ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 3205

An Introduction

COURSE OUTLINE UNIT 1 – Intro to Environmental Science

Chapters 1-5

UNIT 2 – Recreation Chapters 6-8

UNIT 3 – Land Use Forestry Chapters 9-10 Mining Chapter 12

UNIT 4 – Water Use Chapters 13-16

UNIT 5 – Atmosphere Chapters 17-19

COURSE EVALUATION

Tests/Quizzes: 40%

Other: 60 %

What is this course really about? Newfoundland and Labrador

It is about how we, as a human population, actively manage our abundant natural resources.

It highlights the complexity of environmental science and all of its parts, including taking into account social concerns, the natural environment, and the state of the economy.

It is about YOU, and YOUR COMMITMENT to our provinces natural resources. What will YOU do to keep our province sustainable?

Oh Very Young . . . Written and Performed by Cat Stevens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_eUnxDE8YY

Newfoundland Photo Slideshow 3205\Unit1\POWERPOINTS\See Yourself

September1 2006.ppt

Oh very young, What will you leave us this time?You’re only dancing on this Earth

For a short while.

UNIT 1 – An Introduction

Topic 1 - The Earth and the Environment

Case Study – The Capelin Roll

Evolution of Earth

Spaceship Earth

Case Study – The Capelin Roll

Admiral’s Point, Bonavista Peninsula, Trinity Bay, NL

The Capelin Roll . . . P. 1-2 in text Sometime in June/July,

the Capelin will roll by the thousands into shore to spawn.

The adults will move back to deeper water, leaving the eggs to develop into larvae.

Hopefully, with the help of some wave action and good water temperatures, the larvae will make its way back to deeper waters to start another generation.

The Capelin Roll and NL . . . It is a long-standing Newfoundland

tradition to run to the shores for the annual capelin roll.

The Capelin Roll and NL . . .

Adults and children alike flocked to the beaches and gather these little fish in buckets, heading home with them to use in gardens, or eat as a snack.

Today, capelin is also used to make fish meal and oil industry products.

The Capelin Roll & NL Capelin are ALSO

linked on FOOD CHAINS to plankton,and many larger species (ex: Atlantic cod,

humpback whales, Atlantic puffins).

The Map to the right shows the 1957 cod range around NL. Not surprisingly, the capelin range was almost identical at the time!

The Capelin Roll TODAY in NL

Since the 1980s, the NUMBER of capelin has declined dramatically.

Capelin rolls are more unpredictable in timing, and the number of capelin has decreased dramatically.

Today, there is a small inshore capelin fishery that is strictly regulated, but Newfoundlanders have STILL not forgotten the joy and excitement of the capelin roll.

Evolution of Earth

Evolution of Earth . . .A general timeline 12-15 bya BIG BANG

Lead to formation of the UNIVERSE Beginning of TIME and SPACE

5 bya Birth of the SUN

~ 4.6 bya FORMATION OF EARTH Formed from a cloud of interstellar dust and gases that

collapsed and condensed from the BIG BANG

~3.8 bya Earliest forms of LIFE

~200000 ya Earliest record of Homo sapiens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1AXbpYndGc&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Let’s back up a little bit . . .

When earth formed 4.6 bya, what did it look like? NOT MUCH!

4 THINGS HAD TO FORM: Geosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x8-KMR0nx8&NR=1

Geosphere – THE LAND Earth’s inner core, or mantle, remained

liquid while the surface of the earth cooled. This surface, or lithosphere, thickened and broke up into large masses called tectonic plates, which move regularly over the mantle.

Atmosphere – THE AIR

The volcanic activity here on earth helped to create our first atmosphere.

The original atmospheric gases present were: Water vapour H20 Carbon dioxide CO2

Carbon monoxide CO Nitrogen N2

Hydrosphere – THE WATER

Believed to have formed from the constant bombardment of comets and asteroids containing water from the outer solar system.

With the help of volcanic activity, the oceans formed quickly.

Biosphere – The LIFE on Earth Definition:

The LIVING portion of earth, extends into the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

Organisms within the biosphere have formed many dynamic relationships with each other, evolving over millions of years, eventually colonized all parts of Earth.

The Spheres . . . They’re all Connected!

During the formation of the Earth, Where did NL come from? Our province, like the rest of the world,

began as part of a large continent called PANGEA.

WHAT ABOUT NL?Labrador Forms the eastern most part of the Canadian Shield,

where some of the oldest rocks in the world are foundNewfoundland Three areas of the world brought together by

continental drift Western NL from Appalachian Mountain Range Eastern NL from parts of Africa Central NL from remains of the ocean floor that lay

between North America and Africa http://www.cbc.ca/geologic/field_guide/

app_newfoundland.html?dataPath=/photogallery/documentaries/gallery_638/xml/gallery_638.xml

http://www.cbc.ca/geologic/eg_appalahians.html

HOMEWORK!!!SPACESHIP EARTH

Pair up with another student and brainstorm about the similarities and differences between Earth and a spaceship (ex: space shuttle or International Space Station).

Fill in answers on sheet provided.

So what is the point?

Just like a spaceship, Earth’s resources are LIMITED.

Unlike a spaceship, Earth is much more COMPLEX and DIVERSE.

We always need to be careful not to upset the delicate balance between LIVING and NONLIVING systems.

Our human population is putting a strain on our natural resources here on Earth.

Blue Man Group on Earth to America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM-mfEMssy8