THIS PAGE IS BLANK NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL (P) LIMITED, PUBLISHERS New Delhi · Bangalore · Chennai · Cochin · Guwahati · Hyderabad Jalandhar · Kolkata · Lucknow · Mumbai · Ranchi PUBLISHING FOR ONE WORLD Visit us at www.newagepublishers.com Copyright © 2006 New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers Published by New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher. All inquiries should be emailed to [email protected] ISBN (10) : 81-224-2330-2 ISBN (13) : 978-81-224-2330-3 PUBLISHING FOR ONE WORLD NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL (P) LIMITED, PUBLISHERS 4835/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi - 110002 Visit us at www.newagepublishers.com Education is a process of development which includes the three major activities, teaching, training and instruction. Teaching is social as well as a professional activity. It is science as well as art. Modern education is not in a sphere but it has a long and large area of study. Now a days most part of the world population is facing different problems related with the nature and they are studying the solutions to save the nature and global problems, but on the second hand we even today do not try to understand our local problems related to the nature. So for the awareness of the problems of P nature and pollution the higher education commission has suggested to add the Environmental Science in the course of different levels. Environmental Science is also well known as Environmental Studies in R the Indian Colleges and Universities. Before that it was the part of the science but now a days it is a very common subject and higher education E commission has suggested including it as a general paper in all the courses. Awareness in the field of environmental sciences is becoming a global talk. People worldwide are realizing its importance as they are able to F smell a Polluted tomorrow. Careful handling of todays’ environment would only serve as a legacy for tomorrows’ generation. Hence, we need to be judicious in exploiting our resources optimally. To ensure a sustainable A development we need to know something about how our environment works. Environment can be defined as the set of conditions that surround C an organism or the complex of socio cultural condition that affect an individual. Environmental Science is the systematic, scientific study of the environment in combination with living organisms. E Most of the universities have introduced this new content as course of Environmental Science or Environmental Studies/Environmental Science in B.Ed. Course. The present book has been written by including some content of print and non-print media. Now this book is especially for modified syllabus of B.T.C./B.Ed./ M.Ed. of Indian & Foreign Universities/ Training Institute & Education Colleges Recognized by National Council of Teacher Education, New Delhi. The author has consulted several books in designing, organizing and preparing the script of this book. I express my sense of gratitude to all sources which have been used directly or indirect1y for the instructional material and the sequence. The credit goes to my well-wisher, who has (vi) helped me in this attempt. I warmly acknowledge her assistance extended to me. The practical suggestions for the improvement and modification of instructional material and sequence for the text are most welcomed in this hope that book will prove useful to students and educators. Dr. Y. K. Singh AA-39, Suryodaya Vihar Ansal Colony, Shastri Nagar P Kutti Chopla, Near PVC Mall, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India R E-mail: [email protected] E F A C E CONTENTS Prefece v 1. Environmental Science: Definition, Scope and Importance 1 2. Environmental Science: Natural Resources 10 3. Environmental Science: Ecosystem 108 4. Environmental Science: Biodiversity and Conservation 137 5. Environmental Science: Pollution and its Factors 161 6. Environmental Science: Social Issues 192 7. Environmental Science: Human Population and Environment 220 8. Environmental Science: Field Trip 246 9. Environmental Science: Modern Methods 256 10. Environmental Science: Modern Library 280 11. Environmental Science: Modern and Effective Teacher 289 Glossary 301 Reference 310 THIS PAGE IS BLANK CHAPTER Environmental Science : 1 Definition, Scope and Importance INTRODUCTION 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: 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 1 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 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 ultra- violate 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. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE 3 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 man- made features, which make cultural milieu. ENVIRONMENT STUDIES: IMPORTANCE Importance of Environment Studies: The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance