AP Environmental Science

1. AP Environmental Science Theresa S. Price, Instructor

2. AP Environmental Science • Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) is a very challenging subject that combines Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry as well as economics, politics, statistics and public policy. • We will investigate the history of environmental science and human impact on environmental systems.

3. AP Environmental Science Topics • Earth Systems and Resources; • The Living World; • Biological and Chemical Cycles; • Population Dynamics; • Land and Water use; • Energy Resources and Consumption; • Pollution; and • Global Change.

4. APES Focus 1.The scientific processes involved & the evolution of those specific theories over time; 2.The flow of energy as it pertains to the topic (Law of Conservation of Energy); 3.The connective relationships between the Earth and it’s resources including organic and inorganic systems and processes;

5. APES Focus 4.The effect that human development and expansion has had on the specific topic; 5.The social & cultural factors related to each aspect of environmental regulation, conservation, and management; 6.The overall survival of the species (human species) and predictions of the future of our planet.

6. Pace and Time Commitment • The material and text covered will be college and/or professional level and the pace of the course will be very rigorous. • Students will be required to spend time both in and out of the classroom researching, investigating and studying the concepts and theories of environmental studies. (1 hour daily minimum)

7. College Credit • APES is a weighted course and students can earn up to 4 college credit hours if they pass the AP exam with a score of 3 or above (university dependent) • VASS Grant rewards scores of 3,4 and 5 • Prep Sessions on Saturdays (4) • Afterschool sessions weekly (Thursdays)

8. Assignments • All assignments are due on Friday of the week assigned (unless otherwise noted) • All assignments are posted on my website • Most quizzes, tests and other assessments will be on Fridays • Review sessions will be held each Thursday afterschool (optional)

9. Chapter Questions • Chapter Questions must be completed in your marbled notebook for each chapter assigned. • Answer the questions in complete sentences so that you may use them to study. • Due date is the Friday after we begin the chapter

10. Vocabulary Terms • There are vocabulary terms assigned with each chapter. • Definitions must be handwritten and complete • Due date is Friday with the chapter questions

11. Notes • You WILL be expected to take notes. Powerpoints will be posted online. • You are expected to print these notes out AT HOME. • During the lecture, I will not discuss each slide; however, you are still responsible for the information.

12. The Evolution of Environmental Science in America In the beginning . . .

13. What is the Environment? • How do you describe the environment? • What do you feel is the role of the environment? • What do you feel is your role in the environment?

14. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss • Answer the accompanying questions in your notebook.

15. Environmental Science • To define what Environmental Science is, first we need to define the environment. • Environment: the sum total of all living and non-living things that affect any living organism.

16. System and Surroundings • A system is a collection of all the variables they we are observing; set of components that interact. • The surroundings are all components or variables outside of, but still possibly affecting, the system.

17. Affect vs. Effect • To affect is to influence a system. • An effect is the result of an influence to a system. • The whole reason we are studying APES today is because there has been an adverse effect by the affective population on our environment.

18. Energy consumption Population explosion Loss of biodiversity Soil Erosion Food Shortage Waste disposal Deforestation Water pollution Global Warming Politics Interconnective Web Discuss how at least 2 of the following are connected and the effects:

19. A Science of Others • Environmental Science incorporates the sciences of . . . • biology (living organisms and their systems) • chemistry (matter and the changes they undergo) • geology (rocks and mineral formation and make-up)

20. This is NOT Ecology • Ecology is a biological science that focuses on the relationships between living organisms and their environment. • Ecology is a very new science within the last 100 years

21. Science is NON-Political • Science is based on observation and scientific law. • The Environmental movement is a scientific movement dedicated to the study of the environment and the effects of pollution. • Environmentalism is a social movement dedicated to the protection of the environment.

22. Major Themes of Environmental Science 1. Earth Systems and Resources; 2. The Living World including Biological & Chemical Cycles; 3. Population Dynamics; 4. Land and Water use; 5. Energy Resources and Consumption; 6. Pollution; and 7. Global Change.

23. Focus on a Theme 1. the scientific processes involved and the evolution of those specific theories over time; 2.the flow of energy as it pertains to the topic as well as the Law of Conservation of Energy; 3.the connective relationships between the Earth and it’s resources including organic and inorganic systems and processes; 4.the effect that human development and expansion has had on the specific topic; 5.the social and cultural factors related to each aspect of environmental conservation, regulation and management; 6.and finally, the overall survival of the species (human species) and predictions of the future of our planet.

24. Theme 1: Earth Systems and Resources • The systems and structure of the Earth and how they are interrelated • Our available resources and how we use/abuse them

25. Resources • A resource is anything from the environment that meets a need • Perpetual resource: one that is renewed continuously (solar energy) • Renewable resource: one that can be replenished fairly easily and rapidly (trees) • Non-renewable resource: one that exists in a fixed amount

26. The Use of Resources • The sustainable yield of a resources is the highest rate that a renewable resource can be used without reducing the supply. • Supply equals demand • Environmental degradation occurs when the use rate exceeds the replacement rate.

27. Resources Renewable Non-Renewable Potentially Renewable Direct solar energy Fossil fuels Fresh air Winds, tides, flowing water Metallic minerals (Fe, Cu, Al) Fresh water Nonmetallic minerals (clay, sand, phosphates) Fertile soil Plants & animals (biodiversity)

28. Nonrenewable Resources Nonrenewable/Exhaustible Resources Exist in a fixed quantity in the earth’s crust and can be used up Mineral Any hard, usually crystalline material that is formed naturally Reserves Known deposits from which a usable mineral can be profitably extracted at current prices

29. Who owns these resources? • Property rights give ownership to all resources on the property. • Common property or free-access resources are those resources that are not owned and available for use by everyone. • For example: the air, the ocean

30. Tragedy of the Commons • The over-use of a natural resource as a result of unclear property rights. If ownership of a resource is not established, everyone has an incentive to take as much of it as possible, quickly depleting the resource. • A typical example is the decline in the fish population resulting from over-fishing of the ocean.

31. Capital Expansion • Natural capital is natural resources and services that keep us alive • plants give us O2; cows give us food • Degradation of natural capital occurs through activity and use

32. Theme 2: The Living World • Sustainability • Ecosystems and Community • Biogeochemical Cycles • Evolution and Biodiversity

33. Sustainable • The term sustainability refers to the ability of the Earth’s various systems to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions, indefinitely. • The survival of all species depends on the ability of the Earth to continue to provide resources.

34. Sustainability ability of the earth’s various natural systems and human cultural systems and economies to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions INDEFINITELY

35. Principles of Sustainability • The Earth’s ability to sustain is based on these four interconnected principles • reliance on solar energy • biodiversity • population control • nutrient recycle

36. Application of the Principles Plants and animals use sunlight for energy in the forms of light and heat A different variety of plants and animals live in an ecosystem Predator - prey relationships control animal populations / plant species invade others Plants and animals excrete waste, die and decay

37. Sustainable Resource Harvest Certain quantity of that resource can be harvested each year and not be depleted over a specified period Sustainable supply of fish or timber

38. Sustainable Earth Earth’s supplies of resources Processes that make up earth capital are used and maintained over a specified period

39. Sustainable Society Manages economy and population size without exceeding all or part of the planet’s ability to Absorb environmental insults Replenish resources Sustain human and other forms of life over a specified period (100’s-1,000’s of years)

40. Environmentally Sustainable Society • An environmentally sustainable society is one that meets current and future needs in an equitable manner without compromising future resources • living off of a natural income without degrading natural capital

41. Answers? • Environmental systems can achieve a sustainable society by: • solutions: stop strip-mining for coal • trade-offs: use alternative fuel for power plants • recognizing individual importance (You DO matter!)

42. Theme 3: Population Dynamics • Population Growth and Impact • Carrying Capacity

43. Growth • What does it mean to grow? • growth is the coming into being or production by natural occurrences; • the rate of growth is affected by a number of different factors • There is linear growth or exponential growth

44. Linear Growth • Linear growth follows the laws of simple interest (interest is paid on the principle sum without any accumulated interest). • At 10% linear growth rate looks like this . . • Original Population: 100 • Population at Year 1: 110 • Population at Year 2: 120 • Population at Year 3: 130 • Population at Year 4: 140

45. Exponential Growth • Exponential growth refers to an increase by a fixed rate over time. • A 1% exponential growth rate looks like this . . . • Original Population: 100 • Population at Year 1: 110 • Population at Year 2: 121 • Population at Year 3: 133.1 • Population at Year 4: 146.4

46. Can you see the difference?

47. Current Trends in Population Growth • The exponential growth rate in the world is 1.23%. • The Rule of 70 helps us calculate the time it takes to double the population. • 70 ÷ rate (%) = time (years) • So, at the current rate of 1.23%, it will take 70  1.23 = 57 years. Within your lifetime!!!!!!

48. Natural Capital Solar Capital Energy from the sun Provides 99% of the energy used on earthion Natural resources useful materials and energy Natural services purifications of air and water which support life and human economics. ecosystems provide these services at no cost

49. Economic Growth • The economic growth of a nation is measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) • the sum total of all goods and services produced by a nation. • High GDP indicates a developed country • Low GDP indicates a developing country

50. Economic Growth - Key Terms Gross National Product Measures economic growth in a country Market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced within and outside of a country by the country’s businesses during one year Gross Domestic Product Market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced only within a country during one year