UNIT I FUNDAMENTALS OF ENVIRONMENT

Environment: Definition, Components & their Interaction ENVIRONMENT is derived from the French word Environner which mean encircle or surround. It includes all biological & non biological entities. As per environment protection act 1986, environment includes all physical & biological surroundings of an organism along with their interactions. Definition: environment is defines as The sum total of water, air & land and their interrelationship that exists among them & with the human beings and other living organisms. COMPONENTS/ PARTS/ SEGMENTS OF ENVIRONMENT: The four major environmental components are: 1. Atmosphere 2. Hydrosphere 3. Lithosphere 4. Biosphere 1. ATMOSPHERE: The cover of air that envelopes the earth is known as atmosphere. In other words, the atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding the earth which sustains life. The atmosphere is composed of many elements like nitrogen and oxygen, carbon dioxide, and trace gases. Earth's atmosphere extends more than 560 kilometers (348 miles) above the earth's surface and is divided into layers, each of which has distinct thermal, chemical, and physical properties. Structure / Layers of the Atmosphere The atmosphere can be divided into layers, as shown in the figure below. These layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere and the thermosphere.

a. Troposphere: This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere. It contains most of our weather strong air movements, clouds, rain, and snow. Extends upto 8 to 16 kilometers above Earth's surface. At the top of the troposphere is the tropopause, a layer of cold air (about -60C), which forms the top of the troposphere and creates a "cold trap" that causes atmospheric water vapor to condense. It consists of mixture of several gases which remained in abundance. The air in troposphere which we breathe consists of nitrogen -78%, oxygen- 21%, argon 1%, carbon dioxide 0.03%. The decrease in temperature with height is a result of the decreasing pressure. If air moves upwards it expands (because of the lower pressure). When air expands it cools. So air higher up is cooler than air lower down. b. Stratosphere: This extends upwards from the tropopause to about 50 km. It consists of ozone. By absorbing dangerous UV radiation, the ozone in the stratosphere protects us from skin cancer and other health damage. However chemicals (called CFCs or freons) which were once used in refridgerators and spray cans have reduced the amount of ozone in the stratosphere, particularly at polar latitudes, leading to the so-called "Antarctic ozone hole". The increase in temperature with height occurs because of absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun by this ozone. c. Mesosphere: The region above the stratosphere is called the mesosphere. Here the temperature again decreases with height. Extends upto 80-90 kms above earths surface. d. Thermosphere & Ionosphere: The thermosphere lies above the mesopause, and is a region in which temperature again increase with height. This temperature increase is caused by the absorption of energetic ultraviolet and X-Ray radiation from the sun. It extends upto 120- 130 km above earths surface. The region of the atmosphere above about 80 km is also caused the "ionosphere". In ionosphere, ionization of the oxygen molecule occurs resulting in ions formation. e. Exosphere: The region above about 500 km is called the exosphere. It contains mainly oxygen and hydrogen atoms. It has high temperature due to radiations. 2. HYDROSPHERE: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water. (i) It covers more than 75% of earths surface. (ii) Nature 97% of the earths water supply is in the oceans, (iii) About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers. (iv) Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used for human consumption and other uses. 2

3. LITHOSPHERE: The crust and very top part of the mantle are collectively known as the lithosphere (lithos is Greek for stone). The lithosphere is about 65 to 100 km thick and covers the entire Earth. a. Core: The core is a layer rich in iron and nickel found in the interior of the Earth. It is composed of two sub-layers: the inner core and outer core. The core is about 7,000 kilometers in diameter. The Earth's core is solid mass of iron plus some nickel surrounded by a fluid (water-like) outer layer. The closer you get to the core, the hotter it becomes and the greater the pressure. Other factors affect the gravity field too. Inner Core : Inner region of the Earth's core. It is thought to be solid iron and nickel with a density of about 13 grams per cubic centimeter. It also has a diameter of about 1220 kilometers. Also known as siderosphere. Outer Core : Outer region of the Earth's core. It is believed to be liquid nickel and iron and has a density of about 11 grams per cubic centimeter. It surrounds the inner core and has an average thickness of about 2,250 kilometers. b. Crust: Earth's outer most layer of solid rock. Between 7 to 70 kilometers thick. Two types of crust exist: Oceanic crust and Continental crust Oceanic Crust : Basaltic portion of the Earth's crust that makes up the ocean basins. Approximately 5 to 10 kilometers thick. Continental Crust : Granitic portion of the Earth's crust that makes up the continents. Thickness of the continental crust varies between 20 to 75 kilometers. c. Mantle: Layer of the Earth's interior, composed of mostly solid rock that extends from the base of crust to a depth of about 2,900 kilometers.