Lesson 1: Fundamental Issues in Environmental Science Big Question: Why Is Science Necessary to Solve Environmental Problems?
Dec 22, 2015
Lesson 1: Fundamental Issues in Environmental Science
Big Question: Why Is Science Necessary to Solve
Environmental Problems?
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
How to Use the Online Lessons
The primary purpose of the online lectures are
to review, reinforce, and add to material
covered in the book. Material you receive in
these online lessons is just as likely to be on
exams as other material in the book. Some
material, particularly UW, local and regional
examples, and timely material, may be only on
this site.
The best way for you to use the class materials
is to read the each book chapter first, then
view the lessons.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington 3
What is "Environmental Wisdom"?
“Environmental Wisdom” must include the little and the big pictureand must include people.
Visit and research the following sites:
Wikipedia article on Coffee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoffeeCoffeeResearch.org: Coffee Production Statistics:http://www.coffeeresearch.org/market/production.htmWhere the Hell Is Matt?:http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=ZIotVystLiI
What does the information on these sites tell us about something as simple as coffee, travel, dancing, and people in the world in relationship to Environmental Science?
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Sustainability
In the past 35 years, the number of people in
the world more than doubled, from 2.5 billion
to over 6.6 billion. Visit this site for
current data:
U.S. Census Bureau:
http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
Our rapidly increasing population underlies all
environmental problems because most
environmental damage results from the very
large number of people on Earth.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Sustainability
Use it, but don’t use it up
Other uses of the term "sustainability":• sustainable society• sustainable economy• sustainable development• sustainable architecture• More on sustainability at Wikipedia:
Sustainability:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Earth’s Carrying Capacity
How many people can Earth sustain?
Carrying capacity is usually defined as the
maximum number of individuals of a species that
can be sustained by an environment over the
long term.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
A Global Perspective
Today our actions are experienced worldwide.
Life makes Earth’s environment unlike that of
other planets.
The Gaia hypothesis proposes that the global
environment has been profoundly changed by life
throughout the history of life on Earth, and
that these changes have improved the chances
that life on Earth will continue.
See the Wikipedia article: Think Globally, Act
Locally.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Cities Affect the Environment
We are becoming an urban species, and our
effects on the environment are more and more
the effects of urban life.
We must look more closely at the effects of
urbanization.
Even as this happens, we cherish the concept of
time in non-urban environments more than ever.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
People and Nature
“Principle of environmental unity”: everything
affects everything else
We depend on nature for many natural service
functions
For a lot more information (and propaganda) on
the impacts of overconsumption, see the
International Buy Nothing Day Web site:
http://www.ecoplan.org/ibnd/ib_index.htm
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Science and Values
• Before we decide what kind of environment we
want, we need to know what is possible.• Science is a process of discovery.• Sometimes changes in ideas are small.• Sometimes a science undergoes a fundamental
revolution in ideas.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Science is one way of looking at the world.It begins with observations about the natural
world.
From these observations, scientists formulate
hypotheses that can be tested.
Science does not deal with things that cannot be
tested by observation, such as the following:• the ultimate purpose of life;• the existence of a supernatural being; or• standards of beauty or issues of good and
evil.
Ideas are scientific if it is possible to
disprove them.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
What is Environmental Science?
A group of sciences that attempt to explain how
life on Earth is sustained, what leads to
environmental problems, and how these problems
can be solved.
Often linked with nonscientific fields that
have to do with how we value the environment
(such as Deep Ecology).
Deals with many topics that have great
emotional effects on people.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Placing a Value on the EnvironmentUtilitarian justification
• values the environment it is useful
economically or for survival.
Ecological justification• Values the larger life-support functions of
the environment.
Aesthetic justification• values beauty.
Moral justification• based on one’s view of right and wrong, and
extending inherent rights beyond humans.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Solving Many Environmental Problems Involves Systems and Rates of ChangeA system is a set of parts that function
together to act as a whole, like a city
(streets, buildings, sewer systems) or a river
(water sources, animals and plants in and along
the river.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Positive Feedback: Off-road Vehicles (ORVs) and Erosion
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Some situations involve both positive and negative feedbackExample: changes in human populations of large
cities
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Exponential growth
Exponential growth is an important outcome of
positive feedback
Exponential growth is incompatible with
sustainability
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Environmental Unity
It is impossible to change only one thing;
everything affects everything else
Changes in one part of a system often have
secondary and tertiary effects within the
system and effects on adjacent systems
See Wikipedia: Butterfly Effect and Wikipedia:
A Sound of Thunder. Also see "The Butterfly
Effect—Real?"
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Changes and Equilibrium in SystemsWhen the input to a system is equal to the
output, the system is said to be in a steady
state
Steady state is a dynamic equilibrium because
something is still happening
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
• If input is less than the output, the storage compartment will shrink– Groundwater extraction
• If input exceeds
output, the storage
compartment will
expand– Groundwater
pollution
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
To effectively manage natural systems, we need to understand:
– the types of disturbances and changes that are likely to occur
– the time periods over which changes occur– the importance of each change to the long-term
productivity of the system.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Biota: Biosphere and Sustaining LifeBiota: all living things (animals and plants,
microorganisms) within a given area
Biosphere: the region of Earth where life
exists
What is needed to sustain life?
there must be several species within a system
that includes air and water to transport
materials and energy – an ecosystem
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Ecosystems
A community of organisms and their local
nonliving environment in which matter (chemical
elements) cycles and energy flows
Vary in size, from the smallest puddle of water
to a large forest, or the entire global
biosphere
Ecosystem borders may be clearly or vaguely
defined
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Environmental characteristics thatmake solving problems harderLag time is the time between a stimulus and a
system’s response to that stimulus
If there is a long delay between stimulus and
response, then the resulting changes are much
more difficult to recognize
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Exponential Growth and Long Lag TimeExponential growth and long lag time may allow
a population to eventually exceed the carrying
capacity, resulting in overshoot and a decline
collapse in the population.
Some environmental changes may be irreversible
over time periods of hundreds or thousands of
years
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Ecological Footprint
Ecological footprint - the total area each
person requires based on the resources used and
the waste produced.
We may be consuming about 20% more of Earth’s
biological productivity than is replaced each
year.
Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz to determine
your own ecological footprint.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
The Precautionary Principle:When in Doubt, Play It SafeIt can be difficult to prove with absolute certainty
how human activities lead to local and global
environmental problems.
When there is a threat of serious environmental
damage, we should not wait for certain scientific
proof before taking steps to prevent potential harm.
How much proof do we need before acting?
We need to examine the benefits and costs of taking
a particular action versus taking no action.
The Precautionary Principle is a proactive tool.
More information on the Precautionary Principle.
Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington
Chapter 1: Fundamental Issues in Environmental Science
Questions? E-mail your TA.