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AP Environmental Science Theresa S. Price, Instructor AP Environmental Science • Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) is a very challenging subject that combines Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry as well as economics, politics, statistics and public policy. • We will investigate the history of environmental science and human impact on environmental systems. AP Environmental Science Topics • • • • • • • • Earth Systems and Resources; The Living World; Biological and Chemical Cycles; Population Dynamics; Land and Water use; Energy Resources and Consumption; Pollution; and Global Change. APES Focus 1.The scientific processes involved & the evolution of those specific theories over time; 2.The flow of energy as it pertains to the topic (Law of Conservation of Energy); 3.The connective relationships between the Earth and it’s resources including organic and inorganic systems and processes; APES Focus 4.The effect that human development and expansion has had on the specific topic; 5.The social & cultural factors related to each aspect of environmental regulation, conservation, and management; 6.The overall survival of the species (human species) and predictions of the future of our planet. Pace and Time Commitment • The material and text covered will be college and/or professional level and the pace of the course will be very rigorous. • Students will be required to spend time both in and out of the classroom researching, investigating and studying the concepts and theories of environmental studies. (1 hour daily College Credit • APES is a weighted course and students can earn up to 4 college credit hours if they pass the AP exam with a score of 3 or above (university dependent) – VASS Grant rewards scores of 3,4 and 5 – Prep Sessions on Saturdays (4) – Afterschool sessions weekly (Thursdays) Assignments • All assignments are due on Friday of the week assigned (unless otherwise noted) – All assignments are posted on my website • Most quizzes, tests and other assessments will be on Fridays • Review sessions will be held each Thursday afterschool (optional) Chapter Questions • Chapter Questions must be completed in your marbled notebook for each chapter assigned. – Answer the questions in complete sentences so that you may use them to study. – Due date is the Friday after we begin the chapter Vocabulary Terms • There are vocabulary terms assigned with each chapter. – Definitions must be handwritten and complete – Due date is Friday with the chapter questions Notes • You WILL be expected to take notes. Powerpoints will be posted online. – You are expected to print these notes out AT HOME. – During the lecture, I will not discuss each slide; however, you are still responsible for the information. The Evolution of Environmental Science in America In the beginning . . . What is the Environment? • How do you describe the environment? • What do you feel is the role of the environment? • What do you feel is your role in the environment? The Lorax by Dr. Seuss • Answer the accompanying questions in your notebook. Environmental Science • To define what Environmental Science is, first we need to define the environment. • Environment: the sum total of all living and non-living things that affect any living organism. System and Surroundings • A system is a collection of all the variables they we are observing; set of components that interact. • The surroundings are all components or variables outside of, but still possibly affecting, the system. Affect vs. Effect • To affect is to influence a system. • An effect is the result of an influence to a system. • The whole reason we are studying APES today is because there has been an adverse effect by the affective population on our environment. Interconnective Web Discuss how at least 2 of the following are connected and the effects: • • • • • Energy consumption Population explosion Loss of biodiversity Soil Erosion Food Shortage • • • • • Waste disposal Deforestation Water pollution Global Warming Politics A Science of Others • Environmental Science incorporates the sciences of . . . – biology (living organisms and their systems) – chemistry (matter and the changes they undergo) – geology (rocks and mineral formation and make-up) This is NOT Ecology • Ecology is a biological science that focuses on the relationships between living organisms and their environment. – Ecology is a very new science within the last 100 years Science is NON-Political • Science is based on observation and scientific law. • The Environmental movement is a scientific movement dedicated to the study of the environment and the effects of pollution. • Environmentalism is a social movement dedicated to the protection of the environment. Major Themes of Environmental Science 1. Earth Systems and Resources; 2. The Living World including Biological & Chemical Cycles; 3. Population Dynamics; 4. Land and Water use; 5. Energy Resources and Consumption; 6. Pollution; and 7. Global Change. Focus on a Theme 1. the scientific processes involved and the evolution of those specific theories over time; 2.the flow of energy as it pertains to the topic as well as the Law of Conservation of Energy; 3.the connective relationships between the Earth and it’s resources including organic and inorganic systems and processes; 4.the effect that human development and expansion has had on the specific topic; 5.the social and cultural factors related to each aspect of environmental conservation, regulation and management; 6.and finally, the overall survival of the species (human species) and predictions of the future of our planet. Theme 1: Earth Systems and Resources • The systems and structure of the Earth and how they are interrelated • Our available resources and how we use/abuse them Resources • A resource is anything from the environment that meets a need – Perpetual resource: one that is renewed continuously (solar energy) – Renewable resource: one that can be replenished fairly easily and rapidly (trees) – Non-renewable resource: one that exists in a fixed amount The Use of Resources • The sustainable yield of a resources is the highest rate that a renewable resource can be used without reducing the supply. – Supply equals demand • Environmental degradation occurs when the use rate exceeds the replacement rate. Resources Renewable Non-Renewable Potentially Renewable Direct solar Fossil fuels Fresh air energy Winds, tides, Metallic minerals (Fe, Cu, Fresh water flowing water Al) Nonmetallic minerals Fertile soil (clay, sand, phosphates) Plants & animals (biodiversity) Nonrenewable Resources • Nonrenewable/Exhaustible Resources – Exist in a fixed quantity in the earth’s crust and can be used up • Mineral – Any hard, usually crystalline material that is formed naturally • Reserves – Known deposits from which a usable mineral can be profitably extracted at current prices Who owns these resources? • Property rights give ownership to all resources on the property. • Common property or free-access resources are those resources that are not owned and available for use by everyone. – For example: the air, the ocean Tragedy of the Commons • The over-use of a natural resource as a result of unclear property rights. If ownership of a resource is not established, everyone has an incentive to take as much of it as possible, quickly depleting the resource. – A typical example is the decline in the fish population resulting from over-fishing of the ocean. Capital Expansion • Natural capital is natural resources and services that keep us alive – plants give us O2; cows give us food • Degradation of natural capital occurs through activity and use Theme 2: The Living World • Sustainability • Ecosystems and Community • Biogeochemical Cycles • Evolution and Biodiversity Sustainable • The term sustainability refers to the ability of the Earth’s various systems to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions, indefinitely. • The survival of all species depends on the ability of the Earth to continue to provide resources. Sustainability • ability of the earth’s various natural systems and human cultural systems and economies to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions INDEFINITELY Principles of Sustainability • The Earth’s ability to sustain is based on these four interconnected principles – reliance on solar energy – biodiversity – population control – nutrient recycle Application of the Principles Plants and animals use sunlight for energy in the forms of light and heat Plants and animals excrete waste, die and decay A different variety of plants and animals live in an ecosystem Predator - prey relationships control animal populations / plant species invade others Sustainable Resource Harvest • Certain quantity of that resource can be harvested each year and not be depleted over a specified period • Sustainable supply of fish or timber Sustainable Earth • Earth’s supplies of resources • Processes that make up earth capital are used and maintained over a specified period Sustainable Society • Manages economy and population size without exceeding all or part of the planet’s ability to – Absorb environmental insults – Replenish resources – Sustain human and other forms of life over a specified period (100’s1,000’s of years) Environmentally Sustainable Society • An environmentally sustainable society is one that meets current and future needs in an equitable manner without compromising future resources – living off of a natural income without degrading natural capital Answers? • Environmental systems can achieve a sustainable society by: – solutions: stop strip-mining for coal – trade-offs: use alternative fuel for power plants – recognizing individual importance (You DO matter!) Theme 3: Population Dynamics • Population Growth and Impact • Carrying Capacity Growth • What does it mean to grow? – growth is the coming into being or production by natural occurrences; – the rate of growth is affected by a number of different factors • There is linear growth or exponential growth Linear Growth • Linear growth follows the laws of simple interest (interest is paid on the principle sum without any accumulated interest). – At 10% linear growth rate looks like this . . • • • • • Original Population: Population at Year 1: Population at Year 2: Population at Year 3: Population at Year 4: 100 110 120 130 140 Exponential Growth • Exponential growth refers to an increase by a fixed rate over time. – A 1% exponential growth rate looks like this . . . • • • • • Original Population: Population at Year 1: Population at Year 2: Population at Year 3: Population at Year 4: 100 110 121 133.1 146.4 Can you see the difference? • Population Density (#) Linear vs. Exponential Growth 300 250 200 Linear Growth 150 Exponential Growth 100 50 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time (years) 8 9 10 11 Current Trends in Population Growth • The exponential growth rate in the world is 1.23%. – The Rule of 70 helps us calculate the time it takes to double the population. – 70 ÷ rate (%) = time (years) – So, at the current rate of 1.23%, it will take 70 1.23 = 57 years. Within your lifetime!!!!!! Natural Capital • Solar Capital – Energy from the sun – Provides 99% of the energy used on earthion • Natural resources – useful materials and energy • Natural services – purifications of air and water which support life and human economics. – ecosystems provide these services at no cost Economic Growth • The economic growth of a nation is measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – the sum total of all goods and services produced by a nation. – High GDP indicates a developed country – Low GDP indicates a developing country Economic Growth - Key Terms • Gross National Product – Measures economic growth in a country – Market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced within and outside of a country by the country’s businesses during one year • Gross Domestic Product – Market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced only within a country during one year Economic Growth - Key Terms Per Capita GDP – Changes in a county’s economic growth per person – the GDP divided by the total population at midyear Economics - Key Terms • Economic Development – has the goal of using economic growth to improve living standards Economic Growth - Key Terms • Developed Countries • 1.2 billion people – Highly industrialized – High per capita GDP PPP • Developing Countries – Middle income , moderately developed – China, India, Brazil, Thailand, Mexico – Low income, least developed – Angola, Congo, Belarus, Nigeria, Nicaragua Wealth Gap • The gap between the per capita GNP of the rich, middleincome and poor has widened • More than 1 billion people survive on less than one dollar per day • Situation has Sustainable Development • Assumes the right to use the earth’s resources and earth capital to meet needs • Obligation exists to pass the earth’s resources and services to future generations in as good or better shape than condition when passed to us • Intergenerational equity or fairness Affluenza vs. Poverty • Affluenza is a social addiction to over consumption and materialism – developed countries – can sometimes lead to more educated awareness and $ for programs • Poverty is the inability to meet ones basic economical needs – lack of adequate sanitation, fuel, electricity, potable water, health care and food The Connections • There is a connection between the population, economics and resources Developed Countries •High resource use •High Wealth •High pollution •Low population growth •Low population Developing Countries •Low resource use •Low Wealth •Low pollution •High population growth •High population Problems Lead to Causes • The environmental impact of a population can be calculated by: population x consumption per capita x technological impact per unit of consumption The Cause of it All • The causes of environmental problems are – population growth – unsustainable resource growth – poverty – ignoring environmental cost – management of nature without knowledge Ecological Footprint • An ecological footprint is the amount of biologically productive land and water needed to supply an area with resources and to accommodate waste and pollution. – How much land will a person or country need to support life? Factors Affecting our Footprint • The three factors affecting our ecological requirements are – agriculture (food) – transportation – heating and cooling • Human Footprint; National Geographic video. • http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/ channel/videos/player.html?category=1 8151&channel=1797 • Footprint activity • http://www.myfootprint.org/en/ Theme 4: Land and Water Use • Agriculture, Forestry, Urban, and Range land use and water use • Conservation • Economics Biodiversity Depletion • Habitat destruction • Habitat degradation • Extinction Theme 5: Energy Resources and Consumption • Production and Consumption • Perpetual, Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources • Alternative Energy Sources Theme 6: Pollution • Pollution of air, soil and water • Legislation and enforcement • Remediation and Prevention • Economics Pollution • Any addition to air, water, soil, or food that threatens the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living organisms • Solid, liquid, or gaseous byproducts or wastes Pollution • Pollution is what started our journey. • Pollution is the presence of chemicals or biological organisms at high enough levels to threaten human health or the health of other organisms. – Point source – Non-point source What can pollution do? • The damage caused by pollution includes – degradation or destruction of life support systems such as resources; – damage to life or property; – nuisance. Point Source Pollutants • From a single, identifiable sources – Smokestack of a power plant – Drainpipe of a meat-packing plant – Exhaust pipe of an automobile Nonpoint Source Pollutants • Dispersed and often difficult to identify sources – Runoff of fertilizers and pesticides – Storm Drains (#1 source of oil spills in oceans) Solutions: Pollution Prevention • Input Pollution Control or Throughput Solution – Slows or eliminates the production of pollutants, often by switching to less harmful chemicals or processes Water Pollution • • • • • • • • Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen depletion Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Air Pollution • Global climate change • Stratospheric ozone depletion • Urban air pollution • Acid deposition • Outdoor pollutants • Indoor pollutants • Noise Solution: Four R’s of Resource • • • • Management Refuse (don’t use) Reduce Reuse Recycle Solution: Pollution cleanup • Output Pollution Cleanup – Involves cleaning up pollutants after they have been produced – Most expensive and time consuming Environmental Degradation Common Property Resources • Tragedy of the Commons • Resources owned by none, but available to all users free of charge • May convert potentially renewable resources into nonrenewable resources Model of Environmental Impact • Number of People x Number of units of resources used per person x Environmental degradation and pollution per unit of resource used = Environmental impact of population • PxAxT=I Four Scientific Principles of sustainability • • • • Reliance on solar energy Biodiversity Nutrient cycling Population control What can we do? • There are two basic approaches to the problem of pollution – prevention through regulation and enforcement; or – clean-up the mess through remediation efforts. Theme 7: Global Change • Global politics, economics and ethics • Global Warming • Ozone Depletion • Survival and Extinction Eras in Environmental Awareness Four (4) Environmental Eras in America 1. Tribal America Era (the beginning 1607) 2. Frontier Era (1607 - 1890) 3. Early Conservation Era (1832 - 1870) 4. Federal / Privatized Resource Conservation (1870 - present) – Awareness (1950 - 1970) – Legislation (1970 - 1980) – Anti-Environmental (1980 - ?) Tribal America • Native Americans viewed the Earth as a bounty to be cared for and worshiped. • 1620 - William Bradford described Cape Cod, Massachusetts as a “hideous desolate wilderness...” that must be tamed Frontier America • Developing a new frontier brought with it new discoveries and new problems • 1801-1809 Thomas Jefferson recognized a problem with and sought solutions to soil erosion from his farmlands Early Conservation • 1817-1869 Henry David Thoreau, respected author, noted the loss of native species in his Massachusetts home land • 1864 George Marsh published Man & Nature which highlighted the damage to the environment from westward expansion The Federal & Privatized Era • • • • • • • 1785 Bureau of Land Management 1849 Department of the Interior 1862 Department of Agriculture 1871 Fishing Commission 1879 US Geological Survey 1881 Division of Forestry 1891 Forest Reserve Act created the first National Forest • 1903 1st Wildlife Refuge The Federal & Privatized Era • 1905 US Forestry Service • 1906 Antiquities Act created areas for National Monuments • 1935 Soil Conservation Act passed to prevent erosion • 1937 Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act created the National Wildlife Federation • 1964 Wilderness Act to protect “primitive” areas Our Greatest Environmental President is . . . • President Theodore Roosevelt (1901 1909) – promoted more conservation and environmental awareness than any other president in history Executive Powers Department of the Interior Department of Agriculture • Bureau of Land • Soil Conservation Management • US Forestry Service • Fish & Wildlife Services • National Parks Social Groups • 1886 (1887) John Grinnell founded the (National) Audubon Society • 1892 John Muir founded the Sierra Club to promote preservation / conservation And that brings us up to . . Awareness • Until the 1950’s - 1960’s, the role of the government was largely conservation and preservation of the environment • Post-depression and post-war America saw booms in industry and population growth Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson • Rachel Carson was a biologist, a naturalist and an accomplished writer • Her book took over 2 years to write • Although industry touted it as the writings of an hysterical woman, the country and the government sat up, listened and became “aware” of the damage being caused and began to react Individuals Do Matter • Rachel Carson was the catalyst to the environmental movement – conservation to regulation Love Canal Land around Niagara Falls, New York was a disposal area for Hooker Chemical Company since the early 1940’s A developer built a community on the property Highly toxic materials began to leech into the local water system and homes Love Canal (continued) President Carter declared the land a Federal Disaster Area Residents abandoned homes and businesses and cleanup began Federal Legislation • • • • • 1969: National Environmental Policy Act 1970: Clean Air Act 1970: Occupational Safety and Health Act 1972: Clean Water Act 1972: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) • 1974: Safe Drinking Water Act Federal Legislation (continued) • 1975: Hazardous Materials Transportation Act • 1976: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) • 1976: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Federal Legislation (continued) • 1980: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) • 1986: Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA); Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know • 1990: Pollution Prevention Act • 1990: Oil Pollution Prevention Act Environmental Timeline Assignment • Construct a timeline to trace the advancement of the environmental movement. (timeline assignment is posted) – Handwritten, on paper (NOT POSTERBOARD!) – Write 2-3 complete sentences describing the event or law The Environmental Protection Agency • Created in 1970 by President Nixon • Replaced the Environmental Health Service • Mission Statement is to Protect the Environment for our generation and future generations How the EPA Works Federal Government Executive Legislative EPA Congress initiates legislation and passes a law EPA interprets the law and writes the rulebook Committees review the laws and amend them as necessary Certain laws are enforced on a federal level Judicial Individual states take the law and pass it on the state level State agencies take the rules from the EPA and enforce the laws Your Environmental Protection Agency • Here in Central Virginia, we are part of Region V of the EPA – Our enforcement office is in Atlanta, GA – Good luck trying to get them on the telephone! • Our state agency is the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) – Regional office in Roanoke with satellite offices in Lynchburg Anti-Environmental Sentiment • The Anti-Environmental sentiment is largely fueled by industry – It is costly to comply with regulations – Non-compliance leads to heavy fines, imprisonment or both • The political atmosphere also shapes legislation – a candidate who runs on a weak environmental platform brings that lack of action to the office (federal and state) World Views • Planetary Management: the Earth is here for our needs, we can manage and control it. • Stewardship: we are morally obligated to manage the Earth’s resources • Environmental wisdom: we are nature and therefore need to work in concert with nature