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DMC-104: Geography and Environment
Course Teacher:
Dr. Syed Hafizur Rahman (SHR)
M. Sc. (JU), Ph. D. (Birmingham University, United Kingdom)
Permanent Position
Professor
Department of Environmental Sciences
Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342
E-mail:
Mobile No.:
[email protected]
01720173352
Day & Time:
03:00 to 05:00 (Wed & Thu)
This Lecture
Introduction:
Definition of Geography and Environment;
their relationship;
importance of study geography and Environmental Studies;
subdivisions of geography and environmental Studies.
Definition
Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία, geographia,
lit. "earth description") is the science that studies
the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the
phenomena of the Earth.
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A literal translation would be "to describe or
write about the Earth".
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Study of the Earth's surface as the home of the
human race.
Definition
Recently, the focus seems to have shifted
towards a more issues-based approach,
ranging in scale from the local to the global,
from pollution to poverty,
The fact that geography is located at the
interface between the natural and social
sciences adds to the difficulty of arriving at a
universal definition.
Subdivisions of Geography
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Physical Geography
Biogeography and Natural Resources
Human Geography
Economic Geography
Political Geography
Subdivisions of Geography
• Physical Geography:
– The Earth in Space (The Solar System, Earth’s Moon,
The Sun and the Earth, The Seasons),
– Earth’s Interior (Earth’s Internal Structure, Plate
Tectonics, Volcanoes, Geologic Time Scale),
– Earth’s Surface (Internal Geological Processes,
External Processes, Fluvial and Karst Processes,
Glaciations, Desert Landforms, Ocean Margins),
– Earth’s Climates (The Atmosphere, Global Climates,
Cloud Formation, Storms).
Subdivisions of Geography
• Biogeography and Natural Resources:
– Earth’s Biological Systems (Biomes, Forests,
Grasslands, Deserts, Tundra and High Altitude Biomes,
National Park Systems),
– Natural Resources (Soils, Water, Renewable
Resources, Nonrenewable Resources)
• Human Geography:
– Human Society and the Earth (The Human
Environment, Population Growth and Distribution,
Global Urbanization, Global Time and Time Zones),
Subdivisions of Geography
– Climate and Human Societies (Climate and Human
Settlement, Flood Control, Atmospheric Pollution,
Disease and Climate),
– Exploration and Transportation (Exploration and
Historical Trade Routes, Road Transportation,
Railroads, Air Transportation).
• Economic Geography:
– Agriculture (Traditional Agriculture, Commercial
Agriculture, Modern Agricultural Problems, World
Food Supplies),
Subdivisions of Geography
– Energy and Engineering (Energy Sources, Alternative
Energies, Engineering Projects),
– Industry and Trade (Minerals, Manufacturing,
Globalization of Manufacturing and Trade, Modern
World Trade Patterns).
• Political Geography: Forms of Government, Political
Geography, Geopolitics, International Boundaries.
Understanding Our Environment
Environment
• French Environner to encircle or surround
• Circumstances and conditions that surround an organism
or group of organisms.
• Social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or
community.
Environmental Studies: Definition
• Environmental studies is the interdisciplinary academic field
which systematically studies human interaction with the
environment in the interests of solving complex problems.
• It is a broad field of study that includes also the natural
environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships
between them.
• The field encompasses study in basic principles of ecology
and environmental science, as well as associated subjects such
as ethics, policy, politics, law, economics, philosophy,
environmental sociology and environmental justice, planning,
pollution control and natural resource management.[1]
Environmental Science: Definition
• Environmental science is the study of the interactions among
the physical, chemical and biological components of the
environment; with a focus on pollution and degradation of
the environment related to human activities; and the impact
on biodiversity and sustainability from local and global
development.
• It is inherently an interdisciplinary field that draws upon not
only its core scientific areas, but also applies knowledge from
other non-scientific studies such as economics, law and social
sciences.
Definition
• Physics is used to understand the flux of
material and energy interaction and construct
mathematical models of environmental
phenomena.
• Chemistry is applied to understand the
molecular interactions among natural systems.
• Biology is fundamental to describing the
effects within the plant and animal kingdoms.
Rationale
While the concept of environmental studies has existed for
centuries, it came alive as a substantive, active field of
scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by
(a) the need for a large multi-disciplined team to analyze
complex environmental problems,
(b) the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring
specific environmental protocols of investigation and
(c) the growing public awareness of a need for action in
addressing environmental problems.
Issues covered
• Environmental studies encompasses issues such as climate
change, conservation, biodiversity, groundwater and soil
contamination, use of natural resources, waste management,
sustainable development, air pollution and noise pollution.
• Due to the inherent interdisciplinary nature of environmental
studies, teams of professionals commonly work together to
conduct environmental research or to produce Environmental
Impact Statements.
Sub-categories
• Atmospheric sciences examines the new phenomenology of
the Earth's gaseous outer layer with emphasis upon
interrelation to other systems. Atmospheric sciences
comprises meteorological studies, greenhouse gas
phenomena, atmospheric dispersion modeling of airborne
contaminants, sound propagation phenomena related to
noise pollution, and even light pollution.
• Taking the example of the global warming phenomena,
physicists create computer models of atmospheric circulation
and infra-red radiation transmission, chemists examine the
inventory of atmospheric chemicals and their reactions,
biologists analyze the plant and animal contributions to
carbon dioxide fluxes, and specialists such as meteorologists
and oceanographers add additional breadth in understanding
the atmospheric dynamics.
Sub-categories
• Ecology studies typically analyze the dynamics among an
interrelated set of populations, or a population and some
aspect of its environment. These studies could address
endangered species, predator/prey interactions, habitat
integrity, effects upon populations by environmental
contaminants, or impact analysis of proposed land
development upon species viability.
• Geoscience includes environmental geology, environmental
soil science, volcanic phenomena and evolution of the earth's
crust. In some classification systems it can also embrace
hydrology including oceanography.
Understanding Our Environment
Environmental Science is the systematic study of our
environment and our place in it.
– Highly Interdisciplinary
– Inclusive
– Holistic
– Mission-Oriented
Understanding Our Environment
SCIENCE
• Latin – scire - to Know
• Science rests on the assumptions the world is knowable
through empirical study and logical analysis.
– Searches for testable evidence.
– Explanations are considered provisional.
– Additional evidence may disprove current theories.
Understanding Our Environment
Science As a Way of Knowing
• Scientists collaborate
• Many people often work on different aspects of a
problem.
• Creativity, insight, aesthetics and even luck play roles in
scientific research.
Why we study the state of the environment?
Three reasons:
– 1. the need for information that clarifies modern
environmental concepts such as : the need to
conserve biodiversity, the need to lead more
sustainable lifestyles, and the need to use resources
more equitably.
– 2. there is a need to change the way in which we view
our own environment, using a practical approach
based on observation and self-learning
– 3. There is the need to create a concern for our
environment that will trigger pro-environmental
action, including simple activities we can do in our
daily life to protect it.
Subdivisions of Environmental Studies
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Natural Resources
Ecosystems
Biodiversity and its conservation
Environmental Pollution
Social Issues and the Environment
Environmental Issues
Human population and the Environment
Environment and human health
Subdivisions of Environmental Studies
• Natural Resources: Renewable and non-renewable
resources, Natural resources and associated problems,
Role of an individual in conservation of natural
resources, Equitable use of resources for sustainable
lifestyles.
• Ecosystems: Concept of an ecosystem, Structure and
function of an ecosystem, Producers, consumers and
decomposers, Energy flow in the ecosystem, Ecological
succession, Food chains, food webs and ecological
pyramids, Introduction, types, characteristic features,
structure and function of the following ecosystems
(Forest ecosystems, Grassland ecosystems, Desert
ecosystems, Aquatic ecosystems).
Subdivisions of Environmental Studies
• Biodiversity and its conservation: Introduction,
Definition (genetic, species and ecosystem diversity),
Biogeographical classification of Bangladesh, Value of
biodiversity, Biodiversity at global, national and local
levels, Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ
conservation of biodiversity.
• Environmental Pollution: Definition, causes, effects and
control measures of Air Pollution, Water pollution, Soil
pollution, Marine pollution, Noise pollution, Thermal
pollution and Nuclear hazards; Solid waste (Causes,
effects and control measures of urban and industrial
wastes), Role of an individual in prevention of pollution,
Concept of Disaster (Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and
landslides).
Subdivisions of Environmental Studies
• Social Issues and the Environment: From unsustainable to
sustainable development, Urban problems related to energy, Water
conservation, rainwater harvesting, water shed management,
Resettlement and rehabilitation of people, its problems,
Environmental Ethics, the ethical basis of environment education
and awareness.
• Environmental Issues: Green house gases and their impact, trends
and projection of future emissions, global warming, acid rain, ozone
layer depletion, climate change and sustainable development.
• Human population and the Environment: Global population
growth, Methods of sterilization, Urbanization.
• Environment and human health: Environmental health, Climate
and health, Infectious diseases Water-related diseases, Risks due to
chemicals in food, Cancer and environment, Human rights and
valued education.
Assignment
• What are the relationship between geography
and environmental studies?
– Issues covers
– Objectives
– Goals