Environmental
Science
,Environmental Science
Author
TNAU, Tamil Nadu
, Index
LN Lecture Name Page
1 Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies 4-14
Natural resources: Renewable and Non renewable
2 15-23
resources. Land and Water
Natural resources: forest, wildlife, energy and food
3 24-40
resources
4 Ecosystems: Definition, concept, structure and functions 41-49
Producers, consumers and decomposers of an
5 ecosystem. Energy flow in the ecosystem. Types of 50-57
ecosystems
Bio-diversity: Definition, classification, threats to
6 58-68
biodiversity and its conservation
7 Environmental pollution: Causes, effects and control of air 69-81
8 Global warming and climate change 82-102
9 Causes, effects and control of water and marine pollution 103-130
10 Causes, effects and control of soil pollution 131-140
11 Causes, effects and control of noise and thermal pollution 141-146
Causes, effects and management of nuclear hazards and
12 147-163
industrial wastes
Disaster management, Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and
13 164-177
land slides
Social issues and the environment, unsustainable to
14 178-182
sustainable development
The Environment Protection Act, the Air Act, the water
15 Act, the Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Conservation 183-190
Act
National and state level organizations - Environmental
16 191-200
Laws and Acts – Environmental Education – CDM
Woman and child welfare, HIV/AIDS and Role of
17 201-209
information technology on environment and human health
, www.AgriMoon.Com
Lecture 01
Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies
Environment is derived from the French word Environner, which mean encircle or surrounding.
Environment is a complex of many variables, which surrounds man as well as the living organisms.
Environmental studies describe the interrelationships among organisms, the environment and all the
factors, which influence life on earth, including atmospheric conditions, food chains, the water cycle,
etc. It is a basic science about our earth and its daily activities, and therefore, this science is important
for one and all.
Scope of environmental studies
Environmental studies discipline has multiple and multilevel scopes. This study is important and
necessary not only for children but also for everyone. The scopes are summarized as follows:
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.
It provides the knowledge about ecological systems and cause and effect relationships.
It provides necessary information about biodiversity richness and the potential dangers to the
species of plants, animals and microorganisms in the environment.
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.
It enables one to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding an
alternative course of action.
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.
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.
The study tries to identify and develop appropriate and indigenous eco-friendly skills and
technologies to various environmental issues.
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.
The study enables theoretical knowledge into practice and the multiple uses of environment.
4
,Environmental Science
Importance of environmental study
Environmental study is based upon a comprehensive view of various environmental systems. It aims to
make the citizens competent to do scientific work and to find out practical solutions to current
environmental problems. The citizens acquire the ability to analyze the environmental parameters like
the aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric systems and their interactions with the biosphere and
anthrosphere.
Importance
World population is increasing at an alarming rate especially in developing countries.
The natural resources endowment in the earth is limited.
The methods and techniques of exploiting natural resources are advanced.
The resources are over-exploited and there is no foresight of leaving the resources to the future
generations.
The unplanned exploitation of natural resources lead to pollution of all types and at all levels.
The pollution and degraded environment seriously affect the health of all living things on earth
, including man.
The people should take a combined responsibility for the deteriorating environment and begin
to take appropriate actions to space the earth.
Education and training are needed to save the biodiversity and species extinction.
The urban area, coupled with industries, is major sources of pollution.
The number and area extinct under protected area should be increased so that the wild life is
protected at least in these sites.
The study enables the people to understand the complexities of the environment and need for
the people to adapt appropriate activities and pursue sustainable development, which are
harmonious with the environment.
The study motivates students to get involved in community action, and to participate in various
environmental and management projects.
It is a high time to reorient educational systems and curricula towards these needs.
Environmental studies take a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human interactions
with the natural environment. It integrates different approaches of the humanities , social
sciences, biological sciences and physical sciences and applies these approaches to investigate
environmental concerns.
Environmental study is a key instrument for bringing about the changes in the knowledge,
values, behaviors and lifestyles required to achieve sustainability and stability within and
among countries.
Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects an organism. It is essentially a
multidisciplinary approach that brings about an appreciation of our natural world and human impacts
5
, www.AgriMoon.Com
on its integrity. It is an applied science as it seeks practical answers to making human civilization
sustainable on the earth's finite resources. Its components include
Biology
Geology
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering
Sociology
Health
Anthropology
Economics
Statistics
Philosophy
Major environmental issues
Man and nature have lived together and as long as man‘s wants were in conformity with nature, there
was no problem. But unfortunately, man‘s ambition for limitless enjoyment and comfort has led him
towards the exploitation of nature‘s wealth so indiscriminately as to reduce nature‘s capacity for self
stabilization. The indiscriminate exploitation of nature over centuries has created numerous
environmental problems. Man‘s voracious appetite for resources and his desire to conquer nature has
put him on collision course with environment. The demands of his explosive technological society
impose intense stress on the state of equilibrium with the environment. Major environmental issues
threatening mankind are Global warming, water pollution, pesticide pollution, Hazardous waste,
biomedical wastes, e waste, and loss of biodiversity
India today is one of the first ten industrialized countries of the world. Today we have a good
industrial infrastructure in core industries like metals, chemicals, fertilizers, petroleum, food etc. What
has come out of these?, Pesticides, detergents, plastics, solvents, paints, dyes, food additives etc. Due to
progress in atomic energy, there are also been an increase in radioactivity in the biosphere. Besides
these there are a number of industrial effluent and emissions particularly poisonous gases in the
atmosphere. Mining activities also added to this problem particularly as solid waste.
Such activities of man had adverse effect on all forms of living organisms in the biosphere. The earth
planet along with the atmosphere (air, land, water) that sustains life is called the Biosphere. Due to
lack of development of a culture of pollution control, there has resulted a heavy backlog of gaseous,
liquid and solid pollution in our country. The solid wastes which causes pollution are Hazardous
waste, pesticides, medical waste etc. they are become the major environmental issues in addition to
automobile pollution, climate change, water pollution, pesticide pollution and biodiversity loss in our
country and worldwide.
6
Science
,Environmental Science
Author
TNAU, Tamil Nadu
, Index
LN Lecture Name Page
1 Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies 4-14
Natural resources: Renewable and Non renewable
2 15-23
resources. Land and Water
Natural resources: forest, wildlife, energy and food
3 24-40
resources
4 Ecosystems: Definition, concept, structure and functions 41-49
Producers, consumers and decomposers of an
5 ecosystem. Energy flow in the ecosystem. Types of 50-57
ecosystems
Bio-diversity: Definition, classification, threats to
6 58-68
biodiversity and its conservation
7 Environmental pollution: Causes, effects and control of air 69-81
8 Global warming and climate change 82-102
9 Causes, effects and control of water and marine pollution 103-130
10 Causes, effects and control of soil pollution 131-140
11 Causes, effects and control of noise and thermal pollution 141-146
Causes, effects and management of nuclear hazards and
12 147-163
industrial wastes
Disaster management, Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and
13 164-177
land slides
Social issues and the environment, unsustainable to
14 178-182
sustainable development
The Environment Protection Act, the Air Act, the water
15 Act, the Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Conservation 183-190
Act
National and state level organizations - Environmental
16 191-200
Laws and Acts – Environmental Education – CDM
Woman and child welfare, HIV/AIDS and Role of
17 201-209
information technology on environment and human health
, www.AgriMoon.Com
Lecture 01
Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies
Environment is derived from the French word Environner, which mean encircle or surrounding.
Environment is a complex of many variables, which surrounds man as well as the living organisms.
Environmental studies describe the interrelationships among organisms, the environment and all the
factors, which influence life on earth, including atmospheric conditions, food chains, the water cycle,
etc. It is a basic science about our earth and its daily activities, and therefore, this science is important
for one and all.
Scope of environmental studies
Environmental studies discipline has multiple and multilevel scopes. This study is important and
necessary not only for children but also for everyone. The scopes are summarized as follows:
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.
It provides the knowledge about ecological systems and cause and effect relationships.
It provides necessary information about biodiversity richness and the potential dangers to the
species of plants, animals and microorganisms in the environment.
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.
It enables one to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding an
alternative course of action.
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.
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.
The study tries to identify and develop appropriate and indigenous eco-friendly skills and
technologies to various environmental issues.
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.
The study enables theoretical knowledge into practice and the multiple uses of environment.
4
,Environmental Science
Importance of environmental study
Environmental study is based upon a comprehensive view of various environmental systems. It aims to
make the citizens competent to do scientific work and to find out practical solutions to current
environmental problems. The citizens acquire the ability to analyze the environmental parameters like
the aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric systems and their interactions with the biosphere and
anthrosphere.
Importance
World population is increasing at an alarming rate especially in developing countries.
The natural resources endowment in the earth is limited.
The methods and techniques of exploiting natural resources are advanced.
The resources are over-exploited and there is no foresight of leaving the resources to the future
generations.
The unplanned exploitation of natural resources lead to pollution of all types and at all levels.
The pollution and degraded environment seriously affect the health of all living things on earth
, including man.
The people should take a combined responsibility for the deteriorating environment and begin
to take appropriate actions to space the earth.
Education and training are needed to save the biodiversity and species extinction.
The urban area, coupled with industries, is major sources of pollution.
The number and area extinct under protected area should be increased so that the wild life is
protected at least in these sites.
The study enables the people to understand the complexities of the environment and need for
the people to adapt appropriate activities and pursue sustainable development, which are
harmonious with the environment.
The study motivates students to get involved in community action, and to participate in various
environmental and management projects.
It is a high time to reorient educational systems and curricula towards these needs.
Environmental studies take a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human interactions
with the natural environment. It integrates different approaches of the humanities , social
sciences, biological sciences and physical sciences and applies these approaches to investigate
environmental concerns.
Environmental study is a key instrument for bringing about the changes in the knowledge,
values, behaviors and lifestyles required to achieve sustainability and stability within and
among countries.
Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects an organism. It is essentially a
multidisciplinary approach that brings about an appreciation of our natural world and human impacts
5
, www.AgriMoon.Com
on its integrity. It is an applied science as it seeks practical answers to making human civilization
sustainable on the earth's finite resources. Its components include
Biology
Geology
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering
Sociology
Health
Anthropology
Economics
Statistics
Philosophy
Major environmental issues
Man and nature have lived together and as long as man‘s wants were in conformity with nature, there
was no problem. But unfortunately, man‘s ambition for limitless enjoyment and comfort has led him
towards the exploitation of nature‘s wealth so indiscriminately as to reduce nature‘s capacity for self
stabilization. The indiscriminate exploitation of nature over centuries has created numerous
environmental problems. Man‘s voracious appetite for resources and his desire to conquer nature has
put him on collision course with environment. The demands of his explosive technological society
impose intense stress on the state of equilibrium with the environment. Major environmental issues
threatening mankind are Global warming, water pollution, pesticide pollution, Hazardous waste,
biomedical wastes, e waste, and loss of biodiversity
India today is one of the first ten industrialized countries of the world. Today we have a good
industrial infrastructure in core industries like metals, chemicals, fertilizers, petroleum, food etc. What
has come out of these?, Pesticides, detergents, plastics, solvents, paints, dyes, food additives etc. Due to
progress in atomic energy, there are also been an increase in radioactivity in the biosphere. Besides
these there are a number of industrial effluent and emissions particularly poisonous gases in the
atmosphere. Mining activities also added to this problem particularly as solid waste.
Such activities of man had adverse effect on all forms of living organisms in the biosphere. The earth
planet along with the atmosphere (air, land, water) that sustains life is called the Biosphere. Due to
lack of development of a culture of pollution control, there has resulted a heavy backlog of gaseous,
liquid and solid pollution in our country. The solid wastes which causes pollution are Hazardous
waste, pesticides, medical waste etc. they are become the major environmental issues in addition to
automobile pollution, climate change, water pollution, pesticide pollution and biodiversity loss in our
country and worldwide.
6
