How Many Types Of Environment Are There?

Types of environments include man-made and geographical environments. Both categories have a significant meaning. Environment is a term that means a surrounding area where all living and non-living creatures co-exist. The word environment is derived from the French word "environ" which means each and everything that surrounds us. It can indicate the natural, social, or man-made nature. Thomas Carlyle coined the terminology 'environment'. He named it in the Lowlands of Scotland in 1828. The terminology "ecosystem" and "surroundings" are commonly used as the synonyms for the word "environment".

What is the Environment?

The environment refers to the external conditions, resources, stimuli, etc. with which an organism correlates or interacts. The environment on its own has a wide range of meaning which covers all the biotic and abiotic components such as water, soil, flora, and fauna. It is a special gift from nature that is responsible for the nourishment of life on the earth. It is a terminology that illustrates everything that is around us. It is a basic system that supports our life. The environment gives us the air that organisms breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the land for living. It is a combination of biotic and abiotic elements that interact with each other and these are interdependent. The environment's existence is critical because neither human life nor any living being cannot survive without it. It maintains the balance of life.

Types of Environment

The environment is divided into two main parts:

Geographical Environment

It is a type of environment that is uncontrollable by humans. It mainly refers to the terrestrial environment which is composed of variety of environmental and natural factors. It is also known as the natural environment. It consists of all the natural components like mountains, land, rivers, water, deserts, storms, etcetera. It is sometimes known as the physical environment because it is directly related to the physical conditions required for life.

Geographical environment has elements including natural resources, climatic factors, landforms and biological structures. This environment has no human involvement because it is self automated by the natural phenomenon.

Man-made Environment

Man-made environment is also called artificial environment. This environment has a human involvement and is made by them. Man is unable to live in geographical environment directly so he creates some of the environmental conditions to get adjust in it. For the purpose of their own benefit man created this environment to regulate and monitor some environmental conditions. It is sub-divided into two parts:

• Inner Environment: Inner environment is known to be a social environment that is in existence as long as human society exists. This environment has a great impact on human lives. The inner environment is totally dependent on human social influence. It is generally called social heritage because it is crucial for the presence of humankind.
• Outer Environment: Outer environment is that environment which is created by human beings for their own benefit with the help of technology and science. It is a moderation of physical environment that has assisted cope with the growth of physical humankind and the development of the environment. It consists of several facilities such as houses, city infrastructures, trasport and communication and many more. It is asserted that outer environment evolve more dramatically than the inner environment as it is in the hands of man and his mushrooming technology.

Components of Environment

The components of environment includes both living and non-living creatures present on the earth. The air or atmosphere, rocks and soil or lithosphere, water or hydrosphere and the other biological component of the environment or biosphere are the basic components of environment.

Biotic Components

All the living organisms in an environment like plants and animals is responsible to form biotic components. Biotic components depend on how they nourish themselves and on the basis of this living things can be splited into three groups, i.e, producers, consumers and decomposers. These are as follows:

1. Producers: The green plants who makes their own food with the help of photosynthesis are known to be producers. Green plants are well known to adapt and utilize solar energy. Few elements are essential for the formation of food in the process of photosynthesis such as water, minerals, sunlight and carbon dioxide.
2. Consumers: This category is dependent on producers and other organisms for the food. Consumers are further divided into two types on the basis of their food taking criteria and they are primary and secondary consumers. Primary consumers includes snails, rabbits, etc. And secondary consumers include snakes, frogs, small fish, etc.
3. Decomposers: Decomposers are the microorganisms that feed themselves by living on dead and decaying matter. It has a saprophytic nature. Examples of decomposers are bacteria and fungi.

Abiotic Components

The abiotic components or abiotic factors of the environment are those which are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that somehow affects the functioning of ecosystems and the living organisms. Examples of abiotic components are sunlight, water, air, soil, etcetera. Biotic factors have to depend on abiotic components for their survival and existence on the planet.

Importance of Environment

The environment has a crucial impact on humans as well as in the continuation of life on the earth. Earth is shelter to variety of living species and we all rely on it for food, water, air and other necessary things for life. Hence, it is important to protect the environment not only for this generation but for the upcoming generation too. By doing this the next generation would also be able to explore the beauty of nature and live in a clean and healthy environment.