questions:

› Explain the difference between pollution
and resource depletion. USE AT LEAST THREE
SENTENCES
The study of how humans interact with
the environment
 Major focus: Solving environmental
problems
 Environment: everything that surrounds
us, including the natural and man-made
environment

List TEN things that are included in our
classroom environment.
 (Ex. Students)

Past generations didn’t worry about the
environment
 Now, we have begun to wonder if we
are paying too high of a price for our
lifestyle

› Water quality
› Polluted air
› Animal extinctions (fireflies)
MUST have knowledge in order to help!
 Environmental problems can be solved!

› Lake Washington
› Eagles
Resource depletion
 Pollution
 Extinction


Natural resources: Any natural
substance that organisms can use
› Includes sunlight, air, water, soil, minerals,
animals, plants, fossil fuels

Non-renewable resources: Natural
resources that can be depleted
› Includes copper and fossil fuels

Renewable resources: Natural resources
that are continually being replaced
› Includes sunlight, trees, and fish
Even renewable resources can be used
up if they are used faster than they can
be replaced
 Ex. Trees being cut down faster than they
can re-grow

Introduction of harmful levels of
chemicals or waste materials into the
environment
 Sources of pollution

› Byproducts of processes (ex. fuel
combustion)
› Pesticides
› Can cause harm to environment and human
health
The last individual of a species has died
and the species is gone forever
 1000s of species have gone extinct
 Extinction occurs more today than ever
in history due to loss of natural habitat


Environmental problems are GLOBAL
problems
› Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
› Chloroflurocarbons
Biosphere: Thin layer of life around the
earth (makes up .00008% of earth’s mass)
 All living things exist in a CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP within the biosphere

Many environmental problems are linked
to human population increase
 Most nations fit it two categories:

› Developed countries: Industrialized countries
with high incomes (USA, Australia, Europe)
› Developing countries: Less industrialized
countries with a lower income (Kenya, India)

Populations in developing countries are
rapidly increasing, despite a shortage of
resources
› Population crisis: Higher human population
than the resources of a region can support

Developed countries are using resources
faster than they can be replenished
› Consumption crisis: When people waste, use
up, or pollute natural resources faster than
they can be renewed, replaced, or cleaned
up
› Developed nations use 75% of the resources
used every year, even though they only
make up 20% of world population

Create a sustainable world
› World in which human populations can
continue to exist indefinitely with a high
standard of living and health
› Non-renewable resources used sparingly
› Renewable resources used no faster than
they can be replaced
What are the pros of living in a developed
country? Cons?
What are the pros of living in a developing
country? Cons?
What are the main environmental issues
today?
 Why are environmental issues
considered “global issues”?

Sound scientific research should ALWAYS
BE THE FIRST STEP
 Other things to consider:

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Aesthetics
Economic
Environmental
Educational
Ethical
Recreation
Social/Culture
Many, many, many others!

Gather all available information
› TV
› Well-informed people
› Internet
Consider values that apply to the issue
 Explore consequences
 Make a decision

Listen to the example of the warblers and
use the decision-making model to decide
what the best course of action would be.
Gather information: local news reports,
google Warblers, talk to scientists
 Consider values: Make a chart of
applicable values
 Explore consequences: List the long and
short term pros/cons of in each value
 Make a decision: What would you
decide?

A factory owner wants to start burying
waste deep under his factory. He says that
it will keep it out of the landfills and save his
factory money, allowing him to provide
more local jobs in the area. Scientists worry
that the waste will leak, polluting the water
supply.
Make a chart to help you decide what the
right decision is!
Turn in any work that you have left from
Friday
 Answer the following questions with AT
LEAST THREE SENTENCES:

› How could environmental concerns conflict
with your desire to improve your standard of
living?
› Are honey bees a renewable resource?
Defend your answer.
Should we limit deforestation in the rain
forest? Why or why not?
 Name ONE way that you can study for
your quiz using your learning style.
