ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

SEMI-FINALS REVIEWER

LESSON: FOOD, SOIL, AND PEST MANAGEMENT

Food Security – means that every person in a given area has daily access to enough nutritious food to have an active
and healthy life.

Global food production has stayed ahead of population growth.

However: One of sic people in developing countries cannot grow or buy the food they need.

Food Insecurity – living with chronic hunger and poor nutrition.

Key Nutrients for a Healthy Human Life

 We need large amount of Macronutrients. (Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fats)

 We also need smaller amount of Micronutrients (Vitamins such as A, C and E and various minerals)

Many People Suffer from Chronic Hunger and Malnutrition

 Some people cannot meet their basic energy needs – chronic undernutrition or hunger
 Other lacks proteins and key nutrient needs – Chronic malnutrition.
 The root cause of malnutrition is Poverty.
- In 2006, 862 million were undernourished worldwide.
- Aa 2005 estimate says 6 million children die annually from under nutrition or non-fatal diseases made worse
by their poor diet.

Many People Do No Get Enough Vitamins and Minerals

 One in three people has deficiency of one or more vitamins and minerals, especially:
- Iron – anemia
- Vitamin A – blindness
- Iodine – goiter or enlarged thyroid gland – can lead to deafness

Famine – a shortage of food in an area along with mass starvation, economic and social chaos.

- Usually caused by crop failures from drought, flooding, war, or other catastrophic events.

Many People Have Health Problems from Eating Toon Much

Overnutrition – excess calories and lack of exercise can lead to reduced life quality, poor health, and premature
death… same as undernutrition.

TWO TYPES OF AGRICULTURE

Industrial Agriculture (High Input Agriculture) – A relatively small group of farmers produce large quantities of a
small single crop or livestock. Mostly in developed countries. (80% of world’s food supply is produced)

Traditional Agriculture (Low Input Agriculture)

- Traditional subsistence agriculture – produces enough crops or livestock to feed family.

- Traditional intensive agriculture – produces enough crops or livestock to feed the farmer’s family and
maybe some to sell.
- Mostly in developing countries.
High Input Monocultures – Goal is to steadily increase crop yield; uses large amounts of fossil fuel energy, water,
commercial fertilizers and pesticides to produce monocultures.

Plantation Agriculture – primarily in tropical developing countries (bananas, coffee, sugarcane)

Cash Crops - crops intended for sale, not consumption or animals.

Low Input Polycultures – Many farmers in developing countries grow a variety of crops on the same plot of land;
limited technology, equipment and impact on the environment.

Polyculture – different plants are grown together.

Slash-and -Burn Agriculture – burning underbrush to provide nutrients to the soil.

Aquaculture - raising large numbers of fish and shellfish in ponds cages (world’s fastest growing type of food
production.)

Topsoil Erosion – soil is eroding faster than it is forming on one more that one-third of the world’s cropland.

IRRIGATION PROBLEMS:

Salinization – repeated irrigation can reduce crop yields by causing salt buildup in the soil.

Waterlogging – precipitation and irrigation water percolate downward.

We Use Pesticides to Try to Control Pest Population

First-generation pesticides – natural chemicals derived from plants.

Second-generation pesticides – man-made chemicals from a laboratory – DDT was the first.

Broad-spectrum Agents – toxic to many pest and non-pest species.

Narrow-spectrum Agents – Effective against a specific group of species.

Pesticides vary in their Persistence – how long they remain deadly in the environment.

Biological pest control – provide homes for the pest enemies, bring in natural enemies, use pheromones to lure
pests in traps, use hormones to disrupt life cycles, implant genetic resistance into plants.

Fertilizer – can help restore soil nutrients, but runoff of inorganic fertilizer can cause water pollution.

Organic Fertilizer – from plants and animal materials.

 Animal Manure
 Green Manure – freshly cut vegetables plowed into soil.
 Compost – broken-down organic matter.

Commercial inorganic fertilizers

 Made from minerals
 Active ingredients contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and other trace nutrients.

LESSON: WATER RESOURCES AND WATER POLLUTION

WHAT IS WATER RESOURCES AND WATER POLLUTION?

Water resources are source of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural,
industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Water pollution is the contamination of water
bodies (lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater.
WATER POLLUTION 3 MAJOR AREAS TO CONSIDER:

HEALTH- according to the united nations, every year there are more deaths caused by polluted water than all types
of violence combined, including war. Waste from humans and animals that contaminates water carriers bacteria and
viruses that cause the spread of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and giardia.

ENVIRONMENT- All The Species In An Ecosystem Rely On Each Other In Order To Survive. Outside Substances, Such
As Pollutants Found In Wastewater, Can Disrupt The Complicated Relationships Between Species That An Ecosystem
Needs In Order To Thrive.

ECONOMY- polluted water can have many negative effects on the economy. It directly impacts sectors such as
commercial fishing, recreational businesses, tourism and even property values, all of which rely heavily on clean
water. Polluted drinking water can also cause treatment costs to rise which in turn makes the cost of drinking

‘PROTECTING WATER RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL TO COMBAT POLLUTION AND ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

7 OF THE MAJOR WAYS THAT CAN BECOME POLLUTED:

 Industrial waste
 Marine dumping
 Sewage and wastewater
 Oil leaks and spills
 Agriculture
 Global warming
 Readioactive waste

COMBATTING WATER POLLUTION

• Water pollution is a major issue across the world and is caused by many contributing factors. It can greatly disrupt
entire ecosystem and be extremely harmful to our health and economy. Water is an extremely valuable resource,
and proper water treatment policies and management are imperative in fight to keep worlds water supply clean.
These are numerous ways that each of us can help reduce water pollution, and the natural resources defense council
has outlined a few, including:

DON’T FLUSH TRASH- being mindful not to flush non-degradable products, such as plastic, down your toilet is one
small but great way to stop contributing to the problem and start becoming part of the solution.

PICK UP AFTER YOUR PETS- waste from animals is full of bacteria, and if not disposed of properly, that bacteria can
find its way into the water supply through storm drains and runoff. The recommended disposal method is to use bag
made from recycled plastic to throw it in the trash.

MAINTAIN YOUR CAR OR ANY SERVICES- antifreeze, oil, coolant and other chemicals can leak out of your car if its
not properly cared for

LESSON: GEOLOGY AND NON-RENEWABLE MATERIALS

GEOLOGY

• Geology is a complex science that encompasses many different subtopics. All of the diverse topics of geology
have one thing in common: they have to do with the earth.
• "Geo" means "earth" and "ology" means "study of". Therefore, the definition of geology is the study of the
Earth.
• Also known as GeoScience or Earth Science.

• Geology is concerned with the history of the earth over the course of its 4.5 billion year life. By studying the
structures of the earth we can unlock its hidden past and anticipate its future.
 • Geology is the study of the Earth including its rocks, minerals, history, processes, and physical features such
as water, volcanos, and mountains.

Here are some additional things why we study Geology:

• Conserving soils and maintaining agricultural productivity.
• Developing natural resources in ways that safeguard the environment.
• Maintaining quality of water supplies.
• Reducing human suffering and property loss from natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
floods, landslides, hurricanes, and tsunamis.

There are two main types of geology called physical geology and historical geology.
• Physical geology is the study of the Earth's processes and its surface.
• Historical geology is the study of the Earth's history, including its formation.

• GEOLOGIST - A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and history of Earth.

EARTH’S GEOLOGICAL PROCESSES AS A HAZARD

• Geological processes are the natural forces that shape the physical planet. These processes occur at massive
scales - over millions of years and thousands of kilometres. Geological processes can cause hazards and it is
what we called Geological Hazard.

• A geologic hazard is one of several types of adverse geologic conditions capable of causing damage or loss of
property and life. geologic hazard is a natural geologic event that can endanger human lives and threaten
human property.

GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS

• Geological hazards arise from various Earth processes and can pose risks to life, property, and the
environment.
• Here are some major geological processes that lead to hazards:
• Earthquakes: Sudden ground shaking caused by tectonic plate movements, resulting in structural damage
and potential loss of life.
• Volcanic Eruptions: Explosive release of magma, ash, and gases from volcanoes, impacting nearby areas.
• Landslides: Displacement of earth materials on slopes or hillsides, potentially causing destruction.
• Avalanches: Rapid downhill movement of snow or rock masses.
• Debris Flows: Muddy flows of soil and sediment materials.
• Liquefaction: Ground settlement during earthquakes in loose, saturated sand/silt areas.
• Ground Subsidence: Gradual sinking due to soil consolidation or collapseable soils.
• Thermal Springs: Geothermal activity leading to hot springs.

The most common geological classification of rocks is based on the way the rocks are formed - sedimentary,
metamorphic and igneous.

• Sedimentary rocks are formed under water from the products of erosion (sediments) of older rocks. These
products vary in grain size; two common products are clay and sand and these are the major components of
most soils. Sand (silica) particles are easily seen with the naked eye while clay particles are quite small and
require a strong microscope to be seen.

• Igneous rocks form from the cooling of molten material. Colliding tectonic plates slowly push some plates
deep beneath the surface (a process called subduction), where they melt. Sometimes this molten rock
reaches the surface again via a volcanic eruption. Then it cools quickly and the rock that is formed is called
volcanic e.g. basalt.

• Metamorphic rocks are formed when one type of rock, often a sedimentary rock, is subjected to high
temperature and pressure. The rock does not melt, but the temperature and pressure change the chemical
structure and properties of the rock.
 • Mineral Resource: A concentration of inorganic, naturally occurring, typically solid, non-renewable material
with a practical use.

• Mineral resources can be divided into two major categories - Metallic and Nonmetallic. Metallic resources
are things like Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Nickel, Chromium, and Aluminum. Nonmetallic
resources are things like sand, gravel, gypsum, halite, Uranium, dimension stone.

• Metallic Minerals are minerals in which metal elements are present in their raw form. Non-metallic minerals
do not contain any metal substances in them.

• Environmental impact of mining can occur at local, regional, and global scales through direct and indirect
mining practices. Mining can cause erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil,
groundwater, and surface water by chemicals emitted from mining processes. These processes also affect
the atmosphere through carbon emissions which contributes to climate change.

• Erosion
• Soil erosion
• Sinkholes
• Water pollution
• Air Pollution

WAYS TO USE MINERAL RESOURCES MORE SUSTAINABLY

1. Lower-Impact Mining Techniques

2. Reusing Mining Waste
3. Eco-Friendly Equipment
4. Rehabilitating Mining Sites
5. Shutting Down Illegal Mining