INTRODUCTION TO

ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES

Department of Chemistry
Presidency University
 Our Environment
• Environment is surrounding. Everything on
earth is a part of the environment: living things
and non-living things.

• It can be defined as follows:

“All the external factors (living

and nonliving things)

influencing the life and activity
of people, plant and animals".
• Environmental studies deals with every issue
that affects an organism.
 Our Environment

• Environment -French word - 'environ’ -

surroundings.

• Hence, everything surrounding us -

"ENVIRONMENT".

• Environmental Protection Act (1986)

defined “Environment as the sum total of
water, air and land, their
interrelationship among
themselves and with the human beings,
other living beings and
property.”

• It can also be defined as “ external

surroundings and conditions which
 Environmental
Science

vs
Environmental
It focuses on the study Studies
of natural systems and
the application of It focuses on the
technology to protect. interaction between
human and natural
systems and the
connection between
science and policy.
 Environmental
Studies
• It is all about learning the way we
should live and how we can develop
sustainable strategies to protect the
environment.

• It helps individuals to develop an

understanding of living and physical
environment and how to resolve
challenging environmental issues
affecting nature.

• Also, it emphasizes the need to conserve biodiversity and adopt a

more sustainable lifestyle and utilize resources in a responsible way.
 Conservation
and
management
of natural
resources

Control of
Conservation of
human
biodiversity
population
Scope of the
Environmental
Studies

Replacement of
development Control of
with environmental
sustainable pollutions
development
 MAIN OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Ö Acquire an awareness of the environment as a whole and its related
problems.

Ö Gain a variety of experiences and acquire a basic understanding and

knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.

Ö Acquire an attitude of concern for the environment.

Ö Acquire the skills for identifying and solving environmental

problems.

Ö Participate in improvement and protection of environment.

Ö Develop the ability to evaluate measures for the improvement and

protection of environment.
 Earth Spheres
Biosphere- Atmosphere -
It indicates the The atmosphere
realm of living implies the
organisms and protective
their
interactions blanket of
with gases,
atmosphere, surrounding the
hydrosphere earth.
and
lithosphere

Hydrosphere –
It comprises all
Lithosphere - types of water
Lithosphere is resources
the oceans, seas,
outer mantle of lakes, rivers,
the solid earth. streams,
glaciers, and
ground water.
 ATMOSPHERE
• The atmosphere forms a protective shell over the earth.
• The lowest layer is the troposphere, the only part warm enough for us to
survive in, is only 8 kilometers thick.
• The stratosphere is 50 kilometers thick and contains a layer of sulphates
which is important for the formation of the rain.
• It also contains a layer of ozone, which absorbs ultra-violet light.
 1. TROPOSPHERE:
• It is the lowermost layer of the atmosphere.
• The height of this layer is about 18 km on the equator and 8 km
on the poles.
Troposphere contains dust particles and water vapor.
• This is the most important layer of the atmosphere because all
kinds of weather
changes take place only in this layer.
• The environmental temperature decreases with increasing
height of the
Atmosphere.

2. STRATOSPHERE:
• It extends up to a height of 50 km.
• The temperature increases due to the presence of ozone gas
in the upper part of this layer.
• The relative thickness of the ozone layer is measured in Dobson
Units. Ozone is mainly found in the lower portion of the
stratosphere, from approximately 20 to 30 km above the earth’s
surface.
Troposphere and Stratosphere
3. MESOSPHERE

• It extends up to a height of 80 km.

• In this layer, the temperature
starts decreasing with increasing
altitude and
reaches up to – 100 degree Celsius
at the height of 80 km.
• falling stars occur in this layer.
[Link]
• This layer is located between 80 and 400 km above the mesosphere.
• It contains electrically charged particles known as ions, and hence, it is
known as “ionosphere”.
• Radio waves transmitted from the earth are reflected to the earth by
this layer and due to this, radio broadcasting has become possible.
• The temperature here starts increasing with heights.

5. EXOSPHERE
• The exosphere is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere.
• Gases are very sparse in this sphere due to the lack of gravitational
force. Therefore, the density of air is very less here.
 HYDROSPHER
E
• Hydrosphere covers three quarters of
the earths surface.

• A major part of the hydrosphere

is the marine ecosystem in the
ocean, while only a small part
occurs in fresh water.

• Fresh water in rivers, lakes and

glaciers, is perpetually being
renewed by a process of
evaporation and rainfall.

• Some of the fresh water lies in

underground aquifers.

• Human activities such as

deforestation create serious
changes in the hydrosphere.
•The hydrosphere encompasses all the water present on earth in any form.

 Liquid Water: Found in oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and streams.

 Frozen Water: Found in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost (cryosphere).
 Water Vapor: Present in the atmosphere.
 Subsurface Water: Includes water trapped in soil and aquifers.

 Distribution: About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water, with oceans holding
approximately 97% of it. Only 3% is freshwater, most of which is trapped in glaciers
and ice caps.
 LITHOSPHERE

• The crust of the earth which is

composed of 6 or 7 Km thick
and lies under the continents.

• The rocks when broken down,

form soil on which man is
dependent for his agriculture.

• Mantle composed of silicate

rocks rich in Mg and Fe.
 MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

• Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary science

because it comprises various branches of studies like
chemistry, physics, medical science, life science,
agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering, etc.

• It studies about the sources, reactions, transport,

effect and fate of physical and biological species in
the air, water, soil and the effect of from human
activity upon these.
 Physical
1.
atmosphere
2.
lithosphere

3.
hydrosphere

Compone
nts of
Environm
Social ent

1. Biologica
communit l 1.
y 2. biotic
economy 2. abiotic
3.
 Elements of Environment

• Physical elements - space, landforms,

water bodies, soils, rocks and
minerals.

• Biological elements - plants,

animals, microorganisms and men.

• Cultural elements - economic, social

and political elements are essentially
manmade features
 Why I should know Environment?

• According to UNESCO (1971), the objectives of environmental

studies are:
(a) Creating the awareness about environmental problems
among people.
(b)Imparting basic knowledge about the environment and its allied
problems.
(c) Developing an attitude of concern for the
environment.
(d)Motivating public to participate in environment protection
and environment improvement.
(e) Acquiring skills to help the concerned individuals in identifying and
solving environmental problems.
(f) Striving to attain harmony with Nature.
 THE IMPORTANCE’S OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

• To clarify modern environmental concept

like how to conserve biodiversity.
• To know the more sustainable way of living.
• To use natural resources more efficiently.
• To know the behaviour of organism under
natural conditions.
• To know the interrelationship between
organisms in populations and communities.
• To aware and educate people regarding
environmental issues and problems at local,
national and international levels.
Current Environmental Problems

Air Noise
Pollution Pollution

Radioactive
contaminati
Water on
Pollution
Visual
Pollution

Littering
Soil
(spilling of
contaminatio
Therm oils in
n
al oceans)
pollutio
n
 What is Environmental Ethics?

 The moral relationship of human beings to and the

value and moral status of the environment and its
nonhuman content.
 is the branch of philosophy that studies the moral
relationship between humans and the natural
environment. It addresses how we should treat the
Earth, its ecosystems, and its resources, considering
the rights and values of non-human entities.
 Study of the ethical basis of environment or discussion of the
ethical basis of environmental protection.
 WHY NEED TO STUDY
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS?

To overcome the following

questions:

• What are the environment

damage produce by the present
generation?

• What acts must be give up to

• Main 7 environmental acts in india
• The environment protection act (1986)
• Purpose: comprehensive legislation for the protection and improvement of the
environment.
• Significance: acts as an umbrella law to coordinate other environmental regulations.
• The wildlife protection act (1972)
• Purpose: conservation of wildlife and their habitats.
• Significance: prohibits hunting, poaching, and trade of endangered species.
• The forest conservation act (1980)
• Purpose: restricts deforestation and ensures proper use of forest resources.
• Significance: prevents conversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes without
approval.
• The water (prevention and control of pollution) act (1974)
• Purpose: prevention and control of water pollution.
• Significance: establishes pollution control boards for monitoring water quality.
• The air (prevention and control of pollution) act (1981)
• Purpose: control and reduction of air pollution.
• Significance: empowers authorities to regulate emissions from industries and
vehicles.
• The biological diversity act (2002)
• Purpose: conservation of biodiversity and equitable sharing of benefits from
biological resources.
• Significance: prevents exploitation of india's rich biological heritage.
• The national green tribunal act (2010)
• Purpose: establishes a tribunal for speedy resolution of environmental disputes.
• Significance: ensures effective enforcement of environmental laws and justice.
 INTRODUCTION TO
ECOLOGY
• The meaning of the word
ecology was given by
German Biologist Hackle
in 1869.

• The word ecology is

derived from Greek words
‘Oikos’ meaning house,
habitat or place of living
and ‘Logos’ meaning to
study.

• Ecology is defined as the

study of interrelationship
ofdifferent organisms with
each other and with their
environment. It is
 ECOSYSTEM
• The term Ecosystem
was first proposed by
A.G. Tansley in 1935.
He defined it as “the
system resulting from
the interaction ofall
the living and nonliving
factors of the
Environment."
• An ecosystem consists
of the biological
community that occurs
in some locale, and the
physical and chemical
factors that make up Various types of Ecosystem
its non-living or abiotic
 TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
1. Natural Ecosystems :
These operate under natural conditions
without anymajor interference by man.

(i) Terrestrial Ecosystem:

Lentic (standing
This ecosystem is related to land.
water)
Eg: Forest, grassland, desert, etc. lake ecosystem

(ii) Aquatic Ecosystem:

This ecosystem is related to water. It is
further sub divided into two types based on

the salt content:

• Fresh water
• Marine water
Lotic (flowing
water)
 TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
2. Artificial (Man-Engineered) Ecosystems:
An artificial ecosystem is created and maintained by man for his different
needs.
TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
Components of Ecosystem
 Components of Ecosystem

1. Abiotic component
• The non-living component of an ecosystem is caled
Abiotic component.
• It consists of Non-living chemical & physical
components such as water, air, nutrients in the soil
or water & Solar Energy.
• Physical & chemical factors that influence living
organisms inland (terrestrial) ecosystem &
aquatic life zones.
• Abiotic factors can act as LIMITING FACTORS that keep
a population at a certain level.
• Abiotic Components are mainly of two types:
1) Climatic Factors: which include rain, temperature,
 Components of Ecosystem
2. Biotic factors
• All the living things that directly or indirectly affect the ecosystem biotic
factors interact with other living organisms and the physical
environment can also be Limiting Factors ex. disease (bacteria),
predators, food resources.

• Made up of biological components consisting of living anddead plants,

animals and microorganisms.
The Major Biological Components of Ecosystem:

1. Producers/ Autotrophs/ self-feeders

• Make their own food from compounds that are obtained from their
environment.
• In freshwater and marine ecosystems, algae and plants are the major
producers near shorelines.
• In open water, the dominant producers are phytoplankton (most ofthem
microscopic) that float or drift in the water.
• Most producers capture sunlight to make carbohydrates (such as glucose) by
photosynthesis .
2. Consumers/ Heterotroph/ other feeders
• Consumers are organisms, which cannot prepare their own food and depend directly
or indirectly on the producers.
• Eg: Insects, rabbits, goat, deer, cow, fish, lions and tigers.
• Depending on the food habits the consumers are divided into five types:

(i) Primary consumers:

They are also known as herbivores. Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores.
They directly depend on the plants for their food.
Eg: Insects, rabbits, goat, deer, cow, etc.
(ii) Secondary consumers or (carnivores):
Animals that Eat other animals. They directly depend on the herbivores for their food.
Eg: Frog, cat, snake, and foxes, etc..
(iii) Tertiary Consumers:
Large Carnivores which feed on secondary consumers.
(iv) Quaternary Consumers:
Largest Carnivores that feed on tertiary consumers. They are not eaten by any
animals.
(v) Omnivores:
Animals that eat both plants and animals. They directly depend on the both herbivores
and carnivores for their food.
Eg: Humans, rats, lions and tigers.
 Decomposers/ Saptrotrophs
• Decomposers attack
the dead bodies of
producers and
consumers and
decompose them into
simple components.

• During the decomposition

inorganic nutrients are
released.

• The organisms which break

down the complex
compounds into simple
 TROPHIC
STRUCTURE
•All organisms in an ecosystem can be placed in
trophic levels depending on what energy source
they rely upon and how they provide energy for
other organisms in the food web.

• With the exception of life near hydrothermal vents

in the deep ocean, life is always dependent
directlyor indirectly on the energy from the sun.

•In every ecosystem, there is an organism at the

lowest level that converts energy from the sun into
useable energy for other organisms.
 TROPHIC
STRUCTURE
 FOOD
•
CHAIN
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through
which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats
another. For example, plants get energy from the sun,
some animals eat plants, and some animals eat other
animals.
• A food chain is the sequence of who eats whom in a
biological
community (an ecosystem) to obtain nutrition
 FOOD
WEB
• A food web depicts feeding
connections (what-eats-what)
in an ecological community
and hence is also referred to
as a consumer- resource
system.
• A food web consists of all
the food chains in a single
ecosystem.
• The food chain begins with a
producer, which is eaten by
a primary consumer. The
primary consumer may be
eaten by a secondary
consumer, which in turn
 FOOD
WEB
Eg : Food Web of organisms residing in the soil
(Soil Ecosystem)
 ECOLOGICAL
PYRAMIDS
“It is a graphic representation of the
relationship between organisms at various
trophic levels in a food chain."

Features of the Ecological Pyramid

The following are the characteristics of an Ecological
Pyramid:
• The ecological pyramid comprises two to four layers.
• The producers are situated at the lowest level of an
ecological
pyramid with a huge population.
• The apex predators exist at the topmost level of an
ecological pyramid with a relatively smaller population.
• The pointed shape of the pyramid is because the supply of
energy
or biomass becomes lesser with each passing level of the
pyramid.
• In the case of the pyramid of numbers, the topmost level will
have a lesser number of individuals but their relative body size and
Types of Ecological Pyramid

The ecological pyramid is of three

types;
1. the pyramid of numbers,
2. the pyramid of biomass, and
3. the pyramid of energy.
 PYRAMID OF
NUMBERS
• The ecological pyramid that is made by
organizing the number of living individuals
at various trophic levels in an ecological
system is known as the pyramid of numbers.

• The pyramid of numbers can be both

upright and
inverted.
1. The upright pyramid has the largest
number of producers at the base
and their numbers keep on declining
with each passing level.
2. In the inverted pyramid, the base
pointed with a lesser number of producers
whereas the topmost level will have the
largest number of individuals as the size
and food consumption of organisms in
each level will decrease.
 PYRAMID OF BIOMASS

• The ecological pyramid that is made by

considering the amount of biomass that is
produced by the living system of each
trophic level is represented by the pyramid
of biomass.

Like the pyramid of numbers, the pyramid of

biomass can be both upright and inverted.

• Forests and grasslands ecological systems

are instances of upstanding biomass
pyramids as the number of producers is more
in number.
• The ocean ecosystem is an example of an
inverted pyramid as a large number of
zooplankton are dependent on a lesser
amount of phytoplankton.
 PYRAMID OF BIOMASS
• Illustrates the amount of biomass in each
trophic level

Biomass weight is
determined after
dehydration
• Shows the amount of
matterlost between trophic
levels.
Measured in kg, grams or pounds
 PYRAMID OF ENERGY
• The ecological pyramid which is formed by determining the flow
of energy from one trophic level to another is known as the
pyramid of energy.

• The producers situated at the base of the pyramid of energy

have the highest amount of energy and the topmost consumer
at the top has the least amount of energy.

It shows the energy available a

each trophiclevel

The size of the blocks

represents the
proportion of
productivity.

Measured in Joules or
Calories
 Solar Energy Sustains Life on Earth
Solar energy is any energy that comes from the sun.
It's crucial as it sustains life on earth by warming the
planet, providing energy through photosynthesis, and
forming fossil fuels thousands of years ago.
Biogeochemical Cycles and Human Activities
 Biogeochemical Cycles

• BIO = life
GEO = earth
CHEMICAL = elements- C, O, N, P, S

• Definition: The cycling of nutrients (water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen,

phosphorus, and sulpher) from the abiotic components of the
ecosystem (water, soil, air, and rock) through the biotic components
(plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria)

• An ecosystem survives by a combination of energy flow (from sun to

earth) and matter cycling.

• The earth is a CLOSED SYSTEM.

Energy Flow and Matter Recycle
• The flow of energy
is shown with
yellow and red
arrows. Yellow
indicates usable
energy and red
indicates energy
lost in the unusable
form of heat. Green
arrow shows the
continual recycling
of chemical
On the basis of
reservoir
 UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF
WATER
o There are strong forces of attraction between
molecules of water.
o Water exists as a liquid over a wide
temperature range.
o Liquid water changes temperature slowly.
o It takes a large amount of energy for water to
evaporate.
Liquid water can dissolve a variety of
compounds.
Because of its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds, water makes an excellent
o solvent,
Water expands
meaning that it can when it freezes.
dissolve many different kinds of molecules.
 THE WATER
CYCLE
• The water cycle is the system which describes the movement of
water between the earth and its atmosphere.
• Water cycle describes how water is exchange through earths land,
ocean and atmosphere
• It also describes the continuous movement of all forms of water
(vapour, liquid, solid) on, in or above the earth surface.
Water from various water bodies (river, lake, stream)

Evaporated by solar energy

Enter into the atmosphere as clouds

Falls again on earth as rain or snow

Ultimately returns to the ocean.

 FACTORS OF WATER CYCLE
• Solar radiation and earth’s gravitational pull are the main driving
forces of water cycle.

• Evaporation- it occurs when the sun heats up the water in rivers or

lakes or the oceans and turns it into vapor or stream. The water vapor
or steam leaves the lakes, rivers or oceans and goes into the air.

• Condensation- It occurs when the water vapor or steam in the air

gets cold and changes from a gas back into liquid, forming clouds.

• Precipitation- It occurs when so much water has condensed that the

clouds gets heavy, and water falls back to the earth in the form of
rain, hail, sleet or snow.

• Collection- This is when water that falls from the clouds as rain,
snow,
hail, or sleet collects in the oceans, rivers, and lakes.
EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Humans alter the water cycle through:

oWithdrawing large amounts of
freshwater.
o Clearing vegetation and eroding
soils.
o Polluting surface and underground
water.
o Contributing to climate change.
 THE CARBON
• The carbon cycle CYCLE
describes the
process in which
carbon atoms
continuously travel
from the atmosphere
to
thethe earth and then
back into
atmosphere.
 Carbon Cycle Definition
 Carbon cycle is the process
where carbon compounds are
interchanged among the
biosphere, geosphere,
pedosphere, hydrosphere,
and atmosphere of the earth.

The process of
photosynthesis involves the
absorption of CO2 by plants
to produce carbohydrates.
CO + H O + energy →
The equation 2is as follows:
2
Carbon Cycle Steps
Following are the major steps involved
in the process of the carbon cycle:
1. Carbon present in the atmosphere is
absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.
2. These plants are then consumed
by animals and carbon gets
bioaccumulated into their bodies.
3. These animals and plants eventually
die, and upon decomposing, carbon is
released back into the atmosphere.
4. Some of the carbon that is not
released back into the atmosphere
eventually become fossil fuels.
5. These fossil fuels are then used for
man-made activities, which pump
more carbon back into the
atmosphere.
EFFECTS OF HUMANS ON THE
CARBON CYCLE

Humans alter the carbon cycle by

adding excess CO2 to the
atmosphere through:

o Burning fossil fuels.

o Clearing vegetation faster than
it is replaced.
The Carbon Foot Print
The Carbon Foot Print