environmental science 10: the scientific study of our...

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WELCOME TOENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 10

(ES 10)

Spring 2012David Schwartz, Sue Holt and Christa Fink

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 10:The scientific study of our environment as well as our role in it.

Environmental scientists use the scientific method to study processes and systems in the environment in which we live.

An interdisciplinary study that examines the role of humans on the earth.

ES 10 is a physical, biological and social science.

We will focus on information from a variety of disciplines.Topics include: economics, population biology, ecosystems, biodiversity, biochemistry and the chemistry of pollution, geological processes, oceanography, natural resources and climatology. ES 10 will also include an analysis of how human behavior and institutions affect the environment.

SLO’s / Class Goals

• Evaluate local and global environmental resources and processes.

• Explain the scientific laws and methods for investigating environmental phenomena and understanding human-environment interactions.

• Describe many important environmental problems, analyze their causes and investigate possible short and/or long term solutions.

Cunningham (Chap 1) lists the following aspersistent environmental problems:• Clean water• Food Supplies• Energy Resources

• Climate Change• Air Quality• Biodiversity Loss• Marine Resources (food supplies, biodiversity loss)

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Air Pollution• Global climate

change• Stratospheric ozone

depletion• Urban air pollution• Acid deposition• Outdoor pollutants• Indoor pollutants• Noise

Biodiversity Depletion• Habitat destruction• Habitat degradation• Extinction• Introduced Species

Water Pollution• Sediment• Nutrient overload• Toxic chemicals• Infectious agents• Oxygen

depletion• Pesticides• Oil spills• Excess heat

Waste Production• Solid waste• Hazardous waste

Food Supply Problems• Overgrazing• Farmland loss

and degradation• Wetlands loss

and degradation• Overfishing• Coastal pollution• Soil erosion• Soil salinization• Soil waterlogging• Water shortages• Groundwater

depletion• Loss of biodiversity• Poor nutrition

MajorEnvironmental

Problems

A few details are missing from both lists………..

Think about things we do to the environment VS things the environment does to us.








Geologic Hazards / Natural Disasters• Earthquakes

• Tsunamis

• Mass Wasting

• Volcanism

• Hurricanes

• Flooding

• Coastal Erosion / Sea Level Rise

• Wetland loss

• Erosion / soil loss

• Fires

OTHEREnvironmental

Problems








Geologic Hazards / Natural Disasters

• Earthquakes

• Tsunamis

• Mass Wasting

• Volcanism

• Hurricanes

• Flooding

• Coastal Erosion / Sea Level Rise

• Wetland loss

• Erosion / soil loss

• Fires

MajorEnvironmental

Problems

Plastic and debris in the world’s oceans

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Japan Earthquake& Tsunami

March 11, 2011

Tsunami Characteristics

CapitolaCalifornia

March 11, 2011

1. Chile 1960 9.5 2. Prince William Sound, Alaska 1964 9.2 3. Northern Sumatra Indian Ocean 2004 9.1 4. Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan 2011 9.0 5. Kamchatka 1952 9.0 6. Offshore Maule, Chile 2010 8.8

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Earthquake activity in Japan from 1990 to

2011

DART = Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis

Tsunami Warning Area

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What NOT to do during atsunami warning….

Beach in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 Odaka district in

Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture,

Top: beach before tsunami

Center and Bottom: beach being hit by third wave of the tsunami

(AP Photo/Sadatsugu Tomisawa)

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A view of flooding and destruction in Natori city, Miyagi prefecture, Saturday, after a tsunami was unleashed by an 8.9 quake.

A fishing boat sits amongst debris of houses and cars in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

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Japan-earthquake-tsunami-debris-floating-US-West-Coast

Floating Debris Heading Toward US West Coast

Crescent City, California

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Seacliff State Beach, Aptos, CA

environmental science 10: the scientific study of our...

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