introduction environmental science course dr. mohammed ajjour university of palestine 2009,

Introduction Environmental Science Course

Dr. Mohammed Ajjour University Of Palestine

2009,

General Remark

As a student of this course you are requested to : Attend lectures actively and to be ready to get Quizzes any

time. no apology for not attending ( for this a total of 10 grades is calculated ).

Write a paper on an environmental subject and present it to your colleagues before the end of semester ( for this another 10 grades is calculated )

Pass successfully the first and final Examinations

University Of Palestine 2009, Dr. Mohammed Ajjour

References

( arabic ) أساسيات علم البيئة• د. غازي , للمؤلف د. عبد القادر عابد

السفاريني مجموعة كتب في المكتبة مثل:.• المدخل الى علم البيئة (سامح غرايبة )• علم البيئة (علياء حاتوغ ......)••Environmental sciences)Nebel wright ( •Introduction To environmental

sciences)AnJaneyyulu(


Intended Learning objectivesAfter this course, students should be able to :o Describe the history and different world views on actual worldwide environmental problems o Understand the natural environment and the connections between its different components o Describe the reasons and nature of environmental disasters and problems in recent centurieso Understand the relations between human activities and pollution of water , air ,soil etco Understand the impact of pollution on health and economy o Define and analyze the major environmental problems in Gaza Strip , their causes, and solutionso Understand the importance of citizen behavior and its contribution to environmental protectiono Name and recognize the function and contributions of local and international agencies that are working in this

field

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course syllabus 1st Week : General Introduction. 2nd Week : Earth and natural disasters .

It is important to notice that Quizzes will be given any time during the course. 3rd + 4th Week : Natural Ecosystems and Biodiversity.

5th Week : water, Nitrogen, Carbon and Phosphorus cycles.

6th Week : Mid term Examination . 7th Week : Natural resources : energy,

soil minerals and other resources.

8th Week : Air Pollution and control. 9th and 10th Week : Water Recourses ,

Pollution and Management.

Starting Report writing , consolidation with Lecturer .

11th Week : Solid Waste Management . 12th Week : Environmental Impact

Assessment . 13th and 14th Week : student Seminar . Final examination


First Week : General Introduction

Introduction to Environmental Sciences:

Definitions and Terms

Origin and development of environmental sciences with multidisciplinary nature

Domains of environmental sciences.

Causes of environmental Problems in recent centuries .


Ecologyعلم التبيوء ( االيكولوجيا): :Is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.the study of the interactions (with both the physical environment and living

organisms) that determine the distribution and abundance of species along the globe

Environmental science : علم البيئة

is the study of how various species interact with one another and with the nonliving environment( energy and matter ). It is a physical and social science that integrates knowledge from all other sciences. It is the study of interactions of the biotic components among themselves and together with the abiotic components .

.


Definitions

(Environment) :البيئة

_ any thing that affect an organism during its lifetime is collectively known as its environment.

_The environment is something you are very familiar with. It's everything that makes up our surroundings and affects our ability to live on the earth -the air we breathe, the water that covers most of the earth's surface, the plants and animals around us, and much more.

_Is the sum total of all physical and biological factors influencing a particular organism.

The external physical and biological factors which influence growth, survivorship,

development and reproduction of organisms.University Of Palestine 2009, Dr. Mohammed Ajjour

Cont. Definitions

"YOU" are the nucleus of your environment.

The components of your environment are either biotic : your family, friends, enemies, trees, bacteria, insects, rodents, birds, dogs, cats, rats, bats etc. or abiotic : , water, air, soil, sun, moon etc. The components of your social environment are science, technology, religion, politics, traditions, Culture and customs and above all the maturity of your mind.

The boundary of your environment is your town or city or district . As man has already started affecting the global climate, the need of the hour is to dedicate ourselves to safeguard our environment without limiting ourselves to the narrow household or town or country but

extending it to the whole universeUniversity Of Palestine 2009, Dr. Mohammed Ajjour

Environmental science Domains

Physical Environment : that includs: soil, lithosphere, and all processes in and above

soil Climate and its elements : temperature, wind ,

humidity and rain. Biosphere with its components ( plants, animals,

….). Hydrosphere ( Oceans, seas, groundwater, …. )


البيئة االجتماعيةsocial Env. Public services (Schools, parks,

clinics and hospitals, civil defence, … etc)

- Habitats and dwelling centres - work environment in

Commercial and industrial states

االص��طناعية Manالبيئ��ةmade En

Land use (Urban, rural etc.) - Infrastructure (wastewater

and rain water collection systems, wastewater treatment plants , Industrial states.

Air and water polution , noise …

University Of Palestine 2009, Dr. Mohammed Ajjourand control

البيئة Economicاالقتصادية

Env Standards of living

Employment and unemployment rates etc.

)البيئ�ة الجمالي�ةAesthetic Envy.

Historical, archaeological sites.Natural scenesStyle of architecture

University Of Palestine 2009, Dr. Mohammed Adjourn

This variation in human environment led to various branches of environmental sciences, like environmental Chemistry, geography, physics

and environmental engineering.……………

Development stages of our environment

Since its creation , our environment passed through distinctive phases:

preparatory stage : during which deep changes took place after which the atmosphere and hydrosphere developed in a way that allowed the evolvement of various species of plants and animals . This stage occupied most of the earth age till human appeared

Hunting Stage : during which Human moved and searched for Food and hunted without any impact on environment .

Agriculture Stage ( 10-12 thousand year ago) : when human settled and started to cut the forest and cultivate the land . This phase continued till the beginning of the industrial revolution in the middle of the eighteenth century


Industrial Revolution : during this stage industrial development started , consumption of resources and pollution, migration of people from rural area, transportation means, all that created

major new threats to environment. Information Technology : started in the middle of the twentieth Century , computer, information , communication technologies developed and new problems forced to search for new local and international solutions


Causes of increased environmental problems in recent centuries


Limited resources with increased populations .

Increased consumption and production of pollutants .

Increased production of new hazardous chemicals .

.Bad agricultural practices and overuse of agrochemicals

worldwide transportation and handling of toxic materials .

.Bad planning and execution of projects without consideration of environment

increased environmental awareness

The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held at Stockholm in 1972 It was the first major international discussion of environmental issues .

.Kenya summit 1982

.Rio Summit 1992

Johannesburg summit 2002


Successes and Failures

Failures :The followings indicate shortages in environmental protection

.Continued increase of populations in poor countries. Continued overconsumption in developed countries.

. .Global heating and deforestation .Climate change

. Extinction of animal and plant species .


Successes Reduced use of Ferions Improved cooperation between Economists and environmentalistsIncreased Investment in environmental protection Decline of population growth in some areas Improved technologies for resource use and protection of environment


introduction environmental science course dr. mohammed ajjour university of palestine 2009,

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