The science of
Environment studies is a multi-disciplinary science because it comprises various
branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical science, life science,
agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering etc. It is the science of
physical phenomena in the environment. It studies of the sources, reactions,
transport, effect and fate of physical a biological species in the air, water
and soil and the effect of from human activity upon
these.
Environment
Explained
Literary environment means the surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions etc. This involves three questions:
Literary environment means the surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions etc. This involves three questions:
1. What is
Surrounded
The answer to this
question is living objects in general and man in
particular.
2. By what
Surrounded
The physical attributes
are the answer to this question, which become environment. In fact, the concern
of all education is the environment of man. However, man cannot exist or be
understood in isolation from the other forms of life and from plant life. Hence,
environment refers to the sum total of condition, which surround point in space
and time. The scope of the term Environment has been changing and widening by
the passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only
physical aspects of the planted earth' land, air and water as biological
communities. As the time passed on man extended his environment through his
social, economic and political functions.
3. Where
Surrounded
The answer to this
question. It is in nature that physical component of the plant earth, viz land,
air, water etc., support and affect life in the biosphere. According to a Goudie
environment is the representative of physical components of the earth where in
man is an important factor affecting the
environment.
(i)
Definitions
of Environment Some
important definitions of environment are as under:
1.
Boring:
‘A
person’s environment consists of the sum total of the stimulation which he
receives from his conception until his death.’ It can be concluded from the
above definition that Environment comprises various types of forces such as
physical, intellectual, economic, political, cultural, social, moral and
emotional. Environment is the sum total of all the external forces, influences
and conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the growth,
development and maturation of living
organisms.
2.
Douglas
and Holland: ‘The
term environment is used to describe, in the aggregate, all the external forces,
influences and conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the
growth, development and maturity of living
organisms.’
(ii)
Scope
of Environment: The
environment consists of four segments as
under:
1.
Atmosphere:
The
atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding the
earth:
(a)
It sustains life on the earth.
(b)
It saves it from the hostile environment of outer
space.
(c)
It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(d)
It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to
2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging
ultraviolet waves below about 300
nm.
The atmosphere is
composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace
gases.
2.
Hydrosphere:
The
Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers,
streams, reserviour, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground
water.
(i)
Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the
oceans,
(ii)
About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and
glaciers.
(iii)Only
about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and ground
water fit to be used for human consumption and other
uses.
3.
Lithosphere:
Lithosphere
is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the
earth’s crusts and the soil e.g.
minerals,
organic matter, air and water.
4.
Biosphere:
Biosphere
indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with environment,
viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
Element of
Environment
Environment is
constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural
elements inter-related in various ways, individually as well as collectively.
These elements may be explained as under:
(1) Physical
elements
Physical elements are as
space, landforms, water bodies, climate soils, rocks and minerals. They
determine the variable character of the human habitat, its opportunities as well
as limitations.
(2) Biological
elements
Biological elements such
as plants, animals, microorganisms and men constitute the
biosphere.
(3) Cultural
elements
Cultural elements such as
economic, social and political elements are essentially manmade features, which
make cultural milieu.
ENVIRONMENT STUDIES:
IMPORTANCE
Importance of Environment
Studies: The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of
protection and conservation of our indiscriminate release of pollution into the
environment.
At present a great number
of environment issues, have grown in size and complexity day by day, threatening
the survival of mankind on earth. We study about these issues besides and
effective suggestions in the Environment Studies. Environment studies have
become significant for the following
reasons:
1. Environment Issues
Being of International Importance
It has been well
recognised that environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid
rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are
global issues and hence must be tackled with international efforts and
cooperation.
2. Problems Cropped in
The Wake of Development
Development, in its wake
gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems,
Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed
world. The North, to cleanse their own environment has, fact fully, managed to
move ‘dirty’ factories of South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in
ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path
is neither practicable nor desirable, even if developing world follows
that.
3. Explosively Increase
in Pollution
World census reflects
that one in every seven persons in this planted lives in India. Evidently with
16 per cent of the world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area,
there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural
experts have recognized soils health problems like deficiency of micronutrients
and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil
structure.
4. Need for An
Alternative Solution
It is essential,
specially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an alternative
goal. We need a goal as under:
(1) A goal, which
ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally sound and
sustainable development.
(2) A goal common to all
citizens of our earth
(3) A goal distant from
the developing world in the manner it is from the over-consuming wasteful
societies of the “developed” world.
5. Need To Save Humanity
From Extinction
It is incumbent upon us
to save the humanity from exinction. Consequent to our activities constricting
the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development.
6.
Need For Wise Planning of Development
Our survival and
sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product have
all to by synchronised with the ecological cycles in any plan of development our
actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and
development
7. Misra’s
Report
Misra (1991) recognized
four basic principles of ecology, as under:
(i)
Holism
(ii)
Ecosystem
(iii)
Succession
(iv)
Conversation.
Holism has been
considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which
interacting units of ecology are discussed, are as
under:
Individual<population<community<ecosystem<biome<biosphere.
Misra (1991) has
recognised four basic requirements of environmental management
as under:
(i)
Impact of human activities on the
environment,
(ii)
Value system,
(iii)
Plan and design for sustainable development,
(iv)
Environment education.
Keeping in view the of
goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development India contributed
to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also
referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de Janciro, the Capital of Brazil,
3rd-14th June, 1992.
NEED FOR PUBLIC
AWARENES
It is essential to make
the public aware of the formidable consequences of the Environmental
Degradation, if not retorted and reformative measures undertaken, would result
in the extinction of life. We are facing various environmental challenges. It is
essential to get the country acquainted with these challenges so that their acts
may be eco-friendly. Some of these challenges are as
under:
1. Growing
Population
A population of over
thousands of millions is growing at 2.11 per cent every year. Over 17 million
people are added each year. It puts considerable pressure on its natural
resources and reduces the gains of development. Hence, the greatest challenge
before us is to limit the population growth. Although population control does
automatically lead to development, yet the development leads to a decrease in
population growth rates. For this development of the women is
essential.
2.
Poverty
India has often been
described a rich land with poor people. The poverty and environmental
degradation have a nexus between them. The vast majority of our people are
directly dependent on the nature resources of the country for their basic needs
of food, fuel shelter and fodder. About 40% of our people are still below the
poverty line. Environment degradation has adversely affected the poor who depend
upon the resources of their immediate surroundings. Thus, the challenge of
poverty and the challenge environment degradation are two facets of the same
challenge. The population growth is essentially a function of poverty. Because,
to the very poor, every child is an earner and helper and global concerns have
little relevance for him.
3. Agricultural
Growth
The people must be
acquainted with the methods to sustain and increase
agricultural growth with damaging the
environment. High yielding varities have caused soil salinity
and damage to physical
structure of soil
4. Need to Ground
water
It is essential of
rationalizing the use of groundwater. Factors like community wastes, industrial
effluents and chemical fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface
water and affected quality of the groundwater. It is essential to restore the
water quality of our rivers and other water bodies as lakes is an important
challenge. It so finding our suitable strategies for consecration of water,
provision of safe drinking water and keeping water bodies clean which are
difficult challenges is essential
5. Development And
Forests
Forests serve catchments
for the rivers. With increasing demand of water, plan to harness the mighty
river through large irrigation projects were made. Certainly, these would
submerge forests; displace local people, damage flora and fauna. As such, the
dams on the river Narmada, Bhagirathi and elsewhere have become areas of
political and scientific debate.
Forests in India have
been shrinking for several centuries owing to pressures of agriculture and other
uses. Vast areas that were once green, stand today as wastelands. These areas
are to be brought back under vegetative cover. The tribal communities inhabiting
forests respects the trees and birds and animal that gives them sustenance. We
must recognise the role of these people in restoring and conserving forests. The
modern knowledge and skills of the forest deptt. should be integrated with the
traditional knowledge and experience of the local communities. The strategies
for the joint management of forests should be evolved in a well planned
way.
6. Degradation of
Land
At present out of the
total 329 mha of land, only 266 mha possess any potential for production. Of
this, 143 mha is agricultural land nearly and 85 suffers from varying degrees of
soil degradation. Of the remaining 123 mha, 40 are completely unproductive. The
remaining 83 mha is classified as forest land, of which over half is denuded to
various degrees. Nearly 406 million head of livestock have to be supported on 13
mha, or less than 4 per cent of the land classified as pasture land, most of
which is overgrazed. Thus, our of 226 mha, about 175 mha or 66 per cent is
degraded to varying degrees. Water and wind erosion causes further degradation
of almost 150 mha This degradation is to be
avoided.
7. Reorientation of
Institutions
The people should be
roused to orient institutions, attitudes and infrastructures, to suit conditions
and needs today. The change has to be brought in keeping in view India’s
traditions for resources use managements and education etc. Change should be
brought in education, in attitudes, in administrative procedures and in
institutions. Because it affects way people view technology resources and
development.
8. Reduction of Genetic
Diversity
Proper measures to
conserve genetic diversity need to be taken. At present most wild genetic stocks
have been disappearing from nature. Wilding including the Asiatic Lion are
facing problem of loss of genetic diversity. The protected areas network like
sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves are isolating populations. So,
they are decreasing changes of one group breeding with another. Remedial steps
are to be taken to check decreasing genetic
diversity.
9. Evil Consequences of
Urbanisation
Nearly 27 per cent
Indians live in urban areas. Urbanisation and industrialisation has given birth
to a great number of environmental problem that need urgent attention. Over 30
percent of urban Indians live in slums. Out of India’s 3,245 towns and cities,
only 21 have partial or full sewerage and treatment facilities. Hence, coping
with rapid urbanization is a major
challenge.
10. Air and water
Population
Majority of our
industrial plants are using outdated and population technologies and makeshift
facilities devoid of any provision of treating their wastes. A great number of
cities and industrial areas that have been identified as the worst in terms of
air and water pollution. Acts are enforced in the country, but their implement
is not so easy. The reason is their implementation needs great resources,
technical expertise, political and social will. Again the people are to be made
aware of these rules. Their support is indispensable to implement these
rules
VARIOUS TYPES OF
ENVIRONMENT
According to Kurt Lewin,
environment is of three types which influence the personality of an individual
as under
(a)
Physical Environment,
(b)
Social and Cultural Environment, and
(c)
Psychological Environment.
These may be explained as
under:
1. Physical
EnvironmenT
Physical environment,
refers to geographical climate and weather or physical conditions wherein and
individual lives. The human races are greatly influenced by the climate. Some
examples are as under
(a)
In the cold countries i.e. European countries the people are of white colour.
Likewise, in Asian and African countries, that is, in hot countries people are
of dark complexion
(b)
The physique of an individual depends on climate conditions as the individual
tries to adjust in his physical environment.
(d)
The human working efficiency also depends on the climatic
conditions.
2. Social
Environment
Social Environment
includes an individual’s social, economic and political condition wherein he
lives. The moral, cultural and emotional forces influence the life and nature of
individual behaviour. Society may be classified into two categories as
under:
(i)
An open society is very conductive for the individual
development.
(ii)
A closed society is not very conductive for the
development.
3. Psychological
Environment
Although physical and
social environment are common to the individual in a specific situation. Yet
every individual has his own psychological environment, in which he lives. Kurt
Lewin has used the term ‘life space’ for explaining psychological environment.
The Psychological environment enables us to understand the personality of an
individual. Both the person and his goal form psychological
environment.
If a person is unable to
overcome the barriers, he can either get frustrated or completed to change his
goal for a new psychological environment. But adopting this mechanism, the
individual is helped in his adjustment to the
environment.
STRUCTURE OF
ENVIRONMENT
Environment is both
physical and biological. It includes both living and non-living
components.
(i) Physical
Environment
The Physical Environment
is classified into three broad categories
viz.
(i)
Solid,
(ii)
Liquid
(iii)
Gas
These represent the
following spheres:
(i)
The lithosphere (solid earth)
(ii)
The hydrosphere (water component) and
(iii)
The atmosphere
As such, the three basic
of physical environment may be termed as
under:
(i)
Lithospheric Environment
(ii)
Hydrospheric Environment
(iii)
Atmospheric Environment
The scientists have
classified them into smaller units based on different spatial
scales,
(i)
Mountain Environment
(ii)
Glacier Environment
(iii)
Plateau Environment
(iv)
Coastal Environment
(ii) Biological
Environment
The biological of the
environment consists of:
(i)
Plants (flora
(ii)
Animals (fauna).
Thus,
the biotic environment further be divided into floral environment and faunal
environment. All the organisms work to form their social groups and
organizations at several levels. Thus, the social environment is formed. In this
social environment the organisms work to derive matter from the physical
environment for their sustenance and development. This process gives birth to
economic environment. Man claims to be most skilled and civilized of all the
organisms. This is the reason why his social organisation is most systematic.
The three aspects of man, e.g.
physical,
social and economic, function in the biotic environment as
under:
(i) The Physical
Man
The ‘Physical Man’ is one
of the organisms populations or biological community. He is in need of basic
elements of the physical environment like habitat (space), air, water and food.
Besides, like other biological populations, he releases wastes into the
ecosystem.
(ii) The Social
Man
The ‘Social Man’ performs
the following functions:
(a)
Establishing social institutions,
(b)
Forming social organisations,
(c)
Formulating laws, principles and policies,
(d)
Taking steps to safeguard his existence, interest and social
welfare.
(iii) The Economic
Man
The economic man derives
and utilises resources from the physical and biotic environment with his skills
and technologies. The economic function makes the man an environment/ geomorphic
process as he transports matter and energy from one component of the ecosystem
to the other. There may be any following two
situations:
(a)
His exploitative functions may be in harmony with the natural environment. Such,
functions do not necessarily involve change in the working of the
ecosystem.
(b)
These functions may exceed the critical limit. Consequently, the equilibrium of
the environment/ecosystem is disturbed and a great number of environment and
ecological problems crop up. These are detrimental to man him besides to whole
population of human species in a given
ecosystem.
QUESTIONS
1. What is Environment?
Discuss the scope of Environment.
2. Describe the
importance of environment studies.
3. “The need for public
awareness about environment is of vital importance.”
DiscusS
4. Discuss the various
types of environment.
Short Answer Type
Questions
1. Define
environments.
2. Discuss the scope of
environment.
3. Write a note on the
importance of environment studies
4. Write a note on the
need of public awareness about environment.
5. Write a note on
physical environment.
6.
Write a note on biological environment.