Environmental Sciences

A Little About Environmental

SciencesIf we break the word environmental sciences- “Environmental” related to environmental or our surrounding and “Sciences” that is the theory and principles that work on itIf we take as a whole it is an interdisciplinary approach to understand various aspect of environment so as to see upon the environmental issue and problemsObjective of Studying Understand concepts of the subject Understand complexity of ecosystem and how to sustain

them Understand relationship between human and

environment How social and political issue effect environment etc..

Topics Covered In SyllabusEco-System

Bio diversitySustainability And EnvironmentEnvironment impact assessment and management systemIntroduction of environmental Law

Eco-System

A Brief Of Eco-SystemLiving organism cant survive in a isolated environment They need company of non living environment for survivalLiving Organism-> Human beings,plants,animals and microorganismNon living Environment-> air,water,minerals and soils(Definition from net)

CharacteristicsVast and complexConsist of large pool of resourcesConstant exchange of material and energyExamples:-Ponds ,lakes,deserts,grasslands,forests etc.

Ecosystem

Biotic(Living)

Producers(autotrophs)

Decomposers Consumers

Abiotic(Non-Living)

Air Water

Soil Energy

Components Of Eco-System

Types Of Eco-SystemEco-System

Forest

Tropical Temperature Taiga

Grasslands

Temperature Tropical Polar

Deserts Aquatic

Freshwater Marine

Forests• Occupy one third of the Earth's land

area• Forests are divided into three different

layers: the forest floor, the understory and the canopy• The forest floor is comprised of soil,

dead plants and animals and small plants such as grasses.• The understory contains small trees or

bushes and is also called the shrub layer.• The canopy is made up of the leaves

and branches of the trees that dominate the forest.

Grassland• Grasslands are areas dominated by grasses and forbs• have few or no trees.• Grazing and roaming animals occur in abundance• They occupy about one quarter of the Earth's land area.• Grasslands are considered the transitional biome. • This means that they are usually found between deserts and forests.

DesertsDeserts are arid or dry regions and receive less than 10 inches of rain per year. Biologically, they contain plants and animals adapted for survival in arid environments.Physically they are large areas with a lot of bare soil and low vegetation coverThe world’s deserts occupy almost one-quarter of the earth’s land surface

AquaticOceans cover approximately 70% of the earth’s surfaceThe marine ecosystem, in addition to the temperate and tropical oceans, Marine ecosystems support a great diversity of life and variety of habitatsThe ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

Biosphere

BiosphereRegion where life existsExtended from 10000m below sea level to 6000m above sea level

Biosphere

Biosphere

Lithosphere/Geosphere Atmosphere

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Ionosphere

Hydrosphere

Lithosphere/Geosphere• If we break the word Geosphere “Geo” means ground

and “Sphere” means area• The Geosphere is the solid earth that includes the

continental and ocean crust as well the various layers of Earth’s interior•  Coolest and most rigid part of the • Includes mountains, liquid rock, minerals metal etc.• 94% of the earth is composed of the elements oxygen,

silicon and magnesium

Hydrosphere• If we break the word Hydrosphere “Hydro” means water

and “Sphere” means area.• Hydrosphere is made up of all the water on Earth• Includes ocean,rivers,lakes stream and all other water

bodies• About 97% of the Earth’s water resources is looked-up

in the oceans and seas.• Two-thirds of the remaining 3% is frozen in glaciers and

polar ice caps.• Only 1% of the hydrosphere is liquid freshwater, and

even most of this exists as groundwater down in the soil.

Atmosphere• The earth's atmosphere is a very thin layer wrapped around a very large planet.• Energy is transferred between the earth's surface and the atmosphere via conduction, convection, and radiation.•  Two in particular, carbon dioxide and ozone, can have a large impact on atmospheric processes.

Troposphere•Lowest layer of atmosphere•Contains dust particles and water vapour•Climatic weather condition changes take places here• Jet, aeroplanes offer avoid this layer

Stratosphere•Extend unto 50 km•Ozone layer is present here•UV radiations of sun are protected•Cloud are absent and very netlabel dust and water vapour

Mesosphere• Found between 50-80 km• The mesosphere is directly above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere• Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere.• Characterized by Strong zonal winds, atmospheric tides etc.

Ionosphere•Found above 80 km•Has abundance of ions which reflect radio waves to earth•Enables wireless communications• ionized by solar and cosmic radiation

Credits:-Shivam Agarwal Vishal

Sharma