Environmental Science
H. Crowder
Environmental Science- is the study of air, water and land surrounding an organism (living) or community, which ranges from a small area to earth’s entire biosphere (where life exists) . This also includes the impact of humans on the environment.
***As population increases, pollution increases
Scientists study two main types of interactions of humans and the environment:
How our actions alter (change) our environment
The use of natural resources
Ecology- The study of interactions of living organisms with one another and their environment.
Humans have changed the landscape of the environment. Wherever we have hunted, grown food or settled we have changed the environment.
Hunter-gatherers- Humans survived by hunting animals and gathering material necessary for survival. Animals such as water buffalo were often hunted because of their size and how much food can be provided. Prairies were burned which prevented trees from growing leaving wide open space. It became an open grassland which was easier for hunting bison.
Animals such as: giant sloth, giant bison, mastodon, cave bears and saber-toothed cats were eliminated due to overhunting and climate changes.
**Extinct- a species is no longer living.
The Agriculture Revolution
Agriculture- also known as “farming” is the raising of crops and livestock for food and other products that are useful to humans.
Agriculture began over 10,000 years ago and the dramatic change that took place was called the Agricultural Revolution. This changed the food we ate, the plants we grow and eat today are descended from wild plants. As a result many of the habitats were destroyed and replaced as grasslands.
The Agricultural Revolution allowed human populations to grow at unprecedented rates. As population grew they began to concentrate in smaller areas placing increased pressure on the local environments.
The agricultural revolution changed the food we eat. The plants we grow and eat today are descended (come from) from wild plants.
Many habitats were destroyed as grasslands, forests and wetlands were replaced with farmland. Replacing forests with farmlands on a large scale can cause soil loss, floods and water shortages (drought).
The agricultural revolution changed the food we eat. The plants we grow and eat today are descended (come from) from wild plants.
Many habitats were destroyed as grasslands, forests and wetlands were replaced with farmland. Replacing forests with farmlands on a large scale can cause soil loss, floods and water shortages (drought).
Slash and burn technique- one of the earliest ways that land was converted to farmland. Much of this converted land was poorly farmed and is no longer fertile (soil good for growing crops)
The Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution- involved a shift from energy sources such as animals and running water to fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The increased use of fossil fuels changed society and greatly increased the efficiency of agriculture, industry and transportation. Example- motorized vehicles allowed food to be transported cheaply across greater distances.
In factories, the large scale production of goods became less expensive than the local production of handmade goods. On the farm, machinery reduced the amount of land and human labor needed to produce food.
With fewer people producing their own food, the populations in urban (city) areas steadily grew.
Those who live in the country live in rural areas.
Industrial Revolution introduced many positive changes such as the light bulb.
Agricultural productivity increased and sanitation, nutrition and medical care vastly improved.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE
As great as it seemed the Industrial Revolution created many new environmental problems. Pollution and habitat loss were two main issues. In the early 1900’s modern scientists began to use artificial substances in place of raw animals and plant products. Things such as plastic, artificial pesticides and fertilizers were created. Obviously this made life easier but in the long run we realized the environmental problems they created.
Earth has often been called “Spaceship Earth”
It can be compared to a spaceship traveling through space as it cannot dispose of its waste or take on new supplies. ***Earth is essentially a closed system, meaning the only thing that enters the earth is large amounts of energy from the sun and the only thing that leaves is large amounts of heat.
One problem is some resources are limited and as the population increases the resources will be used more rapidly.
*The Industrial Revolution, modern medicine and sanitation all allowed the human population to grow faster than it ever did before.
Environmental Science
Harlan Crowder
Created on September 8, 2025
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Transcript
Environmental Science
H. Crowder
Environmental Science- is the study of air, water and land surrounding an organism (living) or community, which ranges from a small area to earth’s entire biosphere (where life exists) . This also includes the impact of humans on the environment. ***As population increases, pollution increases
Scientists study two main types of interactions of humans and the environment:
How our actions alter (change) our environment
The use of natural resources
Ecology- The study of interactions of living organisms with one another and their environment. Humans have changed the landscape of the environment. Wherever we have hunted, grown food or settled we have changed the environment.
Hunter-gatherers- Humans survived by hunting animals and gathering material necessary for survival. Animals such as water buffalo were often hunted because of their size and how much food can be provided. Prairies were burned which prevented trees from growing leaving wide open space. It became an open grassland which was easier for hunting bison.
Animals such as: giant sloth, giant bison, mastodon, cave bears and saber-toothed cats were eliminated due to overhunting and climate changes. **Extinct- a species is no longer living.
The Agriculture Revolution Agriculture- also known as “farming” is the raising of crops and livestock for food and other products that are useful to humans. Agriculture began over 10,000 years ago and the dramatic change that took place was called the Agricultural Revolution. This changed the food we ate, the plants we grow and eat today are descended from wild plants. As a result many of the habitats were destroyed and replaced as grasslands.
The Agricultural Revolution allowed human populations to grow at unprecedented rates. As population grew they began to concentrate in smaller areas placing increased pressure on the local environments. The agricultural revolution changed the food we eat. The plants we grow and eat today are descended (come from) from wild plants. Many habitats were destroyed as grasslands, forests and wetlands were replaced with farmland. Replacing forests with farmlands on a large scale can cause soil loss, floods and water shortages (drought).
The agricultural revolution changed the food we eat. The plants we grow and eat today are descended (come from) from wild plants. Many habitats were destroyed as grasslands, forests and wetlands were replaced with farmland. Replacing forests with farmlands on a large scale can cause soil loss, floods and water shortages (drought). Slash and burn technique- one of the earliest ways that land was converted to farmland. Much of this converted land was poorly farmed and is no longer fertile (soil good for growing crops)
The Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution- involved a shift from energy sources such as animals and running water to fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The increased use of fossil fuels changed society and greatly increased the efficiency of agriculture, industry and transportation. Example- motorized vehicles allowed food to be transported cheaply across greater distances. In factories, the large scale production of goods became less expensive than the local production of handmade goods. On the farm, machinery reduced the amount of land and human labor needed to produce food.
With fewer people producing their own food, the populations in urban (city) areas steadily grew. Those who live in the country live in rural areas. Industrial Revolution introduced many positive changes such as the light bulb. Agricultural productivity increased and sanitation, nutrition and medical care vastly improved.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE As great as it seemed the Industrial Revolution created many new environmental problems. Pollution and habitat loss were two main issues. In the early 1900’s modern scientists began to use artificial substances in place of raw animals and plant products. Things such as plastic, artificial pesticides and fertilizers were created. Obviously this made life easier but in the long run we realized the environmental problems they created.
Earth has often been called “Spaceship Earth” It can be compared to a spaceship traveling through space as it cannot dispose of its waste or take on new supplies. ***Earth is essentially a closed system, meaning the only thing that enters the earth is large amounts of energy from the sun and the only thing that leaves is large amounts of heat.
One problem is some resources are limited and as the population increases the resources will be used more rapidly. *The Industrial Revolution, modern medicine and sanitation all allowed the human population to grow faster than it ever did before.