Environment simply means surrounding Environment means sum total of conditions which surrounds man at a given point in space

and time. With the advancement of society mans environment surrounds with physical aspects including earth, biotic communities and social aspects also.

Two main component of the environment

a.] Biotic [Biological aspects] b.] Abiotic [ Physical aspects] The third aspect is developed by man is Cultural Environment

Environment

Physical environment

Biological environment

Cultural Environment

Lithospheric

Floral

Social

Atmospheric Hydrospheric

Faunal

Economic

Microbial

Political

COMPUTER
PHILOSOPHY

SOCIOLOGY ECONOMICS PHYSICS

POLITICS

CHEMISTRY
LAW AGRICULTURE BIOLOGY ENGINEERING EARTH SCIENCE

Environmental Science is a inter-disciplinary area of study which includes the following aspects
THEORETICAL ASPECTS Identification of environmental problems

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

APPLIED ASPECTS Developing solutions to the problems

To maintain the quality of life Environment protection For social development Self preservation To understand food chains To maintain ecological balance To generate concern for environmental changes Directs attention towards environmental problems

A resource is anything we get from environment Natural environment such as land, water, air minerals, forest, grassland and wildlife all are resources. Natural resources can be renewable or nonrenewable.

Renewable resources are those resources which are inexhaustible and hence can provide continuous supply Non- renewable resources are those resources which are exhaustible in nature and can not be regenerated or if generated it takes millions of years to develop.

Solar energy

Land resources

Tidal Power

wind Power

Water resources

Renewable resources

Geothermal energy

Biogass

Forest Resources

Soil resources

Hydroelectric Power

Solar energy means electro magnetic radiation from the sun. Solar radiation felt on the earth mostly in the form of light and infrared rays. Techniques used for trapping solar energy are a.] solar heating b.] Photovoltaic conversion- conversion of solar energy into electricity

Wind energy is used to create electricity by using wind turbines Wind energy is a function of wind speed Wind speed increases with the height.

ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS Bird kills Noise effect High cost involve

Tidal power is used to generate electricity by the force of tides Tidal power is tapped by placing a barrage across an estuary and forcing the tidal flow to pass through turbines Two ways to generate electricity One-way system Two-way system

Disturbs the aquatic ecosystem Can destroy the habitats and nesting places of water birds. Interference with fisheries Flow of polluted water creates health problems High cost

GEO means earth and THERMAL means Heat Geothermal energy starts with hot, molten rock called magma deep inside the earth. The heat rising from magma warms underground pools of water know as geothermal reservoirs. Direct use of reservoirs as a deep well. It also helps to form gaysers

Geothermal reservoirs contains minerals that are corrosive and polluted Geothermal fluids are a problem which require treatment before use. Geothermal reservoirs are sometimes available in a hard form.

This uses water flowing down a natural gradient to turn turbines to generate electricity ADVANTAGES Long life of hydropower plant Very low operating and maintenance cost Absence of inflationary pressure

To produce hydroelectric power, large areas of forest and agricultural lands are submerged Conflicts over land

Biogas is produced from plant material, animal waste, garbage, waste from households and some types of industrial wastes such as fish processing, dairies and sewage treatment plants It is a mixture of gases and includes methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and water vapor It is the best way of using gas as a fuel

Forest are complex ecosystem which includes soil, fungi, bacteria, herbs, insects, birds, animals and many other organisms Important functions of Forest

Watershed protection [reducing surface run off, floods] Atmospheric regulation [absorption of solar heat, maintaining level of carbon dioxide]

Erosion control [holding soil] Land bank [maintaining soil nutrients and structure] Local use [food, timber]

Medicine plants
Fuel wood Provide habitat

Water resources includes all the sources of water including atmospheric water, lakes, ponds, river and sea water USES OF WATER Drinking, cooking and washing

Domestic uses Agriculture and irrigation

Aqua culture and fisheries

Waste disposal for natural self- purification Power generation

Ecological conservation
Recreation

Soil is an important resource of the lithosphere Plants takes all the nutrients for their growth from soil only Owing to the porosity and water holding capacity of soil, it provides water supply to the plants even when land surface is dry

COAL

OIL

NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES MINERALS

NUCLEAR

Coal is combustible solid, it usually formed by the burial of partial decomposed vegetation in the pass geological ages

IMPACTS ON ENVIORNMENT Burning coal produces oxides of sulphur and nitrogen which combines with water and lead to acid rain Kills forest vegetation Pollute water Affects human health

Indias oil reserves which are being used at present, lie off the coast of Mumbai and in Assam. IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENT Accidental fire Water Pollution Refining process of oil generates grease and salt which also damages environment Air Pollution

The nuclear rectors use Uranium to produce electricity. Uranium is made into rod that are fitted into a nuclear reactor The control rods absorb neutrons and adjust the fission, which releases energy due to the chain reaction in a reactor unit The heat energy produced in the reaction is used to heat water and produce steam, which drives turbines and produce electricity

Reaction release very hot water and disturbs the aquatic ecosystem Very high cost involved

Air pollution
Skin diseases Adverse effect on crop productivity

Non- renewable minerals are present in earth crust and soil Formation of minerals takes place predominantly in weak zone like mountains, faulted regions, lakes and continental shelves through geological processes

Minerals present in the soil develops the productivity of the soil

Consumption of renewable resources

State of environment

Sustainability

More than nature's ability to replenish

Environmental degradation

Not sustainable

Equal to nature's ability to replenish

Environmental equilibrium Steady state economy

Less than nature's ability to replenish

Environmental renewal

Environmentally sustainable

It emphasizes that in sustainable development everyone is a user and provider of information It stresses the need to change from old sector-centered ways of doing business to new approaches

Social sustainability derives that every person on the earth should use the resources in such a manner that it could save some part for the new generation It emphasizes on the view of better quality of life for all people of society

It emphasizes the view of sustainable use of all resources Use of pesticides and other chemicals which will not harm the environment in any manner should me used long term wellbeing of environment practices should be used

Sustainable agriculture may be defined as consisting of environmentally-friendly methods of farming that allow the production of crops or livestock without damage to human or natural systems. It include preventing adverse effects to soil, water, biodiversity, surrounding or downstream resources - as well as to those working on the farm

1.] Agro forestry A narrow definition of agro forestry is "trees on farms

Agro forestry is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock. It combines agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land-use systems. .

It means managing a mix of different crops or animals. The best known form of mixing occurs probably where crop residues are used to feed the animals and the excreta from animals are used as nutrients for the crop It depends on external and internal factors. External factors like Weather Patterns, Market Prices, Political Stability and Technological Development, Internal factors relate to Local Soil Characteristics

The process of growing two or more crops in the same piece of land, during the same season is called Multiple Cropping It can be rightly called a form of Polyculture It can be (a) Double Cropping (the practice where the second crop is planted after the first has been harvested) (b) Relay Cropping (the practice where a second crop is started along with the first one, before it is harvested).

The process of growing two or more unrelated crops in the same piece of land in different seasons is known as Crop Rotation

ADVANTAGES (a) Avoid the build up of pests (b) The replenishment of nitrogen through the use of green manure in sequence with cereals and other crops (c) Improve soil structure and fertility by alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants

Objectives of conservation of natural resources

To maintain the essential ecological processes i.e. food chain recycling and the life support system soil, air, water, pond, plants, animals

To ensure the availability and sustainability of resources

survival of all species in a healthy and easy manner To preserve the diversity at the specific habitat levels.

Using drip irrigation and sprinkling irrigation systems water lawns Treating water to be provided for irrigation purpose Water to be used carefully and economically for domestically for domestic and industrial Using alternative source of energy

Taking care in using fuels

Avoiding wastage of energy