Atmosphere

The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases,

surrounding the earth:
(a) It sustains life on the earth.
(b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer
space.
(c)It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a
major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(d)It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared
radiation (300 to 2500
nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-
damaging ultraviolate
waves below about 300 nm.
 Hydrosphere
The Hydrosphere:comprises all types of water
resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams,
reserviour, polar icecaps, glaciers, and
ground water.
(i)Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the
oceans,
(ii)About 2% of the water resources is locked in the
polar icecaps and glaciers.
(iii)Only about 1% is available as fresh surface
water-rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to
be used for human consumption and other uses.
 Lithosphere
• Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid
earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the
earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals,
organic matter, air and water.
 Biosphere
• Biosphere indicates the realm of living
organisms and their interactions with
environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere
and lithosphere.
 Element of Environment
• (1) Physical elements
• Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies, climate
soils, rocks and minerals.
• They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its
opportunities as well as
• limitations.
• (2) Biological elements
• Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and
men constitute the
• biosphere.
• (3) Cultural elements
• Cultural elements such as economic, social and political
elements
are essentially manmade features
 Environmental Science :

The science of Environment

studies is a multi-disciplinary
science

It comprises various branches of

studies like chemistry, physics,
medical science, life science,
agriculture, public health, sanitary
engineering etc.
 SCOPE IN BRIEF
Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It includes a large number of areas and aspects, which may be
summarized as follows:

 Natural resources- their conservation and management

 Ecology and Biodiversity

 Environmental pollution and control

 Human population and environment

 Social issues in relation to development and environment

 SCOPE IN DETAIL
1. The study creates awareness among the people to know about various renewable and nonrenewable resources
of the region. The endowment or potential, patterns of utilization and the balance of various resources available
for future use in the state of a country are analysed in the study.

2. 2. It provides the knowledge about ecological systems and cause and effect relationships.

3. 3. It provides necessary information about biodiversity richness and the potential dangers to the species of
plants, animals and microorganisms in the environment.

4. 4. The study enables one to understand the causes and consequences due to natural and main induced disasters
(flood, earthquake, landslide, cyclones etc.,) and pollutions and measures to minimize the effects.

5. 5. It enables one to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding an alternative
course of action.
 SCOPE
6. The study enables environmentally literate citizens (by knowing the environmental acts, rights, rules, legislations,
etc.) to make appropriate judgments and decisions for the protection and improvement of the earth.

7. The study exposes the problems of over population, health, hygiene, etc. and the role of arts, science and
technology in eliminating/ minimizing the evils from the society.

8. The study tries to identify and develop appropriate and indigenous eco-friendly skills and technologies to various
environmental issues.

9. It teaches the citizens the need for sustainable utilization of resources as these resources are inherited from our
ancestors to the younger generating without deteriorating their quality.

10. The study enables theoretical knowledge into practice and the multiple uses of environment.
 IMPORTANCE
1.Environment Issues being of International Importance: It has been well recognized
that environment issues like global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, marine
pollution and loss of biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues
and hence must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation.

2. Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development: Development, in its wake gave

birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems, Agriculture and
Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed world. The North, to
cleanse their own environment has, fact fully, managed to move ‘dirty’ factories to
South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental
impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither practicable nor desirable, even
if developing world follows that.
3.Explosively Increase in Pollution: World census reflects that one in every seven
persons in this plant lives in India. Evidently with 16 per cent of the world's population
and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural
resources including land. Agricultural experts have recognized soils health problems
like deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil
structure.

4. Need for An Alternative Solution: It is essential, specially for developing countries

to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as under: (1) A goal,
which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally sound and
sustainable development. (2) A goal common to all citizens of our earth. (3) A goal
distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the overconsuming wasteful
societies of the “developed” world.
5.Need To Save Humanity From Extinction: It is incumbent upon us to
save the humanity from extinction. Consequences to our activities cause
destructing the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of
development.

6. Need For Wise Planning of Development: Our survival and sustenance

depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product have all to
be synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of development.
Our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the
environment and development.
NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
1. Growing Population: A population of over thousands of millions is growing at
2.11 per cent every year. Over 17 million people are added each year. It puts
considerable pressure on its natural resources and reduces the gains of
development. Hence, the greatest challenge before us is to limit the population
growth. Although population control does automatically lead to development,
yet the development leads to a decrease in population growth rates.

2. Poverty: India has often been described a rich land with poor people. The
poverty and environmental degradation are mixed with one another. The vast
majority of our people are directly dependent on the nature resources of the
country for their basic needs of food, fuel shelter and fodder. About 40% of our
people are still below the poverty line
NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
3. Environment degradation has adversely affected the poor who depend upon the
resources of their immediate surroundings. Thus, the challenge of poverty and the
challenge of environment degradation are two facets of the same challenge.
4. Agricultural Growth: The people must be made familiar with the methods to
sustain and increase agricultural growth without damaging the environment. High
yielding varieties have caused soil salinity and damage to physical structure of soil.
5. Need to Increase Ground water: It is essential of rationalizing the use of
groundwater. Factors like community wastes, industrial effluents, chemical
Environmental Science
6 AITT & H&S fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface water and
affected quality of the groundwater. It is essential to restore the water quality of
our rivers and other water bodies. Suitable strategies for conservation of water,
provision of safe drinking water and keeping water bodies clean should be
developed.
NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
• 6. Development and Forests: Forests serve catchments for the rivers. With
increasing demand of water, plan to harness the mighty river through large irrigation
projects were made. Certainly, these would submerge forests; displace local people,
damage flora and fauna. As such, the dams on the river Narmada, Bhagirathi and
elsewhere have become areas of political and scientific debate. Forests in India have
been shrinking for several centuries owing to pressures of agriculture and other uses.
Vast areas that were once green, stand today as waste lands. These areas are to be
brought back under vegetative cover. The tribal communities inhabiting forests,
respects the trees, birds and animals give them sustenance. We must recognize the
role of these people in restoring and conserving forests. The modern knowledge and
skills of the forest department should be integrated with the traditional knowledge
and experience of the local communities. The strategies for the joint management of
forests should be evolved in a well planned way.
NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
• 7. Degradation of Land: At present out of the total 329 mha of land, only 266 mha
possess any potential for production. Of this, 143 mha is agricultural land nearly and 85
suffers from varying degrees of soil degradation. Of the remaining 123 mha, 40 are
completely unproductive. The remaining 83 mha is classified as forest land, of which over
half is denuded to various degrees. Nearly 406 million head of livestock have to be
supported on 13 mha, or less than 4 per cent of the land classified as pasture land, most
of which is overgrazed. Thus, out of 226 mha, about 175 mha or 66 per cent is degraded
to varying degrees. Water and wind erosion causes further degradation of almost 150
mha This degradation is to be avoided. 8. Evil Consequences of Urbanization: Nearly 27%
of Indians live in urban areas. Urbanization and industrialization has given birth to a great
number of environmental problems. Over 30 percent of urban Indians live in slums. Out
of Environmental Science 7 AITT & H&S India’s 3,245 towns and cities, only 21 have partial
or full sewerage and treatment facilities. Hence, coping with rapid urbanization is a major
challenge
NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
8. Air and water Pollution: Majority of our industrial plants are using
outdated and pollution causing technologies and makeshift facilities
devoid of any provision of treating their wastes. A great number of
cities and industrial areas have been identified as the worst in terms of
air and water pollution. Acts are enforced in the country, but their
implement is not so easy. The reason is their implementation needs
great resources, technical expertise, political and social will. Again the
people are to be made aware of these rules. Their support is
indispensable to implement these rules.
INSTITUTIONS IN ENVIRONMENT
• Managing natural resources require efficient institutions at all levels i.e. local, national, regional and global.
Among the large number of institutions that deal with environmental protection and conservation, a few well-
known organization include government organizations like the BSI and ZSI, and NGOs like the BNHS, WWF-1,
etc.
•  The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai
•  World Wide fund for nature- India (WWF-1), New Delhi
•  Centre or science and environment (CSE), New Delhi
•  C.P.R Environmental Education Centre, Madras
•  Centre for Environment Education (CEE)
•  Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Institute of Environment Education & Research, Pune
•  The Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
•  Wild life Institute of India (WII), Dehradhun
•  Zoological survey of India (ZSI)
•  The madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT)