Components of Environment
1
COMPONENTS AND SUBCOMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
1.1 CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENT The term Environment can be broadly defined as one’s surroundings. To be more specific we can say that it is the physical and biological habitat that surrounds us, which can be felt by our physical faculties (seen, heard, touched, smelled and tasted.) The two major classifications of environment are : (A) (B) Physical Environment: External physical factors like Air, Water, and Land etc. This is also called the Abiotic Environment. Living Environment: All living organisms around us viz. plants, animals, and microorganisms. This is also called the Biotic Environment. Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere.
Earth’s environment can be further subdivided into the following four segments: (1) (2) (3) (4)
LITHOSPHERE The earth’s crust consisting of the soil and rocks is the lithosphere. The soil is made up of inorganic and organic matter and water. The main mineral constituents are compounds or mixtures derived from the elements of Si, Ca, K, Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, O etc. (Oxides, Silicates, and Carbonates). The organic constituents are mainly polysaccharides, organo compounds of N, P and S. The organic constituents even though form only around 4% – 6% of the lithosphere, they are responsible for the fertility of the soil and hence its productivity. HYDROSPHERE This comprises all water resources both surface and ground water. The world’s water is found in oceans and seas, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, glaciers and snowcaps in
3
4
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
the Polar Regions in addition to ground water below the land areas. The distribution of water among these resources is as under Table 1.1
Table 1.1 Oceans and Seas Glaciers and polar icecaps Fresh water 96–97 % 2–3 % < 1%
The water locked up in the Oceans and Seas are too salty and cannot be used directly for human consumption, domestic, agriculture or Industrial purposes. Only less
COMPONENTS AND SUBCOMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
1.1 CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENT The term Environment can be broadly defined as one’s surroundings. To be more specific we can say that it is the physical and biological habitat that surrounds us, which can be felt by our physical faculties (seen, heard, touched, smelled and tasted.) The two major classifications of environment are : (A) (B) Physical Environment: External physical factors like Air, Water, and Land etc. This is also called the Abiotic Environment. Living Environment: All living organisms around us viz. plants, animals, and microorganisms. This is also called the Biotic Environment. Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere.
Earth’s environment can be further subdivided into the following four segments: (1) (2) (3) (4)
LITHOSPHERE The earth’s crust consisting of the soil and rocks is the lithosphere. The soil is made up of inorganic and organic matter and water. The main mineral constituents are compounds or mixtures derived from the elements of Si, Ca, K, Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, O etc. (Oxides, Silicates, and Carbonates). The organic constituents are mainly polysaccharides, organo compounds of N, P and S. The organic constituents even though form only around 4% – 6% of the lithosphere, they are responsible for the fertility of the soil and hence its productivity. HYDROSPHERE This comprises all water resources both surface and ground water. The world’s water is found in oceans and seas, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, glaciers and snowcaps in
3
4
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
the Polar Regions in addition to ground water below the land areas. The distribution of water among these resources is as under Table 1.1
Table 1.1 Oceans and Seas Glaciers and polar icecaps Fresh water 96–97 % 2–3 % < 1%
The water locked up in the Oceans and Seas are too salty and cannot be used directly for human consumption, domestic, agriculture or Industrial purposes. Only less